Breathless (10 page)

Charlotte could still feel Jack's eyes on her, but she tried not to let them bother her. "Well...firstly, everyone always presumes that London is dull compared to Paris. But really, I think it's wonderful." She smiled genuinely. "In Paris, I would go to school and come home. And that was that. I saw the Eiffel Tower regularly, and went to the Louvre for school trips at least once a year. But it became so natural to me that I didn't appreciate it anymore. But when I came to London...on the very first day, as Topher drove me through the city, I was in complete awe of the city. The way the mist fell onto the cobblestones, and how beautifully Big Ben stood out against the dull sky. I love the housing, they way the buildings stand so tall and proud. I love the local shops and restaurants. And most of all, I love the theatre," Charlotte finished breathlessly, remembering how only the night before, she had been standing in those magnificent wings.

"It's so beautiful to hear someone talk about London that way," Olivia told Charlotte sincerely. She smiled. "And my sister? What do you think about living with her and her family? They're being good to you, aren't they?" She turned and playfully nudged Jack, but he just gave a small, nervous smile as he continued to look at Charlotte.

"Oh, Helen and Lewis are wonderful," Charlotte said truthfully. "They really are. I couldn't possibly have imagined better people to live with, and think of as my second mother and father. But..." she glanced nervously at Jack. "It's a little harder with Jack." She hesitated.

"Go on," Jack said quietly. Charlotte was surprised. She hadn't expected him to comment at all. "You can be honest, Charlotte."

Charlotte bit her lip anxiously. "It's just hard. Because if I had really been born Helen and Lewis' daughter, Jack would have been my brother. But Jack is...nothing like my brother. And I love my brother," Charlotte whispered, her eyes clouding with tears despite her frustrated attempts to hold them in. "And I miss him. So much. And the fact that Jack isn't anything like him just makes me miss him even more. Because I can't go into his room to talk if I have a problem. And he doesn't ask me to go to the cinema if he thinks I'd enjoy a film. And he doesn't really want to be around me. Which I understand, because I know I've not been the easiest person to live with." She looked at Jack as her eyes filled with tears, and realized that for the first time, he looked sad.

"And it's almost worse when I'm around Topher," Charlotte cried. "Because he does look so much like my brother. And it's horrible and wonderful at the same time. Because Topher is always just downstairs. But Luc is...a letter away. A boat and a train away. A country away. And it's something I never thought I'd have to deal with. I never thought we'd be separated. I thought that we would both live in Paris forever, and just be a streetcar away. I thought that my children would play with his, and that my husband would take drinks with him and that I would be best friends with Luc's wife. I just never expected this."

"No one ever does expect the terrible things," Olivia told her, passing her a handkerchief. "Except for pessimists. But I'm glad you're not one." She leaned closer to Charlotte with honest eyes. "Charlotte, it's alright for you to miss home. I'm so glad you enjoy London. But don't feel like missing your brother will hurt the Careys. They want you to be happy. But you can't be happy with all your emotions bottled up inside of you." She smiled kindly at Charlotte. "Why don't you go to the powder room and freshen up, darling? Sometimes a splash of cold water does a girl good."

Charlotte nodded and stood from the table. And Jack, like a complete gentlemen, stood up and pulled her chair from under her. As Charlotte passed him, their eyes met. And for the first time, there was an expression of understanding in his eyes that she had never seen before.

Charlotte went to the powder room and splashed some cold water on her face. Taking a little napkin from a holder on the counter, she cleaned the makeup from under her eyes and combed her hands through her hair. She was glad Olivia had suggested she clean up a little in the powder room. She would have felt badly if Helen or Lewis had seen her crying at Jack's birthday dinner.

When her eyes had become less puffy and red, and her skin was less splotchy, Charlotte made her way back to the group. Everyone was standing at the table, now.

"Charlotte, you're just in time!" Lewis said with a grin. "We're just about to give Jack his birthday present!"

"Do we need to go somewhere to get it?" Jack asked confusedly, but Charlotte could tell he was excited.

"Not exactly," Helen said with a wink toward Charlotte. Charlotte shrugged at Jack, showing that she didn't know anything, either. Lewis insisted Jack close his eyes, and then he guided his son toward the front of the restaurant and out the doors, while the rest of the group followed excitedly.

There, parked on the curb in front of the restaurant, was a shiny new car. Charlotte almost squealed with excitement for Jack, and covered her mouth in anticipation.

Lewis uncovered his son's eyes and wished him a quiet, "Happy birthday". Jack's eyes grew wide and he laughed, almost in disbelief. He ran his hands through his hair as he paced up and down the curb, with the biggest grin on his face. "Are you...are you serious?" he asked his father.

"Absolutely," Lewis smiled. He laughed. "Jack, it belongs to you, now. You can at least touch it."

Jack grinned and ran his hands over the car's shiny black surface, over the curves and angles, admiring it fully.

"It's a beautiful car," Charlotte whispered with a smile.

"It's not just a beautiful," Jack told her excitedly. "This is an Aston Martin." He turned to his father, his face now clouding with concern. "Dad...I don't know how you possibly..."

Lewis put his hands on Jack's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "
Don't worry
," he stressed to his son. " Your mother and I wanted to do this for you. It's your 18th birthday, Jack. And I'm just so truly glad to have had you in the past 18 years of my life. I love you." He pulled Jack into an embrace.

Jack was still grinning when he and Lewis separated. Lewis tossed him the keys to the car and Jack excitedly ran to the driver's door. Before getting into the seat, he looked over the roof of the car and called, "Charlotte, do you want to take a ride in it?"

For a moment, Charlotte was sure he was talking to someone else. But then her eyes widened and she grinned and nodded. "Yes, if you'll let me!"

"I asked you, didn't I?" Jack laughed. He opened the door for her and she slipped inside, running her hands over the soft red velvet interior of the car. It was just as beautiful as the outside. Jack threw himself into the driver's seat and waved goodbye to his family before taking to the busy London streets. Charlotte could feel his excitement radiating off him. She sat back into her seat with a wide smile across her face, finally feeling that she finally might have gained another brother.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Barry. I promise to have my trigonometry finished by tomorrow. And my Spanish and literature. I
promise
, Mr. Barry. Goodbye. I'll see you tomorrow!" Charlotte nearly shoved her tutor out the front door and quickly shut it behind him. She leaned back on the door with a sigh, secretly thanking God that he was gone. She was convinced she had never met a duller man in her life.

Preceded by his whistle, Lewis came strolling down the hallway, through the parlor. Catching sight of Charlotte, he gave her a quick wave and asked, "Is Barry gone, Charlotte?"

"Yes, Lewis," she replied. He nodded and continued to walk toward the kitchen. Lewis had been spending more and more time at home, writing in his office, and only giving himself breaks to eat lunch, dinner, and to spend time with Helen when she wasn't at the theatre. Charlotte missed seeing him around the house more often, but enjoyed sitting with him for lunch. Although Lewis wasn't very talkative during his writing sprees, she usually enjoyed his quiet company. But today, Charlotte wanted to talk.

She followed Lewis into the kitchen where he was fixing himself a sandwich, humming quietly.

"Lewis?" Charlotte asked quietly, sitting at the table.

"Hm?" he replied absently. Charlotte could almost count the ideas swirling in his head.

"Lewis, I don't want to study with Mr. Barry anymore."

Lewis looked up from his sandwich for a moment, but then continued to work. "May I ask why, Charlotte? It was only weeks ago that you were begging for me to find you a tutor."

"Oh, Lewis. He's so terribly dull! I can never keep my mind from wandering whenever he speaks!" Charlotte told him miserably. "I only wanted to have a tutor because I was afraid to go to a normal school. I didn't think anyone would like me especially because Jack didn't like me and he was the only person around my age that I really knew. But now Jack and I are getting along so well. I was thinking I might be able to try going to a normal school after all."

It was true. During the weeks that had passed since Jack's birthday, the two had gotten along very well. Although their relationship was still nothing like what Charlotte had with Luc, she still enjoyed having someone to chat with over dinner or to sit and read with in front of the parlor fireplace.

"Charlotte, it's already May," Lewis told her logically. "I'm sure the students are finishing their work for the term. It may be too late to start."

"Oh, please, Lewis!" Charlotte cried, giving her most pitiful look. "I promise I'll do all my work and get along with the other girls and work really hard!"

Lewis gave her one last thoughtful look before finally nodding. "All right, I'll see what I can do.
But only
if Helen agrees that it's the right decision."

"She will, I know she will!" Charlotte said excitedly. She hugged Lewis. "Thank you, Lewis! I'm going to have to write to Luc and tell him! I know he'll be so excited for me!"
If he even gets my letter,
she thought to herself. But she pushed the negative thoughts from her mind and ran up to her room.

As she neared her doorway, Jack was just coming out of his room. During the past few weeks, not only had Charlotte and his relationship gotten better, but he seemed to be getting along with his own family better. He was coming to dinner, offering to go to the theatre, and spending less time away from home. He even looked better Charlotte noticed that dark circles no longer ringed around his eyes, and he had more color in his cheeks, as if life had been pumped back into him. She didn't know why there had been such a change, but she was glad for it.

"Good afternoon," she told him cheerfully as she opened her door.

"What are you so cheery about?" Jack asked amusedly. He leaned back against his door with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Lewis is permitting me to go to a real school for the rest of the year," Charlotte said with an accomplished grin. "Finally! No more Mr. Barry and his dull, dull lessons! I could cry from happiness!"

"Really?" Jack asked. "What made you change your mind?"

Charlotte smiled and shrugged. "I guess I've just been feeling more at home." She grinned at Jack before closing the door to her room. There was something about the look he had on his face as if he were impressed with her, for her gumption or her persistence that made her feel excited all over. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time, or perhaps she had never felt it before. But she was glad for it. And she was glad for Jack.

The first day of school couldn't have come quick enough. Lewis had her enrolled in one of the top girls' schools in London, and Charlotte couldn't have been more excited for her first day. But as she slipped on her school jacket over the plain white blouse and straight skirt that came with her mandatory uniform, Charlotte began to feel less confident. Her modern bob and fringe clashed terribly with the classic uniform and flat, sensible shoes. She had tried to braid it to the back of her head, but pulled out the pins with disgust after deciding that it made her look like a Nordic maiden. It was too short to pull into a ponytail or pigtails. Sensing her frustration, Mrs. Gates, who had come in to give Charlotte some morning biscuits and tea, offered her a red ribbon to tie back her hair with.

"Thank you," Charlotte said gratefully after tying the bow. She smiled at Mrs. Gates, even though her lips quivered with nervousness.

Jack drove her to school that morning, even though it was nowhere near where he attended school. He had insisted, probably sensing how terrified Charlotte was when she came downstairs for breakfast.

"Aw, don't you look cute," he had commented jokingly, seeing her in her uniform for the first time. Charlotte could only give him a weak smile as she sipped her tea. "Don't be nervous," he told her. "No one at that school is any better than you. Don't let them think so."

But his advice didn't calm her one bit. As they drove, Charlotte blurted out, "What if none of the girls like me? What if they make fun of my accent? What if they think I'm stupid or slow? And I hate sports! What if they make me play sports?"

"Stop worrying so much, Charlotte," Jack told her. "You have nothing to worry about." He pulled up next to the entrance of the school. "Topher will be coming to get you after school, because you get out before I do. If he isn't here on time, don't wander around by yourself. Call Lewis or even Helen at the theatre, and someone will come get you. Alright?"

Charlotte nodded. She looked at the looming, impressive school, and butterflies flooded her stomach.