Chapter 9

Charlie was stumped. For the life of him he couldn't figure out what he could have done to deserve to be spoken to in the way Don just had.

"Charlie? What was that all about?" Amita asked as she was able to hear each word loud and clear through Charlie's cell phone.

"I don't know. I honestly have no idea."

"Well, he seemed pretty pissed of at you for something" Amita stated.

"I realize that, but I don't know what I've done to piss him off like that." Charlie answered slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry; I guess I was stating the obvious. I didn't mean anything by it." She apologized.

"No, no, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like I did. I'm just surprised that's all. The last time Don yelled at me like that was… well… I can't even remember that's how long ago."

Amita grabbed his hand and rubbed her finger over his knuckles, she knew he was a little shook up by his brothers' phone call. He squeezed her hand and forced a smile.

"It's okay, you can call him back. Dinner can wait." She finally said, not able to watch his forced grin any longer.

"Really? I mean, are you sure? This was supposed to be our special night… I mean dinner…our evening alone together without interruption." Charlie said disappointedly.

She smiled sweetly and raised an eyebrow "I kind of assumed there'd be more than just this one"

Charlie blushed slightly, of course she was right. There would be more than just this one if it were up to him. Except he had been looking forward to this one for a couple of months now and had something big planned that he wasn't particularly pleased to postpone to a later date. But considering the circumstances he wouldn't be able to let go what happened that easily.

Ok, not true, considering what he had hoped would happen he would have no problem whatsoever forgetting his brother even existed, but guilt would consume him completely after the long anticipated event had occurred. So there was that, and then there was the fact the way his brother sounded scared the living daylights out of him, convincing Charlie ignoring Don could never be considered a good thing.

"You're assumptions are more than likely to be correct." He smiled wickedly "But that doesn't mean I like the fact our first has been cut short."

"True, but then again, the evening is still young. Why don't you go see what it is that upset you brother so much and see what you can do to fix it"

Charlie smiled and leaned forward for a kiss. He loved this woman's brain.

When he reached for his cell phone Amita shook her head

"What? I thought I was supposed give him a call? He asked not getting why she shook her head.

"Use the land line. No caller id, right?"

Again he felt like kissing her, and whack himself on the head at the same time. Why didn't he think of that? He walked up to the phone and seated himself in the chair next to it. Even though it was cordless, Charlie had a thing when talking on the phone; he liked scribbling words on the notebook that was next to the base station. He punched in the numbers and waited for Don to answer his cell phone. He didn't have to wait long.

"Eppes"

"Hey Don… listen…." Charlie started but Don wouldn't let him finish.

"I have not even begun to calm down to a level where I can have a normal conversation with you Charlie!" Don bellowed through the phone.

Charlie flinched. Oh yeah, Don was pissed off alright.

"Listen to me, I know the probabilities of you believing me are highly unlikely but I seriously have absolutely no idea what you're so mad at me for." Charlie explained.

"Don't give me that Charlie! I know we said everything goes but this just does it for me!"

Charlie picked up the notepad and a pencil and started scribbling some random words on the little empty space on the piece of paper.

"Would you please tell me what it is that did it for you, because I sure have no idea" Charlie pleaded.

Don sighed. If this was his brother's way of making him even angrier he'd have to hand it to him; he was doing a bang up job.

"Are you saying that this re-arranging my apartment thing was someone else's doing? Or is this your way of rubbing it on even further?" Don asked his temper rising with every word.

Charlie listened to his brother rant on the other side of the phone and continued to scribble down random words on the piece of paper. So far he had ' idea, saying, and rubbing. When he ran out of space to write other words he picked up a piece of paper that lay next to the phone. When he looked closer it looked like a fax. It mentioned a moving company, today's date and Don's address.

"Don, what you do mean re-arranging? Charlie asked.

"I'm hanging up now."

"No, Don… Don, I'm serious! What you do you mean?" Charlie pressed, not wanting to believe that his father might have something to do with this.

"I mean my whole apartment is turned upside down! I'm having a beer on my BED in what used to be my living room, that's what I mean with re-arranging!" Don spat.

Charlie slowly stood up staring at the piece of paper "Don, I think dad is the one behind this"

"Don't even try going there, because it's not going to work little brother"

Amita, who had walked up to Charlie after his latest comment grabbed the phone and put it on loudspeaker "Don, this is Amita, Charlie's telling the truth. There is a fax here, addressed to your father with your address mentioned on it and today's date."

"What makes you think I'm going to believe either of you? Don asked tiresome.

"Call the company if you don't believe us. I'll give you the order number right now." Charlie responded.

As much as Don hated it, he was starting to believe his brother was telling the truth. If anything, Charlie was a horrible liar and certainly not capable of asking Amita to lie for him as well. He didn't have the guts to ask if his life depended on it. Reluctantly he wrote down the phone number and order number and promised to call back as soon as he found out more. They then hung up.

Charlie put down the phone and looked at Amita.

"I can't believe my father was behind this." Charlie whispered.

"This fax says you better believe it. And I'm having second thoughts about Don being behind that wet shower I had as well."

Charlie looked mortified. It couldn't be. His father would never stoop so low, would he? Waiting for Don to call back seemed to take forever, but then finally the phone rang.

"Well?" Charlie asked upon picking up the phone.

"That's no way to answer a phone Charlie" Alan scolded.

"Dad! I'm sorry; I was expecting someone else to call!" Charlie apologized frantically.

"Isn't Amita there with you tonight?"

Charlie put his hand over the mouth piece and mouthed 'my dad' to Amita. She pointed at the speaker button and sat herself on the edge of the seat next to Charlie.

"Charlie, I asked you a question, are you still there? Alan asked when he didn't get a reply.

"Yes, yes. I'm still here and yes Amita is here tonight." He said as he put the phone on speaker again.

"Good, listen. I called to say not to wait up for me. I'm staying over at Martin's tonight. I've had on to many beers to drive home."

"Can't you take a taxi home?" Charlie asked.

"What, and spend my hard earned retirement money when I'm offered a place to stay for free?" Alan asked incredulously.

Charlie gave Amita a lopsided grin. His father was never one to spend money when he didn't have to.

"Besides, with Amita over for your 'first evening alone together' I'm even surprised you'd even want me home to begin with. Perhaps the reason why I had that extra beer to begin with"

Charlie frowned. He didn't get that last bit "Why is that dad?"

Alan laughed "You really think I want to be home when my youngest son is ready to serve desert? He chuckled.

Charlie felt his cheeks burn, this was not something he wanted Amita to hear. Not knowing where to look he stared at the device in his hands not daring to look Amita in the eyes. Sure, he was ready to take the next step in their relationship but to have his father be so blunt about it, over the phone none the less was not how he wanted her to know. He had invisioned a much more romantic approach.

"Yeah… point taken. See you tomorrow"

"Bye Charlie."

"Bye dad" Charlie answered resigned and hung up.

Charlie fidgeted with the phone, still not wanting to look at Amita directly. By not looking at her he couldn't see the wide spread smile that formed on her face.

"Server desert?" She asked, barely able to conceal the amusement.

"Amita I'm so sorry I never meant to…." Charlie started and then looked at her smiling "You're… not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" She asked innocently.

Charlie thought long and hard before answering "For wanting desert…"

She leaned closer to him "You never wanted desert before"

"I've always wanted desert, just never asked for it" He said with a twinkle in his eye.

"And tonight you were in the mood for desert" She stated leaning in even closer

"Are…" Charlie murmured against her lips.

"Are what? She asked

"Are in the mood for desert" He said before pulling her into a passionate kiss.

That's when the phone rang.

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