Hey everyone. Sorry about taking so long to update. This chapter gave me some trouble. I kind of had some writer's block; and then I rewrote it about three times before I was okay with it. It could be better but it does follow along with what I had envisioned when I started writing. This is not the end. There are a few more chapters before all is said and done. Reviews are welcome, but don't be too harsh.
"Chloe," Trish said. "Would you be my maid of honor?"
Beca's eyes widen and she looks over at Chloe. Chloe's face shows nothing.
"I'm sorry," Chloe said. "Did you just ask me to be your maid of honor?"
"Um," Beca says. "Trish. Do you think that's a good idea?"
"Yes, to both questions," Trish said. "Look, Chloe, I know it seems weird since we just met, but I feel a connection to you. We get along and I want someone standing with me that I actually don't mind being around."
"I don't know, Trish," Chloe says. "I already told you I'd be busy with the new office and I wasn't sure I was even going to be able to make it to the wedding."
"I know," Trish said. "But, it would mean so much to me and Beca if you were there, especially since you two made up and are friends again. And, it would mean so much more to me if you were there as my maid of honor."
Chloe sighs and looks at Beca and then to Trish.
"I'm sorry, Trish," Chloe said. "I, I can't."
Trish's face shows her disappointment.
"Is it because you and Beca have a history?," Trish asked.
Beca's head snapped up and her eyes were wide as she looked at Trish. Chloe's face remained impassive.
"Why would you say something like that?," Beca asked.
"Are you going to tell me it's not true?," Trish said to Beca. "I can tell by the way you two look at each other. You both still have feelings for the other."
"I'm sorry, Trish," Chloe said. "I don't know what to tell you. This is a conversation you and Beca should be having."
"Actually," Trish said. "Beca and I need to have this conversation with you. I think it's time you knew what was going on."
"Trish," Beca hissed. "I don't think we need to go down that path."
"I think we do" Trish said. "I think we need to tell her everything."
"I don't," Beca said.
"Excuse me," Chloe said. "You two apparently have something to work out so I'm just going to go now. I am sorry, Trish."
Chloe stood up and gathered her things. She dropped some money on the table and started walking away.
"Stop!," Trish called out getting up from the table. "Please, Chloe. Don't go."
Chloe looked back at Trish. She shook her head and turned and walked out. Chloe found a cab to take her back to the condo. She poured herself a glass of wine and sat at the kitchen counter. She decided to call Aubrey.
"Aubrey Posen," Aubrey answered.
"Hey, Brey," Chloe said. "You got a minute?"
"Hey, Chloe," Aubrey said. "I'm just heading out for a meeting. Can I call you later?"
"Um, yeah," Chloe said. "That's fine. Talk to you later."
"Talk to you later," Aubrey said and hung up.
Chloe decided to call Jessica. Maybe she knew what was going on.
"Hey, Chloe," Jessica said.
"Hey, Jess," Chloe said. "Do you have some time to talk?"
"Sure," Jessica said. "What's up?"
"I'm not sure," Chloe said. "I just had the weirdest conversation with Beca and Trish."
"Really?," Jessica asked. "What happened?"
Chloe told Jessica about how she spent her morning and then the conversation at lunch.
"I don't know what it is Trish wanted to tell me," Chloe said. "But, Beca sure didn't want her to. Is there something going on with those two? What could they possibly have to tell me?"
"I wish I knew," Jessica said. "I'm pretty sure Aubrey knows what it is. She alluded to it a couple of times at the reunion, only to follow up with it wasn't her place to tell us."
"That sounds like Aubrey," Chloe said with a chuckle. "I did call her first but she was busy. I'll just have to wait until she calls me back."
"Sorry I couldn't be of any help," Jessica said. "I also hate to cut this short, but my lunch break is over and I need to get back to work."
"Of course," Chloe said. "I'll talk to you later."
They hung up after promising to talk soon. Chloe sipped her wine and kept thinking about what Trish wanted her to know so badly. Chloe's phone pings with a text message. She looks at her phone and sees it's from Beca.
Beca: Can we talk?
Chloe: Are you going to tell me whatever it is Trish wanted to tell me? Will Trish be there? Does she know you're texting me?
Beca: It's complicated.
Chloe: Then no.
Beca: Please? There's a coffee shop called "Drips" about a block from the condo. Meet me there in 15 minutes.
Chloe doesn't respond. Two minutes later Beca sends another text.
Beca: Seriously, Chloe.
Chloe: No, Beca. I'm not going to sneak around behind Trish's back even if it is just to talk.
It was an ahour later, and Chloe hadn't received any more texts from Beca. She pours herself some more wine and sits on the sofa with her laptop. She is just scrolling around Facebook when there is a knock on the door. Chloe goes to the door with her wine glass in her hand and looks out the peephole to see who it is. She is expecting to see Beca but instead she sees Trish.
"I wonder what she's doing here," Chloe thinks to herself.
Chloe opens the door.
"Hey, Trish," Chloe says. "Everything okay?"
"I'm sorry to just show up like this," Trish says. "But, I really do want to explain. May I come in?"
"It's actually your place, Trish," Chloe said. "So, I think you're allowed to come in."
Trish gives Chloe a small smile and enters the condo. She paces a bit and heads into the kitchen and sits down at the counter. Chloe follows her and sips her wine while leaning back against the counter.
"Beca is supposed to meet me here," Trish said. "We need to tell you everything. I don't think we should keep it from you anymore."
"Trish," Chloe said. "Beca already tried to get me to meet her and talk. I said no because whatever it is that's going on between the two of you, is none of my business."
"But it really is," Trish said. "I'm calling Beca to see where she is."
"Please don't do that, Trish," Chloe pleads.
Trish has already dialed Beca's number and Chloe can hear it ringing.
"Beca," Trish said. "I'm at the condo. Where are you? I'm telling Chloe everything in exactly 20 minutes, with or without you."
Trish doesn't give Beca a chance to say anything and just hangs up the phone.
"Now we wait," Trish says. "Mind if I have a glass of wine."
Chloe gets a glass for Trish and pours the wine. She hands the glass to Trish and sits at the counter. She shifts in her seat, uncomfortable with the silence that has settled over the two. Chloe and Trish had both finished their wine and continued to sit there.
"Would you like more wine?," Chloe asked Trish.
"No, thank you," Trish said. "One is enough for me."
Trish looks at her phone and sees that 15 minutes have passed since she called Beca.
"We only need to wait-"
Loud knocking cuts her off.
"There's Beca," Trish says sliding off the stool and going to the door.
Chloe reluctantly follows. Trish opens the door to find Beca bent over with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
"What did you do run over here," Trish says with a laugh.
"Not," pant, pant "funny," Beca manages to get out.
Trish opens the door wider waving Beca in. Beca comes in and sees Chloe standing there. Beca looks back to Trish.
"Can I talk to you for a sec?," Beca asks.
"No," Trish said. "The only one talking will be me. Now let's sit down and get comfortable."
Trish walks over to the sofa and sits down. She looks at the other two girls still standing by the door.
"Sit," Trish says to both girls.
Chloe and Beca look at each other and walk over to where Trish is sitting. Beca sits next to Trish on the sofa and Chloe sits in the chair to the left of her.
"Okay," Trish says. "Chloe, I know that you still love Beca and I knew that Beca still loves you."
Chloe starts to say something and Trish just puts up a hand to stop her.
"It's fine," Trish said. "Beca told me about your relationship and about why you weren't together. It's funny actually. You two have more in common that you realize."
Chloe sat with her elbows on her knees and her hands clasped in front of her. She was looking down at the ground while Trish spoke.
"Beca and I are only engaged to appease my father," Trish continued.
At this, Chloe looked up. Trish was looking at her and Beca sat with her head in her hands.
"About a month after I met Beca, my father came to my condo one morning and found us in bed together," Trish continued. "Nothing happened between us. We just fell asleep while watching TV in my room. My father started yelling at Beca for taking advantage of me. Saying I wasn't even gay and that she must have seduced me. Beca was just using me to get to him and my money. He threatened to fire her and get her blackballed from every recording studio she could think of trying to work at. Beca and I tried to tell him that nothing happened but he wouldn't listen. Hell, we weren't even dating. When I said Beca and I started hanging out, we really were just hanging out. We were, and are, friends and nothing more."
"I'm going to get something to drink," Beca said and got up.
"My father finally stormed out," Trish said. "Yelling that Beca had better make an honest woman of me or else. Beca was beside herself. I told her not to worry. That I would get my dad to listen to me and she'd be fine. Before I continue, I need to give you a little background on me. I turned 21 just before I met Beca. My grandparents on my mother's side left me a sizable trust fund that I could not touch until I was 25 or married. Whichever came first. My father has been trying to figure out a way to get his hands on my trust for a while now."
"Aren't you worried he might do something to you to get it?," Chloe asked.
"No," Trish said. "As much of an asshole he is, he does love me. He would never do anything to hurt me."
Beca came back and handed the two girls a bottle of water.
"Thanks," Chloe said.
Trish took hers and placed it on the table in front of her.
"Anyway," Trish said. "A year ago my father tried to get me to date this guy hoping I'd marry him and he and my dad could then control my trust fund. That didn't work. Beca and I managed to keep our friendship by telling my father we were dating even though we weren't. He had us followed so we pretended to be a real couple. The paparazzi caught us holding hands coming out of a restaurant and then it was all over social media that we were dating. Neither one of us really cared what people thought so we just kept hanging out like usual. Then a little over a month ago I went to the doctor's because I hadn't been feeling well for a while. Beca actually convinced me it was past time to get checked out. The results showed that, um-"
"She has brain cancer," Beca said quietly.
Chloe looked up and saw a tear run down Trish's face. She reached out a hand and grabbed a hold of Trish's and gave it a squeeze. She left her hand there.
"It's stage 4," Beca continued. "They said at this stage even with treatment she probably only had 9 months to a year."
Chloe wiped at the tears that had fallen down her own cheek.
"My father," Trish said swallowing the lump in her throat. "My father is my only surviving relative. I told Beca that I did not want my father to get my trust fund. I asked her to marry me to stop my father from getting his hands on the money."
"I didn't want to do it," Beca said. "Not at first anyway. Then she kept telling me it was the only way for her money to go where she wanted it to go. So, I agreed. But only on the condition that she file a formal will that designated where her money would go when she, um, died."
"The will is in place," Trish said. "My lawyers assure me it is un-contestable."
Trish looks at Beca.
"I know you're going to be mad," Trish tells Beca. "But, since I'm spilling truth, I am leaving something for you."
"No," Beca said jumping up. "That's not what we agreed to."
"Beca," Trish said quietly. "I'm leaving you enough to be able to open up your own recording studio."
Chloe's eyes widened at this. It would cost a lot to open a recording studio. No wonder Trish didn't want her trust fund to go to her father. It has to be worth tens of millions of dollars.
"No, no, no," Beca said. "I won't take it. I'll give the money away."
"You can't do that, Beca," Trish said getting angry now. "You said to make sure that I was very specific on where I wanted my money to go. Money for you to open your own studio, is exactly where I want MY money to go. Plus, if you don't follow my wishes, there will be a fight in the courts. If the will is tied up in probate then none of the charities will get the money. Do you really want that?"
Beca opened her mouth as if to say something. But decided against it and just shook her head.
"I didn't think so," Trish said and Beca sat down.
"I'm so sorry you're going through all this," Chloe says. "I know it's not much, but I'll be your maid of honor if you'll still have me."
"Thank you," Trish says jumping up and pulling Chloe into a hug. "I really don't want to have to go through with the wedding, but my lawyers said that the trust fund will go to my father if I die before I turn 25, despite what my will says. The only way it would not go to him is if I were married. Then my spouse would have control of the trust and could ensure that my final wishes were carried out."
"Chloe," Beca said. "I'm sorry I didn't want to involve you in all this, but Trish got a call from her doctor today."
"Before we can continue I need to call Aubrey," Trish said.
"What? Why?," Chloe asked.
"You'll see," Trish said as she pulled out her phone.
She dialed Aubrey's number and it was answered on the third ring.
"Trish?," Aubrey asked.
"Hey, Aubrey," Trish said. "You're on speaker and I have Chloe and Beca here."
"Oo-kay," Aubrey said.
"We just filled Chloe in on everything," Trish said. "We're at a point where we need to talk to both of you together."
"Chloe?," Aubrey says. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Chloe tells her.
"I didn't want to tell Chloe," Beca said, "but certain events have, um, overruled me."
"What events?," Aubrey asked.
"I'm just getting to that," Trish said. "Okay, so, I got some test results from my doctor today. The cancer is spreading faster than they thought. I only have about 4-5 months left. Maybe less."
Chloe and Aubrey both gasp.
"Yeah," Trish said. "Beca and I talked and we want to fly to Vegas this weekend and get married."
Chloe looked at Beca and Trish. They heard a heavy sigh come through the line from Aubrey.
"Trish," Aubrey said. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Yes," Trish said. "It will take about 4 weeks for the trust fund to be turned over to me once I show the Trustee the Marriage Certificate. Waiting is not a luxury I have at this point."
"Aubrey, Chloe," Beca said. "Since you've both agreed to be our maids of honor, we want you to go with us as witnesses."
"Wait," Aubrey says. "Chloe agreed to be Trish's maid of honor?"
"Yeah, Brey," Chloe said.
"We can fly out tomorrow night," Trish says. "Or first thing Saturday morning if that's better for you two."
"Please say yes," Beca says.
"I'll do it," Chloe says without hesitation. "I can fly out whenever you want."
"Looks like I'm in as well," Aubrey said.
"I'll make all the arrangements," Beca said. "I'll send you confirmations once I have them."
Beca gets up and pulls out her phone. She leaves the living room and heads to the den to arrange everything.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Chloe says to herself not realizing it was loud enough for Trish to hear.
"I want to say this to you two since Beca's not here," Trish said. "Chloe, I know that Beca loves you and I know you love her too. I also know that neither one of you would do anything while Beca is married to me. I want you to promise. I want you both to promise that you'll be there for her when the time comes. I love her and she loves me, but not the way two people getting married should love each other. She is a kind hearted person and I know it will be hard on her. Just be there for her. And, Chloe. Make sure you hold onto her. She really is someone truly special."
Chloe is wiping tears from her eyes. She hears a sniffle come through the speaker on Trish's phone.
"I promise," Aubrey says.
"I promise, too," Chloe says through her tears.
"Good," Trish says. "Thank you both."
"Is there anything special you want us to wear?," Chloe asked changing the subject.
"Something blue," Aubrey says. "A light shade like your eyes. Not too short. Maybe something that hits the top of your knees."
"She knows everything about what I wanted for the wedding," Trish says with a smile.
"Okay," Chloe says with a laugh. "I have just the dress. Anything else I should know, Aubrey?"
"No," Aubrey says. "We'll just to have to wing it with everything else."
"Oh, my God," Chloe says laughing. "The Aubrey Posen just winging it! I am so glad I have a front row seat to this."
"Shut up," Aubrey says causing all three girls to laugh.
Beca walks back in.
"Good, Aubrey's still on the phone," Beca said. "Hey, Brey, I got you on a flight out of Chicago for tomorrow night. There will be a car waiting to take you to the hotel. I also rented a plane to fly us from LA to Vegas. We should arrive a couple of hours before you so we'll see you at the hotel. Just let one of us know when you're on the way to the hotel. My travel agent will be sending you the flight and hotel information shortly."
"Got it," Aubrey said. "I'm going to go so I can get home and pack. I'll just plan to leave from work tomorrow night. When will we be coming back?"
"Sunday," Beca said. "I know you and Chloe both have to work on Monday so it won't be too late."
"Okay," Aubrey said. "See you ladies in Vegas tomorrow night."
"Bye, Brey," Chloe says.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Trish said. "I'll be right back."
Trish leaves the room and Beca and Chloe look at each other.
"So," Chloe says. "You couldn't tell me about all this? We're supposed to be friends."
"I know," Beca said. "And, I feel horrible saying this, but this can't go beyond the four of us. If her father finds out about any of this, he'll come after us with everything he's got. I don't care about me, but Trish isn't strong enough to fight that fight. The fewer people that know, the better."
"I promise," Chloe said. "No one will hear about this from me. Now that I know what's really going on, I'll support you and Trish one hundred percent. If there's anything I can do to help either one of you, just ask."
"Is it weird if I ask you to wait for me?," Beca said.
After a few seconds, Beca's eyes widened. "Oh, God!," she said. "That sounds so bad. I'm asking you to wait around until my wife dies so we can be together. That's just wrong. I'm sorry."
"It does sound bad when you put it that way," Chloe said. "But, I've waited 5 years to have a chance to be with you again. I'll wait 5 more if need be."