Hmm, that felt rather formal.
Sam:I had a great time last night but I’ve been thinking, we should take it slow. Not get ahead of ourselves. I really like you but need to focus on my career, get my knee healed.
She fell against the brick storefront, rereading the message through the sting of tears. Then through a wave of ire. Was he actually sending a we-don’t-have-a-relationship-yet-but-I-want-to-break-up text?
Another text came in as she typed out a sarcastic reply.
Sam:I’ll still help out at the bakery. Just don’t want things awkward between us.
Chloe:All for the best. I need to focus on Mom. I was going to text you about it.
Sam:Oh, good, well, I guess we’re on the same page.
Well, they were now. She started a response but then closed the app. What else could she say? Cuss him out? In French. She’d love to but then the words would be out there, and she hated things she couldn’t undo. Like death.
She could tell him the truth.Last night, for the first time in ten months, I felt hope. I started falling in love with you.I thought you were falling in love with me.
But she couldn’t be that vulnerable to him. Not now.
Batting away her tears, she shoved her phone in her coat pocket and pushed inside Cooper’s. She had chicken soup to make. A life to build with Maman.
Sam Hardy was history once again.
A fire blazed in Mom’s fireplace, the light was warm and cozy, andPride and Prejudicewas paused on the TV, ready for viewing. Chloe set a bowl of soup on Mom’s tray.
“Think you can take a bite?”
“I hope so. It smells good.” Mom blew on the hot surface then took a sip. “Oh Chloe, it’s delicious.”
“Want some bread? It was just coming out of the oven when I got to the bakery. We’ve been having trouble with the oven temperature, but Laura Kate kept an eagle eye on it.”
Chloe went back to the kitchen where she fixed her own soup bowl. She buttered up several slices of warm bread, gathered two large glasses of water, and carried everything on a tray back to the living room. Then she settled on the couch next to Mom, and they ate in a peaceful silence, neither one reaching for the remote.
The wind blew against the house and a splash of cold rain battered the windows. Chloe sank even deeper into the overstuffed couch cushions. She was home. Safe. Loved. At least she could feel the love from her mom, especially after the text brush off from Sam. A wave of sadness caused her to sigh.
“What was that?” Mom said.
“Yeah, sorry…” Chloe shook her head and made a face. “I don’t know.”
“Something the matter?”
“No, well…” She didn’t want to talk about Sam, so she went with her first thought. “Vivienne has texted me quite a bit this month. More than when I was in Paris. She said they need to talk to me but, Mom, I want to move on. What could they possibly have to say?”
“You won’t know until you talk to them. Chloe, they love you. You were married to their son for eight years. See what she has to say.”
“I’m afraid she just wants to reminisce about Jean-Marc. I’d love to…someday, because I loved him with my whole heart. But not now. Not when I finally thought—” Scratch that. She’d not tell Mom she’d finally thought she was ready to fall in love again. “Well, not when I’m here, with a new job, helping you.”
“Why do I have the feeling you left something out?” The screen saver flashed on the television. “Is it Sam? You two seemed veryengagedwith one another.”
“I thought maybe we were, but, well, I was wrong. He’s fixed on healing and getting back on the field.” She kept the disappointment from her voice with a struggle. Mom wouldn’t let that pass.
“Jean-Marc would want you to move on, Chloe.” Mom touched her arm. “Sam is an amazing man. A bit troubled, but with someone like you, he’ll find his way.”
“Maybe in football but not with me, Maman. He texted today that whatever started between us last night couldn’t go on.” She aimed the remote at the television. “Shall we watch the movie?”
“He texted you.” Mom’s voice held disbelief.
“Yes.” Chloe stirred her soup without taking a bite.
