Charlotte and Thomas

It's that time again. Time for the Flash Fiction Challenge for #storycraft. The focus this week was dialogue. Write an entire story in dialogue only? That really put the emphasis on Challenge!

This piece is a reprise/continuation/tangent of The Bouquet Wrapper.

Charlotte and Thomas

“Charlotte,” Thomas said, standing to greet her, “I’m so glad to see you.” He pulled out her chair before sitting back down.

Charlotte smiled, but only with her lips.

Thomas smiled back.

Charlotte opened her menu. “This is quite the restaurant.”

“I wanted to make sure it was worth your while.” He reached his hand out, letting it rest on the table.

Charlotte looked at his hand and then continued reading the menu.

Thomas swallowed and pulled his hand back. “Did you like the flowers?” He asked.

“They died already,” she said.

Thomas stared at her for a moment, watching her eyes scan the menu. He picked up his own, staring at it blankly. “I should have sent them. I shouldn’t have just dropped by your place like that,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

Charlotte looked up quickly. “That’s what you’re apologizing for?” She set down her menu and crossed her arms on the table.

The waiter walked up, smiling politely. “Good evening, I’ll be your server tonight. Can I start you off with something to drink?” He looked at Charlotte.

Charlotte smiled. “Yes, I’ll take a glass of the Chateau St Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon.”

“Good choice.” The waiter smiled and looked to Thomas.

Thomas looked at Charlotte and said, “why don’t you bring us the bottle?’

“Of course. I’ll go grab that for you and give you some time to decide on the menu.”

Thomas and Charlotte looked at each other in silence.

“So,” Charlotte said, “did you treat her this well? The fancy restaurant, the bottle of wine? You certainly seem to know how to put on a show, and you’ve never done this for me before.”

Thomas stared at Charlotte. He swallowed and took a deep breath. “Whatever I did with Meg, I never loved her.”

Charlotte clenched her jaw. “Did you ever love me?”

Thomas trembled slightly all over. He nodded lightly a few times and then sat up straight. “If I say, ‘of course I did, and still do,’ you would say ‘you certainly haven’t done a very good job of showing it.’ Because I haven’t. But I don’t know how else I can make you know, without having to wait and wait for you to believe me. To trust me.”

Charlotte stared at him. She sat up straight as well and crossed her hands in her lap.

“I will wait,” he said. “Will I be waiting with hope or despair?”

Charlotte half-smiled with trembling lips. “If there was nothing left for us, I would have left you a message. And it would have been more than you deserved.”

Thomas’s eyes watered. “It would have,” he said. “But I’m glad you came.”