Chapter 148
Chapter 148
Ma slid a plate of scrambled eggs and fried bacon in from of Chloe, jerking her out of her looping doubts. “There you go-
“Thanks p>
Ma settled back in her seat, picking up her coffee and her iPad. “So I was talking to Robbie, and he thinks since the mortgage is back under control 1 should consider getting a better car p>
Chloe paused, bacon halfway to her mouth. “What’s wrong with your current car p>
Ma shrugged. “Nothing’s wrong with it. It’s just old p>
“It’s not even ten years old p>
“That’s old for a car. And Robbie said loan rates are really good now, so if I trade in the Civic, I could probably… ”
Chloe stared at her mother, not even comprehending the words coming out of her mouth. The mortgage was only under control because Chloe had fixed it. All that time and money, all the sacrifices she’d made, all the things she’d given, just so Ma could shrug it off and go car shopping? Was she just going to wrack up more debt and expect Chloe to be there to bail her out again?
You’re going to kill me, Chloe thought bitterly. Her whole family. They were going to use her up until they couldn’t wring another drop of blood or sweat out of her, and they would never thank her for it. Never return the favor. But they would keep expecting her to be there.
They were a burden. She hated feeling that way, but they were. And it made it hard to love them.
Resolved, she pushed away from the table.
“What are you doing?” Ma asked, looking annoyed. “Did you hear anything I said p>
Chloe put her plate in the dishwasher and turned to face her mother. “Do whatever you want, Ma. I think it’s a terrible idea, but I’m not your keeper. If end up upside–down on that car loan, though, I’m not doing a thing about it p>
“Robbie thinks it’s a good idea,” Ma said defensively.
“Oh, does he? Robbie, the financial genius who did literally nothing about all Dad’s medical bills? ”
“You understand all that medical stuff better than he does p>
“I’m a nurse, Ma! I don’t work in billing! I don’t know any better than anyone else who’s ever had medical debt! But I fucking figured it out, while Rob did dick, so by all means, take his expert financial advice p>
“Robbie put new tires on the car last winter! And he paid for that busted pipe and all the water damage in the basement p>
Chloe swallowed back all the helpless rage. She nodded erratically. “Okay. Fine. Figure it out with Rob. I’m going to sleep p>
“Chloe, don’t take that tone with me!” Ma called sharply.
“I wasn’t taking a tone. I’m just going to sleep,” she called back. “Have a good day at work p>
Up in her room, the blue dress from the Council presentation was still hung over her closet door, adding a fresh layer of pain to the situation. She turned away from it and got into bed. Adrenaline raced through her body, keeping her from falling asleep. She lay with her eyes closed, willing unconsciousness to give her brief reprieve from all the anger and hurt and frustration that wanted to boil out of her.
Eventually, she managed to drift off.
When she woke that evening, Ma was back from work. Chloe got dressed and warily made her way downstairs. She was tired of fighting, but she was
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also red of making de Malked the coffeemaker son sleppant link the kitche
179&w werk Ma answered with a shrug. A gifted silence lapsed. The coffeemaker heaped a coffee began to drip into the caraL MOLLIP spoke again talked to Uncle Martin about the car, and he didn’t think it was a good idea, a probably fuld off out that for a wha
Oh well, if ithele Martin says an, Chloe thenight bitterly. She managed to keep the thinght to herself. Uncle Martin knows about the band of sell the sard instead, the most oblique way of saying I told you so that she could come up with Uncle Martin was a retired appliance salesman who had me than a passing familiarity with how people got suckered in with too good to be te lewding offers.
Ma nodded, turning her attention to the coffeemaker, busying herself with pulling out creamer and sugar “Aren’t you heading out soon? Ma anked. “You usually leave around this time p>
To see Amos. But she’d told him she wouldn’t see him until Wednesday. She regretted it, but she wouldn’t take it back. She already missed him. hnd flas morning’s argument with Ma had only cemented how much she could never accept love given out of obligation. She refused to be a burden he had no choice but to care for.
Her eyes burned suddenly. She blinked hard before tears could well, swallowing past the tightness in her throat. “ Uh, no, not tonight p>
“No plans with your friend p>
“No p>
“Hmm p>
Before Chloe could interpret that, the doorbell rang. Ma glanced down the hallway, squinting at the side window.
“You expecting someone?” she asked Chloe.
“No. Nobody p>
Ma moved down the hall to the door. Chloe opened the cupboard, started to reach for a mug when she suddenly remembered–the thrall! Amos had warned her that he would be angling to get inside the house, and not to answer the door to strangers.
“Shit, Ma! Stop p>
But it was too late. She heard the chuff of the security door swinging open as she sprinted into the hall. She nearly slipped on the rug as she suddenly drew up short. That wasn’t a ragged, crazed stranger standing at the door.
It was Amos.
“Hello, Chloe,” he said softly. He stood framed in the doorway, looking like her sweet, undead farm boy with his wheat–blond hair and his broad shoulders and his square jaw clenched with tension. Her throat tightened and she swallowed hard. Even though seeing him refreshed the hurt of their last conversation, the urge to throw herself at him and just give in was overwhelming.
She managed to restrain herself. “Hi, Amos p>
Even though Ma had stepped aside for him, he hesitated at the threshold, unable to cross it.
“Well, come in,” Ma said, gesturing impatiently. “The heat’s getting out p>
Giving her an apologetic smile, he stepped inside. “I’m sorry to come by with no warning. I hope I didn’t interrupt your dinner p>
“Not yet,” Ma said, giving Amos a frosty once–over.
“I’ll be quick then.” He turned his attention to Chloe. “Could we talk p>
Chloe doubted she wanted her mother to overhear any part of this conversation. “Sure. Let’s go for a walk.” She grabbed her coat off the hook and stepped into the crushed sneakers she wore for taking the trash out or checking the mail.
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Chapter 138
She roused pan Arns, unable to quis meet his gaze, atul stepped innside. Ames Inlloyed timely. Ma stod in the doorway, watersiz, so class walked in since itil they were on est sight of the lunge
At the end of the block, Chloe stopped beneath a pool of orangey streetlight and turned to face Aroos. She hadn’t prepared herself for the intensity of his gase Caught off guard, she almost looked away.
the stood at a distance, just out of arm’s roach. “Chlon, I lied to you p>
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