I collapsed onto the couch, tears streaming down my face, mumbling apologies. Before I passed out, I thought I heard him chuckle softly. “Chloe, you’re quite the truth–teller when you’re drunk.”
I woke up with a massive hangover, my memory of the previous night a blur. I must have been a real sight, because a cleaning lady Liam had
hired was busy tidying up the apartment.
A text message from Liam: Present’s in your room. Move back home today. He’d caved. He still cared about me, as a sister. I wouldn’t ask for more.
A car and driver, arranged by Liam, were
waiting downstairs. My bags were already packed. All I had to do was get in the car and go home.
“Honey!” Mom greeted me at the door, her
hands cupping my face. “Liam said you were coming home! I didn’t expect it to be so soon!”
“Sorry I missed your birthday yesterday,” she fussed. “We’ll celebrate properly tonight!”
She’d prepared a feast and brought up a bottle of wine from the cellar, as if to welcome me back from a long journey. Liam arrived later, carrying a cake Mom had asked him to pick up. We toasted, and I took a small sip of wine.
<
“So, our little Chloe is finally graduating,” Mom began. “What are your plans?” She was already talking about taking me on a trip around the world, still feeling guilty that my school years had kept me from seeing the world.
“I might… join Professor Miller’s program. Teach in a rural community for a couple of years.”
Silence descended upon the room.
“Absolutely not!” Mom was the first to react. “Those areas are dangerous! A young woman like you…”
“It’s safe, Mom. The school has a long–running support program there.”
Mom’s eyes welled up. “Can’t you just stay
home with me? Your brother takes care of everything. Why do you need to work?” Her voice was thick with emotion. “Those rural
<
11:12
areas… you wouldn’t be able to handle it…”
She looked pleadingly at Dad and Liam.
82)
Dad, ever the diplomat, said, “Honey, it’s your
choice. But I’d prefer it if you didn’t go.”
“I don’t agree,” Liam stated firmly. “If you want
to teach, choose any school in the city. You can
teach anywhere you like.”
“But…”
Liam ignored me, dropping a bombshell. As casually as if discussing the weather, he said, “Amy and I broke up.”
Mom, still reeling from my announcement, was
now completely stunned. “Why? Amy seemed so nice…”
Liam wiped his hands with a napkin. “It didn’t feel right. So we ended it.”
<
Mom, always respectful of our decisions, didn’t press him further. After dinner, she tried again to dissuade me from the teaching program, echoing Liam’s suggestion. “Two years… then another two years… I have less and less time with you, honey. I’m getting old, selfish. Don’t be mad at me.”
I couldn’t bear to see her so vulnerable. The truth was, I wasn’t set on the program. It was just a way to put some distance between Liam and me, to try and get over him. But it didn’t matter now. Liam and Amy were over. I wouldn’t be a bridesmaid anytime soon. Maybe by the time he actually got married, I wouldn’t feel this ache in my chest anymore.
“Okay, Mom,” I conceded.
After our talk, I went to my room to find Liam’s gifts. There were three, neatly arranged on my desk. Even during those two years of silence, he hadn’t forgotten my birthday. I opened one.
く
A jewelry set. The one I’d been admiring online,
the one I’d shown Amy, gushing about how
much I loved it. Amy really was a great friend,
thoughtful and caring. She would have made a wonderful wife, too. Their relationship seemed
so solid. They were already ring shopping. I
couldn’t understand why they’d broken up.
“Do you like it?”
I jumped, whirling around to see Liam standing
in my doorway. He closed the door behind him,
walking towards me.
“I love it. Thank you, Liam.”
He picked up the necklace, his fingers brushing
my skin as he fastened it around my neck. I
shivered involuntarily.
“Your hair,” he murmured.
“Oh, right.” I gathered my hair to the side. His
<
touch sent a jolt through me.
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