This Is Not How It Ends by Rochelle B. Weinstein

Author:Rochelle B. Weinstein [Weinstein, Rochelle B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781542007672
Published: 2020-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

However innocent, and no matter the level of denial, I knew I should stay away from Ben. I knew that as clear as the moon that blazed in the sky. And here’s the part I was ashamed to admit: I didn’t know how.

He called that Saturday and invited me to the movies with him and Jimmy. The boy sat between us, and every so often I took my eyes off the actors and fixed them on Ben’s profile. It was one I’d memorized; there was a comfort in knowing he was close.

After the movie, Jimmy spotted a friend and asked if he could go to his house for the afternoon and a sleepover. The father insisted Jimmy would be fine. Ben’s eyes searched mine, and I told him it would be okay. “It’ll be good for him.”

I heard the other boy say to Jimmy, “Your mom’s so nice.” And I blushed. I blushed because Ben heard it, too. And neither of us corrected him.

The earlier gloom had lifted, and the afternoon gave way to bright skies and plenty of sunshine.

“I’ll take you home, Charlotte. I’m heading down to Little Palm Island for some meetings.”

“Where’s that?”

“About an hour away. You’ve never been?”

I hadn’t.

“The only way onto the island is by boat. It’s beautiful. No cell phones or TVs.”

I laughed. “That explains why Philip’s never taken me.”

He turned to me. “Why don’t you come?”

“I can’t.” But I knew my hesitation was something else.

“Why not?”

I stalled. I had a thousand reasons why not, and none of them I could say out loud. Philip was scheduled to return that evening, and a paradise beach without phones sounded enticing.

“Just come,” he said. And I didn’t say yes, but I didn’t say no either.

Because there wouldn’t be phone service on the island, I dialed Philip to let him know where I’d be. He answered on the fourth ring sounding wispy and quiet. “Did I wake you?” There was a steady beeping in the background that sounded oddly familiar. “Philip, where are you?”

“Sorry, I have to whisper,” he explained. “At a ceremony for a new hospital wing in Atlanta.”

“I thought you were in New York,” I said, confused.

He blew me a kiss and said he had to turn off the phone. “I love you, Charley.” And he was gone.

Ben asked if everything was all right, and I didn’t have an answer. “I thought he was in New York. He’s in Atlanta.” This had been happening more and more frequently, and I made a mental note to call Elise for an updated itinerary.

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