Charlotte escaped as soon as possible after their dinner was over, begging off with a headache she didn’t really have.
She walked out onto the wide front porch of the inn and took in a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves and wash away all memory of tonight’s dinner. Well, that was one day down of her family’s trip to town. Only six more to go.
“Char?”
She turned at the sound of her name. “Hey, Sara.”
“I’ve been hanging around, waiting for your dinner to finish. I wanted to see how it went.”
“About as expected. I was told a litany of things I’m doing wrong, jobs I should go after, and, well, my clothing choices could be better.”
“Oh, Char, I’m sorry.”
“I’m used to it. And Eva sat there charming Ben with her stories. I swear every man in the dining room under ninety was staring at her. Heck, even men over ninety stare at her.”
Sara scowled. “I could throw out a trite saying like ‘beauty is only skin deep,’ but I won’t. I’ll just say that you are a beautiful, talented person. Don’t let your family do a number on you.”
“Thanks, it’s nice to hear some compliments…”
“Why don’t we go to The Nest and have a drink?”
“I think I’ll just head home. That whole dinner and drink ordeal just made me tired.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay, but I’m going to check on you again tomorrow.”
She flashed her friend a weak smile. “I’ll be fine.” She climbed down the last steps from the porch and headed back to her bungalow. The one where there wasn’t any family or constant criticism.
She slowly walked along the sidewalk until she heard someone call her name.
“Char, wait up.” Ben jogged up to her.
“I thought you’d be catching a nightcap with Eva.”
“Nah, I’ve got an early morning.”
She looked at him, surprised the responsibility could trump Eva’s flirty words and dazzling smile. He fell into step beside her as they leisurely strolled to Bayside Bungalows.
“So, your family… they are… how do I put this?” He paused his steps, and she stopped beside him. “You and Eva are different.”
She choked out a laugh. “You could say that. She is beautiful and the shining star in my parents’ lives.”
He stared at her for a long moment, then frowned. “But you’re beautiful, too. And kind, and talented.”
“Did Sara put you up to this pep talk?” She cocked her head to the side, searching his face.
“What? No. I meant every word.”
“I’m not the dazzling beauty that Eva is. Always perfectly dressed. And I swear, I have no idea how she keeps her hair looking so perfect. Never out of place.” She swept her own coppery hair behind her shoulders. It was always flying this way and that in its own mischievous way. “She’s got a dream job making big bucks. She’s everything a parent could want in a child.”
“They must be proud of you, too. You’re a talented painter.”
“No, I got lucky and sold some of my work. Had my moment of semi-fame in the art world. I seemed to have fizzled out.”
“I heard your new work is great.”
“Says my best friends, not art critics.”
“Why don’t you show it to Paul Clark? See what he says?”
“I wish everyone would stop suggesting that. I’m not ready.” She turned and started walking away.
He jogged to catch up with her again. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s your decision. I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
She stopped and turned to him. “No, I’m sorry. I’m just… cranky. My family does that to me. You’d best just make a wide berth around me this week until my family leaves. Oh, and then give me more time to get over them.” She grinned. “And maybe some more time after that.”
“I’m sorry you’re having such a tough time with them here.”
She saw genuine sympathy in his eyes. But she didn’t want sympathy. She just wanted… What did she want? She had no clue anymore.
“Let’s just go back to our bungalows and leave all talk of my family behind us.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Ben dropped into step beside her and they silently walked down the sidewalk then cut across to the bay and their bungalows.
“Good night, Ben.” She climbed the steps to her front door.
“Sweet dreams, Char.”
Sweet dreams. Ha. She’d probably have dreams of failure all night. Or wearing her pajamas to a formal party. Or her hair looking like she’d stuck her finger in a light socket.
Ben took a few steps, then turned back around. “You know, it isn’t any of my business, but—”
“But you’re going to say it anyway, right?”
He grinned. “Right.” He took the few steps back to stand beside her. “The only person who needs to be proud of you is you. If you believe in yourself, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”
She watched as he walked away, across the courtyard. He was right, of course. The only thing was, she had no idea how to make that happen. Too many years of being told she was falling short. And then her art career had folded. She had almost no money left.
It was incredibly hard to believe in herself with all of that hanging over her head.
Ben crossed to his cottage and opened the door. He took one last look back toward Charlotte. She was still standing on her front porch, lost in thought. He hoped she’d listened to his words. Her family was hard on her. Dismissive. He couldn’t imagine that. His parents had always been his biggest supporters and his mother still was.
He walked inside and dropped his keys on the table. Charlotte was right. Eva was a looker. Beautiful. And Eva knew it and used it. He was certain that Eva had learned to use her looks to get where she wanted with her job and in life, not caring who she stepped on in the process.
Oh, he admitted he’d had a schoolboy crush on her when they where young. Who hadn’t? But then as they all got older, he’d realized she wasn’t really the kind of girl he wanted. Not that he hadn’t still fallen under her spell now and again when she’d asked him for a favor, like “helping” her write her English essay, or taking her and her friends out on his father’s boat.
Well, he still fell under her spell, despite himself. He was taking them all out to Blue Heron Island even though his week was more than packed with work at the marina. He shook his head. He was weak.
He walked over to a shelf and plucked off a photograph of a group of friends from high school. Charlotte stood at the edge of the group, her hair flying in the breeze, a genuine smile on her face. She didn’t seem to realize it, but she was beautiful. In a different way than Eva, but beautiful all the same. A genuine beauty that was more than just her looks. It was the way she was with people. An aura of friendship and acceptance surrounded her.
He set the photo back on the shelf, determined to help Charlotte get through this week with her family. And after that, who knew?