Sweet Girl by Quell T. Fox
Charlotte
Wepulluptoabeautifulpark.OneIhaven’tbeentobefore.It’slarge,green,andsitsrightonalake.Anyotherday,IthinkI’denjoycominghere.Today,I’mnotfeelingit.
Mom parks her car on the side of a black SUV. “Oh, good. He’s already here.” She’s smiling so big it reaches her eyes.
“Fucking fantastic,” I mumble to myself.
I get out of the car and bring the picnic basket with me. Following Mom down a small hill, I spot a man and a small girl not too far away, sitting on a plaid blanket.
So, this is serious then? We’re having a full on fucking picnic?
I roll my eyes as we make our way to them, my mother way ahead of me, moving quicker than I’ve ever seen her move before.
“Allison!” the little girl shouts, getting up from her spot and rushing towards my mother. She wraps her arms around her waist and hugs her tightly, my mother smiles a smile that I haven’t seen in years.
Fucking years.
I don’t think I’ve seen her this happy since she graduated from nursing school.
Once I reach their side, I look down at the girl, a mix of anger, jealousy, and sadness washing over me. It’s not her fault. She can’t be more than ten. But… fuck.
“Charlie, this is Fiona.” Mom gestures towards the small girl who looks up at me. Freckles dot along her nose and her cheekbones, light brown hair with the tiniest tinge of red shimmers in the bright sun.
“Hi, Charlie!” she says with a smile, walks to me and wraps me into a hug next. I can’t help but smile and hug her back. She pulls back and looks up at me with big, green eyes. “Wow, you’re so pretty!”
Okay, she’s not that bad.
“Thank you, Fiona. You’re quite beautiful yourself.” I wink at her and she shies away from me, skipping back to her father who is still nestled on the blanket, my mother now on the side of him.
I slowly make my way over to them, deciding I need to make the best of this.
It’s not their fault my mother made bad choices so I shouldn’t take it out on them. That’s just not fair.
“Charlie, I’ve heard so much about you.” Philip reaches his hand out and I meet his with a handshake. He’s decent looking, much older than Jonathan, that’s for sure. And suddenly I smile. Inside, I start to laugh until it’s bubbling out of me and I can’t stop. I laugh uncontrollably for so long the guy probably thinks I’m crazy. But I can’t help it. I realize just now, that whatever it is I’m feeling towards Jonathan, it’s totally not my fault. Clearly, having a thing for older men runs in my family.
“So how was meeting the new dad?”
I roll my eyes, twirling spaghetti around my fork.
“It wasn’t so bad,” I say before taking a bite. “He seems cool.”
Michael picked me up a little while ago for our dinner date that I asked him out to. I’ve been worried this entire time about having to have this conversation with him but it needs to happen.
Even though I asked him, he chose the spot. We’re at an Italian place right outside of town. I’ve been here once before with my mother and Jonathan. It’s not a super fancy place, but I’m glad I opted for a light blue sundress and sandals. Michael looks as put together as he normally does with his khaki Chino shorts and white Polo. Daring, if you ask me, coming to an Italian restaurant and wearing white. If I’d have known this is where we would end up, I’d have worn black. Thankfully, I haven’t spilled anything on me yet.
It isn’t busy here and we were able to get a table up on the second floor, right by the large picture window that overlooks the lake. I find myself staring out the window often, taking in the serene image in front of me.
“What’s going on?” He looks at me with a smile.
“What do you mean? Nothing is going on,” I respond, taking a sip of my water.
“You look occupied. What’s on your mind?”
I blink a few times, trying to find my words.
I let out a sigh. “I just…” I sit back in my chair, using my straw to stir my drink. “I just want to be clear about what’s going on with… us.”
He tilts his head to the side, regarding me. “Us?
“This,” I correct, pointing between the both of us.
“Okay.” The corner of his mouth lifts up into a teasing smile. He leans back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m listening.” A humorous look is gleaming in his eye, and for some reason it makes me more nervous.
I decide to let it all out. Just say it. What’s the worst that can happen? He gets upset and leaves? It’s going to happen eventually.
“I’m going back to school at the end of the summer. I need to finish school, get my degree. I can’t focus on—”
“A relationship?” he asks, that smirk still on his lips.
I shrug a shoulder. “Basically.”
“Charlie, I’m not looking for a relationship either, okay? We haven’t done much talking, which in no way is a complaint, it just means we don’t know much about one another. So let’s change that, yeah? I’m spending the summer here to visit my mom and meet with some potential clients that dad is hoping to bring on board. I travel a lot for work and will continue to do so for a while. Settling down is not in my near future, so no worries there.”
His easiness of speaking about this and to me makes me feel better and now I feel stupid for even worrying at all.
He waves his hand in front of him, gesturing for me to go next.
“I came back to visit my mom as well. Came back to something entirely different than what I was expecting, but it’s been good so far. I’ve been having fun at school, college is an interesting experience.”
“What are you studying?”
“Education.”
“Oh, a teacher? That’s kind of hot, Charlie.” He winks and it makes me laugh. “So, would you be opposed to dressing up for me?” He smiles that big, toothy grin that I’m sure all girls fall for.
“I think I could arrange that,” I say, chewing on my bottom lip.
We spend the rest of the evening chatting and getting to know one another. It’s fun and carefree, and suddenly, after the day I’ve had, for some strange reason I feel lighter than I have since the moment I got off the plane.