by Taylor Dean
Chloe turned to Gwen. “I love him,” she said simply. “I really love him,” and Gwen’s eyes glistened with tears at her words.
“I know you do, dear. I know you do,” she responded, patting her hand.
“Sorry ladies,” Jack announced. “It’s my turn to dance with my future wife.” He approached, a smile on his handsome face, eyes trained on her. He held out his hand and Chloe felt like the most special girl in the room.
Jack Alexander had chosen her.
“Jack, what’s wrong? You don’t sound so good.” Feeling worried, Chloe pressed the phone to her ear. Even though a day didn’t go by that they weren’t physically together, when they were apart they constantly spoke on the phone. Sydney said they were attached at the hip. Chloe didn’t mind the description.
Gwen and her daughters were in full swing with wedding preparations, saying they wanted to do it all for them. She and Jack let them have at it. It gave them more time for themselves.
“I…” he cleared his throat. “I think I might be coming down with something nasty. Don’t come over tonight. I don’t want you to get it too.”
Chloe thought of the way they’d spent the evening kissing deeply on his couch last night—and the night before, and the night before. The thought made her blush even though no one was there to see it. Things were definitely good between them. Now that they had the support of Jack’s family, things were even better.
“Too late. After last night, I think it’s safe to assume if you are sick, then so am I.”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t want to take any chances,” he said flatly.
His voice held no emotion, no inflections, no enthusiasm. Most unlike Jack. He really must not be feeling well. “Jack, let me come over and look after you.”
“No need. I’m just gonna sleep it off, Chloe. Give me a few days. Please.”
“A few days?” she laughed, assuming he was kidding. But he didn’t laugh. At all.
“Yes, please. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Jack?”
“Just give me some time. Okay, Chloe? I need some time.”
Chloe felt pushed out of his life and a little confused by his request. “Oh. All right. Get well.”
“Chloe?”
“Yes?”
“I love you. I don’t think you realize how much,” he said effusively.
Ah, there was the Jack she knew. “I love you too, Jack. Hurry up and get well. I can’t stand to be apart for a few days, so don’t ask me to honor your request. I can’t.”
He didn’t respond.
“Jack?”
“I’ll see you soon, sweetheart.” The phone clicked and he was gone.
Chloe ruminated over his odd words all evening. Once they were married they’d be together when one or the other became sick. It seemed silly to stay apart from one another. She hardly slept that night, worrying over Jack. He’d sounded so strange, so distant. It wasn’t like him. He must be very, very ill.
She arose in the morning and knew exactly what she was going to do. She’d just taken on another job, but it was still in the planning stages, hence a day off wouldn’t make too much difference in meeting her deadlines.
Chloe spent the morning making homemade chicken noodle soup and fluffy, white rolls. She packed it all up and headed for Jack’s house. She wasn’t about to let him suffer all alone. He was just going to have to get used to the fact that she wanted to take care of him when he was down, just as he’d done for her.
There was a strange car in the driveway when she arrived, but she didn’t let it stop her from her plans. More than likely, he’d called one of his sisters for help. Chloe felt touched that he didn’t want to expose her to his sickness, but she wanted to be the one to take care of him.
For the rest of his life.
Jack heard the key in his door, heard the door open and close, and his heart sunk. He knew it was Chloe.
He wasn’t ready to face her. What could he say? How could he explain?
“Jack! Jack!”
He closed his eyes at the sound of her precious voice echoing off the walls. He loved her, really loved her. Even the mere sound of her voice made his stomach clench.
“I made you some chicken soup. Prepare to feel better.”
Just her presence made him feel better. Unfortunately, chicken soup couldn’t cure what ailed him. She entered the living room with a smile on her face, holding the pot of steaming soup, a delicious smell emanating around the room. He was immediately touched by her thoughtfulness. Truly, she was an amazing woman. He found himself wishing he really was sick. Chloe would take good care of him.
The sight that met her didn’t faze her too terribly much. She felt confident in their love; that much was obvious. The thought warmed his breaking heart.
“Oh, hello Taryn. I didn’t know you were here.” Chloe turned her attention on him. “Hi Jack,” she said, her eyes warm and soft as they looked upon him. He knew how much she loved him simply by the look in her eyes. He could see it, he could feel it as if it were palpable.
“Hi Chloe,” he said, wishing he could smile at her, reassure her, and comfort her. But he didn’t have it in him.
Her smile wavered ever so slightly as he and Taryn stood, facing her. Clearly, she’d already deduced that he wasn’t ill. She set the soup down on the table, letting her hair cover her face for a moment’s respite. She faced them again with her smile in place, but it was just a tad bit forced this time.
“Everything okay?” she asked brightly.
“Everything is just perfect,” Taryn answered. She exuded contentment. And he hated her for gloating.
Above all he wanted to protect Chloe from Taryn and her rather barbed comments. He needed time alone with Chloe to explain—and he certainly didn’t want to do it with Taryn looking on.
“You’d better go, Taryn. Go lie down. I’ll be there soon.”
He knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. Taryn wanted to shove everything in Chloe’s face and act like the smug little winner.
She may have won this round, but she lost the battle on every front. No contest.
“Jack, aren’t you going to tell Chloe the good news?”
“In a little bit…” Jack started.
“What good news?” Chloe asked. Jack knew she was finally realizing something was wrong and that it was not good news at all. Heck, she’d known on the phone yesterday and he loved that with only two words she could sense his mood. All he’d said was, “Hi Chloe,” and she’d known something was wrong immediately. He’d never find someone as perfect as her. Could he really do this? Did he have a choice?
He turned to Taryn. “Please give us some time alone. I’d like to speak with Chloe privately.”
“Not too long, Jack. I need you.”
Jack glanced at Chloe. The smile he loved so much faded just a tiny bit more. Her eyes held a question—the million dollar question.
“Let’s tell Chloe the happy news first,” Taryn insisted.
“What’s the happy news?” Chloe asked.
He loved her confidence, her firm knowledge that he loved her. It was obvious in every fiber of her being. Taryn no longer held the power to faze her.
But her news would. Guaranteed.
“Well, you’ll be the first to know that…”
Jack stopped her. “No!” he blurted. He knew how this news would affect Chloe. It wasn’t just about the relationship they shared, although that would be tough news to handle. It was so much more than that. This news had the power to devastate Chloe in ways he couldn’t begin to fathom.
“I’m pregnant,” Taryn announced proudly, ignoring his protest.
Chloe’s smile faded abruptly and her eyes blinked several times. Jack felt a flash of red hot anger surge through his body. He wanted to be the one to tell Chloe. He wanted to prepare her for the news, ease her into acceptance slowly and easily. He hated that Taryn had now blurted it out so unceremoniously. He wondered if she knew Chloe’s story. Judging by he
r words, he didn’t think so. She wasn’t above boasting about her ability to have a baby, just to make Chloe uncomfortable. Jack wouldn’t stand for that kind of behavior and Taryn knew it. Tension filled seconds passed like football minutes.
“Mark is having a baby,” Chloe whispered, visibly taken aback by the news. Then she smiled, strained, but a smile nonetheless. “I’m happy for him.” She swallowed nervously. “I’m happy for both of you. I really am.”
That she could feel happy for Mark spoke to her unbelievable character.
“Oh no, dear. It’s not Mark’s child,” Taryn said slyly. She said nothing more, begging the obvious question, and loving every minute of the suspense.
Jack’s heart broke for Chloe in that moment. He found himself wishing he could shelter her from reality, to be able to coddle her and keep her safe from any more pain in her life.
Chloe looked confused. “Not Mark’s?”
He loved her for not suspecting, for the possibility never even crossing her mind.
“Heavens, no. This is Jack’s child,” Taryn said, oozing satisfaction.
There it was. The ugly truth.
Chloe’s smile completely and utterly died on her face. Her eyes went blank, as if someone had just turned out the lights, as if she’d just died on the inside.
He knew how she felt. He’d metaphorically died also.
She said nothing. Absolutely nothing.
“I couldn’t figure out why I felt so sick in the Bahamas. Poor Mark had to put up with me moaning all the time.” Taryn’s laugh was shrill, earsplitting. “I’m already four and a half months along and I didn’t even realize it until yesterday.”
Yesterday. Yesterday his world collapsed on him. Yesterday his chance at happiness died.
He’d barely had time to adjust to the news himself.
“Hashtag: joyous arrival.” Taryn made the hashtag sign by slapping two peace-sign-shaped-fingers together and Jack cringed.
Chloe was made of stone, unmoving and almost unresponsive. He knew what she was thinking, where her thoughts were wandering. She made no attempt whatsoever to hide her distress, her obvious shock. It was a double blow, both hits made of shocking news; life changing news.
First of all, the news undoubtedly changed their relationship and it was obvious that Chloe immediately comprehended this fact. Although he doubted that her thoughts had formulated into any type of comprehensible logic at this point. Yet her face was an open book as various emotions flitted across her expression. It was all there, frantically wandering around her mind—uncertainty, questions, doubts, scenarios, suspicions—and more than likely, her imagination was on overdrive.
Secondly, he knew how hard it was on Chloe to hear about women having babies—and this baby was just a little too close to home. Taryn’s swollen belly would be a constant reminder that Jack had once been married to Taryn; that they’d shared an intimate relationship. Chloe had never let jealousy consume her. Would she be able to handle this knowledge? Spending time with his family had helped her adjust to seeing children and babies, but this was an entirely different circumstance. Cringe-worthy even. It should be Chloe making this announcement. Not Taryn.
Never Taryn.
It got worse. She didn’t know the half of it as of yet. And he didn’t know how to tell her.
“I’d better go. Hurry, Jack. I need you,” Taryn said, clinging to his arm and running one hand across his chest, perhaps in a sign of ownership.
“I’ll be there soon,” he said, conscious of Chloe’s gaze not missing a thing.
Jack hated the victorious smile Taryn cast at Chloe. He swore Chloe paled at the action, but she didn’t respond.
He saw Taryn to the door and when he returned Chloe hadn’t moved. He was worried about her. He knew she wouldn’t take this well, but she was scaring him.
All at once he was reminded of the state he’d found her in when he’d first met her. The terrifying dream he’d had about her mental state resurfaced. He’d felt as though she could easily close herself in a box and die without a fight. It had been as if the life inside of her had been snuffed and he couldn’t help but feel as though it had just been snuffed once again.
He stood in front of her and she didn’t move. He wished he’d had more time to think this through, to figure out the best way to explain everything. Now the dreaded moment had been forced upon him and he wasn’t ready. Would he ever be?
He felt her pulling inside of herself, protecting herself from further pain, collapsing, wrapping a wall around her heart. She was impenetrable. There was already a barrier between them the size of the Great Wall of China. She was shutting him out, reining in her emotions, closing off.
Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, her nails digging into her skin.
“Chloe?” he whispered.
He’d already lost her. And just like his dream, it was as if she was closed in her little box, yet he could feel the angst oozing out of her. A feeling of anguish surrounded her, engulfed her, and he could feel it as if it was a living, breathing thing. The sensation alarmed him.
Chloe was much stronger than she realized though. She had an inner strength that impressed him. The world sometimes looked upon her as damaged and broken, but really she held a strong resolve inside of her that few people he’d met possessed. She wasn’t the cliché kick-butt female character portrayed in books and movies, wearing leather pants and karate chopping the enemy. She was quiet and determined, filled with devotion, loyalty, and an unwavering sense of right and wrong—the true characteristics of a strong woman.
Her chest rose up and down in a pronounced manner, an obvious sign of her distress. It was only the strong connection between them that allowed him to feel her pain, to perceive her agony. And he felt it. Strongly. Did anyone else feel it? He doubted it.
He placed his hand under her chin and slowly brought her face up towards his, until their eyes met—blank eyes that sat beneath furrowed brows.
Wanting to feel close to her, to break down her barrier, he covered her mouth with his, kissing her as if his actions could convey his love. Her response surprised him. She kissed him back with almost immediate fervor, like she was branding him as hers. It didn’t take him long to feel the desperation in her kiss. She knew they’d just lost something and her kiss told him how much she wanted it back. He did too, and he let the kiss continue for much longer than he should have. He reluctantly took a small step back, knowing Chloe wasn’t about to end the show of affection. When he pulled away, an expression of loss seemed evident in her features—and told him exactly how she was feeling.
But they needed to talk. They couldn’t kiss the problem away, as tempting as it was.
He wrapped his hands around hers. Her skin felt ice cold, evidence of the shock the news evoked.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered ever so softly. “I didn’t think that you…”
“I was trying to make our marriage work. It was before I met you. I didn’t even know you then,” he began by way of explanation. It was important that she realize he hadn’t cheated on her. “It was before I knew about Mark, before I knew Taryn was leaving me.” Being that Taryn was four and a half months along, he knew that she knew that. But he had to say it, to confirm it. And clearly she’d needed to hear it. “With how far along she is, she says there’s no way it’s Mark’s child. Regardless, I told her I wanted a paternity test.”
Her eyes blinked heavily.
Jack decided to spare her the gory details of Taryn’s explanation of events. Evidently she was already feeling morning sick when they left for the Bahamas. For further proof, she’d announced that they’d decided to have “their first night” together in the Bahamas. At the very least, he was grateful to know she hadn’t been intimate with both of them at the same time. Still, too much information.
“I had no idea until yesterday. I needed time to adjust to the news before I faced you,” he said softly. “I apologize for lying.”
She stared into h
is eyes unswervingly. “So you’re not sick?” she asked, as if everything was taking awhile to register in her brain.
“No, just conflicted and I needed time to think.” It was time to explain what was really going on. “I’ve gone over and over this in my mind and I’ve made a decision. I know that you, of anyone, will understand what I’m about to do, what I need to do. That’s what makes this so hard. Oddly enough, I’m not sure anyone else will comprehend my actions.”
Physically, she remained vacantly stoic. Emotionally, her wounded spirit seeped out and surrounded him. She knew this news changed things between them. She’d known it from the moment Taryn had blurted it out.
“I love you, Chloe,” he began. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. It’s you that I want to spend my life with. It’s you that I want as my wife.”
He knew his next words were going to be tough. He swallowed painfully through a dry throat.
“Here’s the thing, and I don’t want to say this anymore than you want to hear it, but here it is: Taryn says if I don’t come back to her and stand by her side, she will abort the baby. She says she can only go through it if I’m with her.”
He let that news sink in.
“What?” she said almost inaudibly, as if his words had been too despicable to comprehend—or even utter. Chloe had no respect for anyone who could play with a child’s life like that—and that’s why he loved her so much.
Jack continued. “I know it’s emotional blackmail. I know she’s playing me. But I also know that my child’s life is literally in my hands. If I don’t stay with her, she’ll kill my child.”
Chloe blinked, long and slow.
“My child, Chloe, my child,” he reiterated. “I can’t abandon my child.”