“I wish I could, but I’ve got to finish up here and get home. Long day.” Cora clung to her honor code even when she hated it.
“Understood,” Charlie said, smiling and nodding his head agreeably. “So I’ll see you in a few days?”
“Definitely. Good luck with Oliver’s homework!” She waved awkwardly and moved away from him quickly, hoping to avoid running into Madison in her waterlogged state.
Cora had a hard time focusing on the books. She kept glancing around the store, trying to catch another glimpse of Charlie so she could study him from afar. What was it about him that unnerved her?
The books in the theater reference section weren’t quite what she was looking for. They were too anchored in the intricacies of technique and offering tips for trying to survive as a “working actor.” She shuddered. She didn’t want to be an actor. She wanted to find a book that would give her the confidence to stand in front of strangers with Maggie’s bulletproof self-assurance and Aaron’s preening swagger. Even though she knew her dog training stuff, Cora had to admit she was in short supply of both self-assurance and swagger.
When the book titles on the shelves stopped making sense, Cora decided it was time to pack up and go home. One quick turn through the café wouldn’t hurt anything, would it?
When she glanced around the room, her eyes were drawn to Charlie in a far corner, his head cradled in his hand, reading intently. There was only one cup of coffee on the table. She watched him for a moment, trying to decide if she should walk over or escape unnoticed. He looked up as though he felt her eyes on him and caught her staring. Her face went scarlet.
“Hi,” she mouthed to him, waving again.
“Come sit,” he mouthed back, gesturing to the seat across from him.
She shrugged and threaded her way through the crowd to him.
“Change your mind? Sit down, let’s chat.” He started arranging his belongings to make room for her.
“No, no, I really shouldn’t.” She looked down at the magazines in front of him, and he followed her gaze.
“It’s all car stuff. I’m looking for a new car and wanted to read up. Now that we’ve got Oliver my Bimmer ain’t going to cut it. And you can bet he’s never going to set foot in Madison’s little TT.”
“You’re buying a car just for Oliver? That’s awesome! What kind?”
“I’ve pretty much decided on a Range Rover. Can’t you picture it? Me and the O-man, rolling in our Rover?” He pantomimed being behind the wheel. “You can come for a spin with us!”
If Madison didn’t exist, that might have sounded like a prelude to a date. Despite their professional arrangement, it still felt like the invitation was leaning more toward pleasure than business. She decided to clear up any confusion. “That would be fun, we could work on his car manners. Oliver’s a lucky dog, you’re really looking out for him.”
“Yup, he’s gonna be a baller in his new car. Hey, I’m excited for our next session. And of course Oliver is, too. He was totally in love with you.”
“The feeling was mutual.” Cora’s face burned.Were these double entendres?
Charlie slammed his palm on the table, startling Cora. “I almost forgot! I meant to e-mail you after you left last week to tell you that Madison is going to be away for the next few weeks on an assignment. So it’s going to be just you and me. Is that all right?”
“Yup,” she sqeaked. “It’s fine, it’s great! I mean, it’s better to have the entire household take part in training, but that’s not always possible. We’ll be fine. It’s okay. Is she upset about missing it?” Cora was babbling.
“Yeah, she seemed like she didn’t want me doing it alone, but I don’t want to wait until she comes back—too much time for the O-man to forget his lessons.”
“That makes sense. Okay. Cool,” Cora answered. She knew she needed to make her face look normal but she couldn’t stop grinning. “Anyway, I’ve got to head out, I’m sure my dog is sitting by the door with his legs crossed. You know how that goes.”
“Actually I don’t. Oliver pees whenever the mood strikes.”
“I guess we need to focus on potty training next time!”
“Please. And is it okay if I text you with questions in between sessions? I promise I won’t pester you, just once in a while.”
“No problem, of course.” There was no way that Charlie Gill could ever pester her. She pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket and tried to keep her fingers from trembling as she entered his number.
SIX
Cora arrived home to find Maggie and Fritz sprawled on the couch together, TV blaring. Fritz leaped from his perch to greet Cora, nailing Maggie in the gut as he dismounted.
“Oof, dog! I’m gonna need a kidney transplant someday thanks to you!”
Fritz and Maggie were fast friends, and their bond made Cora love Maggie a little more, if that was even possible. Maggie was the sister Cora had always wanted—the perfect mix of partner in crime, cheerleader, sympathetic ear, and court jester. Cora was still slightly in awe that this petite force of nature allowed her into her orbit. Maggie was a postmodern pinup feminist, with the allure of Monroe tempered by the convictions of Steinem.
