huh?”
“Let’s get it out of the way.”
He nodded and smoothed his pants leg. “It’s pretty simple. It’s authentic. The notary was a woman at the Ranger office, and she said Ray was the same as ever.”
“An ornery son of a bitch?”
“Might have been the implication. It’s all yours, and you are the executor.”
“Is that normal?”
“Yes, and it simplifies things. Unless you think Mary will challenge it?”
“I haven’t heard from Mary since she sauntered out the door, laughing her ass off. Which has me worried.”
“You think she knows something you don’t?”
“Mary is long-suffering and selfish. I suppose she has a right to be.”
“I don’t think she was that big a help to Ray. Emmadean and Dormer are who deserve something.”
“I’ll give it all to them. I don’t want anything of Ray’s. Do you know about my father’s business these last few years?”
“No.”
“He sold his cattle.”
“I heard.”
“He loved cows.”
“Maybe he was tired of being around cows all day and coming home to take care of more at night.”
“But, he kept the chickens?”
Charlie laughed and shrugged dramatically. “What can I tell you, Nora? You father and I didn’t exactly socialize, and when he saw me, he barely gave me the time of day.”
“My father could hold a grudge.”
“What did I do to deserve a grudge? You ran out on me, not the other way around.”
“And you got my best friend pregnant in retaliation.”
“After you wouldn’t answer my letters.” Charlie stood and went to the credenza. “You broke my heart, Nora. Can’t you even appreciate that? Apologize for it? When I went on vacation, everything was fine. Surely you remember that last night.”
I didn’t answer, but I did. After four years together, our relationship, our sex life had gotten stale, and Charlie had been on a mission to fix it. I don’t know what he read or watched but that night was the first time we ever came together. He held me after and apologized for being a selfish partner, and promised it would never happen again. Most guys when their high school relationship goes south break up, knowing there would be a bigger pond to fish in at college. But, not Charlie. He didn’t like to fail, at anything.
“I’m sorry, Charlie. I truly am. You were my first love, and you deserved better.”
He nodded slowly, watching me. “What was that yesterday, when you said Ray kicked you out of the house. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to tell me why?”
“Like I said, it was all a long time ago.”
“Were you pregnant?”
“No. Why would you think that?”
“Nothing else made sense. Nothing. It still doesn’t.”
“Me leaving had nothing to do with you. You weren’t at fault at all.”
“That’s it? That’s all the explanation I’m going to get?”
“There’s nothing else to tell.”
With his body half-turned away from me, Charlie flipped through some papers on his desk. I couldn’t give Charlie the answers he wanted. Little did Charlie know, it wasn’t only my secrets he sought. I stood to leave.
Charlie looked up suddenly. “I hear you and Sophie have made up.”
My shoulders straightened in my defensive posture. “Did Sophie tell you?”
“Logan said you two were talking and laughing at the club. Did it feel like old times?”
I thought about Sophie sitting there, sunglasses on, head lifted just enough so she didn’t look arrogant, but sure of herself. Very much like the girl I remembered. “Yeah, it did.”
“So, you did make up.”
“We did.”
His voice was gruff. “I think having you around will be good for Sophie.”
“She looks like she’s doing fine. Great job, beautiful family.” I paused. “A husband who adores her.”
Charlie pursed his lips, as if debating what to say, or if to say anything at all. He opened his mouth, but I continued, suddenly sure he was about to divulge more than I wanted to know. “Tell me about the campaign.”
“Yes,” he said, sounding relieved. “We’re setting the groundwork for the midterms next year. We’re having a fund raiser a week from Saturday. If you’re still here, you should come.”
A year from now the credenza would have a photo of the two of them standing on a stage with Logan, arms raised as Charlie celebrated his win. My heart clenched. Was it jealousy, or lost possibilities?
“Don’t tell Sophie, but we’re going to get her a cake for her birthday the next week. Double celebration.”
I mimed locking my mouth and tossing the key. “It’s a busy time at work. I might need to get back. Can I do most of this remotely?”
“If you want to put all