Deception
By Melissa Stocker
Chapter Three
"People deceive themselves and that's how they stay in love." Geraldine Chaplin- Welcome to L.A.
Vicki got out of her car, and looked toward the house, Charlotte was standing at the doorway, waiting for her.
Vicki waved and walked towards her friend. "I just came to see the house."
"I've got most of the rooms upstairs done, do you want to come up and take a look?" she asked.
"Sure," said Vicki.
"How are the wedding plans going?" Charlotte asked.
"Quite well considering how soon the wedding is?"
"When is the wedding?" Charlotte asked.
"Next month, you should be getting you invitation any day." Vicki followed Charlotte into one of the rooms.
"Oh I love this color," she said.
"Roger helped me pick it out," Charlotte said. "I didn't know which color to pick for the baby's room, so we decided on yellow."
"Your not pregnant are you?" Vicki asked.
"No not yet," Charlotte said.
Vicki took her hand, "Show me the rest of the room," she said.
Charlotte showed Vicki the other rooms. Back down stairs Charlotte made some coffee, and they sat down in the drawing room.
"You know, Charlotte we known each other since high school, and you've been more than a friend to me you've been like a sister. And I'd just like to thank you."
"Vicki," Charlotte said, "I feel the same way." She hugged Vicki. "Where is this coming from?"
"I don't know, I guess with you getting married so soon after meeting Roger, and with my wedding coming up so soon. I don't know," Vicki said.
"Are you happy Vicki?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes Charlotte, I am."
"Then that's all that matters," Charlotte said.
*********************
Burke knew what he had to do. He knew Roger well, they had gone to school together since the third grade, and had been friend's before that.
He knew everything about Roger, and he knew Roger's one weakness when it came to women. He had to convince Roger that she was unfaithful, but who would that person be? He would begin his search, and begin to put the suspicion into his mind.
**********************
Charlotte walked down the main street of Collinsport, with Vicki and Maggie Evans. They all had bags in their arms. They had gone to a movie, and did a little shopping after. Charlotte wanted to get Carolyn something. Roger and Charlotte were going to dinner at Collinwood this evening.
They stopped at a coffee shop, and began to talk about the movie they had seen.
"Diane Lane was amazing," Maggie said.
"I know," Vicki said. "She was really good."
"I just can't believe how real it was. I can just see how this could happen, to anyone of us," Charlotte said.
"Not to you of course," Maggie said.
"No I would never consider cheating on Roger," she said. "First of all I would never let it go that far."
"I'm sorry," Maggie said, "I didn't mean anything."
"I know," Charlotte said. "You two don't mind if I leave you now do you? I'm going to surprise Roger at the office. Where going to dinner at his sister's house tonight."
"Go on," Vicki said, "if you see Burke tell him I love him."
"Of course," Charlotte said waving goodbye.
*******************
"Hello Burke," Charlotte said when she walked into the office.
"Charlotte, how are you?" he asked.
"Good. I just left Vicki, she sends you her love," she said smiling. "Is Roger in his office?"
"Yeah."
"Great, I'll see you later," she said.
"Hi Renee," Charlotte said to her husband's secretary.
"Hello Mrs. Collins," she said, "should I call Mr. Collins and let him know that you are here?"
"No, I want to surprise him," Charlotte said, as she went to the door, and knocked.
"Come in," Roger said. When he saw, her in the doorway, he got up and smiled. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I went out with Maggie and Vicki to a movie and we did some shopping," she said after he kissed her. "Aren't you glad to see me," she asked with a playful pout.
"Of course I'm glad to see you," he said kissing her again.
"I thought we could go to your sister's together," Charlotte said.
"Well this was a wonderful surprise," he said. "So did you have a good time with Maggie and Vicki?"
"Yes, the movie was great," she said.
"What did you see?" he asked.
"Unfaithful," she said.
"So you liked it," he said as he put a few files in his briefcase. "Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said taking his hand as they left his office.
"Good night Burke," Charlotte said as they passed his office, he had left the door open so that he would know when they left.
"Good night," he said, "see you tomorrow Roger."
"Have a good night Burke," Roger said over his shoulder.
******************
"Mother, Uncle Roger and Aunt Charlotte are here," Carolyn called excitedly when she opened the door.
"How are you Kitten?" Roger asked.
"Good, I'm so glad you're here," she said dragging the two into the drawing room.
"Roger, Charlotte," Elizabeth said getting up giving Roger and Charlotte a hug. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"I'll get it Liz," Roger said going over to the bar, he poured a brandy for Elizabeth and himself and made a cosmopolitan for Charlotte.
"Here Honey," Roger said.
"Thanks," Charlotte said. "Thank Elizabeth for inviting us for dinner.
"It's my pleasure, were family," Elizabeth said. "How is the house coming along?" she asked.
"I have the upstairs all painted."
"I have some things in the East Wing that you can look through, maybe there are something's there that you can use."
"Thank you Elizabeth, that would be nice," Charlotte said.
"Dinner is ready Mrs. Stoddard," Mrs. Johnson said from the doorway.
Thank you Mrs. Johnson," Elizabeth said. "Come on everyone."
*******************
"Dinner was lovely. Thank you Elizabeth," Charlotte said as they walked to the drawing room with their coffee.
"Mrs. Johnson is a wonder, I don't know what I would do without her."
"Oh I almost forgot," Charlotte said, she went to her purse and took out a box. "Here Carolyn, I saw this in the store today, and I thought you would like it."
Carolyn took the box and opened it, she took out the bracelet, it had all different kinds of charms hanging from it.
"Oh Aunt Charlotte, I love it," she cried as she put it on, "Mother look at it," she said holding out her arm.
"It's lovely," Elizabeth said.
"Thank you Aunt Charlotte," Carolyn said hugging Charlotte.
"You're welcome," she said.
******************
"That was really nice of you to get that bracelet for Carolyn," Roger said on their way home.
"I wanted to," she said.
"I love you," Roger said taking her hand.
***************
Roger lay awake, after they made love; Charlotte was sleeping in his arms. He loved watching her sleep; sometimes she seemed to be talking. Her lips moved ever so slightly, and if she were speaking he couldn't make out what she was saying. What was she dreaming about, he thought. He tried not to let it bother him.
To Be continued . . .
"That's the stupidest story I ever heard, and I've read the entire Sweet Valley High series." Moe - The Simpsons
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