Chapter Nineteen
Charlotte
“Thanks for coming to this emergency book club meeting,” I said, after I set down a platter of sandwiches I’d made. “I appreciate everyone coming over.”
We crammed all six of us into my apartment, but nobody complained. I’d hosted book club before, taking my turn like everyone else, so we were used to the tight quarters.
“So, what’s going on, Charlie?” Mellie asked.
“I’m sure it has to do with Toby getting into an altercation with her father on the front lawn two weeks ago,” Kenny said, dropping that tidbit of information like it was common knowledge.
I scowled and pointed my finger at her. “How did you know? And why did you say it like that?”
Kenny took a bite of her sandwich and ignored my question while everyone else started talking at once.
“Oh my god!”
“What happened?”
“Are you okay?”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Did Tobin get all hot and protective? I bet he was hot.”
The last comment was from Grace, and it was the one I focused on first.
“It was not hot. He was bossy and controlling, and I did not like it at all.” All eyes were on me and normally that would make me want to squirm, but I was too fired up at the moment to care. “And stop saying Tobin is hot.”
She shrugged but gave me a grin that told me she was teasing and trying to lighten the mood.
“What happened, Charlie?” Mellie asked gently. Where Kenny sometimes used a sledgehammer to make her point, Mellie took a softer approach.
I took a deep breath and then a sip of beer before I launched into my tale. As much as I’d felt embarrassed over what happened, as the story came out of me, I felt lighter.
I told them how scared I was when I opened the door and found my father on the porch. How I’d pushed him back, not letting him enter my home, and how that set him off. How relieved I’d felt when Tobin showed up. Then how angry he made me as I heard him tell my father that I was moving in with him and that he was in control. I finished by sharing how I’d ignored all his messages and attempts at contact and even refused the beautiful flowers he’d sent. Then he’d stopped messaging entirely and I thought we were over until I received his letter.
No one interrupted the entire time I spoke, and the silence continued after I finished.
“You need a restraining order,” Raquel said firmly.
“Against Tobin?” Grace asked. “He was just trying to protect her.”
“No, against her father,” Raquel replied. She set down her plate and drink and pulled a notebook out of her purse. “What’s his name and address? And give me a copy of the police report and any other communication you’ve received from him in the past.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, not wanting Raquel to feel put out or that I was asking for free legal services, but she held up a hand to shush me.
“Charlie, I am your friend. We are your friends.” She gestured around the room and the other ladies nodded in agreement. “We know you don’t like accepting help, and I’m assuming that’s because of something awful your father said, but we want to help you. There’s no shame in accepting help.”
I sighed, knowing she was right. I needed to get over feeling like a burden to my friends because that’s what my father always told me. Raquel was a lawyer and my friend. Who better to help me get a restraining order?
“Okay. I’ll give you the police report before you leave. I may have some old emails in a folder somewhere.” I rattled off my father’s information, which she wrote down along with his work address. “But Uncle Bobby didn’t seem to think a restraining order was possible.”
“It’s worth a shot. I’ll get started on this tomorrow morning.”
I opened my mouth to tell her she didn’t need to do that if she had more pressing work to handle, but she shut me up with a sharp shake of her head.
“Now tell us about this letter Toby sent you,” Layla said, changing the subject. “I’m assuming that’s what you wanted to talk about with us.”
“It came in the mail yesterday with no return address, but I know his handwriting so I could tell it was from Tobin. At first, I was going to throw it out, unopened, but I decided to wait an hour and see how I felt. I went for a walk and when I came back, I knew I needed to know what he’d said. Not hearing from him for so many days left me a lot of time to think.” I paused to gather my thoughts. “So, he says that he’s sorry, that he reacted in anger, and he didn’t mean what he said. That hearing my father talk like that about me made his overly cocky side come out and he would never try to control me like that, that he loves me and the relationship that we have.”
While the others took a minute to digest my words, Grace didn’t hesitate to share her opinion.
“You have to forgive him, Charlie. It’s clear that he loves you.”
“But what if gets angry about something else and really does try to take over my life, Grace? Isn’t it better to end it before it gets worse?” I asked. I’d been turning these questions over in head for the last day and a half, which was why I’d asked my friends to come over. I needed outside perspectives.
Grace opened her mouth, probably to shoot out some sunshine and rainbows baloney, but Kenny cut her off.
“I think you should give him another chance,” she stated but then took a bite of her sandwich without saying anything else.
“Why do you say that, Kenny?” Raquel asked, sounding exasperated. “You can’t just give Charlie that advice without your reasoning.”
“We all know that Toby can be a cocky shit sometimes, but we saw how he was at yoga, and when they came and took pictures, he told me you weren’t afraid to speak your mind around him. That tells me you’re comfortable with him and you wouldn’t let him push you around.” Kenny took a drink and speared me with her eyes. “You don’t even speak your mind fully around us, Charlie.”
It wasn’t an accusation and Kenny didn’t make it sound like one, it was simply the truth. But I immediately opened my mouth to apologize.
“Don’t say you’re sorry, Charlie. We know you’re trying to let us in,” Mellie said. “The fact that you called us over, shows us that.” She took a breath and let it out. “I agree with Kenny. You’ve been so happy with Tobin and have really opened up to him. I know he made a mistake, but who hasn’t? I think you make sure you enforce your boundaries on what you’ll accept but I’d give him another chance if I were you.”
I looked around and all my friends were nodding in agreement.
I closed my eyes and sighed.
“Charlie, that’s our opinion but if that’s not what you want to do, then don’t,” Layla said. “It’s your life and you get to decide who you share it with. If he’s permanently damaged the relationship, then that’s your answer.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I want to give him another chance, but I’m scared. What if he turns out like my father?”
“I don’t think he will. It was an extreme situation, and his temper took over his mouth. But he wasn’t yelling at you, and he’d never done that before, right?” Raquel asked.
I turned to face her. Out of everyone, I wanted Raquel’s opinion the most since she sometimes handled family law issues. “No, he’s never yelled at me, or really even gotten angry. But I don’t think I’m able to jump back into our dynamic right away, and I’m definitely not going to move in with him.”
She nodded. “That’s totally fair. It’s up to you, Charlie, but I think you should at least have a conversation with him and let him know how what he did made you feel. Be honest about your fears and your boundaries and see what he says.”
“And if he starts acting like a dick again, we’ll beat his ass,” Kenny added and everyone laughed, which made her scowl. “I’m not kidding. If he gets out of line again, Toby’s going to get more than an earful from me.”
I looked around at my friends and was so grateful that I’d moved to this weird little town and that they’d brought me into the group.
“Thank you all for coming over. I really appreciate you listening to me and giving me advice. I need to think about it a little more so let’s just eat and drink for a while and talk about fun stuff.”
“Fine with me,” Grace said. “Let me tell you about this guy I’m going on a date with tomorrow night.”
We all groaned, but I was glad for the easy change in subject. As Grace dramatically filled everyone in on her latest dating app match, I sat back and absorbed what they’d said. I was going to sleep on it, but I knew which way I was leaning, I just had to be brave enough to take the next step.