Page 58 of Live Like There's No Tomorrow
“I guess she’s not home. We’ll have to come back.” Ben recognized April’s voice.
“Yeah, that’s Ben’s car. We should probably get out of here and call before we just drop in,” said Eddie.
Ben rolled his eyes at Charlotte as they listened to the footsteps retreat. “Well, you almost met your neighbors.”
She gave him a rueful smile. “We almost did a whole lot more than meet the neighbors.”
“Almost,” he said with a sigh. “Apparently, we are supposed to wait.” He picked up his beer and handed Charlotte’s to her.
“Apparently,” she said with a sigh.
Chapter Sixteen
Charlotte looked around as she drove up the lane to the stables. None of this had been here in her day. It was lovely, a long leafy driveway leading up to a beautiful barn. Ponies grazed alongside the fence. It was quite idyllic. It made her want to take up riding again. This wasn’t the time to think about that though. It was Monday morning, her first morning of getting down to business. She and Ben had made the most of the weekend, hanging out at her place. She smiled ruefully; they’d talked and laughed and even made out like kids, but they hadn’t gone to bed. They had somehow managed to keep to their promise to take things slowly in that regard.
She pulled up in the parking lot and was surprised to see several other cars already there. She hoped that Lily hadn’t forgotten their meeting and would have time for her. She needn’t have worried. Lily appeared out of a camper and waved when she spotted her.
“Hey, I was hoping you were still coming. I’m excited to see what ideas you have and to figure out how we can work together.”
Charlotte grinned. “Me too, I was worried you might have forgotten about me when I saw all the cars here. I thought you might be busy with a lesson or something.”
“No,” said Lily. “Alison is giving a lesson this morning and Becky is leading a trail ride, but I’m free, I’m all yours.”
“Wow! I didn’t realize it would be so busy out here. I take it business is doing well, then?”
Lily smiled. “It’s doing wonderfully, thank you. Honestly, it’s going so much better than I even hoped.”
“That’s great. I’m glad you’re back here and that things are going so well for you.” She raised an eyebrow at Lily. “And it seems that business is not the only thing that’s going well for you. Nate seems like a great guy. I’m happy for you.”
The way Lily smiled told Charlotte just how happy she was. “Thanks. I can’t quite believe how happy I am myself. Nate is awesome, and yet I had so many doubts about him. We were friends for a long time, but he was such a ladies’ man I really didn’t think it was worth risking a relationship with him.”
“A ladies’ man? Wow, you do surprise me. When I saw the two of you together the other night I had him down as totally a one-woman man. He’s a lot of fun and seems like the life and soul of the party, but he only had eyes for you. He’s totally besotted.”
Lily laughed. “That’s what I’m finding so hard to believe. It’s amazing, and I love it, I love him. It’s just such a big change from the Nate I knew before.”
“Well, love will do that to a guy.”
“Apparently,” said Lily. “But what about you? How are things going between you and Ben? It must be so strange after all this time. And yet, I don’t see how things could ever be strange between the two of you. You two are just meant to be.”
Charlotte nodded, not knowing where to start. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell Lily; it was just that she didn’t know what to say.
Lily looked concerned. “Sorry, come on inside. I don’t mean to keep you talking out here and I’ve got coffee and the computer set up in the camper.”
Charlotte followed her inside and looked around. “This is nice. Do you live here?”
Lily shook her head. “I did for a long time when I first came back, but Nate and I just bought a beautiful house over at Four Mile Creek. It’s amazing, even if I do say so myself. It’s right down by the water’s edge with amazing views of the lake. You and Ben should come over for dinner one evening.”
“Thanks, I’d love that.”
“Come on, though, you have to tell me how things are going with you two. We’re all just waiting around with bated breath. I’m so glad you’re back; for a while there I didn’t think you were coming.”
“Things are going really well, it is strange. We have to get to know each other as the people we are now. We need to make a fresh start, but at the same time we have to deal with our past.”
Lily nodded. “I was thinking about that, it’s like you get the best and the worst of both worlds.”
“Yeah, it seems we do. We’ll get there, though.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will. If anyone is meant to be, it’s you and Ben.”
