Page 95 of Second Chances

Trembling as his wits finally caught up with him, he lifted her off her feet, swirling her in a wide circle in her living room, while “Bell Bottom Blues” played in her living room, and it spoke to Henry’s yearning for one more chance. Years since he had experienced such abundant bliss, he longed to carry her around town, informing everyone they came into contact with that he was in love. He supposed, however, that he should tell Charlotte first. He slid her down his body, and as he clasped her hands in his, he looked deep into her eyes. “I love you, Charlotte Berg. I was an idiot to make us wait so long, and I will strive, every single day, to make up for lost time until forever.” Their kiss this time was unhurried, gentle, shared by two people aware of the life they would build together. When their eager mouths eventually broke apart, he said, “I want you to understand that we are on the same page about everything. First: Diadema.” Pausing as Charlotte’s eyes widened, he nodded, “It may take me a while to adjust, but I am going to do my best to only call her Diadema from now on—no more DD. I don’t want any misunderstandings, mostly from her, concerning any familiarity. I heard from multiple people today, including her, that she is going to get herself together, and I hope she does, but she is not my worry.” Henry pressed his forehead to Charlotte’s, her scent making him dizzy, so he closed his eyes to collect himself. “Second: Melanie. I wasn’t completely open with you about her. She’s been texting and calling me sporadically for the past two years. I never said anything because I didn’t want to deal with her. Then, after I met you, I didn’t want to make her an issue for us. I just…I thought if I pretended with you that I hadn’t heard from her, it would make it a reality. Stupid, I know, and maybe if I had acted more…maturely, been more understanding, she’d have told me about Sophie sooner. Maybe not, but I want to believe that she wanted to…even tried to. All that matters is that I know now.” Henry cupped the precious face of the woman he loved. “I never expected her to show up last night, but she’s gone now. Maybe she’ll be back at some point, if Josh wants a relationship with her. But that will have nothing to do with me, and the same goes for the one I’m going to have with my daughter, here, in Beverley, because she’s staying.” Henry had to stop to breathe, having spoken more words at one time than ever before in his life, but Charlotte was worth all of them.

“Thank you for being open with me, but I’ve realized that I’m not bothered or threatened by anyone. If you want a relationship, a friendship, with Melanie, or DD, or anyone else, I’m secure in us.” She leaned up to kiss his delectable mouth. “And by the way, you don’t have to call her Diadema; she can always be DD.” She kissed him again. “Most importantly, I’m thrilled about Sophie staying. Henry, that’s wonderful.” Charlotte warmed at the thought of watching him create a bond with his new daughter.

“She’s so incredible. I can’t wait to get to really know her, try to make up for lost time.” He drew her over to the sofa, and after he sat, he pulled her down onto his lap and laced the fingers of one hand with hers. “When I left you this morning,” Henry softly kissed her, “which was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, I went to the hotel to talk to Melanie. We went to the diner, and I listened to her…talked some, too, but mostly listened. And that is thanks to you, because if you hadn’t said what you did, that might never have happened. And it needed to.” His thumb traced her lips, which opened, and he slipped it inside, seeking her moist heat. Damn, he thought, it was impossible for him to keep his hands to himself. “I needed to close that chapter—both chapters, finally and fully, before moving on. With you.”

Charlotte grasped his hand and kissed his palm, all while her eyes never left his. Her body aching, her tongue flicked out, lightly licking the center of his hand as his pupils dilated, making his sky-blue eyes almost black. She said tenderly, “So let me get this straight—you love me.”

God, did he—more than his brain could wrap itself around. His brain, however, was not the body part responding so…exuberantly…right now. “I love you.”

Charlotte dragged her nails through his hair, fusing her mouth to his; the temperature of their kiss hot enough to burn their shadows into the fabric. “I love you so much, and I missed you terribly last night.” Her fingers worked on the snaps of his shirt.

“Did you?” His mouth tasted the delicate skin of her neck. “We’ll have to make sure that never happens again.”

“Mmm, I’m really thinking we need to make up for lost time,” she dropped back to the sofa, stretching and tugging on the waistband of his jeans. With his mouth pulling down the bodice of her dress, she burned with her need. “I want you, Henry.”

His hands gripped her hips, clasping them firmly against him. “Far be it from me not to give you exactly what you want.”

In the circle of his arms, when their shared heartbeat had calmed, Charlotte stroked Henry’s chest. “When I was coming to you, I wanted to be the one to fight for you…fight for us.”

“Well, I got to you first,” he grinned at her before growing serious. “I couldn’t just wait anymore, not like I did so many times before. I needed to be a man of action, to make my own future happen…our future.” He curled a lock of her hair around his finger.

She raised herself on her elbow. “Oh, I have no complaints about your action,” she laughed. “And I suppose now that we’ve resolved everything, we should make our way to the brunch.”

Henry kissed her forehead. “I’m surprised they haven’t sent out a search party yet.” Reluctantly, he redressed, then held up Charlotte’s dress to her. She stood, raised her arms, and he slid it gently over her head, and with the greatest care, zipped it up in the back. With one last caress of her velvety shoulders, he informed her, “You realize we’ll be the talk of the brunch, right?”

“I’m counting on it.” Her dimples flashed at him.

When they arrived at the restaurant, raucous applause greeted them. “I take it you’re feeling better, Charlotte?” Effie winked, with Josh wrapped around her from behind.

“Much.” More from her need to be close to him than embarrassment, Charlotte pressed her face into Henry’s chest.

“Hey, Dad, next time let me know when you’re off making a romantic gesture,” Josh boomed.

Effie chuckled, “Many thanks to Amy, who let us know where you two were.” Charlotte raised an eyebrow at her friend.

“Hey,” said Amy, hugging Henry and then Charlotte, “enquiring minds want to know.” In Charlotte’s ear, “I snuck out the front door as soon as I could. No need to thank me for giving you privacy.”

“Now that you’re back and Charlotte has finally arrived,” Josh announced, “we’ve got important wedding business to take care of in here.”

Effie clapped her hands in agreement. “Yes, let’s get these presents unwrapped so we can get to the fair,”

After the bride and groom opened gifts, envelopes with money, and greeting cards, the party broke up, with guests beginning to make their way over to Huron for an afternoon at the fair, which is when Trixie swept Henry and Charlotte up in a group hug. “I’ve never been prouder of two people in my life. And to think, none of this would have been possible without me.” Henry and Charlotte laughed. “It’s true! After all, I am the one who encouraged you to take your car into my brother’s shop, am I right?”

“We may as well agree, Charlotte. My older sister isn’t often wrong, but when she is, she’s insufferable.”

“Listen, we all know that you two would still be making moon eyes at each other if it weren’t for me!”

Charlotte nodded. “You really were there for us so many times.” Henry stood behind her with his arms around her waist, resting his head on top of hers. The press of his lips to the top of her head let her know he agreed. “Are you and Brian heading over to the fair now?”

“Well, I wanted to, but he’s got a few chores he needs to take care of, so we’ll come up later.”

“Why don’t you ride with us?” Henry offered.

Trixie shook her head. “As much as you both love me, I don’t want to be a third wheel.”

“What’s this about a third wheel?” They all turned to look at Amy. “I invented the concept, didn’t I, Lottie?”

“I’m not agreeing, but she is riding with us to Huron,” Charlotte pointed out to Trixie.