Love Letters

by Geraldine Solon

  “In three months.”

  “For heaven’s sake, Chloe, you’re getting married in June and you’re only calling me now? What is this, a drive-thru wedding?”

  “He proposed to me in December. It’s a six month engagement.”

  A shocked silence followed. Then, in a quiet voice that frightened Chloe more than the yelling, her mother said, “Let me ask you this, were you going to call me if you didn’t get married?”

  “I don’t know, Mom. That’s a difficult question to answer. It sounds like you’re still angry at me.”

  “You remind me of your father. You just seem to go where the wind takes you.” Sadness permeated her words, leaving a lump in Chloe’s throat.

  Chloe kept quiet. She didn’t know how to mention Ignacio without stirring up more old wounds, so she decided to save it for later, when the waters were calmer between them. “Mom, do you think I can visit you next week? I’d like to hang out.”

  “Since when do you want to hang out with me?” Suzanne asked suspiciously.

  “Mom, you’re not making this any easier for me. I called you today because I wanted to tell you about my wedding.”

  “Which you already did ….”

  Chloe hugged her teddy tighter. “I want to spend time with you, maybe have a mother and daughter day. I’m getting married and I need some advice.”

  “Are you feeling okay, Chloe? You sound kind of strange.”

  “I’m fine, Mom. Why do ask?”

  “You’ve never asked me for advice.”

  It was true. She never had, so why now? “Well, that’s because you’ve given it to me whether I asked for it or not.”

  “Something’s wrong. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “Okay, Mom, you win.” Chloe sighed. “It was Richard who asked me to call you. He said that we can’t have a wedding unless he meets you.”

  Suzanne laughed. “So, my instincts are still sharp.”

  In spite of herself, Chloe chuckled. “Still, I need to see you soon. There’s something I need to ask you.”

  After a brief hesitation, Suzanne said, “Chloe, I appreciate you calling me after two years, but … I have a life now and, well … I’ve got a trip scheduled.”

  Chloe bit her nail. “Trip? Where are you going? When?”

  “I’m leaving for South America tomorrow with Jill. We’ll be travelling to Argentina, Peru, Panama and Venezuela.”

  “Tomorrow? Why are you going to South America?”

  “You know that Jill and I travel together every year.”

  Chloe couldn’t help wondering if this had anything to do with Ignacio. She opened her mouth to ask, but somehow the words wouldn’t come. Instead she said, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll see you when you get back.”

  “Okay. And Chloe … Thank you for calling me today. It meant a lot to me.”

  “Have a safe trip, Mom.” She started to hang up but stopped. “Hey, Mom?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you.”

  There was a long pause. Then, in a voice that quavered, her mom said, “Me too.” Then she was gone. Chloe lay there, looking up at the ceiling. Was her mother looking for Ignacio now that her dad was gone? She pictured Josh. Maybe she and her mom were more alike than she’d thought possible.

  ***

  “Honey, maybe it’s a sign that we shouldn’t sell this place,” Chloe said over dinner that evening at her house.

  “How can you say that, when you only showed it to four people?” Richard furrowed his brows.

  “They all keep asking me the same question: Why do I want to sell?”

  Richard was sending an email from his phone while eating his grilled chicken. “I’m sure you’ll be able to sell it. You just need to show them that you’re not too attached to the house.”

  She folded her arms. “How can I not be attached to this house when I’ve lived here all my life?”

  Richard continued to type his email. “Maybe we should remove your stuff before we show it to buyers again. Without your furniture, they’ll be able to picture themselves living here.”

  “You know that’s impossible,” she said, picking at the last of her eggplant parmesan. “I don’t want to pay for storage.”

  “Who says you’re going to pay for storage?” he said, looking at her. “How about you sell all your stuff and move in with me next month?”

  She scraped her chair back. “And Greta?”

  Richard shrugged. “Greta can stay with Nicole for the meantime.”

  Chloe crossed her legs. “And my job?”

  He drank his water. “You can always quit. We’ve already discussed that. Your job isn’t important.”

  “It is to me.”

  “Is it?” he asked, raising one eyebrow.

  Chloe stood up and took the empty dishes into the kitchen, then returned with two green teas. “I make brides’ dreams come true. Every bride who comes in that store is looking for reassurance that her wedding day is going to be the best day of her life. I make that possible.”

  Richard stirred his tea. “Are you serious?”

  She pushed her cup away. “You know what, maybe you and I come from two different worlds.”

  Richard set his spoon on his napkin and raised his hands. “What do you mean, Chloe? I thought we discussed that you were to quit your job and sell your house.”

  Chloe just shook her head. What had she expected? Richard grew up in a big family in Atlanta, Georgia. While his dad worked, his mom stayed home to raise eight kids. He wanted Chloe to stay home and be a housewife like his mom. Richard had his whole life planned. He was working hard now to be able to retire at fifty. He had invested in stocks and mutual funds that he believed would take care of their future.

  He had told Chloe that by selling her house, they could use the money to invest in more stocks. She knew he didn’t tell her all his plans because he didn’t believe Chloe would understand. And she had to admit, as she sipped on her tea, she’d never had to worry about money while growing up and had always been happy-go-lucky. It was up to Richard to make their future bright. And Chloe also had to admit she had agreed to Richard’s terms of quitting her job and selling the house, but lately Richard had complained she wasn’t acting herself. Perhaps she was simply overwhelmed with the wedding preparations.

  Chloe had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized Richard was talking until he said, “Well, didn’t you agree you would sell the house and quit your job?”

  “Those were your ideas, not mine,” Chloe snapped.

  Richard moved his chair close to hers and rubbed her shoulders. “Baby, you’re not making any sense. Are you all right?”

  “I think you better go. It’s getting late and we both have work tomorrow,” Chloe said, stiffening in her seat. She wanted to tell him that she had spoken to her mother and to share the letters from Ignacio with him, but she was feeling too confused right now. She was afraid he would just use them to try to convince her that he was right in making all the decisions for them as a couple.

  Richard wrapped his arms around her waist. “It’s okay to be nervous with the wedding coming up. Let’s give it some time, okay? I’m sure we’ll find the right buyer.”

  She forced herself to nod as he kissed her goodnight and left.

  A part of her wanted to fulfill Richard’s wishes, but giving up her job was something she couldn’t do. She remembered her customers’ smiles each time they walked out of the store, a satisfied look that every bride knew. Chloe kept the beautiful cards they wrote, thanking her for their gowns and the wonderful experience they’d had with her. She couldn’t count how many weddings she’d attended, and how many buckets of tears she’d cried watching her customers wear the gowns from Brides Only. She couldn’t leave her job.

  Yet she wasn’t just upset about leaving her job. She was angry at her mother for not telling her about Ignacio or her wanting to be a Broadway actress. She was confused about why her mom had never ended up
with Ignacio, but more than anything she needed to see Josh.

  She carried Greta to her room and turned off the lights, then lay down on her bed. Tossing and turning, she fell asleep just before dawn.

  ***

  Chloe didn’t hear her alarm clock that morning and woke up at nine fifteen, barely enough time to take a quick shower and rush to work, never mind breakfast. Her energy was already depleted after talking to her mother and arguing with Richard the night before. What she needed was a power bar to rejuvenate her. She hopped in the shower and ten minutes later she was in her Jetta ready to head to work with wet hair. She hated days like these.

  Her cell phone rang while she was backing out of the driveway. It was Nicole.

  “Hi, Nic, you’re never going to believe it. I finally called Mom. Oh boy, she’s still the same Suzanne. I guess two years really was a vacation for me,” Chloe joked.

  “Hmm, interesting. By the way, can we meet for a late lunch? I need to talk to you and I made two sandwiches. We can eat here at the back of the salon during my break.”

  Chloe rubbed her temple, feeling a terrible headache coming on. “Sure. Everything okay? You sound down.”

  “I can’t talk now, but meet me here around three. Let’s talk then,” Nicole said.

  I hope Nicole didn’t get into a fight with Matt.

  Ten minutes later, Chloe arrived at the shop, turned on the lights and put her purse in her office. As soon as she turned the open sign over, four women walked in. It was a busy day for Chloe, whose customers flew in and out the door the entire morning. She had lost all track of time until Maureen told her that Nicole was on line one.

  “Are you coming?” Nicole asked.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll be there in two minutes,” Chloe replied, grabbing her purse.

  Then to Maureen and Faye she called, “I might take a longer lunch today. You can reach me on my cell phone.”

  Nicole was waiting for her at the back of the salon with two sandwiches when Chloe arrived seven minutes later.

  Chloe gave her a big hug. “What’s the matter? You look like you got hit by a bus.”

  Nicole was wearing jeans and an ordinary white shirt, and she had dark circles underneath her eyes. “The bank is foreclosing on our home.”

  “What?” Chloe held her hand.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I thought your dad paid for the house,” Chloe said as she unwrapped her sandwich.

  “I thought so too, until that son of a…”

  Chloe set her sandwich aside. “When did you find this out?”

  “Yesterday, the bank called demanding that my mom pay six months mortgage. My mom said she knew nothing about it, but they didn’t believe her. They showed us the documents and it’s true – my dad lied to us. He told us the house was paid in full, but it wasn’t. He had been paying it on time until six months ago. My mom confronted him yesterday, and he said he can’t continue paying two houses. He said he already has a new family, and his obligation is to them, not to her,” Nicole said, wiping her tears.

  Chloe drew closer to rub her back. Although Nicole was living with Matt, she was still very close to her mom and she would miss her childhood home. “I can’t believe he would do that. I’m sorry to hear that. What did your mom say?”

  “She said it was bad enough that he left us for another woman, but lying about the house has really damaged his integrity.” She sniffed. “Mom kept my room the same way when I left. I have so many memories there,” Nicole said, putting her sandwich aside.

  Chloe thought about her own house and felt a huge welling of sympathy. “Oh no, this isn’t happening. Maybe Richard could help you.”

  Nicole shook her head. “The bank is giving Mom thirty days and, unless she can come up with the money, she’s doomed.”

  “Let’s not give up so easily. We can fight this, Nic,” Chloe said, taking a sip of her soda.

  “This isn’t a fairytale like your romance novels,” Nicole snapped.

  Chloe frowned. “I’m only trying to help.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said. I’m just feeling down right now and everything seems hopeless.”

  “It’s all right,” Chloe said, giving her friend’s hand a squeeze. “I understand. I’m going to talk to Richard and see what he can do. Even if he can’t help, we’ll find a way to fix your situation.”

  “Thanks, Chloe,” Nicole said, looking outside the window. “Hey, look who’s here?”

  Chloe turned around and froze when she saw Josh enter the salon behind Matt. He was dressed in jeans and a gray jacket with a cap.

  Matt walked to the back and kissed Nicole. “Hi babe. I came as soon as I heard. Your mother called, told me the whole story.”

  “Hey you,” Josh said, smiling at Chloe.

  Chloe tucked her hair around her ear and looked down. “Hey.”

  “Are you okay, babe? You know I’m here for you no matter what,” Matt said, embracing Nicole. “I hope we didn’t disturb you guys.”

  Nicole wiped the tears from her eyes. “That’s so sweet of you to check on me. Chloe’s been reassuring me that we’ll find a way to fix this problem. She’s even going to talk to Richard.”

  “That’s what friends are for,” Chloe smiled, glancing at Josh.

  “So, are you guys coming over tonight?” Josh asked, staring directly at Chloe.

  “What’s happening tonight?” Chloe asked, looking at Nicole.

  “I forgot to tell you, Josh has invited us tonight for drinks at his place.” Nicole gave an innocent shrug, but Chloe had a feeling she was up to something. She had never liked Richard, and would no doubt love to see them go their separate ways.

  “Oh.”

  Richard was supposed to be coming over, but as usual he would be busy making phone calls. Maybe Nicole was right. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt for him to worry a little. She would tell him she had a dinner date with Nicole. No sooner had she mentally agreed to it than she felt a flush of heat. She’d never been the deceptive type, and it shocked her to think that she would do so now.

  Josh eyed Chloe’s engagement ring. “So are you coming?”

  Her heart was beating fast. “Um, sure, what time?”

  “Around eight. I’ll make margaritas.” Josh gave her his most winning smile.

  “Yeah, and I’ll bring the buffalo wings,” Matt added.

  “I can bring some nachos,” Chloe said, crossing her legs.

  “Thanks, guys, I feel better already.” Nicole took a bite of her sandwich.

  Matt kissed Nicole goodbye. “Okay, we’ll see you later.”

  “Later,” Josh said, waving goodbye.

  Chloe was shaking all over. After talking to him last night and seeing him again today, she knew she still felt connected to Josh. It was like he had never left. The only difference being that she would be marrying Richard soon. She rolled her head from side to side to ease the tension that had built in her neck. She had way too much on her mind. She stood up and threw her soda in the recycling bin and her sandwich in the garbage can. “Hey, Nic, I have to go back to work. Do you want me to pick you up tonight?”

  “That would be nice,” Nicole smiled. “Thank you for always being there for me.”

  Chloe winked at her friend. Deep inside she wanted to tell Nicole how excited she was to see Josh tonight but instead she said, “That’s what friends are for.”

  Chapter Five

  Chloe went to her walk-in closet and pulled out some pants and tops. She didn’t want to be overdressed, yet she didn’t want to look underdressed for Josh’s party either. After trying several outfits, she decided to wear tight black pants and a printed top with black high heels. She was well endowed, and could afford to show a little cleavage. She rubbed her glittered Victoria Secret lotion all over her body, adding more on her chest and neck. Then she flat ironed her hair.

  She felt guilty that she was going out of her way to look good for Josh, but after the way Richard had treated her the previous evening it w
ould do him good to worry a little. She smiled, thinking of her conversation with Josh. He was so different from Richard. He seemed to really care about her thoughts, her dreams. She had caught him looking at her engagement ring earlier and wondered if it bothered him. After all the sweet things he’d said to her over the phone, she needed to know that she wasn’t making a mistake by marrying Richard.

  I’m getting married soon.

  Her thoughts once again turned to Richard. He would be hitting the sack early and though she told him she’d be with Nicole, she felt a queasy feeling in her stomach. She had never lied to Richard before, and she didn’t like the idea of starting now. Still, she brushed aside her anxiety. It’s only a party.

  After fixing her hair she put on face powder and blush for her cheeks. Although she wasn’t fond of makeup, she loved wearing mascara because it gave her eyes character. She had long lashes, and enhancing them showed her eyes off to good advantage. That done, she put on a dash of perfume and some lipstick, then grabbed her purse and took one last look at the mirror, before snatching her keys. On her way out, she kissed Greta goodbye.

  It was a cool, crisp evening. While driving to Nicole’s house, she watched the stars out her window, and thought of Josh. Like the moon hidden beneath the clouds, there were so many unknowns. Could she really change her entire life for Richard? Or did she want more? Did she want a second chance with Josh—to see where it might lead?

  By the time she arrived at Nicole’s house, turned off the engine, and headed up the walkway, she was more confused than ever. Sighing in frustration, she rang the doorbell several times before Nicole opened the door wearing a robe, her hair wet.

  “You’re not ready yet?” Chloe asked, entering the house.

  “Sorry, I took a nap when I came home,” Nicole said. “Maybe you can buy the nachos first.”

  “Okay, that’s a good idea.”

  Nicole looked her up and down, and then whistled in appreciation. “You’re smoking, girl.”

  Chloe laughed. “Thanks. Now be ready when I get back.”

  Back in her Jetta, she went to Safeway to buy the nachos and salsa. When she returned, Nicole was coming out of the door wearing a short black dress with high heels and matching Prada bag.