Page 23 of Second Chances

“Really don’t care about Ted. Who the hell thinks a college basketball game counts as a date, anyway? I mean, I know you met him at the dentist’s office,” Amy complained, “but please explain to me how someone waiting for the dentist is even more boring than the dentist?”

Instead of agreeing with her friend, Charlotte said, “Look, Ames, I love you, but if you’re going to criticize my dates, I will just keep them to myself.” Liar, Charlotte scolded herself. Confiding in Amy had been the only thing to prevent her from being depressed about her lack of romance.

Amy snorted. “Good luck with that! Anyway, what I want to know is: what about Henry?”

Avoiding Amy’s stare, Charlotte rested her gaze on the front door of Shorty’s, which had just opened, blowing in none other than a snowy Henry, his silvery blond hair dark from the wet snow, followed by Josh and Effie.

“You know…on the way into town, I drove by his shop, just in case I saw him. I find it curious that we didn’t go over to the coffee shop tonight, because I also saw they are doing an open mic night, and that sounds like something right up your alley.” Amy droned on, but the only man she wanted held Charlotte’s attention captive.

Henry slipped off his coat, laughing at something Effie said, before sliding into a booth across from Josh. How was he more attractive each time she saw him? She tingled everywhere and gawked as Henry plucked a pair of glasses from his shirt pocket. Charlotte gulped the rest of her Cosmo when he put them on to read the menu.

Their food arrived, breaking Henry’s spell on her. “I’m starving.” Amy transferred a slice of the flatbread to her plate along with a healthy serving of poutine. “I see him too, you know,” Amy gently told her. “Why don’t you just go over and say hi?”

Shame flushed her cheeks. “I can’t.” In the three months since they had spoken in the diner, she had waited hopelessly for him to call; when he didn’t, she tried to find ways to casually run into him, but had failed. Miserably. Instead, she thought herself desperate, like the time, a little over a month ago, she had called the shop, hoping by chance he would answer. Prepared with a follow-up question concerning her own Tempest, he had neither answered the phone nor been at the shop when she asked for him. “Over in Clover Lake helping DD”, a mechanic called Phil had informed her. Gathering her courage a few days ago, she went to his shop after school, late enough to ensure he might be alone. She had planned on suggesting they go around the block to the bakery, which served the most heavenly sandwiches: ham sliced so thinly Charlotte swore you could read through it, on crunchy, freshly baked baguettes with a heavy spread of butter. Just after opening his shop door, she heard a female voice trailed by male laughter. As quietly as she could, she closed the door and got back into her car, not even turning her car lights on until she had pulled onto Main Street. It was then that she noticed the newer model Mustang parked along the curb.

“I’m afraid my pursuit of Henry has run its course,” she said solemnly. “So has my hope that he will seek me out. Which, need I remind you, is why I tried dating Ted and Rob. I think the problem is me. I just don’t think I’m the dating type.”

“Hell no, you can’t say that, not after taking two half-assed dips in the dating pool, with men who only have one-syllable names. You know I don’t trust men with those names, especially when they’re only three letters!” Amy declared. “Damn, this beer cheese is good. I’m going to ask for more.” She rose and sauntered to the bar, where she flirted with a man in his late forties pouring a tap beer.

“Hey, Charlotte,” Effie greeted her, smiling down at her from above before bending to give her a quick hug. “I saw that article in the Beverley Bugle today about the oral interp competition. Why didn’t you say anything? Twenty students made it all the way to state? Very impressive.”

Charlotte blushed, not used to being written up in the newspaper. “Thank you. Everyone really worked hard. It feels like we see each other all the time but never have time to talk.”

Effie slid into the space Amy had vacated. “I know. How does that happen? It doesn’t help that I usually blow into musical rehearsals right from the library. They’re going so well, by the way. The musical is going to be phenomenal, but it’s impossible to chat when we’re surrounded by teenagers.”

“Speaking of, I’ve been meaning to ask after your stepdad. How’s he doing? Still working toward a full recovery?”

“Mostly, but his angina is a bit more serious than initially thought. Burnie’s under strict orders to not overexert himself physically.” Effie glanced behind her. “Thank goodness for Josh. He breaks down all the medical jargon for us. I’m so lucky to have him; he’s been so supportive about everything.” She had witnessed the younger couple together many times, and to say that Josh worshipped Effie would be an understatement. He hung on her every word, and Effie often had a story about some small act of thoughtfulness he had done for her. As Charlotte’s eyes landed on Henry, she wondered how he would treat a woman. Her, specifically, like in the haunting dreams she had of him almost nightly. Effie added, “And I’m super thankful for Josh’s dad. He’s been helping my mom with some paperwork for Burnie’s business. You know, all these years he’s been my stepdad, and I still don’t know what it is exactly he does. Something about stocks and bonds.” Effie sighed. “My poor mom. I’ve been more worried about her, truthfully, than Burnie. On her best days, she can be…shall we say…unhinged? I mean, I love her, but she is close to hysterical sometimes. Henry must have the patience of a saint, putting up with her.”

“Hey, ladies.” Amy returned, with a huge grin on her face. “You look like you’re in a deep conversation.”

“And you looked like you were having fun up there.” Effie pointed at the bar before standing.

Amy answered, “Well, thanks to this storm, we’re stuck here for the weekend instead of going to Deadwood. May as well make some new friends,” Amy winked, holding a cup of beer cheese in her hand. “Especially if I score more liquid gold.”

“I should get back to my guys,” Effie said, shooting a look over her shoulder at her table. “Just one more thing, Charlotte, and I hope this isn’t overstepping, but…I’ve been thinking about you and Henry. I think you two would be so well-suited. How would you feel about me setting you up with him?”

Charlotte panicked. Had someone around town seen her driving by the shop and told Effie about it? Maybe one of the guys in the shop gossiped about how she had asked after him the day she had picked her car up last fall? Was she still interested in Henry? Yes. Had she lain awake imagining his hands on her breasts? His mouth on her neck? His hips between her thighs? Had he awakened in her a sexual longing she’d never before experienced? Yes, to all the above, but she had enough self worth to not pursue someone who wasn’t interested enough in her to call her at any point during the past few months, or even come to her table tonight to say hi. “I’m just so busy, Effie. I don’t really have time for anything else, what with the musical coming up in a few weeks. And then school will be ending. Oh, and Amy and I are planning a trip to England this summer.”

Amy raised an eyebrow while Effie’s shoulders drooped. “Okay,” Effie said, “I just thought I’d try; I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. Well, I’m glad we got to talk for a little bit, Charlotte. It was nice seeing you again, Amy. You two have fun.”

Once Effie was out of earshot, Amy asked, “So what’s this about us and a trip? I seem to recall when I brought up the idea you said you wanted to stay in Beverley this summer.”

Charlotte told Amy, “Well, I’ve been thinking it might do me good, especially since I’m teaching a lesson on The Canterbury Tales next year. It will be good to immerse myself in some medieval architecture and art.” Charlotte pushed a strand of hair behind her ear in frustration. “Besides, Henry’s attention is tied up.” Charlotte filled Amy in about Henry helping DD.

“And? That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have time or make time for you,” Amy said.

“The last thing I want to be is a burden or a distraction. I’ve already done that relationship. He’s clearly very busy…too busy for dating.”

“Well, that may be, but you have barely taken your eyes off him since he got here. And for all your talk that he doesn’t feel the same, he has watched you from the moment he sat down.”

“Okay, but if he is interested, wouldn’t he do something about it?”

“Maybe he is as uneasy about dating as you are. Give him a break, Lottie.”

But Charlotte knew it wouldn’t work. And she didn’t want to be anybody’s pity date. “Enough about him. Come on! Let’s take a big trip. We’ve always talked about going to England and exploring the Lake District, Northumberland, Yorkshire…”

“Say no more.” Amy’s eyes testified to their years of friendship. “Let’s do it!”