“No?”
“No, she was getting out of the way, because she thinks I might be better off with Angel than with her. At least, she thinks I should consider the possibility.”
Joe pursed his lips. “Why?”
Ben shrugged. “When she went to find you that morning, she saw me and Angel talking.”
Joe raised his eyebrows.
“There’s nothing going on between us, but Angel wanted there to be, like I told you.”
“And instead of giving you a hard time about it, Charlotte is saying you should give it a try?”
“Yeah, she is, but I don’t want to. I wish everyone would just get off my case. It’s Charlie I want. It always has been and it always will be.” Ben stared out at the lake for a moment. “I know we need to get to know each other again. I know we aren’t the same people that we were back then, but I also know I love her and I’ll never love another woman.”
Joe held his gaze for a long moment. “You know your own mind, son. You know your own heart. I don’t think anyone’s on your case. And I’m sorry if I came across that way. It’s just that it’s been so hard to watch you all these years. I always hoped that someday, someone would come along who could make you happy. Just when it seemed like that might happen, that that someone was Angel, Charlie shows up again. You know I only want what’s best for you.”
Ben let out a short laugh. “That’s exactly what Charlie said. She wants the best for me, she wants to see me happy. Even if that means I’m not with her.”
“Sounds to me like she has done some growing up.”
Ben nodded. “She cares about me. She always has.”
Joe drained his coffee and set his mug down on the table. “Well, I’ll be on my way then, and let you get after her.”
Ben followed him to the door. “Do you have some reason you’d rather see me with Angel than Charlotte?”
Joe turned and looked him in the eye. “I just think it would be an easier road. A fresh start. Angel comes with no baggage. At least not shared baggage. You and Charlie, you hurt each other. For the two of you to be together you’ll have to wade back through the pain before you find new happiness. I just don’t want to see you hurt. Maybe I’m being too protective, that’s all. You know I love Charlie.”
Ben nodded. “Thanks, Grandpa.”
Joe gave him the slightest nod and grasped his shoulder, before letting himself out and making his way down the stairs.
Ben went back inside and sat down on the sofa. He buried his face in his hands. Why had Charlie left like that? And why did he feel guilty that Angel had seen her at his place? He blew out a big sigh. He was going to go after Charlie; he couldn’t worry about Angel. His phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket. It was the front desk at the Lodge.
“What’s up?”
“Sorry,” said Rita. “Are you on your way? We’ve got a bit of a problem.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “I’ll be right there.”
He dialed Charlotte’s number as he closed the apartment. He wouldn’t be able to go after her just yet.
“Hey,” she answered cheerily.
“Charlie, why did you leave like that?”
She was quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry. Ben, I’m really sorry. I know that was stupid of me. I just, I didn’t know what to do. I’ve kept telling you that maybe you and her … But then, when she was there, I couldn’t stand the thought of it. But I didn’t want to make things difficult for you, so I just left.”
Ben sighed. “I wish you hadn’t.”
“So do I. I’m sorry.”
“Can I come over and see you later? I have to go do some troubleshooting at the Lodge first.”
“Yes please, I’d like that. Give me a call first, though? I’m going to pop to the grocery store and run a couple of errands, and I don’t want to miss you.”
“Okay, will do. I might be a while.”
