The Summer That Made Us by Robyn Carr

Author:Robyn Carr [Carr, Robyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2017-09-04T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

After what was, under the circumstances, a perfectly lovely visit with Frank, Charley drove only as far as Megan’s house in the city. She had a key and warned John that she’d be staying there for the night. She’d checked in with Meg and Krista several times throughout the day, reassuring them that the girls and Hope were all fine, which they weren’t really. But they were in no imminent medical crisis and Charley decided to give the full story in person. In case all of it upset her sister. It was possible Meg could feel some responsibility, having set up this summer reunion as she had.

In fact, Charley couldn’t remember Megan ever being emotionally upset. She had always been strong and serene and philosophical. Why she would have cancer was such a mystery. Why anyone would have that awful scourge was perplexing but Meg had done all the things Charley had convinced herself were necessary to avoid the beast—she laughed often, she loved thoroughly, she didn’t hold grudges, she exercised and ate healthy foods and she’d never been particularly vulnerable to illness. She was small of stature but hardy. The only blight on an almost perfect marriage with John was their inability to conceive. Even with the help of doctors and piles of money.

And yet here they were. The already crazy family was imploding and Meg was probably dying. Charley was asking herself, what would be the greatest gift she could give her sister now. The answer was out of her reach.

She had breakfast in the hospital cafeteria with Frank. He had spent the night in the chair in his daughters’ room. They didn’t really need him there but he didn’t want them to wake in a panic and wonder if they were safe. They had another fantastic visit but this time Frank wanted to know more about Charley and her personal life.

“Michael,” she told him. “We’ve been together for twenty-two years, have a son, Eric, but we haven’t married. Michael wants to marry now. My life is so crazy right now—don’t you think I’d love to just turn my back on all of it and escape into matrimonial bliss with the love of my life?”

“No,” Frank said with a smile. “I don’t think that for one second. Trying to sort a few things out, are you?”

She rested her forehead in a hand and groaned.

“I’ve been there, Charley,” Frank said. “I left my wife, though she was clearly vulnerable. I had to rescue my daughters from their mother and it wasn’t easy. I made so many mistakes, and yet I did the only things I could do. I’m still doing all I can and I’m not sure it will ever be enough. Just do yourself one favor—tell the truth about how you feel and what you’re going through.”

Trite, she thought. Oversimplified. We’re dealing with mental illness, cancer, family dysfunction. Plus, I’m fired and unemployable. And I’m in some kind of weird romantic power struggle with the man I love.

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