Charlotte's Legacy

Chapter 1:

The Anniversary
"Have you ever told someone, not a relative, 'I love you?…More than one someone?…Well then, my dad would say you've been a little too cavalier in your life, too."

- Ben Gates

Washington D.C., Present Time

Ben Gates sealed an envelope containing a check. He peeled the stamp off its backing and stuck it to the envelope. Abigail walked in just as he began to write these words on the envelope.

The American Cancer Society

He continued with the address until Abigail asked him what he was doing.

"I'm sending a donation." He explained. "I donate money every year."

Abigail nodded in approval. "I think that's really sweet." She said, kissing him on the cheek. She picked up her purse. "I'm going to the store. I need to have something to make when Riley and Alexis get back from Philadelphia." She did not notice Ben wince when she mentioned the city. She walked out the front door, leaving Ben alone in the house.

Ben retired to his study after a dinner filled with laughter, courtesy of newlyweds Riley and Alexis Poole. But something had burdened his mind all day. He pulled an old photo album off the top shelf of one of the bookcases. He sat down in his armchair and opened it. Memories flooded back All their plans, their hopes, their dreams, crushed. He flipped slowly through pages upon pages of pictures that hadn't seen the light of day in many years. Eleven years, to be exact. He looked at each picture in silence.

"Ben, hey Ben, wake up."

Ben groaned and opened his eyes.

Riley was lightly shaking his shoulder while Abigail and Alexis stood behind him.

"What time is it?" Ben asked, yawning.

"Almost midnight." Abigail said.

"We heard you talking and came to see what was up." Riley said.

"Talking?" Ben asked quietly, still not yet fully aware of what was going on.

"We thought you we on the phone." Abigail explained. "But when we walked in, we realized that you were talking in your sleep."

"What was I saying?" Ben asked.

Riley comically imitated Ben. "Something like 'Charlotte! Please, stay with me! I love you!'"

"Who's Charlotte?" Alexis asked.

Ben picked up the photo album, which had fallen on the floor. "I don't really talk about her any more."

"Why?" Abigail asked. "As your wife, I think I should know."

Ben sighed. "Remember how hoe I explained to you why my dad thinks I've been a little too cavalier in my life?"

Abigail nodded.

"Charlotte was one of those other someones I said 'I love you' to."

"What happened?" Riley asked.

"I told you, I really don't want to talk about it." Ben said, more forcefully this time.

"Ben, Abigail's right. As your wife, she ought to know." Alexis said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Ben sighed deeply. "Fine." He said. "Sit down and I'll explain. This isn't going to be easy for me, so bear with me."

Riley and Alexis shared the satellite chair while Abigail sat in Ben's desk chair.

"I'll never forget Charlotte. I remember her like I saw her just yesterday. We met when I interviewed her family about her grandmother, eight generations back, who knew Charles Carroll. She's named after her grandmother. I was 25, she was 23. She had beautiful, straight auburn hair and honest, emerald eyes. She was visiting her parents when I met her. I'll never forget my reaction. I just stood there and stared at her. I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking,"There's some lunatic standing at the door, staring at me." So I recomposed myself and announced who I was. I explained to her that I had spoken to her parents on the telephone the day before. After the interview, she looked at me like I was crazy. Some heck of a first impression." Ben paused for a moment, then continued. "The next day, she showed up a my apartment in Philadelphia asking if she could be of any assistance. Of course, I readily accepted her offer. I had been doing all the research myself, and I desperately needed help. We quickly became friends, and then, more than friends. We became lovers. We dated for four years. But that final year was undoubtedly the hardest year of my life." His voice faded as he battled with a surge of emotions he had suppressed for 11 years. He won and kept his composure. "That year began around the time we joined a Navy diving class…"