Love, Honor, and Betray Roby, Lawson (best contemporary novels .TXT) 📖

butthen realized she just wanted to spend some time alone, enjoying a nice meal. She searched through her closet for an outfitand hoped getting out of the house would make her feel better.

*  *  *

Charlotte sashayed inside The Tuxon, told the hostess she needed a table for one, and the sixtyish maître d’ escorted her into the dining area. As they strolled further along, though, Charlotte thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.Had to be, unless it really was Curtis and Curtina sitting only a few feet away. Charlotte moaned silently and wondered why she couldn’t get away from them. Not even at a restaurant.

As they stepped closer, Charlotte knew this was going to make for an awkward situation because while she did love her husbandand would have loved nothing more than to make up with him, she wasn’t about to sit with him and his daughter. If she couldhave had things her way, she would speak and pass on by them. But so much for that.

“Hey, baby, I didn’t know you were coming here for lunch,” Curtis said, smiling. “So, why don’t you join us?”

“Mommy!” Curtina sang with excitement. “Yeaaahhhh, Mommy.”

Charlotte wanted to vanish. Literally.

“Is that what you’d like to do, ma’am?” the maître d’ asked. “Would you like to sit here with your husband and beautiful littledaughter?”

“Of course she does,” Curtis said.

“That’ll be fine,” the man said, patting Curtina on the head and then pulling the chair out for Charlotte.

Charlotte gave the man a half smile. “Thank you.”

“No problem, and enjoy.”

“Baby, I’m really sorry about the argument we had this morning, and I’m really glad to see you.”

Charlotte didn’t know what to say or how she should have felt, but there was one thing she did know. No matter how hard Curtinakept trying to get her attention, which was what she was trying her best to do at this very moment, Charlotte refused to makeeye contact with her.

Curtis picked up his menu. “I was just about to order, but I’ll wait until you decide what you want, too.”

“I’m really not that hungry anymore.”

Curtis slightly frowned, confused. “Then why did you come?”

“Because I wanted to spend some time with just myself.”

Curtis didn’t comment, but she could tell his feelings were hurt. His eyes conveyed much disappointment.

So they sat in silence until the waitress came to take their orders.

“What can I get for you, ma’am?”

“Actually, my water is fine for now. I may order something later, though,” Charlotte said, but she knew she wouldn’t.

“For you, sir?”

“I’ll have the Chilean sea bass,” he said, then looked at Curtina. “And what about you, my beautiful little princess?”

Everything was so hunky-dory with the two of them, and Charlotte was irritated.

“I’ll tell you what. She’ll have the gourmet cheese pizza.”

“She’ll love that,” the waitress added. “All the kids do.”

“Wonderful.”

The waitress turned to Charlotte again. “Are you sure I can’t get you anything? Maybe an appetizer or a salad?”

“No, I’m good. Really.”

As soon as she left the table, Curtis leaned back in his chair. “So, what do you have planned for the rest of the afternoon?”

“I haven’t really decided on anything specific.”

“Do you wanna go with Curtina and me to the movies? There’s some kiddie movie playing, so I figured I would take her.”

Charlotte shook her head no, becoming more and more uncomfortable by the minute.

“Mommy, look,” Curtina said, but Charlotte looked away from the table. “Mommy, look,” she repeated.

Charlotte still ignored her, but she could see Curtis through her peripheral vision, eyeing her and waiting to see if shewas planning to say anything. When she didn’t, he spoke up.

“Yes, sweetheart, Daddy sees it. You did an amazing job, and Daddy is very proud of you.”

“No, want Mommy.”

Curtis looked at Charlotte. “Baby, do you hear her talking to you?”

Charlotte finally looked at Curtina, but only quick enough to see the sheet of paper she was holding up, the one she’d beencoloring on.

“That’s nice, Curtina,” she forced herself to say. Thankfully, that seemed to satisfy Curtina, and she went back to drawing.When Charlotte had first sat down, she hadn’t even noticed any crayons or a coloring sheet, but it was probably because she’dmade it a point not to look in Curtina’s direction.

Charlotte drank more of her water and set the glass back down. There was more awkward silence, but Curtis tried to make conversationwith her again.

“So you are planning to be at the business meeting tomorrow night, aren’t you?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I guess it depends on how I feel.”

Curtis didn’t say anything else, and before long, the waitress brought out his and Curtina’s food. Charlotte looked on asthey began eating, for all of thirty seconds, and then said, “I just remembered. I have some errands to run, so I’ll see youwhen you get home.”

“Baby, please don’t do this,” Curtis said.

But she stood up anyway, told him she was sorry, and then made her way to the entrance. She left the building and decidedto do something she hadn’t done in years—drive over to one of her favorite jazz clubs in Chicago to have a few drinks.

Chapter 7

Interestingly enough, Jazzy’s, a quaint little establishment out in Covington Park, one of the South suburbs, still lookedexactly the same, and Charlotte was excited. So much so, she couldn’t wait to go inside and enjoy herself, and she was gladshe’d gone home to change into a very tight-fitting, above-the-knee, sleeveless dress. It was barely above twenty degrees,but since she had on one of the five full-length furs she owned, she didn’t feel a thing.

When she turned off the new silver Mercedes Curtis had purchased for her birthday last year, she was sort of hesitant aboutgetting out and going in because she knew Curtis wouldn’t approve of her being at a place like this. But then she quicklythought, Why should I care how Curtis feels when he’s made it perfectly clear that my feelings don’t mean anything?

Charlotte locked her doors, headed toward the building, and entered it. She scanned the seating area, spotted a vacant booth,and then removed her