A/N: UPDATE - this is the second chapter updated today. Start with Chapter 6 if you haven't read it yet.

Another flashback here, with Charles and Elsie's first meeting.

Eight years with Alice. Eight years with the gold ring on his left ring finger.

He was thirty.

Where had the time gone?

Sometimes he hardly recognized the image in the mirror when he shaved.

"Charles?"

He started at the sound of his mother's voice. "Mmmm? Sorry, I was distracted."

"That's all right. You're driving. I was just asking if you had talked to Alice this week. Does she know Adam's getting married on Saturday?"

"Yes, I talked to her last night. She knows about Adam. She's going to try to make it."

He swallowed, willing both of his parents not to ask him any more questions. It was too painful. And humiliating.

He didn't know any other men whose wives left them for months on end.

He knew she had been unhappy. He had tried, along with her parents, to help her. Privately, he was convinced it was partially due to their not having children. Not that Alice had said this to him directly. But he had seen her deep grief only months after their wedding, when she told him she had lost the baby. And even more so four years ago. He wasn't sure if she had ever recovered fully from that loss.

She had left four months previously to go to Chicago, of all places. She stayed with university friends, Sandra, and her husband Jerry. She worked at a theater doing all kinds of odd jobs, and seemed to be happier each time she talked to him on the phone. He thought it was both the change in location as well as catching up with old friends. He missed her desperately, and talked with his father about leaving the hotel. He had started the process of setting up interviews with potential replacements before traveling with his parents to Adam's wedding.

Adam, Beryl's younger brother, was getting married. He had asked Charles to be his best man, which surprised and flattered him.

"Becky seems to be a nice girl," Malcolm Carson commented from the backseat. Charles looked in the rearview mirror at his father.

"I only met her once, but yes, she's very nice. Adam's over the moon," he felt a smile grow across his face, thinking about the younger man's obvious happiness. It felt strange that smiling was something he did rarely.

"It's a shame her father passed away when she was so young," Darlene shook her head. "Ruby told me that Becky's mother…is not part of her life. She said she's taken Becky under her wing, like a third daughter."

"Does she have any family?" Malcolm leaned forward, tapping the passenger seat.

"Yes," Charles and Darlene answered simultaneously. They glanced at each other and laughed.

"She has one sister, who's about a year older. Elsie. I haven't met her yet," Charles changed lanes. "But she's the maid of honor, so I expect to spend a decent amount of time in her company this weekend. If she's anything like Becky, it should be pleasant enough."

"If Alice gets here before the wedding, I'm sure Adam won't object if you neglect the wedding duties a little," Darlene said quietly. Charles tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his lips pressed in a thin line.

"We'll see."

He wanted to believe his wife would attend.

00000000000000

They had checked into their hotel in Lexington (Malcolm surreptitiously making notes) and gone back down to the lobby to meet with Beryl's family for dinner. He had gone to check where Kate, Beryl's older sister was, when a breathtaking young woman with auburn hair walked around the corner and knocked into him.

"Oh! I am so sorry," she said, as he steadied her. "I didn't look where I was going."

"That's all right," he reassured her. His pulse quickened as she stood up straight. Her dark blue dress perfectly matched her eyes. She smiled, holding out her hand. His stomach flipped. He hadn't seen a woman this beautiful for a long time. Ever.

"I'm Elsie Hughes," she said, her Scottish lilt making his stomach flip again. He gaped for a moment, then shook her hand.

"Charles Carson. The best man," he explained, his mouth suddenly dry. She raised her eyebrows.

"We'll see about that," she teased lightly. "I'll have plenty of opportunity in the next two days to see if you live up to the name."

"Touche," he smiled. The softened look on his face made her heart skip a beat.

"Elsie?" Becky and Adam stepped off of the elevator into the corridor. Adam's eyes lit up, and he grabbed Charles's hand, slapping him on the back.

"You're here! It's great to see you! Did you and your parents get checked in all right?"

"Yes. You know my father, he had to comb over the competition," Charles joked. It felt good to see Adam, to be there. It should not feel so strange to feel happy.

Becky hugged Elsie, bouncing up and down. "Everyone's here now, I feel like the wedding is really going to happen," she said happily. She gestured to Charles. "So you've met Charles."

"Yes, just now," Elsie swallowed, her heart feeling out of rhythm. "Adam never said how tall he is." Or how deep his voice is.

I'm not surprised he's married. His wife is very lucky.

"Why would I mention his height?" Adam ran a hand through his thick strawberry blond hair, glancing up at Charles. He was at least four inches shorter. "I suffer in comparison. I can't have my future sister thinking less of me!"

"I could never do that," Elsie laughed. "As long as Becky doesn't mind, I don't either." She nudged him affectionately.

They went back into the lobby, where everyone was gathered, including the missing Kate. Becky introduced Elsie to everyone, Adam prompting her when necessary.

"This is Mrs. Carson, Darlene, Charlie's mother," he said. Elsie shook her hand firmly.

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Carson," she said, noticing that the older woman's eyes were exactly like her son's.

"The same to you," Darlene replied, smiling. "I hope the wedding preparations haven't been too overwhelming."

"No," Elsie said, putting her arm around Becky's waist. "Fortunately, the bride is not too demanding." She winked at her little sister.

"If you need any help, please ask me. I'd be glad to assist you in any way," Darlene said, her eyes wide. "Ruby and I have been friends since we were girls, and Adam is like another son to me."

"Thank you," Becky said sincerely. "We really appreciate it. I think it's wonderful, how kind everyone has been." She shared a small glance with Elsie, who gave her a squeeze.

"I'll be sure to find you tomorrow. I'm sure we'll need another pair of hands," she said. "I don't want Becky to worry about anything."

"Nor should she," Darlene agreed.

Elsie noticed Charles looking their direction and smiled at him. He started, but managed to smile at her before turning away. She bit her lip in amusement.

This weekend is going to be fun.