Page 36 of Be Our Ghost (The Duchess Hotel #2)

Twenty-Six

Charlie wasn’t the type to wallow in misery.

Even at her weepiest, she liked to take action.

So, when she woke up on Sunday, her eyes raw from crying, her heart aching from her argument with Knox, she didn’t go back to bed.

She took a long, hot shower and forced herself to put on real clothes. Pajamas weren’t an option.

She needed two things: strong coffee and someone to talk to. Otherwise, last night’s disaster would keep playing on a loop in her head.

Though it was only nine, she figured Rosie would be awake. She sent her a text.

Charlie: Any chance you want to meet up for coffee? Last night’s gala went sideways and I’m a hot mess.

Rosie replied immediately: Oh no! I’m sorry it didn’t go well. I can’t leave my apartment because I’m in the middle of a huge baking project. Do you want to come over?

Charlie: Sure. Should I bring coffee?

Rosie: I already made a pot. Just come prepared to frost dozens of cookies!

Charlie wasn’t sure what this baking project entailed, but she grabbed a gingham apron from her kitchen and stuffed it in a tote bag before heading out.

Rosie lived in a small, one-bedroom apartment in a hip part of town known as Cook Street Village.

Parking in her neighborhood could be tricky, but it was early enough that Charlie found a spot around the corner.

When Rosie opened the door to her apartment, she was wearing an apron streaked with orange and black frosting.

“Come in,” she said. “I’d hug you, but I don’t want to get frosting on your sweatshirt.”

“Thanks.” Charlie surveyed Rosie’s kitchen. Her breakfast bar was covered with trays of freshly baked cookies shaped like bats and pumpkins. “What’s all this for?”

“Drew volunteers at a women’s shelter downtown. Usually, he just plays Santa, but they need help with today’s Halloween party. He signed me up to provide dozens of cookies, and we’re bringing them over at two. I’ve got most of them baked, but they still need to be iced.”

“I’d be glad to help.” Charlie took out her apron and put it on. “Any chance I could get a cup of coffee first?”

“No problem. It’s just Colombian roast from my coffee maker, but I’ve got pumpkin spice–flavored creamer.” She poured Charlie a cup and handed her the bottle.

Charlie added a splash of cream to her coffee and settled on a stool at the breakfast bar. As the first hit of caffeine rushed through her system, she released a satisfied sigh. “I needed that. Once I’m done, I can pitch in.”

“I’m glad you’re here. Drew offered to help, but he was hoping to squeeze in a long run this morning. He’s training for a half-marathon in December.”

“Won’t it be too cold by then?” Charlie asked.

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Apparently, it’s a very popular race. It’s also Santa-themed, so it’s right up his alley.” Rosie grinned. “Now, drink up so I can put you to work. These pumpkins aren’t going to frost themselves.”

“Yes, ma’am.” While Rosie’s coffee couldn’t compare to Alma’s, the pumpkin spice creamer was a nice touch. Knox would have hated it. Thinking of him made Charlie’s eyes well up with tears, but she wiped them away. Today wasn’t for crying; it was for figuring out her next steps.

Drew came into the kitchen, wearing shorts over black running tights, a Northlife Fitness hoodie, and a fleece toque.

Even bundled up, there was no denying his innate hotness.

He was lean and muscular, with the cutest dimple when he smiled.

Though he wasn’t Charlie’s type, he was a great match for Rosie.

“Hey, Charlie. Thanks for helping,” he said. “Now I can go running without any guilt.”

“Are you sure you’re dressed warmly enough? Even with the sun out, it’s chillier than I thought. The wind is vicious.”

“I’ll be fine. I consider it a challenge.”

Rosie rolled her eyes. “I still don’t see the appeal, but have a good run.”

He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. “Thanks. Save a cookie for me.”

After he left, Charlie turned to her friend. “Things are good between you two?”

“They’re great, though I’ll never be into running.

Hiking, sure. But running? Not unless someone’s chasing me.

” She set a bowl of orange icing next to one of the trays.

“You can start with the pumpkin cookies. Once you frost them, you need to decorate them with Halloween sprinkles. While you’re doing that, I want to hear all about last night. ”

“I’ll give you the full recap.” Charlie finished her coffee and set down the mug.

She was glad Rosie had asked her to help frost the cookies, since focusing on the task at hand might stave off another round of tears.

She spread the orange icing over each pumpkin cookie, describing the gala as she did so.

When she got to the painful confrontation with Lila and Evan, her throat clogged with emotion, but she kept going.

Right up to the heated argument in Knox’s truck that had put an end to their evening.

This time, she let a few tears fall before wiping them away with her sleeve.

When she was done, Rosie spoke up. “That sucks. I’m so sorry it turned out that way.”

“Me, too. The worst part is it didn’t have to end like that. If I hadn’t gone off on Lila, Evan wouldn’t have come to her rescue and kicked us out of the gala. I messed up everything.”

The timer went off, and Rosie took another batch of cookies out of the oven. Since the breakfast bar and kitchen counters were full, she set the baking sheet on the coffee table across from her couch. “Maybe you said too much, but you were standing up for Knox. You really care about him, right?”

“I do. We haven’t been together for very long, but I’ve never felt like this about anyone. Not even Randolph, and I was engaged to him.”

“Then your reaction was justified. If someone hurt Drew that way, I wouldn’t be able to keep quiet.”

“But I still wouldn’t let it go, even after we left the Grand Duke. And…” Charlie’s breath hitched. “Knox got so mad at me.” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, trying to get a handle on her shaky emotions.

Rosie frowned. “He shouldn’t have treated you like that.”

While Charlie appreciated her friend’s support, she couldn’t let Knox take all the blame. “It was harsh, but nothing he said was a lie.”

Giving her a nod, Rosie wiped her hands on her apron and picked up a bowl of black frosting. “So…do you want sympathy or advice? I’m happy to dole out either.”

Sympathy might improve Charlie’s mood, but it wouldn’t solve anything. “Advice. Don’t be afraid to give me some tough love.”

Rosie dipped a knife into the frosting and began icing the bat-shaped cookies. “How long have you been living at your parents’ place?”

Charlie cringed. “Three years. But before you say anything, you have to remember I was desperate when I moved into that apartment.”

“That was after you broke up with Randolph, right? You didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

Charlie looked down, too ashamed to face her. She swirled her knife in the orange frosting to soften it up a little. “That wasn’t the only reason. I’ve never told anyone this, but I was also dealing with a lot of credit card debt.”

“Really? You always seem so careful with money. Other than your coffee addiction, which I can relate to.”

That made Charlie laugh. She and Rosie had often joked that too much of their salary went toward supporting Alma’s Beanery. But the credit card debt had been no laughing matter.

“When I was dating Randolph, he had high expectations. He pressured me into joining an expensive gym and a yoga studio so I’d stay in shape. He even hung a calendar in our kitchen and asked me to write down my workouts. If I missed a day, he’d give me a hard time about it.”

“What the hell?” Rosie stared at her, gripping her knife tightly. “That’s horribly controlling. Drew literally works as a personal trainer, and he’d never pull shit like that.”

The memories made Charlie sick with anxiety.

“It gets worse. For every social event we attended, he wanted me dressed in designer clothes. He didn’t like me to repeat outfits, so I went shopping constantly.

When I told my mom about it, she said, ‘Don’t worry.

Once you’re married, he can take care of you.

’ So I didn’t. Until I was single and realized how much debt I was in. ”

“Oh shit, Charlie. I’m sorry.” Rosie passed her a shaker jar filled with orange and black sprinkles. “Don’t worry about making a mess because I can clean it up later.”

“Thanks.” Charlie opened the jar and shook it over the pumpkin-shaped cookies.

“My dad offered to let me stay in the garage apartment, rent-free. Originally, he’d built it for his mom—my Granny Helen—who came to live with us when my grandpa died.

Once she went into assisted living, the apartment wasn’t being used.

Dad told me to fix it up however I liked.

I only intended to stay for a year, but somehow… ”

Somehow, one year had become two and then three. Even when Charlie had chafed at her mom’s intrusiveness, she hadn’t made any steps to move out.

Rosie began adorning the bat-shaped cookies with sprinkles. “I don’t blame you for taking advantage. Considering how much I pay for rent, I can see the appeal. That being said, even if my parents won the lottery and built me an apartment over their garage, I’d never live with them.”

“I thought you liked your family. Didn’t you say your mom stopped bugging you about being single after you and Drew got together?”

“That helped, but she can still be a lot. Lately, she’s been asking when Drew and I plan to get married. And whether we want kids. It’s better if I limit my time with her to holidays and family dinners. That way, I can retain my independence and my sanity.”

Charlie remembered attending one of those dinners and envying Rosie’s bond with her family. But she also recalled all the times Rosie had complained about her mom’s matchmaking attempts. “Do you think I should move out?”

“It’s up to you. If you’re fine with the way things are, you don’t have to change. But it sounds like your mom is up in your business a lot. And it’s not cool she’s been trying to get you back together with your ex.”

“Yeah, even though I made it clear I’m not into Randolph, that doesn’t mean she won’t try again.

Or attempt to set me up with someone more ‘suitable’ than Knox.

In terms of money, I’m doing okay. I don’t have any more debt, and I pay off my balance every month.

But I still don’t think I could afford my own place. ”

Rosie rummaged around in her cupboard until she found a couple of cookie tins. She set them on one of the counters. “What about moving in with Laurel? She told me she’ll need a roommate in December.”

Charlie recalled Laurel mentioning it during their coffee run to Alma’s. At the time, she hadn’t considered herself a possible candidate. “That would work. I’m surprised she hasn’t found someone already.”

“The timing’s tricky because it’s so close to the holidays. But if you’re going to take this step, do it for yourself, not for Knox. You spent all that time trying to please your mom and Randolph. Make sure this is what you really want.”

Charlie nodded. It might not be an easy transition, but it was the right move.

No matter what happened with Knox, she needed some distance from her parents.

This way, her mother wouldn’t know whether she’d had a “friend” over to spend the night.

And she wouldn’t randomly pop in to invite Charlie to an event where she’d lined up a potential beau.

“I’m sure this is what I want.” Just saying the words strengthened her resolve. “I’m going to call Laurel and see if she still needs a roommate.”

“I’ll bet she’ll be glad to hear from you.” Rosie set her bowl in the sink. “What about Knox? Are you going to try talking to him?”

“I want to, but…he might need a little more time to cool off.” Things between them were so fragile she didn’t want to push him too hard. “We don’t work together until Tuesday, so I’ll wait until then.” Seeing him in person would give her a better sense of his mood.

“That’s a good idea. And if things work out with Laurel, he’ll probably be happy you took the initiative.”

“I hope so.” First, Charlie needed to apologize for getting him thrown out of the gala.

Then she could tell him how their argument had inspired her to take control of her life.

Surely, that would help him realize how much she cared about him.

Even if their relationship was pretty new, she didn’t want to lose him.

But before she tackled Knox, she needed to talk to Laurel.

And then she had to break the news to her parents.

That was the part that scared her the most. Not the act of moving out. But the conversation she’d need to have, to tell her mother what she’d decided.