Southern Belles, a Novel About Love, Purpose & Second Chances (9781310340970) (39 page)

Christian was Skylar. I couldn’t move; my
feet felt like they were cemented to the ground. I felt my breath
leave my body. CeCe pulled my hand with her as she turned towards
the house. Spun around quickly with CeCe’s spontaneous sprint
towards the house, I peered back to see Skylar standing still,
watching at me. His subdued expression drove waves of chills up my
body. I thought about this moment every day since the first day I
met him. I never thought it would happen, though, I dreamed it
would—just not in these circumstances.

“Girls what were you doing out there so
long. I know you’ve missed each other but neither of you need to
catch a cold before CeCe’s big day.” Bev said, handing us
towels.

“Christian, honey, here’s a towel.” CeCe
said, handing him a towel. “Where are my manners?” CeCe joked.
“Christian, this is Eric, Char’s boyfriend.”

I draped the towel around me as I still felt
chills running up my neck.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Eric said extending
his hand out to shake Skylar’s briefly.

“Hey, let’s get you warmed up sweetie.” Eric
hugged me and began rubbing my back. I caught both CeCe and Skylar
watching us. CeCe’s eyes were fixed on Eric as I turned my gaze
back to Skylar. Skylar locked eyes on me while he dried his
hair.

“Wow, you got soaked.” A woman with bronzed
blonde hair in her early fifties said as she walked over to
Skylar.

“Char, this is my soon-to-be mother-in-law,
Christine La Fleur. Over there is my soon-to-be father-in-law,
Sidney.” CeCe pointed towards the sitting room.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you.” I gathered up
the strength to say.

Her face was warm and gentle and she reached
out to hug me despite the pool of water I had created all around
me.

“It’s so nice to meet you. We just love
CeCe.” She said with a light southern accent.

“Auntie Ce, do I get my present now?” Lucy
asked as she stormed the back entryway.

“Lucy? That’s rude to ask.” I said bending
down to her height. “Use your good manners Lu.” I instructed.

“Oh it’s okay Charlotte.” Bev took Lucy by
the hand. “Somebody has a birthday coming up.”

“I have a birthday coming up.” Lucy jumped
excitedly.

“You do? Maybe you’ll like this present I
got for somebody who’s turning three.”

“It’s for me.” Lucy smiled with her dimples
darting out on both sides.

“She’s really cute.” Christine smiled.

“Thank you.” I said, feeling an irony within
my reply.

“Her name’s Lucy?” Skylar spoke for the
first time.

“Ahhh,” I paused, “Yeah. Her name is Lucy
Grace.”

I saw his eyes follow her and Bev into the
other room before he looked at me again. I hadn’t eaten much today
and with this disbelief I was suddenly feeling very weak.

“Hey guys let’s come in the dining area. I
think dinners ready to be served.” CeCe announced happily.

She came over to me and locked her arm with
mine. “You don’t mind if I steal her just for tonight—do you Eric?”
She smiled at him.

“Of course not CeCe; I expected it.” He
smiled back warmly.

“Thanks.” She smiled back. “I didn’t know
you still had this sweater.” CeCe said, pinching a small piece of
the material. “I would have thought you’d thrown that away by now.”
CeCe said, looking back at Eric.

“Oh my goodness!” I was wearing Skylar’s
sweater. “Yeah, I was trying to hurry and just grabbed it quickly.”
I said trying to mask my embarrassment. I did not want to clue Eric
into whose sweater I was wearing or remind Skylar that it was
his.

“Must be an old boyfriend’s sweater?” Skylar
grinned.

“Nope.” I said, pursing my lips slightly
together.

“Nah—just some guy that meant something to
her once. But she’s got a better guy now.” CeCe said, smiling at
Eric.

I was crushed. My best friend was in love
with my Skylar. And apparently, he was in love with her enough to
be marrying her the day after tomorrow. This was not the Prince
Charming I envisioned for CeCe. With every word, I felt a strange
mixture of illness and anger brewing inside me. Not that anyone
other than Skylar or I knew that he was the owner of that sweater.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through this night let alone
the next two days or for that matter—the rest of my life watching
CeCe be affectionate with my Skylar. How in the world, the whole
wide world, did CeCe find Skylar? The one guy I ever truly loved
and the father of my child. How could this be happening to me? CeCe
was floating amongst the clouds while I was barely hanging on to
the life raft. I prayed to see Skylar again but this was not part
of my prayer—this was not right. It was not fair. But how could I
say anything to my best friend who was the happiest she’d ever
been? And how could I deny myself the future I rightfully
deserved?

“Okay, I have you and Eric sitting over
here. Lucy’s going to sit by Bev and James on the end and Skylar
and I will sit across from you so we can catch up.” CeCe
instructed.

“Mommy, look what Gigi Bev got me.” Lucy
waved a French-looking Barbie doll in my face.

“Wow, that’s really nice Lucy. Did you say
thank you?”

“Of course! Isn’t it pretty—it’s my first
Barbie doll.” She said dancing the doll around on Eric’s knee.

“That’s cool.” Eric said, dancing the doll
back and forth causing Lucy to let her giggles slip out.

“Dinner is served.” Bev announced as several
wait staff arrived with platters of food.

“Thank you.” Christine said sweetly to the
wait staff and to Bev for her excellent hostess skills.

Skylar’s dad, Sidney, was talking with James
about the stock market while Bev and Christine were busy talking
about the wedding. CeCe was surprisingly talkative with Eric and
seemingly very comfortable. Lucy was transfixed on her newest
doll—and already taking the clothes off to dress her in another
outfit. As I sat cutting up Lucy’s food, randomly, I caught Skylar
eyeing me and observing Lucy. He was quiet talking very little
unless prompted by CeCe. She was busy talking about how they met
while she was volunteering for the girl’s home that gave her peace
and purpose. It was one of the organizations that Skylar’s family
helped to support. He had finished school and became involved in
gathering financial support from donors all around the world for
various non-profit organizations. He sought out contributions,
managed their distribution and reported on the financial
administration of these funds to the numerous agencies they helped
support. Every once in a while when she wasn’t talking a million
miles an hour, CeCe looked at me with a big smile. I smiled back
when I didn’t feel like throwing up. I was still in shock. I
decided to get some fresh air for a moment to catch my breath or
call Richie—the only person that I could possibly tell my trauma
to.

“Oh I forgot to mention that Char is an
inspiring writer and just finished her first book.” CeCe said
proudly to Skylar.

“Really?” Skylar looked up.

“Well, yeah. I actually just got my first
book deal. CeCe—I haven’t even had a chance to tell you that they
are going to publish my book.”

“Wow, that’s wonderful! I know it will be a
huge success. Honey, she’s an incredible writer.” CeCe said,
bumping Skylar’s arm softly.

“Thanks Ce. I’ll be right back. I have to
use the restroom.” I quietly interrupted CeCe and Eric’s
conversation.

“Are you feeling okay dear?” Eric reached
for my hand.

“Yeah, my stomach’s a bit upset and it’s
catching up to me. I’ll be okay.”

“Okay, I’ll keep an eye on Lu.” He smiled,
giving my hand a gentle squeeze before letting go.

“You do look a little pale.” CeCe said.

“I’ll be fine.” I said, grabbing my purse
before I made my way to the powder room.

I stood hiding around the corner a moment to
catch my breath. As I stood there, I heard Skylar say “I bet your
mom and dad’s going to love the flower girl dress we got you. It’s
pink—Auntie CeCe picked it out.”

“I don’t have a dad—except for God—he’s my
daddy my mom told me.”

“That’s right. He’s the best daddy in the
world.” CeCe replied before whispering to Skylar, “We don’t really
talk about that. Eric is not Lucy’s dad. Char only met Lucy’s dad
once and couldn’t get a hold of him. She never heard from him
again.”

Feeling a small lump swell up in my throat,
I walked down the long hallway towards the living room where the
powder room sat adjacent. I opened the door and locked it quickly.
I unlatched the window for fresh air and inhaled deeply. I stood
still, collecting my thoughts, for a few moments before I pulled
out my cell phone. I dialed my home number and waited for it to
ring, hoping that Richie was home to help talk me through this.

“Hello?” I heard my mom pick up the
phone.

“Hi mom, is Richie there?”

“Yeah, is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I just need to talk to him a
minute.”

“Okay, hold on while I get him.”

“Thanks mom. I love you.”

“I love you too dear. Hold on.”

A minute later Richie picked up the phone,
“Yello”. He said in a silly southern accent.

“Oh good, Richie, I have a really big
problem.”

“Are you pregnant again?”

“No, I’m not pregnant. By the way, I’d throw
my shoe at you if I were there right now. I called because I don’t
know what to do.”

“About?”

“Are you sitting down?”

“Are you okay?”

“I guess. I feel like throwing up and
passing out.”

“Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”

“My shoe is coming through the phone if you
say that again.”

“Settle down Betsy.”

“Richie, this is serious.”

“Okay then—what is going on?” He said with a
tone of frustration.

“Christian—CeCe’s fiancé.” I could barely
get anything else out.

“What about him?”

“Christian is Skylar—my Skylar, Lucy’s
dad?”

“What did you say?”

“Christian is…”

He interrupted before I could repeat myself.
“I heard what you said I just can’t believe what you said?”

“Richie, I don’t know what to do.” I said,
feeling tears build up.

“Did you say anything? Does he remember
you?”

“No, of course I didn’t say anything. What
was I supposed to say—hi, by the way, my name’s really Char and
this is your daughter, Lucy?”

“Yeah, I see your point but it would have
made for interesting conversation the rest of the night.”

“Richie, I called you for help not to
entertain you.”

“Where are you right now?”

“I’m standing in the bathroom, with my head
pressed to the window for some fresh air because I can barely
breathe! My heart hurts and I’m angry and confused. Why Richie—I
mean how can this be happening to me? I’m a good person—why is the
only person I’ve ever loved marrying my best friend? I don’t get
it.”

“I don’t know. Maybe CeCe meeting him was
the only he could ever make it back to you?”

“His name’s not even Skylar. He never called
me and now he’s engaged to my best friend. I thought there was
something special but I was just someone for that night.” I said
wiping tears carefully away.

“Did he recognize you?”

Suddenly, I heard a light tapping at the
door.

“Someone’s outside of the bathroom, I have
to let you go.”

“Wait, Char, did he recognize you?”

“Yes, the moment I saw him we both
froze.”

“So awkward; I miss all the good stuff.”

“I’ve got to let you go.” I whispered to
Richie. “I’ll be out in just a minute.” I called to the person on
the other side of the door.”

“Okay, you don’t have to hurry.” I heard
Skylar say.

“Oh my goodness Richie—Skylar’s standing
outside the bathroom door.” I whispered again.

“Then you are definitely not hanging up on
me.”

“Richie, I will tell you all about it
later.”

I opened the door and saw Skylar standing
there with one side of his lips curled up. His intense blue eyes
and damp hair ran goose bumps up my neck.

“Char? Char? Do not hang up on me. Char—just
keep the phone on so I can listen!” Richie hollered from the cell
phone before I snapped it shut.

“So, it’s not really Lucy?” Skylar
smiled.

“I’m not sure—who’s Skylar?”

“Me. It’s my middle name. It’s what I went
by before I got into the business world.”

“Really? And the phone number which wasn’t
really your phone number?” I asked, feeling a little anger for his
coolness.

“I gave you my number—my real number. I can
explain what happened too if you let me.”

“Why bother—obviously, you’ve moved on.” I
said, feeling the tears fighting to fall.

“I’ve never stopped thinking about you and I
tried to find you so many times.”

“Really—you’re marrying my best friend in
two days.” I felt a tear slip down my cheek.

“You’re still wearing my sweater.” He said
gently, wiping the tear off my cheek.

“It was cold.”

“Cold in June…in Georgia?” He smiled.

“Do you find this funny? I’ve been a single
mom working hard to raise my daughter all alone while the man I
loved—I thought I loved abandoned me only to return engaged to my
best friend.”

“You loved me?” He asked leaning his head
down to be closer to my eyes.

“I thought I did but I was so young.” I
started to say.

“Mommy, I have to go potty right now.” Lucy
said, running into my leg on her way to the bathroom just behind
me.

“Lucy, I mean, Char—I need—we need to talk
please. You’ve got to let me explain what happened.” He pleaded
holding onto my arm. “Please.”

“I have to help her. I really can’t talk
right now.”

“Please can we meet somewhere then—maybe
tomorrow—or maybe after the Bachelorette party?” He asked with his
eyes burning into mine.