Best Christmas Ever
Chapter 5
Talking With Mom
A good hour has passed since her conversation with Aubrey, yet Chloe's thumb still hovered over the call button on her phone. She was sitting up against the headboard on her bed, with her legs in the classic criss-crossed position underneath her. She had been sitting there trying to figure out the best way of doing this. She knew her mother would welcome Beca with open arms; that wasn't the problem. It was quite the opposite, in fact. Chloe worried her mother would be, well her mother.
Chloe's not stupid. She knows what people think of her. She knows she has a reputation for being a bit zany, on the cusp of being crazy. For the most part this doesn't affect her. She likes being fun and adventurous. She likes looking at the bright side, and being nice to everyone. There are enough people who are cynical or negative in the world, so Chloe makes no apologies for being upbeat and optimistic. However she knows where she gets her disposition, and that has her a bit worried. Her mother makes Chloe look like, well Beca, when it comes to no boundaries, boundless enthusiasm, and utter optimism. Chloe knows she scares Beca at times, she can only worry what effect full-on Catherine Beale will have on the skittish freshman.
After taking the past hour to mentally prepare herself for her mother, and the barrage of questions she was sure to be subject to, Chloe is just about prepared to make the call. She really needs to sack up and just do it. It's not like her mother is bad, it's just she's all Beale. Aubrey had left about thirty minutes ago, so Chloe couldn't go back to her for another shot of confidence, which is too bad, she could use it now.
With a sigh Chloe closed her eyes and pushed the call button on her mobile phone. She placed the iPhone to her ear and listened to the ring tone.
Please don't make a big deal out of this. Please don't make a big deal out of this.
Click.
"Hello, Catherine Beale, to whom am I speaking?"
"Mom, you know it's me," Chloe sighed. "I know for a fact you have my picture and a specialized ringtone for my calls."
"Hmmm-who is this?" Catherine asked again.
"Hi mom, it's me, Chloe," she answered.
"Chloe? That name sounds familiar," Catherine said as if she was trying to remember something.
"Your daughter," Chloe said in exasperation.
"That can't be. My daughter would have called at some point in the past two weeks," replied Chloe's mother over the phone. Chloe was pretty sure she caught the sound of a giggle.
"Yes mom," Chloe conceded, "I should have called sooner. I got busy with the Bellas and finals, but that's no excuse, I should have called. I'm sorry."
"Chloe sweetheart! How's my favorite daughter?" Flows Catherine Beale's voice over the phone.
"Mom! I'm your only daughter."
"Hence how you were able to so easily earn that title, despite not calling me regularly." Catherine teased.
"Ha ha." Chloe responded dryly.
"So ChloBear, how are you?" Catherine asked with happy curiosity.
Chloe grinned at the nickname. She could hear sounds of pots and pans clanging in the background and assumed her mother was in the middle of cooking dinner.
"I'm good. We finished our last Bellas practice for the semester. I'm nearly finished packing for my flight tomorrow. Bree left a little bit ago for the airport."
"Oh how is Aubrey? Still vomit free?"
"Mom!"
"It's a valid question," defended Catherine. She truly cared for Aubrey, like a second daughter, and because she cares, she had the right of lighthearted teasing.
Chloe managed to bite her lip at her mother's comment, not wanting to laugh at her best friend's past embarrassment. She had to admit, "Only barely. She's been pretty high-strung lately―even more so than usual―so hopefully going home for two weeks will help her relax. Her dad's away on some military business, so she's flying out to her grandparents' in North Carolina and spending the holidays with them, her mom, aunts and uncles… I think it'll be good for her."
"Well that's good. We'll have to call her, and wish her a Merry Christmas."
"Yeah we will mom. She did send her love."
"What time is her flight?" Catherine asked.
With a look at the time on her phone, Chloe answered, "In just over two hours."
"Good, I'll give her a call before her flight takes off," said Catherine.
"Oh that's cool Mom, Bree will appreciate it," Chloe said with a smile.
"So…" her mom continued, "I have set up all of your rooms for you kids. Chad is already here. Colin is flying in tonight. Charlie and Lizzy will drive over tomorrow afternoon. So they all should be here when you arrive. Speaking of which, what time is your flight landing tomorrow?"
"Umm," Chloe thought for a moment, "not till six thirty, I think... then with the forty-five minute drive to get down to the house. Should get there just before eight." Chloe answered. She then took a steadying breath. She figured this was as good a time as any to ask her mom about bringing Beca.
Catherine was already talking, "Perfect. That will be a perfect time for dinner. You're Dad and I are so excited to see you!"
"I'm excited to see you guys too!" And the three stooges." Chloe hears her mom laugh on the other end.
Now or never.
"So mom… I kinda wanted to ask you something." Chloe said tentatively, biting her lower lip. The words barely above a whisper.
"What was that, ChloBear?" Catherine asked. Between moving a pot, and Chloe's voice dropping to a whisper, she couldn't make out what her daughter had said.
Clearing her voice, and forcing herself to talk louder, Chloe repeated herself.
"Uh huh…" The older Beale acknowledged in a knowing tone.
"So-umm."
"Don't say ' ummm ' ChloBear. Speak confidently, you know you can tell me anything," Catherine assured her daughter.
"Yeah-your right, of course," Chloe babbled. She really didn't understand why this was proving to be so hard.
"With a sense that her usually confident daughter was having a moment of indecision, Catherine gave her a gentle nudge. "It's okay, take your time."
"So-yeah. Do you remember that girl I've been telling you about, Beca? She's also in the Bellas. I may have mentioned her a few times." Chloe said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Beca. Beca. Beca…" Chloe could visualize her mother tapping her chin with her index finger as she repeated the name.
There was a moment of silence on the line before Katherine said, "Oh! Beca... Who seems to get mentioned in every call you do manage to make to your dear old mother. The, and I quote, 'really cute brunette with eyes like an ocean storm. Or the eyes that you could get lost in for days?'" Chloe blushed as she remembered how she had described her crush for the first time to her mom.
"I seem to recall you said she has the voice of an angel, and a body for sin…"
"I did NOT say that," Chloe interjected.
"I was reading the subtext of your words," Catherine defended. "You did tell me about an amazing audition Ms Beca performed. You also told me about her ability to rap, and how she really had won the riff-off, if the judge hadn't had it bad for, is it really Bumper ?"
"Yes Mom."
"I seem to remember you telling me about her standing up for a friend, and mistakenly being arrested, and you asking for money in case you needed it for bail."
"She was wrongly arrested, and they did drop all charges," Chloe interjected.
Catherine waved that off as immaterial, though Chloe couldn't see it over the phone. "I recall my daughter telling me of seeing her across the commons, or walking to class. How she pushes the hair behind her ear, or flashes a smirk when she's really happy. Is that thee Beca?"
"Yeah. She's the one." Chloe rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. "So, I was kind of wondering," she stutters out, "if it's okay with you and dad…"
"Come on Cub, I've got a roast in the oven to deal with, spit it out!" Her mother urged. She already knew where this was going, but she wanted her daughter to ask.
"I may have invited Beca to come spend Christmas with me… I mean with us," Chloe said tentatively.
"You may have?" Catherine pressed.
"Okay I definitely invited Beca to come spend Christmas with us; and I wanted to know if that's okay with you and Dad." She quickly rushed out.
Chloe could hear the grin forming on her mother's face. She braced herself for the line of awkward questioning she was about to receive, wanting to bypass it as quickly as possible.
Remember. Friend.
Beca's just a friend.
Easy.
Simple.
Before the interrogation came though, Chloe heard her mother shriek on the other end of the phone.
"Charles! Honey! Chloe's bringing her girlfriend home for Christmas!" Catherine yelled excitedly.
"Oh My God…" Chloe dropped her head into her hands and groaned to herself.
It officially went bad.
Assumptions are officially worse than questions.
"Mom!" she yelled through the phone to get her attention.
"Her name's Beca!" Catherine shouted. "Yeah the beauty with the Voice ! That one!"
Oh Dear God
"YES! We get to finally meet her!" Catherine continued to yell towards her husband.
Chloe had expected the conversation to be more directed towards her, but her Mom seemed more interested in talking with her father. She could hear a muffled response from her father on the other end, but couldn't quite make it out.
"Yes, of course they can sleep in the same room… it's not the dark ages anymore! And it's not like they can get pregnant anyways." Catherine shouted away from the phone.
Chloe dropped her head back onto her pillow and blushed harder than she had ever blushed before.
So this is what dying of embarrassment feels like.
Chloe realized she had to get a hold of this situation, and fast.
"Mom. Mom! MOM!"
"What, what honey?" her mother responded loudly, letting Chloe know she had her attention again.
"Mom, Beca's not my girlfriend. She's just a friend," she emphasized, but not without a hint of sadness. "So please stop making this horribly awkward for me."
"Chloe Elizabeth Beale… First of all, this is nowhere near the level of awkwardness that I can take this to." Chloe cringed slightly, knowing exactly what her mother had referred to. "Secondly, and correct me if I'm mistaken… is this Beca not the one who you have been pining over the last three months?"
"Yes."
"And is she not the girl whom you've, on more than one occasion, gone back and forth rambling on about whether you think she likes you or not?"
Chloe sighed, as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yesss."
Sensing her daughter's frustration, Catherine eased up a bit on her. "Okay then, clear it up for me ChloBear l. If she's not your girlfriend, how come you asked her to spend two weeks for Christmas with you and your crazy family?"
Chloe internally chuckled at her mom's last remark, but blurted out nonetheless, "Because she doesn't have any family to spend the holidays with, and once I found out she was going to be here alone in her dorm room, my heart just broke and I realized I wanted her to spend them with me, and I couldn't help but think that I wanted to make her happy and give her an amazing Christmas." Chloe sucked in a deep breath of air that she previously neglected from body for the last 30 seconds as she rambled on the phone.
Surprised at the admission, Catherine simply smiled and replied softly, "You've got it bad, don't you hunny."
Chloe sighed heavily. "I really do, Mom."
"Well then… tell Beca she is more than welcome to spend Christmas with us. We'd be happy to have her." Her mother said sincerely.
"Thanks mom." Chloe responded calmly, but internally, she was jumping for joy.
Wow, I might just get out of this conversation without having the talk.
Chloe began to say her goodnight to her mom.
"Oh ChloBear," Catherine cut in.
Dang it, I was so close.
There was a beat of silence before her mother continued mischievously. "Tell me more about this not-girlfriend, Beca, that seems to have stolen my little girl's heart."
And , there it is.
"Mom…" Chloe whined.
"You either tell me now ChloBear, or I'm going to coax any and all information out of the girl myself when she gets here, possibly using embarrassing childhood stories and pictures of yours as incentive to share."
"You wouldn't!" Chloe gasped.
"Oh wouldn't I…" Catherine teased as she continued. "I have a few picture albums with some really choice pictures that I am sure Beca would love to see; like the one in the bubble bath where you picked up the ChloBear moniker. And I'm sure your father and brothers would be more than willing to help as well."
"Nope, nope and nope. I'll disclose the information myself, thank you very much."
"That's what I thought. Now spill. And don't leave anything out about my future daughter-in-law."
"Mom! Friends! Remember!" Chloe said in exasperation. It wasn't that she minded her mother's teasing, that had always been a normal part of their close relationship. It was that she couldn't bear to get her hopes up about a future with the brunette, and it was words like those from her mother that created an ache in her chest. Sure, she really likes Beca, but she has also spent a lot of time convincing herself the brunette couldn't possibly return her feelings.
"Fine, fine." Her mother relented. "Now, please, tell me about your friend Beca. What is she like?"
"She's wonderful, Mom. You might remember, she's a freshman and I convinced her to join the Bellas this year. She's so so talented. I mean amazingly talented.. Her voice, it's like nothing I've ever heard before. She could go professional. She works at the radio station on campus, and I am trying to convince Luke to let her be a deejay. I just about have him convinced. When he hears her newest mixes, I know he will cave. Beca also wants to work at some of the clubs in the area. I actually hope maybe I've helped open some doors on that front. She makes these incredible mixes of songs that are just completely amazing."
On her end of the call, Catherine just listened to her daughter spill her heart out, and she knew she was about to meet her newest daughter-in-law. She couldn't contain the grin that grew on her face. The love her daughter had been showing in this conversation was too much for this to be just a crush. Catherine realized her daughter was experiencing real love for the first time.
Chloe had continued talking, "I keep trying to tell Aubrey to give Beca a chance at reinventing our set list, but she's just too damn stubborn with her 'Bella tradition.'" Chloe added the last with a hint of irritation in her voice. She shook her head to clear those thoughts, she continued on about the amazing brunette.
"Beca acts like she's this big badass all the time, but she's really very sweet and considerate. Don't tell her this, but she's really a big softie. And she's super tiny, mom. She's this intriguing tiny ball of grumpiness and sweetness, which shouldn't work, but it just does. It's adorable! I mean, how that girl fits all her confidence, talent, caring and snark into such a tiny body…"
Catherine chuckled on the other end at her daughter's running commentary.
Chloe continued in a softer tone. "She's also a really reserved person. Beca's told me and I've seen it, she's not comfortable at opening up to people, like ever," Chloe paused for breath. "Wait til you meet her, she's pretty awkward, you'll find it as adorable as me, but she's not with me. And while she doesn't let people in, Beca does with me, and it makes me feel..." Chloe sighed.
"Feel like there's something there," Catherine offered.
"Sometimes," Chloe replied. "When we're alone and we talk, and she opens up, it makes me feel like she really cares about me. Like, I'm special enough to her that I'm whom she shares with, you know?"
"I think I'm beginning to," Catherine said.
Biting her lower lip, Chloe considered her next words. She was going to share something of Beca's, but she felt it was important to make sure the visit went well. "And don't tell her I told you this… you have to promise." Chloe tacked on timidly, unsure she should be sharing this secret, but she wanted her mother to know exactly what Beca letting her in meant to her.
"I promise, ChloBear." Her mother responded immediately. Her daughter sounded so serious, she knew it was not some small thing she would be told.
With a deep breath, Chloe quietly began to share. She spoke just above a whisper, as if there was somebody that might overhear her. "Well, the whole reason I was even able to invite her was because she opened up to me about her family, how she doesn't really have one." Chloe took a breath, in for a penny, in for a pound. She really hoped that Beca wouldn't be mad at her. "Her dad left when she was really young, close to Christmas. Not long later her mother grew sick and then passed away not long after, and all of this happened around the holidays"
Catherine frowned at this information, and truly felt sad for the young woman her daughter was speaking about. It is never easy for a daughter to lose her mother at such a young age. This information helped Catherine understand why her baby had made the offer.
"That's why the Christmas holidays are kind of extra depressing for her. And while she hasn't been extremely detailed or specific with anything, I'm positive it's more than she's told anyone else before." Chloe finished. She felt really anxious having just revealed some very personal information about Beca to her mother, but she also felt a sense of relief. Chloe always treasured her relationship with her mother. She knew she could confide in her about her own feelings on the situation, knowing the older woman would never say anything. It made her so sad because Beca didn't have that relationship anymore.
"Well she sounds like a lovely girl." Catherine said honestly, and pressed the subject forward in a way that really only a mother could. "It also sounds like, with how you describe her... if Beca is really only opening up to you, maybe…" she hesitated, then straight up asked, "Have you ever thought maybe she does like you after all?"
"I'm fairly certain she doesn't feel the same way about me at all." Chloe responded solemnly. It was just too much to get her hopes up.
"Fairly certain is not 100% certain, my dear," Catherine pointed out. "For all you know, she feels exactly the same way as you, but is too shy or afraid to say anything."
"I've been trying to show her I like her since I met her. I mean, I don't think I've flirted with anyone else this much in my life! If she liked me back, don't you think she would've said something by now?"
Catherine chuckled, "Maybe flirting isn't the right approach with Beca."
"Do you really think so, Mom?" Chloe asked, her voice showing a small trace of hope.
Her daughter must really have it bad, for her to not be her usual confident self. She realized her ChloBear needed guidance in a way she's never needed it before. In her most caring mother voice, Catherine offered, "I know you just said you've tried to show her, but have you actually said anything to her?"
"No, but…" the redhead started.
Chloe's mother cut her off before she could offer any excuses. "Honey, if she's as reserved and closed off about her feelings as you have described to me, well..." Catherine prompted. "Emotions for someone like that can be very hard to express. It sounds like she probably hasn't had a whole lot of love and support in her life for a while…"
"She hasn't, Mom…"
"So it's quite possible she's detached herself from certain types of intimacy with others. So, even if you're constantly putting yourself in her life, doing little things to show your affection… she may not recognize them for what they really are."
"But…"
Catherine continued, talking over her daughter's attempt to object. "Or, she might be able too, but isn't confident enough in herself to say something to you. This could be because of her own inability to talk about her feelings. If you're really wanting to pursue a relationship with her, you might have to be the one to make the first move, ChloBear." Chloe's mother advised her little girl.
"But what if I do and she doesn't feel the same and I completely ruin our friendship because of it?! I don't think I can take that risk. I just want her in my life, and-and I'm willing to sacrifice my own feelings to keep her in it, even if it is just as her friend." Chloe said dejectedly.
"Sweetheart." Catherine said in a soothing tone, hoping to reassure her daughter. "The best things in life sometimes come at the biggest risk. If you allow yourself to remain her friend at the cost of your own heart, you're just going to live a life of regret, always looking back and wondering 'what if.'"
"I'm just scared."
"I know, baby. And I'm not saying you have to jump off the phone right now and confess everything to her. I'm not even saying you have to do it tomorrow, this week, this month… But, if you want my advice, I'd do it before it's too late. It'd be an awful thing if someone else came along, and she moved on because you never took your chance with her. You don't want to ask, what if you had just said something."
Chloe took a moment to let her mother's word sink in. Deep down she knew her mother was right. What if there is something there and she never acted upon it? What if while she dithered, Jesse or Luke, or someone else came into Beca's life? What if they were able to sweep her off her feet before Chloe ever said anything? Chloe didn't want to risk their friendship, but she'd hate herself everyday knowing she had a shot with Beca and hadn't taken it.
"I'll tell her soon mom. I'm not ready now. I… I'm not ready to possibly lose her because of how I feel about her. But you're right, I have to tell her at some point."
"Good. I'm glad baby girl." Her mother smiled into the phone, immediately forming into a conspiratorial grin. "Oh, and Chloe hunny?"
"Hmm?"
"You should probably tell Beca to prepare herself―you know, for when she meets your father and brothers." Catherine added on quickly. Chloe immediately sensed her mother's change in tone. "You know how they can get when you bring people home. Even a 'friend'" her mother emphasized coyly.
"Mom." Chloe said in a warning tone.
"And you know, if you need any help with a big grand gesture while you two are here…"
Chloe cut her off.
"This isn't… I don't want you playing matchmaker while she's here! I don't even know if she likes me, and even if I did… The last thing I'd want is for my crazy, prying mother to scare her away completely."
Chloe could hear her mother's fake scoff on the other end of the phone. "I would never! In fact, I'm a little hurt at the accusation that I could be so interfering."
"Uh huh." Chloe answered, now more convinced than ever her mother was definitely planning on doing something when she and Beca visited.
"ChloBear, I don't know why you're so suspicious. I'm just looking out for the poor girl. You know how the Beale men can be."
"Yeah, after years of them chasing off my exes, I know very well how they are. But I also know how a certain Beale matriarch can get too. Don't even try and deny it!" Chloe could hear her mother sigh a slow, exaggerated breath on the other end.
"Mom, I'm serious. If anything is going to happen with me and Beca this vacation, it'll be my doing, not yours or dad's or the idiots'. I just have to figure out a different approach than what I've been doing, not that I have any clue what that is yet."
"I know you don't think so, baby girl, but when it comes to love, you really are a hopeless romantic like your father. It just takes that right person to bring it out in you. Don't underestimate that Beca might be that person for you. You'll figure out how to woo the girl just fine." Catherine conveyed coyly.
"You know, I just love these little talks of ours, mom." Chloe said in a light but snarky manner.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm starting to regret genetically passing my humor and wit down to you, daughter of mine. Now, go finish up your packing and get yourself into bed. You'll have a long flight tomorrow and will need every ounce of energy you've got for the coming weeks," Catherine said in her classic mom-tone.
"Alright, alright."
"Love you, ChloBesr." Catherine smiled into the phone.
"Love you mama bear. See you guys tomorrow."
"We'll be waiting with open arms."
Chloe smiled wide before wishing a final goodbye and hanging up with her mother for the night. She sighed heavily and leaned further back into her bed. Chloe reflected on the conversations she'd just had with Aubrey and then her mother tonight. The decision was made that she was going to take every opportunity this vacation to convey her true feelings and attraction to Beca. Ultimately Chloe would build up the courage to just tell the beautiful brunette outright how she feels. With that she sent a final text for the night to the one person she just can't keep her mind off of.
-~Merry Pitchmas 2021~-
Notes: What are your thoughts? I would love to hear about what you think.