Finding Charley (Full Circle) (18 page)

“I think I just threw up in my mouth!  Yuck!  Please tell me you’re not gonna let it go far.” 

“I promise I’m not.  That’s why I need y’all to run
an interference at the New Year’s Eve party.”

“I’ll call all the Kluft girls and see if they are in for New Year’s.  I’m sure they will, but Char, stay safe.  I can’t wait to see you.  Have a Merry Christmas.”

I hang up with Georgia and call Piper.  We are meeting for a last minute shopping trip to get something festive for tonight’s party.  Then, I look at Dylan’s text.

Dylan: I’ve dreamt of you all night again & missed u at GPAC this morning.

Dylan: my lips missed yours 2.

Oh
my gosh! I really think I’m gonna be sick.  I grab my sanitizer from the bedside table and wash off my hands and wipe down my cell phone.  Not like it’s gonna do anything since it was just a text, but it still gave me the creeps.   It’s the first time I’ve seen him say or type something that bold since this charade started.

I shake the thought from my head and gather my things to shower and get ready for the mad dash to Northlake with Piper.

As I’m drying my hair, Tessa comes into the bathroom and almost scares me to death.

“Don’t do that shit, Tess!”

“Sorry, I just wanted you to know I talked to Cash this morning.”  My mood suddenly changes, and I feel a happiness that I’ve lacked since I woke up.

“What’d he say?”

With a huge grin, she acts like it’s a big secret.  “Spit it out, Tess!”

“He said that he can’t wait to see you tonight, and he will be on his best behavior.  Oh, he also said something about meeting him later.  I don’t really remember those
details.”  She giggles, knowing that was the most important part.  I take my comb and chunk it at her.  She ducks and begins to laugh harder.  I cut my eyes at her, and she knows I’m done with the conversation if she doesn’t have the info I want to hear.

“Hey, Tessa, do you wanna go shopping with us today?”

“Heck yeah!  Can I see if Sally wants to go, too?”

“It’s fine by me, but that means we have to be careful what we say.”

“Never mind then because we have got to talk about tonight.”

I finish getting ready, and we talk to Mama until Piper arrives.  We load up in Piper’s car and make our way to Northlake.  Traffic is horrible.  What were we
thinking?  It’s Christmas Eve.

“Y’all, can we like rethink this plan?  Traffic is insane!”  Piper says.

I look at Tessa, and we both raise our shoulders.  I just need a dress that screams Charley, something in which Dylan would approve, but more importantly, Cash will love later tonight.  This could be difficult.

“Hey, since we’re close to Lebo’s, can we just check there?”  I ask.

Piper and Tessa look at me like I have got to be kidding.

“Char, we could have gone to the damn General Store for that!”

With a pouty lip, I reply, “Not really.  Lebo’s has so much more, and if there’s nothing there, then we can hit up TJ Maxx.”

That brings a smile to their faces, and we are at Lebo’s in no time.  I walk inside and glace at the women’s clothing.  I see it.  I know exactly what dress I need, but that might mean a new pair of boots in my future as well.

To my right is a black sequined zebra print dress with an asymmetrical hem, cap sleeves, and a scoop neck.  It’s perfect.   I just hope they have my size.

Rustling through the rack, I find my size and hurry to the dressing room.  As I make my way there, I notice a pair of Corral crystal inlay boots that are a perfect match with this dress.  Glancing down the shelf, I find a size eight, grab them and take everything into the dressing room.

I slide on the dress.  It’s light, hugs at the right spots, and is just enough for the party.  Slipping on the boots, I look into the mirror and know without a doubt that this is the outfit. 

“Char, hurry up!  Let’s see it!”  Tessa exclaims from outside the dressing room.

As I open the door, Tessa’s mouth drops, and Piper squeals like I’ve found the perfect prom dress or something.

“Char, Cash is gonna fall out when he sees you!”

Tessa speaks her mind, “More like be ready to take her out of that dress.”

I place my hands on my hips and give Tessa the look.  I turn around to change, but before I do, I look into the mirror one last time.  Cash is going to love it!  The boots totally set it off, and Dylan will approve, too.

I hurry to dress, pay, and cringe at the total as I pass my debit card to the clerk.  The clerk laughs as she swipes it and gives it back.  I take my card, place it back into my wallet and we head toward the door.

We make our way to TJ Maxx, find Tessa and Piper new outfits for tonight, and then return to Grassy Pond.

“So, Charley, what’d you get Cash for Christmas?”

“Actually, it’s kinda something for both of us.”

“Whatcha mean?”

“I got two tickets to see Florida Georgia Line in February.”

Tessa bursts out in song while pushing down the power windows. “Baby you a song, you make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise.”

“Roll up that damn window!  It’s freakin’ cold in here!”  Piper exclaims.

I smile.  I love these two, and they have been here every step of the way.  “Yeah, I thought it would be fun, but now I’m worried ‘cause what if all this mess isn’t over by then?”

“He can take me instead,” Tessa states with a straight face.

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Hey, no need to miss out on a good country boy in action.”

“Oh, I’ll be going. No worries. I pray this shit with Dylan is over by then.”

“Speakin’ of Dylan,” Piper pipes in, “what’s the deal with tonight?”

“Okay, the party starts at seven thirty.  Dylan is coming around eight.  That gives us a little time to get ourselves together.  Plus, that way Cash will hopefully get to see me first.”

“Sis, you know that’s gonna be a problem.  Cash is one that is going to wear his emotions on his sleeves.  You know his parents will get there earlier, and he will be with them.  I just pray y’all can have a moment alone before the other guests arrive.”

“That would be fabulous.  I just need him to hold me for a minute.”  Tessa and Piper glance at each other.  “What?  I do!  There is just something about those arms.  I feel lost without him.  I just keep telling myself this is all worth it.”

“Char, it will be, and I can’t wait for that asshole Dylan to rot in hell.  I wish Joe could have come down, but that would look too suspicious.  I thought about inviting him for New Year’s.  What do y’all think about that?”

“I’d love for him to be here because I do need to apologize, but how do you think that will play in with Dylan?”  I ask.

“Joe’s been trying to play in with our game as well.  He’s trying to get back on Dylan’s good side, or at least let him know that you and Cash are finished.”

Those words sting as I hear Piper say them.  I never want us to be finished.  When that happens, it will be when one of us leaves this world.  Until then, Cash Money is mine forever and ever.

As we hit the Grassy Pond city limits, we make a few last minute plans before we get to the farm and stop by Piper’s house to grab a few things for tonight because she’s staying. 

When we arrive back at the farm, the sun is starting to set.  Mama has already turned on all the Christmas lights in the house, and the large pine is lit up like the tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

We hurry inside the house and check to see what my parents are up to.  Dad is helping Mama
finish the food in the kitchen and looks all spiffed up.  No longer is he wearing his dirty Carhartts, thermal shirt, and boots; he’s in a pair of “dressy” Carhartts with a solid button-up shirt.  I have to say that he does clean up nicely.  One thing he won’t do without is his camo ball cap.  It’s his trademark, just like my boots.  My heart warms as I watch them work together, not realizing that they have an audience.

“Hey, girls!
  Y’all look like you bought out the store,” Mama says.

“Charley, is that a Lebo’s bag, young lady?”  Dad scowls.

“Yes, Dad, but I had to have this dress.”

“I’m not worried about the dress; I’m worried about the price tag on the boots!  Did you use my credit card for emergencies only?”

“No, sir.  In fact, I used my debit card.”

Mama tries to hide a smile and laugh.  “Hun, you do know we’re paying for it regardless.”

“Well, who’s to stand between a girl and her new pair of boots?”

I run up and hug my dad. “Thanks!”

Tessa looks at Piper. “Dang, if I’d known that, I’d have bought out TJ Maxx!”

We go to my room and take turns showering while singing our hearts out to our local country station that is now playing Christmas music.  There’s something about anything Christmas that will put you in a good mood no matter what is going on. 

“Y’all, we have got to listen to this CD!  It’s like classic Christmas!” Piper says like a giddy child.  I look at her and see that it’s Mariah Carey’s
Merry Christmas
album.  She’s right. It’s a classic and just keeps getting better and better. 

About song number four, Mama knocks on the door to make sure that we are going to be ready before people arrive.  As she is about to close the door, I hear her welcome Cash’s mom.  I smile, knowing he’s downstairs,
but I have to pretend like I don’t.  I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and focus on the task at hand.  Taking Dylan down.

When I open my eyes, Piper and Tessa are staring at me.

“Char, are you okay?”

“Yeah, this is just gonna be hard, Tessa.  All I really wanna do is run into those arms, but knowing that I have to act otherwise is tearing me up inside.”

“Well, I tell ya what.  Tessa and I will go down first and get a feel for everything.  Then, you make your entrance, and we will somehow find a way for Cash and you to be alone.”

“Y’all are the best!  I love y’all. You know that, right?”

They both envelop me in a hug before going downstairs.  I pace back and forth while continuing to sing to the CD. 

“Miss You Most at Christmas Time” bleeds through the speakers, and I feel the tears begin to build.  I walk toward my bathroom because I can’t cry, ruin my makeup, and be a hot mess.  Instead, I nee
d to hold the pieces together.

I grab a makeup sponge and begin to touch up my eyeliner, and as I move toward the mirror, I see the most beautiful e
yes ever to cross mine.  Cash.

As I turn to face him, his arms are already open.  I wrap my arms around his neck and breathe in his strong scent.  All the pinned-up emotion I’ve been holding in since last
week wants to release, but I know if it does, it will be one big overflowing dam, so I decide to pull myself away.

“How’d you get up here?”

“Two of our favorite girls let me in on a secret.  Something about me needing to see you first.”

I feel bashful for the first time in a long time, almost as if it’s Cash
seeing me for who I really am.

“Don’t do that, Char-coal.  Move back and let me see why I had to see ya first.”

Stepping back from Cash, I let go of his hand and back out of the bathroom.  Once I’m a few feet from him, I stop and put my hands on my hips and wait for a response.

He looks me from head to toe with his smile growing wider and wider with each inch. I twirl for him to get the full effect.

Before I make the full 360 degrees, Cash has closed the distance.  He takes my hand and pulls me into him, like we are dancing at the local country bar. He dips me back and lays the sweetest lips on Earth to mine.

He brings me back up, and I don’t let go; instead, my lips devour his.  I’m hungry for him, and I know that I have to make this end sooner than later.

“Char-coal, I gotta get back down there, or my parents are going to start wondering.  If we’re both missing, it’s not gonna look the way we want it to.  Meet me at the club tonight.  Just have Tessa text me when you’re on the way.”

“Aight.
  Oh, and Cash Money, you look rather handsome tonight.”

“Do I?  Well, you’ll have to tell me all about it later when I know we have time, just you and me.”

He lifts my chin so our eyes meet and brushes his lips with mine before going back downstairs.  I give Mariah one more song before I make my grand entrance.  It’s still early, so there is time to help Mama. 

Making my way down the stairs, my nostrils are hit with Mama’s famous hot chocolate, and I can hear everyone hurrying to get the last minute touches together.  My hand glides down the railing as I li
sten to all the conversations.

I make my way to the kitchen to help Mama place the last of the food onto the dining room table.  She has anything a
nd everything you can imagine.

As I start to snatch one of her cheesecake bites, she smacks my hand.  “Char, at least get one from the fridge. Don’t mess up my
platter.”