She couldn’t trust him. Zoe’s dad had thrown excuse after excuse at her in the past, and she’d believed him time and time again. She’d been down this painful road before, and she couldn’t allow herself—or Zoe—the chance to get more attached to Will than they already were. It wasn’t fair.
She swallowed hard. None of it was fair. She’d tried to explain that to him last night when he’d dropped her off after the party, but he didn’t get it. How could he? He hadn’t walked in her shoes. He didn’t feel the pang of old scars. He didn’t bear the weight of regret and shame that she carried daily.
He didn’t have a five-year-old looking to him for protection and guidance.
He’d lied to her, just like Zoe’s dad. Presented himself to be one way, but proved the opposite once he got in social settings. Words were cheap—actions were expensive.
Her phone continued to buzz unanswered. Then the wall phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID. Not Will’s number. She frowned. The Dough Knot wasn’t officially open on Sundays—who would call her here? “Hello?”
A female voice. Not Will. “Hi there. Is this Charlotte?”
“Yes, this is Charlotte with The Dough Knot. I’m sorry, we’re not open.” She started to hang up.
“I was hoping to talk.”
Huh?
“This is Melissa. Will’s sister.”
Charlotte sank against the counter. “Hi.”
“I’m glad I caught you!” Melissa’s upbeat voice brought instant ease. Charlotte relaxed slightly. “I called the bakery hoping the answering machine would give me your cell number or something.” She paused. “I didn’t want to ask Will for it because he doesn’t know I’m calling.”
Aha. “He must have told you about last night.”
“He’s frustrated. He doesn’t get it. Thought things were going well with you guys.” Melissa exhaled heavily. “Listen, Charlotte, I don’t usually get involved in these types of things, but Will is my big brother—my only brother—and I thought maybe you should understand something about him.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes and braced herself for the sisterly, biased defense.
“He’s an idiot.”
Charlotte snorted, then laughed.
“I’m serious, girl. He has no idea what he’s doing anymore. He’s been out of the dating game a long time, and with that big ol’ compassionate heart of his, well—he doesn’t know how to turn people away. Sometimes it gives the wrong impression.”
“A long time, huh?” Charlotte wished she could see Melissa’s eyes right now. But why would his sister lie to her?
“You have no idea. Years. He’s put his life on hold for me, and—it’s gotten ridiculous, to be honest. I’ve told him to get back out there a hundred times, but he never listened.” Melissa hesitated. “Until you came along.”
The admission thawed a piece of Charlotte’s heart she’d tried hard to freeze. She clutched the phone a little tighter.
“That’s why I’m calling. I hate to get in the middle and make this worse, but I had to try. Will is special, and you must be pretty special, too, if you could tug him free of this cycle he’s been trapped in for years.”
Charlotte closed her eyes against the dozens of thoughts vying for attention. “I—I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say you’ll give him a chance. I don’t know exactly what happened last night, but I know Will would never hurt anyone on purpose. He’s grown up a lot in the last several years—I didn’t really give him a choice in that matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“Will hasn’t told you?”
Her cell phone chirped, this time announcing an incoming text. Will.
Are you ok?
She hesitated, then shouldered the phone and wrote back. Baking.
I’m coming over.
She wanted to see him. But no. She had to protect her heart. Had to process all that Melissa just told her. She bit her lip, then typed back. I’m really busy.
Too late.
She jerked her head up, nearly dropping the phone as Zoe’s voice hollered from the dining room. “Mom! Will’s here!”
No. She closed her eyes. “Melissa, I’m sorry. Will just got here. I need to go.”
“That’s fine.” Melissa’s voice sped up, just like Will’s did when he got in a hurry. “Just hear him out, okay? He’s an idiot, for sure, but he’s a great guy. I can vouch for that.”
Charlotte blew out her breath. “I’ll try.”
“Thanks, Charlotte.”
“Thanks for calling.” She hung up, her heartbeat roaring in her ears.
Charlotte gave Zoe permission to unlock the front door—even though she was pretty sure she’d already done it. As she headed to the front, the bell chimed, confirming her suspicions.
Zoe held up a page from her coloring book of a giant cupcake, decorated in every color of the rainbow. Will exclaimed over it and waited while Zoe tore the page free and handed it to him. He folded it carefully and tucked it in his jeans pocket.
Charlotte waited behind the counter, hands shoved in her apron pockets, fiddling with her phone and wishing she had just answered. It’d be much easier to have this conversation over the phone than in person.