Page 23 of Live Like There's No Tomorrow
He had to laugh. “That’s rich coming from you. And besides, it’s not me being cautious. It’s what Charlie wants.”
“It is?”
He nodded.
“Wow. I guess she must have changed a lot then.”
Ben nodded again as a shiver of uneasiness ran down his spine. “I guess so.” He just had to hope that she hadn’t changed too much—and thathehadn’t changed too much.
Chris smiled at him. The way she looked at him told him she could see his uncertainty. “Good luck, Ben. I hope the reality lives up to everything you’ve hoped it would all these years.”
“Thanks.” He checked his watch. “I think I’m going to go out and see Joe.”
Emma clapped her hands together. “Oh, he’s going to be so excited! And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone—except Jack, of course. I’ll let you share your good news yourself.”
“Thanks.” He bent down to kiss her cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
As he drove out to Joe’s place, he wondered what the old guy would have to say. He hoped he’d be happy, but the way Joe had questioned him about Angel the other morning made him wonder.
Joe came out onto the front porch as Ben pulled up in the front yard.
“What are you doing out here? Is everything all right?”
Ben smiled as he climbed the porch steps. “That’s not much of a welcome, is it? Everything’s fine. I just wanted to come see you.”
Joe’s eyebrows knit together. “You don’t usually come out here in the middle of a work day unless you’ve got something to tell me or something to ask me. Which is it?”
Ben laughed. “Nothing gets by you, does it, sparky?”
Joe’s lips twitched up in a smile. “It doesn’t. So, spit it out, already.”
“I just talked to Charlie. She’s coming home.”
Joe nodded slowly.
“She’ll be here by the weekend.”
Joe nodded again, but still didn’t say anything.
Ben stared into his eyes. “What, you’re not going to react at all?”
Joe shrugged. “It’s not my reaction that counts, is it? How do you feel?”
Ben smiled. “How do you think I feel? I’m thrilled.”
“Well, good for you then.”
Ben cocked his head to one side. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you weren’t happy about it.”
“Course I’m happy. Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy.” He turned around and went back inside.
Ben followed him, feeling uneasy now. “You always loved Charlotte. You said the other day that you’d been expecting me to turn around one day and tell you she’s coming home tomorrow. What’s changed? What’s wrong?”
Joe turned around to face him. “There’s nothing wrong. What are you getting all uppity about?”
Ben sighed. “I thought you’d be happy for me.”
“I am. I just told you. Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy.”
