Then she’d made the mistake of googling his name to see what was going on in his life—or what the press was reporting about it, anyway—and came across a headline that’d nearly made her throw up: “Clifford Jackson Seen in Vegas with Model Marija Vidmar.” There’d been a picture to corroborate the brief sighting—of her husband holding hands with the tallest, most beautiful woman she’d ever seen—and she hadn’t picked up her phone since. For all she knew, the battery was as dead as her marriage.
“I haven’t heard from him,” she mumbled.
“Then you need to let him go.”
“I know that.” Instant annoyance had caused her to speak too sharply, but if it wasthateasy to get over Cliff, she would’ve done it already.
“Time heals all wounds,” her mother said, attempting to soothe her, but it was difficult to believe anything could help. Charlotte could barely open her eyes they were so red and swollen from the crying jags that would hit her out of nowhere.
Her mother stood, then bent over to gather the balls of tissue that’d avalanched onto the carpet from the nightstand. “You have to keep up your strength. Come on down and at least try to eat something.”
Charlotte allowed her heavy eyelids to close. “Not tonight.”
“But I have a surprise for you.” Penny was clearly disappointed. “Something guaranteed to cheer you up.”
She forced her eyes open again. Unless her mother could put her marriage back together,nothingwould cheer her up. “Mac and cheese won’t do it this time, Mom,” she said. “But I appreciate the effort.”
“It’s Julian,” Penny said.
Charlotte shoved herself into a sitting position.“Davis?”
Lines of confusion creased her mother’s forehead. “Do you know another Julian?”
She didn’t, but she hadn’t heard from her best friend’s twin brother in years. He’d hung out with them a lotin high school. But when they graduated, they all went off to different colleges. He’d gone to a school on the East Coast to play lacrosse, found a girlfriend and gotten busy. She’d only remained in contact with Sloane. The last she’d heard about Julian, which was a couple of years ago, he’d become a landscape photographer who traveled extensively for work but was now based out of Moab, Utah, where he’d opened his own gallery, and he’d become engaged tosome woman who worked for one of the travel magazines that featured his photographs. She probably would’ve heard more about him, but Cliff hadn’t liked Sloane, and Sloane hadn’t liked Cliff, so even her relationship with Julian’s sister had been mostly nonexistent in recent years, especially once Sloane got married and moved to Seattle just after telling Charlotte about Julian’s engagement. “What doeshewant?” she asked her mother.
“Didn’t say. He just came to the door to see if you were home, and I invited him to join us for dinner.”
She groaned. “Youdidn’t...”
“Why wouldn’t I?” her mother replied. “You’ve always loved Julian.I’vealways loved Julian. I was happy to see him, especially because I thought... Well, I thought he might be able to help me pull you out of this... funk.”
Her sinuses were plugged, making her voice sound nasal. “I’m going through a divorce. It’s not a funk. Anyway, look at me.” She grabbed a tissue and held it up before blowing her nose, which she’d wiped so often in the past week she could’ve played Rudolph in a Christmas show. “I haven’t showered for three days. I don’t want him or anyone else to see me like this.”
“Then take a few minutes to clean up,” she said. “You’ll find us in the kitchen when you’re done.”
“I can’t face getting ready! Tell him I don’t feel well,” she said to her mother’s retreating form and flopped back down on the pillows.
Penny turned at the door. “Charlotte, please. Staying in bed isn’t doing you any good.”
It was better than allowing others to witness the depth of her devastation. That was probably what Julian had come to see; it was what everyone on the internet was speculating about. Millions of strangers were talking about her online, probably dying to catch a glimpse of her. If someone happened to takea snapshot and post it on the internet, she could only imagine the number of views it would get...
The world was no longer safe. “I’ll eat later,” she said.
“You’ve been putting me off for days.” Her mother gestured at the rumpled bed. “I can’t see you like this anymore. If you won’t come down, I’ll call him up.”
Panic gripped Charlotte, causing her to bolt back into a sitting position. “No!”
Her mother didn’t even hesitate. “Come on up, Julian!” she yelled in a fatalistic voice.
The sudden movement had made Charlotte’s head swim. She put a hand to her right temple. “Mom!” she said, her voice a harsh whisper.
Penny winced as she glanced back, but she was far more determined than Charlotte had expected. When Julian came, she merely turned to the side to make room for him to get past her in the doorway before she left.
“Youlook good,” he said sarcastically.
All too aware of her greasy hair, swollen eyes, red nose and blotchy face, Charlotte sniffed. “That’s the first thing you’re going to say to me?”
“Pretty hard to ignore the obvious.”
