Chapter 23- A Night Alone, Or Not So Much
Chloe noticed that the message light on the phone was blinking. She went to it, and pushed the 'hear messages' button.
"Hey, Chlo. It's Lan. Calling to make sure your appointment went as planned, and to let you know that Pete and I won't be able to make it home for dinner. Can you make something on your own? I know you can, I don't know why I asked that," Lana said with a laugh. "We may not be back until eleven or twelve, if not later. Pete's waving at me to hurry up, so I have to go. I know you don't like to stay by yourself, and frankly it makes me nervous in case something happens with you and the baby, so why don't you see if you can spend the night at Clark's. I know it may not be something you really want to do, but it would make me feel better. If you do, leave me a note. See you when we get back!"
Chloe smiled. Lana was the only one who could get away with babying Chloe. Not even Pete could after the stunt he pulled a few weeks earlier. Chloe really didn't want to go to Clark's. It's not that she didn't enjoy being with Clark, but the thought of him making lovey eyes at her all night made her nervous just thinking about it. Chloe did want to make Lana feel better, so she decided to call Martha.
"Hello?" a small voice asked.
"Hannah, can I talk to your mommy?" Chloe asked.
"Mommy!" Hannah called.
"Hello?" Martha asked a moment later.
"Hi, Mrs. Kent, it's Chloe," Chloe said.
"Chloe, hi! Did you want to talk to Clark?" Martha asked.
"Actually, I just saw him," Chloe answered.
"That's right," Martha said. "What can I do for you?"
"Lana won't be back until late tonight. She wants me to spend the night over there, but I'd really enjoy a night to myself. Are you going to be home tonight?" Chloe asked.
"I plan on it," Martha answered.
"Okay. I just wanted to let you know I was here alone, so Lana wouldn't worry so much," Chloe said.
"Okay, dear. Call if you need anything at all," Martha said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Kent," Chloe said sweetly.
"Good bye," Martha replied.
"Bye," Chloe said. Chloe sighed when she hung up the phone. "Bubble bath," she mumbled happily. Chloe made her way upstairs. She turned on the water to let it get hot while she got her nightgown. She lazily walked to her room, pulled out a clean nightgown, and grabbed a book of poetry. When Chloe got back in the bathroom she plugged up the drain and let the water run. When it was halfway full she poured in some rose scented bubble bath, and undressed slowly. Stepping into the hot water she moaned in pleasure. She laid back against the bath pillow and let her muscles relax before picking up the book of poetry.
"I celebrate myself, and what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you," Chloe read out loud. "I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass. My tongue, every atom of my blood, formed from this soil, this air, born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Sounds like a description of a family. Moving on."
Chloe flipped through the pages of the book, skimming every title.
"ENOUGH ! we're tired, my heart and I.
We sit beside the headstone thus,
And wish that name were carved for us.
The moss reprints more tenderly
The hard types of the mason's knife,
As heaven's sweet life renews earth's life
With which we're tired, my heart and I.
You see we're tired, my heart and I.
We dealt with books, we trusted men,
And in our own blood drenched the pen,
As if such colours could not fly.
We walked too straight for fortune's end,
We loved too true to keep a friend ;
At last we're tired, my heart and I."
Chloe couldn't believe how much she related to this poem. 'We loved too true to keep a friend.' It was as if the poem had been written for her.
"How tired we feel, my heart and I !
We seem of no use in the world ;
Our fancies hang grey and uncurled
About men's eyes indifferently ;
Our voice which thrilled you so, will let
You sleep; our tears are only wet :
What do we here, my heart and I ?
So tired, so tired, my heart and I !
It was not thus in that old time
When Ralph sat with me 'neath the lime
To watch the sunset from the sky.
`Dear love, you're looking tired,' he said;
I, smiling at him, shook my head :
'Tis now we're tired, my heart and I.
This could have been Chloe's theme song. That is if the thought ever crossed her mind to have a theme song. Chloe read in awe of the flow of words.
"So tired, so tired, my heart and I !
Though now none takes me on his arm
To fold me close and kiss me warm
Till each quick breath end in a sigh
Of happy languor. Now, alone,
We lean upon this graveyard stone,
Uncheered, unkissed, my heart and I.
Tired out we are, my heart and I.
Suppose the world brought diadems
To tempt us, crusted with loose gems
Of powers and pleasures ? Let it try.
We scarcely care to look at even
A pretty child, or God's blue heaven,
We feel so tired, my heart and I.
She had been tempted, only not with 'loose gems.' Chloe had been tempted with emerald green eyes, big grins, and blushing cheeks. The temptation had won her over, and she had had to leave to get away from it.
"Yet who complains ? My heart and I ?
In this abundant earth no doubt
Is little room for things worn out :
Disdain them, break them, throw them by
And if before the days grew rough
We once were loved, used, -- well enough,
I think, we've fared, my heart and I."
'We once were, loved, used.' How true. Chloe had felt the same way.once.
"Chloe!" a male voice shouted from downstairs startling Chloe out of her thoughts. Chloe!"
"I'm up here!" Chloe shouted back.
She heard the creaking of the stairs and soft footfalls in the hall.
"Where?" Clark called.
"Bathroom!" Chloe yelled back. "What do you need?"
"My mom said you were home alone tonight. I wanted to come by and check on you," Clark said, standing right outside the door.
"Clark, I've been by myself for all of an hour. I'm fine," Chloe said in exasperation. "Don't treat me like a baby."
"I'm not. You said Lana worried about you, is it not okay for me to worry, too?" Clark asked, almost hurtfully.
"You can worry all you want, just don't baby me," Chloe pointed out.
"Fine, I won't," Clark said dejectedly.
"Good. Now did you really need anything else, or can I get back to my bath?" Chloe asked.
Clark's eyes widened at the realization that Chloe was taking a bath.
Chloe recognized the silence. "Clark, I can feel you blushing all the way in here. Now answer me."
"No, there was nothing else," Clark replied hastily. "Will you be okay?"
"Clark, stop it! Don't treat me like I need someone to hold my hand. I'm a big girl," Chloe said rudely.
"Alright, alright," Clark said, giving in. "I'll go now."
"Clark, wait!" Chloe said, opening the door in her robe. "I don't mean to be rude, I was just enjoying a nice, quiet evening alone."
Clark nodded.
"I promise if I need anything at all that I'll call you, okay? Will you stop worrying?" Chloe asked.
"I could never stop, but I won't voice it anymore," Clark agreed.
Chloe sighed. "Good enough. By the way, how did you get in here? I locked the door."
"Lana gave me a spare-" Clark started.
"So you could check up on me, because she knew I wouldn't spend the night over at your house. Remind me to thank her," Chloe said sarcastically. "Now, may I finish with my bath?"
"Yes," Clark replied turning to leave.
"Clark, will it make you feel better if I call you before I go to bed?" Chloe asked, not wanting to hurt Clark.
Clark's face brightened. "Yes."
"Okay, I will. Now leave!" Chloe said, a teasing gleam in her eye. Chloe shut the bathroom door and climbed back into the bubbles. "Now, for another poem," she said to herself.
Chloe noticed that the message light on the phone was blinking. She went to it, and pushed the 'hear messages' button.
"Hey, Chlo. It's Lan. Calling to make sure your appointment went as planned, and to let you know that Pete and I won't be able to make it home for dinner. Can you make something on your own? I know you can, I don't know why I asked that," Lana said with a laugh. "We may not be back until eleven or twelve, if not later. Pete's waving at me to hurry up, so I have to go. I know you don't like to stay by yourself, and frankly it makes me nervous in case something happens with you and the baby, so why don't you see if you can spend the night at Clark's. I know it may not be something you really want to do, but it would make me feel better. If you do, leave me a note. See you when we get back!"
Chloe smiled. Lana was the only one who could get away with babying Chloe. Not even Pete could after the stunt he pulled a few weeks earlier. Chloe really didn't want to go to Clark's. It's not that she didn't enjoy being with Clark, but the thought of him making lovey eyes at her all night made her nervous just thinking about it. Chloe did want to make Lana feel better, so she decided to call Martha.
"Hello?" a small voice asked.
"Hannah, can I talk to your mommy?" Chloe asked.
"Mommy!" Hannah called.
"Hello?" Martha asked a moment later.
"Hi, Mrs. Kent, it's Chloe," Chloe said.
"Chloe, hi! Did you want to talk to Clark?" Martha asked.
"Actually, I just saw him," Chloe answered.
"That's right," Martha said. "What can I do for you?"
"Lana won't be back until late tonight. She wants me to spend the night over there, but I'd really enjoy a night to myself. Are you going to be home tonight?" Chloe asked.
"I plan on it," Martha answered.
"Okay. I just wanted to let you know I was here alone, so Lana wouldn't worry so much," Chloe said.
"Okay, dear. Call if you need anything at all," Martha said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Kent," Chloe said sweetly.
"Good bye," Martha replied.
"Bye," Chloe said. Chloe sighed when she hung up the phone. "Bubble bath," she mumbled happily. Chloe made her way upstairs. She turned on the water to let it get hot while she got her nightgown. She lazily walked to her room, pulled out a clean nightgown, and grabbed a book of poetry. When Chloe got back in the bathroom she plugged up the drain and let the water run. When it was halfway full she poured in some rose scented bubble bath, and undressed slowly. Stepping into the hot water she moaned in pleasure. She laid back against the bath pillow and let her muscles relax before picking up the book of poetry.
"I celebrate myself, and what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you," Chloe read out loud. "I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass. My tongue, every atom of my blood, formed from this soil, this air, born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Sounds like a description of a family. Moving on."
Chloe flipped through the pages of the book, skimming every title.
"ENOUGH ! we're tired, my heart and I.
We sit beside the headstone thus,
And wish that name were carved for us.
The moss reprints more tenderly
The hard types of the mason's knife,
As heaven's sweet life renews earth's life
With which we're tired, my heart and I.
You see we're tired, my heart and I.
We dealt with books, we trusted men,
And in our own blood drenched the pen,
As if such colours could not fly.
We walked too straight for fortune's end,
We loved too true to keep a friend ;
At last we're tired, my heart and I."
Chloe couldn't believe how much she related to this poem. 'We loved too true to keep a friend.' It was as if the poem had been written for her.
"How tired we feel, my heart and I !
We seem of no use in the world ;
Our fancies hang grey and uncurled
About men's eyes indifferently ;
Our voice which thrilled you so, will let
You sleep; our tears are only wet :
What do we here, my heart and I ?
So tired, so tired, my heart and I !
It was not thus in that old time
When Ralph sat with me 'neath the lime
To watch the sunset from the sky.
`Dear love, you're looking tired,' he said;
I, smiling at him, shook my head :
'Tis now we're tired, my heart and I.
This could have been Chloe's theme song. That is if the thought ever crossed her mind to have a theme song. Chloe read in awe of the flow of words.
"So tired, so tired, my heart and I !
Though now none takes me on his arm
To fold me close and kiss me warm
Till each quick breath end in a sigh
Of happy languor. Now, alone,
We lean upon this graveyard stone,
Uncheered, unkissed, my heart and I.
Tired out we are, my heart and I.
Suppose the world brought diadems
To tempt us, crusted with loose gems
Of powers and pleasures ? Let it try.
We scarcely care to look at even
A pretty child, or God's blue heaven,
We feel so tired, my heart and I.
She had been tempted, only not with 'loose gems.' Chloe had been tempted with emerald green eyes, big grins, and blushing cheeks. The temptation had won her over, and she had had to leave to get away from it.
"Yet who complains ? My heart and I ?
In this abundant earth no doubt
Is little room for things worn out :
Disdain them, break them, throw them by
And if before the days grew rough
We once were loved, used, -- well enough,
I think, we've fared, my heart and I."
'We once were, loved, used.' How true. Chloe had felt the same way.once.
"Chloe!" a male voice shouted from downstairs startling Chloe out of her thoughts. Chloe!"
"I'm up here!" Chloe shouted back.
She heard the creaking of the stairs and soft footfalls in the hall.
"Where?" Clark called.
"Bathroom!" Chloe yelled back. "What do you need?"
"My mom said you were home alone tonight. I wanted to come by and check on you," Clark said, standing right outside the door.
"Clark, I've been by myself for all of an hour. I'm fine," Chloe said in exasperation. "Don't treat me like a baby."
"I'm not. You said Lana worried about you, is it not okay for me to worry, too?" Clark asked, almost hurtfully.
"You can worry all you want, just don't baby me," Chloe pointed out.
"Fine, I won't," Clark said dejectedly.
"Good. Now did you really need anything else, or can I get back to my bath?" Chloe asked.
Clark's eyes widened at the realization that Chloe was taking a bath.
Chloe recognized the silence. "Clark, I can feel you blushing all the way in here. Now answer me."
"No, there was nothing else," Clark replied hastily. "Will you be okay?"
"Clark, stop it! Don't treat me like I need someone to hold my hand. I'm a big girl," Chloe said rudely.
"Alright, alright," Clark said, giving in. "I'll go now."
"Clark, wait!" Chloe said, opening the door in her robe. "I don't mean to be rude, I was just enjoying a nice, quiet evening alone."
Clark nodded.
"I promise if I need anything at all that I'll call you, okay? Will you stop worrying?" Chloe asked.
"I could never stop, but I won't voice it anymore," Clark agreed.
Chloe sighed. "Good enough. By the way, how did you get in here? I locked the door."
"Lana gave me a spare-" Clark started.
"So you could check up on me, because she knew I wouldn't spend the night over at your house. Remind me to thank her," Chloe said sarcastically. "Now, may I finish with my bath?"
"Yes," Clark replied turning to leave.
"Clark, will it make you feel better if I call you before I go to bed?" Chloe asked, not wanting to hurt Clark.
Clark's face brightened. "Yes."
"Okay, I will. Now leave!" Chloe said, a teasing gleam in her eye. Chloe shut the bathroom door and climbed back into the bubbles. "Now, for another poem," she said to herself.