Chloe glanced toward the guesthouse once again. Maybe Smitty knew where Jesse had gone. She snagged her phone from the kitchen counter and started a text.
“I saw Laura Gonda the other day,” Mom said as she came in from the lanai, picking up another breakfast platter. “Glenda, this is gluten-free, right?”
“If it’s on the blue plate, yes.”
“What did Laura say?” Chloe hit send on her text to Smitty.
“That she missed Jeremiah so much she was packing up all the kids and heading to New Zealand.” Mom started for the door and turned back. “Oh, Chloe, she saw a rough cut of your death scene. Said it was spectacular. Had her weeping.” With that, Mom exited the kitchen onto the lanai. “Gluten-free, everyone.”
Chloe was still deciphering what happened that day. How her rebel yell, “Death, you cannot have me,” broke a chain she’d only recently identified. She wasn’t cursed. She was free.
Mom swept inside again, her cheeks rosy, her hair swept up into a bright turban. “Hey, Mom, how come you and Dad never got married?”
Mom stopped short. “What?”
“You and Dad. Never married. Why?”
Mom slipped on oven mitts and bent before the open stove, releasing the intoxicating aroma of brisket. “Careers, kids. Just didn’t seem necessary after a while.” She set the baking pan on the counter, then removed the brisket onto the carving board. “I know you’re all about true love and commitment, darling, but it doesn’t have to look the same to everyone.”
“Didn’t you want a ceremony? A celebration? To look into each other’s eyes and declare before the world, ‘You are my forever love’?”
Mom plugged in the electric carving knife with a backward glance at Chloe. “Isn’t that what we’re doing?”
“I guess, but technically, you know, either of you could walk tomorrow. You’ve made no vow.”
“Walk? Babe,” Dad said, reaching for a piece of meat, “I’d drive the Tesla.”
“Raymond.” Mom slapped at his hand. “He cannot walk, Chloe. Not easily. We’ve been together too long and have too much invested.”
“So that’s what your love is worth? A passage of time and the acquisition of things?”
“Chloe.” Mom fired up the carver and raised her voice over the low motor. “What’s this about? Your happy-ending theory? What are you afraid of? It will never happen for you?”
Chloe glanced through the open French doors toward the guesthouse. Yes! A thousand times yes! She feared it would never happen for her.Then do something about it. Stop waiting.
“I’m going to see if Jesse wants to come.”
“Chloe.” Dad met her at the door. “He’s not there.”
“He’s not? W-where is he?”
“I’m not sure.” He brushed aside her bangs, like he did when she was little. “But his things are gone. He left a thank-you note saying it was time to move on.”
Chloe backed up to the nearest kitchen stool and sat. “He was so kind, Dad. Brave. You should’ve seen him, sticking up for his script, the movie. For me.”
“Do you love him?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think he’s one you could trust, Chloe.”
“Really? Dad, he just left without telling me good-bye. He doesn’t return my texts.” More guests arrived and lively conversations buzzed all around them. “Apparently he doesn’t want me.” She smiled her bravest smile. “But you know what, I’m okay. I am learning to trust God for these things.”
Dad sat next to her, touching his shoulder to hers. “I’m sorry I didn’t steer your career better. Step up and guide you.”
“It’s okay, Dad. I think I’ve been on the right path all along. It just looked like a wilderness when really it was an oasis.”
His eyes glistened as he cleared his throat. “I’m proud of you, sweetie.”
