“Oh shit, Charlie. I’m sorry.” Rosie passed her a shaker jar filled with orange and black sprinkles. “Don’t worry about making a mess because I can clean it up later.”
“Thanks.” Charlie opened the jar and shook it over the pumpkin-shaped cookies. “My dad offered to let me stay in the garage apartment, rent-free. Originally, he’d built it for his mom—my Granny Helen—who came to live with us when my grandpa died. Once she went into assisted living, the apartment wasn’t being used. Dad told me to fix it up however I liked. I only intended to stay for a year, but somehow…”
Somehow, one year had become two and then three. Even when Charlie had chafed at her mom’s intrusiveness, she hadn’t made any steps to move out.
Rosie began adorning the bat-shaped cookies with sprinkles. “I don’t blame you for taking advantage. Considering how much I pay for rent, I can see the appeal. That being said, even if my parents won the lottery and built me an apartment over their garage, I’d never live with them.”
“I thought you liked your family. Didn’t you say your mom stopped bugging you about being single after you and Drew got together?”
“That helped, but she can still be a lot. Lately, she’s been asking when Drew and I plan to get married. And whether we want kids. It’s better if I limit my time with her to holidays and family dinners. That way, I can retain my independenceandmy sanity.”
Charlie remembered attending one of those dinners and envying Rosie’s bond with her family. But she also recalled all the times Rosie had complained about her mom’s matchmaking attempts. “Do you think I should move out?”
“It’s up to you. If you’re fine with the way things are, you don’t have to change. But it sounds like your mom is up in your business a lot. And it’s not cool she’s been trying to get you back together with your ex.”
“Yeah, even though I made it clear I’m not into Randolph, that doesn’t mean she won’t try again. Or attempt to set me up with someone more ‘suitable’ than Knox. In terms of money, I’m doing okay. I don’t have any more debt, and I pay off my balance every month. But I still don’t think I could afford my own place.”
Rosie rummaged around in her cupboard until she found a couple of cookie tins. She set them on one of the counters. “What about moving in with Laurel? She told me she’ll need a roommate in December.”
Charlie recalled Laurel mentioning it during their coffee run to Alma’s. At the time, she hadn’t considered herself a possible candidate. “That would work. I’m surprised she hasn’t found someone already.”
“The timing’s tricky because it’s so close to the holidays. But if you’re going to take this step, do it for yourself, not for Knox. You spent all that time trying to please your mom and Randolph. Make sure this is what you really want.”
Charlie nodded. It might not be an easy transition, but it was the right move. No matter what happened with Knox, she needed some distance from her parents. This way, her mother wouldn’t know whether she’d had a “friend” over to spend the night. And she wouldn’t randomly pop in to invite Charlie to an event where she’d lined up a potential beau.
“I’m sure this is what I want.” Just saying the words strengthened her resolve. “I’m going to call Laurel and see if she still needs a roommate.”
“I’ll bet she’ll be glad to hear from you.” Rosie set her bowl in the sink. “What about Knox? Are you going to try talking to him?”
“I want to, but…he might need a little more time to cool off.” Things between them were so fragile she didn’t want to push him too hard. “We don’t work together until Tuesday, so I’ll wait until then.” Seeing him in person would give her a better sense of his mood.
“That’s a good idea. And if things work out with Laurel, he’ll probably be happy you took the initiative.”
“I hope so.” First, Charlie needed to apologize for getting him thrown out of the gala. Then she could tell him how their argument had inspired her to take control of her life. Surely, that would help him realize how much she cared about him. Even if their relationship was pretty new, she didn’t want to lose him.
But before she tackled Knox, she needed to talk to Laurel.
And then she had to break the news to her parents.
That was the part that scared her the most. Not the act of moving out. But the conversation she’d need to have, to tell her mother what she’d decided.
Twenty-Seven
After spendingthe past three years living above her parents’ garage, wavering over whether to strike out on her own again, Charlie didn’t expect to resolve her dilemma so effortlessly. But by Sunday evening, it was done. All it had taken was a phone call with Laurel, a meet-up at her apartment, and a handshake agreement. Come December first, Charlie would be moving in with her. Though Laurel’s building was on the older side, it was within walking distance of two coffeehouses and a fifteen-minute drive from the Duchess.
Only one step remained. Charlie needed to talk to her parents.
Maybe her news could wait. After all, she’d accomplished a lot in one day.
Don’t be a coward.
If she didn’t face them now, she’d probably put it off until the last possible minute. Better to give them plenty of notice. She went inside their house and found them seated in the living room. Her father was reading a thick tome about the Hudson’s Bay Company while her mother leafed through a fashion magazine. Neither of them appeared to be dressed for an evening out. Charlie caught a whiff of something savory and heard activity from the kitchen.
Her father looked up from his book. “Would you like to join us for dinner? Magda’s making hunter’s stew and steamed dumplings.”
Magda was a Polish chef who cooked for the Frasers three nights a week. On those occasions when Charlie had joined her parents, the food had been excellent. The hunter’s stew was among her favorites, with its mixture of kielbasa sausage, potatoes, bacon, and sauerkraut.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.” She sat down on the stiff, floral-print armchair across from the couch and took a deep breath. “I wanted to let you know I’ll be leaving the apartment at the end of November. I’m moving in with my friend Laurel, who works with me at the Duchess.”
