Page 74 of Third Time is the Charm
“Don’t be, Beth. I’m just glad it’s all finally out there; a huge weight was lifted off of my chest. I’m in a much better place now. Darcy got me a job in the accounting department at Fitz which I’m really enjoying – who knew numbers were my thing? I have my own place; I’m starting to make my own friends. It’s a new beginning for me.”
“I’m glad to hear that at least.”
“I emailed you though, because I went to get the remainder of my things from my mom’s place yesterday and I overheard her and Caroline talking; I didn’t think anyone was going to be home and since I let myself in, they didn’t realize anyone else was there,” Anne explained. “I overheard Caroline say that she was going to go up to Boston.”
God, no.
“I’m sorry, Beth. I think she is realizing that my mother’s generosity is only extending so far and soon she will be forced to move out and be back on her own, especially since I left, I think my mother is finally realizing what her schemes are really costing her,” she surmised. “When I heard that though, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t hear anything else, but especially now that you told me that Darcy was up there and you are working on reconciling, and after everything that happened at the wedding, I’m even more concerned.”
Her mouth felt like sand as she tried to find the words to respond.
“Thank you for telling me,” she managed to get out thickly over the wall of fear that was building in her throat.
“Maybe since Darcy was back these past few days, she won’t go,” Anne offered. “I’m sure that she or my mother have some way of knowing that information.”
“Yeah… maybe…” Beth tried to sound comforted.
“I’m sorry, Beth. I just wanted you to know so you could be prepared.”
“No, really, thank you. I will. I’m going to tell Darcy tonight so that we can be prepared.”
“Ok, be careful. I know I don’t need to tell you that, but be careful, please.”
“I will,” she tried to reassure her friend. “I should get back to work though.” They’d been on the phone for almost an hour.
“Yeah, me too. I’m so glad I got to talk to you. Please let me know if I can do anything.”
“You’ve already done so much, Anne. Thank you. I’m sorry again for not reaching out sooner; I was an idiot, but I think I’m better now.” A weak excuse for a laugh left her lips. “We’ll talk soon, ok?”
“Ok.”
Beth hung up the phone and stared out blankly in front of her.
Caroline was coming.
Chapter 22
She had hoped that Darcy would be there when she got back to her apartment, but just as she walked in the door her phone buzzed with a text from him.
-Just boarding.
She’d wanted to talk to him about Caroline as soon as possible, but she had a feeling that he was purposefully getting in after she left for dinner because he was worried he wouldn’t be able to control himself enough to let her go if he was physically here.
She dumped her bag onto the kitchen stool and went into her bedroom to quickly change. Her heartbeat picked up at the sight of her bed completely messed, remembering how it became that way. Warmth spread through her body as she threw on a flowy, mid-thigh length skirt and a simple, white fitted t-shirt – both of which she’d grabbed from her old room, along with a few other things to add to her non-existent, non-work wardrobe. With a pair of wedges, she looked cute but still semi-professional – in her opinion.
Turning to walk back out of the room had her glancing at the bed one more time, wondering what was in store for tonight; the thought stopped her in her tracks. Biting her lip between her teeth only partially stopped the devious smile that spread over her face as she reached up underneath her skirt and pulled off her underwear.
Just a little something to welcome Darcy home with… or without.
With a satisfied smile, she tossed the thong into her hamper and walked back into the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of wine from what was left of the bottle that Darcy had brought. She hadn’t touched it all week, but right now the imminent task of breaking up with Col, even though they weren’t technically together, was an anxiety that she didn’t need with the threat of Caroline coming to Boston.
She had one sip left when she heard a knock on the door. With a fear that she hadn’t felt in months, she looked through the peep-hole this time before opening it – confirming that it was in fact Col on the other side and not a Crazy Bitch.
“Hey there, beautiful,” he greeted her. His face lighting up with a smile on seeing her as his hand extended with a bouquet of white roses.
Shit, this was going to be hard.
Beth felt her stomach turn at the excitement on his face, knowing she was about to wipe it off.
