Shattered Hearts

Chapter 4

"I hope Rosalind won't mind me coming over unexpectedly," Charlotte said as Dale parked on the driveway of his 1950s ranch style house.

"Of course she won't," he said giving her a reassuring smile. "She'll be positively thankful."

Charlotte nodded as she unstrapped her seatbelt; she did feel guilty about cancelling her plans with Judy but she couldn't miss an opportunity to pick her lawyer's brain. More than that, after spending an hour dissecting her own marriage, she wasn't in the mood to listen to Judy's wedding plans. She was happy for her but she regretted agreeing to be one her bridesmaids, it was hard to keep plastering a smile on her face.

"Charlotte!" Rosalind exclaimed throwing the front door open. "I wasn't expecting you, come on in."

"I hope I'm not intruding," Charlotte said looking around at the Townsends' immaculate home. It was ever ready for visitors although Dale had intimated that they rarely had any.

"Of course, you're not intruding," Rosalind said as she linked her arm through Charlotte's and led her into the sitting room. "I've been dying for some company, I'm going stir crazy here by myself." She shot Dale a hard look which Charlotte did not miss.

"I'm gonna file these papers in my study," Dale said taking a step back. "I won't be very long."

Rosalind scowled at his retreating form. "I'll hold you to that." She turned to Charlotte indicating for her to sit down. "He'll be gone for the next hour but it gives us a chance for a catch-up. How are you?"

"I'm good." Rosalind tilted her head to one side looking sceptical. "Okay, I'm not so good but I'm getting there."

"Don't rush it, these things take time."

Charlotte swallowed down her annoyance at the often repeated platitude. "I've had plenty of time, it's over six months since I left Nick and yet some days..."

"Do you want him back?"

"Of course not!" How could Ros suggest such a thing after all she'd been through?

Rosalind arched her eyebrows. "Are you sure about that? You can tell me, I won't judge."

Charlotte bit back a retort, taking a couple of deep breaths. "I guess I want my old life back. I didn't expect that at nearly twenty-five years old I'd be holed up in a room in my brother's house, barely making ends meet." She lapsed into silence, allowing herself a moment of self-pity.

"I know how you feel," Rosalind said and Charlotte gaped at her. "I mean about life not turning out as you'd planned."

"Your life seems pretty good from where I'm sitting," she said rolling her eyes.

"It's not, it's boring! Look at me." Rosalind threw her arms out dramatically. "I used to be beautiful. I was head cheerleader, homecoming queen, and now I'm just a frumpy old housewife."

"You're still beautiful," Charlotte said impatiently. With her hair gently waved and her face carefully made up Ros was far from frumpy, even her nails were painted. She looked down at her own nails, she had neither the time nor the inclination to put nail varnish on, she was doing well just keeping them tidy.

"But how I look doesn't matter any more," Rosalind said waving a hand dismissively. "In high school it did but these days no one cares. Being pretty and popular counts for nothing."

Oh, my heart bleeds for you.

"Is that why you had an affair with John?" 

Rosalind flinched. "Maybe, I dunno."