Early the next morning, Charlotte stepped out of the guest bedroom and paused, her keen ears catching the siblings' conversation drifting down the hallway from the kitchen. Cassie was informing Angel that she'd already texted her assistant, who would come in to open the store. He replied that he was trying to decide where to take Charlotte for the day, as there were several fun options. With a soft yawn, she slipped into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she made her way down the hall to the kitchen, where she saw Angel going over a stack of pamphlets, his eyebrows knit in focus. Her gaze then landed on Cassie, who was busy at the stove cooking breakfast. The delicious smells teased her senses, and her stomach grumbled.
Without turning around, Cassie greeted her. "Good morning, sweetie."
Angel lifted his head, looked over his shoulder, and smiled softly. "Hey."
Slightly startled, Charlotte paused just outside the kitchen. "You heard me?"
"Nope." Cassie chuckled as she slid some pancakes onto a plate. "But your power pulses around you. I could sense you coming down the hall."
With a blush, she settled into the seat next to Angel and eyed the food Cassie placed in front of her. He smirked while setting the pamphlets aside to accept his own plate. "Don't worry, it's not made of meat."
Cassie laughed and shook her head. "I couldn't believe it when Kevin told me about your dietary choices. I'm glad I had some batter ready to whip up on short notice."
"I don't mean to be inconvenient, Cassie, but thank you."
"You are no inconvenience, dear." She waved her off playfully. "A challenge, to be sure, but I relish challenges." Cassie winked as she began spreading butter on her pancakes. "I called my assistant. He agreed to open the store for me so I can focus on exploring ideas to get your memories back."
"And we're going to go out and enjoy some sightseeing," Angel declared.
"I know." Charlotte poked at her plate. "I heard you both talking when I woke up."
Cassie gave her brother a look, and he just smiled knowingly.
"Right," she recalled. "Super hearing. Kevin told me about that last night. There is so much to learn about you, sweetie."
"I'll tell you anything you want to know, especially if it helps me regain my memories," Charlotte promised. Looking at her plate, her forehead crinkled in curiosity. "What are these disc things?"
Cassie folded a napkin on her lap, smiling warmly. "They're called pancakes, hon, and I have toast and oatmeal if they're not filling enough." Glancing at Angel, she continued, "All these months, and you never got her pancakes?"
"Unless we were in the middle of a mission, we'd sleep in. By the time we woke, it would be lunchtime, sometimes dinnertime," he explained.
"Well, then." Cassie cut into hers. "You are in for a treat, sweetie."
Charlotte watched as Angel poured syrup over his pancakes, added a couple of scoops of butter, and cut them into triangles before eating. Licking her lips, she mimicked his actions until her plate matched his. Cassie observed with intrigue as Charlotte took her first bite of the homemade pancakes.
The reaction was immediate. Charlotte's eyes sparkled. "Oh my gosh!"
Or at least that's what they thought she exclaimed with her mouth full of pancakes. Quickly, she went to work on the rest with hungry enthusiasm.
"It seems you enjoy them," Cassie smiled with amusement. "Good. I'm more of a waffle girl, but these did fine in a pinch."
"They're great, sis." After finishing a bite, Angel offered an idea. "When we're out today, we'll pick up supplies. Just make me a list of anything you need."
"Will do," Cassie agreed as she cut into her pile.
The chatter faded, replaced by the clinking of silverware against porcelain plates as the three quickly finished their meals. After everyone was done, Angel excused himself to take a shower, and Cassie began gathering the dishes.
Charlotte stood, picking up her plate before Cassie could grab it. "Let me help you. I don't want to just sit here. It makes me uncomfortable."
Nodding, Cassie led her to the sink. "In that case, tell me all about yourself while we clean. Your feelings, powers, what you remember, if anything, and the things you dream of. Maybe we'll be able to find some seeds of your true self."
Charlotte nodded enthusiastically, and while they worked together to clean the kitchen, she shared everything she could about the past few months. She explained how she'd first transformed, noting that some of her abilities felt natural, while others had developed over time, such as conjuring the branch in the river.
Feeling truly comfortable with Cassie, she shared everything she could think of, but then, when she reached the point of their fight two nights ago, she suddenly paused and fidgeted.
"You okay?" Cassie prompted.
"I…" Charlotte took a breath and admitted how she and Angel had almost made love, why he'd rejected her, and the pain she felt, along with feeling mortified by her own selfishness.
Cassie paid close attention and only interrupted when she needed clarification. After Charlotte finished, Cassie grabbed a towel from the stove's handle and, while drying her hands, spoke her mind. "You do understand he didn't mean to hurt you, right?"
"I know." Her voice was contrite, but she looked at Cassie firmly. "But I love him, Cassie. I don't care if it's right, wrong, or even possible. I love him and want to be with him. It just hurts that he sees me as a monster."
Charlotte jumped slightly as Cassie slapped her hand on the kitchen counter. With a firm tone, Cassie stated sharply, "Kevin does not see you as a monster, Charlotte—not in the least. He sees you as a beautiful woman, special and unique, to be sure, but a woman nonetheless. Don't question that, or you won't try with all your heart and soul to recover your memories."
"I'm just scared…"
Cassie caught the pause clearly and encouraged her to continue. "About?"
Charlotte fixed her eyes on Cassie's and spoke boldly. "Of being alone! Last night was the first time I'd ever slept by myself since Angel found me, and I hated it. HATED IT! I barely slept, and when I did, I had terrible dreams. When I had bad dreams in the motels, I could at least see him in the other bed and knew I wasn't alone. It soothed me."
With a subtle shake of her head, Cassie blew air past her lips. "Do you think Kevin was happy about sleeping on the couch last night?"
"I…" Charlotte glanced over her shoulder at the couch, where the blankets were folded neatly with the pillow resting on top. She turned back to Cassie, her confusion evident. "I don't know. No?"
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Cassie smiled warmly. "You've been very honest with me, sharing your deepest feelings and thoughts about the last few months and how you feel about my brother. Maybe you can be that honest with him?"
Grumbling, Charlotte dropped her eyes. "He knows how I feel."
"That's not the same thing. Does he know about the nightmares?"
"I never said anything," Charlotte admitted painfully.
Folding her arms, Cassie looked at her affectionately, like a mother having 'the talk' with her daughter. "Communication is key in any good relationship, sweetie. I bet the distance is affecting him, too. Besides, two people can sleep together without having sex."
Charlotte blushed a bit. "But you sent him to the couch last night. Why the change?"
With a playful shrug, Cassie chuckled softly. "New intel. I didn't realize how close you two had gotten. If I had, I'd have suggested the room to both of you. This doesn't have to be complicated—not if you don't want it to be. I think it's a nice change of pace that two people know how they feel about each other, and it's not a lack of honesty that keeps them apart."
"Just my memories," Charlotte lamented.
"And we'll get those back for you, I promise. In the meantime, tell my brother what you told me: that you need him with you because of the loneliness. I bet he feels the same."
"He pushed me away, though. If I ask him to sleep with me and he says no—" Charlotte trailed off, the scene from the night replaying in her mind.
"What's real love without risk, darling? Besides, I'm his sister. I know him better than anyone. I can tell he cares about you, too. He'll listen."
Charlotte nodded in agreement, accepting the older woman's suggestion. As they finished cleaning in silence, she heard the bathroom door click open and the sound of Angel's footsteps approaching down the hallway.
Cassie poked Charlotte playfully, shooing her away from the sink. "Go on. Go get ready for your day out."
Just then, Angel entered the kitchen wearing a casual black dress shirt and slacks. He was using a black comb to style his medium-length brown hair. Charlotte had never seen him look so sharp and felt her breath catch at his handsome, well-groomed appearance.
He greeted the women with a warm smile. "That felt good. It's been a long time since I've had a real shower. Those motel ones never have enough pressure."
Neither of the siblings noticed Charlotte blushing and biting her lip. Quickly covering her embarrassment, she announced her intention. "I'm going to pick out something nice to wear, so I don't look like a slob next to you." She smiled shyly as she walked by Angel, letting her hand brush his arm tenderly.
After Charlotte disappeared into the bathroom, Angel turned to his sister. "Did I miss something?"
"Better be the last time you do," Cassie laughed at his perplexed expression and continued. "Go and have a wonderful day. Once my assistant arrives, I'll get to work on her memory problem. I have a few books here to review, then I'll visit my coven this afternoon. And I'm going to close the shop early, probably about six. Be back by then, and we'll review everything I find. I'll text you with anything I need for groceries, okay?"
"Sounds good to me," Angel agreed.
Slipping her apron off, she informed him, "I'm gonna go get cleaned up before I open."
"Okay." Then, Angel's brow crinkled curiously. "But what did you mean? It better be the last time I do?"
Cassie sighed wistfully as she stepped past her brother. Patting him on the shoulder, she whispered as she headed toward the bathroom, "Men."
"What—?"
Twenty minutes later, Charlotte stepped out of her room wearing a long, dark red V-neck sundress that highlighted her slender figure. The dress fit her perfectly, hugging her waist and showing off the gentle curve of her hips. She wasn't wearing a bra, and she didn't seem concerned about how her breasts pressed against the sheer fabric. The delicate material moved gently as she paused to adjust the dress. She walked in sleek black heels, a gift from Angel months earlier, which she hadn't worn until now.
Angel's eyes widened slightly when she entered the living room, clearly admiring her beauty, and his cheeks flushed a little as she approached. Her scent—a perfume of soft lavender and vanilla—filled the space between them.
Her gaze drifted up to meet his. "So handsome. You're going to show me a good time?"
Angel extended his arm. "It would be my pleasure."
Wrapping her arm around his, Charlotte gazed at him with warmth and love. Noticing the sparkle in his eyes, clearly captivated, she hoped this day would mark the start of their future together.