Chloe had moved in June and before she knew it was already August and she was waiting eagerly for her family at the air port. Every single one of them would be there to help celebrate her birthday. Mark had been so kind to wear his Undertaker gear and surprise her nephews. He had quizzed her again and again on who was who.
"Ok, so it goes in order. Matthew is my oldest brother, he's 32 his wife's name is Heather, she's Asian, so they'll be easy to pick out. They have one son, Hunter. He's 8 and the oldest nephew."
"Ok. Got. Asian, Matthew, Heather, Hunter."
"Then there's Jonathan, he's 30 and his wife Bethany. They have 2 sons, ages 4 and 2, their names are Jay and Benjamin. Umm, you'll know them because she's pregnant again."
"Got it, pregnant, Beth, Jonathan, Jay and Ben. Matthew, Asian, Heather, Hunter." Chloe rolled her eyes, no way he was going to remember all this. She could barely keep up with it.
"Then there's the twins, Robert and Adam. They're both 28. Robert is married to the red head, Marge; and Adam is married to the blonde Cindy. Robert and Marge are the ones with Greg, he's 2 as well."
"Chloe…"
"Yeah?"
"I'm
going to need your help. There's no way I can remember any of
this." She patted his arm to reassure him.
"Mark, I'm going to need your help getting through this, I can't look at you because of how ridiculous you look with eye liner on." She grinned without looking up at him but she could feel his eyes burning into her head. The last 2 months they had built a really great friendship, and she couldn't help but like him; but she dare not let him know. She nor he was in any position to pursue anything and she was damned determined to stick to that.
The next thing they both heard was a squeal coming from the terminal they were waiting at and she saw Jay running towards her with a slew of her family following behind him. She bent down and smothered him in kisses and got knocked to the ground by her other nephews.
"I missed you all so much!!" Chloe exclaimed as she embraced the rest of her family in her arms. She had turned around just in time to see Hunter staring up at Mark, awe struck.
"A…a…are.. you the…. Undertaker?" All Mark did was stare at the little guy. Chloe really had to give it to Mark, he did good playing evil. Hunter took a few more steps towards him and poked him in the thigh and turned around and looked at Chloe with wide eyes.
"He's real!!" And he whirled back around and started jumping up and down.
"Oh please Mister Undertaker, can I get a picture with you? You're my favortist wrestler in the whole wide world. You don't have to smile or anything, I can look mean too," Hunter then proceeded to beg Chloe to take a picture.
"Aunt Chloe, can you take our picture? Please? Before he disappears or druids come and take him away or something?"
"Hunter, I'll have you know the Undertaker is a good friend of mine, I don't think he's going anywhere." Hunter's eyes grew even wider and he whirled around and shook his finger at Mark.
"You can have my aunt's soul!! She can't fight. Well, she can, but she fights like a girl. And we need her to come back home, she's the only one who knows how to fix my x-box. Please, Mister Undertaker, please, please, please don't take my aunt's soul." By this time Chloe saw a smile tugging at Mark's mouth and he dropped down to one knee and took off his hat and placed it on Hunter's head.
"Tell you what, little minion, how about you take the hat and I take your aunt." Mark looked up and winked at Chloe, and she just rolled her eyes and directed the rest of her family, who all were awe struck at her new friend, towards the rental department. She then grabbed Hunter by the hand.
"Come on, the Undertaker isn't going to take my soul or anyone else's. You can talk to the Undertaker on the ride to the hotel."
"He's coming with us?! Are we riding in a hearse??" Chloe was kind of taken a back by this question.
"Nuh… No. We're taking the rental cars. Why would we ride in a hearse?"
"Because we all can't fit on his chariot."
"His chariot?" Chloe looked over at Mark with a raised brow and all he could do was grin. She flashed him a quizzical look and mouthed, we'll talk later.
Mark answered Hunter's questions all the way to the hotel. He was able to make the small boy realize who we was beyond the Undertaker. But he did tell the boy he really did have a hearse. Which was partially true, it was a prop sitting in a ware house, but it was his. Mark watched Chloe's expressions while she drove, they went from surprised to confused to not too happy with what he was telling her nephew. Protective thing, he thought. When they finally reached their destination, Chloe seemed quiet happy to be there. She had her family staying at the Stanton House Inn, which was a little Bed and Breakfast. She rented the whole place for them too, this girl really loved her family.
Mark grabbed as much luggage as he could and watched as Chloe and her dad helped her mother out of the car and listened as Chloe fussed at her mother for fussing at her. She really was just a down to earth girl who was focused on her family. He really hoped the best for them.
"Mark, can you let the innkeeper we're here while I help mom and dad to their rooms?"
"Sure thing. And I'll bring the luggage to the lobby and we can sort from there." Mark made his way to the lobby and watched as Chloe held her mom and dad's hands and walked them to their rooms. This was going to be an interesting week, Mark knew that much.
"Chloe Nadine Bowman," Chloe's mother, Sherri, exclaimed with surprise once she and her father entered their room.
"Yeah Mom?" She busied herself with unpacking her mother's things, trying to avoid the next question.
"Who was that?"
"His name is
Mark."
"And?" Chloe sighed, there was no getting around
her mother.
" He was a professional wrestler, he retired several months ago; he's a good friend, he helped me move, he unclogs my pipes, he helps me change my oil in my car, and occasionally takes me out to a movie when I've had a rough day."
"He's handsome, why not go after him?" Chloe dropped the clothes that was in her hands into a drawer and turned to face her mother.
"Because I'm leaving in a year, and it's easier to maintain a friendship that it is a relationship." Immediately she regretted that answer, because that told her mother she had actually thought about it.
"Whatever you say, sweety. Whatever you say." God, she hated that fact her mother could see right through her.
Mark had rode back to the town home's with Chloe to change out of his Undertaker garb and they talked the whole way.
"You're close to your family, huh?"
"Oh yes, they're my life. You just don't understand."
"I can tell, you all seem to be close. And they all seem to be excited to be here and see you."
"We're just easily
excitable," she laughed.
"So your mom… how long has she had
fibro?" He watched as Chloe thought, she always scrunched her nose
when she thought and he found that damned near adorable.
"I was 17 when she was diagnosed. For the long haul of it, she's doing pretty well with it."
"Is it…
uh.."
"Deadly? No. But it is painful, and it won't help
in aiding in her longevity." Mark sensed her sadness about it and
gently put her hand in his and gave it a quick squeeze. She didn't
move her gaze from the road but she did squeeze back. Her hand a few
calluses from where she used to work in the scrap yard of her family
business. But Mark didn't mind, he let go of her hand to avoid any
awkwardness and to give her a free hand to drive.
"Chloe… is your disease…?" His voice trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence
"Yes." Her answer was short and closed. Mark felt a sense of grief engulf his heart. He wanted to prod further but was too nervous to do so and he didn't want to know. Besides, this was her birthday week, why ruin it?
"So, did you ask for anything in specific for your birthday?" Mark asked trying get the sense of heaviness in the car out.
"I did, and they're here and we're having dinner with them in about 2 hours." Chloe smiled at him, her mood lightening significantly.