Chloe
Itwassupposedto be Chloe’s big night. The Central West Small Business Awards were to be held at the Carrington Hotel’s grand ballroom, down in Katoomba. The mayor would be present, resplendent in chains, plus a handful of politicians, always keen for photo opportunities. Small business owners from across the state would be dressed in their business best, anxiously awaiting the announcement of their category.
Everything would be just as she had imagined it, Chloe thought. Except that she had thought she’d be happy. She wasn’t even close.
Chloe let out a sigh as she inspected her reflection. The pink dress was pretty and very appropriate. Even her face was appropriate; she had managed to cover the dark circles under her eyes with a concealer that had cost more than everything else in her makeup bag combined. She looked fine, especially considering how she felt.
And yet, her eyes strayed to the glossy white box tied with silver ribbon that rested on top of her wardrobe. She leaned to pick it up, untying the ribbon and taking out the green dress that had offended her so thoroughly. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she could have sworn that she caught a hint of Maxwell’s cologne as she held it against her.
He had wanted her to wear this, she thought. Maxwell had wanted to give her something she’d never buy for herself; something luxurious and indulgent, a recognition of her hard work. And she had been annoyed with him. Thought that he was telling her that her pink dress wasn’t good enough. She could see now, easily enough, that that hadn’t been his intention. Maxwell had simply tried to give her a lovely present, to tell her he was proud of her. She closed her eyes, wishing she could go back in time and take back the argument. Maybe, she thought, he wouldn’t have left so quickly. Maybe she’d still be savouring the time she had with him.
“But it never could have lasted,” Chloe told herself. “So it’s better that it ended sooner rather than later.” That was technically true, but it sure didn’t feel that way. She had thought she was being smart, but she’d much rather be mourning the fact that her relationship with Maxwell couldn’t last from his bed, rather than alone in her studio.
Maybe that was why she unzipped the pink dress, letting it fall to the floor. As she slipped the green dress over her head, she inhaled deeply. The faintest smell of his cologne, she was sure of it. It was indulgent of her, she knew it, but by wearing this dress tonight, maybe she could pretend that the man who gave it to her was still by her side instead of on his way to Miami.
Miami. Sounded like a terrible place to live if you were a vampire, Chloe thought. All that sunshine. But Miami had appealed more than Crowley Lake, apparently. More than herself.
Chloe looked once more at her reflection. The green dress did look better than her pink dress, loathe as she might have once been to admit it. Maxwell might not have been able to care for her the way she wanted, but he certainly knew her well enough to choose a dress that made her look about a million times better than she felt.
All she could do was try to get through tonight. Get through tonight without crying. And then, when it was all over, she could nurse her broken heart in peace and try to work out what she’d do with a life that now felt utterly empty.
“The food’s not bad,” Jesse said, nudging her. “Why aren’t you eating?”
“You can have it,” Chloe said, pushing her plate of chicken and seared vegetables towards her brother. “I’m not hungry.”
“You should eat,” Julia said, giving her an anxious look. “I mean, this is your big night.”
“You’re thinking about Maxwell, aren’t you?” Jesse said with an odd expression as he helped himself to Chloe’s chicken.
“No,” Chloe lied. Julia gave her a deeply disbelieving look. “Fine, I am. What did you expect?”
“I didn’t realise you were so hung up on him,” Jesse said around a mouthful of chicken. “Thought it wasn’t serious.”
“Not to him,” Chloe said. “But I…” She shook her head. “I let myself fall for him, didn’t I?”
“Not like you can choose who you fall for,” Julia said, placing a sympathetic hand on her arm.
Before Jesse could reply, there was a scattering of applause as a beaming woman was declared the Central West’s best independent butcher.
“You’re up next, right?” Jesse said.
“My category is up next,” Chloe corrected. “There’s no way I’ll win. You’ve seen the others; they’ve done some amazing stuff.” The funny thing was, she didn’t even care. The award had been so important to her, but now that Maxwell was gone, it seemed utterly inconsequential.
“It’s my pleasure to announce Central West Young Small Businessperson of the Year,” the announcer said, managing to look animated despite this being at least the twentieth award of the night. “This person has been an integral part of their community, building their business from the ground up and inspiring other young people to become engaged in entrepreneurship.”
Julia’s hands were clasped together as though in prayer, and even Jesse gave her a grin, his fingers crossed in front of him.
Chloe felt nothing. Once this was over, she could go home, snuggle into her pyjamas, and put on any film except Legally Blonde. Or Casino. Couldn’t forget Casino.
“And the winner is…Chloe Bloom!”
“Oh my god!” Julia let out a whoop as the applause filled the room. “I knew it!”
“Get on up there,” Jesse nudged her. “What are you waiting for?”
And that was a very good question, though not for the matter at hand. What was Chloe waiting for?
She stood up, making her way through the crowd of tables towards the stage as though in a daze. She shook hands with the announcer, accepted a spikey glass trophy, and posed for a photograph with the assorted politicians, a fake smile plastered on her face. This was supposed to be her moment of triumph. So why did she feel nothing?
Chloe didn’t go back to her seat when she left the stage. She walked right past and out of the doors of the ballroom. She set down the trophy and collapsed onto a faded green velvet sofa, her face in her hands. She felt nothing. Chloe had worked so hard for this, and now that she had the award glistening beside her, she didn’t even care. Because the man she loved wasn’t here to see it.
“Chloe?” Jesse sat down next to her, an expression of concern on his face. “You okay?”