Page 3 of Snow's Charming
“Sesi? Is that you? Goodness, you’ve grown!”
I turned to the gentlemanly voice to my right. His eyes were as blue as the topaz earrings my father gave me for my 16th birthday. They beamed a familiarity to me, as did his face, but because it had been ten years since I saw any of my father’s friends, Icouldn’t place a name with the kind face staring back at me.
“You probably don’t remember me, or the rest of the Lone Wolf’s Fury Brigade, but we used to visit your dad often before—” His voice broke as he placed a hand on my shoulder.
I knew exactly why his voice broke. It wasn’t a secret. After Mom died and my father remarried, no one visited. I’d always had my suspicions about my stepmother isolating my father from his army buddies. They were too close to lose touch. Hopefully, I’ll get my proof today that I was right. Not that it mattered to anyone but me. Jackie and my situation wouldn’t change, but at least I’d know the truth.
I smiled before responding. I’d hoped it’d soften the blow that I’d forgotten all their names after ten years had passed.
“I remember all of you, but I can’t recall your names. I was still so young back then.”
“I’m Chary—well, my call sign is anyway.”
Suddenly, a flood of memories rushed through my mind. Chary Charming, yes! Now I remember.
“That’s because you were the cautious one in the group—right?”
“Excellent memory, Sesi.”
“It’s coming back to me in bits and pieces! There was Thick, Bear, Doc, Joker, Ges—short for Gesundheit, and Sleeper—right?”
“Wow! Younailed it!”
My stepmother crossed her arms, and a loud clucking sound escaped her lips.
“I thought I had told all of you that you were not welcome here.”
Chary brandished a smirk as he responded to her.
“We aren’t here for you, Jackie. The Brigade came to pay their respects to Baseline and his kid. We only want to talk to her, and once we are done, we will be on our merry way.”
“That’s upsetting. I’m sorry you can’t stay long, Chary. It would have been nice to catch up,” Jackie said in a sickly sweet tone as some of my father’s business associates walked up to her. Thank goodness for small favors.
“Are you all here?”
It was then that Chary flashed me his genuine smile. Not the one he gave my stepmother moments ago.
“Yes, Snow. We are all here for you.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and directed me to the back of the parlor. As soon as I heard the group of men laughing, the icy feeling I’d had moments ago with Jackie melted from my body.
“LWFB, do you remember our youngest brigade recruit?”
His arm seemed to radiate a protective vibration through my body. Something I hadn’t had since my father fell ill with cancer. God, how I wished the cancer had stayed in remission. Sadly, it didn’t, and, of course,I was the one taking him to all his chemo sessions while his supposedly loving wife went for spa treatments.
“I can’t believe it’s you! You’ve grown up so fast!” said Ges as he wrapped his arms around me. Once he released me from the hug, he sneezed. “Sorry, I’m allergic to perfume.”
“I’m sorry! It’s Jackie’s, not mine. I don’t wear perfume. Let me—” I took a giant step back from him, hoping the distance would help.
“Don’t apologize! I’m allergic to like 58 things, according to my doctor. This damned body isn’t a temple—it’s a torture chamber—so please don’t blame yourself.”
“If you insist.”
“Chary,” stated Joker in a boisterous voice before placing a palm on Chary’s shoulder. “Wouldn’t now be a perfect time to tell her?”
Before Joker could finish his statement, Chary put out a hand to silence him.
“Don’t go there. It’ll be hard enough to convince her to come with us to the inn.”
“Actually? I had planned to drive down early tomorrow morning—but tonight works for me. My stepmother told me I’ve worn out my welcome at her house,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Why Dad left her anything in his will is beyond me. I mean, he loved her—but I think he was the only one.”
