When We Fall by Emily Liebert Read Free Book Online Page B

confirmed and then, aware that her declaration might be perceived as inconsiderate, added, “Don’t worry. You’ll never see him here again! He only shows on day one. And I have to drag him kicking and screaming for that. But, you know, it’s important. To Gia.” She mumbled the last part, as if she wasn’t convinced.
    â€œGotcha.” Allison smiled politely, sensing Charlotte’s awkwardness.
    â€œThat must be him now.” The men’s bathroom door swung open to reveal a tall, handsome man impeccably dressed in a charcoal gray suit and polished black leather dress shoes. He walked toward them briskly, focused intently on his iPhone, his fingers stabbing at the keyboard furiously.
    â€œCharlie?” Allison’s eyes widened and he looked up. “Charlie Crane?” His hard expression softened instantly.
    â€œAli? Holy shit!” He wrapped his arms around her, hoisting her into the air in his sturdy embrace. “What the hell are you doing here?”
    â€œI live here now.” She motioned to the ground. “I mean, not right here.” She giggled. “But in Wincourt. And my son, Logan, goes to school here. What the hell are
you
doing here?” Allison beamed, digesting the strange and amazing coincidence that was standing in front of her.
    â€œSame deal. Wow. I can’t believe it. How long has it been?”
    â€œSo I take it you two know each other?” Charlotte interrupted, having been completely sidelined by the main event.
    â€œYes. Oh God, I’m so sorry. Yes.” Allison looked back and forth between the two of them. “Charlie and I are old friends. Very old friends.” She saw a dark cloud shroud Charlotte’s face. “Oh no, nothing like that. Charlie was my husband’s best friend from summer camp. We all met there when we were what? Ten?”
    â€œOh.” Charlotte appeared visibly relieved. “Wait, I thought you said you weren’t married.”
    â€œI’m not.”
    â€œAbout that.” Charlie’s buoyant mood became subdued. “I’m so sorry, Ali. I should have—”
    â€œIt’s okay.” Allison took a deep breath and then exhaled before turning to Charlotte. “My husband, Jack, was killed in a bus accident eleven years ago. He was on his way to Stowe for a ski trip.”
    â€œOh God.” Charlotte pressed her left palm to her chest. “That’s . . . awful. I had no idea. How insensitive . . .”
    â€œIt’s really okay,” Allison assured them both. “There was no way you could have known.”
    â€œI wanted to reach out to you, Ali. I just . . . I didn’t know what to say.” He shook his head and hunched it toward the floor. Allison knew the drill. It was practically impossible for people to look her square in the face and offer their condolences. Even eleven years later.
    â€œI promise it’s fine.” She hadn’t done this dance in a while. “I’m just happy to know someone up here. It’s been a while.”
    â€œYou’re remarkable, Ali. You always were.” Charlie stared at her intently and then snapped out of his haze. “I can’t believe it, but I have to run. I have a nine thirty conference call at work. Can we exchange info? I’m
dying
to catch up. I mean, wait, that came out—”
    â€œIt’s okay!” Allison laughed. It never ceased to amaze her how perfectly pulled-together, exceptionally articulate people could deteriorate into bumbling fools when forced to deal with the subject of death or loss. Specifically when it wasn’t their own loss.
    â€œI host a little get-together every week or so for a few of my girlfriends,” Charlotte interjected again, quite clearly desperate to insinuate herself into the conversation. “I call it a Wine and Whine.” She twisted her mouth uncertainly, checking with Charlie for