Chapter Ten

"I'm so tired," Edwin says, flopping down into the chair across from Charlotte. He takes a sip of the lemon and honey tea she prepared for him then lowers his head down on the table. "Can you wake me up in a few days?"

Charlotte chuckles, even though she knows how tiresome this whole experience has been for him. "You've made it through two rounds. Only two more to go."

"Don't remind me," he says, sitting up again so he can take a few more swallows of his tea. "I'm not sure how much more of this I can go thru."

"You've come too far to give up now," she encourages.

"I miss being here and seeing my customers. I miss seeing you." Edwin reaches up to caress the side of her cheek. "I miss spending time together. Laughing, singing to you."

"I miss you, too, Edwin. My dorm has pictures of you plastered everywhere. They're all rooting so hard for you."

"Oh, I almost forgot. I have a few tickets for Friday night's show in my car. Luckily, I was able to get a few extras so if anyone wants to come, you can pass them out."

"They'd love that."

"I know Deanna gets a few passes too, but these seats are in the lower section. I should add, if they don't mind sitting beside my mom. I swear, when I'm backstage, I can hear her screaming above everyone else."

"That's what moms are for. She's so proud of you." Charlotte knew from the first time she met Vivian Wesley that she was going to like her. Experiencing the talent show together has brought them closer than she ever imagined.

Lifting the mug to his mouth, Edwin finishes the last of his tea. "That was really good."

"Do you want me to fix you another one?" Charlotte asks, standing up from her seat.

"Sure, if you don't mind."

A couple of customers recognize Edwin and stop by the table to wish him words of encouragement. Someone even asks if he'd mind signing their son's cast. While he misses his customers, the experience has been far more rewarding than he ever imagined. Even if he doesn't advance after Friday night's show, he's learned so much.

"Thanks so much," the little boy says when Edwin is done adding his name to the light blue plaster. "I will treasure this forever."

Edwin can't help beaming even though he knows it's silly of the kid to say such a thing. He scratches him on the top of his head.

"Do you mind taking a picture together?" the father of the little boy asks.

"Not at all," Edwin beams. Despite the way he feels, he'd never turn down the chance for a photo with a fan. "Come here, buddy."

The kid stands next to Edwin, the smile on his face stretching from one ear to his other.

"I'll be rooting for you," he says and Edwin gives him a high-five.

"Thanks, man."

"You bet'cha."

Edwin strolls over to the jukebox, selects a song, and casually makes his way back to the counter to wait for Charlotte.

"…well, since my voice has left me, I found a new drink to try, down at the end of Highway 50, at the Coffee Loft shop…"

He mimics the words of the ever popular Heartbreak Hotel, then laughs at his own pitiful version. It doesn't exactly rhyme, but the girls behind the counter get a good laugh.

"I put it into a to-go cup for you." Charlotte hands him the steaming hot cup of tea a few minutes later. "Now get home and get some sleep. You've got a big performance ahead of you."

Taking her hand in his, he stares intently into her eyes. "Thank you."

On Friday morning, Edwin rushes to meet with the costume coordinator to pick up his attire for the group's performance during the show tonight. The choreographer decided at the last minute to change their song, so it was well after midnight before he got home.

"Hmm," he says, stepping out from the dressing room, his arm stretched over his head exposing a two inch hole in the fabric. "I don't think this is going to work."

"Gracious. How did that happen?"

"Is there time to fix it?" he asks.

"Of course. I just need to add a couple of stitches. I'll have it fixed in no time."

"Do you want me to wait? Or should I come back?" Edwin checks the time on his phone before changing back into his regular clothes.

"It's up to you. I should be able to start on it, say, in the next hour."

"Hour?" Edwin repeats, his face filled with worry.

"I'm only kidding. Give me about fifteen minutes and I'll have it repaired."

True to his word, Edwin is back on the road again in no time. Instead of heading home, he swings by the grocery store to grab a bouquet of flowers before heading over to the school. He hasn't thanked Charlotte nearly enough, and he hopes she will at least appreciate the small gesture. Especially since they've hardly had time to do more than chat on the phone these last couple of weeks.

Instead of calling to let her know he's on his way up, he hurries into her dorm. The RA recognizes him right off the bat and buzzes him through.

Out of breath from taking the stairs, he takes a moment to catch his breath before knocking on her door. He can hardly wait to see the look on her face when she sees the flowers he got her.

After knocking several times with still no answer, he finally gives up and goes back to his car.

Edwin: Where are you?

Several minutes pass and he decides to send her another message. Often times she has the volume turned down on her phone, so it's possible she doesn't hear her phone's incoming message alert.

Edwin: I'm outside. Can you let me in?

It's possible she's at the library studying or hanging with her friends, so he finally gives up and leaves. While he'd thought the flowers would be a nice surprise, he's sure his mom will appreciate them just the same.

The surprise, though, is on him when he walks through the door at home and finds Charlotte in the kitchen baking cookies with his mom.

"Edwin," she says, dropping the oven mitt onto the counter and rushing over to him. "We're making your favorite."

Vivian walks over, a fresh, right-out-of-oven pumpkin cookie with brown butter icing in the palm of her hand. "Careful, it's still warm," she says and passes it over to him.

"Oh, my gosh. This is so good," he exclaims, taking a second bite of the ooey gooey goodness. "Can I have another one?"

Charlotte begins to snicker. "We were beginning to think you weren't coming back. You're in luck. This is our second batch."

Looking down at the flowers, he begins to explain what took him so long, starting with the torn shirt then him stopping by to see her at school. "So, you see, these were originally supposed to be for you. And when you weren't there, I figured I may as well bring them to my mom."

Vivian kisses her son on the cheek. "You're so much like your father, do you know that?"