The Bachelor (29 page)

“Forget my heart. It’s yours I’m worried about. A coin toss?
Loser
gets married and has children? What in heaven’s name did your father and I do wrong that turned you boys against marriage?”
His mother’s hazel eyes filled with moisture.

“Dammit, Mom, don’t cry.” He was a sucker for her tears. Always had been, which he thought now was a partial answer to her
question. “Who told you?” He put an arm around her and led her to the patio chairs out back.

She narrowed her gaze. “That’s not the point, is it? Now answer me.”

“I don’t want you to end up back in the hospital. That’s the point.”

“It won’t happen. Now talk.”

He let out a groan but noticed she seemed stronger than she’d been since his arrival back home.

“The coin toss, Roman. I’m waiting,” she said when he didn’t respond fast enough for her. She tapped one foot against the
patio.

He shrugged. “What can I say? It seemed like the best solution at the time.”

“Idiots. I raised idiots.” She rolled her eyes heavenwards. “Nix that. I just raised real men.”

She was right. He was a typical man, and as a proud, card-carrying member of the species, he wasn’t comfortable discussing
his feelings or emotions. But he owed it to the woman who raised him the best she could on her own to explain. He had a hunch
he’d have to do the same with Charlotte—if he wanted a second chance.

And he did.

“You and I started talking about this the other day.” Roman leaned forward in his seat. “I was eleven when Dad died. And watching
you in so much pain, well, I realized this trip home, it made me want to withdraw from anything that close to me. Being a
journalist, by nature of the job, let me remain detached. I couldn’t be detached here at home. Not with you and not with Charlotte.”

Raina expelled some of the obvious anger, fears, and frustration with one long breath. “I’m sorry. For everything.”

“You can’t hold yourself responsible for fate. Or someone else’s reaction to it.”

She met his gaze. “You really don’t understand.”

“I do. And I love you for your concern, but don’t stress over it.” He rose. “If you do, I’ll report straight back to your
doctor.” Eric or his associate would give his mother a good talking-to if she risked her health in any way.

Roman narrowed his gaze and took a good look at his mother. Dark rings circled her eyes, little makeup coated her cheeks.
She’d put less time into her appearance. Because she tired more easily? he wondered. Worry about him and Charlotte couldn’t
help the situation and he tried to set her mind at ease. “You’ve done your job incredibly well. Chase, Rick, and I can take
care of ourselves. I promise.” He brushed a kiss over her cheek.

She stood and walked along with him back to the garage. “I love you, son.”

“Same here, Mom. You’ve got a good heart and—”

“Roman, speaking of my heart …”

He shook his head. “No more talk,” he said in a drill-sergeant, no-nonsense tone. “I want you upstairs and resting. Draw the
shades and take a nap. Watch
Oprah.
Something, anything as long as you’re off your feet and not overthinking about your sons.”

“Is it me or did you put a fast end to this conversation about your stupid coin toss?”

He laughed. “Never could put one over on you, but no, I’m not trying to distract you, just keep you healthy. I answered your
question about why we got into the coin toss. Now I’ll tell you another truth that’ll help you sleep well. I’m grateful for
it. I no longer look at marriage as punishment. Not to the right woman, anyway.” A woman who wanted nothing to do with him,
but, Roman decided, it was time he forced the issue.

His mother’s face lit up, her eyes sparkling and green. “I knew something had changed since you got home. But what about your
recent … how do I say this delicately? Your bad mood?”

“I’ll solve my problems, you take a nap.”

She scowled at him. “Just make sure you fix things with Charlotte.”

“I never said—”

She patted his cheek as she so often did when he was a child. “You didn’t have to say. Mothers know these things.”

He rolled his eyes and pointed toward the house. “Into bed.”

She saluted and walked inside. He stared after her, thinking of all the advice she’d given him through the years and of the
happy marriage she’d shared with his father. He didn’t blame her for wanting the same for her sons. With hindsight, like his
mother, he couldn’t believe he, Rick, and Chase had stooped to tossing a coin to decide their fate.

Roman debated, wondering if he should try to explain to Charlotte one more time, but decided against it. She wasn’t willing
to discuss things again and she had good reason. All he could do in conversation was reiterate the past. And the fact that
he had no plan in mind for the future.

The next time he faced Charlotte, he had to possess proof of his feelings and intentions. Only then could he lay his heart
in her hands and dare her to walk away.

He grabbed the portable phone he’d left in the garage and dialed his brothers. Ten minutes later, they gathered back in the
garage where this whole nightmare had begun. Roman started by explaining the situation up to and including the extent of their
mother’s knowledge about their agreement.

“Now that you’re up to speed, you two need to look out for Mom. Make sure she gets rest and doesn’t stay up trying to figure
out ways to fix my life. I can do that myself.”

“How?” Chase folded his arms across his chest.

“By going to D.C.” He needed to prove to Charlotte he could handle settling down. He’d come back with a steady job and a plan
of action. One that would make them
both
happy.

He wouldn’t be giving up the news or his passion for imparting the truth to the unsuspecting world. He’d just be changing
which news he covered and the place from which he covered it. After the time he’d just spent in Yorkshire Falls with his family,
including the people of his home-town, Roman realized not only could he handle settling down, he wanted to.

“Well?” he asked in the face of stunned silence. “No wisecracks?”

Rick shrugged. “We wish you well.”

“You can do better than that.”

“I joke about a lot of things, but not when so much is at stake. This is huge for you, Roman. I wish you the best.”

Rick held out his hand and Roman took it, pulling him into a brotherly hug. “You can do me one favor. Keep an eye on Charlotte
while I’m gone.”

“Now, that’s no hardship.” Rick smacked him on the back. He grinned, reverting to his old teasing self.

Roman narrowed his gaze. “Just keep your goddamn hands to yourself,” he said for the sake of brotherly argument. Not because
he worried about Rick making a move on his woman. Having calmed down a bit, he knew he trusted his brothers with his life—and
that included Charlotte.

“He’s possessive,” Rick said, hands folded across his chest.

Chase snickered.

Roman groaned. “Just don’t screw this up. Watch out for her until I get back. I have to go do laundry and then pack.” Roman
started for the short flight of wooden stairs that led to the house.

“What makes this one so special?” Rick called out.

“Other than the fact that she’s his alibi?” Chase’s laugh followed him to the door.

Roman shook his head. He grabbed for the doorknob, then turned back, “I can’t wait for the day when the joke’s on the two
of you.”

Charlotte ran into her apartment and dashed for the phone. She’d heard it ring from the hallway, her arms filled with dry
cleaning, and by the time she’d found her keys and made it inside, whoever was there had hung up without leaving a message.

She dropped her cleaning onto the couch. “Let’s see if anyone called before that.” Her stomach clenched in tight knots as
she prayed neither her father nor Roman had chosen to call. She couldn’t avoid both men forever, but until she understood
what
she
needed out of life, she was giving avoidance her best shot.

She hit the play button and listened to the first and only message. “Hi, Charlotte. It’s me.” Roman’s voice hit her like a
punch in the stomach, sucking all the air out of her lungs. She lowered herself into the nearest chair.

“I just called to say …”

Silence followed, and she held her breath, waiting for him to continue. Wanting to hear she didn’t know what.

“I called to say good-bye.”

The hurt overflowed in her veins, seeping into every part of her being. She waited for him to say more, but all that followed
was the click of being disconnected. She sat in mute silence, the lump in her throat huge, the squeezing sensation that brought
a pain to her chest intense.

So that was it. He’d taken off again for parts unknown, just as she’d always known he would.

Her insides churned and she thought she might be sick. But why? Why should she be upset Roman had followed the pattern he’d
set? The one she’d expected? Unable to stand the stifling apartment and questions that dogged her, she grabbed her keys and
ran out the door without looking back.

C
harlotte walked into the general store at seven A.M, the same time Herb Cooper opened the doors.

“Third time this week you’re here this early. New schedule?” he asked.

She smiled. “You could say that.” A week after Roman’s departure, she was amazed at the amount of avoidance a creative person
could manage. No one else shopped this early and she found she could get in and out without having to make small talk with
anyone other than Herb or Rox-anne, his wife.

“Well, the fresh bread’s not even unpacked yet, but I’ll grab you a loaf and have it waiting at the register for when you’re
ready to check out.”

“Thanks, Herb.”

“Just doing my job. You keep the womenfolk happy and us men in town decided we’d best keep you happy too.”

Charlotte laughed. “I wouldn’t turn down fresh bread, but I think you’re overestimating my importance around here.”

The older man turned the color of his tomatoes in the corner. “No, ma’am. You are definitely keeping the women happy. It’s
that panty thief that’s driving ’em insane. The women who had theirs pilfered can’t replace them fast enough and the younger
ones hope that Chandler boy will wake them out of their sleep.”

Charlotte lifted her gaze skyward. So much for avoidance.

“Living fairy tales, I tell you. A man like Roman Chandler has more important things to do than steal panties. But try telling
that to the women.” He shook his head, just as the telephone rang, interrupting him. “Well, least with him gone, we’ve had
some quiet. Whoever is stealing those panties knows he’s got no alibi now, so it’s been quiet.” He reached for the phone.
“General store. What can I do for you?”

Charlotte escaped into the aisles while she had the chance and breathed a sigh of relief. In the seven days Roman had been
gone, she had developed an odd sort of respect for her mother’s ability to stay disconnected from life in a small town. It
wasn’t easy.

Aside from the general chit-chat with neighbors, everyone in Charlotte’s life wanted something from her. Beth wanted to know
what was wrong, why Roman had left so suddenly. Her mother wanted to know when she’d come for dinner with her family. Rick
wanted an updated list of customers and any hunches she had, and those customers wanted the panties they’d ordered.

Since Beth was running the shop, Charlotte was able to spend her days crocheting. Another word for avoiding, she admitted,
but at least her customers would be satisfied, even if the rest of the people pulling pieces from her were not.

The only person not asking a damn thing from her was the one she’d turned away. Her throat constricted and hurt from the ever-present
lump that had settled there. She blamed herself for falling into Roman’s trap as much as she blamed him for unintentionally
drawing her in. Though she knew he’d never meant to hurt her, the fact remained, he had.

She still had the taped message he’d left on her answering machine. Not that she intended to torture herself by replaying
it, and she refused to analyze why she hadn’t just let the next call tape over his seductive voice.

Half an hour later, she’d returned to her apartment to unpack the groceries and straighten up before going to work. She’d
spent the last week hiding from the world. Charlotte figured everyone with a broken heart was entitled to healing time. Unlike
her mother, she didn’t plan to make it a lifetime.

She looked out the window into the bright sunshine. It was time to get back into her routine, starting with tonight’s baseball
game.

When the game ended, the Rockets had continued their winning streak, and though she’d shown her face, Charlotte had continued
parental avoidance. She was ready for many things. Dealing with her father wasn’t one of them. He was too much a reminder
of all that hurt, past and present. She had no doubt if she stalled long enough, he’d leave too. And leave was something she
had to do, before Russell could attempt to corner her again. As he’d done in the general store and outside her apartment.
She’d ducked out on him those times as well.

“Here. Toss this for me, will you?” Charlotte handed Beth her soda can. “And don’t forget to recycle.” She hopped down off
the bottom bleacher. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

“Coward,” Beth called after her.

Charlotte kept walking, though she couldn’t deny her friend’s words cut deep, partly because Roman had called her the same
thing, and mostly because Charlotte knew Beth was right. Eventually she would have to face everything she was avoiding, including
her parents. She just wasn’t ready.

Halfway back to town, she decided to cut across the Sullivan Subdivision, through George and Rose Carlton’s yard. The Carltons
were still at the baseball game, as were most of the other townspeople, so when Charlotte heard a rustle near the front hedges,
she turned around, surprised.

“Hello?” she called out.

A lanky man in forest-green pants, button-down top, and a baseball cap was skulking around the bushes. When he heard her voice,
he ducked down, but not before she caught a glimpse of his face.