“It’s fine. I called a cab.”
Charlie leaned against the chipped dresser. Needing a place fully furnished meant every piece in the house had seen better days. “Well, come back as soon as you can. It will give me an excuse to throw a party.”
Will raised an eyebrow. “If that’s supposed to lure me back, you may want to come up with a better strategy.”
Charlie grinned. “You’ll be back. Who else would keep me in line?”
“That’s right. The dark cloud that occasionally blots out the incessant sunshine you carry around.”
“You and your metaphors,” Charlie said. “I’m going to grab something to eat while I still have time. And seriously, don’t be a stranger.”
Whatever. Charlie couldn’t get rid of him even if he tried. Besides Gianna, Charlie was the closest thing to family in his life. He’d trade all the money he’d inherited for one more day with his mom, for one more chance to connect with his dad.
A honk from outside let him know the cab had arrived. Early. That never happened. He shut his suitcase, not worrying about double checking the room. After all, he’d be back. Charlie threw him a granola bar as he passed the kitchen, and he ran out the door and handed his suitcase to the cab driver to put in the trunk. He glanced at Elsie and Jane’s house one last time before forcing himself to forget about her and her aggravating T-shirt.
***
Mr. Bennet sat at the table with his laptop, an amused expression on his face. “Come here, Elsie. I have to share this with somebody or I’ll burst.”
“What’s so funny?”
“You remember Collin, the kid who stayed with us one summer?”
“Your cousin’s stepson? Of course, I remember. He followed Jane around the whole time, repeating everything she said until she’d scream.”
“Well, hopefully he’s matured, because he’s coming to visit us next week. I guess he won the lottery, and his financial advisor suggested he lay low for a while. His friends and family are constantly hitting him up for money.”
“How much did he win?”
“Five-hundred million.”
A glass crashed to the tile floor in the other room and Mrs. Bennet came in, fluttering her hands. “Five-hundred million? I sure hope he likes Jane as much as he used to. Can you imagine how well off we’d be if she married into that?”
“Now Hilda, that’s exactly the kind of thing he’s coming here to avoid.”
She ignored Mr. Bennet and ran out of the room. “I have to call Jane. Elsie! Will you clean up this mess before someone steps in the glass?”
Elsie went to get the broom and dustpan, thinking back on memories with her step-cousin. Little worm. He used to lick the salt off his fingers and reach back into the chip bowl. When he realized it bothered her, he’d stare at her while he did it, a grin on his face. It figured someone like him would win the lottery.
She headed home after cleaning up the glass and found Jane on the couch, surrounded by mailing boxes.
“Did Mom call you with her big news?”
Jane looked up. “Yes, she sure did. It’s all set. We’re having a fall wedding with a huge open bar reception. Vera Wang is going to design my gown.”
“I wonder what ol’ Collin looks like now,” Elsie said, picking her way through the box maze.
“Come see. I Googled him.” Jane turned her laptop screen around and Elsie sat down, pulling it onto her lap.
“Wow. He’s lost all his hair. But maybe that’s a good thing. He had so many cowlicks, his hair never knew what to do with itself.”
Jane cocked her head. “Don’t be so judgmental.”
“I’m not judging, I’m noticing. Five-hundred million dollars. I can’t even imagine that.”
“Three-hundred million. He took it in a lump sum after taxes.”
Elsie laughed. “Wow, you really have been studying up on him. Charlie’s not good enough now that Collin’s coming to town?”
