Page 36 of Second Chance for a Made Man

“Mom, nooo. We don’t want to hear about your pornographic book club at dinner, right Charlie?” Ella groans, nudging her sister.

Donna harrumphs and turns to face her second daughter. “Charlie, you’ve been very quiet, what is it?” Donna asks. I glance at the woman in question. Shehasbeen quiet. Even I noticed.

She glances up at me with something like awe. “I thought I felt the babies kick just now. I’ve been trying to be on the watch out for it. I wanted Ezra to feel them before he left.” I sit up straighter. I would love that.

Donna nods in understanding. “I’m sure they’ll kick again before the night runs out or daybreak. You’re not driving back tonight, are you, Ezra?”

Three pairs of eyes turn to me. “Of course not. After dinner, I’m going to book a hotel room.” I have a plan I’ve yet to tell Charlie–who’s a pivotal part of said plan. A ridiculously simple plan to win over Charlotte, which just might work if I play my cards right. Step one would be getting her to agree to go back to Brattleboro with me.

“A hotel room? Nonsense. I have more than enough room for you to sleep here.”

“Mom.”

“Fine, he can stay at yours and Ella’s place if you don’t want him here. Goodness.”

By this time, we’ve all cleared our plates so we move out of the dining room to a more casual living room than the one at the front of the house. Donna offers me a drink, but I decline.

She and Ella drink Irish cream whiskey, while Charlie and I sip warm tea, which is sweet and surprisingly soothing. It reminds me of Glenmorangie whisky, one of Dad’s favorites. It’s silent at first as we all settle into our seats; then Donna asks if Iwant to hear some of Charlie and Ella’s childhood stories. Fuck yeah, I do.

“Mom,” Charlie complains.

“No, no, don’t worry. I won’t say anything too embarrassing. But he’s giving me my first pair of grandkids; he’s practically family now, regardless of what does or does not happen between the two of you.”

I settle in even more as she starts her story. She talks about the day Charlie’s obsession with all things astronomy, astrology, and anything in between began.

“It was all Charles' fault. He’d been trying to get the girls interested in things like geography and chemistry but they just weren’t. Anyway, he took them to the library one day to get some periodicals because he had it in his head that they might like reading old articles. I’d like to know what eight year old would be interested in that.” She laughs softly.

“Anyway, Charlotte came across a small pop-up book about space and that was that. It was love at first sight to my husband’s disgruntlement.”

I smile as she goes on about how the only topic of conversation Charlie was interested in after that was the constellations in the sky and their story. Everyone in the household ended up learning more about astronomy than they had bargained for.

I lock eyes with Charlie and send up a silent prayer, thanking my lucky stars for once that our paths intertwined at last.

CHAPTER 21

CHARLIE

When Mom starts talking about the day I was finally interested in something other than astronomy–a boy–I jump up from my chair with an exaggerated yawn. “Oh my, would you look at the time? I’m wiped.”

Ella gives me a knowing smile but she plays along. “I have that early morning meeting with the drywall vendor too.”

We say our goodbyes to Mom and she tries to get Ezra to promise to attend at least one of her book clubs. I jump into the conversation before he says something he’ll regret. “I’ll talk to him about it, Mom. Now we really must go.”

Ella and I drove here in her car, but I take Ezra’s offer to drive me back since he says he wants to talk.

“Dinner was great. Thanks for inviting me,” he says as we pull out of Mom’s driveway behind Ella’s convertible.

“I’m glad you liked it.” I shift awkwardly as I give him a bright smile. To be honest, I’ve been nervous about seeing him again all day, especially with the way I ran off on him last week. “You wanted to talk?”

“Yeah, are you free this weekend? I want you to go back to Brattleboro with me.” He gives me a quick glance before turning to face the road.

Go back to Brattleboro with him? I shift on the leather seat again. I’ve stopped working from home since my nausea is mostly gone now, but I can take a day off tomorrow and make it up sometime next week. Perks of being the CEO.

“Why?” I ask as he slows the car down for a yellow light and then turns to give me his full attention. My face heats as I continue, “Is it because of your question last time?”

He frowns for a moment, but then his face clears in understanding. “You mean the proposal? Forget about that. It’s irrelevant.”

“Oh.” I must be crazy because disappointment hits me, and my shoulders sag slightly on an exhale. What is wrong with me? It’s not like I actuallywantto marry him.

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