#p;bryan

[charlottexvanderbilt]

Midnight Train to Georgia

Charlotte groaned as she hammered in the nail to the patio picnic table. She got the damn thing from Ikea but everything was in Swedish or confusing English. Either way, she couldn’t under a lick of what the directions were telling her. She chewed her lip, hating the sign of defeat but it’d been a few days since she’d seen Bryan. Why not? She pulled out her phone and texted him.

I need your help. Patio furniture needs building. 

Not as easy as you think. 

Think you can come by?

“Mom, you sure you don’t need help?” Her son asked, as his head bobbed out of the pool. 

“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” She smiled over at the kids, padding over to the pool’s rim and sitting with her legs in the water.. 

Lilly and Clara both shared a seat floatie and soaked in the sun together. That was until JD cannonballed into the pool and splashed all of them. Lilly gritted her teeth, “You’re. The. Worst.”

Charlotte chuckled, feeling her phone buzz in her pocket. She smiled, the kids were going to love this. Excusing herself, she walked to the front of the house and saw a familiar face.

“Hey you...” She went in for a hug and kissed his cheek, lingering for a few seconds more. “Thanks for coming on such short notice. I’m sure you had somewhere better to be than here. But I never learned Swedish and that picnic table is going to drive me insane. Think you’re up for the challenge?” Lottie asked nodding to the backyard. 

[charlottexvanderbilt]

All I Want

“Gal-entine’s Day 2k19 is going to be a blast.” Lilly said in the passenger seat. She looked over at her mother and flashed a pearly white smile; the dimples she inherited from the woman beside her. “I booked us an ocean view restaurant, the best in Georgia apparently and made sure they’d reserve the sweetest corner booth.” Her hands were sweaty from the nerves of pulling this off. 

She pulled out her phone and texted her brother: Are you here? We’re pulling up. Ask for the Clooney table.

“Well I’m very excited for the fifth annual Gal-entine’s Day just for us Vanderbilt women.” Charlotte Vanderbilt chuckled as she pulled into a parking space, “You know next year Clara is probably going to want to join.” 

Charlotte stepped out of her vehicle, smoothing out her dress she paired with pink heels. Lilly linked their arms together, “I’m just glad JD is taking Clara out. She’s been dying to see that Lego movie.”

The restaurant was dimly lit with cozy booths and tables scattered about. Lilly walked up to the host, “Hi. Clooney. For two.” 

The host gestured to follow his lead as he took them to the back of the restaurant. The floor to ceiling window pane showed the beautiful seaside view. “Used Clooney because I knew they’d give us the better table.”

The mother arched an eyebrow at her daughter, “Wouldn’t Vanderbilt have also worked?”

“Eh...” She shrugged. 

They both sat down at their table, right next to the window. It was breathtaking. “Oh this place is wonderful, Lils. We’ve got to take pictures!” She began to pull out her cellphone. 

“Wait! Mom. I’ve got to use the bathroom first.” Lilly held her stomach and rushed back out to the front. 

Where are you??? She texted her brother again. Looking up from her phone she knocked into a rather large frame. 

Her eyes met that of her father, “Dad!” She stated, embracing him in a tight hug. “Wow. Who’d have thought you’d be here too! I was uh– Finishing my shift here because I work here now... Since... Yesterday. They were short staffed.” She grinned. “Nice tie. It’s a good color.”

@bryan-hawkins