Finding Her Joy

Back To Mine

(MIA POV)
The whole drive back to town was spent thinking about two things: How the hell I was going to tell Reece what I just saw, and did I really know Char as well as I think I did? I had an idea for where she might be, but how could I be sure?

I was going off the assumption that she was upset about her marriage being over. We had talked about it briefly when we had that late night phone call after I was fired. Since she still hadn't told anyone, I knew she wouldn't go to see Marjorie or the girls. She wasn't likely to go home and sit in the silence if she was upset. Charlotte hated being alone. Reece had said she'd been acting strange since I left. I thought back on our conversations, trying to find some clue as to where she might be. Then it hit me, "The bar." I said to myself. I drove as fast as I could, not wanting to leave her alone any longer than she already had been.

Arriving at the bar, I found a spot to park and went inside, hoping to find her. My eyes were drawn to her immediately. She was sat by herself in the far corner. Her face was puffy from crying. She was so upset that she looked sickly, and it broke my heart to see her like that. "Poor baby." I said quietly, walking over to her. Charlotte hadn't noticed me yet. I couldn't just stand there and watch her like this anymore. It was time to step in, "Hello, Sweetheart."

A wave of relief washed over her face. She was still upset but seemed happy to see me. I gave her a soft smile as she asked between sniffles, "What are you doing here?"

I reached for her arm. "I heard you were having a bit of a rough time, Sweetheart."

She was confused and asked, "How do you know that?"

"Reecey called me." I answered.

"Reece got in touch with you?"

"Mhmm. I'm sure it absolutely killed him to have to call me for help, but he seemed to know that I would come running if it were for you..." I looked down for a moment, hoping that what I said wouldn't make the conversation awkward.

Lucky for me, it didn't. "How did you find me?" She said, sitting up taller in her chair.

I smiled bigger and tried not to let out a small laugh thinking about the drive over and how I almost went crazy trying to figure it out. Play it cool, Mia. "Char, this is the bar you wanted us to go to together. Of course, I knew I'd find you here."

Char looked upset and turned her gaze from me to the floor. "Oh... I didn't realize I was so predictable..."

There goes my heart again, fix her. "Nobody else would know to look here. You're not predictable, Sweetheart. I just know you." She shot me a quick grin and picked her head up a little. Now, it's time for the hard part of the conversation. I looked at her ring and then back to her, "I see you still haven't taken it off?" Char looked at me, not knowing what I was talking about, so I gestured to the ring again.

A small, "No," escaped her lips, and she started messing with her hand. This must be so hard for her.

"How long have you two been separated now?"

She got uncomfortable and was no longer able to look at me. "A few months."

"...and when did the marriage end?"

She turned to face me, "I just said a-"

"No," I said, cutting her off, "When did you know it was over and you walked away in your head?" Everyone who has ever been through it knows that there is a huge difference between the two questions.

Char was shocked. She looked at me like I had somehow crawled in her head and knew all her secrets. Maybe I had. Charlotte set her hands on her lap and looked away again before answering, "Three years..."