She turned and faced the man who casually walked in and out of her life on his own schedule. He was as good-looking as ever, dressed in khakis and a navy pullover sweater. His hair was neatly combed, with more gray than she remembered. His face offered a few more lines, but he’d aged well. And looked happy.
Unlike her mother, Charlotte had no doubt his moods didn’t change depending upon whether or not he was with Annie. But her mother’s mood, actions, and even how she looked hinged on whether Russell was in town. And when he took off again.
Charlotte’s anger grew, not just at the man who made Yorkshire Falls and his family into a revolving door—but at her mother, for allowing herself to be manipulated so easily. And for so long.
“Charlie?”
Charlotte wrapped her arms tightly around her waist. “So the prodigal father’s returned.”
He stepped forward and she stepped back.
Disappointment flickered in his eyes—or maybe that was what she wanted to see. That darn kernel of hope she’d always held in her heart wouldn’t be extinguished, but she refused to act on it.
The baseball game continued, but Charlotte had lost interest. And apparently so had the rest of the crowd. Unless she was paranoid, she felt dozens of pairs of eyes trained on the dysfunctional Bronson family. Small-town curiosity at its finest. She braced herself against the stares and chatter, and stood in silence, waiting for her parents to speak.
Russell sighed. “Not the reception I was hoping for,” he said finally.
“But the one you expected, I’m sure.”
Roman strode to her side and placed an arm around her shoulder. More fodder for gossip at Norman’s, she thought wryly. “Am I interrupting a family reunion?”
She shook her head. “Roman, you remember my . . .” She cleared her throat. “You remember Russell, don’t you?”
“Of course.” He extended his hand. “Nice to see you again.”
Sweet Raina had instilled perfect manners into all three of her sons. Too bad she hadn’t given them her sense of stability and roots.
Russell shook Roman’s hand. “It’s been a while.”
“It certainly has,” Roman said.
She gritted her teeth, forced a smile, and aimed her next comments Roman’s way. “True. And considering you’ve been in town for a few days, you’re more up on what’s new around here. So why don’t you catch Russell up on what he’s missed during this last absence?”
Roman’s sharp intake of breath sliced into her heart, but she refused to let it change her intentions. In her mind, she saw herself as she’d been when she’d run out from behind the bleachers, laughing, happy, and excited from her run-in with Roman. Looking forward with aroused anticipation to the night ahead, when she could get him alone. And before her now, she saw her mother, with similarly flushed cheeks and a carefree expression—all because Russell Bronson had deigned to return.
The parallels between herself and her mother were strong. So strong, she could begin to see how Annie’s life began and ended with Russell. A lifetime in limbo. No way would Charlotte allow herself to end up like her. She looked back and forth between the two men with the power to rip her heart to pieces if she let them. She couldn’t afford to soften toward either one right now.
Much as she didn’t want to hurt Roman, he represented everything she feared. How had she let herself forget that? “You know, now that I think about it, you two have so much in common it’s uncanny.”
Russell glanced at Roman, or, more accurately, Charlotte thought, Roman’s hand on her shoulder. “I’m not sure that’s true.”
“Oh, I am. How long are you in town for this time? A day? A weekend? Or maybe longer, since you have a few months before pilot season starts.”
“Charlotte!” Her mother spoke up, giving her daughter a warning touch on the arm.
Charlotte covered her mother’s chilled hand with her own. The last person she wanted to hurt was Annie. “See? He doesn’t have an answer, Mom. He’ll leave when he gets bored.”
Charlotte glanced up at Roman, then turned away when a lump rose to her throat. “How about you?” she asked without meeting his gaze. “Raina looks healthier by the day, thank God.” She pointed to where his mother sat on a beach blanket with Eric Fallon, watching them. So were Fred Aames, Marianne Diamond, Pearl Robinson, Eldin Wingate, and everyone else in town. Charlotte hated being the center of notoriety. “You can take off anytime now too. I told you, you both had a lot in common.”
Before she could lose control of herself or what remained of her composure, she pivoted and took off. Away from her mother, her father, but most of all, away from Roman.
CHAPTER TEN
Roman watched Charlotte go. Away from the field, her father, and away from him. Her pain was his pain, and he shoved his hands in his pockets and groaned in frustration. He couldn’t let her run off alone. Not when she was so upset. He’d just seen firsthand the devastation her father’s return had caused.
“Someone ought to go after her,” Annie said. Clearly she wasn’t referring to herself, since she gripped Russell’s arm more firmly.
“Someone should,” Russell added. “But she won’t listen to anything I have to say.”
“Is it any wonder?” Roman raised an eyebrow at her parents. “I’m not here to pass judgment”—Lord knew he didn’t live a blameless life—“but did either one of you consider talking to her privately instead of making a public spectacle of this family reunion?” Feeling precious minutes slipping away, Roman glanced out toward the field. Relief passed through him when he realized Charlotte was taking the long route home, on foot.
Russell shrugged helplessly, regret obvious in the green eyes that looked so much like Charlotte’s. “Annie felt sure she wouldn’t come over if we told her on the phone and thought she wouldn’t walk out on us in a crowd.”
“And you don’t know her well enough to say differently.”
Russell shook his head. “But I want to. I always have.”
Roman’s mother and Eric chose that moment to join them. Roman had been surprised to see his mother at the baseball game, but since she’d been with Eric again, and sitting on a blanket the whole time, he figured she was feeling up to it. And maybe even feeling a bit better.
“I hope we’re not interrupting,” Eric said.
“Apparently, in this group, the more the merrier,” Roman muttered. He had little time left before he’d have to break down Charlotte’s door if he wanted to get her alone. “Russell, can I have a word with you?” he asked, shooting his mother a pointed, knowing glance.