Free When We Fall by Emily Liebert

strode into the room.
    â€œHi, honey.” Charlotte pecked him on the cheek, and his eyes scanned the room, landing on Allison.
    â€œAli!” He walked toward her determinedly, lifting her into a bear hug. “I still can’t believe this.” He shook his head. “How are things? Are you settled in? Remind me where you guys are exactly.”
    â€œWe’re on Rover Lane. Number fifteen.”
    â€œI know it well. I used to shoot hoops with some of my buddies at the park on Weaver.”
    â€œYup, Turtle Park. Logan’s already been there a handful of times with my dad.”
    â€œThat’s right; I forgot you grew up around here. Well, that makes more sense. How are your parents?”
    â€œGreat. Thrilled. It’s their dream come true to have their grandson within walking distance.”
    â€œI’m sure.” He took his jacket off, tossed it onto a vacant chair, and sat down on the couch next to Allison, oblivious to anyone else in the room.
    For the next fifteen minutes, Sabrina, Missy, and Charlotte were a captive audience as Allison and Charlie chatted animatedly, the conversation spanning from “that summer at Camp Tawana” to “when I heard about Jack” and finally landing onthe long fix-it list thumbtacked to a corkboard in Allison’s art studio. A broken knob here. A leaky faucet there. The nagging nuisances that came with owning a house.
    â€œI can help you take care of that stuff.” He patted her arm. “Don’t let it stress you.”
    â€œYou don’t even own a tool set.” This was Charlotte’s opportunity to cut in. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him so much as hammer a nail.
    â€œI do so.” Normally he would’ve shot her a dirty look, but tonight he was on his best behavior. Charlotte could tell that Charlie cared what Allison thought and that they shared a common connection, even if that connection was a ghost.
    It was easy to see why Charlie liked her. In many ways, Allison was the friend Charlotte had originally envisioned before moving from Manhattan to the suburbs. Instead, she’d fallen in with the “rich bitches,” as she’d heard some of the other moms refer to Sabrina and Missy. And probably to her too when she wasn’t around. But Allison was different. She was the type of person you wanted to confide in, drop your defenses with, and open up to without reservation. The type of person who you hoped would be the keeper of your secrets, because you knew she wouldn’t let them go or, worse, promulgate them.
    â€œThat would be great, Charlie. Thank you.” Allison smiled easily.
    â€œMy pleasure.” He smiled back, checking his watch. “Ugh. I’ve got to run upstairs to my office for a conference call with China. But I’ll see you on Saturday?”
    â€œYou got it!”
    â€œExcellent.” Charlie stood up, waving his hand cursorily behind him as he walked out. “Good seeing you, ladies.”
    â€œI’ll let you know when dinner is ready,” Charlotte called after him, but he was already gone.

Chapter 6
    â€œI am man. Hear me roar!” Charlie poked his head into Allison’s art studio, where she was sitting in front of a large canvas, wholly absorbed in the new piece she was creating. Typically, she had a plan, a clear vision for the final outcome of her design, but this time she was pleasantly unsure of where the journey would take her. Somehow, this endeavor felt different. She felt different.
    â€œHuh?” Allison looked up, wearing a distracted expression on her face, which was full of paint smudges.
    â€œEverything on your list is done.” He walked toward her, flexing his muscles good-humoredly and grinning all the while. He handed Allison the crumpled sheet of yellow legal paper she’d jotted her multiplying to-dos on.
    â€œYou are a god.” Allison laughed as he continued to grunt