Revel (Second Chance Romance #1) (14 page)

Charlotte had watched Declan leave, grateful to see his car pulling out of the driveway. She needed to get out and she hadn’t wanted to risk leaving the house if he was watching her.

She’d contemplated leaving Charleston. And she was still thinking about it. But for now, she’d wait and see. She’d paid for the rental house and it was non-refundable. Though she wasn’t hurting for money, she didn’t want to waste it. She could avoid Declan. And he probably wanted to avoid her too. If he knew what was good for him, anyway.

So she’d gotten dressed, fixed up her hair and headed downtown to King Street for some retail therapy.

It was so different being back in this city with money. She felt like she had arrived in a way, and after valeting her car at Charleston Place, she’d walked around for blocks, strutting her stuff in her Givenchy skirt and YSL top, a pair of sensible but stylish Tory Burch flats on her pedicured feet.

Much to her dismay, The Dixie Garden had been replaced by a Starbucks, but everything else looked almost exactly the same. It was a beautiful day, albeit hot as hell, and Charlotte couldn’t help but be temporarily boosted in her mood, swept up in the hustle, bustle, and energy of King Street on a sunny summer afternoon.

Despite the bombshell dropped on her head last night, she could choose to be happy today. After all, she’d come to Charleston to find that place again, the part of her heart and spirit that was capable of joy, even after being hit with life’s worst.

As she walked down the narrow sidewalks of King she noticed a woman walking toward her who looked incredibly familiar. But how? Charlotte barely had any friends or acquaintances when she’d lived here. So how…

Allyn Legare. It was obvious as the woman got closer. It was her old roommate. Damn.

Charlotte was tempted to duck into a store to avoid her. But then part of her wondered if Allyn would even remember her. And another part of her wanted to show her how well she was doing now. She was torn.

Ultimately, the decision was made for her. Allyn locked eyes with her once she was about ten feet away, and though Charlotte felt like she looked different, Allyn recognized her almost immediately.

“Charlotte?” Allyn said, her drawl still as syrupy as it had been ten years ago. “Charlotte Sanders, is that you?”

Charlotte feigned surprise, “Yes! And… Allyn? Is that you?”

Allyn nodded vigorously, a huge smile lighting up her face, something that caught Charlotte off guard. “Yes! Oh my GOD! Charlotte Sanders! What are you doing here? My Lord, I can’t believe it. Where are you going? What are you doing? Do you have a few minutes to catch up?”

So many questions at once, and Charlotte was still in shock to even be standing here talking to Allyn after so long.

“Well, sure,” Charlotte said, smiling. “Want to grab a coffee?”

“Yes! Let’s do it!”

A small coffee and pastry shop was across the street and the two girls sashayed their way around stopped traffic to get to the other side.

“I guess we just jaywalked but to hell with it!” Allyn laughed as they both entered the café. “I just can’t believe I ran into you. Wanna sit down?”

“Um, yes,” Charlotte agreed. “Sounds good.”

The two women, who had only known one another as girls, sat across from each other in a narrow booth, both awkwardly quiet for a time. Neither knew what to say.

“Charlotte,” Allyn finally started. “I’m really glad to see you. What brings you to Charleston?”

Charlotte smiled, “Just a little vacation. I’m the partial owner of a practice in Nashville and I needed a break. A sabbatical.”

“Practice? Are you a doctor?” Allyn asked.

“Yes. An obstetrician.”

“Just like you said you would be,” Allyn said. “Wow. That’s fantastic.”

There was something so different about Allyn Legare now. The condescension was gone, the snobbishness. The grown up Allyn Legare was bright eyed with a kind smile and seemed genuinely interested in how Charlotte was doing. Charlotte had no idea what to make of it.

“And you?” Charlotte asked. “How are things?”

Allyn smiled, “They’re okay. I’m a stay-at-home mom to twin girls. They’re in school right now, but I’ll pick them up in a bit. They go to the Baptist school down on Meeting.”

“Oh, nice.” Charlotte wasn’t sure what else to ask.

“So,” Allyn said. “I should probably say something so it’s not so awkward.”

“Okay…” Charlotte said, suddenly nervous.

“I really need to apologize to you,” Allyn said, somberly. “I was a real shithead to you when we were roommates. And I’ve felt bad about that for a long time. Especially after you ended up leaving town. I felt like I might have had a part in that, and I can look back and really acknowledge what a bitch I was to you.”

Charlotte sat there, shocked. It was the last thing she had expected.

“I tried to look you up online a few times,” Allyn continued. “But girl, you don’t have any social media accounts!”

Charlotte laughed, “Yeah. I’ve been slow to adapt to that whole thing. My sister makes fun of me for it.”

“No, it’s a good thing,” Allyn said. “I respect it a lot. It means you’re actually living life and not just doing it vicariously through a screen like so many of us do.” Allyn smiled. “You look gorgeous. But then again, you were always beautiful. I was so jealous. So many things seemed to come easy to you. And I was dealing with so many issues with my self-esteem and sense of who I was. But you always had it so together!” Allyn laughed. “No wonder Declan DeGraff fell so hard for you! God, so many girls envied you.”

Charlotte shook her head, “That’s so insane. I didn’t have it together at all! I was poor as dirt, always stressed about money and class, and all kinds of things. And you and so many other girls seemed so carefree and vivacious.” Charlotte sighed. “It’s funny. I guess you just never know what a person is going through.”

Allyn nodded, “Ain’t that the damn truth.” She reached her hand across the table and placed it on Charlotte’s. “I hope you can forgive me. I really feel like this was my chance to tell you in person how sorry I am. I’ve actually prayed somehow it could happen. Selfishly for me, but also for you. I was lucky to have you in my life, even for a brief amount of time. And I wish we could have been friends. I could have used a Charlotte Sanders in my life.”

Charlotte found herself almost tearing up, “Wow. Allyn…Of course. Thank you, for apologizing. As far as I’m concerned, we’re friends now. If you’re ever in Nashville, I’m just a phone call away.” She was surprised to know she meant it.

“Well, that’s great!” Allyn beamed. “But you know what? I’d love to see you more while you’re here! How long are you staying?”

“I’m not sure,” Charlotte confessed. “Maybe a couple weeks.”

“Fabulous! So you can come out to the Carolina Ball!”

“I can?” Charlotte asked. “What is the Carolina Ball?”

“It’s this event we hold for charity. I’m on the committee for it. It’s actually tomorrow night, which I know is short notice. But I would love for you to be my guest. My husband is out of town. We can sit at a table and drink and gossip and have a good ol’ time. What do you say? It’s an open bar!”

Charlotte laughed, “Well, you did kind of say the magic words right there.”

********

By the next night, Charlotte was starting to regret agreeing to this whole ball thing. It helped her keep her mind off Declan and his revelation, but other than that it seemed like a lot of work to get gussied up. And Charlotte dreaded having to socialize.

Allyn had her housekeeper bring over three gowns for Charlotte to pick from.

“Since I’m springing this on you, the least I can do is dress you,” Allyn said as they’d left the café the previous day.

“Are you sure? I could run to the mall or something,” Charlotte said.

Allyn shook her head, “Nope. You’re wearing couture, honey. You’re going to be the belle of the ball!”

The thought of wearing a designer dress in a room full of people who would have at one time ignored her as she served them limp Caesar salads was more than a little tempting. Allyn was really giving her a chance to have her own coming out in a way. And she couldn’t help but accept.

But now that it was time to actually go, Charlotte was dreading it. She really just wanted to stay home and listen to the ocean while she sat on her porch and drank wine, staring at Declan’s house and reliving the past in her mind.

That was until the dresses arrived. All three were exquisite. One was a Badgley Mischka in blue, another was a Carolina Herrera in red, and then an especially stunning Valentino in blush pink. Charlotte’s head was spinning at the options. She had no idea which one to choose.

She texted Allyn:
This is insane! These dresses are gorgeous. How am I supposed to choose between them??

Allyn replied:
Such a terrible problem to have, I know! If I were you, I would go with the Carolina Herrera. The red with your coloring will knock everyone to the floor when you make your entrance.

Charlotte replied with a smile:
Red it is
.

********

If there is anything Charleston knows how to do, it’s throw a party. The Carolina Ball was one of biggest social events of the season, something Charlotte had remembered hearing about the year she’d lived here. She never in a million years would have ever thought she’d be attending it as a guest. Especially as one of Allyn Legare’s.

As she waited for Allyn to come pick her up (She’d insisted on it. “That way we can drink as much as we want!” she’d cackled over the phone) Charlotte took one last look at herself in the full length mirror in the bedroom.

Right at six o’clock, a sleek stretch limousine pulled up in her driveway. Charlotte couldn’t believe it.

“A limo?” she asked as she gingerly sat down on the soft leather seat next to an already tipsy Allyn. “You go all out.”

“Oh yes!” Allyn giggled. “And by the way, va-va-va-VOOM. Charlotte Sanders, you are a smoke show. The red really was the best choice.”

“A smoke show?” Charlotte laughed. “Jesus, you’re drunk already.”

“It’s the only way to get through these sorts of events,” Allyn smirked. “Now you need to catch up. Drink some damn champagne.”

********

It was the type of event where people’s entrances were actually announced. The ball was held inside the South Carolina Society Hall, a historic building that had seen its share of cotillions, balls, and weddings over the last hundred years.

As Allyn and Charlotte got to the entranceway, a stout old man bent over to ask who they were being escorted by.

“Each other!” Allyn said. “I know, it’s scandalous.”

The man looked at her with a gruff expression, one that reminded Charlotte of Henry DeGraff.

“Tradition says you need to be escorted in by a gentleman,” he scowled.

“Well, being that my daddy just paid to have this place renovated, I think I can skip on tradition, just this once. So, please. Announce us. Allyn Legare Huger and Dr. Charlotte Sanders.”

The man rolled his eyes, but two minutes later he announced their arrival, causing the entire room to stare at them in astonishment.

“I really do love shocking these pretentious assholes,” Allyn said, as she took Charlotte by the arm and led her toward the bar. “My husband would be so pissed if he saw me do that. Which makes it that much more fun.”

Charlotte laughed, “Good Lord, you have changed.”

Allyn smiled, “That’s the best compliment I’ve received in a long time.”

The two women giggled like school girls as they asked the bartender for a drink.

“Let’s see,” Allyn thought out loud, tapping her manicured nails on the wooden bar. “Since we’re trying to be traditional, let’s have our first drink in honor of Charleston. Two shots of GrandMa, please.”

“Grandma?” Charlotte asked as the bartender began to pour. “What did I miss?”

“Grand
MA
,” Allyn enunciated. “Grand Marnier. It’s a Charleston thing. Leave the mint juleps and bourbon punch to the Yankee tourists.”

Well, Charlotte wasn’t one to be rude, and four shots of GrandMa later, she was feeling pretty damn good. There was a warmness floating inside her, and between Allyn’s contagious laugh and the music, Charlotte had almost completely forgotten the drama of the last 48 hours.

Almost. Until a familiar name was announced.

“And I’m proud to announce,” the stout man at the door suddenly bellowed. “Charleston’s very own has graced us with his presence. Declan Degraff! Mr. Degraff is… unaccompanied.” This last line was said with a hint of disdain.

Charlotte’s heart dropped into her empty stomach. The booze hit her all at once and she felt like vomiting. But then she remembered the dress she was wearing probably cost more than her car, so she refrained and attempted to gain some composure.

What the hell was he doing here?