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"Did you try counseling?"
Charlotte shook her head. "He said he refused to talk about something so personal with a stranger."
"Even if it meant losing you?"
Charlotte pulled away from her embrace. "I never gave him that ultimatum. There were times I thought about leaving him, but all I had to do was look at Matt or Hank and that idea lasted about three seconds. But, Bo
Charlotte's chin started to quiver and Bo
"I even fantasized that…" Charlotte broke loose with a sob, wrapped her arms around herself, and rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet until she could continue, and it rushed out of her in one long burst: "I fantasized that Kurt would die peacefully in his sleep, and I'd be free, and then he did die! Just like I imagined! And I know this isn't rational, but I thought maybe I was being punished for putting so much emphasis on sex. And, Bo
Charlotte sobbed again and Bo
Bo
When Charlotte's tears slowed, Bo
Charlotte nodded in silence, her face still hidden in her arms.
"I don't think the universe sets out to punish any of us, sweetie. You're so young, with so much life ahead of you. Please don't be afraid to live it."
Chapter Seventeen
"Can't you let things slide for one night, Charlotte? Just keep the kids home and not run around like a crazy person? For one night?"
Bo
"Good Lord, Charlotte."
She laughed. It felt good to laugh after all that crying. She'd cried for over a half hour, and now she was behind schedule. The kids were finishing up their di
"Hank, honey, go put on your leotard. Justin and Matt, put on your uniforms and grab your gloves."
The kids dispersed-her two ru
"Let me do something for you tonight," Bo
"No. That's okay, Bon. Really."
"Then let me take Hank to ballet and pick her up."
Charlotte looked at her friend and smiled. Because of Bo
"Thank you, Bo
The phone rang. The news she got caused Charlotte to reach into the pantry and shoot a steady stream of squirt cheese into her mouth. It was either that or cry some more.
"That was the Liebermans." Charlotte took a big swallow. 'They just canceled on me for the concession stand. All three of them."
"Give me that," Bo
They laughed loud and long, and Bo
"Everybody decent?"
Charlotte studied the woman, looked to Bo
She was getting used to the fuss by now, having spent the last couple days dressed like Hilary Clinton.
It was kind of fun seeing everyone's reaction to her transformation/The girls in the office went ballistic, especially over her hair, Jimmy, the scum bucket, told her she hadn't looked that hot since high school. Justin hugged her and told her she was the prettiest mom in Minton, and she had to admit that that one made her a little teary eyed.
But nothing could compare to the shocked looks on Charlotte's and Bo
"So what do you think, girls?" LoriSue twirled around to give them the full effect of outfit no. 3-a cotton-rayon blend pencil skirt that hit midcalf, topped by a complementary summer-weight twinset, both in a hand-dyed dusky blue. She kicked up her heels to show off her simple but elegant sling-backs. She shook out her hair, which she had to admit felt delicious as it moved freely against the back of her neck, unencumbered by hair spray.
The two women stared in stu
"Well?"
Charlotte was the first to speak. "Wow, LoriSue. You are beautiful and sophisticated and stu
Bo
LoriSue liked that analogy. It didn't offend her in the least. In fact, she really did feel like Cinderella.
Justin burst in the door at that point wearing his uniform, baseball mitt in hand. It seemed like Charlotte had everything in control, as usual, and was about to take the boys to the ballpark. LoriSue thought maybe it should be her turn tonight.
"I'll drive Matt and Justin," she said, holding up her digital camera.-'Tin taking pictures for the Web site, so I have to be there all evening."
"Isn't she megapretty?" Justin asked, leaning against her side and gazing at her. LoriSue kissed the top of his ball cap.
"Yes, she's megapretty," Charlotte said.
LoriSue locked eyes with her. Charlotte was megapretty, too, in her own way, and LoriSue wondered why she'd never really seen that before. Charlotte had always seemed plain to her, kind of washed-out and moving around too much. But tonight, as she stood still in her kitchen in a ratty pair of jeans and a simple V-neck T-shirt, LoriSue noticed a glow in her cheeks and a sparkle in her eyes that she didn't recall seeing before.
And LoriSue couldn't help but think that maybe all women were beautiful-even Bo
"I don't suppose you'd like to do concession stand duty?" Bo
Not in this outfit. LoriSue held up the camera. "Otherwise occupied tonight, sorry."
Bo
Charlotte didn't answer. Her eyes were focused on something right behind LoriSue and Justin, something that had transformed Charlotte's face. If there had been a glow about her a minute ago, the woman was now on fire from the inside out. LoriSue knew exactly what she would see when she turned around.