CHAPTER 3: SOME OL' FASHIONED ADVICE

Charlie Brown was on the phone with Lucy, who lived in New York City. She had become a successful lawyer and had won lots of cases. Despite their rocky history, she, at least, turned things around and now they could talk about anything without her making a sarcastic remark or dig at his expense. Their relationship had improved over the years.

"Honestly, Charlie Brown, I am surprised you did come back, even if it was because of your father being sick," Lucy replied. She was at a coffee shop she loved to go to often. "And now with Violet back in town, it does make things more interesting."

"I promised Marcie I'd talk to her if she did come to town while I'm here," said Charlie Brown. "But what do I say to her? Do I tell her how much of a living hell she made my life? Will she even care?"

"You'll never know until you talk to her."

"I've been hearing that quite often."

"You've grown since we were kids, Charlie Brown. If she's still that stuck up diva that thinks about nobody but herself, and if she starts calling you a failure or any of the other things we used to say as kids, just walk away. You're bigger than that now. We've all moved on, and if she's still hung up on that, simply put, fuck her!"

Charlie Brown put what Lucy had said into perspective. She was right. Everyone else had changed, even Patty, her former best friend. If Violet was that same snobby little girl who loved to gloat about having parties that he wasn't invited to, he didn't need to say anything else to her. But, at the very least he'd try to talk to her, for Marcie, as he promised he would.

"Thanks, Lucy," he finally said.

"No problem, Charlie Brown," Lucy replied.

"I'll send the five cents to your account."

Lucy laughed. "Consider this one on the house! Oh, by the way, I'll be coming that way in a week or so. It'll be good to see you."

"Yeah, I should still be in town. I have vacation days I had stored that I'm using up now. I'll see you when you come back."

"Okay. Talk to you later, Charlie Brown."

"You too, Lucy."

A while later, Charlie Brown and Marcie were sitting on her deck at her apartment, overlooking the city. They were sitting on an outdoor sofa. Marcie had snuggled up to Charlie Brown, making him blush a bit.

"I know you're nervous about seeing her again, Charles," said Marcie, "but I know you'll finally come to terms about not only that night, but everything that she put you through. Just remember there are more people in your corner than not. I know you can do this."

"It's been a long time coming, Marcie," said Charlie Brown. "I'm hoping for the best, but at the same time, expecting the worst."

Marcie sat up and placed her hand on his face. "You got this, baby. I know you can do this." And, before he could say anything else, her lips met his. His eyes widened with surprise. In all the years he knew Marcie, while she wouldn't hesitate to kiss him on the cheek, never had she kissed him like this, until that very moment.

"Charles Brown, I have always loved you since the day we first met," Marcie confessed. "I know of no other man for me than you. If you will let me, I will be your everything. I will always be in your corner."

Charlie Brown couldn't believe it. Someone was finally telling him that they loved him. When he was a kid he had tried in vain to get the little red-haired girl to notice him at least once, and while he got close when he escorted her at the Homecoming dance when he was a kid, she would never return her feelings, not because she didn't like him, but she didn't know him. But, Marcie, and Peppermint Patty, carried torches for him, and while Peppermint Patty could never admit her feelings for him, even to herself, Marcie knew she was in love with him, and was more up front with him, even if he didn't see it often. But now, she was kissing him on the lips and declaring that she loved him.

"I… I don't know what to say," he said, finally. "I… I love you too, Marcie."

"That's all you have to say, Charles," said Marcie. And she kissed him again, but this time he placed his arms around her. Silas, his father, was right. His soulmate was in Sparkyville, and wasn't that far away as he thought.

NEXT CHAPTER: THE VISIT