The Redemption (Charlotte Bloom Book 2) by Amanda Richardson Read Free Book Online Page B

TWO
     
     
     
    When I arrived in Swansea, I went straight to the rental car lot. It was almost dark out. I couldn’t bother waiting for a taxi. In about five minutes, I was off, on the wrong side of the road, on the wrong side of the Mini Cooper I’d just rented. I’d begged for an automatic transmission and, luckily, they had one—just one—for me. There was no way I was going to drive stick AND on the opposite side of the road. I hadn’t bothered to brush my teeth or hair, and based on my reflection in the rearview mirror, I’d looked better. But I didn’t care. I just needed to get to the Parc. I needed to be there, more than I’d ever needed anything in my entire life. I was home. I was home.
    The road leading up to the Parc was decorated for Christmas. As I pulled into the very long driveway, I smiled; each lamppost was adorned with white lights and bright green wreaths. When the house came into view, I gasped. It was covered in Christmas lights, and they twinkled to the exact beat of my heart. Or maybe I was imagining that part. I saw Tommy’s cab parked near the back, and I pulled in next to him.
    As I walked up to the giant house, I was delighted to see a thin sheen of snow covering the ground. The last time I was here, it had been summer and the nights had been cool and muggy. Now the air was frigid and threatened snow. I absolutely loved it. I left my suitcase in the trunk and walked to the front door. No one was expecting me. I knocked, unable to decide if I should walk right in. No one answered. I pushed on the handle, and it creaked open. It was unlocked.
    The minute I stepped inside, I was overcome with nostalgia and happiness. This was why my tiny studio apartment never felt right. This was why, when I had returned to my house in L.A. the past August, everything felt off . It was because Parc-Le-Bouveret was my home now. I was on a mission to make sure I would stay forever. Hopefully, with Alec.
    I heard voices coming from the dining room. Of course—it was dinnertime. I smiled when I thought of the shocked faces that would peer up at me from the table. I slowly opened the door, which creaked in a familiar way.
     
    “Finally, near the end of the table, we have the maid and cook, Katie, the night manager, Henry, and the groom, Alec.” He gestured to the tall, dark, creepy man at the end of the table.
    “The groom?” I felt stupid for asking, but I didn’t know what that was.
    “I tend to the horses.” Alec had spoken up, and his voice was deep and husky. He had a lilt to his voice, pronouncing horses as “harses”, and I suspected he wasn’t Welsh. But my understanding of different regional British accents wasn’t great, so I really had no idea.
    “Oh. Got it.” I smiled at him, but he just looked at me like I was an idiot and continued eating.
     
    And now I was back, interrupting dinner just like my first time here. I felt my face get hot as Helen, George, Henry, Mary, and Katie stared at me for a second too long. I’d just barged in. What was I thinking? It was incredibly rude. Before I could process anything, I felt someone knock the air out of me. Mary had thrown herself into me, and she laughed as she pulled away.
    “Charlotte, oh my god! You’re here!” She hugged me again as other voices grew too loud to hear individually.
    I cried as Helen hugged me, swaying from side to side, like a mother who hadn’t seen her daughter in years. Next was George, Henry, and Katie. It was a happy moment, and overwhelming. These were my people.
    “I’m glad you’re back,” Henry said, bringing me in for a bear hug. “Where’s Alec?”
    “What?”
    Everyone got quiet. I felt the breath leave my lungs. Why are they asking me that?
    “You’re back because he came to Los Angeles,” Mary said, matter-of-factly.
    “He did come to Los Angeles,” I explained. “But he’s not with me.”
    “I’m confused,” Katie interjected. “He came to L.A. to win you back. If he’s not with