"Oh, darling. I have missed you too," Mama told him.
Juliette was next in line. She had gotten to know Mama a bit when she and Claude first met, so they weren't strangers.
I stood back, waiting for the hellos to commence, but while Juliette was chatting with Mama, Claude went to sit down in one of the two empty leather chairs—Amelia's chair.
"Oh, why don't you sit in this one over here," I told him, pointing to my chair.
"What's wrong with this one?" he asked. I hadn't told Claude why I purchased two of the same chair. He might have thought it was for symmetry within the décor.
"Nothing, I just—"
"That is Amelia's chair," Mama paused her conversation to speak up.
"Brother, come on now."
"Charlie saw Amelia today," Mama continued.
Claude moved away from the chair. "You saw Amelia today?"
"I did. She was at the airport with her husband and two children." I didn't think the words would come out so easily.
Claude dropped his hands into his pants pockets and rolled back onto his heels. "Brother, I am—"
"It's fine," I told him.
"Well, what did she say when she saw you?"
My gaze dropped to the hardwoods below my feet. I shook my head. "I didn't approach her. She was happy, and it was enough for me to go on with."
Claude ran his hand up the side of his face. "I'm sorry, I am just in shock. I—I'm proud of you, brother."
"Yeah," I said, taking in a deep breath. "We should eat. I don't want the roast to get cold. Thank you both so very much for bringing dinner over."
Juliette cleared her throat and tended to the platter Claude carried upstairs. "I will just need a couple of minutes to prepare the plates," Juliette said. "Charlie, what cupboard is your China in?"
"The far-right cupboard. I'll come in and help you."
"No, no, I am more than capable of helping Juliette in the kitchen," Mama interrupted me.
"I'm going to help too," Penny said, following her mother into the small kitchen.
Claude walked up to me and slapped his hand against my cheek. "Charlie, maybe it's time we found you a nice woman. I hate to see you so lonely, brother."
We had the same conversation many times over the years, but Claude didn't understand what I meant when I said that Amelia was ‘the one’ and always would be. If I couldn't have her, I didn't want to be with anyone, and it was a decision that made me feel comfortable. "I don't know, Claude. I am not alone now. Mama is here, ja?"
"Charlie," he said with a heavy sigh. "You know what I mean, brother. Even you have said before that you want a family of your own."
With Amelia, yes.
"I know, Claude. I just don't think it's in the cards for me."
1Oh my God!
Chapter 37
Current Day
Ifinally talked until Amelia fell asleep last night. Then, I persuaded Emma to get some sleep too, though I think she might have voluntarily listened to me talk for hours more. She has been at the hospital for days, lacking sleep. The hotel next to the hospital offered a good night's rest, but the moment visiting hours began this morning, I was right back where I need to be—at Amelia's side.
