“I’ve got togo.”
“Where are you going?I think it would be a mistake to go see her now.” Patrick steppeddown from the cabin of the HiLux ute and grabbed Todd’s upper arm,stopping him in his tracks. “Be smart about this, Todd. I know youlove her, but I think something happened in her past to screw herup, she needs time to sort herself out. At least give herthat.”
“Why, what did shetell you?”
“She didn’t actuallytell me anything. Specifically, it was more a feeling I got. Shedid say she think she loves you though.”
“I guess that’ssomething.” It took all of Todd’s willpower not to get in his carand drive to Chloe’s house and confront her. What was shethinking? Running away wasn’t going tosolve anything. They needed to talk,discuss this. They could work it out if they justtalked.
“I don’t think it is agood idea to go talk to her.” Patrick let go of Todd’sarm.
“What is this? Haveyou and Chloe been seeing the same mind reader for lessons? Howcome everyone knows exactly what I am thinking thesedays?”
“It’s written all overyour face. You have that panicked look I’ve witnessed on the oddoccasion when you are trying to get someone to see your point ofview and it’s not working for you.”
“I can’t stand idly byand let her walk out of my life.”
“She isn't walking outof your life … well, not yet … not for sure. You should be spendingyour time trying to work out what to say when she returns, if youwant to make it work.
“Since when did youget all worldly wise about women?”
“Since I noticed howupset she is. She doesn’t know you. She doesn’t know what you’vegone through, does she? I bet you didn’t explain that to her. I betyou’ve never really talked about our parents’ death, and lookingafter Audrey and me, have you?”
Patrick gave Todd’s shoulder areassuring squeeze. “I didn’t think so. Maybe that’s a conversationyou could have when she comes back.” He picked up the architect’sfloor plans from the front seat and headed into thebuilding.
Todd stared atPatrick’s back as he considered his advice. Give her some time. If she haddecided to go to Paris for a couple of months, it looked like hehad more time to put his plan into action.
Sooner or later I’mgoing to win her back. He hoped it would besooner.
Later in the day, he picked upthe office phone without even glancing at the number displayed onthe screen. “Todd?”
His heart thudded in his chest atthe sound of her voice. Chloe sounded hesitant, nervous even. “HiChloe.”
“I said I would callwhen I wanted to talk. But I’d like to wait until I’ve had a chanceto think about things. About us.”
“I hear you’re goingto Paris? Do you think running away is the answer?”
“I’m not running away.I’m getting a better perspective. I think that a few weeks in Pariswill do me good. Do us both good. We can sort out how we feel and…”
“I don’t need to sortout how I feel. I love you. End of story.”
“Are you going toignore the fact that you were angry … no strike that, furious, forno good reason? Ignore the fact that I can take care of myself? Andthat I am an independent woman. That I don’t like being told whatto do, any more than you don’t like your authority to bechallenged.” Chloe stopped abruptly, and sighed. “Look. I want timeto think even if you don’t. We’ll talk when I get back, okay?” Shesounded weary.
“Have a safetrip.”
“Thanks.” Shedisconnected the call.
What choice did he have? She wasgoing to Paris with or without his blessing.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Chloe’s sojourn to Paris had donewonders for her state of mind. Recharged and rejuvenated, after afew weeks in the pleasant company of several long-time friends whohad made the effort to rally round and support her, she noticed thechange. They had offered their homes for the duration of her stay,encouraging her to come and go as she pleased. She had not stayedin one place for more than a week. Far from being troublesome,Chloe found this very refreshing. It also provided her with theexcuse to talk about her situation ad nauseam without wearing outher welcome with anyone in particular. She had finally come to theconclusion that she missed Todd. No matter how hard she tried todeny or bury her feelings, his name came up in nearly everyconversation.
Her good friends Angelique andGerard Moreau had offered the use of their holiday home for theremainder of her stay. After five weeks of the hustle and bustle,Chloe jumped at the chance to venture south of the city. She hadmissed the picturesque countryside and simple French way of life. Alittle cottage in the South of France would be the best way to endher time abroad.
At Melbourne airport, before herinternational flight had been scheduled to depart, she had bought aleather bound journal from a small boutique near the gate. She madea point of writing in this journal every day, to exorcise herdemons and to clarify her thoughts. The previous day’s entry wasone which still troubled her. She turned it over in her mind as shedrove.
She had tried to work out why shehad found Todd’s behaviour so upsetting. A few nasty words shouldnot have elicited the reaction it had from her. But it had broughtthe past flooding back with heart-clenching clarity. A past shetried to bury, and had never discussed with him, or indeed withanyone, over the years. She now had to admit she had not handledthe situation well at the time. She should have told him aboutPaul, the man who nearly ruined her life.
When she first left home ateighteen and arrived in Paris, Chloe had become attracted to Paul,a male dancer in the troupe, who was also auditioning for a leadrole at the Lido. Born in England and strikingly handsome, Paul wasa few years older and had lived in Paris for several years. Alreadya very accomplished dancer with acrobatic skills, he was a magnetfor a naive young woman living alone in a foreigncountry.
In retrospect,
