Sinners and Saints

Chapter 35

Chuck and I spent the last week of my winter break in the Maldives. 

Boy was it heavenly. 

The trip really brought us closer together in an emotional and physical way. 

We are now in his apartment. 

I begin to clean up the living room since he and Nate keep it so messy. 

Chuck steps out to go to the restroom. 

While dusting the windows I hear the sound of Chuck's phone ringing. 

I pick up the phone to answer it for him. 

"Hello? Charles are you calling me back? Hello? It's Elizabeth." the woman named Elizabeth speaks into the phone.

 Confused by who this woman is and what she could want with Chuck I quickly hung up the phone. 

Chuck then comes back into the living room. 

He goes to the kitchen to pour us a drink and I hesitantly follow him, not sure how to go about bringing up what just happened. 

Noticing my silence Chuck hands me a drink and asks "Why so quiet? Is there something wrong?" 

"No, not exactly. Just um who is Elizabeth?" 

He stops sipping his drink and looks up at me before sighing. 

"I was going to tell you... I believe she's my mom. I'm going to meet her at the hotel bar she's staying at later today." Chuck explains.

"Oh, I thought your mom died." I say confused. 

"I thought so too but I have reasons to believe Elizabeth could be her." he tells me.

 "Do you want me to go with you?" I question trying to be the supportive girlfriend. 

"No. I'll be fine." he rushes out before leaving the apartment. 

Once he leaves I pour myself another drink thinking about our conversation. 

I trust Chuck and I know that sometimes people need to do and handle things in their own way.

 However, I wish he would let me in a little. 

I'm on my fourth glass of wine of the night pacing anxiously around the living room when Chuck returns to the apartment. 

Not giving him any time to settle in I immediately ask "Is she...she your mother?" 

He sits down at the bar pouring himself a drink as well. 

"Even if she is my real mother...she isn't. What's in the past stays in the past. I don't need to know anymore." he then downs his drink and continues "She's agreed to leave tomorrow morning and never come back. It's for the best." 

I walk over to Chuck to give him a hug. 

Pulling away I ask "Why don't I go get some ice cream and we can watch a movie?" 

Chuck sadly smiles, pulling my hand in his "That sounds perfect." 

I kiss him on the cheek and leave the apartment. 

I get in a cab and head to the hotel Elizabeth is staying at. 

I'm not proud of it but while he was gone I searched through some of his drawers to see if there was anything I could use to help him. 

I didn't find much but a sheet of paper that had Elizabeth's contact information and the location of where she would be staying. 

Once I get there I'm not sure where to begin searching for her since I do not know what she looks like but as I walk by the concierge desk I recognize the voice I heard on the phone earlier.