The Best Next Thing

Three days hadn’t been enough time. And with Enid, Vicki, and the taciturn Tyler Chambers to accommodate now too, Charity found herself barely able to cope.

The good thing about them being here was that she rarely saw Miles.

The bad thing about them being here was that she rarely saw Miles.

He took them sightseeing every day. Ostensibly to make things easier for Charity. But she knew that he was avoiding her.

She was grateful for that. But she also hated it. He was angry and hurt. She knew that…but a small, impractical part of her had hoped for a friendship at least. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing him so absolutely.

But he could barely make eye contact with her, which made even a casual acquaintance after her departure, seem unlikely at this point.

Sam and Lia had invited them all to dinner tonight. A farewell gathering in Charity’s honor. Miles had seemed less than enthusiastic about the idea, but she knew he’d go. He had to. It would look odd if he didn’t. And—considering that they lived in the same house—it was ridiculous how much she was looking forward to seeing him and spending some time with him tonight.

She had spoken with her parents and sister every day since Gracie’s party. She had renewed acquaintances and friendships with people whom she had been close to before her marriage. She had booked her clinical competence exam, was doing job research, weighing partnership practices up against hanging out her own shingle. There were so many great opportunities available to her.

Her future looked bright and exciting and filled her with effervescent optimism.

And yet…she was bone crushingly lonely.

She wanted to discuss all of this with Miles. Wanted to bounce ideas off him. Wanted him to share in her excitement and happiness. She felt a little lost without him. Felt like she had lost her best friend really.

And her heartbreak stemmed from the fact that she knew that the loss was permanent.

Everybody was having a marvelous time at Charity’s impromptu farewell. Laughter, drinking, fucking merriment. How could everybody be so happy about someone’s imminent departure?

Miles was trying his best to put up a merry front. He wanted Charity to understand that while he was mourning her loss in his life, he wanted her to be happy.

But it was so fucking hard when all he wanted to do was howl like a wounded beast.

He was being a selfish prick. He knew it. But he felt cheated out of days—weeks—more.

“You’d better stop this hulking and sulking in the corner, my boy. This petulance is not a good look on you.” His mother invaded the gloriously isolated corner which he had claimed for his—as she had so aptly put it—hulking and sulking. She handed him a beer, and he wrinkled his nose. He had never been much of a beer drinker. His mother, however, loved the stuff. Preferably a draught, but a bottle would do in a pinch.

She took a pull from hers, before turning her full attention on him. “The way I see it, you have two choices. Tell her how you feel about her, and let the chips fall where they may. Or let her go gracefully and be happy for her. I can’t believe she has been housekeeping for the last three years, when she’s a qualified chiropractor. It’s good that she’s finally going to answer that calling.”

“You don’t know how I feel about her. Or how I feel about this situation.”

“Please. I birthed you. And I may not have been entirely present during your childhood, but I know you. A lot better than you think I do, and it’s as clear as that oversized nose on your face. You’re so in love with that woman, you can barely see straight. And you’re miserable at the thought of losing her. What I don’t understand is why my ambitious, go-getter of a son, doesn’t…well go get her?”

“It’s complicated and messy.”

“Well, uncomplicate it, Miles. If you love the woman, figure it out. I’ve never seen you look at anybody the way you look at her. To be honest I’ve despaired of ever seeing you look at someone like that…and now that you’ve found her, you’re just letting her go?”

“She’s not mine to keep. She never has been. The best thing I can do for her is let her go.”

“Like this? With so much reluctance and surliness and moodiness? What kind of message does that send? She’s surrounded by all these people who care about her, who will miss her when she leaves. Who want her to succeed in the future, and all she can do is stare at you with her shattered heart in her eyes.”

Her words jerked Miles’s head up and he unerringly sought and found Charity. True to his mother’s words, she was watching him. Her eyes widened when he caught her staring, and she hastily looked away.