“I hit my head. Idon’t have a terminal disease. I am not an invalid and don’t wantto be treated as one. He wants to lock me up in that ivory tower ofan apartment … like … like I’m a delicate flower. I need to workand keep busy. I pull my own weight. I will not be kept by anyman.”
“He loves you,Chloe.”
“He has a funny way ofshowing it.”
“But that is my point.Give the guy a break. He isn’t very good at showing it. I can’tremember him being in love before. I know Todd, and he hasemotional blinders on when it comes to something he wants. I happento think he wants you, and although he is clumsy, he thinks that bytaking control he is being the responsible one. His heart is in theright place, I’m sure. Maybe you just need some time apart to findout how you reallyfeel. Do you love him?”
“I think I do. Butsometimes love is not enough. Without respect, it’sdoomed.”
Patrick stood up and held out hishand to Chloe. “Okay, I’ll give you that. But now I think youshould wash your pretty face and we should go and get something toeat. I bet you only drank coffee today. What do yousay?”
“I’m nothungry.”
“I’m not leaving hereuntil I see you eat something. Okay. How about I order in someChinese? I know you like the dumplings. I’ve watched you put half adozen of them away in the past.”
“I don’t think thatwas me. You must be thinking of someone else.” Chloe smiled inspite of herself. He’s trying so hard tocheer me up. “Okay, Chinese. But only ifyou stay and share with me. I have some wine in the fridge. Youorder. I’ll get the wine. I really could do with adrink.”
She hopped off the bed and headeddownstairs a little less sad, a little less alone. At least fortonight.
Patrick pushed the containersaway, sat back and belched. He grinned. “Sorry. But that was reallygood.”
“Yes it was delicious.I didn’t think I would eat much, but I surprised myself.” Chloe gotup and paced the room, anxiously.
“I looked around whileyou were ordering dinner. I noticed the men put in a lot of worktoday. I’ve been thinking, Patrick. Dangerous I know. I might goback to Paris for a while. See my friends. Have a holiday. Couldyou continue with the renovations back here while I’m gone? Youhave all the plans. If you get the bulk of the construction done, Ican do the decorating when I get back. I won’t be much use anyway,other than making coffee and snacks while the builders are knockingdown the back of the house.”
“Sure. We can get theheavy construction work done. It’s better if we don’t have totiptoe around the place with you here. How long do you think you’llbe gone?”
“Maybe a month, maybetwo. I’ve haven’t decided. I need to call my friends in Paris tosee if it’s still alright to take them up on their offer to staywith them. But I wanted to wait until I’d checked withyou.”
“I can select aforeman to keep his eye on the place when we begin construction.We’ll add the extension and then remove the back wall of the house.Make sure the house is locked up tight when they are not working onit.”
“That’s great. I’llmake the calls later tonight and let you know. You’re right. Itwill be good for me to get away for a while. To think aboutthings.”
Todd drove past Chloe’s houseafter dinner and noticed Patrick’s ute parked outside. Jawsclenched, he checked the time on the dashboard and wondered whyPatrick was still inside. His imagination began working overtime.He remembered Chloe saying they had kissed when they had gone out.He had believed her then, but now he wondered if kissing had beenall that passed between them. Jealousy burnt in hisstomach.
Would Patrick go there withChloe, now that she had returned to her house? Would he takeadvantage of her vulnerable state? These questions ran rampantaround and around in his head, accompanied by many more explicitimages.
He had worked himself into a veryagitated state by the time he’d reached home.
Patrick pulled up in the car parkbehind the office. He hadn’t even turned off the ignition beforeTodd had yanked the door wide open.
“How could you takeadvantage of the situation? My own brother! You just couldn’t leaveher alone, could you?” Todd’s fists clenched at hissides.
“I have no idea whatyou are talking about. But I presume it has something to do withChloe?”
“It has everything todo with Chloe. I saw your ute there last night. It was way pastknock off time Patrick. Don’t try and tell me that there’s nothinggoing on. Remember I know your reputation with women.”
“I was having dinnerwith Chloe last night because she needed a friend. Only dinner.Nothing more.”
“She asked you to keepher company?”
“Actually, I invitedmyself. I just wanted to make sure she ate something. It didn’tlook like she would eat dinner without company.”
“You’re a real pieceof work.”
“Look, Chloe’shurting. She’s confused. I think she loves you but she thinks youdon’t appreciate her, don’t value her opinion. She needs time tothink things through. I’m sure it will all work out for you both.Give her that time.”
“Oh, so she confidedin you did she?”
“She has to talk tosomeone. I guess I was handy. Don’t be a prick, Todd.”
“Will she talk to me,since she’s in such a talkative mood?”
“I would wait to giveher a chance to come to you, if that’s what she wants.”
“I don’t know how longI can just stand back and wait for her to make up her mind. I needto see her. To reason with her.”
“I’ll give you aheads-up. Looks like she’s going to Paris.”
“When.”
“Soon, I gather. She’sprobably staying with a friend over there. She asked me to keepgoing with the reno. I was going to ask Barry if he could supervisethe site.”
“Did she say how longshe’d be gone?”
“She thinks a month,maybe two months. I don’t think she’s sure. We should have themajor construction done by then.
