Chapter Forty-Eight
Friday 14th February – 11:00am
Elly was in the Brenaka's kitchen brewing a pot of tea to serve to herself, Chloe, Aaron and David as the couple had stopped by Chloe's place to catch up with her brother and brother-in-law before they headed to the Waterhole for their first Valentines' Day together.
As Chloe and David were sitting outside, laughing about something, with Chloe cradling baby Elliot to her chest, Aaron went into the kitchen to see if he could find a snack to be served with the tea Elly was making.
Aaron entered the kitchen, seeing Elly was on her phone but as soon as she spotted him, she seemed to click off the page she was on before putting her phone in her pocket, "Everything okay?"
"No problems," Elly replied with a smile on her face that didn't leave Aaron convinced.
Deciding to ignore it, Aaron opened the pantry door, "Thanks for coming over here to catch up before your lunch. We haven't seen too much of the pair of you for a while."
"I know, I'm sorry about that," Elly apologized, "Chloe and I have been so busy in our own little world."
"That adorable world encapsulated by your son?" Aaron smiled, then off the look on Elly's face, "How's Chloe…coping with all this? Helping you with Elliot?"
Elly smiled as she watched her girlfriend cradling her son, "Chloe's been so unbelievably perfect with Elliot. You'd be so proud of her. Every day she manages to still surprise me by how much she's sacrificing to be there for us."
Aaron walked back to the kitchen counter with a packet of biscuits as he glanced out the window to look at Chloe with Elliot too, "I don't think my sister sees any of what she's doing as a sacrifice. I'll be honest, I am quite surprised by how much she's grown up the past 2 months. I almost can't imagine what Chloe looks like not having Elliot attached to her…and vomit or drool stuck to her clothes without Chloe panicking to bother getting changed into something clean. My sister is…she's completely in love with Elliot, isn't she?"
Elly nodded, "Chloe's so good with him. She's managed to work out what he needs just by the different sounds of his cries. I know Chloe loves him…I just don't want to push her into admitting it. She's been an absolute God send helping me with Elliot every day since he was born but I'd never want to refer to her as Elliot's parent before she's ready. We'll get there…I hope."
Aaron raised his eyebrow, "I thought you'd be sure about Chloe…'getting there' to be Elliot's…mum."
"It's not that, we're just struggling a bit with managing it all," Elly quietly admitted, "Chloe's at the hotel at all hours of the night. Most weeknights she stumbles into bed close to 10pm, is then up and down with me and the baby all night long, then is gone by 8am the next day. Then on weekends when she's not attending a Lassiters event that's been held, she's catching up on sleep, spending time bonding with Elliot or off having lunch or dinner with Hendrix to…keep him as part of her life so he knows that someone in his life actually wants to spend time with him. The work stuff…it's a vicious cycle. I'm worried about her."
"Why's Chloe so into been tied down with work? She never worked that hard at the hotel when she was dating Pierce...not that I think Chloe's working far too hard to avoid you...I can see how happy Chloe is with you. I don't get it, she should be using all her free time to be with the pair of you, why is she working so late all the time?" Aaron questioned.
"It's got nothing to do with not wanting to spend all her time possible with Elliot and I when she's not trying to catch up on her sleep. It's Pierce. He's driving her round the bend at the hotel, all but treating her like she's his EA not Terese's. Terese has seen what she's doing, has told Chloe to quit working long hours doing his work when Pierce can hire his own EA. Terese understands that Chloe should be spending this time with her...family but Chloe...she's...refusing to give in that she can't balance it all. Work life and whatever Terese and Pierce throw at her and...home life with us," Elly lamented.
"So, I noticed when you described your struggles of 'managing it all' you didn't seem to talk about you and Chloe...as a couple, how your...relationship is coping," Aaron pointed out, still feeling like he was getting used to the fact his younger sister was dating Mark's ex-wife.
Elly pursed her lips, not quite feeling like Aaron gave his full support for the couple, as she began pouring the teas, "All of this isn't on Chloe, I've been struggling not to get moody because I only see my girlfriend when we're up all night tending to Elliot's needs. We do try to spend the weekend mornings curled up in bed together as long as we can before we need to get up for the day. I knew having an infant would...kill the romance mood but the hours Chloe is working...have been just as unhelpful. We haven't even managed to have a single meal together as a couple in the six weeks we've officially been together without my son with us and even then, it's normally just a coffee and morning or afternoon tea at Harold's. I've almost forgotten what the inside of the Waterhole looks like."
Aaron remembered the packet of biscuits in his hands, grabbed a plate, opened the packet and poured them out onto it, "Hence you two finally breaking out of your cycle on the day of all romance to not even contemplate that place called Chloe's work and have at least an hour or two alone to yourselves to have lunch together whilst David and I get to baby sit for you."
Elly finally smiled again, "I was so happy when Chloe told me she'd taken the day off work to spend with me. It was amazing lazing about in bed with Chloe, actually having a conversation with her not about work or my son for the first time in ages. I want this day to be perfect for Chloe, to show her how much I love her and am grateful for everything she's done for the three of us."
"I'm sure you'll find a way to express that to Chloe," Aaron reassured.
"Do you...ah...do you and David have your own plans for Valentines?" Elly asked nervously.
"Dinner in the city at 7pm, we'll be out of here by 6pm to have a quick drink first. Then David's on the night shift so I'll drop him off at the hospital on my way home," Aaron replied.
"So...if Chloe and I were to...um...I mean if we..." Elly trailed off.
"Spit it out, Elly, never known you to not voice your thoughts," Aaron nudged Elly.
Elly blushed, "It's just...would you mind looking after Elliot if Chloe and I took a little bit longer than one or two hours to...spend together? I bought a bottle of milk so you can feed him, it's already in the fridge."
Aaron shrugged, "As long as you're back here to pick the fella up by say 5pm-ish, I do need time to look my best for my own date night y'know, it will not be a problem at all for us to mind Elliot for the rest of the afternoon. Have you got some romantic plan with Chloe you two haven't told us about yet?"
"Kinda," Elly whispered.
"I can keep a secret," Aaron insisted.
Elly put her head down, "Well just...um...Karl and Bea are at work, Suze has meetings at the education department after school so Chloe and I...we'd have the house to ourselves to...if we had a few extra hours to...ourselves..."
"Oooohhhh," Aaron finally clued in, "You and Chloe want to...get some romance into your Valentines' Day? Why'd Chloe only ask us to mind Elliot so you two can have lunch when you two deserve some much needed...alone time that you don't seem to get often?"
Elly blushed again, "Chloe doesn't know I want to with her...Chloe and I we haven't..."
"Right...I guess the pair of you have been too busy for your first time...second time," Aaron corrected himself, "Why you so nervous?"
Elly fiddled with her fingers, "I haven't told Chloe that I want to...be with her this afternoon. We've been waiting...and also far too busy raising my son to...do that thing. We were supposed to wait until I'm ready because my body's a mess from giving birth which it still is so she can't with me but doesn't mean I can't with her...I'm tired of waiting. I want to with Chloe today...I'm so in love with her, I want to be able to show her by...this is just embarrassing..."
"What is? Wanting to be with your girlfriend?" Aaron asked, fearing momentarily Elly didn't want to take the next step with Chloe as she didn't want to be in that kind of relationship with another woman.
"Talking to you about...wanting to be with your sister...because I really want to be with Chloe and show her how much I love her but I also know in the back of my mind when we are...doing that thing this afternoon...you and David will know. It's just embarrassing that I feel like I have to tell someone that I'll be...you know with Chloe in order to have someone mind my son so Chloe and I can finally..." Elly explained avoiding Aaron's gaze.
Aaron leaned over to Elly, wanting to help her get past her nerves, feeling relieved his worries of Elly expressing her nervousness to sleep with Chloe weren't for the reasons he thought they might be, "You know it only takes me 5 minutes to look my best? That whole needing an hour to get ready and go for drinks with David before we go to the city for dinner was a pack of lies. With David working tonight...we're just...having our Valentines' Day activities in reverse. It's a little weird talking to you about my sister in...this way but...I don't want anyone dating Chloe to ever be ashamed of being with her. And hey, when David and I finally become parents ourselves...we're going to need a couple like you and Chlo to baby sit our child so we can...you know."
Elly smiled back at Aaron, quietly surprised that Aaron seemed happy enough to think her and Chloe would still be together by then when he hadn't been completely convinced their relationship was for the best, "We can do that for you. Just...ah...maybe don't mention this to Chloe...in case I lose my nerves to..."
"Secret is safe with me. Now let's get back out there before you and Chloe head off for your romantic lunch," Aaron decided.
An hour later, Chloe and Elly were seated at the Waterhole at a table for two that was decked out with candles, flowers and love heart objects all over the table. It was against one of the screens so it felt even more private as they could only see half the venue.
"This is so romantic," Chloe gushed at Elly.
"Only the best romance for my girl. I'm treating you to a perfect Valentines' Day," Elly promised as she awkwardly pulled out her phone, "Ah sorry...I just need to check..."
Chloe grinned, "We've been apart from the peanut ten minutes and you're already checking if Aaron and David have texted photos of the lil man."
"Yeah," Elly replied as she cursed herself for lying to Chloe as she instead logged into her internet banking, then tried not to grimace at the result.
I ballsed up completely by thinking my government parenting payment would go into my account yesterday instead of today and it's still not there! Probably won't be 'til later in the afternoon. I really shouldn't be complaining that I still have some income I'm scrapping by on. I wanted to treat Chloe to the best Valentines' Day...it's okay. There's $100 left from your last fortnightly payment, that will get us a great meal. Why do you have to panic so much?
"Any cute pictures yet?" Chloe asked excitedly.
Elly shook her head, lying so she wouldn't have to show Chloe she wasn't looking for baby photos from the boys, "Just a text to let us know Elliot's good."
Once Elly had put down her phone on the table, Chloe reached into her handbag, pulling out an envelope, "So, I have a Valentines' Day gift for you."
Elly immediately smiled at Chloe, taking her own gift and card out of her own bag, "And I have one for you too, Chlo."
After handing over their gifts to one another, Elly then decided, "Can we wait until after we've had lunch to open them?"
Chloe pouted but put the gift next to her on the table, watching Elly do the same, "Okay. Looks like we have to as Shane's on his way over to take our order anyway."
"Afternoon ladies," Shane greeted them cheerfully, "What can I get the happiest couple in Erinsborough for their Valentines' Day lunch?"
"I bet you say that to every couple you serve today," Elly teased.
Shane nodded, "Well, yeah I do but only cause we need to strum up repeat business and with you two I actually mean it since there's no need to put on the fake charm to get you both to come back here. Though it has been a while since we've seen you both here for a date so maybe I'll have to work a bit of real charm on the pair of you to get you to have all the dates you could possibly have with us."
"You are so chipper today, Shane. I like it," Chloe told him, "Okay...so I will have the...surf and turf for lunch."
$40 down, this will be easy to keep it under $100.
"And can I get you your usual glass of champagne?" Shane asked the blonde to which she nodded.
Damn I don't know which one she's ordered.
"Chlo, is your favourite champagne still the Lanson Black Label? I should pick you up a bottle another time," Elly asked subtly.
"Oh, no...I mean it is a favourite of mine...just Pierce got me...he introduced me to the Bollinger La Grande Annee champagne. But there is no need for you to ever buy me a bottle of it. A bottle of Lanson Black Label is perfect," Chloe answered, hating bringing up her ex.
Damn...I can see why...$200 for a bottle of champagne! Oh, hell it's $40 a glass! That's cool...that's...you're so bloody broke you can't avoid to treat your girlfriend to a Valentines' Day lunch she wants because the last time she went out like this she was with a billionaire. Okay you can't get all awkward that Chloe's lunch is costing a fortune. It's still under my budget which means I need to...
"I'll just take the salt and pepper calamari...umm...entree size. If you can just...serve it with Chloe's lunch rather than earlier as an entree. I'm not that hungry," Elly excused away, feeling embarrassed her entree lunch would just come under the only money she had in her account.
I do have savings...I shouldn't be breaking into my savings for lunch, that's a terrible habit!
"And what can I get you to drink?" Shane asked, throwing Elly.
A reason to plead for you to split my bill when I go to pay and beg you to let me come back tomorrow to pay for my drink...
"I'll just have a water," Elly settled.
"Sparkling water?" Shane checked.
"Tap water is fine," Elly swallowed as she told him, looking away from Chloe.
As Shane walked away from them, Chloe eyed Elly, "Everything okay? Since when aren't you hungry for lunch? Entree calamari is like...6 pieces of squid with a small salad."
"I'll be fine," Elly lied, "Besides are you really going to eat all your chips? My girl will let me steal a few chips off her plate."
"Elly," Chloe said in a knowing tone, "What's going on?"
"It's nothing," Elly replied then finally under Chloe's staring, "Okay fine...my parenting payment which I thought was meant to be paid yesterday is actually being paid today...it just hasn't hit my account yet. I can't afford more than...what I've ordered. And don't you dare offer to treat this lunch. You do everything for Elliot and I, I'm treating my girlfriend to the Valentines' meal she deserves."
"And starving yourself in the process? Elly, why didn't you just tell me?" Chloe asked.
"Cause it's embarrassing when I think...what Pierce could be treating you to," Elly admitted.
"Hold that thought," Chloe told her girlfriend, before calling Shane at the bar, "Shane, don't open that bottle of champagne! Have you put through our orders yet?"
"I was just about to," Shane said as he walked back over to them.
"Good cause we need to change them. Elly's will be a main serving of the calamari. I'll take...the fish of the day instead. Can you also bring us both a glass of the Lanson Black Label champagne?" Chloe ordered, then looked at Elly, "Is that...okay?"
Elly nodded, after doing the calculations in her head, "That's perfect."
"Done and done," Shane agreed as he walked back to the bar.
Chloe then took Elly's hand and held it in the middle of the table, "Don't you ever compare yourself to Pierce. Or what he could give me. If I ever do anything like order a glass of champagne you can't afford, tell me to pull my head in, okay? I'm with you because I love you. I don't need anything else."
Neither woman noticed that Pierce had walked into the pub for a break from the meetings he'd had at the hotel. He grimaced as he saw the couple together.
Elly blushed at Chloe reassuring her, then lifted Chloe's hand to press her lips to the back of it before placing them back down on the table, "I love you too."
Pierce screwed up his face at witnessing their actions and Elly's declaration of love for Chloe.
Chloe smiled at the brunette, "Now that we got that out of the way. Let's have the best Valentines' lunch we can possibly have together."
Pierce noticed an empty chair at the table next to the two women and decided the best Valentines' lunch was what Chloe deserved.
Before the girls had noticed him, Pierce swiped the empty chair from the other table, sat it down at theirs and sat down next to the couple, "I think I can help you with that. Here's to the best Valentines' lunch we can possibly have together. Have we ordered lunch yet?"
You've got to be kidding me!
If Pierce doesn't get away from our date, my plans for Chloe and I this afternoon are up in smoke!
