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“I thought that was you behind the wheel. Good to see you again,” Marc said.

“You too,” Charlotte said as butterflies soared in her stomach. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

“I called earlier and asked if it was okay if I popped in to bring you guys up to speed on some information I uncovered.” Marc made a face. His lips twisted. “My Dad has a chemo session and a visit with his oncologist later this week, so the rest of the week is pretty full. I appreciate you ladies being flexible.”

“Oh of course,” Charlotte said, her heart sinking at the notion that his father was so ill. “How is your father doing?”

“Not too well if I’m being honest.” Marc looked down at the ground. He let out a sigh. “I swung by the house earlier. Day by day I see the changes. His body is being ravaged by this disease. I honestly don’t know how he’s fighting it as hard as he is.”

“Chemotherapy takes a lot out of patients,” Charlotte said. “It kills cancer but it also acts as a poison toward the body.”

“Exactly,” Marc said. “It’s such a delicate balance. At this point the chemo isn’t going to cure him. It’s just prolonging his life. And the doctors are deciding whether or not to even continue with it.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said, unable to fully imagine what the Carbon family was going through. She loved her one parents dearly. What would it feel like to know that they were slipping away from you? And there wasn’t a single thing you could do about it, other than be there for them.

Once again she felt a tinge of guilt at how badly she’d treated Marc. The poor guy was already going through hell. It hurt her heart to know she might have made things considerably worse for him.

“If there’s anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to ask. Even if it’s something as simple as picking up medicine or bringing your dad something to read while he sits for chemo.” Charlotte tossed the offer out there without even thinking about the fact that she and Marc weren’t really friends. They had reached a place where they’d agreed to be cordial and work together for the best interests of Savannah House.

Marc’s eyes widened. She wondered if he thought her gesture was overstepping her position. In truth it was something Charlotte had done for several of her friends. It was her nature to want to help rather than hurt. The only reason she’d been so bitter toward Marc was out of a need to protect Case. After all, Case had always been her hero. Her protector. She owed it to her brother to be loyal to him. Charlotte shuddered. If not for Case, the bottom would have fallen out from under her. Her entire world would have been shattered.

“That’s very generous of you. We’ve got things covered, but I appreciate the gesture.” Marc’s expression was guarded. He seemed to be taking stock of her, as if he couldn’t quite figure her out.

As they walked toward Savannah House, side-by-side, the front door of the inn opened up. Case, with Fancy beside him, walked out the door.

Charlotte felt her eyes widening. This was incredibly bad timing. What was Case doing here? And now he had to cross paths with Marc, his nemesis.

For a moment no one spoke. Fancy stood as still as a statue. Charlotte felt tongue-tied. She eyed her brother warily. She knew how much he disliked Marc, the man who had fallen in love with his fiancé. Case seemed to be gritting his teeth. Al

l Charlotte could do was hold her breath and pray no nasty words were exchanged. She knew her brother had forgiven Fancy and put the episode firmly in the past, but seeing Marc in the flesh at Savannah House could stir up old feelings.

“Hello,” Marc said, nodding in Case and Fancy’s direction.

“Hello Marc,” Fancy said. She gently nudged Case in the side.

“Hi,” Case said flatly. He barely looked at Marc. Instead he focused on a spot in the distance.

“Well this isn’t awkward at all,” Charlotte blurted out. Oh no! Why had she just said that? Her nervousness always made her overly chatty. She had just wanted to fill the silence with something—anything so it wouldn’t be so tense.

Case looked at her as if she had gone a little crazy. The corners of Marc’s mouth twitched. Fancy looked as if she’d rather be cleaning toilets than standing so awkwardly between Marc and Case.

“Well, Case was just leaving, so I’ll see you two in a few minutes.” Fancy looped her arm through Case’s arm and led him toward the back of the driveway. Charlotte hadn’t even noticed her brother’s car parked there. She had been too surprised by Marc’s appearance at Savannah House to notice anything else.

Marc opened the door of Savannah House and held it open for Charlotte. Just before she stepped inside, she cast a glance over her shoulder at Case and Fancy. She could tell by the tilt of her brother’s head and his posture that he was uncomfortable. She let out a sigh. Had Fancy been wrong about bringing Marc on board to help with the investigation of Grayson Holloway? She would hate it if there was strain in their relationship. Their wedding was rapidly approaching.

“Is something wrong?” Marc asked with a frown.

“I just wish things weren’t so strained,” she said in a low voice. “And I’m not blaming you, Marc. I always thought Fancy was naïve to wish for bygones to be bygones, but I’m now seeing the benefits of it.”

“It will all blow over if we act like adults,” Marc said. “I’m honestly not looking for trouble. If it doesn’t work out to hire me, just say the word. I promise you, there’ll be no hard feelings.”

Charlotte was beginning to wonder if that might not be best for all concerned.

As they walked past the grand staircase, Olivia stepped out from the front desk to greet them. “Hey, Charlotte.” She nodded her head at Marc. “Hi, Marc. Thanks for stopping by to get us up to speed on the investigation.”

“I could have emailed you a report, but I actually like to look my clients in the eyes when I give them information. Sorry if I came at a bad time.” Charlotte could tell that Marc’s apology had everything to do with her brother being at Savannah House.

“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Let me round up the other ladies. Callie’s not here. She wasn’t feeling well earlier and Jax came to pick her up.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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