Chapter Thirty-Three
Wednesday 25th December – 7.00pm
Aaron was taking the turkey out of the oven to rest when his phone rang, "Hey, Mark, I thought we weren't doing the Skype call for another two hours, after we've all had our respective dinners. Chloe's not even back for dinner yet. David's out the back in the dug out, getting the drinks from our beer fridge out there."
Mark bit his lip, hoping that wasn't a bad sign that something had happened to their sister, "Hey, mate. No, we're still doing the Skype call later with the rest of the family. Chloe is actually the reason for my call. Do you know where she is?"
Aaron shrugged, "I got no clue. Chloe should've been home hours ago. We didn't have any plans for lunch but she still said she'd be home. Chloe went to the hospital to bring Elly and the baby home to the Kennedy's. David and I only found out when we saw Chloe installing a baby capsule into Elly's car for her. Can you believe our little sister, installing a baby capsule? Please have that image ingrained in your head like I have. Maybe Elly didn't end up getting discharged or…Chloe's spent the day with her at the Kennedy's."
Mark sensed Aaron's hesitation in his last line like he didn't want to think that's where Chloe was. Mark was unsure if it was for his benefit considering he had married Elly before finding out she had slept with his sister, Chloe, when he had run away before the wedding with cold feet. Whilst Mark had reestablished his siblingly relationship with Chloe it had been hard on him when Chloe had begun dating Elly for a short time before they ended with Elly not coming to terms with her feelings for Chloe.
"What about Hendrix?" Mark asked.
"That's a bit random from you, Mark, to be asking after Hendrix's whereabouts. Probably sitting down to Christmas dinner with his mum and sister in Sydney as we speak," Aaron replied.
"Actually, Hendrix isn't, you missed a call from Pierce before and Pierce called me…Hendrix didn't make the flight or he did and he ducked past Lisa at the gate when she was waiting for him to get off the flight. Did Chloe take Hendrix to the airport this morning?" Mark queried.
"Yeah, Hendrix was at his Dad's place, packing his stuff when we saw Chloe at Elly's car. Chloe was taking Hendrix to the airport before picking up Elly. Do you think Chloe only dropped Hendrix off at the car drop off point, didn't actually go in and take him to the departure gate to board his flight? Seems like a rookie error for Chloe to make but she's still getting used to this responsible for a teenage boy thing. Maybe Hendrix took a later flight or maybe he booked another flight somewhere else for the fun of it? That boy is full of stunts. Wait, why is Pierce calling you about this all the way from New York instead of calling Chloe?" Aaron realized.
Mark sighed, "Chloe isn't answering her phone. Pierce has been calling her for hours, most of the afternoon. Hendrix's phone is on too but he's not answering either. Lisa's going off her nut at Pierce for this, is close to reporting Hendrix as missing to the Sydney police. Pierce tried you and David. He didn't have a number for anyone else in the street so called me. He's worried sick, it's past midnight over there and he's gonna be up all night if he doesn't hear from Chlo or Hendrix. He knows Hendrix pulls stunts so he's not as concerned that something bad has happened to him. With Chloe not answering her phone for hours, he's worried something's happened to Chloe now."
Aaron raised his eyebrow, "What, like Chloe getting kidnapped by Finn again?"
"That's what I said!" Mark exclaimed at Aaron thinking the same thing, before clearing his throat, "Which…kinda lead to an awkward moment…Chloe never told Pierce…about the kidnapping. I accidentally spilled the beans thinking he knew."
Aaron frowned, "Chloe told me she called Pierce. When we were in the hospital, she put off calling him due to the time difference but the next day when she was back at home, she told me she'd spoken to Pierce…why wouldn't she tell him?"
"I guess maybe…Chloe worried too much that Pierce would rush home to be with her. Thought his business collapsing should take more priority, Chloe was out of hospital within hours," Mark posited.
"Yeah but telling me she had told him…Chloe doesn't lie to me…does she?" Aaron worried.
Mark sighed, "I don't know…I'm not even in the same state and I somehow feel like something's going on with our lil sis. Hey Azza, how are Chloe and Pierce doing…as a couple?"
"They're…okay," Aaron replied unconvincingly.
"Say that again with less feeling," Mark narrowed his eyes, "Are they okay or not?"
"I think so…okay so there was this thing Chloe said to me a few days ago…when Pierce took off for New York, before she was kidnapped by Finn…I think…no I know…Chloe mentioned to me about being happy that Pierce and her would have some time apart so she could…figure out where she stands with him in their relationship," Aaron confessed.
"Chloe was happy…to have time away from Pierce…to work out where things stand?" Mark repeated.
Aaron sighed, "You know I think of Pierce…that he's a great guy and he'd be perfect for Chloe…if it was up to me…what am I saying? It's not up to me. Chloe needs to work it out for herself. From the sounds of it…no not from the sounds of it…Chloe told me that Pierce is pushing for her to move in with him again. Apparently living in a share house with David, Kyle and I…Pierce doesn't think that's good enough for Chloe…that our family set up here isn't…good enough. He's trying to convince her to quit her job as he doesn't see being an EA worthwhile and he'll just pay for Chloe to open her own business in whatever she wants to do in life… Also, Chloe admitted that she hasn't even told Pierce she loves him yet…and he's pushing her to get there with her feelings for him. A lil bit in the way of Elly not quite getting there with feelings for Chloe so Chloe ended it with Elly. Chloe said…and this has kinda stuck in my mind since she said it…it's not just that her and Pierce are on the wrong page when it comes to the level of investment in the relationship…Chloe said they are reading different books."
"Pierce is going to propose to Chloe!" Mark blurted out, before pulling the phone away from him, "Azza!"
A few seconds later, Aaron apologized, "Sorry bout that…dropped my phone and it smashed on the kitchen counter, lucky it didn't break the screen. Pierce is proposing!"
"Maybe Pierce should've called you to get his blessing," Mark joked, "Yes, in amongst all the Hendrix missing, Chloe not answering her phone…Pierce asked me for my blessing for him to propose to Chloe when he gets back home."
"What did you say?" Aaron asked with trepidation.
"I didn't give Pierce my blessing. It didn't feel right to me. It felt rushed because Chloe doesn't even live with Pierce…I made that mistake myself marrying Elly before I'd officially lived with her. Crashing at his house most nights…the way Elly did with me, it's not the same thing. I guess the different level of investment…I felt it too in a way…I don't think Chloe's ready to get married, raise a teenage boy…be part of a family like that. I didn't even know about the rest of it," Mark explained.
Aaron sighed in relief, "Good thing you nipped that one in the butt before Pierce goes and messes up his relationship with Chloe by proposing far too early."
Mark ran his hand through his hair again, "Oh my lack of blessing won't stop Pierce, he's still going to pop the question when he gets back. He's a lil bit stubborn that man. Guess that's how you get to be a billionaire, don't let the lil people get in your way."
"If Chloe says no, that's going to seriously affect their relationship…probably end it. Is that really worth the gamble for Pierce before Chloe's even felt that what she feels for Pierce is love?" Aaron asked.
"Apparently Pierce is willing to gamble it all on this," Mark admitted, "Hey, Aaron, thanks for being honest with me about where Chloe stands in her relationship with Pierce. I know you want them to work out because Pierce is good for Chloe. I just needed to know it wasn't just me who thinks…Pierce is making a mistake."
"No problems," Aaron replied happily.
"I guess I shouldn't need to tell you to keep this proposal plan a secret from Chloe," Mark pointed out.
"It's locked in the vault," Aaron decided.
"Good…so about Hendrix and Chloe…can you go to try and find them at Pierce's or Elly's…let Pierce know right away if you track either one down. If you could let me know too that'd be good…I worry about our lil sister, y'know," Mark revealed.
"Absolutely, I'll just let David know and I'll get over to Pierce's right away to see if Hendrix is there, then I'll work on tracking down Chlo. I'll keep you in the loop and speak to you again via Skype with the rest of the fam in a couple hours," Aaron agreed.
"Thanks, Azza," Mark replied before hanging up.
Chloe was standing in the Kennedy's entryway when Elly returned to the room, cradling Elliot against her chest, "Here's the peanut to say goodbye to you before you go home for Christmas dinner."
Chloe smiled wildly at the pair, "You didn't need to wake the peanut to say goodbye, I'll be back in a few hours."
"Actually, he's not awake at all, he's fast asleep but I still wanted you to say goodbye to him before you go home and I feel like Karl's still a touch…touchy over believing we won't cheat on Pierce. I didn't want to risk you being in my room to say goodbye upsetting Karl. He won't have an issue with you being in there to help me with Elliot but more…non-baby helping ways…I think he just feels bad for Pierce because they are…sorta kinda…friends," Elly admitted.
"Maybe I shouldn't stay here," Chloe hesitated.
"Yes, you should. Susan will make up the couch for you shortly. It'll all be ready for you when you get back," Elly told her.
"You sure cause Susan, Karl and Bea…cleared right off from here the second we finished eating…didn't even do the dishes," Chloe pointed out.
"We're usually fussy about doing the dishes and cleaning around here but I think my family knew to give us a moment alone. They'll be back out here sorting out the couch and the dishes in ten minutes time," Elly insisted, "Besides…I need you here tonight…and so does he."
"The peanut is the cutest baby," Chloe gushed before agreeing, "Okay, I'll be back in a couple of hours. Now, is there anything at all I can do for you or the peanut before I go?"
Elly opened her mouth to answer then shook her head, "No, it's all good, you go enjoy your dinner with the boys. Try and pretend like you haven't already eaten dinner with us. Elliot and I will be waiting for you to come back."
"Elly, if there's something I can help you with, you only have to ask," Chloe insisted, reading into Elly's hesitation.
"Can you hold Elliot and look after him for 5 minutes so I can have like…a 2 to 3-minute shower?" Elly asked, before changing her mind, "No, you know what, I'm still a single parent here without Shaun around, you're not Elliot's parent…yet. I'll ask Bea or Suze or Karl to watch him or I'll just put him back in his cot and hope that he doesn't need me for 5 minutes. You need to get home, I've already kept you away from your family for far too long, on Christmas Day no less."
Chloe reached out and ignoring Elly trying to hold back, scooped Elliot from Elly's arms, carefully shifting the napping infant so he was cradled on her chest, "I'm already going to be called out for not coming home hours ago, 5 more minutes won't hurt. I can look after the peanut for 5 minutes. Go and shower. You might be a new mum but you're still a human being, Elly, you deserve 5 minutes on your own to shower. Your family are already doing enough by letting me stay here. Don't ever feel like you're keeping me away from my family…one day…you and Elliot might be my family…officially."
"I don't deserve you," Elly smiled as she leant forwards, kissing her son on the top of his head, before surprising Chloe by sneaking a kiss to Chloe's right cheek. Pulling back, Elly winked at the blonde, "I know I'm a rule breaker, you love me anyway."
Chloe pursed her lips as Elly skipped away from her without giving Chloe a chance to respond.
Chloe glanced down at the infant she held in her arms, "Your mum is going to get me in a world of trouble, I just know it. Part of what I love about her. You're lucky, y'know that lil man, your mum loves you so much and she's going to be an amazing mum to you. You're gonna love her so much too and going to love having her in your life."
Chloe pressed her own lips to the top of Elliot's head as she cradled the infant against her, not realizing that Aaron had walked up the pathway to the Kennedy's house and was standing outside the security door screen.
Aaron spotted Chloe standing inside the entryway and was about to open the door when he overheard her talking to the infant in her arms.
Chloe chewed on her lip, "Are you going to love having me in your life…? I hope you are…I hope I don't mess everything up…things with your mum. After everything your mum and I have been through, I can't mess it up. It'll be one hell of a story when you ask your mum and I about it one day. I don't even know what you're gonna call me. You'll have your mum, Elly,…and then me…will I always just be Chlo or Chloe to you, peanut? Truth is…nothing scares me more than messing things up with you, peanut. You don't know it but I'm kinda terrified by you…in that I'm kinda already falling in love with you but I really shouldn't be falling for you this hard…when I'm not even sure I'm ready to raise you with your mum-"
"Say that again, Chlo, cause I am really lost right now," Aaron interrupted as he opened the door, stepping foot inside the house.
Chloe's face fell as she turned to find Aaron standing there.
Crap…not the way I planned on telling Aaron I'm going to be with Elly and help her with Elliot…how the hell is he going to take this?
