Chloe Sparrow

by Lesley Crewe

  Now she gets red in the face. “She’s fifteen years younger than he is!”

  “I’m not suggesting he’s interested in her romantically, but he does like a good argument, and she provides that non-stop.”

  I have to admit that things are kind of dull without Agatha around.

  It’s New Year’s Eve and Austin wants us to go out and party with the CBC gang at a nightclub, but I just can’t do it, so now he’s fed up. We bump into each other in the bathroom. I brush my teeth while he opens the medicine cabinet to get his aftershave.

  “The only time you come alive is when you’re caught up with death, dying, grief, bereavement groups, sorrow, and loss. What about just being happy? Why not come dancing with me? You’ve done everything you can do for your grandfather. He’s recovering and he’s comfortable. Why not enjoy some time with the other man who loves you?”

  “You don’t understand. I could lose him.”

  “You could lose me, Chloe.”

  He gets dressed up and leaves the house. I go over to say good night to Gramps. I‘m happy to say Aunt Ollie is on the phone with Agatha and there’s a lot of sniffing going on. I sit on the side of the bed.

  “Why are you here on New Year’s Eve?”

  “I didn’t feel like going out.”

  “Where‘s Austin?”

  “He left.”

  “That’s not good.”

  This ruffles my feathers. “Look, when my family needs me—”

  “I don’t need you. It is not your job to babysit me. I sure as hell don’t want to be responsible for you letting that young man die on the vine. Now go, I’m tired.”

  So I go home and sit on my bed. Only it’s not just my bed anymore. I pick up Austin’s pillow and breathe in his scent. What am I doing? I can’t save the world. I don’t know anything, really. I’m afraid to admit to people that I’m scared most of the time.

  I wish I were brave.

  It’s almost ten-thirty. If I hurry, I can be dressed and at the club by midnight. I shower, powder, perfume, spray, and slink into a black dress. The kids are asleep when I leave. I’m in a race against time now and the streets are a bit slippery. The whole way there I yell at myself for being a stupid bitch. Why can’t I just grow up and behave? I either smother people or completely ignore them. The problem is I’m still fixated on myself. The world according to Chloe Sparrow. Who do I think I am? I’m nothing special. Lots of people lose family members in pretty horrible ways. I didn’t stab my parents or choke them, or push them off a cliff. I was in my room sulking when they met their maker.

  It’s now 11:50 and I can’t find a parking space, so I pull into someone’s driveway. Who cares if I get a tongue-lashing or a ticket? In my hurry I forgot to put boots on, so I slip and slide in my high heels as I jump a curb and a pile of snow. There’s a lineup and the doors are roped off. I implore the bouncer to let me in, while the people in line heckle me.

  “Sorry, darlin’. You’ll have to wait like everyone else.”

  “I wish you’d open that door. It’s a matter of life and death!”

  The doors open and a group of drunken people come spilling out. In the mayhem I slip inside. According to my watch, I have four minutes to find Austin in this madness. The music is blaring and everyone is on the dance floor, most of them with a drink in their hands.

  “Austin! Austin!”

  I elbow my way through the crowd. A few men grab me and want to dance. I elbow them and keep going. Wait! I think I see Jason.

  “Jason!”

  Now I see Amanda. “Amanda!”

  She turns around and looks very happy to see me. We head towards each other in slow motion. The DJ tells everyone we only have a minute to go. I don’t have much time. When she gets to me, I shout in her ear. “Where’s Austin?”

  She points over the crowd. “Some cougar is all over him.”

  “Well, he is a vet.”

  “Go knock her teeth out!” Amanda yells.

  I’m wading through people and my shoe comes off, but I finally see him. This insane old woman is trying to grab Austin’s ass and manoeuvre herself so she can kiss him when the clock strikes midnight.

  “Ten, nine, eight, seven…”

  “Austin! Austin!”

  He looks around but doesn’t see me.

  “Six, five…”

  “I’m here!”

  He finally spots me and pushes his way towards me with a big grin on his face.

  “Four, three…”

  He lifts me up and I’m in his arms.

  “Two, one.…”

  “Happy New Year!” we shout together before we kiss each other for what seems like forever.

  “I’m so happy you came,” he says in my ear. “I love you, Chloe.”

  I put my hands on his face. “Austin?”

  “Yes?”

  “Will you marry me?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  So now, on top of everything else, I have to plan a wedding. My lists are beginning to get out of hand, so I make Austin stay in bed the next weekend to discuss it.

  “I don’t care what you do. It’s all good.”

  “You’re supposed to be more interested than that.”

  “Just include my mother in some of the planning and you’ll have my everlasting gratitude. Julia says she’s never having a wedding and Mom is down in the dumps about it. Let her plan your bridal shower, or whatever.”

  “Do I need a bridal shower?”

  He gets out of bed and puts on his running clothes. “We could use a few things. There’s an echo in this place.”

  “I hate to disappoint you, but people are not going to buy us a dining room table or a loveseat as a shower gift.”

  “When are we having this wedding?”

  “Soon? Or should we wait?”

  He reaches down and kisses my head. “Soon, please. I’ve waited long enough. Come on, Dudley, let’s get some exercise.”

  Dudley comes out from under the bed and hurries after him. The girls are left with me. “I suppose I should call Harriet.”

  She answers on the first ring. I ask her if she’d like to host the bridal shower and she’s beside herself with excitement. There, that’s done.

  Next I get a text message from Amanda. You don’t have to do a thing. I’m hosting your bridal shower.

  I’m finishing breakfast when Aunt Ollie shows up and sits at my table. “Agatha and I are thinking of having a bridal shower for you.”

  My surprise is such that I spit my tea into the sink. “Seriously?”

  “Isn’t that what a female relative of the bride is supposed to do? I know your mom isn’t here, and I’m second-best…”

  I run over and give her a big hug while she’s still seated. “You’re not second-best, Aunt Ollie. That’s so sweet of you. I’d be happy to have you host my shower!”

  “That’s settled, then. Now, you’re going to have to tell me what to do because I have no idea.”

  Sigh.

  This requires diplomacy, so I show up at Harriet’s door.

  “Hello Chloe! What a nice surprise. I’m already full of ideas for your shower.”

  “That’s what I’ve come to talk about.”

  “Wonderful! I’ll make us some coffee.”

  So I drink the coffee and try to butt in every few minutes, but she’s off to the races with her themes and colours and appetizers. She eventually realizes I’m not saying much.

  “Are you all right, dear?”

  “I don’t know how to tell you this, but my Aunt Ollie came over this morning and said she wanted to host my bridal shower. I never thought she’d offer in a million years, so the fact that she has leaves me in an awkward situation. I don’t want to disappoint anyone, and you’ve been so kind…”

  “I see.” Her fa
ce falls a little.

  “But she doesn’t know how to do it, so if you could help her with it, I’d be so grateful.”

  “Of course.”

  “And I’ll need you in the coming days for a million other things…”

  She smiles at me. “You’ve let me down gently, Chloe. I’m fine. I’m here for you, so don’t fret.”

  Now I give my second big hug of the day. Harriet smells like lilacs and baby powder. My heart stops racing almost instantly.

  On my way home I stop off at Amanda’s. She’s cleaning out her fridge while Jason has the boys on a grocery run. I try and let her down gently, but she’s not that gracious about it.

  “What? You’re letting Aunt Ollie organize this? Are you nuts? She’ll serve Melba toast and fruit cocktail if we’re lucky.” She throws her sponge in the sink. “I had all the wine picked out and everything.”

  “Harriet is going to help her.”

  “Does that poor woman know what she’s in for? How do you get Aunt Ollie to do anything? Not to mention that meatball, Agatha.”

  I shouldn’t laugh, but I do. “It’s going to be a disaster of epic proportions.”

  “And this is just the shower. Can you imagine the wedding?”

  Creature Comfort’s first meeting is on Sunday at our local animal shelter. They are prepared for ten kids to come and spend time with the dogs and cats. I almost cry when Tinker shows up. She’s still got spikes and earrings, but her raccoon eyes have gone, thanks to the tutelage of one of the CBC’s makeup gals. Her hair is in a high ponytail. I’ve never seen it off her face.

  “You look amazing!” I hug her, but she stiffens up so I back off.

  “I’m nervous.”

  “That’s completely normal. If you weren’t nervous I wouldn’t want you. It means you care.”

  Austin drives us over to the shelter. Dexter and Mary plan on being here, chaperoning this first venture. Brian, my cameraman, and Sydney wave as the shelter people welcome us. Mary thought of bringing hot chocolate and cookies, thank goodness. It’s pretty cold today.

  I introduce Tinker to Brian, who tells her what he wants her to do. She’s going to interview the shelter people and do a once-around of the animals involved. Off they go to do their part before the kids arrive.

  Austin has a clinic, so he’s going to come back later. He wishes us luck, while Dexter, Mary, and I confer on what sort of progress we’ve made. I’m anxious to get going.

  Only seven teenagers of various ages show up, but those seven have a great time. They walk and brush the animals, clean out their kennels, and horse around with them, although I do have a couple of boys who spend most of their time trying to get near Sydney and her big boobs. Tinker does an awesome job talking to the kids. With a microphone in her hand, all her insecurities fall by the wayside. I’m thrilled for her, and she looks flushed and happy.

  After three hours we’re all pooped, but by the look of it, we have relaxed kids, happy shelter people, and a whole bunch of sleepy dogs and cats. The kids get picked up one by one, and all of them have rosy cheeks. To me, that’s success.

  While we wait for Austin, Brian has a suggestion. “I’m certainly available, but it seems to me that Tinker is a natural. Why don’t you get her a good video camera and she can shoot and interview at the same time? It’s a lot more intimate and more conducive to the style of your reporting. She can upload her film right onto the blog.”

  “You’re right. Would you like that, Tinker?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  Brian and Sydney get ready to leave. I stand by their truck. “So, did you hear our news?”

  “What news?”

  “Austin and I are getting married.”

  Sydney shrieks right in Brian’s ear. “Oh my God! You little vixen! You won The Single Guy!”

  “Christ almighty, woman, my ears are ringing,” Brian shouts.

  She waves him away. “I’m really happy for you, Chloe. You make a very cute couple. I hope we’re invited to the wedding.”

  “Of course. We’ll be in touch.”

  Everyone’s gone but Tinker and me. We sit on the bench outside the shelter door.

  “Do you think we made a difference today?” I ask her.

  “Definitely. The manager said that little beagle hadn’t wagged his tail in weeks till just now.”

  After a couple of months, Tinker and I have this down pat. Thanks to our posts, we have more and more kids showing up, and sometimes we divide the kids between shelters if we have too many. Other agencies get in touch and want the kids to visit their facilities, so it’s a matter of coordinating who’s going where. It’s extremely satisfying, and I have enough video footage to start to bring the documentary to fruition, but there are still experts to be consulted and research to be done. The work hangs over me like a weight-bearing branch.

  But one amazing thing happened that we never expected. Some of the shelters called to say their adoptions have gone up. Kids are falling in love with particular animals and want them full-time. Even Tinker’s foster mother says she can adopt the little beagle she was worried about.

  It’s the evening of April Fool’s Day when Austin and I finish wallpapering the living room. I have to say, it looks stunning—a Victorian pattern with a modern twist. It almost shimmers. Austin says it looks beige. It’s not beige, it’s golden. Our new sectional is a soft orange, with brown and yellow patterned pillows. I’ve already ordered the armchair and my mother’s secretary desk looks great between the windows. Amanda was over one day and suggested I put interior louvered shutters on the bottoms of my windows and flank them with silk curtains hung from the ceiling. Does she know how much silk curtains cost when you have twelve-foot-high ceilings?

  That’s something else that keeps me up nights. I need a job to pay for this wedding. My funds are not endless, or so my bank manager pointed out when I dipped into my savings accounts recently.

  We snuggle together on our new sofa.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Austin says. “I’d like to start my own practice.”

  I slap him on the chest. “That’s amazing! I could help you. I can run your office. Maybe we should move to the country and help farm animals. It could be like a ranch for my kids who are struggling. We could have horses! Lots of horses, or maybe even make it a vacation destination by putting up cabins that people can rent for the summer. People who need to get out of the city…”

  “Take a breath and stop talking.” He looks annoyed, so I do what he says.

  “I’ll start again. I’d like my own practice somewhere in this general area. I prefer dealing with small animals. I have built up a large clientele who say they will follow me to my new space. That way I’m not starting from scratch. I’m going to need these people in the first years. There’s a small store I’ve looked at, and I think I can afford it, if Mac comes in with me.”

  “The new vet, right?”

  “He’s just out of school and raring to go. He’s a hard worker and we get along really well.”

  I keep quiet in case he needs to tell me something else. Seconds tick by.

  “Well?” he says.

  “It’s perfect. You should definitely do it. I’m behind you one hundred percent.”

  He takes my hand and kisses it. “Thank you.”

  “Although—”

  “No.”

  “You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

  He kisses my hand again. “I do not want my practice bigger, more sophisticated, or edgy. I’m a mom-and-pop operation. I cater to average folks who just want to look after their dogs, and cats, and hamsters.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Austin keeps rubbing my fingers. “If I do this, I can’t afford an engagement ring.”

  “I don’t want one. I have my bracelet. That means more to me than anything.”

 
We christen the sectional.

  Despite my lists, I have yet to decide on anything for the wedding. Every time I call about a venue, they’re booked a year and a half ahead, or they want an obscene amount of money.

  Amanda is breathing down my neck to make some decisions so she can go out and buy a dress. She’s always at work when she calls.

  “You have your red dress, remember?”

  “Am I your matron-of-honour?”

  “No.”

  “You big shithead.”

  “I’m not having all that.”

  “This is once in a lifetime, Chloe. Don’t cheat yourself out of this experience. You will rationalize this to death and squeeze the joy out of it. I know you.”

  “I don’t want to waste money on one day. It’s ludicrous.”

  “You said you were rolling in money.”

  “Kind of like you told me you run five kilometres a day.”

  “I’m hanging up.”

  Finally comes the evening of my bridal shower. I’m a nervous wreck. Austin and Dudley are lying on the bed with a bowl of chips, watching me get ready.

  “How come this shower has been arranged and we’re still no closer to the wedding?”

  “Feel free to take over.”

  “Wear that.” He points at my navy skirt and polka-dot blouse.

  “What are you doing tonight while I’m held hostage next door?”

  “Jason invited me, Brian, Trey, and Jerry over for a couple of beers.”

  “Take me with you.”

  I bid farewell and go next door. “Hello?”

  Everything is quiet. Maybe I have the wrong day. I step into the doorway of the living room and my motley crew shouts, “Surprise!” even though it isn’t a surprise.

  This moment will remain in my memory forever. On one hand we have the normal-people section, with Harriet, Julia, Amanda, Sydney, and two of Austin’s cousins I met at their Uncle Sam’s funeral, and on the other side we have Bobby draped over Gramps, Aunt Ollie with a new perm that looks like a human brain on her head, Agatha in a lace tablecloth, and Tinker with a new tattoo of a skull that has flowers growing out of the eye sockets.