Heywood Equestrian Stables

Facebook

I was awoken by a doorbell, followed by a knocking. I quickly sat up and realized I had fallen asleep at my desk with my laptop still open to the Facebook. I shut the computer and ran downstairs. It was clearly morning, so I was hopeful it was Sidney who was at my door. Who else could it possibly be? I swung the door open as quickly as possible to see an eager Georgiana and Otis standing on the front steps. "Oh," I breathed slightly disappointed.

"You always seem upset to see me when I come over," Georgiana observed. Her expression seemed hurt by what she assumed.

"No. I'm not upset. Not in the least. I just wasn't expecting you, that's all."

"You did tell us to come in the morning," Otis pointed out.

"I did," I agreed. "What time is it?"

"Almost nine," Georgiana answered.

"Right," I said. "I'm so sorry. I had a pretty restless night and I just got up. Why don't you both come in and help yourselves to anything you want in the kitchen. I'll go get dressed." I ran upstairs and changed into a blue summer dress with spaghetti straps and quickly ran a brush through my hair and toothbrush across my teeth. When I went back downstairs, they were sitting in the living room sharing a muffin and drinking more of the lemonade.

"Did you and Sidney have a fight or something? Is that why you had a restless night and he was actually home last night?" Georgiana asked as I came back in the room.

"No," I said feeling the sting of lying. "I don't want to talk about Sidney. Let's get started."

I lead them outside and showed Otis a few of the things I wanted done around the house. The lawn needed mowed, the house needed pressure washed as did the lawn furniture, I needed him to stack some firewood that had been left lying in a pile, and some trees needed trimmed. There were plenty of other things, but I felt like that would be enough to keep him going for a while. He got right to it and seemed eager to please. I saw Sidney down at the arena working with a horse. I was irritated that he still hadn't come to talk to me. I thought for sure after a night apart to cool off he'd want to talk to me again.

Georgiana and I went back in the house and started discussing the picnic. I wanted it to be a huge event where everyone would have a ton of fun.

"I'm already thinking of asking Sam to cater for us," I explained.

"Do you think he will?" Georgiana asked. "He doesn't leave his own restaurant that often."

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's worth a try to ask at least. If he doesn't, we'll find someone else."

"Why can't we just do it like we used to?" she asked. "Your dad would bring out his grill and work all afternoon to cook up all kinds of food, while everyone else would bring a side dish to share."

"I don't want anyone to have to bring anything. I just want them to bring themselves and their family," I explained. "Plus, who would we get to grill all day?"

"Oh," she said remorsefully. "I'm sorry, Charlotte. I didn't think about what I was saying."

I smiled at her and rubbed her shoulder. "It's alright. You don't have to feel bad."

"But I do. I know what it's like to lose your father when he's been your only family most of your life. I remember right after my dad died, every time someone would even bring up his name or mention something he used to do, I would break down crying. It was hard to move on."

I sighed, moving closer to her and wrapping my arm around her. "I'm so sorry, Georgiana. You must have been going through so much after he died. I should have been here for you. I don't know why I never called you. Just because Sidney pushed me away, doesn't me I should have pushed everyone else away."