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Charlotte answers the door in jeans and a loose blouse, talking on the phone Her eyes widen with shock when she seesup She steps back from the doorway and looks me up and down

"It’s been a while"

"Yup" I shift, aard She looks older now, and I guess I do too The laughing young woman I met in that bar has been replaced with soes, more mature Her hair falls in loose waves, and there’s a new tiredness in her eyes

"Can I come in?" I ask

"Kaylee’s not here," Char says quickly "She’s at a play date Cal’s gone to pick her up"

"It’s OK" I s, still feeling a slice at her name "I’m here to see you"

Char blinks, then bobs her head in a suess Come in"

She opens the door wider and I follow her inside It’s a sht and messy There are photos in the hall of Kaylee and the two of the room

They moved here after she ended it with me; I never stepped foot inside I’ve tried to picture Kaylee’s life since then--where she lived, what her world looked like--but it was always fuzzy and unclear Now, I look around and see a home, full of life and clutter

A world withoutto clear so on a photo of Kaylee at a kids’ party, dressed up in a pink dress, her sives a nervous smile "That was last year She’s in her princess phase now, it’s all dresses and tiaras"

Silence

"I’ by like this" I clear e, I can tell Fussing with the couch cushions, insisting on bringing host from a different life by now, and the last tiry threats and bitterness

When finally we’re seated on the patchwork couch, Char clasps her hands together "So what’s this about?" she asks carefully

I take another breath, and wonder where the hell to begin I could dance around it, I guess, with s I need to know, so I meet her eyes and flat-out say it

"Why did you leave me?"

Char stops She looks ataround "Garrett…" she says reluctantly, "it’s been years now"

"I know, but I still…I need to hear it," I tell her,