“Thank you,” I muttered, barely loud enough for them to hear. I glanced between Mom and Ledger. Leaning closer to her, I lowered my voice like a child confessing his fears. “What do I do about Charlie?” I asked, feeling small and helpless in a way I hadn’t felt in years.
I needed her. I needed her more than I’d realized.
Mom squeezed my hands. “Give her some space,” she said softly. “Let her process. This is a lot for her, Austin. For both of you. But she loves you. I can see it—anyone can. She just needs time to breathe.” Mom gripped my hands tighter. “Go see Scarlette tomorrow. Focus on being there for her. And if Charlie’s not home yet when you’re back, go to her. Let her know how much she means to you. Fight for her, Austin.”
Her words were heavy but comforting. I nodded again, letting out a shaky breath. She was right. One step at a time. Scarlette first, then Charlie. I just had to trust that I could make this right.
40
charlie
“I would have let you come with me on my vacation,” Jennie said from the other end of the line.
“Or you totally could have crashed our family camping trip,” Sara added.
Jennie had called me as I was driving to my brother’s from the airport, and when I filled her in on what had happened, she insisted we add the other girls to the call.
I was in the back of a car Jacob had sent for me. I insisted I could Uber because I knew he was working, and I sprung this on him last minute, but I was appreciative of the car.
“How are you doing?” Maura asked. “Really doing?”
I shrugged, though I knew they couldn’t see me. “Not great,” I admitted.
“Can we help you?” Sara asked.
“No. I think I just need to stay here with my brother. Christmas is in a few days, so it’ll be best if I just hang out here.”
“Are you going to see your mom?” Jennie asked.
The girls knew my relationship with her was strained, but that was all they understood. I never bothered to expand because it was, well... complicated.
“I probably will have to, but I really don’t want to.”
“Can I throw in my unsolicited two cents?” Maura asked.
“Go ahead.”
“I don’t think he meant any harm. He was probably just as blindsided by the situation as you were.”
“Maybe, but he should’ve told his wife the moment he found out. She’s his wife. Going out to breakfast with his ex the next morning before talking to her only made it worse,” Jennie said.
And that was exactly why I was so upset with him. It wasn’t just about breakfast—it was the pattern. Someone else was always first, while I was left as the runner-up. I wanted to have this moment together for the first time—having a baby together—but then it was ripped from my hands, and he didn’t bother to talk with me first.
“I want him to be a dad. I think he deserves that, but I feel like I have a right to be upset with him too. I feel like I should’ve been clued in to it.”
“You should,” Sara agreed. “You’re right.”
I leaned back, watching the city skyline fade into smaller towns as we approached Jacob’s apartament. “I’m here, so I gotta run, guys.”
“Call us later?” Jennie asked.
“We’re here for you,” Sara added.
“Thanks, guys. I don’t know what I did to deserve you all.”
“Well, you do supply us with the best gossip, so...”
Laughter burst from the other end, a fit of giggles brightening the goodbye before we hung up.
