Nick gently brushed the top of her folded hands with his own. “I’m so sorry.”
“The doctors weren’t optimistic, and when he woke up from the coma, he was paralyzed from the waist down.” Charlie Grace’s insides shook as she remembered the pain of the event. “Dad was always such an active man, always on the move. The accident left him wheelchair-bound, and he hates every minute of it. He’s angry and resentful that he can’t do the things he loves, like riding his horse or tending to the cattle.”
Charlie Grace paused, her throat now tight with emotion. “It was a difficult time for us. We were struggling to adjust to the new normal. But it was hardest on Dad. He felt like his life was over, like he was useless. He’s still filled with anger for not being able to make things the way they were before the accident.” Her sigh held a hint of defeat. “Unfortunately, he often takes his frustrations out on the people closest to him.”
“On you?” Nick asked.
She quietly nodded. “On me.”
Charlie Grace fell silent, lost in her memories. The fire crackled in the background, casting a warm glow over the table, but Charlie Grace felt a chill in her bones. The story was painful to recount.
Nick squeezed her hands. “It must be rough on you.”
They were both quiet for several minutes, unsure what to say next. Finally, Nick broke the silence. “Charlie Grace, I’m at a point in my life where I’ve learned that life is not a spectator sport. I no longer sit on the sidelines hoping things turn out how I want. I’ve learned to pursue what will make me happy, even if the path ahead looks messy.”
She looked up, a bit confused.
“I know things are complicated. I don’t want to add to that. But I’d like to continue to get to know each other. I want us to be friends.” He let the statement hang in the air, waiting for her response.
“Friends,” she repeated, pondering their earlier references to that word.
“Yes, I’d like to be friends.” He gave her hand a meaningful squeeze. “No pressure. I simply prefer to be direct. I want to spend more time with you.” He ran his finger down one of hers. “And see where that leads.”
23
Charlie Grace could barely wait for her Friday night get-together with the girls. She had a lot to process after her evening with Nick. She couldn’t quit thinking about all that had transpired, rehearsing over and over in her mind everything that he’d said…and the things she’d left unsaid.
Her mind was like the tilt-a-whirl ride at the annual carnival, dipping and going ’round and ’round. Despite what she wanted, she had so much to consider. So many roadblocks to simply jumping off into exploring the possibility of a new and exciting relationship.
She had her daughter to consider. And Jason. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him.
She needed to get her head on straight—and that most often happened when Capri, Reva, and Lila helped her gain perspective.
“There you are,” Lila said, waving her inside.
Charlie Grace pulled off her cowboy boots and set them by the door. “Sorry I’m late,” she said, making her way into the living room where the others waited. “Mmm…do I smell pizza?”
“I ordered three kinds—pepperoni for Reva, Canadian bacon and pineapple for me and Capri, and…” She pointed to a box with the lid still closed. “…sausage and black olives for you.”
“Did you remember to add jalapenos?” she asked.
Lila nodded. “Of course.”
Suddenly, Charlie Grace felt uneasy about broaching the subject pounding in her mind. Instead, she glanced around. “Did you paint?”
Her friend nodded a second time. “I was tired of that boring off-white. I had Camille help me, and we tackled the job on Monday night.”
“In one night?” Reva asked, with arched eyebrows. She passed out paper plates and napkins.
“It wasn’t hard. The worst part was moving all the furniture. Like I said, Camille helped. She pitched a fit about it, but I overrode her objections by promising to take her shopping for a pair of designer jeans in payment.”
Charlie Grace plopped down on the sofa next to Capri. “Ah, bribery. Works every time.”
Lila went to the fridge and retrieved cans of beer and soda. She handed them off to her girlfriends. “Your turn is coming, Charlie Grace. Jewel will be in high school before you know it.”
She shuddered. “Oh, don’t say that.”
Reva laughed. “Well, no matter what it cost you in time, effort, and bribery…this room is lovely.”
