by Cee, DW
I could tell Emily wanted to convince me to stay, but she was kind enough to keep her thoughts and wishes to herself.
“You will visit again before you leave?”
“I will. If anything, I need to buy Ellie another lellow dwess, James another Lego set, and JR more diggers.” That statement brought on more hugs. Ellie was the first to stand up and jump on me. Believing it was a game, JR jumped on the both of us, and then James decided to join the fun. I fell backwards with all three kids. “I love you three. I can’t wait to have little ones like you. Should we meet at Central Park again tomorrow morning? I’ll push you on the swings.”
“Yay! Swings!” Elizabeth was always first to talk.
“Swing?” James asked excited.
“Wings!” JR repeated.
“I guess it’s a date.” After several rounds of promises, hugs, and kisses, I left the kids and stood in front of His Grace’s door, wondering if I should go in.
“Chloe.” Brendan called me from behind.
I couldn’t escape any longer. My soon-to-be-past was calling me to the present.
Michael: Life Decisions
I had no clue all that had transpired in Los Angeles for Chloe. Grandfather explained somewhat, but I wanted to hear the entire story from my friend. She was absent while I was in New York and when she came back from her wedding gig, I had left for Boston.
Initially, I was going to stay in Boston with the two ladies and be the ultimate tour guide. The longer I stayed with Penny and Helene, the more they treated me like a part of the Whitman family. Case in point, when we arrived at my condo, Penny called her parents to give them an update, and they wanted to talk to me. It was only natural to want to thank the host of the home, right? Well, rather than thanking me, they gave me a grocery list of all their girls’ needs, wants, likes, and dislikes. The Whitmans either considered me Santa Clause, Michael Bennington Whitman, or the idiot next door. The call was beyond annoying.
What was most annoying was Penny’s aggressive ways and Helene’s passive submission. After spending four days with the ladies, I escaped to New York, using grandfather as an excuse. A bit pathetic to hide behind one’s grandfather, but I needed help.
“What brings you back here?” Chloe was packing up to leave. “I thought you were sucked into the Whitman family. His Grace and I thought you might take their last name by the end of this trip.” She rolled her eyes and mocked me. “I’ve never seen you so helpless, Michael. I can’t say that’s the sexiest look I’ve ever seen on you.”
For no reason at all, I grabbed Chloe and hugged her really tight. Something about us drifting apart the past few weeks made me long for her. “I’ll tell you all about my four frustrating days with my traveling partners once you tell me about all that’s happening in your life.”
“Now? Grandfather and I are leaving soon.”
“You’re leaving tomorrow. I have a small in with the duke and got permission to take you to dinner.”
I spied a small smile on my friend’s pretty face. “Yeah? Where are you taking me? It better be somewhere good.”
“What do you want, Chlo-No? Italian? Seafood? American? Japanese? Your wish is my command, Your Highness.”
She found even more joy in that statement. “Yeah?” she challenged. “Emily told me Jake took her to Masa, which is the most expensive meal in the US, maybe even the world. Your wallet deep enough to pay for that? Your position lofty enough to nab us two seats at the bar at this late hour? Your stomach big enough to eat thirty-some courses?”
“You doubt this future duke?” I exaggerated a raising of the eyebrow.
Chloe was now in full-on laughter mode. “I know just the place for us.”
Surprisingly, my friend stayed docile in my arms. That was until I mentioned dinner. She grabbed onto my arm instead and we walked at least ten blocks to a grubby pizza joint.
“How can there be such a dirty restaurant anywhere near Grandfather’s penthouse? It seems not the thing in America to mix classes.”
“You’re a snob, Michael. This is New York City. They don’t care who you are in this town.”
“I was willing to spend an insane amount of money on you tonight, and you bring us to a pizza parlor that costs less than $20 total—with beer? Incredible.” Sometimes, I truly didn’t understand women.
“Shut up and listen to my story.” She bit off the last of her first slice and explained her life. “I was like a little girl in a million dollar candy store at this wedding, Michael. Pierre puts on the most incredible dream-come-true weddings. I couldn’t believe some of the tricks up his sleeves. It made my wedding in Tuscany look like child’s play.”
“So you’re going to jump into this business?” She nodded her head because her mouth was full of pizza again. “Not to sound selfish, but what happens with all our properties?”
“In the beginning, I’ll be eased into this wedding planning. There will be plenty of time to work on my current job. Pierre understands.”
“What about Brendan?” This was what I was most curious about.
She snorted. It was an ugly, unladylike snort. Strangely, I liked that about her. “You heard his breakup speech. There’s no wondering what’s happening with Brendan.”
“Has he talked to you?”
“Yes and no. He cornered me that same morning he told Grandpa Harry he was going to dump me. But thank the LORD! He was called back to London, immediately. Our conversation went nowhere. We promised to talk when His Grace and I got back home.”
“Are you bummed?” Would I be bummed that she was bummed?
“I think I’m more disheartened by the fact that we never got off the ground. It was always his work that separated us. Now, it’ll be both our works finishing the deed.” She was done eating, drinking, and talking. Now it was my turn.
“I, too, am finished with the Whitman ladies.”
“You mean you don’t like Ms. Perfect? You can’t see her as your future duchess?” Chloe smirked. “If perfect hair was a key to her future, she would’ve ended up our future queen.”
“Now, now,” I couldn’t contain my laughter as I chided my friend.
“So what happened?”
“In short, she liked me too much.” That did it. Chloe roared so loudly, people wondered what the hell was going on at our table. If that wasn’t attention seeking enough, beer was coming back up through her nose. “Get a hold of yourself, Chlo-No. You’re causing all kinds of commotion by yourself in this tiny place. What I said wasn’t that funny.”
Once she could breathe and talk at the same time, she said, “One girl didn’t like you enough and the next liked you too much? What’s wrong with you? After Laney, you didn’t want someone fawning over you?”
“That’s just mean to bring up my hurtful past.”
Chloe stopped the jesting and turned very serious. “Will you ever get over her?”
“I am over her.” I spoke with conviction. “How ridiculous to be in love with a married woman with babies on the way.”
“Will you ever get over loving her and then losing her?” That I couldn’t answer as easily or with as much sincerity. “Remember back in Florence when I avoided you like the plague?”
“Yeah.” Was she finally going to tell me what I’d done wrong this time?
“Since you and I will only and always be good friends, I’ll tell you why I stayed away.” Only and always be good friends? Was there a catch to that phrase? I’d have to listen to learn. “I was beyond hurt when you told me Laney was your one and only true love. I know you wanted her as your wife, and I also know I’ve never been in contention for that position. I know all these facts, but it still hurt to hear you say what we had wasn’t love. Not that it makes any difference now, but if I were to play the honesty game with you one more time, I’d admit you were my one and only true love.”
“Chloe…”
“I don’t want guilt, pity, sadness, happiness—none of that.
That was a long time ago, and I will one day meet a man who will surpass the great Michael Bennington. Until then, you can keep that information to yourself and inflate your already gigantic ego.” Chloe stood signaling her desire to leave. “I need my beauty sleep before I see Brendan tomorrow. I want him to get a good look at what he’s giving up.” She spoke with a smile, but I knew my friend was hurting.
I followed her lead, thinking over and over what she confessed.
Life and love were truly complicated.
Brendan: One Last Decision
I was nervous as hell when I arrived at our designated dinner spot. Chloe flew into London after I’d gone to work this morning. In line with what I was thinking, she wanted to meet, talk, and find a resolution. I always liked that no-nonsense part of her.
Purposely, I got to the restaurant early to have time to sit and mull over our conversation. Nothing positive could come of making rash decisions and saying words that can never be edited. Also in line with my thinking, I found Chloe sitting at the bar, ignoring all the men wanting her attention, and staring into space. Deep in thought, she looked peaceful and troubled simultaneously. Somewhere, my ego was doing fist-pumps seeing that this beautiful woman was torn because of me.
“Chloe.” I surprised her with a gentle side hug and kiss to her head. Tonight possibly being our last night together, a kiss on the lips seemed inappropriate.
“Brendan.” She smiled and leaned into my side hug. “You’re early.”
“So are you.” I pointed to her girly drink and asked, “Is that drink a relaxant before you dump me, or do you need the buzz before you hear what I have to say?”
I thought I glimpsed moisture in her eyes but with a blink of her eyes, it was gone. It must have been my imagination. “You want to dine at the bar or you want to wait for our table?”
“Since you’re so comfortable, why don’t we eat here?”
I sat, ordered a drink, and situated myself for a long night. Before I walked in here, I had a speech I’d recited all day. It went something like, “Chloe, I like you a lot, more than any girl I’ve liked, but I don’t think we can work if we’ll never see each other again.” Sitting in comfortable silence next to her, I wanted to throw my speech out the window and try for one where we don’t part.
“How was work?”
Her question made me chuckle. “How was work? Is this what we’ve become?” She shrugged in response. “OK. If that’s what you want to know.” I explained every last detail of what happened at work today. Then I asked her about her work this past weekend. “I assume you’ve changed career paths after Friday and Saturday?”
She nodded. “I never realized how much I’d enjoy planning people’s weddings. Pierre is a master at what he does, and for him to offer me an apprenticeship, it’s a chance of a lifetime.”
“It’s beyond an apprenticeship. He’s willing to take you on as a business partner. Who’d be dumb enough to turn that down? Have you told him you’ll accept his offer?”
She shook her head no. “Would you believe me if I told you I wanted to understand us before I made a final decision?”
“Really?” I asked, shocked.
“Cat told me this morning that there’s a chance you could work in London?”
Shit. I shouldn’t have told my cousin and his girlfriend about that option. Now it’ll appear as if I’m choosing money over Chloe. “There is, but it’s not as good as it sounds.” I explained everything from the lesser pay to working under the owner’s son. “There would be absolutely no upward mobility.”
“It isn’t possible to take that job for now and to move up in a different office? Never mind.” She stopped herself. “I understand. I can’t blame you for wanting to move where they’re offering you a better future. I suppose I’m doing the same.”
“Before Pierre happened, were you and I going to take our relationship to the next level, even with me thousands of miles away?”
“Didn’t I answer you in LA?”
“Not clearly enough. Humor me and tell me your thought process before your job offer, and what you’re thinking now.”
“I don’t know what it is about you, but I don’t want to let go. Being five thousand miles and on two different continents isn’t going to be easy, but I believe we can do it. Won’t you try with me?” She repeated my heartfelt request with a slight hiccup in her otherwise calming voice. “This is what you said to me in Los Angeles. I believed you and wanted to try as you asked. Who knew everything would get screwed up by dinnertime?”
“Aargh!” I scratched my head in frustration. “Do we have any options?”
“No. Not unless we are willing to give up our dream jobs.”
“I came here thinking we should end everything and revert to being friends. Friendship works no matter the distance or lack of visits. But being here with you makes me think we could possibly do it. We could try.”
“You’re a great guy, Brendan.” That was never a good start to a conversation where a possible breakup was happening. “Deep inside, I think you know as well as I do that this is not going to work. We can’t start a relationship, work new jobs, live thousands of miles from one another, and never see each other. Let’s own up to our reality now.”
I didn’t own up to our reality as Chloe asked. I couldn’t do it just yet. Instead, I changed subjects and we had a fun dinner as two friends still trying to figure out where to go with one another.
Chloe: Why (so many) Decisions?
“You’ve been quiet since we’ve been home. What’s on your mind, Chloe?” Grandpa Harry asked.
Grandpa was right. Too many ideas were fighting for space in my head. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat—my life went from easy-going to complicated over a three-course meal in Los Angeles.
“What should I do?” There was no better way of explaining my concerns.
“Let’s break it down, Chloe. What’s plaguing you? I thought you enjoyed coordinating weddings.”
After my dinner with Brendan, I was even more tormented than ever. It would have been so much easier if he behaved like an arse and told me to get lost. Contrary to what Brendan believed, I hadn’t made up my mind. I was hoping he’d persuade me with a more enticing offer. It wasn’t as if I wanted a marriage proposal from Brendan. I didn’t want an end just yet.
I sighed. “Here are all the questions I need resolved before deciding on Pierre’s offer.”
Grandpa Harry grinned. “There’s your answer number one.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“What you’re doing right now is figuring out how to tie up loose ends before committing to Pierre.”
My head tilted as I stared at this wise man. “Was that what I was doing?”
“Sounds like it. But go on. Let’s hear about these loose ends.”
“Huh…” Where would my life be without this man? “So, my first and biggest quandary is you, Grandpa. I don’t want to leave you.” Did I sound too presumptuous and clingy?
He chuckled heartily. “You are not getting away from me that easily, young lady. Pierre understands that you will forever be a part of my family. We will work together in some capacity at all times. He’s consented to giving us time.”
“Really?” I was ecstatic to hear this news. “I wasn’t going to leave you, Grandpa. I was trying to figure out how to do both jobs.”
“Pierre is very selective with his clients. He’s not a young man. He can’t go gallivanting around the world working his magic on every wedding. The reason why he wants to hire you is because he wants to enjoy the time left with his partner. He doesn’t want to die while planning someone’s happily-ever-after. You are very fortunate to have caught his eye. Roland told me he’s never, ever taken on an apprentice—especially not one he’s thinking of handing his lucrative business to.”
“There’s another concern, Grandpa. I don’t think I can buy him out. Ten years, twenty years, maybe even in a lifetime—I don’t
think I’ll ever be able to afford such luxury.”
“Chloe,” the duke admonished. “You have a very wealthy grandfather with only two sons and three grandchildren. You do know I’ve set up a trust fund for you.”
“Grandpa Harry!” I complained just a teeny-tiny bit. “I can’t keep taking from you. You’ve paid for my education and all my trips with the family. Who knows what else you’ve paid for under the UK sun? I want to start paying you back.”
“You are paying me back. Last Michael told me, you’ve not spent any of the pay I’ve deposited for your work. In fact, Michael told me you’ve returned the money.”