“Oooo!” Danielle squeals, and Chloe laughs.
“He’s great, really great.”
“I can see it now, you two fall in love, live in New York, have babies.”
“Actually. I mean, I know it’s quick, but I love him.” Danielle raises her eyebrows at Chloe. They had talked a little on their hike before Gunner came and got them, but they had mostly talked aboutDanielle landing a new advertising client. She was so excited that Chloe didn’t want to interrupt her news. Now, though, Danielle has her wine and is relaxed, so Chloe can lay everything on her, well, almost everything.
“How can you love him? You barely know him. And I’m not trying to be mean, honey,” Danielle leans over and squeezes Chloe’s forearm where it rests on the rocking chair. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know you don’t, but...it’s real. I do love him. I thought I loved Rick, you know, from college? But it’s nothing compared to what I feel for Axel.”
Danielle looks skeptical, but sips her wine.
“It’s like, did you ever feel like your life is missing something? Like it’s not complete?”
“And you think a man completes you?” Danielle snorts.
“It’s not just a man. He’s...he’s the other half of me. I’ve felt for a long time that I never fit in. That I was never good enough. That I should be doing something more with my life. That I never really knew what love was, never knew who I was. But Axel. He completes all those parts of me. He fills up my heart and settles me in a way I never thought could happen. He makes me feel like I’m perfect, special. And I am for him, to him I’m perfect. He loves me more than anyone ever has. And I want to be with him, forever.”
Danielle rocks and looks out at the forest. Chloe thinks she lost her till she sees Danielle reach up and wipe her eyes.
“Harold...he didn’t love me like that. Used to complain about everything: my friends, my clothes, my hair, the sex. He loved me, but not like that. I’ve never, no one's ever loved me like that.”
Chloe nods, not sure what to say.
“If he really loves you like that and you love him too, then you can’t let him go.”
“I know. I’m going to move here.”
“What?” Danielle practically screeches.
“Our flight is scheduled for tomorrow. And I’m not going to be on it. I want to live here, with him, in his cabin. I can’t...there’s nothing for me in New York. My job is gone, I rent my house, and most of my clothes are with me right now. I mean, besides you, there’s no reason for me to stay in New York.”
Danielle is standing and pulling Chloe up in an instant. She’s got her arms wrapped around Chloe so tightly that Chloe struggles to take a deep breath.
“I’m gonna miss you so much, honey.”
“I’ll miss you too, Dani.”
“You come and visit, ok? I’ll fly you out. You and Axel. You have to show him the city, we’ll make a week of it.” Danielle holds her back by her shoulders and looks at her. It’s the way a mother would look at a child, and Danielle has definitely been a person who’s always looked after Chloe. Even though they’re the same age, Danielle mothers her more than her actual mother ever did.
“So he’s going to take care of you? Are you going to work?”
“Well,” Chloe says, scratching the back of her head, sitting down in the rocking chair. “We haven’t talked about it yet. But I was thinking about starting an accounting practice in town. Since Axel’s accountant, Maury, went missing, he doesn’t have anyone, so I can handle stuff for him. But Maury also used to handle a lot of businesses in town, so I thought I could take over theirs.”
Danielle purses her lips and takes a big gulp of wine. “I’m in.”
“What?”
“I’m in. I’m in. You need to start a new business? Well, I’ll be your first investor.”
“Danielle.”
“I’m serious. You need capital to get it off the ground and running, and with Axel losing most of his money to that accountant, he doesn’t have the money to help you.”
Danielle’s right. Chloe had told Danielle about Maury embezzling millions and that the chances of Axel getting money back were slim to none. One of the reasons Chloe had hesitated in telling Axel about her accounting firm idea is that she knows he would want to help, but financially, he can’t.
“Chloe, I love you. You’re my best friend. We’re like sisters, and if I can help you start your business, then I want to help. I have all this money now since the divorce, I want to put it to good use and help you.”
