Interrupted (The Progress Series) (13 page)

“Hello?”

“What’s wrong?” asked Samuel.

“I didn’t know how to tell you. It’s been rough for me the past few days—”

“Are you breaking up with me?” he cut her off.

“No, Sam. I’m not breaking up with you.” She couldn’t deny the fluttering in her stomach caused by the disappointment in his tone.

“Then tell me.”

She took a deep breath and put her head down when the tears started to consume her. Sniffling and gasping for air, she tried to speak as the emotions of the past two days came crashing down. No matter how hard she tried to talk to Samuel, she didn’t know how to, or didn’t want to say the words:
My dad is going to die.

“I’m coming over. I’ll be there in five minutes,” he said as he hung up the phone.

She didn’t care that she hadn’t showered in two days, she didn’t care that she wasn’t even remotely presentable and she didn’t care that her mind, emotions and room were a complete disaster. The only thing she cared about was having Samuel hold her the minute he walked through her door.

And he did. He rushed for her as soon as he raced down the steps. He found her on her bed and crushed her to him, holding her tightly against his chest. So tightly that she couldn’t decipher anymore whether or not they were two separate beings.

*

An hour passed without a single word spoken. The DVD was still on pause, and the room was completely silent when Charlie wasn’t sniffling.

“My dad’s cancer is back,” she said frowning, her bottom lip quivering.

“Jesus, Charlie. You found out two days ago, and you’re only just telling me now?” he said, keeping her pinned to him.

She nodded and sniffed again.

“You silly, stubborn girl. You should have told me you needed me. I would have been here sooner,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. “How bad is it?”

“It’s bad.”

He sat up, kicked off his shoes, and motioned for her to lie down again. He crawled up behind her and snuggled into her back.

“I’m here. I’ll stay for as long as you need me to.”

Those were the last words she heard before she fell asleep until the next morning.

*

She woke alone. As she sat up and looked around her room, she saw Samuel’s shoes still on her floor. A sudden feeling of relief swept over her. She stood and walked to the bathroom.

When she opened the door again, Samuel’s concerned face was there to greet her in the hallway. He stood alone with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.

“Morning, baby,” he said.

The corner of her mouth lifted as she looked at the cup of coffee.

“Yes, this is for you. Your mom told me how you like it prepared. Two creams, one sugar.” He handed her the cup.

“Thanks,” she said, taking a sip.

They walked into her room and sat down on the bed. “Sorry about last night. But I’m done crying now. I feel much better.”

“Why are you sorry?”

She shook her head. “I’m usually a lot stronger than that.”

“You know Charlie, you don’t always have to be the strong one.
And
, I’m glad that I was able to help you, even if it was just a little.”

“You helped a lot. But, I’m sure you have a ton of things to do today, so I won’t keep you. Thanks for coming over.” She smiled, trying to appear low-maintenance.

Don’t leave. Stay with me.

“I don’t need to go anywhere. Do you want me to go?”

She shook her head as if to say
no
, but a different word flew out of her mouth, “Yes.”

Shocked and disappointed, Samuel nodded his head. “Okay, I’ll go then.”

“No, Samuel. I’m sorry. It’s just really hard right now. And, I’m a fucking mess. I don’t really want you to see me like this. It just takes so much away from the beauty and sex appeal of the vision of me you have in your head. I want you to keep thinking of me like that, and I don’t want you thinking I’m too emotional or—”

He interrupted her ramblings by pulling her closer and brushing his lips against hers, slowly at first. She closed her eyes and allowed his pace to accelerate. Soon he was feverishly kissing her, and Charlie was barely able to keep up with his rhythm. She could feel his desperation in every nibble, every swoop of his tongue, and his inability to keep his hands from making their way up the back of her nightshirt.

She sat up, stopping the kisses briefly in order to shimmy off her shirt. She lay down on her bed, taking him with her as she opened her legs for him to lay on top of her. His hand finding its way to her breast, he began teasing her nipple through her satin bra, never taking his lips off of hers. Her back arched in appreciation as she pressed her sex against his growing erection and his throat rumbled, hungry for more.

His hand was now underneath her bra and his mouth on her nipple, tormenting her with his tongue. “Charlie,” he purred as he started taking off her pants. “I’m always going to want you.”

With her pants down around one ankle and her tank top still stuck to the cast on her arm, she grabbed a handful of his hair, now that his head was between her thighs. As he licked the outside of her lace panties, taunting her just enough, she lifted her hips and pressed his face against her. “Don’t stop, Sam.”

And just as she requested it, he pulled away. She looked up to find him; his jeans were taut and he was raking his hand through his hair.

She sat up and grabbed the blanket to cover herself. “What’s wrong? Why did you stop?” she asked, panting.

He shook his head. “Because I’m a dick. I shouldn’t be taking advantage of you. My timing is horrible.”

No, no. Let’s go back to what we were doing. I’m fine. Really.

“Don’t look at me like that, Charlie. I know,
believe me
. But, not today. Not now. We’ve already broken the rules.”

“Oh, fuck the rules! Don’t be such a…a tease!” she shouted.

He smiled and emptied the air from his lungs. “Nope. Not today. If I do this with you right now, I’m going to hate myself even more.”

“Ugh!” Charlie threw herself back onto her pillow in complete sexual frustration. “You’re such a dick.”

He snickered and crawled up next to her. “You’re going to be just fine, Charlie. I’ll just leave and you can satisfy any urges that might…come up while I’m gone.”

She rolled her eyes.
Nice, using my own words against me. Clever, clever man.

“Fine. Go!”
He laughed again, slipping on his shoes.

“Wait!” she said, sitting up. “I’m going to see you Sunday, right?”

He walked over to her and leaned down. “You better.” After giving her an innocent kiss, he threw on his coat. “See you Sunday, Charlie.”

And with that, he was gone again.

“Come on, Karal. Let me take
one
table. Just one.”

“Nope, sorry honey.
Lawrence doesn’t want you doing anything. You’re lucky he was able to come up with these hosting shifts. When do you get that cast off, anyway?”

“In a week or two, I think.”

“Then you’ll just have to wait until then.”

Charlie rolled her eyes.

“How are things going with Sam?” Karal asked, wiping down the menus.

An uncontrollable grin appeared on Charlie’s face. “Good.”

“Yeah? Is he your boyfriend now?”

“Oh, um.”
He did ask me if I was breaking up with him the other day.
“I guess I don’t know. We haven’t really had that conversation yet.”

“Well, are you seeing anyone else?”

“No.”

“Is he?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then he’s totally your boyfriend.”

Yeah. I guess he is.

“Have you seen Angie lately? I haven’t seen her since my accident,” said Charlie.

“Nope. She’s cut way back on her hours since she got her new boyfriend, Dave.”

Charlie nodded. “What about Marco? I feel like I’m totally out of the loop.”

“That must be refreshing for you,” Karal said.

“Huh?”

“Well, you were the only thing people were talking about for months! You, Jesse, your weight loss, the way guys hit on you at the bar—Charlie, YOU were
the loop
.” She laughed.

“I suppose. Now that the roller coaster in a hurricane on the lip of an erupting volcano that was “Jesse” is over, life for everyone has resumed to normal.”

“Have you heard from him?” Karal asked.

Charlie shook her head. “No, I doubt I’ll ever speak to him again. Which, is probably for the best.”

“Good girl.” Karalee winked.

*

Swallowing her sorrow was easier to do than she thought it would be. Even with the horrible news of her father, she had successfully buried the morbid thoughts in order to stay strong for her mother and sister.

“…It’s just that…I don’t know what I would do without him,” Sabrina said between gasps.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen. He could pull through like last time.”

“Do you really think so?”

“It’s very possible, Breen. Dad is strong, and Mom and I are taking good care of him.”

“I’ve been a mess, Char. I haven’t gone to any of my classes since I found out. Do you think I should come home?”

“Totally unnecessary. Things aren’t bad right now. You know I’d tell you if they were.”

“Mom told me that he starts chemo and radiation next week,” Sabrina’s voice grew quieter.

“I know what you’re thinking and I don’t want you to worry about it. I told you, I’ll call you and let you know how he’s doing. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as last time.”

*

All of the conversations were the same. Sabrina had been calling Charlie every night to cry, and cry, and cry some more.

The days of her father’s skin fading to gray and endless nights of vomiting were on the horizon. She tried not to think about the things that would drag him down, the things that would eventually suck every last breath from him. She tried to concentrate on the memories she would always cherish, and on making as many more as she could before he was gone.

She spent the week packing the rest of her things, and every minute burned through her at the thought of spending another Sunday with Sam.

It’s Sunday today. :) Can you meet me at this address at 11am?  4309 Jefferson Boulevard in Prior Lake. xx Sam

Yes, yes. YES I can.

Sure. What are we doing today?

Dressed in a pair of jeans, she glanced down wondering if her attire would be appropriate for the day’s events.

It’s a surprise. Dress casual. See you in a bit.

She squealed.

Did I seriously just squeak? Oh my god, I’m such a girl.
She gleefully smiled as she finished her bowl of cereal quickly. Bill peeked at her from just beyond his newspaper and chuckled.

“I think our little girl is falling in love,” he mumbled to Karen, too soft for Charlie to hear as she rushed out the door.

*

Twenty minutes early, Charlie parked in front of the strip mall, puzzled at where he’d want to meet her. There were three storefronts: the first a Laundromat, the second a Chinese restaurant, and the third was what could only be explained as a dojo. She double-checked the address he had sent and looked at the numbers on the doors.

The dojo?

Charlie stepped out of her parents’ truck and flicked her cigarette butt into the parking lot. She took off her sunglasses and glanced at the sign above the door. Written in Chinese, the letters were beyond her comprehension.

Four men walked out the door with duffle bags in their hands as she caught the handle and walked inside.

Two walls were covered in mirrors and there were faded, multi-colored mats on the floor. Samuel was standing in the center of the gym and another man stood just to his left.

Once her insides calmed after the first sight of Sam in a black martial arts uniform, she stood against the wall and watched his body move. Gracefully balancing on one foot, in a slow sweeping motion he lifted his opposite leg, bent at the knee. Focused on nothing in the room, he brought his arms together as though he were praying, still showing immense self-control in his stance—never wobbling, never falling. Position after position, Sam was weightless while concentration never left his body. It was a beautiful thing for her to witness; she could almost feel the serene energy bouncing off the walls and through her, filling her with gratitude and peace.

Samuel paused and nodded in the direction of the man near him. The man nodded back and charged Sam with as much force as he could muster. Charlie suddenly felt as though she needed to warn Sam, calling his name as the man collided with the palm of Sam’s hand. The man stopped suddenly and was thrown backward, down to the mat.

Sam turned at the sound of Charlie’s voice and saw the rigid expression on her face as her hand covered her mouth in terror.

“Again!” the man shouted as he stood up, taking a defensive pose.

“Hey baby, you’re early,” Sam said, approaching Charlie and wiping the sweat from his brow.

“Are we done, then?” Samuel stopped and turned to look back at his attacker.

“Hang on.” He put his finger up to Charlie and jogged back.

Taking a bow in respect to his Sifu, he rushed back over to Charlie still standing in the entryway.

She smiled. “What is this place? I didn’t know you did karate.”

He laughed. “It’s not karate, it’s Kung Fu…Wu Shu.”

Oh, my little Kung Fu warrior. Such a geek, so cute.

“Is this your plan for today? Showing me how to fight? You forget, I’m a little handicapped,” she said, lifting her cast.

“No, Charlie,” he said, laughing and shaking his head. “I’m not going to show you how to fight. I thought we could get some lunch next door.  But you’re early.”

“Yeah, sorry. I was a little…eager to see you.”

“Well then,” he took a step closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist “You’re forgiven.” He smiled and rubbed his thumb on her cheek. “Please remember how easily I forgave you just now, so that it makes it easier for you to forgive me in about ten minutes.”

“And what will I be forgiving you for doing?”

“In ten minutes, we’ll be meeting my mother for lunch.”

*

After a quick shower, Sam walked back out into the gym in a button-down and jeans, carrying his duffle bag. His hair was still glossy as he combed it with his fingers, trying to shake it out to dry.

Charlie crossed her arms across her chest and cocked her head to the side. “Your mother?”

“She’s harmless. And don’t worry, she’ll do most of the talking.” He grabbed the door and opened it for her. “Besides, nothing can squash sexual tension faster than having your mom in the room. If I have to wait another three weeks—”

“Oh, I see! Using your mom as a crutch, eh?”

“Believe me, I’m going to need all the help I can get,” he said, throwing his duffle in the bed of his truck. “C’mon, she’s already here.”

Walking into the restaurant, Charlie had to duck to avoid hitting the Chinese spherical lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The dining area was much smaller than it looked from the outside, making it easy to spot Samuel’s mother seated at a table in the corner.

A woman in her late forties sat waiting, dressed casually in jeans and a sweatshirt. Her dark brown hair hung to the middle of her back. One thin silver streak flowed from the part in her hair, all the way down.

“You must be Charlie. Hello, I’m Maxine. Sam has told me so much about you,” she said while reaching to shake Charlie’s hand.

“Hi, Maxine—”

“Oh, call me Maxie. Sit, sit. So Charlie, Sam says you’re a waitress over at The Crimson Cellar. Great pizza. You know, the first time I went there was almost ten years ago, though I’m sure you weren’t working there, then. I got the most amazing goat cheese and artichoke deep dish, and the sauce! Oh god, the sauce is to die for! Do you know what they put in it? Is there a secret ingredient?”

Wow. I gotta be paying attention here. This woman can talk.

“Um, pineapple, I think.”

“No kidding? I would have never guessed pineapple! You know, I have the greatest recipe for a pineapple upside down cake, it was Sam’s favorite as a kid. I can only handle so much of it—”

Sam put his hand on Charlie’s leg and gave a quick squeeze. She looked over at him just as he gave her a wink.

*

The afternoon faded away with Maxies’s ramblings. Charlie was surprised to discover that Maxie was quite the mystic, interested in the metaphysical, spirits and past lives, and ancient Native American theories and traditions. It was almost
two o’clock by the time Maxie caught her breath.

“Excuse me, ladies. I’m going to use the restroom,” Sam said, standing to stretch his legs. “Then we should probably go. What do you think, Charlie?”

“Sure.” Charlie nodded.

After Sam left the table, Maxie leaned in toward Charlie. “So, what are your intentions with my son?”

Whoa. I wasn’t expecting that question.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I just want to know if you’re as serious about him as he is about you. I’ve never seen him like this before. He’s crazy about you. I thought someone should tell you in case your intentions and feelings weren’t mutual. You could avoid his heartache by leaving him now—that is, if you weren’t falling for him like he’s falling for you.”

I know I should be having a serious conversation with her, but my insides are bursting right now. I absolutely adore Sam. And I love that he’s been talking to his mom about me. Okay, focus, Charlie.

“I’m crazy about Sam, too.”

Maxie sat back and assessed Charlie with a critical eye. “So you won’t cheat on him, then?”

“Never,” she said without hesitation.

Maxie nodded and smiled. “Good.”

“Hey there, I’m back. Charlie, you want to get going?” asked Sam, standing next to the table.

“Sure.”

“Mom, it was great to see you. We’ll talk soon, okay?” He leaned down to hug her.

“It was great to meet you, Maxie.” Charlie extended her hand.

“Oh, give me a hug!” Maxie said, standing and throwing her arms around Charlie.

“It was nice to meet you, too,” Maxie said, tightening the hug.

*

“See, I told you she was harmless,” Sam said as they walked to his truck.

“You were right.”

“Can you hang out for a little longer? I have to do some work tonight, but I’d like to be able to spend some more time with you today,” he said, standing with Charlie in the parking lot.

“Okay. Well, I might need to move a few things around on my schedule, but...” Charlie laughed.

“Good. I’ll drive. There’s something I want to show you.”

“You’re not going to show me how to trim a bonsai tree, are you?” she asked, trying to hide her smirk.

“No, Charlie. Come on, hop in,” he said, laughing.

“Where are we going?”

“The Conservatory,” he said. “Have you ever been there before?”

“Oh, um, once when I was a kid, I think. I think my cousin got married there.”

“Well, I was just there a couple of weeks ago. I saw something I thought you might like.”

“Sounds good.”

*

Walking into the Conservatory, she immediately took in the aroma of sweet perfumed flowers, soil, and grass—much stronger than the smell that came from a freshly mowed lawn or a seasonal flower store. It was rich, refreshing and calming.