Two woman. Two woman meet, as they shift towards another site of their story. Their stories change. As this story changes.
Her feet are walking, it is a Sunday morning and the town is sunny and with a crisp quality to warmer sunshine, but her mind fills with him. They have been wrapped in each other's life for so long now. The older she gets, the more stronger it seems to grow. He is older than her, but those 10 years seem to not have an impact on them. She snorts inside. Of course, they haven't. He and Miles are still a couple of morons and she is sure a part of them will never outgrow the twelve year old part in them.
Her mom was young when she had her, Bass' mom was too. And somehow they have gotten together in life like this.
They were close. He was an extension of Miles, of somebody she really could build on and who has been there many times. But somehow on a early spring day in June things have changed.
The memory comes back to her.
She is standing on a road in the forest, frown in her eyes, as she realises they have to go back, take a left and then move on. Of course, he disagreed. She has a bad day. She walks. She goes out for a hike. Of course he wants to come. They have a dinner later where she is not planning on showing up, but of course he tells her he will come with her, to her family. And there is something there between them, but that moment she gets in his face and tells him he is delusional, as Bass stand before her tall, with a look in his eyes that has been new to her until that point, it is a fire that burns brighter.
Bass.
They have been playing with that new blue meeting blue. Charlie can sense it when another woman is around, like that time in that casino when he met an old flame. She can pretend she does not remember her name, but she does. Duncan Page.
She can sense it when he becomes a bit crude or a whining twelve year old around her when she mentions a guy from her city.
And now, she is here. Back in a town she knows from memories as she the tears of a man she is growing to love more, have her bundled in tears too.
Charlie feels the pressure of the pavement under her, as the trees around the square keep her company. She grabs the cookbooks and some loose recipes under her hands and walks on.
She is greeted by a lot of people on the road. Her father is loved here, and she is loved too, as people, friendly and open, always had her carried in the town heart as well.
'Miss Cohen,' she nods back to the older lady, one of the owners of the candy store Bass and Miles used to rob when they were about five years old.
'Sweetie,' a warm smile comes from the shop owner, 'how are you doing?'
The woman is sweet, asking about her.
'Just returning these.' She smiles, the pages of ingredients in her hands.
'Ah yes, I think she is home.' Her eyes go warmer now. 'So, tell me, you are taking care of those boys.'
'I am.' Charlie smiles back.
'Good, such a tragedy. They need a little love from a loving honest woman like you, honey.'
Charlie grins with her, but is touched by her honesty. Miss Cohen think for a second as a little mischief comes to her eyes.
'And those two thought I never knew they were stealing from me. Naughty boys.' She shakes her head.
'You knew?' Charlie asks, a little surprised.
'Oh yes, I knew. But they are a good couple of boys, and they felt so tough when they did it. Sometimes boys just need to feel like bad boys you know. ' Miss Cohen laughs freely and winks t her.
'When they offered to do some chores for me that summer, I let them work extra hard as a bit of payback.'
Charlie and Miss Cohen laugh now together.
'Well, good morning then Miss Cohen.'
'Good morning, kiddo,' Miss Cohen winks, knowing how much she still does not like that. But her little joke is harmless and Charlie is feeling the smile in her words.
Miss Cohen walks past her, as Charlie walks to the house a little further ahead. It is green, with warm wood. It is small but warm.
She hears the shrieking of the wood of the steps as she is standing in front of the front door and knocks.
'Charlie, hey.'
'Hi, ' she smiles briefly, not the same smile she gave Miss Cohen just a while back, 'My mom send me over to return these?'
She hands back some recipe books her mom has used to make some things for the guests a couple of days ago.
'You did not have to come all the way over here Charlie.'
There is a hesitation in her voice.
'Nah, it is my pleasure,' she says, looking at the older woman before her. 'It is all right, I don't mind Emma.'
Both woman look at each other. Emma, a bit taller, a bit older, long dark amber hair, with eyes that look up and for a long time at Charlie. Charlie, a little smaller, a couple of years younger, long blonde locks with blue eyes that look at her.
'Can I get you some coffee?' She asks.
Charlie picks up on uncomfortableness in her body as Emma's little vest falls over her shirt.
'No, thank you.'
'The service was really beautiful.' The two woman stand across from each other in the kitchen.
'Yeah it was.'
'We haven't seen Bass that much here since he went away.'
Charlie feels the sting of the familiarity Emma is talking about Bass. It is like she almost wants to point out the common history they have. Emma is gorgeous. Charlie looks at her for a second.
'Bass,' the name from her lips, ' how is he?'
'He is in a real bad place.'
Emma moves closer to the counter.
'Well, send him...'
Charlie looks to her right.
And she sees a young boy on the kitchen threshold with eyes that are so very familiar it makes her come to a full stop.