Thanks to Kenji for bearing with me on slow progress lately! Real life, eh? The story will be taking a different direction, but Chloe's home is always where her heart is...
Chloe and Maisie
A continuation of Daddy, Take Me, albeit for now, concerned with Chloe and Maisie's growing relationship
Chapter 19
Looking back all those years ago, I saw how that phone call devastated and changed us both. Everything we had dreamed and talked about was for nought. Maisie's father had had a fall, breaking his hip and left arm, and was unable to fend for himself. The local council had allocated a part-time carer, as his condition wasn't deemed 'serious' enough to warrant twenty-four-hour assistance from what Maisie had told me. I thought they were correct, but kept my mouth shut. Her mother had asked if she would go back to the family home in Edinburgh, and pick up the slack with his rehabilitation. She couldn't say, 'no.'
We were both heartbroken with the news; not only for her father, but for us. Neither said as much, both stunned by the news and its implications. She left and went home to talk with her mum. Her whole life had taken a turn she wasn't expecting.
We talked later that evening on the phone, Maisie quiet and unsure what to say.
"You have to go, mon amour," trying my best to support her, and the untenable situation she had been put in. "We'll be fine. We'll make it work," I sadly said, half-heartedly. Neither of us believed the words I had spoken. "Let's get together tomorrow and talk. We can do this," my voice trembling with trepidation. Just when everything was going so well. The best laid plans of, etcetera, etcetera....
Saturday morning, she stopped by work and talked with Martin and Sean. They, too, were adamant she should go as soon as possible and quickly worked out the viability of her working remotely. It would at least keep her up to date with everything and there was plenty of admin and CAD work she could do from anywhere. She was relieved she still had a job. Of course, Maisie being Maisie, she insisted her forthcoming pay rise be shelved 'til she returned to her 'real' work. And, of course, they told her to behave.
She came to mine and we went out for a walk and an early dinner, desperately trying to see how this would work.
"I...I need to leave Monday, Chloe. I'll be driving to Edinburgh, which is going to take forever, but he needs me there now," she explained.
"For...how long?" I asked, trying not to appear too selfish.
She held my hand, as she softly spoke. "Four months, maybe a bit longer. Talking with him, well, he's still confined to a blasted wheelchair, but it could have been so much worse. This happened weeks ago and they didn't tell me! They wanted to wait 'til my degree was sorted, not wanting to add to my stress. I could kill them both! Anyway, he has carers coming in during the week, but he needs the ongoing care at night, just to be safe. He doesn't have the money for a full-time, live-in carer so he's pretty screwed there. The council reviewed his case, but they won't pay for a full-time carer. He's not
that
bad, but needs help to get around, and his rehab. They'll be there five days a week from Monday, cooking and caring for him, but come Monday, he's on his own in the evenings. I just wish they had given me more notice, but still, it is what it is so..." she whispered, her voice trailing off, and filled with a sadness I had never heard before.
"I need to do this, Chloe," she said, as the tears began to fall down her freckled cheeks. "God...why now, aye?"
"Shhh," I whispered. "He needs you. I get it. I'll...I'll come up every weekend, 'kay? I can get a flight late Friday and be with you."
She spent the rest of dinner sniffling, rubbing her red eyes and breathing deep. "I'll miss you, hen...and us," she stammered.
"As will I, darling. We'll see this through, 'kay? I can help on the weekends to give you a break. We'll be fine. Let me help, as much as I can, all right?" I explained.
Her hurt pained me, as we held hands, desperately afraid to let go of the other. We decided to spend our last night together at a small hotel, needing the time alone without interruptions. We drove back to mine and rushed up to my room to pack a few overnight 'things.' I knew I would give myself to herโin whatever way she needed me tonight. I knew what she needed, so decided I would play the 'ingenue,' letting Maisie use me to purge her heart and wounded soul.
Maisie threw a few of her things she kept at mine into an overnight bag while I surreptitiously grabbed a few bits and pieces from my bedside cabinet drawer, making certain Maisie wouldn't see. Slowly we walked downstairs, telling my parents where we were going, but not necessarily why. They knew something was wrong just by our hesitant manner, but didn't press us. I drove us to the nondescript-chain hotel, checked in, and sadly walked to the room.
We threw our bags on the floor, as Maisie slumped on the bed. I delved into my bag, and pulled out several candles, lit them, then retrieved several scarves and laid them over the harsh lights. My heart leapt as I saw her smile.
[This is going to work, I thought!]
I pulled my hair into a loose ponytail, slipped off my trainers, and stood in front of her. I moved her legs apart with a kick of my knees, and unbuttoned my cotton blouse, but leaving it on. I loved her wry smile, as she saw the outline of my white, lacy bra.
"Tonight's all about you, chรฉri. Whatever you need...is yours, 'kay?" I smiled.
"All I want is for all this to go away, hen. Everything has..." she began to say, 'til I placed a finger on her lips and whispered another, "Shhh."
"Do you want
this