Chapter 7

Charles drove aimlessly across the city for three hours. He was pondering over his actions for the past few days. And the words of his friends kept ringing in his head. 

"I dare say that you are to be blamed for everything that happened, Charles. And I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, but to let you see how unwise you have been." He recalled Albert's words.

"Albert does have a point, Charles. You caused all this. Don't take our words out of context. But Tracy has been an epitome of wife material." Chris' words also echoed.

For a second, he thought his friends had a point. He had been foolish and threw an asset out the window. 

It was midday and Charles was still haunted by his friend's words. The words of his father and Mrs Briggs equally took over a part of his brain.

It was as though pandemonium had broken out in his brain. He may be tough and stubborn, but the damage his actions have caused had him in a tight corner and now he wanted to escape from everything.

But having no particular place to go, he thought to go to the office or go to Fiona's place. However, his goal at this point was to disappear from the people he knew and move away from all the Tracy drama.

Then it occurred to him to go to the beach. Besides, the sun was already up and he could use some sea breeze to calm himself down. 

So he changed course and drove straight to the popular Purple City Beach. 

Charles arrived at the beach and was greeted by an awesome view. There were trees along the coast with beach cabins spread across the shore. 

Some people were sunbathing while others played mini golf. Children of school-going age could be seen building sand castles and having the time of their life. 

The joy and excitement that beamed off their faces melted Charles' heart. And he wished he could join them, but his heart was heavy. 

He wore a cap to hide his face because he didn't want to be recognized. He was widely known in Purple City. Then he took off his shoes and walked along the shore

The many events happening distracted him for a second and it was as though his troubles had vanished. 

He went to a cocktail stand to grab himself a drink and there he bumped into Fiona. 

"Fiona, what are you doing here?" He asked surprised. 

"Charles! Is it not obvious? I'm here to have a good time just like any other person here," she responded. 

"Of course," Charles said in agreement with her remark. "I just did not think I would see you here. Besides, you have never been to the beach ever since you came to Purple City." He added. 

"I guess there is always a first time for everything. And I'm glad my first time here is with you." Fiona remarked as Charles grabbed a glass of margarita. And Fiona got pina colada. 

He paid for the drinks and the two walked off to an empty beach tent. And Charles revealed, "Fiona, I'm lost. I need help and counsel."

Fiona placed her drink on a table in the tent and sat comfortably to respond to him.

"Oh my dear Charles, what could be troubling your soul?" She asked. 

She scowled and probed further, "Did you fight with your wife? Look, I do understand that any lady in her place would fight to keep her love. And I perfectly understand why she came over to my place to clarify certain rumors she had heard. But I told her there was nothing between you and me. 

I promised her I'd stay out of your way and apologized for the troubles my frequent interaction with you may have caused your marriage." Fiona revealed.

Fiona was moved to tears and accidentally spilled her drink on the table. 

"That's fine. I will get you another one." Charles said as he wiped the table with a tissue he had taken from the cocktail stand. 

"We are no longer united in holy matrimony," Charles revealed.

"What?" She surprisingly asked. 

"I divorced Tracy a few days ago. After my father stepped down from the company, I had a deep reflection and finally came forward and asked for a divorce. I thought my father stepping down gave me the power to do whatever I wanted, but there have been consequences after the divorce." 

He said as he ordered another glass of Pina colada for Fiona.

"Seriously?" She asked with her eyes wide open. 

Charles looked over Fiona's shoulder as he watched the bartender approach them with Fiona's drink and said, "Fiona, it was long overdue. I was not happy in that marriage."

Fiona looked at Charles feeling sorry for him and patted him on the back. 

The bartender served her drink and as she took a sip, she said, "It can be frustrating to be in a situation where you are helpless. Like how I was helpless years ago till you came into the picture." 

In a soft tone, she said, "When the heart is willing, it finds its way. You deserve to be happy and if cutting ties with Tracy is what will ensure that then I support you on your decision." 

Charles found her words soothing and comforting. He thought she had a point and smiled at her.

He thought Fiona was patient and a great listener. Her words had comforted him and he felt some weight lifted off his shoulder. 

This reminded him of his first encounter with Fiona. 

Charles was in the final years of his universe days. He had stayed up late at night to complete a project for his final thesis. 

As his stomach began to make funny noises, he knew it was about time he ate. 

He drove off to get something to eat, but he could not return to campus. 

He accidentally hit a lady who was crossing the road from a coffee shop. 

Having spent days by her side at the hospital, Charles finally heard her voice and she gave her name as Fiona. 

Fiona was patient and was not mad about the turn of events. She asked Charles to not blame himself for the accident and opined that accidents do happen and that day was probably just one of those bad days. 

Her words comforted him and he was calm that she was not going to press charges against him since he had flouted the road traffic regulation. 

Days passed and Fiona was recuperating. She had suffered slight bruises and minor scratches on her left arm. 

Charles took to liking her and was drawn to her after he heard her story. 

Fiona was an orphan who had lost both her parents in a fire outbreak that razed down their house. She grew up in a foster home but was forced out when she was eighteen years old. 

Charles felt sorry for her and was always in her company. Fiona was living in a shelter that was closer to Charles' school. So anytime he had some time to spare he would go and check up on her. 

The two casually dated and when Charles was done with studies, he offered to go to Purple City with her.

And since he was going to take over the company from his father, he thought he was in a better position to help turn her life around. 

He was unsure of his feelings for her, but he thought having her closer would eventually ignite a genuine feeling for her. So he rented an apartment for her in Purple City. 

Days later he introduced her to his family as a friend. But his father did not like how he looked at her. 

Mr Parker could tell that his son had eyes for Fiona. So to handicap his son, he arranged for him to marry Tracy. And that was the only way he could inherit the company. 

Charles finally heaved a sigh of relief and said, "It was great bumping into you after all. Talking to you has been therapeutic. My head is cleared now." 

"I think we should get going now." He suggested and they both grabbed their drinks and walked towards Charles' car.

The sea roared in the background as the two walked away. 

Charles opened the front door for Fiona and hopped into the driver's seat. Fiona tried to kiss Charles but he pulled back. 

Then she reminded herself that he had just been divorced and needed some time to indulge in such romantic flings. 

As he was about to start the ignition, he saw a man in the company of two German shepherds. Immediately, he got out of the car and approached the man. 

"Excuse me, sir, those German shepherds are lovely," he said as he tried to pat them on the back. But then the dogs got aggressive and one of them bit him on the left leg. 

The bite was so deep that he started to bleed. Fiona screamed when and jumped out of the car. 

The dog owner was confused as Charles asked him to not worry and leave. But he couldn't leave. He was still confused and started to rebuke the dogs, but in a slow voice, Charles asked him to stop shouting at the dogs. 

Minutes later the man finally left with the dogs and Charles was getting cold. 

Fiona struggled and put him in his car. But she did not know how to drive. 

She stretched her hand to reach her phone from the front seat. Her hands shook while she dialed a number. But the call went straight to voicemail. 

"Hi, you've reached Leonardo. I'm sorry I couldn't answer your call. I'm either on another call or away from my phone. Please leave your name and reason for calling and I will get back to you ASAP.

"Leonardo, Charles is dying and I can't drive." She left her voicemail message.