A Thousand Letters(23)

I put on the smile again and stood, picking up Maven and calling Sammy, relieved to be leaving the room. "Sure. Come on, kids. How's grilled cheese sound?"

The kids cheered and Dad brought his drink to his lips. "Not very nutritious," he muttered.

I ignored him. "Be back in a bit."

They'd already turned back to each other, whispering and giggling about who even knew what. I didn't even want to know.

Charlie was in the blissfully quiet kitchen, drinks already poured and his glass to his lips, checking his phone. He smiled at me when I walked in, taking Maven from my arms.

"You run away too?" he asked me.

I chuckled. "The kids needed to eat. I'd rather be in here with them than out there."

"Me too. Clearly."

I situated the kids with crayons and paper and gathered supplies for dinner. Charlie leaned on the counter next to me.

"I'm sorry about them."

I shrugged and buttered the bread. "It's okay."

"It's not really. They're horrible."

"I can't argue that," I said with a soft laugh and a smile.

He paused for a beat, watching me. "Why do you put up with it?"

I thought about how to answer as I built the sandwiches. "Well, it's easier with Dad and Beth living in Miami. When we're all together, things are … harder."

"Right, I get that. Your father loves to criticize everyone who crosses his path, but show him a mirror and he'll gladly bash you over the head with it. But still, you know you don't have to just … acquiesce."

"I know that, Charlie. And I don't always, but when I do, it's a choice. It's conscious. Their badgering doesn't typically faze me."

He gave me a look. "Judging by what I saw a little bit ago, I'd say that's untrue."

"That's different." My voice had shrunk, just a little. "Today … today it's different." I placed one sandwich half on another. "Anyway, they're my family, so if it means I have to be present to endure some vapid conversation, I can make that sacrifice. And when it comes to Mary, well, you have both done so much for me."

"You do so much for us. It only seems fair."

"But I enjoy this, you know? The kids, I mean. And I'm not sure what I want to do with my life yet, so it's really the perfect place for me to be. Our relationship is symbiotic."

He chuffed and said into his glass, "Even with Mary breathing down your neck?"

I shrugged and set the first sandwich on the pan with a sizzle. "She doesn't mean it."

He gave me a look.

"Honestly, I don't think she even realizes she's doing it. You know Dad and Beth. Maybe it's genetic and I just got skipped."

"Luckily."

I smiled, feeling the same. "In any event, I don't usually take it personally."

His eyes squinted in thought. "So you excuse them because you believe they don't mean to be assholes?"

"Basically." I flipped the sandwich.

"And why not tell them how you feel? Argue?"

"Because fighting with them is futile. There's no convincing them of anything. Their worlds are so small, and that's all they know. I mean, when was the last time you were able to convince my dad of anything?"

Charlie snorted. "Point taken." He sighed, pushing off the counter. "Well, you're a better person than I could ever hope to be."

"Hey, I'm not the one married to one of them," I joked. "You, sir, have the patience of a saint."

"Or the IQ of a carrot," he said with a smile. "Jury's still out. I'd better get back in there with drinks or they might invade the kitchen, and I feel like you've paid your dues today. Let me know if you need any help with the kids, okay?"

"I've got the kids if you can keep my family away from me for the night."

"Deal."

Mary stormed in. "What the hell, Charlie? What's taking so long?" She narrowed her eyes at me, and I turned my attention to the sandwiches.

Charlie sighed, a defeated sound. "I was on my way. Just got an email that required my attention, that's all."

"Whatever." She swiped her wine from his hand and turned to leave.

He shrugged and followed her out.

What I hadn't mentioned to Charlie was that he was another reason I didn't leave, besides the kids. He was my only ally in the house, and a thin one at that — he wasn't much more prepared to get his hands dirty than Mary was, though he at least offered.

They'd met years ago on an introduction by me. Charlie and I had a mutual friend who had not-so-stealthily nudged us together. I found him charming, tall and handsome, smart and funny, and the only surprise I felt when he'd asked me out was that I wasn't at all interested in entertaining the idea. He wasn't for me, the moment just another echo of Wade in my heart.

He was terribly gracious about the whole thing, and we remained friends. And when he'd met Mary, they'd started dating right away, then married not too long after.

It had never been strange between Charlie and me — we got along well, finding a little solace in each other given the family we now shared. And he'd always accepted and respected the boundaries between us. We were still friends, though it was mostly because we lived in the same house and were part of the same family.