“What, screaming kids, tired parents and too much cotton candy?”
“Well, when you put it that way?” He smiled and grabbed her hand, lifting it to his lips, where he pressed a kiss against her knuckles.
Chloe felt it all the way to the center of her body. The sounds around them almost faded completely away as her every cell focused solely on this man and his gentle touch. A pang of regret shafted through her as she reminded herself that this was all supposed to be fake. That she was seeking retribution and the peace it would hopefully bring her mother—not for her own gratification and, while she would have loved to have remained connected to him this way forever, she forced herself to pull free of his touch.
“Come on then, let’s go. The sooner you call your brother, the sooner we can be on the road—or, as the case may be, in the air.”
They made their way back to where Miles had parked his car and then drove to her house. He called his brother using the Bluetooth feature in his car. Once they arrived at Chloe’s place, she went to her bedroom to phone her mother, while Miles called his assistant from the living room.
Loretta Fitzgerald answered on the third ring.
“Hi, Momma, how are you?” she asked brightly.
“Oh, you know. The usual. Yesterday would have been your dad’s and my wedding anniversary. Those milestones are always tough.”
Chloe felt a burning shame fill her. How could she have forgotten such an important date? Since her father’s death, her mom had marked every milestone without him. Not with joy or happy memories, however. Most likely her mom had barely moved from her bed or opened her drapes. Her depression was mostly managed well, but anniversaries were particularly hard for her. If there was ever a day when her mom had needed her, it had been yesterday. And where had Chloe been? Wrapped up in Miles Wingate.
But then again, she rationalized, maybe knowing that her daughter was stepping up her goal of revenge against the Wingate family would make her mom feel as if they were finally getting closer to gaining closure on the Wingate family’s responsibility behind her father’s death.
“Momma, I’m sorry. I genuinely forgot.”
“Oh, it’s okay, hon. I know you can’t buoy me along every day. You have your life to live.”
It wasn’t even as if her mom was being passive-aggressive. She honestly expected nothing in her life because she’d schooled herself to believe that if she expected nothing, she’d never be disappointed again.
“We both have our lives to live, Momma. And I have news. You know how we’ve often talked about making the Wingates pay for what they did to Daddy? Well, I met Miles Wingate the other day and, surprisingly, we’ve quickly become quite close.”
“Oh, honey. I hope you know what you’re doing. They might smile and look nice on the outside, but deep down they’re like a viper’s nest.”
“I’m being careful,” Chloe reassured her with the fingers of one hand firmly crossed. “Really careful, I promise. I won’t get hurt. But I need to tell you that I’m going to be away for a few days. I’m going back to Texas, with Miles.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? Someone might recognize you. In fact, I’m surprised Miles didn’t recognize you. We did mingle with the family on occasion back then.”
“Not often enough for any memory of me to stick, I’m sure. And I’m all grown-up now. Nothing like the scrawny tomboy who was more interested in riding horses and climbing trees than in petit fours and lemonade on the veranda.”
“You still miss your pony, don’t you?” her mom said softly.
Chloe felt the all-too-familiar clutch in her chest when she thought about Trigger. He’d been one of the first things she’d truly loved that they’d had to let go after her father’s death.
“I’ve moved on, Momma,” Chloe lied. “And we’ll both be able to move on once I’ve exposed their father for his part in Daddy’s death.”
“Well, if you’re sure you’re doing the right thing...”
Loretta didn’t sound sure at all that her daughter was doing the right thing but, Chloe noted, she didn’t tell her not to stay the course, either.
“I definitely am, Momma. We’ve discussed this. You know Daddy deserved better.”
“I do, honey.” A more positive note began to creep into Loretta’s voice. “And he’d be so proud of you, too. It won’t be easy going back. So many memories.”
“Well, less for me than for you, I’m sure, Momma. And don’t worry, I’ll do you both proud. I promise.” Chloe could hear Miles moving about in the living room and hastened to end the call. “Look, would you be able to clear my mailbox and water my plants while I’m away? I’ll call you when I can, okay? Keep your fingers crossed for me.”
“Sure I will. It’ll do me good to have a reason to leave the house, and I’ll keep everything crossed for you, Chloe. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Momma. Talk later.”
She ended the call and quickly repacked her case, ensuring that she put in a few items that would do in case they had to attend any formal events, including the dress she’d worn last night to dinner. Under her mother’s tutelage, she’d developed an eye for what best suited her figure, and shopping in charity stores nearest the more expensive suburbs of Chicago had given her some lovely pieces for special occasions.
“Chloe, I don’t want to rush you, but we really need to get going,” Miles called out from the living room.