Chapter 79: Chapter 79

The word "busy" doesn't even begin to describe the way Charlie has been these last few weeks. The purchase of the shelter was almost completing a month of anniversary, but his responsibilities seemed to increase every day, never giving him even a second of peace. Not that she was complaining, of course. Never before in her life had she felt as committed to something as she did at that moment, making a point of overseeing every last detail of the renovation that she, Vivian and Jack had begun to implement at the shelter.

“Vivian, what do you think of this blueprint that the architect sent as a suggestion for the operating room? “ Charlie asked, entering the room at the moment that her friend was finishing splinting the broken wing of a cockatiel “ He said that the infrastructure will cost a little more than planned, but in return, we will have the ideal place to perform up to more than 20 surgeries a day, when we have enough material and professionals...

“Are you sure it's a good idea to move all this forward, Charlie? “ Vivian asked, clearly trying to keep her feet on the ground, although she seemed as euphoric about the idea as Charlie felt. his grandfather's legacy.

“But this situation is different from my father's inheritance, Vivian. “ Charlie denied, sure “ There is no risk that I will be prevented from receiving this money, when I turn 21. So I don't see why postponing these reforms when we can give the animals the best in just a few months. By the way, Jack and I saw an ad for the sale of a house near here that has a really nice space. After everything is closed with the architect, we can think about opening a headquarters! “ she suggested, excited “ Or even two. So me, you and Jack can lead each one of them, and triple the amount of animals that can be welcomed and treated...

“Take it easy, Charlie. “ Vivian laughed fondly “ I completely understand the euphoria you are feeling, believe me. It was the same way I felt before I ended up owing my soul to the bank, wanting to do what was best for our animals, five years ago. “ Charlie opened her mouth to speak, but her friend continued, seeming to guess what she was about to retort “And I'm not doubting that you'll get what's yours for money or that, after all that's happened, we'll be months and months of sitting idly by, leaving the shelter aside while we wait. I just think we have enough time to turn this place into what we've always dreamed of, so we don't need to rush.

“I just can't contain myself! “Charlie literally jumped in place, while Vivian got up to put the little cockatiel inside a cage, so she could rest“ We are finally living our dream, Vivian! “She cheered, unable to contain the joy she felt“ I still can't believe it and it seems the only way I can convince myself that this is not a dream is to put all these plans into practice! “ she said, picking up again the plans the architect had sent her “So, I'm sorry, but I really don't know if I'm capable of patience.

“God, I wish I had your energy. After everything that's happened, all I can think about is taking one day at a time, preferably with peace of mind. I've been stressed enough to last a lifetime. The three of us, by the way. So I think we don't need to hunt for so many things to do. “ Vivian laughed, sitting back down and holding out her hand for Charlie to hand her the blueprints “Everything will happen in due time. Now let me take a look at that over there.

Handing the papers to Vivian, Charlie was ready to start talking about how positive those reforms would be, to try to finally convince her, her sentence was interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. Thinking it might be the architect, Charlie pulled the phone ready to pass the call to Vivian and let her hear how amazing it would be to put all that into practice, when she realized that on the screen was Morgan's name.

“Hello, husband. “ she answered him affectionately, with a huge smile spreading instinctively across her face.

“Hello, wife. It's great to hear your voice. “ he returned the greeting, looking as happy as she was “ How is your day?

“ Busy as usual, but so far so good. Aside from the fact that Vivian thinks I'm being too hasty putting the shelter renovations in place. “ Charlie stuck her tongue out at her friend, who laughed “ And, if you agree with her, you'll have to sleep on the couch tonight.

" Away from me. “ Morgan chuckled “I think you're absolutely right. There's no point in waiting since you have the money to pay for everything.

“I'll have money to pay, you mean. “ she scolded him, knowing he was trying to get her to take the bait and agree to spend more of his money, instead of taking out loans that he would only pay back when he received Aiden's inheritance.

“ Say it however you like. “ she could almost see him shrugging on the other end of the line.

“ Anyway, how's your day going? “ she quickly changed the subject, not wanting to have that argument with him again.

What had happened a month ago had taught her a valuable lesson about accepting help, but that didn't mean she had started to get comfortable with going around squandering Morgan's money on whatever she wanted. Besides, if her grandfather's inheritance was a certainty, why not take out those loans instead of giving her husband's bank accounts more trouble?

“I called with some important news: they have set a date for the hearing of the contestation of Anthony's will. “ he told, in a more serious tone “ It will be June 9th, at ten in the morning. But it would be fitting for you and I to arrive a little earlier.

“Well, at least this is coming to an end. “ Charlie sighed “But please promise me that whatever decision the judge makes, we're just going to take it and get it over with, okay? I just want this all to be over and we can get rid of Samantha once and for all. “ she admitted.

“I promise she will never bother us again. “ Morgan swore, his voice somber “Not just after the judge has made a decision, but at any other time, including now.

" Are you well? “ she asked, sensing something strange in his tone, like a mixture of concern and doubt “You seem strange…

“No big deal. “ he sighed heavily, as if he was trying to send some thought away “ I'm going to receive a report of a sensitive matter today and I'm a little tense about it. It's just. But tell me, are you free this afternoon? “ Morgan asked, her voice sweeter than honey “ After my meeting today, I can ask Hiroshi to put a free time on my schedule. How about we have lunch together?

“ Oh... “ excited, she was about to agree, when the meeting she was supposed to have with the architect came to mind, making her stop, her head down “Actually, I was going to meet with the architect responsible for the renovations to talk detail about how much each change will cost, so...

“Oh, of course. “ although peaceful, it was very clear that he was as disappointed in this as she was, if not more “ I should have known. You've been doing a lot of amazing things lately. Do not worry about me. We can have dinner together later when you get home.

"Of course…" Charlie tried to smile, though the memories of the previous nights were nagging at her.

As Morgan had said, she had been doing a lot lately and putting her dream into motion, but come to think of it, it was all taking a toll on her, even if she was only just starting to realize it. A month ago, she'd had as busy a schedule as Morgan's, which meant the only time they had to be together now was at night...which, incidentally, was also the same time Charlie came home home after an exhausting day and barely had time to have dinner, shower and brush my teeth, before falling into bed and waking up only the next morning.

Not that Morgan had ever complained about her new routine. On the contrary, he seemed proud of her and encouraged her all the time, doing everything in his power to make sure she always had a delicious meal and a comfortable home when she returned to their apartment, barely able to keep her eyes open. And she'd been so focused on shelter issues lately that she hadn't even stopped to think about how much she missed her alone time with Morgan… And how, from the sound of his voice, her husband missed it too.

"I'll see you tonight, so..." he started to say goodbye and Charlie felt a tightness in her chest knowing that she wouldn't hear his voice again for many hours.

“But don't let me disturb your rest. “ she found herself asking, on impulse “Even if we can't have lunch together, you should go home and spend the rest of the day relaxing with Sawyer and Matilda.

“ It's an excellent idea. “ he agreed “ I'll make the most of it and make chicken lasagna for dinner tonight.

“You are the best husband in the world, you know? “She laughed, still a little sad that she couldn't be with him.

“ And you are the most amazing wife in the world. “ he replied, audibly chuckling “ See you later.

Hanging up with a crestfallen sigh, Charlie barely had time to put her phone back in her pocket when she noticed Vivian staring at her, one eyebrow raised.

“May I ask what is preventing you from having lunch with your husband? her friend asked, almost indignantly.

“ I have a meeting with the architect to talk about the budgets for each room we are going to build to himself! How can I expect anything from him other than panic when I find out that I love him and would like him to become my real husband? He doesn't feel the same way about me...

“And how do you know that if you've never asked how he feels about you? Vivian asked, leaving Charlie at a loss for a while.

" But but...

“ And how do you expect him to take the initiative to say something, if he also doesn't know for sure how you feel about him? “Her friend continued, with a smile full of superiority“ Or does Morgan have the ability to read minds and you never told me?

“I…I…” she continued to stutter nervously, until she finally managed to ask, still completely unsure, “Do you really think there's any possibility that he loves me?

“ Well, there are many possibilities. Just like months ago, there was a possibility that he didn't want you, but that still didn't stop you, did it? “ Vivian asked, crossing her arms “ Why would it be any different now? Why would you let doubts stop you, just because there's a possibility he doesn't feel the same way? This is not the stubborn, determined Charlie I know.

" Because I could live with the idea that he didn't want to sleep with me..." Charlie admitted, with a fragile murmur " But I don't know if I can stand the idea of him walking away from me, if he finds out how I really feel .. The truth is, I don't know if I'll be able to put the pieces of my heart back together if I find out he'll never love me back.

“And what is more worthwhile? Live your whole life with this doubt or risk getting an answer, be it good or bad? “ Vivian asked and, faced with Charlie's sad silence, she ended up sighing, full of sympathy “Listen, let's do this: I'm going to the meeting with the architect and you're going home to surprise your husband. So you two can kill the longing and also catch up. What do you think? “Her friend offered, making Charlie swallow hard.

“Yes, I... I really want to go see him. “ she finally managed to smile, full of longing.

" So let's go! Hurry up! “ Vivian encouraged her, holding her by the shoulders to make her get up from the chair “ No wasting time! And also no calling me today! I'll tell you all about the meeting tomorrow during business hours. And I don't accept arguments!

“Vivian…” Charlie started to say, trying to find some argument against her, however, after thinking for a while, she ended up smiling “Thank you.

“You thank me by returning here only at eight in the morning tomorrow. And not a minute less! “ Vivian ordered, starting to push her gently out of the office.

Once out of the shelter, though still feeling a little unsure, Charlie tried to build up her resolve again, the same way she had months ago when she was trying to seduce him. Struggling to put her thoughts aside and just act on her impulses, she made a quick trip to the mall, where she stopped by the lingerie store she'd once visited with Emma. Morgan preferred to see her without any clothes on, that was indisputable, but she felt that that day she deserved something special.

Charlie still didn't know whether or not she would be able to finally reveal that she loved him, knowing that she might be rejected... But she was too homesick to let fears of her stop her from spending the afternoon making love with him.