The following morning I showed up at Charles’s house well before Josh usually left for work, hoping we’d have a chance to talk. I knocked and waited, nervous about what I was going to say, even though I’d rehearsed it on the drive over. Seconds later, I was greeted by Charles, who didn’t look pleased to see me.
“Callie.”
“Charles. Is Josh here?”
“If he is, he’s in the guesthouse out back.”
Having answered my question, I thought he might turn away from me and close the door. He didn’t. He stood there, eyeballing me. Well, not even eyeballing, really. It was more of a glare, the kind of glare that made me feel unwelcome. I could have been offended, but I wasn’t. He was standing up for his friend, just like my friends would do for me in the same situation. I didn’t blame him.
“Whatever you need to say, say it,” I said.
He crossed his arms in front of him, leaned against the doorjamb. “Who said I have anything to say?”
“I can tell by the way you’re looking at me.”
“Even if I do have things I’d like to say to you, it doesn’t matter what I think. What’s going on with you and Josh is your business.”
“Maybe. But he cares about your opinion, and if you’re filling his head with the wrong things, it affects our chances of working anything out.”
He laughed. “Is that why you’re here—to work things out?”
“Why is it funny?”
“In all the time you’ve been married, I haven’t seen you take the initiative to work on anything with him. It’s always been Josh going out of his way to do things for you to make you happy. Truth is, I’m surprised you’re making an effort now.”
Inside, I fumed. Outside, I kept my shit together. “I get it. You don’t like me. Fine. You don’t have to be cruel.”
“I’m not being cruel. I’m being honest. You asked me to tell you how I feel, so I just did.”
“I get it. He’s your friend, he’s upset, and you’re supporting him. Truth is, I’m glad he has you.”
He sighed. “Callie, I’ve known you for a long time, and I’ve been friends with Josh since we were kids. I’ve seen him happier than he’s ever been because of you, and I’ve also seen him sadder than he’s ever been because of you.”
“Has he told you what’s happening? Why he left?”
“I can’t talk about it. It wouldn’t be right. If you want answers to your questions, you should ask him.”
Charles offered a sympathetic smile, then backed away and closed the front door without uttering another word.
Of all the friends Josh had, Charles made me the most nervous. He was the kind of guy who refused to grow up, the one who was always trying to convince the other guys that being a bachelor was the only way to go. It made me wonder if Charles had a hand in what was happening—if his single ways and flashy, glamorous lifestyle had finally rubbed off. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a crazy notion. Josh was sweet and kind; he was nothing like Charles.
I rounded the corner of the main house and looked for Josh’s truck in the driveway next to the guesthouse. It wasn’t there. I went to the door and knocked anyway, not expecting anyone to come to the door. I was surprised when someone did. Really surprised. Standing in front of me was a woman, with wet hair and a wet T-shirt, but the most surprising thing of all—she was wearing a V-neck T-shirt. Josh’s T-shirt. She looked familiar to me, but I couldn’t figure out why.
“Who are you?” I asked. “And why are you wearing my husband’s shirt?”
“Oh! Hey.” She tried to shield her body behind the door, which was pointless. “It’s not what you think.”
“How do you know what I think?”
“I know what I’d think if I were you.” She stuck a hand out toward me. I shook it, even though the whole situation was awkward. “I’m Jean. Your husband is a doll, by the way.”
If she thought the compliment helped, it didn’t. “Yes, I know.”
“I’m Charles’s sister.”
I looked at her again, more closely this time. “Oh, I can see it now. Sorry. I haven’t seen you in years, and with the wet hair, no makeup and everything, I couldn’t tell it was you.”
It was a polite way of not saying I didn’t recognize her because she’d had work done since I saw her last—new boobs and what appeared to be a much smaller nose.
“I’m only wearing Josh’s shirt because you knocked, and I just hopped out of the shower and didn’t have any clothes on, and I saw Josh’s shirt sitting on the chair.”
“Why are you in the guesthouse at all? Isn’t he supposed to be staying here? Why aren’t you in the house with your brother?”
“Too hectic in there at night. I can’t get any sleep with all the people coming in and out sometimes. I was staying in the guesthouse before Josh got here. I’m leaving tomorrow, and, just so you know, there are three rooms in here, and Josh is a perfect gentleman. He didn’t even want to stay here when he found out I was here. The only reason he agreed is because he knows I’m leaving tomorrow, and he’ll have the place all to himself after that.”
“Has he ... said anything to you about why he’s here?”
“Not much. He doesn’t talk a lot. Believe me, I tried. The guy looked like he was about to explode last night.”
“Did he say anything?”
“Not really. He stuck to his room, only leaving it to go to the kitchen and pour himself another glass of tequila. Then it was back into the room again until he finished it and returned again for another.”
“I’m sorry; did you just say he was drinking?”
She nodded. “Off and on all night last night. Why?”
“He hasn’t had a drink in ages.”
“Well ... I don’t know what to tell you. He’s drinking now. He’s struggling. I don’t know what happened between you two, and I don’t mean to pry, but he seems lost. I feel bad for the guy.”
I didn’t get it. Any of it. It was like another person had taken over. I wanted Josh back. The old Josh. The one I fell in love with. “I was hoping to talk to him before he left for work, but I must have just missed him.”
“I overheard him on the phone this morning. He said he was starting a new job.”
“A new job? He’s not finished with the old one yet.” It didn’t make sense. He’d been on the Hansen job all summer and had at least another week to go before he was finished. “Did he mention anything else about the new job?”
“Honestly, I wasn’t paying much attention.”
I thanked her and asked her to call me if anything else happened that she thought I should know about, knowing full well she probably wouldn’t. My husband was her brother’s friend. In the meantime, I needed to find him. I also needed to talk to the Hansens.