Love Letters

by Geraldine Solon

  “Thank you both for supporting me.” Chloe gave them a wan smile.

  Jill hugged her tight while Suzanne held Chloe for a long time. “Get some rest.”

  Chloe nodded, and then walked upstairs to her room. She closed the door then went to the bathroom where she found another tissue box and opened it. She couldn’t stop crying. She had hurt too many people and she needed time alone, to think.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chloe was still asleep that Saturday morning when she heard a knock at the door. She turned over, opened one eye and moaned. It was eleven in the morning. She got up and yawned and put on her robe as she slowly walked downstairs to open the door. “Mom…what are you doing here?”

  Suzanne was wearing jeans and a floral blouse. “We were supposed to have lunch with Richard’s parents at the Ritz. Have they called to cancel? If not, I figured since you already made reservations, both you and I should go talk to them about what happened if they show.”

  With the fiasco last night, she had forgotten that it was Saturday, May 15th, the day her mom was going to see Ignacio. “Right.”

  “Don’t worry, Chloe. I don’t think they’re going to show up, but it would be nice if we could have some mother and daughter time,” Suzanne said, entering the house.

  Chloe smiled and embraced her mother. “I’d really like that.”

  Suzanne followed Chloe to her room and sat on the bed as Chloe went to the bathroom to take a shower. She turned on the water, stepped in, and then let the hot water stream down her body as she closed her eyes remembering what had happened the night before. She couldn’t get over Dorothy’s critical remarks and Trish showing up out of the blue.

  After the big blowup last night, she knew that her dream of getting married was over. She pinched herself hoping it was a bad dream and that she would wake up. She had no more tears left and it was time to face reality which meant no Richard or Josh. Was she ready for that? After the shower, she blow dried her hair then put on some jeans and a plain beige top with matching beige sandals. She took a deep breath and sighed. Today is Mom’s day her second chance.

  “Let’s go, Mom.” She kissed Greta goodbye and grabbed her keys and purse. Then she walked downstairs and Chloe drove Suzanne to the Ritz hotel. Twenty minutes later, Chloe pulled into the parking lot and parked her car. With Suzanne at her side, Chloe entered the hotel and walked to the Conservatory Lounge where the waiter escorted them to their reserved table. As they sat down, Chloe couldn’t help but look around for any sign of Ignacio. Her palms were clammy and she couldn’t keep still. It was a quarter to twelve, which gave them some time before Ignacio was to arrive, and she was glad they were early.

  “What would you like to order?” Suzanne asked as the waiter brought the menu.

  Chloe covered her face with the menu to hide her nervousness. What would her mother say once she found out that she had set this all up? I hope today will be better than last night. She flipped the menu from front to back and looked around while she nervously tapped her foot.

  Suzanne patted her leg. “How about some soup?”

  Chloe wasn’t hungry. She knew her mom was trying her best not to discuss what happened last night, yet the scenes kept replaying in Chloe’s mind. Everything had gone wrong, including the dinner. Dorothy and her mom hadn’t connected, and Trish had ruined the evening. Maybe it was a sign that Chloe deserved to be alone. “Let’s order our drinks first.”

  “Waiter, I’ll have a Pellegrino.” Suzanne set her menu down. “Chloe, what would you like?”

  “Maybe some tea with no milk or sugar.”

  The waiter said he would be back with their orders.

  Chloe told Suzanne about her plans of becoming a wedding planner and about Millie selling the company to her.

  “Chloe, that’s a fabulous idea,” Suzanne said, fixing her hair. “You must have learned something from all the parties I threw when you were young.”

  Chloe smiled, remembering. “Remember the costume party you had at the house where all the women dressed up as men and men as women? I loved the colorful costumes they wore.”

  Suzanne laughed. “I saw you peeking from the stairs. Then you’d run back to your room each time I caught you.”

  Chloe giggled. “It seemed unfair that you grown-ups got to stay up late and drink wine, while I had to sleep early.”

  “That’s right, and I would always tell you that there was a time and place for everything, like that time you went to your first dance and wanted to stay out past midnight.”

  “I was so excited. It was 6th grade,” Chloe said, reminiscing. “I hardly slept the night before. Nicole and I had the same type of dress – hers was baby blue and mine was pink. We were so excited to put on makeup and hairspray.”

  “Both of you looked so cute,” Suzanne said.

  “When we showed up at the dance, most of the girls were wearing black. I remember Patricia Denton looking at me from head to toe then whispering to her friends. They didn’t stop laughing at Nicole and me, but right behind them was Josh who saw everything.” Despite the humiliation, or maybe because of it, he had approached her and asked her to dance. “We danced all night while the girls watched in envy.” She dabbed her eyes with her napkin. Josh had always been there for her.

  “Yes, I remember that day well and I remember how much you cried when Josh left for Oregon,” Suzanne said, stroking Chloe’s hair. “I always knew he was your first true love.”

  Chloe gave a faint smile.

  The waiter came to bring their drinks while Suzanne asked Chloe again what she wanted to eat.

  “I’m not hungry, Mom,” Chloe said, stirring her tea.

  “Chloe you need to eat something,” Suzanne said, peering over her menu. She told the waiter to give them another minute.

  Chloe looked at her watch. Ignacio should be here any moment now. As she studied the menu, from the corner of her eye she caught sight of a man entering the restaurant. Oh my gosh, he’s here. She put the menu aside knocking down her glass. She hurriedly wiped the table with her napkin.

  Suzanne put the menu down and squeezed Chloe’s hand. “Chloe, are you all right? I know you’re still hurt and upset about what happened last night, but let’s try to enjoy the afternoon together.”

  Chloe couldn’t look at her mother. Her eyes were glued to the man dressed in a long-sleeved light blue shirt and gray slacks. He had clean-cut salt and pepper hair and glowing olive skin. He looked like he had just shaved. He stood tall and slim, his eyes searching the room. The waiter led him to his seat but he still looked around. This must be him. He looks much better in person – fine nose, thick eyebrows, red lips and a cleft chin.

  Chloe stood up to go approach him but tripped on her purse. Suzanne bent down to pick it up. “Chloe…maybe this wasn’t a good idea to come here. We can go home if you want.”

  Chloe shook her head as she sat back down in her chair. She was now having second thoughts about what she had done. After last night, her mom had proved that she would stand by her side and Chloe couldn’t afford to destroy their relationship for a man her mom hadn’t seen in decades. Her mom had told her that it was better that she had left Ignacio in the past. What if Suzanne meant what she said and had already moved on?

  “I’m fine, Mom. What do you want to order?” Chloe opened the menu for Suzanne just as the man glanced at both of them.

  Chloe felt her heart beating in her head. There was no turning back now as she buried her eyes in the menu.

  “After all the fried food last night, I’m thinking of ordering a salad,” Suzanne said, eyeing the menu.

  Chloe tried to avoid looking at Ignacio, but out of the corner of her eye she saw him slowly approach their table. “Suzanne?”

  Chloe closed her eyes while Suzanne turned to see who had called her name, and only opened them reluctantly. Suzanne pulled her glasses from her purse and eyed the man then turned to Chloe and raised her eyebrows as she pursed her lips.

  “Suzanne… it
’s you. You haven’t changed one bit. You look as beautiful as the first time I met you.”

  Chloe bit her lip and gave her mom a puppy dog look.

  Suzanne stood up, looked at Chloe with tears in her eyes and then back at Ignacio. “Ignacio?”

  Chloe wrung her napkin, her heart pounding as she nodded reassuringly at her mother. Was this a crazy idea? Mom, please don’t be mad at me.

  He smiled and gently embraced her. “Yes, it’s me. I’m here. I promised you I’d be here.”

  “I’m not sure what’s going on,” Suzanne said, putting her hand on her chest as she eyed Ignacio then Chloe.

  “Mom, I can explain everything,” Chloe said, pulling at her hair. “I found Ignacio on this social network online called Facebook. I’m sorry, but I pretended to be you and we’ve been communicating since.”

  Suzanne looked as pale as the wall behind her. She stared at Ignacio then dropped into the chair and covered her eyes while Ignacio held her hand.

  Chloe was glad that she had printed all of their corresponding messages on Facebook and had kept them in her purse. She handed them to her mother. “So you’ll know how it all happened.”

  Suzanne read the letters as Ignacio patiently waited, his eyes glued to her face.

  “Mom, I’m sorry that I lied to you,” Chloe said, standing up. “I’ll give you both a moment.”

  Suzanne nodded as Chloe excused herself to sit at the next table, pretending to use the phone. She saw her mother dry her eyes and overheard Ignacio say that he brought all her old letters in case her mother didn’t believe it was him. Although Chloe pretended not to look in their direction, she could hear everything they were saying.

  “How could I ever forget your face?” Suzanne said, touching his cheek. “My daughter found you after all.”

  Ignacio held Suzanne’s trembling hand. “I can’t believe it’s been this long, and I still feel the same.”

  “I never thought I’d see you again,” Suzanne said, her eyes moist.

  Ignacio held Suzanne’s hand close to his heart. “I never gave up hope, my love. I’ve waited a long time for this day to come.”

  Chloe decided not to eavesdrop on their conversation. She took out her notebook looked at her wedding list. She had accomplished everything except purchasing her mother’s dress, which she wouldn’t need now since there would be no wedding. What she needed to do was call the different businesses and request a refund so she could return the money to Richard. Then she would need to return the engagement ring, yet as she looked down at it she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She began the checklist.

  Gown - √ Minister - √ Rings - √ Photographer - √

  Sandals - √ Music/Band - √ Venue - √ Flowers/Bouquet - √

  Cake- √ Entourage Dresses -√ Rehearsal - √ Garter - √

  Giveaways – √ Makeup artist - √ Guestbook - √ Unity Candles - √

  Limo Driver - √ Menu/Champagne - √ Videographer - √ Invitations - √

  Chloe stood up and transferred to an empty table in the corner so her mom and Ignacio could have the privacy they needed. She dialed Nicole’s number. “Hi, Nic.”

  “Hello, Chloe, I was about to call you.”

  “What’s up?”

  “I wanted to ask you how the dinner went last night. We need to have a bachelorette party,” Nicole said. “I can’t believe you’re getting hitched so soon.”

  “Oh,” Chloe said softly with a watery smile.

  “What’s the matter with you, Chloe? You sound down.”

  Chloe told Nicole everything that had happened in the past forty-eight hours which started with Trish’s phone call, her seeing Josh and Trish kiss, the dinner and what transpired after. “That leaves me all alone.”

  “Chloe, I’m sorry to hear all that. I wish I was there to comfort you,” Nicole said.

  “Thanks, Nic, but it’s all my fault.”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Chloe. What you did isn’t wrong. You can’t tell your heart who to love.”

  Chloe closed her eyes. She missed Josh – a lot. A part of her felt sorry for hurting Richard, but she felt relieved that she wasn’t marrying him. She would need to apologize to him for what it would be worth. And he would need to know exactly what Nicole said. She was right. You can’t tell your heart who to love. “You know what, Nic? I’m so glad I got to talk to you. You always put things in proper perspective.”

  Nicole chuckled. “That’s what I’m here for and believe me, Chloe, everything’s going to turn out fine. And as for Richard, he too will find his match.”

  “Thanks so much, Nic.”

  “Sure, anytime.”

  “By the way, guess where I am?”

  “Where are you?”

  “You wouldn’t believe it, but I’m at the Conservatory Lounge of the Ritz hotel where I told Ignacio to meet Mom.”

  Nicole gasped. “Chloe, you never told me you found him! You’re one good detective.”

  Chloe chuckled. “I’m sorry. It must have slipped my mind with all this drama going on. You should have seen the look on Mom’s face when she saw him. She looked like she had seen a ghost.”

  Nicole laughed hard. “Poor Suzanne. I swear, Chloe, you could have given her a heart attack, you silly girl.”

  “I’ve never seen her like this before. She’s so in love, and she seems so gentle and calm with Ignacio,” Chloe said, glancing at both of them.

  “Well, I’m glad your mom’s finally happy.”

  “Nic, forty years and it’s still there,” Chloe said.

  “Well, you sure are her daughter,” Nicole teased.

  “Very funny. Anyway, I have to go. I’m starving.”

  “Talk to you soon,” Nicole said.

  Chloe shut her phone and called the waiter to bring her a Caesars salad.

  After eating she paid the bill and walked towards Suzanne’s table. She sighed in relief as she caught them gazing at each other in silence – the love never lost. Now she knew she had done the right thing. Although she was still Daddy’s little girl, she had never seen her mom give her dad the same look she was giving Ignacio. She now understood what was missing – love and a deeper connection, which she herself longed for. She closed her eyes and smiled. I’m glad that Mom will have that second chance.

  “Excuse me Mom, would it be all right if I leave you both?” Turning to Ignacio she said, “Ignacio, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. My mom left her car at home and I’m sure you have so much to talk about, would it be okay if—”

  “Not a problem, Chloe. I’ll take her home,” Ignacio said, in his faint Spanish accent. “And Chloe, I want to thank you for doing this. If it weren’t for you … I would have never seen your mother again.” His voice cracked.

  Chloe smiled. She saw the sparkle in both their eyes. She was thankful that today’s meeting was so different from last night’s disaster.

  “Chloe, dear, you need to teach me how to work that Facebook, all right?” Suzanne said, wiping her eyes.

  Chloe nodded and hugged them goodbye. “All right, adios to you both and have a great time.” She was glad that she had accomplished her mother’s wish, because it was clear to Chloe that both of them still had so much love for another.

  ***

  After leaving Suzanne and Ignacio at the Ritz hotel, Chloe went to her car and made a quick phone call. She took a deep breath before she punched in Josh’s number. She didn’t know what to tell Josh but she needed to call him. After several rings, her call went to voicemail and when she was about to leave a message, she couldn’t find the words to tell him how she felt. A sudden tightness seared her chest as she shut her phone and put the gear in reverse. Then she drove to the Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo. Was he avoiding her now?

  She bought four pairs of shoes, a purse and three tops. After nearly three hours of shopping she went to her favorite spa to get a full Swedish massage and a facial. She decided that she wasn’t going to think about anyone but herself today. Following tw
o hours at the spa, she indulged in her favorite Belgian chocolate. Today I get to be queen.

  ***

  As soon as she returned home, she found a message from Darlene Walters, the wedding consultant, informing her that everybody loved her gown and hoping that they could meet up soon.

  She immediately called her. “Hi, Darlene, this is Chloe.”

  “Chloe, I’m so glad you called me back. How’ve you been? I’m sure you’re busy planning your wedding,” Darlene said.

  Chloe bit her lip. She wasn’t ready to discuss her situation. “I’ve thought a lot about what you said and would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience.”

  “I’m glad that you’re interested, since there is so much I would like to discuss with you. Would you be free tomorrow for a late dinner?”

  “That sounds fine,” Chloe said, looking at her calendar. She needed to talk to Millie the next day. “I get off work at 7:30 and can meet you around 8:00.”

  “That would be awesome. Can we meet at Café Gibraltar? I’ll make reservations for two.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  ***

  Chloe was up earlier than usual the next morning. A week had passed since the whole fiasco and she was now geared up for her business plans. She arrived at the shop by 9:00 and went over the assignments for her assistants before it was time to leave. Millie would be coming in at 11:00 which would give Chloe time to prepare. She checked her emails and saw that she had an email from Richard, which basically said that they needed to talk.

  Chloe couldn’t find the courage to call Richard, but she knew she had to face him sooner rather than later. She took a calming breath before calling him. “Richard, this is Chloe.”

  “Chloe.”

  “Hi.”

  A long pause followed before Richard finally spoke. “What happened to us?”

  Chloe fought back tears. “I’m afraid…I can’t answer that question. I’m so sorry, Richard. The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt you.”