Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

C HARLOTTE STILL HAD the nice floating feeling that came with a sexual buzz. A nice bonus, since Cal and she hadn't actually had sex the day before when they'd been in her room. It gave her lots of hope that the real deal would produce something even better than the aftermath that she was feeling now.

Of course, there were no guarantees that Cal would go through with the real deal, but even that wasn't putting a damper on her buzz. It was possible, however, that Cal would do a whole bunch of thinking and decide that sex was carrying things too far. He didn't want to hurt her, she was positive about that, and he might believe he couldn't offer her anything but a one-off.

And maybe he couldn't.

Ever.

All right, that dampened the buzz a little, but it needed to be taken down a notch since she didn't want to be floating when Alden arrived. Which—she checked the time—should be any minute now. Taggert had texted her that he'd picked up Alden and was driving there with him.

Charlotte hated to linger around, staring out the living room window, but she also didn't want to be in another part of the house when Alden got there. She wanted to be able to run out and greet him. And she was hoping that would be an awesome greeting, since his room was ready for him. Much of the downstairs was, too, and there were wonderful smells coming out of the kitchen, where Maybell was cooking a pot roast and some apple pies.

Watching out the window and soaking up the scents of the house, however, meant she wasn't working. There was still plenty of that to do, but it did give her the bonus advantage of observing Cal do some manual labor. He was repairing a portion of the fence. Hammer swinging, muscles reacting and the movement straining the fabric of his jeans over his butt.

It was indeed superior.

And she had an internal debate about where said butt would rank on a list of his best features. His face had to be at the top of that list. His smile, too. And his eyes. Yes, those dreamy eyes. But the butt was definitely in the top five.

She stopped daydreaming at a whirring sound and turned to see Harper making her way toward her. Charlotte made sure she gave her a bright smile and had no expectation of Harper giving her one in return, which she didn't.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Charlotte asked.

Harper shrugged, which could have meant anything, and she stopped her chair next to Charlotte in front of the large bay window. When she spotted Cal, she made a grunting sound and then typed something on her keyboard.

"Admiring the scenery?" the computer voice asked.

Charlotte couldn't tell if it was snark or attempted humor, but she went with it. "Actually, I was admiring his butt. It's impressive."

Harper's mouth tightened, and she typed out a response. "I've seen better."

"I wish I could say I'd actually seen his so I could dispute that," Charlotte muttered. She winced. "Sorry. TMI."

Harper stared at her before doing some more typing. "So, it's really over between you and Noah?"

"It is," Charlotte verified.

Maybe soon she'd be able to convince Noah, and Cal, of that. Her mother, too. Then again, Izzie wasn't responding to her texts and calls, so there weren't many opportunities for convincing. Charlotte had made multiple mental notes to pay her mother a visit, but so far she hadn't carried through on them since she'd been so busy.

"And you're heating up things with Cal?" Harper typed.

"Attempting to do that," Charlotte muttered, and she hoped all this chatter about Cal wasn't irking Harper. Or rather irking her more, since Harper seemed to be in a constant state of agitation.

Charlotte decided to change the subject. It probably wouldn't do squat to soothe Harper, but it was something important that she needed to pass along to the woman.

"Your dad was here yesterday, and he said he'll be back today at one," Charlotte said, and she carefully watched Harper's face for a reaction.

Harper kept her attention pinned to Cal while she typed. "Okay." That was it. All the verbal response she intended.

But Charlotte pushed a little. "Harper, if you don't want to see your father, I can talk to him and explain you need some time to get settled in." That might work. Might. But it was just as likely that Paul would demand to see his daughter.

Harper's forehead bunched up enough to let Charlotte know she was considering that, but then she shook her head and typed. "He's my dad. He gets to see me."

Charlotte sighed. "Harper," she said, and would have launched into a plea for Harper not to let Paul belittle or browbeat her, but the sound of the approaching van stopped it. It was another NEMT, a nonemergency medical transportation like the one that had brought Harper the day before. Today, it was Taggert who stepped out, and when the side door of the van opened, Charlotte saw Alden. Two EMTs stepped out as well, but they stayed back, maybe waiting for a signal if Alden would need their help.

"Alden looks worse than I do," Harper's keyboard voiced for her.

Charlotte couldn't disagree more. Yes, Alden had scars on nearly every visible part of his body, but he wasn't in a wheelchair. Instead, he was using a cane, and his mood was a lot better than Harper's. He was smiling, and that light in his eyes told her that he was indeed very glad to be here.

Charlotte welcomed the smile, returned it and hurried out to greet him. Since his balance looked a little precarious, she was careful when she pulled him into a hug.

"It's so good to see you," she gushed, and she meant it.

Taggert was plenty happy, too, and he gave his son a kiss on the cheek before he went to the back of the van to haul out a suitcase. He'd already brought over some of Alden's things, but this was obviously more.

"I'll take these to your room," Taggert offered, going ahead of them while Charlotte and Alden made their way up the ramp together.

"You did it," Alden said, glancing around. "You got your dream."

"I did. With a lot of help from a lot of people." She paused to gather her breath. "How are you? Was the trip here okay?"

"Good, and yes," he said. "How are you?" he echoed. "And are you with Cal now, like Noah said?"

"Good, and potentially," she answered, causing Alden to chuckle.

She was thankful for the laugh. It meant he wasn't all torn up about her and Noah parting ways. She wanted Alden to be able to focus on healing his body and mind and didn't want her relationship with Noah playing into this.

When she stepped into the foyer ahead of Alden, Charlotte glanced around, but there was no sign of Harper. Apparently she'd wanted to skip the meet-and-greet, which was probably a good thing. Though, Charlotte was hoping Harper would eventually have more interaction with the staff and fellow residents. She was also hoping that Harper would have less interaction with Paul.

"Something smells good," Alden remarked the moment he was inside.

"You're in for some culinary treats. Maybell is doing the cooking this week, and next week, her niece, Frannie, will start working here full-time. It seems Maybell has passed along all of her best recipes to Frannie."

"Frannie," he murmured, "I remember her."

And there was something in his voice that made Charlotte think he remembered her fondly. She hadn't heard any gossip about them over the years, but it was possible he and Frannie had once been an item since they were about the same age.

"Here's the quick rundown on the layout of the place," Charlotte explained. "The living room," she said, pointing to it as they went past it. "The library." She pointed to the left. "Dining room. The kitchen's there," she added, pointing to the archway in the dining room. "And your suite is down here."

She led him to the hall, tipping her head to the closed door. "Harper's staying there."

"Harper," he repeated, and there wasn't any wistfulness in his tone now. Only concern. "How's she doing?"

"Maybe you can ask her yourself since I'm sure you'll be seeing her," Charlotte settled on saying. She had no intention of talking to residents about other residents, even when one of them—Alden—was one of her favorite people. He was the little brother she'd always wanted but never had.

It occurred to her then that Alden's feelings toward her might change now that he would never be her brother-in-law. Then she looked at him and saw him smiling at her, and she knew her worries were all for nothing. Their fondness for each other wasn't tied to Noah.

She held her breath a little when they finally made it to his suite, and she stepped back so Alden could walk into the room where his dad was already putting his things away.

"Wow," Alden said, glancing around. "It's perfect."

Her breath let out, and relieved that he liked it, she continued the tour. "I tried to match it to what you had in the facility you just left. And the bathroom was already modified. But if there's anything that needs adjusting—"

"It's perfect," he repeated, taking hold of her hand to give it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Charlotte."

Taggert was muttering his thanks as well when they all glanced toward the sound of approaching footsteps. A moment later, Cal appeared in the doorway. He smiled at her, an oh-so-dreamy smile that had her melting more than a little, before he went to Alden. He leaned in and hugged him.

The two exchanged warm greetings, and the embrace lingered on for a couple of seconds. "So you stole Noah's girl," Alden joked when they eased back and faced each other. Then he laughed. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. All this scar tissue has given me no filter when it comes to what I say. I'm picking up on vibes that Charlotte and you are worried about how I'll react to you two seeing each other. Well, I'm reacting just fine," he assured them.

"And so am I," Taggert piped up. "I just want Noah and you to be happy, and if that happiness doesn't happen together, then I still want you to find it elsewhere."

"Thank you," she said quietly. It was a huge deal for Taggert to say that, especially since she and Noah had been together for so long that everyone had just assumed it would be forever. Forever had been crossed out now, and both her and Noah's futures were up in the air.

Alden's phone rang, and he smiled again when he saw the screen. "It's a friend checking to make sure I got here all right."

Charlotte motioned for him to take the call, and she went back into the hall to give him some privacy. Cal followed her, but Taggert stayed behind, probably so he could continue getting Alden's things packed away.

"I was watching you from the window earlier when you were fixing the fence," she told him in a whisper. They walked back to the foyer. "Admiring your assets."

"You can admire them without the glass," he was quick to say.

That got her pulse hopping. The rest of her, too. "Sneak up to my room tonight. Or I'll sneak up to yours."

She saw the split second of surprise flash in his eyes. Then the smile came. So did other footsteps, and one of the painters came in through the front door. He nearly smacked them with a ladder before he noticed them.

"Sorry," he said, heading up the stairs just as one of the other painters called down for him to hurry.

"This is definitely not a private spot," she said, "so you'll have to imagine me kissing you right now."

"I'd rather have the real thing. The fantasy is good, but nothing beats an actual kiss." And then he stole her breath by touching his fingers to her mouth. "The next time I kiss you, I'll have a condom. I'll even keep one in my wallet."

No footsteps this time but a gasp. Cal and she whirled toward the door to find Izzie standing there. It was obvious from her expression, and the gasp, that she'd heard what Cal had said.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear or see that," Izzie remarked.

Her mother's tone was a lot milder than she'd expected, and Charlotte soon realized why. Izzie was glancing around the foyer because she'd likely heard that Alden and Taggert were here. No way would she want to come off with her surliness and demands as she had last time, when Taggert had ended up breaking off things with her.

Izzie's gaze, though, was a lot sharper than her tone, and she glanced at Cal the way someone looked at poop on their shoes. "Could you excuse me and Charlotte for a few moments?"

Cal didn't budge, not until he'd held gazes with Charlotte for a couple of seconds, and she nodded. Despite his earlier insistence that he wouldn't kiss her again until he had a condom, he kissed her anyway. Nothing hot and heavy, but it still packed a punch and caused Charlotte to smile and make a dreamy, sighing noise. Her mother probably thought that was for show, but it wasn't. This heat between her and Cal was the real deal.

Izzie didn't say anything until he had left, and then she stepped into the foyer, glancing down the hall. "Taggert's in Alden's room," Charlotte provided.

Her mother's shoulders pulled back a little. "I didn't ask."

"You didn't have to. I know you want to see him."

That shaved off some of her mother's defensiveness. "I do, but I was hoping he'd come to me so we can talk things out. He hasn't."

"I'm sorry," Charlotte said.

"You should be." Izzie's tone had changed in the blink of an eye. "If you got back with Noah—"

"No," Charlotte interrupted. "I've been into playing out fantasies lately, so let's you and I play a what-if scenario. What if I got back together with a man I don't love, a man I don't want, so that you can have your dream fairy-tale wedding? A wedding that probably wouldn't happen, since you aren't even together with Noah's dad."

Her mother continued her snappish tone. "Taggert and I could get back—"

"Play out the fantasy, Mom," Charlotte interrupted again. "You'd want to get back together with a man because it could create that fairy-tale wedding you're dreaming about. That's not a relationship. That's an arrangement."

"Well, maybe I want an arrangement," Izzie grumbled. She stopped, huffed and shook her head. "I want something more than what I have." Her voice was a lot softer now, and the anger was gone. Not the hurt, though. It was there big-time.

Charlotte wasn't immune to the tears that filled her mother's eyes. But she also wasn't a doormat. Not any longer. And those tears wouldn't send her running back to Noah.

"If you want more with Taggert, then work on that," Charlotte spelled out. "Or maybe someone else. Maybe you just work on making yourself a better person."

"You're lecturing me?" she snapped.

"Yes." And her quick, honest answer was enough to shock her mother into not giving one of her automatic, irked responses.

Charlotte didn't figure the reaction would last long, but then there was some movement from the corner of her eyes, and she saw Taggert making his way toward them. Not quickly. It seemed to Charlotte he'd slowed considerably once he saw her mother.

"Izzie," he said.

"Taggert," she said back.

And that appeared to be the extent of what they intended to say to each other. Taggert finally shifted his attention to Charlotte.

"Alden wanted to go help Maybell in the kitchen," Taggert explained. "I think he was hoping to get samples of whatever she's cooking." He tipped his head toward the van that was still parked out front. "I wanted to tell the crew that it was okay to leave, that Alden's already settling in just fine."

"I'm glad to hear that. By the way, you're welcome to stay for lunch," Charlotte offered as Taggert started out.

The man hesitated, and it was obvious, too: Izzie clearly had no trouble picking up on it or the reason for it. "I won't be staying for lunch," Izzie said. "So you go ahead and enjoy the meal with your son."

Taggert muttered a thanks and walked out.

Izzie watched him for a few moments before she turned back to Charlotte. "I did have a reason to come here other than Taggert. I wanted to see if you were far enough along on the place to send out a photographer to get some pictures for the town's new website. It'll be good PR."

It would be, and the reno was indeed coming along, but the timing was bad. "Give Alden and Harper more time to get settled in. At least a week, maybe longer." Maybe a lot longer, if Harper continued with her current attitude.

Charlotte walked out with her mom and saw Cal waiting in the yard. He was probably worried that her mother would try some strong-arm tactics on her again, so she smiled to let him know all was well. Or well ish , anyway.

"You okay?" Cal asked, approaching Charlotte.

She nodded. Then she noticed there was something in Cal's eyes that had her worrying. "What's wrong?"

"Noah just texted to let me know he'd be visiting his brother in a little while." Cal went closer and held up his phone for her to see. "He said you'd blocked him so he couldn't tell you himself."

"I did block him, and that's part of the reason."

She motioned toward the stains on the end of the porch where the flowers had been before they'd finally gotten hauled to the new compost heap. The petals had caused some greasy-looking spots on the wood when people had stepped on them.

Cal didn't get a chance to voice his opinion about Noah's visit or the blocking because while he was still holding up his phone, it rang, and she saw Audrey's name on the screen.

"Oh," he muttered, and she saw the quick debate he had with himself about whether to answer or let it go to voicemail. He finally answered, and he was close enough to Charlotte that she had no trouble hearing the woman.

"Awesome news, Cal," Audrey said, the enthusiasm practically bursting in her voice. "The best news ever. I finagled a dream job for you that'll keep you in uniform. No way you can turn this one down. No possible way. "