Chapter 31

Nick's information had me thinking about family on the ride back. Did I have family in Louisville? Biological family? Maybe Mom knew some lost relative that I could talk to. Why hadn't I thought about this before? My brain was pretty loaded those few days in Louisville. Now that I had some time to think, all these questions were coming up.

I called Monroe and updated him on what Nick had found. Tonight I was going to stay at my house. He and I needed a day off after the last few days, and Monroe was well enough to be on his own.

Once I got inside, I gave my mom a call on the phone instead of the computer. She didn't need to see my face right now. We went through general conversation before I approached the question that was really on my mind.

"So, Mom, I have to ask… Do I have any family I should know about?" I posed the question cautiously.

"Family?" she questioned. "Oh, you mean… family." She said gravely and sighed. "No, I'm sorry, Sweetie. Dennis said he checked when we first took you in. Your grandparents passed on years ago."

"What about my mom's sister?"

"Dennis checked that, too, and he couldn't find any living blood relatives from what he'd told me. I'm really sorry, Renée."

"Any family on my dad's side?"

"Walter never mentioned any siblings, but I don't recall him bringing up family at all. It was such a long time ago. You may have cousins. I never thought about that. It's possible."

Another dead end. Perhaps Chloe could find something. She'd been able to trace the Morder lineage, but nothing she'd sent me had names of children.

"Mom, thanks anyway. I really miss you."

"I'm counting down the days until May," she said sweetly.

After Mom and I had finished talking, I called up Chloe and filled her in.

"Girl, your family history isn't easy. It's like someone is hiding things on purpose," Chloe told me. "Records are missing from places where they should be available. Honestly, that I found as much as I have has been a challenge. And you know I love a challenge when it comes to research. But this… Damn."

"Well, Suzanne had a sister, and family was mentioned in the newspaper article. But after talking to Nick, so many things in that article weren't very accurate. It's hard to know what's true and what isn't."

"I have a few ideas on getting more info on your dad. Remember that article we found that mentioned him volunteering in California?"

"Yeah. The one about him rescuing the kid from the burning apartment."

"Right. Well, I have a lead or two that might give us a city name. Let me see what else I can find on the Archer side. Could be his side of the family they were referring to."

"You know I appreciate you, Chloe."

"I know," she replied smugly.

"How are you and Harvey?" I asked.

"I don't wanna talk about it." She let out a sigh. "After our pointless date last weekend, I'm beginning to think he's built like a Ken doll. But then to know for sure he'd actually have to remove some of his clothes."

I laughed. "You still haven't…?"

"No, Renée. I haven't been this chaste since… Okay, since never. We've kissed, so at least I know he doesn't want to just be friends. But the kisses are…" She groaned. "They're simple, and there's no va-va-voom behind them. And when I try to rev it up, he backs away and bids me goodnight like some cheesy black and white film."

"What if he's trying to take it slow and do the whole courting thing?"

She scoffed. "It's 2012, not 1812."

"People still court in this century," I retorted. "Maybe the va-va-voom will come later."

"If it's much later then I'll be telling him to va-va-moose." She chuckled. "In three weeks it won't matter. I'll be basking on the beach in Florida. If he and I don't work out, then I'll just find myself some sexy surfer to occupy my time."

"But a beach bunny is temporary," I reasoned. "Don't give up on Harvey just yet." Chloe deserved a nice guy—something long-lasting. I wanted her to feel what I was feeling. Monroe and I hadn't said the words, but our love was there, and it was wonderful.

"The clock is ticking and it's been time-stamped. Three weeks. And if he hasn't moved this relationship from a cheesy black and white movie to a raunchy flick in vivid color, then it's over," she said adamantly. "So enough about my pathetic love life. Let's discuss yours. Is Monroe still behaving himself?"

"He hasn't eaten anyone, if that's what you mean."

Chloe snorted. "Not that you know of, right?"

I shook my head even though she couldn't see it. It wasn't worth a reply. Instead, I told her about the romantic stargazing picnic, leaving out the gruesome parts. I'd wanted to tell her after it happened, but since I'd been at Monroe's the last few times we'd talked on the phone, our chats were edited.

"He was going to say it, Chloe. But then he stopped." I sighed. Granted the other Blutbad had stopped him, but she didn't have to know that.

"Then why don't you just say it? You know you want to."

"Oh, I want to more than anything. But I can't just throw it out there. Eventually Monroe will say it. I really want him to say it first."

"You just want the fairy tale, Renée," she said mockingly. "Want me to play some romantic music so you two can run toward each other in slow motion through an open field somewhere? Would that make it perfect for you?"

I laughed. "Maybe when it's warmer."

"If you love him, then tell him. Unlike me, you've got the va-va-voom." She cleared her throat. "But you know my thoughts about his kind, Renée. Although you won't take my advice, I'll say it again. You need to watch yourself before you give your heart away to a Blutbad. I just don't trust him."

"Oh, you're still mad over dinner that night at my mom's."

"He was purposefully trying to get under my skin, and that doesn't win him any votes in my opinion."

"Hopefully in May you two will bury the hatchet and get along." At least they could pretend to get along. I'd even take that over what had happened before.

She grimaced through the phone. "Who knows where his hatchet has been already?"

"Now you're just being dramatic."

"Dramatic? He pointed a knife at me, and you're calling me dramatic?"

"He was joking." I rolled my eyes. "Granted it wasn't the funniest joke, but he wasn't being serious."

"You better believe it wasn't funny," she replied hotly. "And don't roll your eyes at me. I know you are." That direct link to my brain was a curse sometimes. "So, is everything else okay in Portland?"

"Yeah, everything is fine."

Chloe paused like she was sifting my words through her built-in lie detector. "And you and Monroe are okay? Nothing you need to share with me?"

"He's fine," I said coolly. "We're both just fine."

"Okay," she drawled out the word. "Just as long as you're keeping out of trouble."

"We're doing our best." It wasn't our fault trouble kept finding us instead.

A/N: Aww, poor Chloe and her relationship woes.

Hope you're enjoying the story so far. Thanks for the comments, they mean a lot! I love comments, it keeps me motivated. LOL. Keep 'em coming!