Hi everyone! Firstly I want to apologise for the delay in this chapter. Unfortunately it hasn't been a very good two weeks for me (including an incident with my car). Unfortunately I just hadn't been feeling up to anything really. I don't want to make excuses for myself but again I am sorry for the delay. Hope you guys enjoy this next chapter. To all those who have reviewed I want you all to know I appreciate every single one of your words! To all those guests that apparently I can't reply to, thank you so much! I'm not sure at this point when the next will be up but hopefully by next weekend. Enjoy :) x
"How did you do that?"
Looking up at Mattie; "What?"
"The fire?"
Whilst Mattie remained in the same spot, now hugging her knees to her chest, Chloe had shifted to sit a little closer to the fire. From there she could move the wood around if she needed to.
Shrugging nonchalantly; "I found some sticks around. Carved them down to their center," pulling out a small pocketknife she flicked it open more for show. "And lucky for us the one thing that could kill me one day, just saved our lives," she claimed as she also pulled out her cigarette lighter. "It took a while…but it should stay alight now. At least for the next few hours."
"Where did you learn to do that?"
Chloe seemed to consider the question but settled with a shrug; "Around."
Mattie, rather unapologetically, continued to watch Chloe.
Chloe on her part decided to ignore the look and continued stripping another stick from its wet exterior.
As they both kept quiet for a moment, the only sound to be heard was the intermittent crackling of wood that echoed within those walls. Outside however the wind continued to howl against their little cocoon, though it did feel to Chloe that it had slowed down considerably over the last half hour or so.
"Do you think we'll have to stay here much longer?" Mattie asked
Looking up at Mattie, then at the small slit of an entrance, she shrugged; "Who knows. We can give it another half hour and check. If the storm hasn't changed direction it's probably heading straight for Middleton, if it's not there already."
Mattie looked concerned.
"I'm sure they're fine," Chloe whispered. Her voice wasn't exactly empathetic but it was genuine.
"My dad must be looking for us. Your mom too probably."
Raising her eyes Chloe corrected her yet again; "She's not my mom." And then thought to herself; 'But yes, she must be looking for me too.' Biting down on her lower lip she continued to shift the wood and kept her silence, knowing that if she so much as took a breath the wrong way she would not be able to grip onto those same old tears. She wouldn't allow herself to do that. Not right now. 'My dad would be looking for me too,' she thought. 'He did look for me.'
Mattie saw Chloe's eyes glaze and drift deep into her own thoughts. And she didn't like it. It tugged at something inside her, which she understood all too well. But it wasn't something she allowed herself to dwell on. They were not nice memories, nor were they needed.
But unfortunately saying 'I understand' didn't quite feel like the adequate words.
She was curious to say the least. If that lady wasn't Chloe's mom then what was she? And where was Chloe's mom? Dad? The questions almost bubbled out of her but she bit her tongue. Chloe seemed amicable and she didn't want to rattle the cage. Not right now. Instead she whispered; "My dad is gonna crack it at me."
Chloe let the comment fly.
The silence bothered Mattie just as little so she searched for something else to say but was coming up blank. Letting out a long breath and dropping her head to her knees she mumbled; "I'm sleepy."
Blinking just quickly enough that her tears were swallowed back, Chloe looked up and added lightly with a raised eyebrow; "I'm starving."
Mattie smiled in agreement; "Yeah. I could go for a burger right about now."
"Not just any burger. It has to be a good one," stated Chloe as if it were a very crucial point.
"You haven't tried Harriet's burgers!" Mattie asked. "They're amazing."
Chloe gained a skeptical look; "I come from New York Mattie. I've tasted the best and the worst there is."
Mattie took it as a challenge: "Ok. Well when we get out of here I'm shouting you a burger with the lot at Bistro. See what you say then!"
Chloe would have rejected the idea but instead she found herself tagging along; "Alright. You're on!"
Mattie gave her a wide and open smile in return. Then sobering up, she wrapped her arms around her legs again and leaned her chin on her knees licking her dry lips. Curiously she asked; "What's New York like? Is it like they paint in the movies?"
Chloe let out a sharp breath that was mixed with a laugh; "It's exactly like that. And nothing like that." Looking up she found Mattie watching her with genuine interest so Chloe figured she might as well pass the time; "Well it's no Middleton. It's big…and frankly there are too many people. And it's loud. Almost nauseating," Chloe's eyes became distant for all of a second before returning to Mattie with s shrug; "I don't know. Central Park is…pretty…I guess." Rather a lame remark to finish on but she honestly didn't know what else Mattie wanted to know.
"What school did you go to?"
Chloe snorted softly; "Would you like them chronologically or alphabetically?"
Mattie looked on a little shocked and then a little confused and then simply blank.
Taking a deep breath Chloe figured she might as well; "Sarah enrolled me in some…posh private school right before we moved here. Lets just say that didn't last very long." Her eyebrow raised in sarcasm.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" asked Mattie rather hurriedly
Chloe frowned in humor. "No. Do you?" flipping the question around immediately. Caught off guard, Chloe watched in amusement as Mattie turned several shades of red.
Simply shaking her head, Mattie made a negative sound.
Well that was hardly surprising. In fact looking at Mattie all flustered Chloe was tempted to ask if she'd ever even kissed a guy…but to be frank she wasn't that interested. Instead she moved enough to stretch out her legs and shake them off effectively shaking off the subject and moving on; "So what about you? I haven't seen your mom around."
Mattie wasn't all that knocked back by the question, she had answered it many times before; "My mom passed away." Simply.
Chloe swallowed heavily. She was certainly not expecting that. Divorced or runaway parents, like her own mother, were the usual answers she got from kids back home. "I'm sorry."
Mattie gave the smallest of shrugs, keeping her eyes to the ground. The burn of those memories rose up and tightened her chest, as tears prickled her eyes. "It was a while ago," she explained. But then whispered more to herself; "I miss her."
But Chloe heard it, prompting a whispered; "You've got your dad." She hates those words. She hates herself for saying them. People said the same to her when her dad died. 'You've got your mom.' Yeah. A whole lot of good that was. But Mattie's case was different. Her dad seemed…well he seemed to be very much like her own dad had been. Pretty awesome.
"He's not my dad."
'What?' Chloe wondered and frowned…now very confused.
Mattie couldn't help a small smile at the look on Chloe's face; "Harm is not my dad. Well…not biologically anyway." Her tone dropping very quickly from light to melancholic as she whispered bitterly; "I wish he was."
Unknown to them both, Chloe came to same conclusion Mattie had not so long ago. Saying 'I understand'…just didn't quite cut it. And so instead she gave Mattie space and silence. Both having the time to think back to that one parent who had been their all. The one parent they wish they had back.
'Turns out we're a more alike than I ever could have guessed' thought Chloe rather sadly.
They had sat in the car for nearly 20 minutes now in a rather awkward and uncomfortable silence. Mac could feel Harm's body vibrating desperately with the need to jump out and keep searching…but now more than ever they simply couldn't. She wouldn't even be surprised if their doors were jammed with snow by now.
Looking out the window, or rather at the window - there was nothing but white outside, she took a gamble and whispered; "I know you're upset." Turning to him and getting nothing in return, she continued; "trust me so am I. But we won't achieve anything by walking into this storm," Mac reasoned despite her own anguish. Chloe was out there in the heavy snow and cold and unlike New York, she simply couldn't get to her this time.
Fact was he'd had enough time now to let the anger go…now he was simply worried and frustrated. Moving to switch the heating on again, Harm kept silent knowing Mac was right. Yes. She was right. But that didn't help him feel any less anxious and upset. His little girl was out there somewhere and he couldn't reach her.
In any other circumstance this would have been quite a perfect scenario. Stranded in a car with a woman he was clearly attracted to. Right now however, she could have been just about anyone in that car. His thoughts were entirely on Mattie.
"If it makes you feel any better…Chloe can be very protective when she needs to be. And rather resourceful too."
Oh but there it was. The one thing he'd been churning over for a while now. Resting his elbow and forearm against the window he turned his head away and continued on that troubling train of thought.
He knew his girl; she never would have come up here on her own unless she'd been prompted to do so. Maybe he got carried away? He'd rooted for that young girl…now he questioned it. Maybe he'd jumped in too soon with these two? He didn't really know them. He'd gotten carried away with the excitement of it all…but maybe…maybe he needed to take a step back? Maybe this girl was not good company for Mattie…
So he voiced it; "Should I be concerned?" his deep frown spoke volumes.
Mac was confused. Of course he should be concerned. She was too! "We're both concerned."
No. She didn't understand. "Should I be concerned about Chloe's influence over Mattie?" he corrected a little more forcefully than perhaps necessary.
Mac felt the whiplash of that question. How dare he? How dare he? Yes. Chloe had her issues. Yes. She was a handful. But how dare he? She knew Chloe. She would never purposefully put Mattie in danger!
Her silence was enough to move him and turn to face her making it all the worse for himself. She was livid! That calm and composed demeanor from before now long gone. Her frown was deeply carved and her eyes were burning into him.
But no! He refused to apologize. This was his daughter they were talking about! And until he had her back in his arms he wouldn't even contemplate taking his words back. And yes. Perhaps he needed to take a step back. Maybe they needed to keep their distance at least for a little while…
"Mac!" He shouted as he watched her push the door open and get out.
"Bud!" Harriet shouted as she watched him struggle through the wind running up to the front door of the Bistro.
Opening the door for him, she needed his help to push it close again as the wind fought with them for entry.
Finally getting it shut, Bud locked it and turning around he grabbed a chair and jammed it against the doorknob.
Letting out a loud and long breath, he pulled back his hood and wrapped his arms around his wife. "Are you ok?" he asked her worriedly.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm ok," Harriet leaned into him. "Why did you come? You should have stayed back at the station. I'm ok."
Pulling away Bud looked her straight in the eyes; "Do you really think I would leave you here alone?"
Harriet smiled thanking her lucky stars. He really was a beautiful and caring man.
The Bistro was in darkness after the electricity in the whole town had gone down just over an hour ago. Harriet had sent all her staff home but her own exit was delayed and by the time she was heading out, the storm had very much taken a hold of the town and it was no longer safe to leave. Calling Bud, she had told him about her dilemma to which Bud had all but pleaded her to remain put. What she hadn't expected was that he would fight the elements and make his way to her.
"What about Mattie? Have you heard anything from Harm?" she asked concerned.
Bud shook his head a little downcast; "Nothing. His phone isn't ringing through anymore. Clay and Murray did another lap about an hour ago but they couldn't find them. They got called back to the station just as you called me. The boys are all there now…but I'm worried."
"I know. So am I."
With a small sigh Bud changed the subject gently; "Come on. Let's keep this fire going," Bud gave her a gentle kiss on the lips and then moved them towards one of the fireplaces that was slowly dying down.
Using the poker, he shifted what was left around before realizing this wasn't going to keep. Turning back to her; "I'm gonna….Harriet!"
Leaping towards her he couldn't get to her in time as he watched almost in slow motion as she collapsed to the ground. "Harriet!" he shouted desperately as he held her head on his lap. Touching her skin he found her flushed. "Harriet!"
"Here," Chloe offered her hand in assistance as she watched Mattie carefully slip out from their little shelter.
The wind had died down considerably and despite the growing darkness outside neither had any intention of spending the night here. Chloe was the first to step outside and had figured they were safe enough to start moving, albeit slowly, but they could certainly get a move on.
Once Mattie was out and straightened up, Chloe looked at the gash on her forehead and asked; "How you feeling? You dizzy at all?"
"No. I'm good," Mattie smiled at Chloe's concern.
"Do you think you'll manage down?"
"Yeah. Absolutely."
And like that both girls started to slowly make their way down. The air was still chilly and seeped right through their clothes, but their determination to get down was far greater. Folding their arms across their chest was only helpful when they didn't need their hands to help themselves down.
Somehow going up had felt a lot longer than going down and before they knew it they had covered a decent amount of ground. However the closer they got to the bottom, the more they began to think on their sins. Well, at least Mattie did.
She was worried. Just how much trouble would she be in? But more importantly; how disappointed would Harm be with her? That right there was the more upsetting factor in all this. She had never let him down…until today. How would he react to this?
Chloe on her part was much calmer. She expected Sarah to rip into her. Remind her how much of a disappointment she was. But what else could she threaten her with? She had already moved them here. That was probably punishment enough.
So lost were they both in their own thoughts they didn't quite realize they had made it all the way down and were now walking on fairly even ground. The snow still covered the ground but they knew which way they were heading in now.
What they didn't expect however was the scene that greeted them only a few blocks down as they came to a stop.
A rather angry Mac forcing her way through the snow and away from Harm who was trying to keep up with her.
"Mac!" he called out unbeknownst to him that the girls were only meters away watching the whole exchange.
"How dare you!" she shouted as she stopped and turned to him. "Yes. Fine. Chloe has her issues. But she would never, never, put anyone else in danger!"
"Then why is my daughter missing?" Harm was desperately trying to keep himself in check. He prided himself in being a rather calm and quite person. He was not a violent man, and certainly never with a woman. In fact he had never so much as raised his voice to one. Today would not be any different…but he was struggling. On the one had he respected this woman and he wouldn't dare shout. But on the other hand his daughter was his everything.
"We will find them!" Mac tried to rationalize. "But if you really think that Chloe is such a bad influence on your child, then yes, perhaps you should stay away from us!"
Harm's turmoil was clear in his eyes as he watched her almost longingly. Maybe she was right…
"Dad."
