Charlotte sighed as the elevator dinged, having reached its destination. She was tired and emotionally drained. Seeing her brother had brought up unwanted memories of the girl she used to be. Her phone rang, shocking her out of the trance she had been in.
"Hello?"
"Hey Charlotte, I just wanted to know if you got home safe?" Perry asked.
"Yeah, I did, thanks for caring." Charlotte chuckled.
"Not a problem, have a good night!" Perry said and then hung up. Charlotte let out another sigh and unlocked the door to the apartment. The apartment was quiet and dark so Charlotte flicked some lights on and made her way to the kitchen. A bright pink sticky note had been pasted to the fridge, breaking the chrome and metallic colour of the kitchen décor.
Gone to dinner with Tyler!
Don't wait up! ;)
B xx
Charlotte opened the fridge and uncorked the chilled white wine before pouring herself a generous glass, tomorrow she had to work at the bookshop, but at least it only opened at nine. She sipped on the wine and got to work on a light meal. After making her dinner she sat down on the couch and watched some of her favourite series that she had neglected in the past few weeks. She tried to keep her mind on the show on the television, but her mind drifted to her encounter with Benjamin. He was her older brother, she always wished he acted as all of her friends brothers did when she was younger, over-protective and goofy. He didn't, instead he was serious and hardly ever spent time with her, his mind was always focused on becoming a good successor to the family business. Her father was fairly well known in Boston, he had started the successful business that dealt mainly with imports when she was eight years old, her brother was ten at the time. After that they were never really the same family as they were. They came from a normal middle class background until one day their dad saw the gap in the market. Their last family holiday was to Canada, where they had family, and it was one of the best and last they had as a proper family. Benjamin had always known that her father had not really taken a liking to his daughter, he wanted another son, evident by the fact that he picked her name; Charlie. It was ambiguous and unisex and everyone she had met was surprised she was a girl. Her mother was her best friend and it hurt to leave her behind, she was the closest family member Charlotte had at the time, now it seemed Benjamin finally wanted to be the older brother he was meant to be. She didn't know if that would last, but he seemed genuine enough, maybe her leaving had caused him to actually pay attention to her. At least he had more redeeming qualities than the tyrant of a father she had; he was a true...-
A loud banging rang the apartment. Charlie hopped up, wine glass in hand and went to answer the door. It was Dimitri.
"Hi, I wanted to see how you were doing."
"I'm fine, Dimitri."
"Okay, cool." He looked awkward and stuck his hands into the tailored suit he was wearing.
"Work event?" Charlotte, found herself asking.
"Just came back from closing a deal." He informed her.
"Good."
"You look tired."
"I am." Charlotte answered. Dimitri looked pained and then sighed, stepped away and walked down the hallway calling a goodnight to her.
"Goodnight Dimitri." Charlotte said softly before closing the door. She yawned loudly, flicked the lights off and made her way to her bedroom, wine glass still in her hand.
The next morning Charlotte awoke with a slight headache, checking the time she breathed a sigh of relief because she still had enough time to shower. Breakfast was rushed and soon she was at the door of the bookshop, a little breathless, but still on time. She unlocked the security gate and the door and quickly tapped in the code for the alarm before moving all the flags and signboards outside. Hailey was late, but fashionably so.
"So how are things going with my uncle?" Hailey asked nonchalantly. Charlotte involuntarily scowled. Hailey whistled.
"Damn, it can't be so bad?" Hailey asked.
"No, we just got into a fight, no biggie though I'm sure we'll work it out." Charlotte said.
"Oh okay, I hope so."
"What happened to his last girlfriend?"
"Fiancée actually, she was really stuck up around us, but I think she had some issues going on," Hailey said as she priced the books, "She committed suicide."
"That's sad."
"Yeah, she seemed to make Uncle Derek happy even though we all disliked her."
"Why?"
"It was almost as if she was forced to visit us and never enjoyed it, she hardly ever spoke or smiled, only time she smiled was for photos and she never did stuff with the family."
"Like what?"
"Swimming, going to the beach, theme parks anything fun really." Hailey said shrugging before walking off to place the books on the shelves. She then disappeared into the kitchenette to make coffee for them both.
"Here you go."
"Thank you." Charlotte accepted the cup of coffee with gratitude; perhaps the caffeine would wake her up a bit more. Hailey dusted, Charlotte sorted and helped customers and at the end of a busy day they locked up, the black sedan for Hailey had already drawn up at the curb, the driver was already on his way to open the door for Hailey.
"Bye Charlotte!" Hailey called and disappeared into the tinted window car. It smoothly pulled off into the ever present traffic of New York City. Charlotte joined the stream of people on their way to the subway, either to work or home, it didn't matter.
"I'm home!" She called out as she got into the apartment.
"Hi! You have a visitor!" Betty called.
"Who?"
"Your mom." Charlotte froze, her hands clutching her coat even tighter.
"What?" She croaked.
"Hi Charlotte." Her mom's voice sounded exactly the same, soothing and gentle.
"Mom?" Charlotte questioned, the tears she held at bay and the homesickness rushing over her like a tidal wave.
"Charlie." Her mom breathed. Betty left the two of them alone.
"I'm so sorry." Charlotte gasped. Her mom approached her and drew her into a hug.
"It's okay, it's all over now, and you're safe." Her mom consoled. Charlotte held onto to her mom, a woman she hadn't seen since she had graduated and left the very same day.
"I'm so sorry mom."
"You had to go, I understand." Her mom said softly, "I'm just glad I know you're okay."
"Thank you for not hating me." Charlotte said softly.
"I would never hate you." Her mom said sternly, "You're my little girl, my princess; you grew up now that's all." Her mom said.
"Thank you." Charlotte said and squeezed her mom tighter, "How did you find me?" She asked.
"Your brother followed you."
"I should have known he would."
"He loves you."
"I know." Charlotte said.
"You changed your name?"
"Yeah, it's Charlotte now." Charlotte said.
"It suits you better." Her mom complimented.
"Does dad know where you are?" Charlotte asked. Her mother shook her head.
"He thinks I'm shopping for a dress for the gala we have to attend tomorrow."
"Here?"
"Yes, that's why I'm in New York and I could come and see you." Her mom explained.
"He doesn't know about me right?" Her mother's face fell.
"No, he hasn't mentioned your name since that day." She said softly. Charlotte had expected it, but she never thought it would still hurt to hear that her father didn't really care that she had left. Her mother stayed for a bit and questioned her about how her life had been after she had left and the people she had met. Charlotte only told her the about the happier times in her life and left out the parts where some nights she never had any food or got kicked out the apartment she was staying in because she couldn't pay the rent or about the awful diner owner for who she had worked for before she got hired at the Bistro. She just wanted her mom to know that she was okay and happier than ever.
"I should probably go, your dad will be angry if I'm late for supper." Her mom said and stood up from the couch.
"Thank you for coming." Charlotte said. Her mother gave her another hug.
"Thank you for not bolting out that door the minute you saw me." Her mom said with a slight smile.
"Mom?" Charlotte said.
"Yes, Charlotte?"
"I love you."
"I love you too honey." Her mom said with a radiant smile, "Take care of yourself." And with that her mom disappeared down the corridor, she was still the same loving mother and Charlotte was grateful for that small mercy.