Romancing the Rogue (78 page)

The rhythm of
the train
’
s engine slowed, waking Charlie from his restless slumber. He opened his eyes, wincing from the bright lights shining through the windows. They must be nearing Atlantic City, where the glittering casinos attracted professional gamblers a
nd hopefuls like Uncle Phineas.

A
fter speaking to Regina
, Charlie had left the gallery
and packed his suitcase, leaving on the late night train. Now it was early morning, and
he
needed
to purchase a bus ticket back to Wildwood.

As the train came to a stop, Charlie
stood
and pick
ed
up his suitcase, ready to depart. But something made him glance out
the window
once more. The northbound car rested on the opposite track with people already boarded for the trip to New York. A pretty young woman in a gray coat sat
by
the window opposite him
.

“
Rose!
”
He dropped his suitcase and
flew toward
the window. Why was she going to New York?
Though he knew she probably wouldn
’
t hear, h
e
pounded
on the
glass
.

But whether she heard it or not, she looked up
—
and into his eyes. Her own eyes widened
,
and her mouth opened in an
O
. She stood and put both hands on
the
window.

“
Hey,
buddy
, it
’
s the end of the line. You need to get off so we can clean the car.
”

Charlie nodded at the conductor then motioned to Rose that
he
was getting off. Would she get off
,
too? Would
she
let him apologize?
He
dashed toward the doorway and down the steps. And then he ran. Well,
he
moved as fast as he could though the crowd
, cursing
to himself.
Why
did I
ch
oose
to sit so far back in the train?
Carefully dodging the other passengers,
he
moved as quickly as possible,
apologizing
as he bumped into a few
, until
he
finally made it to the end of the platform at the front end of the train and cut left toward the northbound track.

Just
in time to see the train pulling away.

H
is bag d
ropped to the platform
and
he
bent over, breathing hard from his exertion and utterly dejected at
losing his
chance to speak to Rose. Should
he
buy another ticket and go back to New York? How would
he
find her there? Was she headed t
o the gallery
, or was she going to visit friends from her college days?

“
Charlie?
”

Did
he
dare hope?
He
called on every saint his mother and the nuns in school had taught him about. And then
he
straightened.

It was
her
.
His Rose
came toward him, lugging
a huge
suitcase. She
’
d been in the front car of the outbound train, and she
’
d had as far to walk as he had. Forgetting
his
fatigue as well as
his
suitcase
, he
rushed toward
her
. She
,
too, dropped her bag and ran. They came together in a flurry of emotion as
they wrapped their arms around each other
.
His
lips met hers in a hungry kiss.
T
hey clung to one
an
other
,
and
he
searched for the words to tell her
how glad
he
was to see
her
, how much
he
needed
her
.

“
Hey
,
folks, I
’
m sure you
’
re happy to see each other, but you need to go on inside the station.
”

They broke apart then, and Charlie picked up both suitcases, gesturing for Rose to go ahead of him and nodding his head at the bemused conductor as he led the way to the terminal. The man tipped his hat and winked as they walked by.

Once inside,
Charlie
ordered two coffees and found a small table away from the bustle of the station.

“
Why did you—
”
she began.

“
Where were you—
”
he asked at the same time.

They laughed
, and h
e gestured for her to speak.
“
Ladies first.
”

She took a deep breath.
“
I thought the opening went for another few days. Why did you leave?
”

“
I
had
some unfinished business in Wildwood.
”
At her start of surprise, he continued.
“
I left
a woman there with the impression that the only reason I wanted her with me was for the good luck she brought me. And I needed to tell her that I know better. Where were you headed?
”

She smiled shyly.
“
To New York. To the gallery. Because I needed to be there. I used my mother as an excuse because I was scared.
”

“
You, scared? You single-handedly opened up a business and spearheaded an event like Wildwood has never seen.
You
’
ve
got the entire town praising you for
helping
its economy. Why would you be scared to go to New York?
”

“
I was afraid of my feelings. I wasn
’
t sure about going back to the place where my old life fell apart. I need to let go of my past anger. If your mother can
forgive
our family for the wrong my
f
ather did to yours, then I need to
forgive
Father
for abandoning us.
”

Charlie started.
“
He left you? I thought he died.
”

“
He did. He jumped out of the window of his office on the tenth floor.
”

His breath caught. How horrible it must have been to lose
her
father like that. He reached over and took one of
her
hands. Despite the hot coffee she
’
d held,
her
hand was icy.

“
I
’
m so sorry he
did
that.
I can
’
t
understand his reasons, but he shouldn
’
t have
left you
to deal with everything alone.
I won
’
t be able to
provide the kind of life you had before, but
I
promise you
—
if times get tough, I will never leave you to face it
by
yourself.
”

He took her other hand and held both of
them
between his.
“
That
’
s what I was coming home for. I realized I was all wrong about why I needed
you
. Yes, my life has turned around since
that day you stopped at my booth on the Boardwalk.
But it
’
s not because
you
’
re a Lady Luck. It
’
s because
you
make me want to be a better man, a better artist, a better person.
You
inspire me. Not just as a muse, but as someone who encourages me to be the best I can be.
”

Her eyes shone. Were those tears? Was he too late?

“
You inspire me, too,
”
she said.
“
After losing Father, I stopped seeing the beauty in life. I thought I needed stability and saw things in black and white. You brought the color back for me. And Mother agreed with everyone else
—
I belonged here with you.
”

He sat back
, still clinging to her hands
.
“
So what do we do now? Do you want to go back to Wildwood?
”

“
No,
let
’
s
go to New York.
I want to
see the gallery and the paintings that you have there.
I
’
m
proud of you, Charlie, and
I
’
m so
sorry I wasn
’
t more supportive of your big chance.
”

Charlie shook his head.
“
You
were worried about
your
mother, and rightly so. I
’
m glad my mother and
the
neighbors are there for her.
”
He gave her hands another squeeze.
“
All right, we
’
ll go. I want
you
with me, not
to
bring me luck, but because
being with
you
bring
s
me joy.
W
ith
you
by my side
,
I can do anything.
”

They went to the counter and purchased their tickets for the next train north. Charlie kept Rose
’
s hand in his, reluctant to let it go when he picked up their suitcases to board.

As they settled in, Rose exclaimed,
“
Oh! I almost forgot. Your mother gave me this package to give you.
She
said it was something you might need.
”

Charlie watched, puzzled, as s
he
pulled a small leather pouch
from her purse
. Inside was an envelope addressed to him in his mother
’
s handwriting. He opened it quickly, knowing his mother rarely wrote anything, so if she had written to him
,
it had to be important.

The stationery was yellowed and musty, a further testament to the rarity of Susie Brannigan
’
s writing effort. The
penmanship
was shaky but legible. He held it up to the window to read it.

Dear Charlie,

I always
knew y
ou would be a success. I
knew
from the time you were a little boy that you weren
’
t cut out to be a fisherman like your Pa. I think Pa knew it, too. That
’
s why
he
didn
’
t argue so much about you going to New York to be an artist.
He
never said much, but
he
was real proud of you, just like I am.

Rose is a special lady. I
’
m glad she
’
s going there. I
’
ll feel better, knowing
you
’
re together
in the Big City
. Whether
you
return to Wildwood or not, there will always be a place at the table for
you
—
and Rose.

In the side pocket of this pouch
is a little trinket
that
you
might need very soon. It
’
s something Pa gave me thirty years ago, and now I
’
m giving it to
you
. I know Pa would approve.

Love,

Ma