Tapestry of Trust by Mary Annslee Urban Read Free Book Online Page A

Charlie had proven long ago he wasn’t worth it.
    She stepped out of the café. A gust of wind whistled around her and slapped the drink out of her hand. Hot coffee splashed on her jeans, and the empty paper cup rolled down the sidewalk. She chased after it and tossed it in a trashcan. A faint thunder rumbled in the distance as a fat raindrop hit her nose. Perfect .
    She scrambled across the parking lot and hurried inside her car. She sat for a moment, fighting back tears. The pastor’s Sunday morning message rolled through her head. All things work together for good. Pressure built in her chest. Leaning her elbows on the steering wheel, she cupped her face in her hands and wept. How could anything involving Charlie be good for her? A better question, Why, Lord, have you allowed Charlie to disrupt my life? Again.
     
    ****
     
    Charlie opened the file labeled Cedar Lake Barn. Lifting his pen, he scratched his head and looked over the documents, making sure everything was in order. About three pages in, he spotted an error. He hit the intercom.
    “What do you need?”
    He ignored Brenda’s snappy tone and stated the page numbers he was missing. Then, he picked up his coffee and took a drink, mentally rehearsing the presentation for that afternoon.
    Not bad, he concluded. Especially, considering his recent distractions. Focus used to be easy, but lately Isabelle kept his mind spinning. He just couldn’t figure her out. Shaking his head, he still couldn’t believe she hadn’t called to thank him for having Rusty fired.
    On the other hand, Erica kept calling. Right now he had three messages on his cell phone—all from her. Which reminded him, he needed to update his resume just in case Erica decided to pounce on her father with both feet, convincing him to kick Charlie to the curb.
    Papers slapped on the desk in front of him.
    “Anything else?” Brenda’s lips pursed together like a duck’s bill. He blinked, twice.
    “No, thanks.” At least nothing she could help with. He skimmed through the paperwork.
    Total silence. Except for Brenda’s groan. He overlooked it.
    “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m sick.”
    He glanced up, saw her red nose.” Sorry, I hadn’t noticed. Hope you’ll feel better soon.” Caring enough, he thought.
    “That’s right, Charlie, you don’t notice much anymore.” She glared down at him.
    He shifted in his seat. Even his secretary was mad at him. Great. One more female he couldn’t figure out.
    “What’s with the prune lips? You and Erica have a fight?”
    Charlie drew in a deep breath to refrain from telling Brenda to go look in mirror. This had to be his punishment for making her work. “Erica and I broke up months ago. You know that.”
    “Being apart hasn’t agreed with you. You look miserable. Worse than usual.” The duckbill lips again. Not commenting was tough, but good sense barely prevailed. He took a swig of coffee.
    “Maybe you and—”
    Charlie raised a hand. “My mood has nothing to do with Erica.”
    Brenda’s eyes rounded. She darted a glance at the doorway then back at him. “You don’t mind if I sit, do you?” Before Charlie could say no, she flopped into the seat across from him. Scooting to the edge, she rested her elbows on his desk. “So, you’re moping over another woman?”
    “Let’s just say I have issues with an old friend.”
    Brenda pulled back a little. Her eyebrows shot up. “We are talking about a woman, right?”
    “Yes.” Charlie sat straighter. “Of course, I’m talking about a woman. An old girlfriend.” He could just imagine the rumors she could start with that tidbit.
    “So what about her?”
    “Nothing really.”
    “You dating her?”
    “No.”
    “But you’d like to?”
    “Sure. I mean, maybe. That is if she were more receptive.”
    “I don’t blame her for not wanting to date you.” Brenda leaned back in her chair, and rubbed her red nose. “You probably broke her heart or something.”
    “We attended