Until Charlie

By Linda Picinich

“This must be heaven, I thought. I studied his graceful movements, admiring Charlie as he walked around the room, as if it were my own private symphony.”

Abbey Jamison abandons her small East Coast town, planning to pursue her life’s dream of earning her college degree, gaining valuable work experience, and opening her own successful business. What she doesn’t plan is finding the love of her life. Meeting Charlie Wright, Abbey knows her life will be changed forever. 

Distracted, Abbey struggles to remain confident, independent, and focused, as her love for Charlie sends her life spiraling out of balance, wielding the power to both shatter her heart and ignite it with unprecedented passion. But must she sacrifice something she loves to be happy? Or can she truly have it all?

PRAISE FOR UNTIL CHARLIE:

“5 Stars!”

“I loved this novel! If you like romance novels and believe in true love, this book is for you.”

“…One of my all-time favorite reads.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Picinich
• Release date: Oct 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781386310143

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Iam not sure how to describe this point in my life.  It's not quite the beginning, and it's hopefully not the end.  The people I have met, the places I have been, the events that occurred, all of them paved the road that leads to where I am now.  All of them an intricate part of the web that has been spun into what I call my life.  Individually, or perhaps under different circumstance, they may have led me down an altogether divergent path.  However tumultuous or engaging, I would not change a thing about the events which brought me to where I am now.  Well, maybe some things.  Anyway, these forces of nature, as you would have it, have created a great story.  A story I'd like to share.  Of how it came to pass that I am here, in this incredible place in my life.  A place I cannot define.  A place I cannot reveal.  I can only tell you how I got here.

As I am driving now in my car with the top down, the wind in my hair, the sun on my face, I am feeling more self-assured than I have probably ever felt.  Confidence was an old friend that I had just recently become reacquainted with.  It was not too long ago that I took upon a venture that would surely change my life.

I had broken apart from everything I had come to know.  All the comforts of home were left behind, my family, my friends, everything which had come to define me as the person I had grown to be thus far.  Leaving all that was familiar, I set out to explore the unknown.  This was a big move, but it seemed a small sacrifice to pay to follow my dream. I always tried to live my life according to one simple philosophy.  No regrets.  I had no idea what awaited me around the bend.  I was nervous and scared, but I reassured myself that it was better to feel this way now, than to feel regretful and ashamed later at not taking the chance. 

So as I drive down this interstate highway, I will do my best to recall the events as they occurred.  Though some are uncomfortable and painful to remember, some are uplifting and, perhaps, inspirational.  Sometimes in life it's the things yet unknown that can turn out to be the most fulfilling.

CHAPTER 1

Iwas born and raised in a small suburb on Long Island.  My family lived comfortably in an old colonial on a quiet street.  There were lots of neighborhood kids and plenty of green grassy back yards to play in.  Like many of the other suburbs on Long Island, it was a small social village, where people were familiar with each other and each other's business.  A place where you could trust your neighbor.  A place where it was safe to let your kids walk into town at night without worry.  I grew up here, and by the time I graduated high school, there were very few townspeople and places I did not know. 

After a couple of years at a local college, I started to grow restless.  I began to wonder what the rest of the world had to offer, outside of this quaint little town, off this modest little island.  I wanted my life to be bigger than that.  I enrolled in a reputable West Coast college with a good Business program and dreamed of opening my own botanical shop, selling products like herbal shampoos and all-natural bath oils. I wanted my success to be more than surviving as just another local store.  So, I bid farewell to that little village and set out to make my new home.  On my own.

When I arrived to this sunny state, I felt both a little nervous and incredibly free.  Just as I knew no one here, no one knew me.  I could create from myself the person I had longed to be: independent, risk-taking, worldly.  As the taxi pulled up to whisk me off to my hotel room, I took a deep breath and my first step into my new world.  I felt like the most courageous person in the universe.  It didn't take long for me to find an apartment, a used car, and a job.  I amazed myself at how quickly I was able to achieve all this, but I did only have a few months before school started.  But I also think people responded positively to my newfound courage.  They -especially potential employers- like people with confidence.  And I wore mine like a brand new power suit. 

So here I was a veritable pioneer, the portrait of the modern day woman.  Nothing was going to stand in my way.  I had taken charge of my life and had never felt more in control.  I was fulfilling my life's plan.  I even had solutions already mapped out for some anticipated glitches.  I felt completely self-reliable.  I had all that I wanted, and I needed nothing more.  And then, one day, just like that, everything changed. 

I CAN REMEMBER THE first time I saw him.  Charlie was so handsome.  And not in a flashy pretty-boy way.  But in a rugged, natural way.  He was real.  He looked like someone you could talk to, whether the topic be politics or the skiing in Tahoe.  He looked like someone you could know the rest of your life.  And wanted to know.  Unpretentious.  He was the brother of my new friend, Jessie. 

I had met Jessie Wright in one of my classes at college.  She and I hit it off great in Small Business Economics.  We both laughed at the way Mr. Randolph stumbled over the word entrepreneur.  A little cruel on our behalf I guess, but it wouldn't have been so bad if he hadn't tried to use the word a hundred times a day. 

Jess and I became fast friends, which was a blessing on my part more than hers.  As independent and serious as I had become, I began to miss friendly, casual conversation.  I had very little of it these days.  After all, I had just relocated thousands of miles away from home to this place...a place full of strangers and strange surroundings. It was what I wanted though...all new.  It didn't take long before I realized that it was I who was the stranger here.  Getting to know Jessie helped by placing a familiar face in this otherwise unfamiliar world.  I was comforted in the fact that I knew somebody here, that my new life was beginning to take shape.  Meeting Charlie sparked a similar feeling inside me.  I was beginning to think this was a family trait.

He greeted me at the door when I came by to visit Jessie.  He was polite, and smiled warmly as he opened the door and let me into the house.

You must be Abbey, he said.  Jessie's told me a lot about you.  You want to open a business here, right?  Aromatherapy or something like that.  You've come to the right place for that.  People here love that sort of thing.  You should do well. 

Thanks I replied.  Scented lotions and soaps and stuff.  Not quite aromatherapy but subscribing to the same philosophy.

That's great.

OK, not the most scintillating conversation, I admit.  But the air about the whole first meeting, for me anyway, was all I needed to know that from this moment on there was another face that would become familiar to me in this, my latest endeavor.

School soon proved to be a challenge for me, the first of many challenges I would encounter.  I absorbed most of the information that was taught to me, but I had trouble grasping some of the lessons. I guess it was a lot for me to take on all at once...a new state, new apartment, new job, new friends, and college classes.  I was determined to keep my feet on the ground and not get overwhelmed.  I struggled to wrap my brain around it all.  Jesse and I decided to become study partners, although I needed her help more than she needed mine.  She had a knack of explaining abstract theories in ways that I could easily understand.  Maybe it had something to do with being the same age, but we were able to relate to each other, first as tutors then as friends.  It was truly a great experience getting to know her.  I was only sorry I didn't know her all my life. 

We began to study regularly on Thursday nights.  Sometimes at my apartment, other times at her house.  I must admit I preferred to be at Jessie's.  I would wait out the weeks impatiently, anticipating my arrival at her doorstep.  The scenario was almost always the same.  Enthusiastically, I would ring the doorbell.  A slight pause.  A deep breath to try to calm and collect myself.  Never enough time.  The door would open.  Charlie.  For a moment the rest of the world faded, and there we were.  He'd invite me in, allowing me to step in closer to him.  I would embrace this opportunity and enter. Then he would call to Jessie, shut the door, and be off to grace someone else somewhere else with his presence.  An albeit brief encounter like this was able to sustain me for days.  Then, like a drug, I would grow impatient once again, and I couldn't wait until the next time.  For us to meet again.  For everything else to disappear.  And just be the two of us.  Alone.  For a moment.  Never enough time.

CHAPTER 2

Upstairs in Jessie 's room, she and I would sit and compare notes, study theories, and discuss the latest chapter.  Usually our study sessions lasted a couple of hours. 

One night we were pop-quizzing each other for an upcoming test, one that would constitute a large portion of our grade for the semester.  We had been studying a long time, and we decided to grab some refreshments.  I volunteered to go downstairs and get a couple of sodas from the fridge. 

As I started down the stairs I could hear the soft murmur of someone talking in the distance.  Although I could not distinguish what was being said, I knew the voice in an instant.  It was Charlie.  I paused to run my fingers through my hair and straighten my shirt in a vain attempt to look as stunning as I could after my lengthy cram session with Jessie.  I continued toward the kitchen.

But why, Charlie? a female voice uttered.

Look, we've been through this. Charlie replied.

What was this?  Another woman speaking to my Charlie?  (Alright I know it sounds childish, but I couldn't help but feel quite perplexed and a bit jealous.  Since I met Charlie I had not seen him with another woman, never mind speak to one.  And according to Jessie he did not currently have a girlfriend.)  Who was she?  A friend?  A lover?  A foe?  Surely she was already one to me.

I made my way toward the kitchen, slowing my pace so I could catch as much of the conversation as I could without looking suspicious.  I had to look like I was only interested in getting something to drink.  As I entered the kitchen, I saw Charlie, his back turned to me, arms behind him grabbing the countertop to the island in the center of the room.  Across from him I saw a tall blonde. She was obviously not too pleased with this conversation since she had a scrunched up look on her face.  Much to my chagrin, even with that scowl, I could see she was beautiful.  Then Charlie turned his head to acknowledge my presence.  And without missing a beat, their conversation continued.  I excused myself, opened the refrigerator door, and took two sodas.  I could tell Charlie was frustrated and uncomfortable with whatever was being discussed.  As she spoke, he listened, one foot crossed over the other, kind of slouching, his head hung low and tilted slightly to one side, gripping the counter. 

She asked, Well, what's the big deal, Charlie?  I apologized to you about a hundred times.  Why can't you get past it?

And I've answered you a hundred times.  You know why.  It's different now, things changed. 

Why?  What's different now?

And with that Charlie took a deep breath and peered over his shoulder at me.

Tell me!  The blonde demanded.

Turning back to look at her, Charlie let out a big sigh.

Look, it just is.

I felt a little embarrassed to be witness to such an apparently personal conversation.  I began to make my exit.  As soon as I returned to Jessie's room, I reported to her what I had just witnessed.  She seemed a little confused at first, but then disclosed to me the identity of my new nemesis. 

That must be Karen.

Who is she?  I mean, I haven't heard about her until now.  I inquired, wondering if my nonchalant façade fooled her.

She and Charlie used to date.  Well, it was a little more serious than that.  They were a couple.  They were really into each other.  Then she went psycho on him.

Psycho?  I questioned.

Yeah, she became obsessed with him.  She would call him, like, every few hours to check up on him.  Especially when he would work late.  Just to make sure that he was where he said he'd be.  And, in my opinion, to make sure she was always on his mind.  See, she wanted to get married, but Charlie said he wasn't ready.  He wanted to be more secure with his work and stuff.  He became really annoyed with her but she wouldn't stop.  Eventually, all they did was fight.  He broke it off with her, but she just kept calling.  It had gotten so bad that even when he tried to avoid her, she'd find out where he was and show up there to confront him.

Wow, sounds like a fatal attraction!

You're not kidding!  But she started slowing down on the phone calls, and stopped making uninvited appearances.  Actually, I'm kind of surprised she's here.  We haven't heard from her in a while.

I gave a quick Hmm and popped open my soda.

I went home that night, exhausted from studying, but didn't go to sleep right away.  The little scenario I had witnessed at Jessie's played over and over in my head.  The image of Karen had been branded into memory.  She must have really loved Charlie to hang on to him so long after he told her it was over.  I wondered how much Charlie must have loved her.  And what he might still feel for her.  I got up and went into my bathroom to get a glass of water.  I turned on the faucet.  As I waited for the water to get cold, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.  I stared at my reflection, and wondered if I was even half as beautiful as Karen.