Chapter 44

44

Charlie

Charlie’s Luck:

There’s no such thing as Forever Man.

The grand opening was a smash hit. Everyone loved the pub, and Dad and I identified several regulars right out of the gate, men we knew would be parking their bums on the same stool most nights for the foreseeable future. We worked hard to make the night a success, and judging by the standing-room only and the hours-long wait for a table, it succeeded.

I worked my arse off for the sake of my family’s reputation. I couldn’t help but want anything with the Fig and Bramble name to be good and right, even if the entire enterprise could be handed over to someone else in the near future.

Hudson had left to take my father home shortly after midnight. It was after two in the morning when I finally made it back to the bunkhouse and slipped into bed with him. I vaguely remembered thrusting my hips into his hot mouth and releasing down his throat, but then I was out like a light.

We were run off our feet the rest of the weekend, and when I woke up Monday morning, it was to the reminder Hudson had left the night before. The two of us had never had the chance to discuss his job options, and now he was in Chicago presumably meeting his new bosses.

The usual familiar faces were present for breakfast in the farmhouse kitchen when I walked in.

“Morning,” I mumbled, focused on making my way to the coffeepot.

“You look rough,” Doc said with a smirk. “And here I thought Irishmen could handle long nights at the pub.”

Dad barked out a laugh as I pretended to elbow Doc and swallowed the first sip of the good stuff. “Funny. Full of craic this morning, yeah?”

“Something like that.”

Darci looked like I felt. Depressed as hell. “Hudson’s off to Chicago today.”

I shuffled over to her stool and wrapped my arm around her from behind, kissing her on the head. “I know, love. It’ll just be us chickens. Think we can keep each other company?”

“Will you teach me how to pour a pint if I come by the pub later?”

“Of course I will. Be sure and bring your friends for a few rounds of darts. I’ll see if I can find a photo of Hudson and run copies to put on the dart boards. Serves him right for leaving us.”

That got a smile out of her.

We got on with our breakfast routine as usual, and when it came time for me to head to the pub, I remembered my goodbye with Hudson the previous night.

“You’ll let me know when you arrive? Eat a hotdog for me? Let me know if it’s truly windy there? And phone sex me tonight?” I’d asked, batting my eyelashes.

He’d smiled. “Slipped that one in there, huh?”

“It had to be said.”

We’d kissed for a long time before I’d finally pulled away. I’d gazed at his lovely face. “Don’t fuck anyone else in the city,” I warned.

“Damn. And I had such big plans too. You think if I did, I might get to see that Irish temper again?”

“You haven’t seen Irish temper yet, Hudson Wilde. If you’re lucky, I’ll show you this weekend when you get home.”

I arrived at work with a big smile on my face and the memory of his twinkling eyes. Anyone could make it a handful of days before seeing their love, right?

But it turned out to be a full week. Because his first meeting turned into more meetings. I could hear the excitement in his voice and began to realize he was happy there. Which, of course, gave me mixed feelings. I was thrilled he would be going to a good situation, but I was selfishly disappointed he was so happy there.

We called and texted plenty. Several times a day, every day. But it was damned near impossible to feel close to someone that way. It reminded me of how useless any of this was. When I went home to Ireland, we’d never be able to keep it up anyway.

When he cancelled his flight home Thursday night and swore, yet again he only needed one more day, I realized I needed to end things. Make a clean break and let him go to Chicago without the drag of a boyfriend holding him back.

“What’s got you in a funk?” Doc asked Friday morning when we were sitting on the porch swing sipping coffee.

“I miss him,” I said.

“Oh, honey,” he said, moving over closer so he could put his arm around my shoulders and squeeze me into a side hug. “He’ll be home tonight.”

“I know, but this isn’t going to work, and right now it doesn’t even seem like I can get enough time with him to tell him that.”

Doc kissed me on the head.

“He does this, Charlie. Throws himself into his job. Talk to him. Make him to listen.”

I shrugged. “I don’t want to force him to take me into consideration when evaluating his career options. And I sure as hell don’t want to force him to give up work that’s important to him to spend time faffing about with me. But he told me he has to fly back for another meeting in a few weeks. He’ll miss the stock show in Houston. The thing is, he was really looking forward to it. It wasn’t just me. I’ve been to a million of them. But he has a childhood memory of going to the Houston show with Grandpa and seeing the dogs, and he said going back with me was on his bucket list. And now it’ll be over for another year. At this rate, I won’t be here another year. If nothing changes, I’m only here for another month or so.”

I felt like a whiner. This man didn’t want to hear someone disparage his grandson. And, honestly, I didn’t want to be someone who disparaged him either.

“You’re right,” I admitted before he could say anything. “I just need to talk to him.”

After showering and dressing for work, I called him.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he said when he answered. The deep comfort of his voice calmed me.

“Hiya, stranger. Look, I know you’re probably busy, but I was hoping to schedule a time for us to catch up. When do you fly back?”

“I land in Dallas tomorrow night late. I thought I might stay over at Saint’s and drive to Hobie first thing Saturday morning. I’ll call you when I get settled at Saint’s though, if that’s alright? Around nine thirty?”

My heart sank. I’d hoped he’d drive to Hobie directly from the airport regardless of the hour.

“Okay. Everything going well in Chicago?” I asked.

“Yes. Exciting things going on here. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.”

“You sound happy,” I said, picturing the smile on his face I could hear in his voice.

“I am. Very happy. But I’d be happier if I was with you.”

After we ended the call, I felt even worse. I’d hoped he’d ask how I was. I guess I’d hoped for anything other than to talk about his job, the job I was fairly certain would kill him softly.

But I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. I couldn’t very well expect him to talk about our relationship while he was in some corporate office building in Chicago. I’d be patient and wait until our nine-thirty call.

Only, when nine thirty came, the phone never rang.