When Darkness Falls

by Jennifer Youngblood

  Five minutes later, and she was out the door and rushing head-on into Susan.

  “Good morning, Chloe. Where are you off to?”

  “Just running a few errands,” Chloe said vaguely, not wanting to have to explain herself.

  “Well, I’m glad I caught you. I wanted to see if I could borrow Beasty again.” It sounded like she was asking to use the vacuum cleaner.

  “Uh … sure. Do you want me to get him for you?”

  “No, I’ll get him.” She breezed past Chloe.

  “Okay, bye,” Chloe said, but Susan was already inside the house.

  “So much for privacy,” Chloe muttered under her breath.

  * * *

  The girl who let her borrow the shoes was standing behind her desk when Chloe arrived at Marsh Interiors. She thought she remembered Mr. Singleton calling her Yvette but wasn’t sure, so she didn’t call her by name. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you letting me borrow your shoes,” Chloe said, holding them out to her.

  She smiled. “Glad I could help.”

  “Well, thanks again.” Chloe turned to leave.

  “Wait. I told Hank you were coming in today to return my shoes, and he said he would like to speak with you.”

  Chloe froze. “What does he want to speak to me about?”

  “Can I tell him you’re here?”

  She nodded.

  A second later, Hank Singleton appeared. He was younger than Chloe remembered and a lot better looking. As a matter of fact, he reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on whom. What was it about him that seemed familiar? His features, his demeanor, or the expression on his face—maybe all of the above.

  “Good morning,” he said briskly, extending his hand like they were meeting for the first time.

  She smiled and reached for his hand. “You wanted to see me, Mr. Singleton?”

  He looked her up and down, making her feel that she was somehow sub par in his watchful eyes. “Hank.”

  She looked at him, not sure how to respond.

  “You can call me Hank,” he clarified.

  “Oh … okay.” An awkward laugh escaped her lips. “Hank.”

  He gave her a funny look. Now she knew why she hadn’t found him attractive before. Talk about a stiff!

  He motioned. “Please, step into my office.”

  She sat perched on the edge of the chair, waiting for him to speak.

  “I feel that I owe you an apology for the last time we met. I’m afraid I may have been rude.”

  May have been rude? He practically threw her out of his office. But she couldn’t exactly bring that to his attention. “Well, I guess it’s not everyday that a person shows up shoeless for a job interview.” Admittedly, it was a poor attempt at humor, but she expected him to at least give her a courtesy laugh for the effort. When he didn’t, her face flamed.

  “You have to admit the circumstances were a bit unusual.”

  She nodded. “Yes, it’s not everyday that the heel of my shoe gets caught and that I go plowing into the sidewalk.”

  He didn’t even crack a smile. This guy was tough.

  “I’m afraid we didn’t have much of an interview last time,” he said.

  “No, we didn’t.”

  “Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to interview you now.”

  She licked her dry lips. “Of course.”

  * * *

  Chloe could’ve sung hallelujahs all the way out of Hank Singleton’s office. He offered her a job on the spot—at a higher salary than she’d expected.

  Yvette looked up from her desk and gave Chloe a knowing smile. “Things went better this time.”

  “Much. I got the job.”

  “Congratulations.”

  Hank stepped out of his office and looked at Chloe quizzically, as if to ask why she was still there.

  “Yvette, I need to see you for a minute.”

  She shot out of her chair so fast that Chloe halfway expected her to salute him. Geez, what kind of man was he anyway?

  “See you Monday,” he said curtly before turning his back to her.

  Chloe nodded. Not that he stood around long enough to notice. She’d been dismissed and forgotten about for the moment. From the looks of things, this was going to be an interesting place to work. But she’d gotten the job! It was all she could do to keep from dancing her way to the car.

  She reached for her phone. “Mom! I got the job,” she said breathlessly.

  “Congratulations, honey. Which one?”

  “At Marsh Interiors.”

  “Wow, honey, that’s great. I told you I felt good about that job.” There was a hint of reproof in her voice, which Chloe ignored. “When do you start?”

  “Next Monday. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it.”

  “You sound good.”

  “I am good, Mom.”

  There was a pause.

  “Is everything okay … I mean … well … have you had anymore dreams?”

  “No, Mom. You don’t have to worry. I’m not cracking up.” The words came out sounding more abrupt than she’d intended, and she heard her mother’s sharp intake of breath. “I’m fine,” she said a little kinder. “Really. If you don’t believe me, just ask Darbie.”

  “I believe you, honey.” Another pause. “I just worry about you, that’s all.”

  “Well don’t,” she snapped.

  A beep interrupted them. “Mom, I’ve got another call coming in. I’ll call you back later … okay … love you.”

  She answered the call, surprised to hear Darbie’s voice. “Chloe! You’ve got to get home now!”

  Chloe’s heart lurched. Had something happened to Beasty? She should’ve never let Susan take him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing! Shoes!”

  “What?”

  “A man arrived a few minutes ago from Dillard’s department store, and he’s been bringing in boxes of shoes for the past five minutes.”

  Confusion swirled around Chloe. “But I didn’t order—”

  Darbie’s squeal cut her off short. “Are those Birkenstocks? You won’t believe this! Toms, Gianni Bini, Calvin Klein, Jessica Simpson, Antonio Melani, Nike! Oh my gosh! This is incredible! What size shoe do you wear?” She let out an impatient huff when Chloe remained silent. “Hello? Are you there?”

  “I’m here. I thought you were talking to that man in the background.”

  “Well?”

  “You want to know my shoe size?”

  “YEAH!”

  “Seven and a half.”

  Darbie started laughing like she was deliriously happy. “Yes!”

  Chloe shook her head. “I don’t understand. What’s going on? Why are you naming shoe brands? Who did you say was there?”

  Darbie was too busy talking to the man to answer. “Thank you!”

  “For what?” Chloe said and then realized that Darbie wasn’t talking to her. She rolled her eyes. Darbie was so exasperating! Why did she even bother calling when she was obviously caught up in another conversation with some deliveryman?

  “You there?” Darbie practically yelled.

  Chloe held the phone away from her ear and winced. “I’m here.”

  “There’s a card.”

  This was getting old fast. She blew out a breath. “Darbie, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

  “Mind if I open it?”

  “What?”

  “The card.”

  “Is it addressed to me?”

  Darbie laughed. “Well, duh! Who else?”

  Chloe rolled her eyes. “As if I have a choice in the matter,” she mumbled. “Go ahead!”

  “Ooh, this is juicy.”

  “Huh?”

  “It says:”

  Dear Chloe,

  I hope you’ll accept this little token of my appreciation for the wonderful evening we spent together. I look forward to many more.

  Yours truly,

  Garrett

  “What
token?” Chloe asked dubiously.

  Darbie hooted. “An entire house full of shoes.”

  Chloe had just about had enough. It was all she could do to keep her voice even. If she’d been talking to Darbie in person, she would’ve strangled her. “I haven’t understood a word you’ve been telling me. You keep spouting off things in disjointed sentences, and then half the time, you’re not even talking to me. Could you please tell me what the heck is going on?”

  “Okay, already. I’ll start from the beginning. Geez. Don’t get your panties in a wad. I was getting caught up on homework, and the doorbell rang. I went to answer it, and there was a man standing on the porch. He said he was from Dillard’s Department Store and that he had a delivery for Chloe Kensley. Then he started bringing in boxes of shoes.”

  “What kinds of shoes?”

  “All kinds. Some are dress shoes and others are casual. There’s even a pair of Timberland hiking boots. If you don’t want them then maybe I could—”

  “How many pairs of shoes?”

  “Just a minute. Let me count them.”

  There was some rustling in the background before Darbie returned a couple of minutes later. “Thirty-two in all. I’ve never seen so many beautiful shoes in my life. How did you?” she blustered. “I mean when did you meet ... Who is this guy?”

  Chloe was stunned. He’d sent her thirty-two pairs of shoes … after one date? Unbelievable!

  “Are you there?”

  “Yeah. Just shocked.” She laughed. “I can’t believe he sent me all of those shoes.”

  “Why shoes?”

  “Remember the other day when I went for the interview that ended so disastrously?” She didn’t spell out that Darbie’s taking her car was the largest contributor to the mishap. “Anyway, I ruined my shoe and had to go to the interview shoeless. On my way out, I ran into Garrett … literally. And we ended up going out.”

  “On a date?”

  “Yeah.”

  “But you never said anything.”

  “You never asked.”

  Darbie laughed. “Well, aren’t you just the little spitfire. Everyone’s all worried that you’re pining away over your dead fiancé, and here you are going out with some guy … Is he cute?”

  “Oh, he’s more than cute.”

  Another squeal. This one followed by a deviant giggle. “What does he look like?”

  “Blond, lean … kind of like Brad Pitt … almost too handsome, if you know what I mean.”

  “Oh, no, a man can never be too handsome … or rich like this one obviously is.”

  “If you say so.” Chloe had been driving the entire time they were talking and was now less than five minutes from their house.

  “Do you mind if I try some of them on?”

  Chloe smiled at the eagerness in Darbie’s voice. “Knock yourself out. I’ll be there shortly.”

  * * *

  The first thing Chloe saw when she stepped through the door was Darbie, sitting in the living room floor, trying on shoes. A feeling of awe tingled over her as she looked at the assortment of beautiful shoes. “Wow!” she murmured, dropping her purse on the couch.

  “Wow indeed,” Darbie agreed, shoving her foot into a gold, high-heeled sandal. She held out her foot, inspecting it. “What do you think?”

  Chloe sat down on the floor beside her. “I don’t know what to think.” She picked up a pair of Toms that were a white woven pattern made of canvas.

  “This guy must be really something.”

  “Yeah.” She put down the Toms and reached for the shiny red sandals made by Gianni Bini. “Did you say he left me a card?”

  Darbie motioned. “It’s on the side table,” she said absently, her attention immediately going back to the shoes as she removed the gold sandal and tried on the pink, Nike tennis shoe.

  Chloe went to the table and picked up the card. It was just as Darbie had read to her over the phone—a simple note, nothing more. She turned it over. It was blank on the back. Mixed emotions warred inside her as she looked at the shoes. They were amazing—any girl’s dream—and yet she felt guilty for accepting such an extravagant gift from someone she’d only just met. Her mother would be mortified if she saw this. Then it dawned on her that she had no way to contact Garrett. He’d not left his number on the card, and she’d not even thought to get his last name. How could she have gone on a date with a guy and not even gotten his last name? A sense of shame covered her as she stood, looking down at the pile of shoes. The right thing to do would be to return them to Dillards, but that would be awkward and rude. And she didn’t even know from which Dillards they’d come. She blew out a breath and gathered her hair into a ponytail, holding it high on her head.

  Darbie looked up and saw her expression. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, just a little overwhelmed. No one has ever given me something like this before.” She frowned. “I’m not sure what to think.”

  “That’s your problem. You think too much!”

  “I just don’t want to give Garrett the wrong idea. We went out to dinner once, we’re not a couple. I’m not sure what his expectations are.” She motioned at the shoes. “Maybe we should return them.”

  Darbie gawked. “Don’t be such a Debbie Downer! Relax! An amazing guy gives you a few pairs of shoes. So what?”

  “Not just a few pairs of shoes but thirty-two pairs of expensive shoes!”

  “Look, you came here to start a new life, and you’ve met a great guy who obviously appreciates you. What’s the problem?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just all happening so fast.”

  Darbie looked her up and down as her lips puckered. “You really are wound up tight. At this rate, you’re gonna blow your cork before you’re thirty.” She tugged on Chloe’s hand. “I want you to do yourself a favor. Sit down.”

  Chloe made a face. “What?”

  “Sit down,” Darbie repeated insistently.

  Begrudgingly, Chloe complied.

  “The guy sent you shoes, not a wedding ring. Go on a few dates with him, and see how it goes. If it doesn’t work out, you can always go your separate ways. What have you got to lose?”

  The exasperated look on Darbie’s face made her feel foolish. Maybe she was making a big deal out of nothing. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to give him a chance,” Chloe said thoughtfully.

  “Good, it’s settled,” Darbie said matter-of-factly. She handed her the red sandals. “Try these on.”

  “I don’t want to try them on,” Chloe countered.

  Beasty sauntered into the room.

  “Hey, boy,” Chloe said, “come here.”

  He gave her a disinterested look, walked past her, and then rubbed against Darbie’s leg. “See even Beasty wants you to try them on.” Darbie began stroking his back, and he purred loudly.

  Chloe’s eyes narrowed. The traitor!

  “Do yourself a favor—for one small moment, be less like you and more like me. Live a little.” She shrugged. “What can it hurt?”

  If only she could be more carefree and cavalier like Darbie! She’d played by the rules her entire life, and it had gotten her nowhere. Maybe Darbie was right! Maybe she did need to let go a little. “Fine! I’ll try on the shoes,” she grumbled. A minute later, she held out her foot for inspection much like Darbie had done earlier. “What do you think?”

  A smile curved Darbie’s lips as she gave Chloe an appreciative look. “Fabulous! I believe there may be hope for you yet.”

  7

  Chapter 7

  Chloe’s eyes popped open at the first sound of her alarm clock. She’d gotten a good night’s sleep, devoid of any loud music blaring from Lila’s house and no dreams of Dan. She stretched and threw back the covers. Today was the first day of the rest of her life and the day she would start her new job at Marsh Interiors. This time, she was determined to make sure that everything went smoothly.

  She hopped out of bed and stood, eyeing the clothes she’d laid out to wear the night before. In the li
ght of day, they looked too formal, so she hung them back in the closet. She sifted through her clothes, finally deciding on a pair of chocolate-colored pants and a matching blouse, trimmed in an Aztec gold design. Her 14k gold loop earrings would add the perfect touch, and she would wear her hair piled high on her head because her mom said it made her look more professional. And, thanks to Garrett, she had some stylish Antonio Melani pumps to complete the outfit. After applying bronzer to her cheeks, mascara, and peach lip-gloss, she decided she couldn’t do any better. Hurriedly she grabbed her purse and headed for the door. Beasty trailed after her but made a beeline for Darbie’s room when Chloe bent down to pet him. “See you tonight, Beasty. I know you’ll miss me,” she said sarcastically while closing the door.

  When Chloe arrived, Yvette led her to a desk in the back, adjacent to a glassed-in office where one of the executives worked. She gave Chloe a stack of employment papers to complete. “I’ll come back in about an hour and take you around to introduce you to everyone.”

  Chloe nodded and took the papers. She had just finished completing them when Yvette returned. “Do you have any questions?”

  Chloe shook her head. “No, it was pretty self-explanatory.”

  “You can always change things if you need to. They’re not strict about it.”

  “Thanks, that sounds great.”

  Yvette gave her a cheerful smile. “Let’s introduce you to the team.”

  Chloe stood and smoothed down her pants. “Okay, let’s do it.”

  Yvette chuckled. “The first day is always the hardest. You’ll get the hang of things pretty quick. We’re a small team but very effective.” She introduced Chloe to Kate Dillon the only other designer at Marsh Interiors. Kate looked to be in her late forties and fit the part of a successful designer to the letter. Her blonde hair curved on her shoulders, and she was dressed to the nines. She was only passably cordial, and it was clear from the way her bright blue eyes raked over Chloe that she would view her as competition on every level. When Kate started peppering her with questions about the trade, Yvette had to step in and rescue her. “Now, don’t go monopolizing Chloe. I still have to introduce her to a couple more people.”