by Taylor Dean
“I-I’ve been taking on jobs, Renee. I’m fine, really.”
“That’s not what Mark said.”
“I haven’t gone back full time yet. That’s all.”
Jack watched her with a furrowed brow. He slowly approached and watched her eyes as she continued with the exchange. She held his gaze, all the while carrying on with her phone conversation. Renee’s voice drifted out through the airwaves, loud enough for Jack to hear, and he listened unabashedly.
“Mark said you filed for divorce.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Why would you do that? Mark is a wonderful man.”
“Yes, I know Mark is wonderful. But he took off with another woman. I think that merits a divorce, don’t you?”
“No, Chloe, I don’t. I think this is his way of dealing with a broken wife.”
“I’m not broken.”
Jack shook his head in the negative, offering her support.
“You are, Chloe. I know what happened was truly awful, but at some point you simply have to forget.”
“I can’t forget. I will never forget,” she said vehemently. “Don’t ask me to.”
Jack’s expression turned quizzical. He was putting two and two together and realizing that Mark was not the lone cause of her heartache.
“I can’t help you if you won’t help yourself, Chloe. No one can.”
“I’m fine, Renee. I really am. Please don’t worry about me. It takes time to recover from…”
“It’s been a year. We’ve all been patient with you, especially Mark. You have to do your part.”
What did they want from her? She didn’t understand. Not at all. Did they really expect her to erase the incident from her life? Why couldn’t she talk about it? Why couldn’t she remember it? Why did it bother everyone so much that she didn’t want to forget?
“Look, I have to go. The kids are waiting for me to take them to their swimming lessons. Just promise me you will try to be a part of life again. I can’t stand to see you like this. And be nice to Mark. He loves you, you know. He’s made a mistake, that’s all. Don’t worry, he’ll be back.”
Click. Just like that she was gone. She’d said her piece and now she could forget everything.
But Chloe still had to live with it. Advice was easy. Enduring wasn’t.
Chloe held Jack’s gaze. He said nothing for several moments. Then he whispered, “What happened to you?”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
He continued. “The woman I saw on your wedding video and the woman I see standing before me right now are two completely different people.”
When she didn’t respond, he cradled her face, wiping away her tears. He moved a step closer, and Chloe’s heart began to race at the close proximity. But his actions were intended to be caring rather than intimate.
“Let me in, Chloe. Please let me in,” he pleaded.
“I can’t talk about it right now. Take me home. I just want to go home.”
Jack seemed disappointed, but politely complied with her wishes without pressuring her for more.
Chloe and Jack drove in silence. She knew Jack was hurt that she hadn’t confided in him. Honestly, she was a little alarmed at how attached she was beginning to feel to Jack. She’d only known him for about two seconds, for goodness sake. But she liked him. He cheered her up, assuaged her loneliness, and made her feel needed without making her feel as though he was patronizing her. It scared her that she was beginning to rely on him. If she told him her story, would it be too much and he’d bolt at the first opportunity?
When they pulled up in front of her house, she said, “Thank you, Jack. I…”
“I’m having Sunday dinner at my Mom’s house tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?”
Meet the family? Yikes. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“You’ll like my sisters. And they’ll love you. C’mon, it’ll distract you from…everything. It’s loud and crazy and wild and you won’t be able to hear yourself think.”
He was right. It would be fun to spend an afternoon with family. She missed having family time. With Renee in Germany and Mark’s family in California, Christmas was about the only time they ever saw one another. It simply wasn’t enough.
“Won’t they find it weird that you’re bringing a woman to a family dinner so soon?” She left off the “after Taryn” dangling from her lips.
“Are you kidding? My sisters will be thrilled.”
“What will you tell them about us?”
“The truth.”
Chloe could just imagine how that conversation would go.
Hey, remember the jerk who stole Taryn from me? His wife and I have become friends. We like to talk smack about our ex-spouses together. I’ve been helping her conquer her cleaning obsession, and she’s helping me redecorate my new home. I’d love for you all to meet her.
She had to admit, she was curious to meet Jack’s infamous sisters. He spoke of them often and fondly. They were undoubtedly a close family.
“All right. I’d love to, Jack. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Do you have any family close by?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“Will you be okay tonight, Chloe? Would you like me to come in and stay awhile?”
His concerned expression left her feeling a little dazed. It was nice to know he genuinely cared about her.
“I’m all right, Jack. Really.”
“If you need me, I’ll sleep on the couch. Just say the word.”
“It’s not necessary. Thank you for the offer though.”
“Will you call me if you feel like talking? I’m a good listener.”
“I will. Thank you,” she whispered. And as she approached her front door, she had to wipe away an errant tear.
She was changing. She could feel the metamorphosis whirling deep inside of her. Somehow sunlight had broken through and bathed her life again, giving her hope. It was all because of Jack.
Jack was awesome. And if his family was anything at all like him, she was going to love them.
≈
“The gang’s all here,” Jack said as they pulled into the driveway of a huge two story stucco home with a red tile roof. There were several cars parked ahead of them.
“What a beautiful home,” Chloe remarked. It was a blistering hot Sunday afternoon with the scent of barbeque in the air. It was going to be one of those lazy summer days she longed for—even during the mild Arizona winters—she could feel it in her bones and a thrill of anticipation washed over her. It felt good to do something normal and fun for a change. Jack had such an easy, relaxed style about him, and she figured his family would be the same.
“This is the place where I grew up. It’s well lived in, but it’s home, sweet, home. Family dinners on Sunday afternoon are a tradition with us. Be prepared. It’s gonna be a little crazy.”
As they approached the front door, trepidation filled Chloe and butterflies bounced in her stomach. There was no reason to feel so nervous. It wasn’t as if she and Jack were dating or anything. It was just that…meeting the family felt so…commitment-filled.
The door swung open before Jack even touched the doorknob. Loud squeals permeated the air. “Uncle Jack! Uncle Jack!”
All at once, Jack was swarmed by a bunch of blond little girls, ranging in ages from ten to two.
Chloe froze at the sight, taken off guard.
Of course there would be children in the house. Why hadn’t she expected it? His sisters were all older than him. They’re probably all married with families. Of course they are.
Of course. Of course.
Jack’s own words filtered through her memory. Loud. Crazy. Wild. That meant a houseful of children.
She was such an idiot. She hadn’t thought this through at all. Chloe felt panic swim through her veins as she watched Jack, surrounded by his nieces as if he were a celebrity of some sort. He lifted the youngest little girl into his arms and hugged her tightly. A tiny little
knife pricked her heart a thousand times over. Children always had this effect on her. They reminded her that life wasn’t fair.
There were no boys. Not one. Poor Jack continued to endure a houseful of girls even as an adult. Yet he didn’t seem bothered by it at all. As a matter fact, he seemed as though he was in his element.
Chloe stood like a statue, stone cold, unsure how to feel, uncertain of her extreme emotions. She wasn’t prepared for this. It was too soon—it was too much.
Jack’s head peeked around his little niece’s tight hug and he cast an anxious glance her way. “Chloe, are you okay?”
She shook her head in the negative.
Her eyes wandered past Jack. Clustered in the doorway, stood five of the most beautiful blond-haired women she’d ever seen, all of various ages. It would appear the blond gene was dominant in their blood. Between her mood and her hair, Chloe felt dark, like a demon amongst angels. Their curious eyes were all on her. Friendly eyes. Warm eyes. Welcoming eyes.
She took a deep breath and tried to calm the apprehensive knot in her belly. It wouldn’t go over well if she shunned the children. It also wouldn’t look too good if she suddenly turned on her heel and took off running as if she’d seen monsters. With her reaction, they may as well be.
Breathe, Chloe. You can do this. You must do this. You will do this.
The oldest version from the group of women moved forward, her arms open, her hair not really blond, but strikingly white-silver.
“You must be Chloe. Hello dear, welcome to our home.” She knows exactly who I am. She swallowed her up in a heartfelt embrace and Chloe wanted to cry buckets of tears into her shoulder. This was Jack’s Mom and she felt so maternal, so utterly filled with a natural motherly instinct, that Chloe had the desire to sit at her feet and unload every single one of her worries.
I miss my Mom. If only she were still here, I’d be okay. She would’ve made everything better.
“I’m Gwen, and these are my daughters: Sydney, Kayla, Leann, and Harper. Girls, come say hi to Chloe,” she told them even as they approached, their eyes understandably curious about the woman their brother had brought to their home. Chloe wondered if they felt terribly on guard for their brother. She wouldn’t blame them if they did. After all, his first marriage had just barely ended rather badly.
Instead of a frosty greeting, each one in turn hugged her. Not one of them muttered the obligatory, “nice to meet you.” They each said something heartfelt and Chloe liked them all immediately.
“Hi there, Chloe. So glad you could come today,” Leann said with a smile.
“Aren’t you a beauty? I love your hair.” As the words left her mouth, Kayla ran one hand through Chloe’s locks.
“Come on in. I can’t wait to visit with you.” Sydney motioned towards the door.
“Chloe, we’re going to be great friends. I can tell.” That was Harper. She wrapped an arm around her shoulder in a friendly embrace.
Clearly, Jack had told them of her predicament and it was obvious they felt for her.
Gwen began to introduce the little girls. “These are my grandchildren. Not a boy or a brunette in the lot,” she laughed.
A string of some of the cutest girl names she’d ever heard ran by her ears then: Bailey, Clarissa, Riley, Jade, Savannah, Marlee, Kennedy, Hailey, Vanessa, Natalie, Brianna. Her head began to swim. She had absolutely no idea who was who or which girls belonged to which sister.
Gwen clapped her hands. “Okay, everyone inside. C’mon girls, dinner’s almost ready.”
Harper linked her arm through Chloe’s. “You won’t be seeing much of Jack while you’re here,” she giggled. “The girls don’t let him have a moment of rest. They all adore him and he puts up with it. Jack’s great like that.”
As they filed into the house, Jack moved slowly, two little girls now in his arms, and one attached to each leg. An older girl had looped her finger through his belt loop and one had a death grip on his t-shirt as if it was her security blanket. They all spoke to him at once and he couldn’t get a word in above the clamor. At the sight, Chloe couldn’t help but giggle right along with Harper. He could barely move.
Something inside of her altered in that moment. She was actually giggling at the sight of children. And it felt good.
As they entered the house, everyone dispersed quickly, the women towards the kitchen, Jack and the girls towards the playroom, which was just off the living room through a set of french doors. On the opposite side, through another set of french doors, a group of men were watching a sporting event, loudly hollering at the TV.
The husbands, Chloe presumed.
“Hey Jack!” they yelled. “Come join us!”
“He won’t have a chance,” Harper informed Chloe. “The girls will keep him busy.”
“Harper, your rolls are burning,” someone hollered from the kitchen.
“Oh, c’mon Chloe, join us in the kitchen,” Harper invited.
Just then a man hurriedly pounded down the stairs. He held a baby in his arms; a newborn baby.
“She’s had a diaper change,” he said to Harper. “What’d I miss?” he yelled to the other men. Then he absentmindedly handed the baby to Chloe, “Hi, I’m Grady, and this is Amelie,” he said and rushed into the TV room.
“C’mon, Chloe,” Harper said again, as she swiftly headed down the hall.
Chloe couldn’t move if the house had been on fire. She stared down at the little cherub in her arms, her heart racing so fast she thought she’d pass out. The sound of her own heartbeat pounded in her ears loudly and she struggled to take in her next breath.
Her arms were full.
The bluest eyes she’d even seen stared up at her innocently. So alive with life, so animated, so vibrant.
Amelie.
Her eyes filled with tears and red hot emotion burned in her tight chest. She couldn’t hold this baby; she didn’t want to hold this baby. Where did everyone go? She looked up in search of somewhere to get rid of it, to relieve her of this…burden. Through the french doors she saw Jack, surrounded by his chatty entourage, but he was watching her with a slightly quizzical expression, completely still amongst chaos.
Did he perceive her panic? Was it obvious in every fiber of her being? The room felt hot, her head spun, and her knees went weak.
Sydney poked her head out from the kitchen door. “Oh, there you are, Chloe. Jack says you’re a really good cook. Taste this and tell me if it needs more brown sugar,” she approached with a spoon in hand. “It’s homemade barbeque sauce for the steaks.”
Just how much had Jack told his family about her? How much did he really know about her?
Chloe accepted the spoon in her mouth. The sauce was delicious. “It’s perfect,” she said, her throat tight.
Sydney smiled. “Did Grady hand the baby off to you?” She rolled her eyes. “Grady, you’re a jerk!” she said loudly.
“Love you too, Syd,” he returned.
“I’m sorry, Chloe.” She studied her closely for a moment. “Would you like me to take Amelie?”
Chloe looked down at the beautiful baby girl. She couldn’t be more than a month old. Brand new. So teeny. So fragile. So innocent and trusting. She weighed nothing in her arms. Her eyes began to flutter, as if she could hardly keep them open. The sleeping baby felt good in her arms, so right. So very right. Suddenly, she didn’t want to give her up.
Not now, not ever.
“No…no, I’m fine. I’d like to hold her. I-I want to hold her.”
She was rewarded with another warm smile from Sydney. “Okay. Let me know if your arms get tired. Come chat with us in the kitchen. I’ll get you a chair.”
Chloe began to follow Sydney, slowly at first, testing her wobbly legs. Adrenaline had made her shaky and her face still felt as though it was on fire. She caught Jack’s gaze again. He still watched her rather intently, as if he could read her wild thoughts.
But, of course, he couldn’t. Jack had no idea of the wild emotions she was dealing
with. None of them did. And no one was asking questions. Or worrying over her response. Or wondering if she was okay.
And it felt good. Here, in Jack’s childhood home, she was normal. Not damaged or broken. Just a woman holding a baby.
She smiled at Jack. A huge smile. A happy smile. A healing smile.
Chloe had a baby in her arms.
After a deep cleansing breath and an encouraging smile from Jack, Chloe proudly walked to the sunny kitchen, her heart so full she thought she’d burst. Immediately a chair and an ice cold soda were offered to her. The kitchen felt alive with energetic chit-chat, sweet aromas, and giddy laughter. If they detected the occasional random tear that trickled down her cheeks, they pretended not to notice. She wiped them away quickly and discreetly. They paused and looked upon her curiously a few times, but never commented and she loved them for it.
“Can I help with anything?” Chloe asked, hoping they wouldn’t take her up on her offer. Holding Amelie was healing a hole in her heart, fulfilling an aching need.
“You are helping by holding Amelie,” Harper told her. “It’s more than the Princess would ever do,” she mumbled under her breath.
“Now, Harper,” Gwen, ever the matriarch, chastised.
“Sorry, but I like Chloe about a hundred times more than the Princess and I’ve known her for five minutes.”
“Amen, sister,” Sydney breathed as she gathered plates to set the table.
“Jack’s better off without her and I told him so,” Leann said huffily, basting the steaks with Sydney’s barbeque sauce.
“Is it true, Chloe? Taryn ran off with your husband?” Kayla asked, point blank.
“Kayla!” Gwen reprimanded.
“Sounds like something she would do,” Harper stated without apology.
“It’s okay, really,” Chloe said, even though it wasn’t. It was obvious that Jack hadn’t been exaggerating. These ladies did not like Taryn. It made her wonder if Mark was happy with her. “Yes, it’s true.” She didn’t expound.
“Is that how you met Jack?” Sydney asked, placing a pan of cookie dough in the oven. Kayla swiped a piece of raw dough before the oven closed and Sydney swatted at her hand.