Elaine pressed her head back in her chair and said, “She was the best. My parents would have sold me when I was eighteen to pay their debts to some horrible people if they’d had their way.”
“Your sister sounds amazing.” She realized while she’d never had a true sister, she’d had Jack and his family.
Getting on the bus hadn’t been her finest moment, but the worst was the haunted look in Jack’s eyes when she’d given that ring back.
That moment was burned in her brain as a mistake. A huge mistake she couldn’t take back. Elaine said, “She is. Her getting pregnant at all shocked me. She was always so serious. And our parents have no interest in my nephew or my sister, so we only have each other. I’ve never met a guy I couldn’t drive away in three dates or less.”
Jack had been at her side.
Elaine crossed her legs. “Enough about me, tell me about your father’s store.”
Nothing so drastic. She’d had it tough and her hands weren’t soft as butter like other women, but she’d been strong, in her own way. “He… died when I was twelve.”
Elaine lowered her head. “I thought you were going to say a little more recently.”
Fair. Charlotte normally didn’t talk about her dad, at least not to strangers. “No. I’ve been living with my stepsisters and stepmother who don’t care about me at all.”
Elaine gave a small nod. “Well, that’s a reason to choose love and live a full life.”
That’s what Jack would have said. “I always thought that the store would be mine. My stepmother sold it.”
“So you’re free.” How quickly Elaine summed it up.
“But how do you know if you’re worthy of it.”
“If mistakes mean we don’t get to be in love, then everyone one of us is screwed.”
“I guess. But how do you know it’s good.”
“Does your guy make you feel bad about yourself like an abuser might?”
“No. Jack only ever makes me feel better, about myself, about life.”
“Sounds like a great guy.”
Yes. She’d been an utter fool and thrown away the one person she’d ever loved because… she’d been afraid of love as she hadn’t thought she deserved it. She sat straighter. “You know, you’re right, Elaine. I am free to choose love.”
Elaine tossed her hair over her shoulder with a chuckle. “Good, but I don’t think they’ll turn the bus around.”
The driver announced that they’d just crossed the Florida border, which meant there was a lot of time until Miami.
Leaving Jack had been a mistake. Adrenaline rushed through her. “Can I use your phone?”
Elaine stilled like she’d just been asked for money. “Why?”
She’d never bought one of her own but maybe she should have. “I want to text Jack and tell him where I am.”
Elaine relaxed and took her phone from her back pocket that had a cracked screen in the corner. Like Jack’s old phone. She was sure that he probably already had a new one. Hopefully the same number, as she had his memorized. “Sure,” Elaine said. “How long ago did you two break up?”
Charlotte thought the pink hearts and butterflies on the phone case were pretty. “An hour before I boarded the bus.”
Elaine shoved it in her hand. “Hopefully he’s happy to hear from you.”
Goosebumps grew on her body. She’d been warned that her stepsister was up to something. She typed fast,Jack, it’s Charlotte. I’m on a bus to Miami. I'll call when I get there to tell you I’m sorry.
Three dots appeared and Elaine crossed her fingers for her. And then Jack’s words appeared and her body grew warm as she read,Talk to you soon, Charlotte.
Elaine’s phone died from lack of batteryI love you,she typed anyway and handed the phone back to Elaine. “Thank you.”
