I'm so proud of you! And don't worry, you're a great guy, I'm sure you'll find someone else that any lady will be jealous of. ;)
Her friend replied:
I actually met someone tonight that I used to like back in high school.
Chloe didn't have time to reply because James came storming back into the room. She quickly exited off of her email to prevent him from seeing the conversation she was having with her friend.
James walked to their bed and pulled back the blankets. He got under the covers and looked at Chloe with a confused expression.
"Aren't you coming to bed?" James asked.
"Yeah," Chloe replied. She turned off the computer before getting under the covers on her side of the bed.
As she listened to James’ breaths become slower as he drifted off to sleep she couldn't help but let a tear roll down her face. She was so unhappy in this marriage, but she couldn't do anything about it. Chloe wished more than anything that she could have the nerve to listen to her friend and leave James.
She looked at the picture on her nightstand once again, remembering life without being James’ wife. Chloe wondered if this was how she would feel for the rest of her life. Or maybe she would get the courage to do something to change. But, who was she kidding? She had never taken a risk her whole life.
But maybe that was the reason to change.
Brad was now completely moved out and living in a new apartment. It was a big change; he had been with Kathy for so long that it felt weird to be by himself again.
Brad sighed as he unpacked his last box. His sister was only a few blocks away from his new place. Even with his sister and friends so close, he still felt so alone.
Brad had never lived on his own before. He went from his parents' house, to living with Jason as his college roommate, to moving in with Kathy.
Soon he was shaken from his thoughts by a knock on his door. He walked over and opened it. Standing in his hallway was his ex Kathy with his son Jake, who was in his stroller. Brad smiled at his son.
"Hi Jake!" Brad cooed.
"Daddy!" Jake shouted as he reached a hand out to his father.
"So, I'll come and get him tomorrow?" Kathy asked.
"Sure," Brad replied. Then he took the bag that Kathy held out to him. The air was filled with tension and awkwardness as the newly divorced couple stood there in the doorway.
"How are you Brad?" Kathy asked hesitantly.
"You don't have to do that," Brad said bitterly, and yet he sounded sad. After a few minutes of more awkward silence Kathy spoke again.
"I guess I'm going to go," Kathy announced before giving Jake a kiss on the forehead.
"Bye," Brad replied. Kathy shyly smiled and then turned and left.
Brad exhaled a drained sigh before bringing Jake, and his stroller, into his apartment. He shut the door behind him.
Chloe left her apartment building, walking down the steps. It was a sunny day so she decided to get some fresh air and go for a walk.
The streets were filled with their normal city life. Bright yellow taxis packed the streets and people filled the sidewalks. It seemed like everyone had somewhere to be, except Chloe.
Chloe looked across the road and noticed a magazine stand. She decided to buy herself a fashion magazine. Chloe quickly crossed the street avoiding the oncoming traffic. She approached the stand curiously. After finding the new issue of Vogue that she wanted, she gave the man sitting at the stand money and walked away.
Chloe began strolling along the sidewalk casually glancing around her. She admired the tall buildings and shop windows that lined the street. As she continued she noticed a couple not too far ahead of her. She saw them walking hand in hand enjoying the weather. Every so often they would look at each other and Chloe noticed the look in their eyes. She felt envious of their happiness.
Not watching where she was going, Chloe ran into someone, causing them both to drop their magazines.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," Chloe said as she quickly bent down to pick up the magazines. But the other person was too fast beating her to it. They both stood up and looked at each other.
Chloe couldn't believe her eyes. In front of her, holding out her magazine, was none other than Brad DeMarco.
"Don't mention it, it was my fault too," Brad responded before noticing it was Chloe that stood before him. Chloe smiled as she took her magazine from him. As Brad noticed her, he grinned from ear to ear.
"Thank you," Chloe said shyly, not knowing what else to say.
"What a small world," Brad commented with a laugh, remembering back to how she had used that exact phrase to describe them meeting in the elevator.
"I didn't know you lived around here," Chloe replied, with an expression of pure joy on her face.
"I just moved to a new apartment, actually," Brad replied.
"That's great," Chloe commented. "Is this your son?" Chloe asked when she finally took her eyes off of Brad. She looked at Jake as he happily sat in his stroller.
"Yeah, this is Jake," Brad responded.
"Hi Jake!" Chloe said to the little boy. Jake gazed up at Chloe and smiled at her. Brad watched as Chloe looked at his son. When Chloe returned her gaze to him he couldn't help but realize how beautiful she was as the sun hit her face and the traffic stirred up wind that blew her hair slightly.
"It's my turn to have him for the weekend," Brad explained, not knowing why he had to disclose that detail.
"So you're separated from his mother?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah we recently got a divorce," Brad explained.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Chloe responded, uncomfortably. She shifted her weight on her leg.
"So, um, how is your leg?" Brad asked changing the topic. He gestured to her calf as he referred to the injury she had sustained the last time they saw each other.
"I'm all right," Chloe answered, her heart pounding in her chest.
There was a moment where they just stood listening to the sounds of honking cars and people hurrying by. It suddenly dawned on Brad that he didn't have to be lonely anymore, now that Chloe was there with him.
"So, Chloe, do you maybe want to get a coffee with me?" Brad asked timidly as he focused on the science magazine in his hands. Chloe tried not to meet his eyes, knowing it would probably be a bad idea.
Chloe just couldn't get James’ words out of her head.
You can't let something like this happen again. What if someone had seen you tonight? Do you know what that would do to me if someone thought you were cheating?
Chloe didn't want James to find out that she had coffee with Brad. She just knew that he would suspect that something was going on between them. She didn't want to anger James more than he already was.
"I can't today, I'm sorry," Chloe said quietly. Brad’s face dropped in disappointment. He had finally gotten the courage to ask out Chloe, his dream woman, and she had turned him down.
"That's all right," Brad said, trying to fake enthusiasm.
"I should go," Chloe said as she began to back away, trying to get away from the awkwardness she had just caused.
"Okay," Brad said. "It was nice talking to you again."
"Yeah it was," Chloe said, sincerely. "Bye." Chloe turned to walk away from Brad.
"Wait," Brad said. Chloe winced in fear of what he had to say. Then she turned around to face him, looking at him curiously. Brad quickly rummaged around in his pockets. He soon pulled out a slip of paper. "Here's my number, um, give me a call if you change your mind about going for a coffee," Brad said quickly.
Chloe smiled as she took the business card from his outstretched hand.
"Thank you," Chloe said softly. "I'll talk to you again sometime," she lied. Chloe knew she wouldn't be able to see him again; she had to keep up James’ image.
"Bye," Brad said, as he gave her a quick wave.
"Bye," Jake said as well. His little voice warmed her heart. Chloe smiled as she waved to both of them. Then she turned and left, leaving Brad, as well as herself, alone once more.
Chapter 4
Chloe sighed as she regrettably zipped up her suitcase. Chloe and James had been invited by her sister to a cabin for the weekend. Chloe agreed to go, but soon hated the idea when she found out her parents and her other sister was also coming. Now she would have to deal with her entire family for the weekend.
Chloe didn't like her family's conflicting personalities and strange ideas about how life should be lived. There was only so much time she could spend with them.
Chloe's family was very predictable. Her two sisters were spoiled and shallow, her mother lived to gossip and her father was easily angered. All of their qualities and Chloe's feeling about the lifestyle they lived were not a good combination.
The fact that James wasn't able to get the weekend off of work made this all worse. Not only did Chloe have to spend time with her family but she was alone too. Now she would have to answer her parent's inquiries about James, as well as herself.
Chloe rolled her suitcase into the living room. She rounded the corner and saw her housekeeper dusting off a side table.
"Goodbye, Agnes," Chloe said, as she walked through the room. The plump woman with greying hair looked up and smiled.
"You have fun Mrs. Schwizter," Agnes responded with a knowing smile. Chloe often had the feeling that this sweet lady knew how she felt. Agnes didn't say much but her eyes and smiles told Chloe a thousand words.
Chloe exited the apartment and walked down the stairs to the main lobby. When she got outside she pulled her bag behind her and went to the underground parking lot. She put her suitcase in the trunk of her BMW before she climbed in and drove away.
Chloe had always thought that her car was so impractical. She was home most of the time and she could take a taxi to the few places she went to. She didn't need a car, let alone an expensive, flashy car. But James bought it for her anyways; she didn't even ask for it.
Chloe drove on highway after highway until, after about two hours, she turned onto a road that winded through the snow-covered forest. Chloe drove until she reached a clearing behind the cabin. She parked the car beside her parent's car and then got out. Her boots crunched in the snow as she grabbed her bag and walked up the path to the front door.
Chloe looked up at her sister's cabin. It was made of logs but it was quite modern with giant windows and a stone chimney. The lights on either side of the door cast a warm glow across the snow.
It was already evening and the sun was setting, making the forest dark. The last rays of sunlight cast shadows of the many tree branches. The wind swirled across the snowy clearing causing Chloe to quicken her pace to get into the warm.
Chloe walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. Soon the large, wooden door swung open to reveal Chloe's sister, Linda.
"Mom, Chloe's here!" Linda shouted into the hallway. Chloe rolled her eyes at her sister's manners; not even a greeting was uttered.
"Hello to you too, Linda," Chloe said sarcastically to her younger sister.
"Oh yeah, hi," Linda responded, distractedly. "Your bedroom is up the stairs and the second door to your left." Linda sauntered away into the next room.
Chloe took off her coat and boots at the entrance before entering the hallway. There was a grand wood staircase in front of her, but she decided she would go to her bedroom later. She followed the voices she heard coming from the other room.
As soon as she entered the large family room through a wooden archway she noticed her family. Her parents were on a couch in front of the fireplace. Linda and her husband had just entered from the kitchen and her other sister Stephaney and her boyfriend shared an armchair.
Chloe wondered if her father had helped Linda purchase this cabin. It looked like a page out of a magazine with all the different wood, high ceilings and outdoor themed décor. There were two story windows that had a wonderful view over the ski slopes and forest.
"Chloe, sweetie!" Maryse Etienne exclaimed as she walked over to her daughter with outstretched arms. "Where's James?" She asked after she pulled out of the hug.
"He had to work," Chloe replied, trying to hide how annoyed she was that the questions were already beginning.
"Sweet pea!" Philip Etienne greeted as he walked over to Chloe.
"Hi Daddy!" Chloe said, before hugging her father.
Soon dinner was served. Everyone sat around the table. Chloe found out that Stephaney's new boyfriend was named Matthew. Linda had her husband, meaning Chloe was the only sister alone.
The dinner conversation had been going well so far, but Chloe knew that couldn't last long. Chloe was anxious to hear what information her parents would want to wring out of her. Sure enough Chloe's mother became her nosey self.
"So, Chloe darling you've been married to James for quite some time. Have you given a thought to when you will have kids?" Maryse asked. Chloe almost choked on her drink, not expecting that question. Chloe nervously looked down at her plate and began picking at her food as all heads turned to focus on her.
"Well, I, um, don't know if I ever want to be a mother," Chloe stuttered, fearfully. Maryse looked at her as if she had said something terrible or even offensive.
"Chloe, why wouldn't you want to have a family?" Maryse asked in a shocked tone. Again, all eyes focused on Chloe. Chloe looked down for a second time, but their eyes bored into her making her feel uncomfortable.
"Well, James works a lot and I wouldn't want to raise a child on my own," Chloe replied, hoping her mother would be satisfied. But nothing was ever that simple.
"Chloe, sweetie, don't be silly. You won't be alone. James would hire a full time nanny to help you, just like your father hired a nanny to help me raise you three girls," Maryse explained. Chloe didn't know how to respond. Luckily Linda cut in.
"Carson and I are trying to have a baby," Linda said, gloatingly. She then held her husband's hand on the table. All eyes turned on her now, and Chloe was glad for once that her sister always wanted to be the center of attention.
Chloe was alone in one of the guest bedrooms. She lie awake in the unfamiliar bed just thinking about her crazy life. Her parents had continued with questions all night and Chloe had seemed to constantly give them the wrong answer, which only made them worry about her.
Chloe's father and mother were often quite concerned by their daughter. Growing up, Chloe was the same as her sisters: spoiled, outgoing, and shallow. But every day she became more and more different. The Etiennes didn't know how to deal with such abnormal behavior; they never thought Chloe would become who she was. They worried about her and the image she could wreck.
Chloe just didn't fit into this lifestyle she was expected to live. Instead of supporting her decisions, her parents were practically angry with her.
Chloe didn't want to live like this. She hated having a life where everything was so predictable. She knew what was going to happen every day for the rest of her life, and that was what she disliked most.
Tears began to run down Chloe's face and onto her pillowcase. Why couldn't she find the courage to live her life the way she wanted? She knew it couldn't healthy to feel this way. She didn't like feeling trapped in this mold her parents had tried to force her into. But no matter how hard they pushed, she just wasn't cut out for this life.
Chloe had finally reached her breaking point.
Chloe viciously whipped off her blankets and got up out of bed. She desperately needed someone to talk to. She felt so alone and so confused. She marched across the room in the dark trying her best to not run into anything.
The house was silent and her family was asleep. The only sound came from her bare feet on the cold hardwood floor and her rapid breaths that panted from her lungs.
The only question in her mind was whom would she talk to. Her sisters wouldn't understand. She didn't even want to consider talking to them. Then the answer hit her. She needed to find a computer.
Chloe walked down the hallway trying not to make too much noise. Her footsteps echoed through the hall as she walked past d
oor after door, only guided by the moonlight coming through the windows. Soon she found what she was looking for, an office.
Chloe opened the door casting a slit of light across the floor all the way to a desk on the opposite side of the room. She walked into the dark room, letting her eyes adjust before walking over to the desk.
Chloe carefully sat down in the high-backed, leather desk chair, which sat in front of the computer. She turned it on and waited, wiping her tears as she sat there.
The room was illuminated by the monitor's light as the computer turned on, causing Chloe to squint. She was soon logged into her email and typing as quietly as she could. Her tears fell onto the keyboard as she entered her message.
She knew her friend would understand, and she just needed to get her emotions out.
I need you to be completely honest with me. Is my life strange? I've been talking to you for quite some time now about this life where I have to live up to everyone else's standards. I'm in a loveless marriage and I'm too much of a coward to get out of it. I just can't imagine why you talk to me, but I need you now more than ever.
I just can't do this anymore. Why am I doing this to myself? I can't live like this any longer. I don't fit in to this lifestyle my parents have given me. I think I have finally decided to leave James. I just don't know how.
Chloe tried to stifle her sobs that shook her body, making her hands tremble on the keyboard. She had to pause for a moment to collect herself. She breathed out a shaky breath and hit send. As she leaned back in the chair she glanced at the clock on the screen, it read 2:26am. Her heart sank when she realized her friend wouldn't be awake to answer her.
Chloe turned off the computer and headed back to her room. What would she do now? She desperately needed someone to talk to.
Chloe ambled back to her bedroom and threw herself on her bed. She crawled into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest. Chloe took in the bedroom around her. The deep green walls and soft bed did nothing to comfort her.
Chloe noticed a phone on her bedside table. She sighed with regret as she picked it up and dialed her friend Becca's phone number. With all of the late calls she had received from Becca over the years she knew she wouldn't mind.
We Ended Up Together Page 3