The One I Love

“I love you, Ada,” I say and I truly mean it. I reach out to take her hand.

“I love you too Charlie.” She bends over and puts her lips on mine. I kiss her gently and then hold her to my chest. She feels just like home.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ada

My heart almost stopped when Charlie got shot. I couldn’t process what had just happened. Despite the fact we’d been under threat of it happening before, when it happened I just couldn’t believe it. I thought I’d lost him. He was so weak and there was so much blood.

It had taken me a while to realize this was related to something completely different than my father. After we talked for a while in the hospital about everything, we determined my father had actually threatened Charlie the night Jimmy had fought him in the bar. I had started to form a picture of my father that was completely different than I thought he was. We both decided no matter what, when it came to our fathers, we wouldn’t let them ruin us. Having shitty dads was just another way Charlie and I were able to bond.

Physical therapy had been hard on him. He found it difficult to be weak in front of me. I told him that was silly, but he still couldn’t get past it. I still went to as many of his sessions as I could so I could support him.

Now he’s feeling a lot better. He’s had his last physical therapy session and he’s ready to try the guitar again. I’m so nervous for him and hope he can do it. It’s Tuesday and the first day back teaching the kids. Surprisingly despite the place being shot up and then Charlie actually getting shot, they let their kids come back.

The studio is no longer in the same place though. Charlie bought another place that’s much bigger in a better part of town. There are bars and restaurants around so people are always close by. Having the students there probably saved his class. The parents are careful not to say anything about the incident to him having already learned everything on the news and then pulling me aside to fill in the details they didn’t know.

Even Shelia showed genuine concern for me when I recounted a shorter version of what had happened.

Braleen, on the other hand, was not shy at all about finding out what happened to him.

“You got shot?” She asked as soon as the parents were gone. “Cool, I want to see.”

Out of all the kids, I would have thought the boys would be the ones who’d want to see the wound. Nope, a tiny little girl in bright pink bows. He doesn’t show her of course but it is the cutest inquiry I’ve seen in a while.

I’m on hiatus from the school after the incident. I decided to take some personal time and I’ve built up so much vacation and sick days I could be out for a couple of months. I have the meanies substituting for me and I hope my students are okay.

I want to check in but then that would be considered work, and I’m staying away from it for now.

Charlie is getting ready to lift his guitar for the first time since he completed physical therapy. I wanted him to try by himself, but he said doing it in front of the kids will help him motivate. A new student to the class sits by me and watches in anticipation.

Paulie is a really nice man and someone Charlie says he’s known forever. Paulie wants to learn to play so Charlie said he’d easily be able to teach him with the kids. He sits waiting with as much anticipation as I have.

“Here goes nothing,” Charlie says and lifts the guitar putting the strap around his head. So far so good. He adjusts and then plays a chord. I look at his face for any signs of pain, but he seems to be doing okay.

He starts teaching the class and I just observe. Paulie joins the kids in lessons and seems to be a natural. The class goes by and Charlie plays just like he used to. A couple of times he takes the guitar down and stretches, but I think that’s normal.

He’s been off the heavy painkillers for a couple of weeks. It made recording a little tricky because they made him so sleepy. It was another good reason for me to be off work. I needed to make sure we could get the album done. It was a miracle we pulled it off. Twelve songs and Bring on the Water was going to be our first single if it came to that. We were able to mix in my students singing and the song just sounds amazing.

The parents come to pick up their kids and we play some songs for Paulie. I’m enjoying getting to know him.

Charlie’s phone rings and he looks at it. His eyebrows raise and I wait to see if it’s something from Thomas.

“Wait, dad, say that again.” He puts the phone on speaker phone and I hear an older man with a loud voice. He speaks every word very clearly and it’s obvious he’s angry.

“Your little girlfriend’s dad. He came up here with some jackass. He tried to beat me up in my own freaking office. I sent his ass to jail. He’s in jail. I don’t want you around her, do you hear me.”

Charlie smiles at me as he hangs the phone up.

“Now we’re even I guess. Both our dads forbid us to be together.”

“You know what they say about forbidden love,” Paulie says laughing. “I’m going to go and give you kids some privacy.

As soon as he goes out, Thomas comes in.

“I’ve got your albums guys. They turned out really good.”

Lila is right behind him waving one around in the air. “I want to be the first to get your autographs. As soon as my man finds you the right record company, you two are going to be unstoppable.”