The woman in front of me is dressed the opposite of the older women huddled in the kitchen. While the lady gang is a riot of colorful tops, plunging necklines, tight jeans, and artificial nails, Chloe is…simple.
Plain, if you consider she’s wearing cargo pants, combat boots, and an oversized striped sweater so big she could probably fit two of her under there and still have room. But there is nothing average about the fire in her green eyes as she looks at me, sucking a plush lower lip into her mouth.
Chloe looks away and tugs nervously on a lock of long auburn hair. “Nice to meet you,” she mumbles, her voice as tiny as a mouse.
I wipe my palm on my jeans to make sure I don’t have any grease left on it and hold out my hand. “I’m a mechanic,” I explain. “Up at Easy Start. Welcome to Star Falls.”
Chloe bites down on that lower lip and flicks a look at my mom.
“Go on,” Lucia urges. “Franco doesn’t bite.”
I do, but that’s not the kind of information a son shares with his mother.
I hold my hand firm and wait while the timid little thing sniffs, gathers her courage, and then slips her hand in mine.
Chloe gives it a quick pump, then pulls away—like she might actually believe I bite.
“You’re related to Ann?” I ask, curious how this slim, pretty redhead shares blood with the lady who for years blended into my mother’s friend group in every way.
This woman—or girl—God…I can’t tell if she’s nineteen or twenty-nine… This Chloe is nothing like Ann.
“This is Ann’s niece, Franco,” Sassy blurts, but after a cutting glare from my mother, Sassy presses her lips closed.
“Let Chloe talk,” Lucia urges, and that’s when I know.
This isn’t a rescue.
This is a setup.
I inhale deeply though my nose, flaring my nostrils against the overpowering cloud of mom perfumes diluted by something lighter, cleaner. I roll my shoulders and rub my chin where a healthy growth of stubble is already fighting to break through.
I should have known.
I look from Chloe’s reddening cheeks to the bright, beaming smiles of every other woman in the room and shake my head.
“Ma,” I say, drawing out my syllables so she knows I’m onto her. “It’s the middle of my workday. If Bob didn’t do something shady, I’m out of here.”
Ma’s face falls, and I know she’s aware that I’m not here to play. “Franco.” She sounds almost insulted. “Give me a chance to explain. You just got here. You think Jack can’t handle that shop on his own for thirty minutes? Bob’s sold Chloe one of those big TVs, and he’s charging her—”
“I bought it. He didn’t force me.” Chloe’s voice is soft, but if she’s interrupting my mother, she has some kind of spine under that afghan-sized sweater. She gives my mother a pained but sincere smile, the honesty in it breaking something open deep in my chest. “I wanted it, Mrs. Bianchi. I’ve got some plans to modernize the store.”
My mother waves a hand in the air dismissively. “Honey, of course, if you want it, you should buy it. But Bob Horton—”
The sound of a congested throat clearing in the doorway draws every set of eyes in the kitchen.
“Lucia, ladies.” Bob Horton wipes his nose along the long sleeve of his blue work shirt, and I can feel my mother bristle beside me. “TV’s up and working, Ms. Harkin. I left your copy of the installment agreement on the counter. I don’t extend credit. So you miss even one payment, and I’ll be back down here to take the set back.” He looks at Chloe harshly, and something in my gut tightens as his eyes rake over her.
I don’t like the feeling.
“Your aunt was a nice lady,” Bob added. “Sorry for your loss. But business is business.”
The unpleasant huffing and shifting on heels from each of my mother’s friends lets me know exactly how they all feel about Bob, his television, and his warning to Chloe to make the payments for the device on time.
“Thank you, Bob,” Sassy says, a sneer in her voice. “You know, the girl’s been through so much. You could just leave the paperwork and be done with it.”
“It’s just business,” he repeats in a sort of insulted pout, sniffling loud enough that I almost instinctively look around for a tissue.
Instead, I nod at Chloe. “You good? You wanted this TV?”
