“Hi.” Charlotte switched the phone to her other ear. “Is this a bad time?”
“I was trying to figure out how to make Annie’s favorite food, but the internet isn’t that helpful.”
A cool breeze wafted past Charlotte, and she frowned. “You’re still not having any luck getting through to her?”
Libby sighed. “Unfortunately, no.”
“I’m sure things will get better,” Charlotte replied, drawing to a halt at the traffic light. “She’s doing fine at school, if that helps. What if you take her to a child psychiatrist? I have a friend who might be able to help. She swore by this doctor…”
“That sounds like a good option, actually. Send me their number.” Libby said something in the background, and her voice came back on. “Anyway, how are you? You taking it easy, as the doctor said?”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Like Addison would let me get away with anything else. I practically had to kick her out of the house, and it’s a good thing, too, because Patrick came by after that.”
The thought of him still made her stomach fill with butterflies.
“I can tell by the smile in your voice that you like him,” Libby commented, her voice quieting toward the end. “Young love. I remember what that was like.”
“You know, it’s never too late for you to put yourself back out there.” Charlotte pushed the door to the supermarket open and stopped. Her eyes blinked to adjust to the fluorescent lighting, the elevator music playing in the background, and the shoes squeaking against linoleum floors.
Charlotte reached for a shopping cart and wandered down the aisles. “I’m sure you feel lonely sometimes.”
Libby was quiet for so long that Charlotte thought the call ended.
She was about to pull the phone away from her ear when she heard Libby sigh. “I do, but I can’t imagine moving on with someone else, and with the whole Annie situation, I don’t think it’s the best time.”
Charlotte stopped in the cereal section and peered at the options. “I’m sure the problems with Annie aren’t going to last forever. Things will get better.”
They had to because Charlotte wanted her friend to be happy.
Libby deserved all of that and more.
If Charlotte had to push and pry, she was more than willing to do that.
The two of them continued to chat aimlessly as Charlotte wandered through the aisles, setting down several healthier options in her cart, as per the doctor’s list. When Charlotte rounded the corner, she nearly rammed into her mother’s cousin, Ruby.
Charlotte gave Ruby a distracted smile and switched the phone to her other ear. “I’ve got to go, Libby. I’ll talk to you later.”
Ruby was perusing the candy section, a furrow between her brows. “Hi.”
“Hey, Rubs. You here by yourself?”
Ruby lifted the hoodie over her head and spun around to give Charlotte a pointed look. “Why would I be?”
Charlotte opened her mouth to respond when her mom’s cousin, Tara, rounded the corner with a shopping cart full of supplies. She smiled and waved when she spotted Charlotte.
As soon as she was close enough, Cousin Tara’s eyes tightened around the edges. “Are you okay, dear? You look a little pale. I heard you haven’t been feeling well.”
“Nothing serious,” Charlotte lied, a surge of guilt racing through her. “I just need to take it easy; that’s all.”
Tara didn’t look convinced. “Do you want us to help you shop? We’d be happy too, right, Ruby?”
Ruby rolled her eyes and shoved both hands into the pocket of her jeans. “Yeah, whatever.”
Charlotte cleared her throat. “That’s not necessary. I—”
“There you are.” Charlotte’s mother appeared, looking harried and a little out of breath. She made a beeline for them, clutching her bag the whole time. “I was wondering where you went. Hi, Tara. Hi, Ruby.”
Charlotte gave her mom a confused smile, which she ignored.
