Chapter Three
Chloe
My alarm decided not to go off the next morning, which had me running around our small dorm room like my butt was on fire. Jessie worked to help me get things together, but between the two of us, I was still going to barely make my flight.
"I'll take you. You can't take the car, anyway." She opened the door and pulled the largest of my suitcases out into the hall.
I manhandled the other three somehow and growled under my breath as hip hop music filled the hall.
"Why did we have a whole bottle of wine last night? Who thought that was a good idea?"
I moved behind her as fast as I could, luckily only stumbling over my luggage three times, but never actually hitting the ground.
"Chloe! Where are you going?" Three girls from the cheerleading squad moved out into the hall behind me.
"Home for the holidays. You guys have fun."
"We will!" they yelled in unison, and I had to force myself to return their enthusiasm with a big smile.
"Wine is good for the heart," Jessie mumbled and moved out of the building, holding the door for me. "Maybe it was just supposed to be a glass, but just think, we're all good now for at least a few weeks."
I smirked and flinched thanks to the sharp pain that laced my skull. "I'm praying I get a seat next to a businessman who reads the paper the entire time."
"You in coach or are you flying with the wealthy today?"
"First class. You know how my father is."
I loaded my stuff in the trunk and got in the car as quickly as I was able. Wine had never been a good choice for me, but it was Jessie's favorite, so I had relented the night before. The queasiness that sat in the center of my stomach reminded me why I should have denied her.
"Are you excited about seeing your brother?" She got in the car and pulled out of the driveway before punching the gas. I buckled quickly and gave her a wide-eyed look only to get a laugh in response.
"Yeah. He's a total gamer, but I was when I was younger, too. I still play with him, but no one knows that."
"Your secret is safe with me." She winked and nodded to the Starbucks. "Want a coffee?"
"No, my stomach is killing me. We're never going to make it in time, are we?"
"Nope. Might want to let your dad know." She pulled into the Starbucks anyway. "I need something if we're not in a huge rush."
"Get me a peppermint hot chocolate and I'll pay." I handed her my card. She knew better than to combat me on it. My father had enough money to go around, and the majority of my monthly budget went untouched. Therefore, I paid—a lot.
She ordered while I dug my phone out of my purse and took a deep breath. Calling my father for something good was hard, but having to tell him I hadn't met his expectations in any way, shape, or form sucked horribly.
"Chloe. What's wrong?" His voice was deep and filled with parental sternness.
"Missed my flight."
"How is that possible, seeing that it leaves in forty minutes?"
"My alarm didn't go off, Dad. I set it, and of course on the only day this week that it mattered, it didn't work." I pressed my fingers to my forehead and closed my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was start an argument with my dad over the damn alarm clock, but no doubt we were quickly headed that way.
"Then you should have set two alarms. The flight won't wait on you. It's called being responsible. These things cost money." His tone darkened, leaving me feeling like a child again.
"I'll pay for the flight change," I spoke through clenched teeth.
Jessie reached over and squeezed my hand, mouthing, “It’s okay. Just breathe.”
"With what money, Chloe? Your card is linked to my account. You're not working, remember?"
"I'll see you when I get to Aspen, Dad. I'll text Parker just before I get on whatever flight I end up on. Thanks for understanding. Hugs and kisses." I hung up and turned my phone on silent as anger burst through me and tears filled my eyes. "Why the fuck am I even going there?"
"Because you need to see your brother, and this is going to be a great way to get starter money for your company."
"I don't want his money. He's going to be up the crack of my ass the entire holiday, and then he'll tell me why I have something else to prove before he cuts me the check." I took my drink as Jessie extended it to me. "And you know what else?"
"Tell me."
"Him investing in my company is a horrible idea. That means he has some kind of control over it. Over me!" I was being overly dramatic, but I couldn't help it. The bastard had been nothing but a thorn in my side and a constant whisper over my shoulder that I wasn't good enough.
"Take a deep breath and drink your hot chocolate. This is a win-win situation, and your dad will always be the kind of guy he is."
"He didn't used to be." I reached up and wiped at my tears, thankful that I had no makeup on due to my lack of time to apply it. "When my mom was alive, he was..." My throat tightened, and I shook my head. "Never mind. I don't want to talk about this."
My mother's death had changed us all, but it having happened so long ago, I would have thought we could all move past it enough to reconnect as a family. Parker and I had, but my father was a lonely island.
"Maybe it's time to forgive each other and help him start dating again. It's been eight years since you lost your mom?"
"Yeah. I was sixteen." I wiped the back of my long-sleeve t-shirt across my face. "I don't even know if he's dated anyone."
"Maybe he's bitter, Chloe." She offered me a kind smile, and I nodded, hating the painful emotions that raged through me.
"Maybe. I'm grateful for his money, but I think I'm just so pissed that he has nothing else to offer." I sniffled and leaned back in my seat, unsure of what to think about the upcoming events that had the power to change my life. "He's all I have, you know?"
"I don't know, but I'm here for you. Find the fun and the good in this trip, okay? I know you, and if nothing else, you're a positive person."
I nodded again and closed my eyes, laying my hand on top of hers and trying to steel my resolve to be the bigger person, no matter what.
* * * *
"I'm sorry about your situation this morning, Miss Burke." The pretty flight attendant glanced up from her computer to me and back down again.
"It's my fault. I should have set two alarms, I guess." I shrugged and offered the woman a warm smile.
"No. These things happen to us all." She pressed her finger to her lips and clicked a few buttons on her keypad. "We have two more flights today. One leaves in three hours and the next around five tonight. It's a late flight, which you might not want, but it's up to you."
"A three hour wait or a nine hour wait? I'm going with the three hour."
I pulled out my phone to text my father, but decided against it. If something happened, God-forbid, and I had to text him again, he would blow a gasket that was likely to hit me all the way in California.
"Sounds good. I'll change your ticket, and we'll see you at gate B-25 in a few hours. Let’s get your bags checked in for the new flight, then you can go grab yourself a good book and try to relax."
She handed me the new boarding pass. Getting my luggage checked in was a nightmare and a half, but everything had to get out of the dorms. They closed down during the week of Christmas for cleaning. Besides, I was done at UCLA, anyway. My time there was over, and I was on the road full speed ahead to growing up.
The thought was exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time.
I took her suggestion after getting through security. A romance novel and a Snickers bar would be more than enough fun to get me through the short wait. My father would be angry, but he would get over it. Besides, there would certainly be something else to stoke his angst over before too long. Nothing I ever did was right. How anyone worked for him was beyond me.
I checked my phone again as I slumped down in a cold plastic chair and saw that I had a few texts from Jessie and one from Seth, but nothing from my dad. Me expecting him to start caring any minute about how it might feel for me to be stuck at the airport alone was stupid. I was a grown-ass woman, as he had reminded me many times over the last few years, and honestly, he was right. I was twenty-three with a Master’s degree. I'd say that was pretty much grown.
After spending the first hour trying to get into the romance novel and not getting anywhere, I pulled out my small sketch pad and let out a long breath. I needed to work on a few new designs for my spring line that I wanted to kick off my new venture with. I let my eyes wander around, taking in the styles and color palates of the better dressed females walking through the airport and let my mind explode with options.
My fingers scribbled furiously as I sketched out three new tops and a short summer dress that would only do well in warm weather states.
"Attention all United passengers on Flight 2543. We're looking for anyone who might take a two-hundred-dollar voucher to move to the five o'clock flight. We're a packed flight today, and we have a standby passenger who's in need of getting home. If you're willing, please come visit us at the desk."
"Nope," I muttered and turned my attention back to my drawing.
Someone dropped down in the seat next to me with a loud sigh, and I glanced over at the young guy appearing to be nineteen or twenty.
He looked my way and nodded. "Hi."
"Hi." I returned to my project, not wanting to start a conversation with a stranger. I didn't like half my friends and most of my family. Strangers were definitely out.
"That's pretty." He leaned a little closer as his dark gray eyes moved across my sketch pad. He was attractive, but in a rock star sort of way. The tats on his arms were done in various colors, some of them beautiful and some not so much. He had to have let a drunken friend do a few of them.
"Oh. Thanks." I set the pad down in my lap and turned to him, resigning myself to a short conversation. "You heading home for the holidays?"
"Trying to." He lifted a can of Sprite to his lips and took a long drink. "My parents are in Maine, and for some damn reason, I'm supposed to stop through Colorado to get there. I've been bumped from the flight, so it looks like a long afternoon."
"Sorry to hear that." I crossed my legs and glanced down at my sketch pad, not really sorry at all.
"Yeah. That call they put over the intercom was for me."
That got my attention. "Why are you so desperate to get on this next flight? Are the connector flights all booked up if you don't make this one?"
"There's that, and the fact that my mother is going into emergency surgery at seven tonight." He shrugged, turning his gaze away from me.
"Oh. That's not good." I didn't want to dive into her personal business, but he was leaving me little choice in the matter.
"She's been battling cancer for the last two years, but I guess it's metastasized. She's not doing well." He reached up and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose as my heart ran cold.
His story was a little too similar to mine.
"I'm so sorry. Maybe this surgery will be exactly what she needs." My phone buzzed, and I lifted it to my face to read the text, grateful for the momentary break.
Dad: The change in flight was $200. I'll add that to your ever-expanding tab.
"How much was the voucher for someone willing to go later?" I moved to the edge of my seat as the desire to do something good left me overwhelmed.
"Two hundred dollars, but it’s okay. I'm sure it will all get worked out."
"Watch my stuff." I got up and walked up to the podium, sliding my ticket across to the flight attendant. "I'd like to give up my seat to that guy over there, and I'll take the later flight."
"Are you sure, Miss Burke? You were scheduled on the earlier flight and are already going to be arriving late."
"I'm sure."
"It's first class, and the next flight only has coach."
"That's okay. I don't mind at all. Just apply the voucher to the fee you charged my father for me missing the first flight. Less for me to hear about later," I laughed, feeling good about my decision.
"The fee has been waived, and we'll just give you the voucher for your kindness."
"Oh no, I don't want it. Apply it to the guy over there. Give him a break. I'm blessed as it is."
Her smile was filled with warmth as she nodded. "Will do. Merry Christmas."
"You, too." I walked back over and reached out, patting the stranger on the hand. "It's all fixed. You're in my seat, and the drinks are free. If you look as young as you are, no asking for one."
He sat up as tears filled his eyes. "Are you shitting me?"
"No. Merry Christmas." I smiled and turned back to my drawing, letting out a yelp as he pulled me into an awkward side hug.
He had thanked me ten times by the time the flight was called. I didn't think it was appropriate to tell him that his story echoed mine, but it was a good reminder that the world didn't revolve around me. It was a lesson I wished my Dad would learn.
* * * *
"Tell me why the hell we're picking you up twelve hours later than we should have been," My father barked at me as he loaded up the back of the SUV with me beside him. Parker was already in the backseat, obviously not wanting to hear the fight that was sure to happen.
"Some guy's mom was dying. I gave him my seat." I turned and walked to the passenger side door and got in.
"Everyone dies, Chloe." My dad got in and gave me a stern look as he buckled up, letting out a huff.
"Yep, but it's nice to get to hold their hand as they go. The airport waived the fee, so that's one less thing for you to pop a vein over." I dug in my purse, hoping to avoid the daggers he was throwing my way.
"Time is money. We've been waiting around all day."
"Sorry." I shrugged, looking like the apathetic teenager he expected me to be.
"Right. Thanks." His tone let me know that the conversation was over, and I was relieved to have it as such.
The ride home was tense, but the minute we arrived at my father's large log cabin, excitement sprouted in my belly, and I couldn't wait to check out the rooms and snuggle up with my brother.
"I'll help sis get the bags out of the car. You're going to be late if you don't get going." Parker leaned up between our seats and patted our father on his arm.
"Right. You guys order take-out and have it delivered. I'll be back late tonight." He put the car in park and glanced over at me. "We're glad you're here."
"I’m glad I am, too, Dad. Thanks for the ride."
I got out of the car and moved to the back, helping Parker with my stuff as Dad stayed in the comfortable warmth of the car. It was freezing outside, and the winter wind blew violently, forcing my teeth to start chattering.
"Why do you have to always egg him on?" Parker grabbed two of the bags and hauled them to the large ornate house.
"Me?" I grabbed the rest and walked to the house, knowing my father would close the hatch.
"Yes. He's trying." Parker stopped and typed in a code at the side door before opening it and struggling through with my stuff.
"Trying? Is that a fucking joke?" I muscled the rest of the stuff in and closed the door, pausing to breathe in the vanilla and cinnamon scent that reminded me of home.
"You know he has a hard time around Christmas." Parker turned and pinned me with a stare, which lasted two seconds. His lips turned up in a smile, and he moved around the bags, pulling me into a tight hug. His lanky arms were finally taking shape, and his voice was much deeper than it was the last time I'd seen him.
"We all do," I whispered and buried my face against my brother’s chest. He had to be a foot taller than me, his last growth spurt astounding.
"Forget about Dad and everything else. Order something from Jerry's and meet me in my room. I'll get everything set up. You're up for a night of ultimate gamer, right?"
"Hell yes." I kicked off my shoes and pulled my hair down before moving toward the phone. "Where is Dad going, anyway?"
"A date..." my brother called as he disappeared down the long hallway that lead to far too many childhood memories for me to forget anything, least of all the need for my father's attention.