Chapter 11
Cooper knocks on Violet's door. "Is Charlotte home?"
"She just went to the drug store." Violet opens the door. "Come in and wait."
"I'll make it quick then. I want to talk to you." Cooper steps inside.
"About what?"
"Charlotte. Do you think she would marry me?"
"Ask HER." Violet hugs him. "Ask her."
"I can't………. I mean not yet……..Violet…..What if she says no?"
"She's not going to say no, Cooper." Violet reassures him.
"She could after the things I said when we broke up. I told you it was bad. But after the carnival, she was talking about us having kids so I think she might marry me…...I don't know." Cooper's rambling.
Violet stops him. "The only way to find out, Coop, is to ask."
"I can't risk her saying no. It'll crush me." Cooper sits on the couch.
Violet sits next to him. "Can I help?" She pats his shoulder.
"You can ask her for me?" Cooper answers.
"What? Cooper that's your job!" Violet wrinkles her brow at him.
"I mean find out from her if she wants to marry me. Then tell me what she says."
"I don't know, Coop."
"Come on Vi. You're my best friend. I'd do it for you" Cooper begs.
"Fine. I'll do it." Violet answers reluctantly.
"Okay. I'm going to go before she gets back. Do it tonight." Cooper hugs Violet. Before he leaves he turns and reminds her. "If she says yes, find out what kind of ring she wants. I want to surprise her."
Charlotte comes in the door with a little bag from the drug store. "Was Cooper just here? I though I passed him on the road."
Violet doesn't answer. "You know what I could go for tonight?" Violet asks.
"Are we playing twenty questions?" Charlotte jokes a little snarky.
"One of your martini's." Violet answers.
"Okay." Charlotte drops her bag on the table and starts preparing the drink.
"You don't have to drop everything and do it now."
"You let me move in here for my martini's. If you want a martini, you'll get a martini." Charlotte shakes the alcohol.
"Charlotte. You're paying half the expenses. Martini's are optional not mandatory." Violet explains.
"Good to know." Charlotte cracks her a smile.
Charlotte hands Violet her drink and then pours one for herself. They sit on the couch. Violet gets right to the point. "Would you ever consider getting married again?"
"Where'd that come from?" Charlotte sips her drink.
"I was just thinking about you and Coop. That's all."
"I sold my condo and gave everything up for him. I started working at the practice so I could be close to him. Hell yeah, I was gonna' marry that man."
"Would you still marry him after everything he said to you?"
"He told you about that?" Charlotte asks sipping her martini.
"He told me he said some real bad stuff. He didn't tell me what he said. Coop tells me everything except about you. He keeps you private." Violet sips her drink.
"That's good. He should keep me private." Charlotte raises her voice. "How'd you like it if I knew everything that was going on with you and Pete?"
"That'd be great because then you could tell me what was going on with me and Pete. I sure have no idea." They both laugh.
"Seriously, Charlotte would you still want to marry him?"
"Yes." Charlotte tells her bluntly.
"You don't hold it against him, the stuff he said?" Violet tries to get info.
"I walked in Cooper's shoes once. I know how it feels to be the one to say the bad stuff."
"Are you talking about your ex-husband?" Violet finishes her drink.
"He did something." Charlotte's voice is serious. "I was hurt and I said some very mean things to him. He begged me to forgive him over and over again but I wouldn't. Now, I know how it feels to be him." Charlotte finishes her drink and gets up to pour another.
"So you're willing to give Cooper another chance?" Violet asks.
Charlotte hands her a refill. "Everyone deserves another chance."
"What about your ex? Would you give him another chance?" Violet sips her new drink.
"I should've but I was young and stubborn and I didn't. That ship has sailed now. I'm with Cooper." Charlotte takes a deep breath.
"So you would be willing to marry Cooper now?" Violet wants to be sure.
"Yes, if he'd ever get around to askin'."
"Good." Violet answers.
Charlotte holds her stomach. "I need my pills." She gets up and takes a bottle out of the little white bag and pops two pills."
"You really should have some tests done." Violet lectures her.
"You sound like Cooper." Charlotte swallows the pills down with her martini.
"You shouldn't keep ignoring it."
If you're gonna' lecture me, I'm leaving." Charlotte snaps.
"Okay. I'll change the subject." Violet volunteers. "What kind of ring do you like?" Violet asks.
"What?" Charlotte looks at her with her brow furrowed.
"You know rings. Do you like gold or white gold or silver and what shape round? oval? marquis? Do you like diamonds on the side?
"Violet Turner? Are you proposing to me?" They both chuckle.
"Tell Cooper I like anything he picks out for me." She shoots Violet a smile