Chapter4
1157 Words
CHLOE POV
Ten Years Later…..
The alarm went off at 4:30 AM like it had a personal vendetta against my sleep schedule.
“Stupid alarm,” I mumbled as I dragged myself out of bed and tiptoed to Grandma’s room, checking on her like I did every morning.
She was still asleep, her chest rising and falling peacefully. The diabetes monitor blinked green. Small mercies.
By the time I got to Mama’s Diner, my best friend, Kate was already behind the counter, looking way too awake for five in the morning.
“Girl, you look like death warmed over,” she said the second I walked through the door.
“Good morning to you too.”
“No, I’m serious, Chloe. When’s the last time you actually slept? And I mean really slept, not that thing you do where you pass out for two hours and call it rest.”
I tied my apron and grabbed a notepad. “What day is it?”
“Tuesday.”
“Then probably Friday.”
“That’s not funny,” Kate said, her voice getting that mom tone she used when she was actually worried.
Ken, my other bestie aka Kate’s twin, popped his head out from the kitchen, spatula in hand.
“Here, eat this before you pass out and I have to explain to Mom why her best waitress is unconscious on the floor.”
He shoved a plate of toast at me and I took it gratefully.
“You guys are the best fake siblings a girl could ask for,” I said.
“Fake?” Ken gasped, pressing his free hand to his chest. “Honey, we’re more family than half your actual relatives. Now spill, what’s going on? And don’t give me that I’m fine nonsense because we both know that’s a lie.”
I bit into the toast, buying myself a few seconds. “Grandma’s medication ran out three days ago.”
Kate’s face fell. “Oh no. Chloe, honey, how much do you need?”
“Three hundred dollars.”
“I can lend you,” she started.
“No, Kate. You already helped me last month, remember? The electric bill? I can’t keep taking from you guys.”
“Chloe, that’s what friends do,” Ken said softly. “We help each other. That’s literally the whole point.”
“I know, and I love you for it, I really do. But I need to figure this out on my own this time.”
The morning rush hit and I was too busy to think about anything else. Mrs. Chen, my favorite customer came in around two, settling into her favorite booth by the window while literally squealing at whatever was on the TV.
“Chloe darling, have you seen the news?” she asked before I even got my notepad out.
“What news, Mrs. Chen?”
“That billionaire chef, what’s his name again? Xander Smith? He’s on TV right now and let me tell you, that man is fine. Like, finer than wine. He’s planning to open a restaurant downtown, not too far from here actually, and I’m so excited. It might finally be my chance to woo that handsome young man.”
She said it with this dreamy look in her eyes, smiling like a teenager with her first crush.
“Uhm, I’m pretty sure you’re too old to woo anybody,” I said interrupting her daydreaming.
“Excuse me?” She put her hand on her hip. “You never can say, young lady. I could have a few tricks up my sleeve. Age is just a number, darling.”
“Alright then,” I laughed. “Farewell with your young love. What can I get you today?”
“The usual, dear. And tell Ken to put extra cheese on those eggs.”
*********
My shift finally ended and I grabbed the leftover chicken soup Ken had packed. The walk home was quiet until I noticed a black car following me. My heart started racing but I forced myself to calm down.
“As if I’m anyone that a fancy car like that would follow,” I muttered, shaking the fear off me. “Girl, you’re just being dramatic.” I breathe out and continue walking.
I finally made it home and fumbled with my keys.
“Chloe? Baby, is that you?” Grandma’s voice called out weakly from her room.
“Yeah, Grandma, it’s me,” I called back, heating the soup quickly.
She was sitting up in bed, her gray hair a mess around her face, but she was smiling.
“How was work today, sweetheart?” she asked as I settled on the edge of her bed.
“Same as always,” I said, carefully bringing the spoon to her lips. “Mrs. Chen is convinced she’s going to marry some billionaire chef.”
Grandma laughed, that soft chuckle that made her whole face light up. “Mrs. Chen has been convinced she’s going to marry somebody rich since 1985. God bless her heart.”
“Right?” I grinned. “Ken made your favorite soup today. Extra carrots, just how you like it.”
“That boy is a saint,” she said after swallowing. “You know, speaking of marriage, when are you going to bring a husband home to me? I’m not getting any younger, baby girl.”
I nearly choked. “Grandma, seriously? At this point, I might as well start buying male cats because that seems like the only type of male I can attract.”
She burst out laughing, which made me start laughing too.
“Oh honey,” she wheezed. “You’re going to make me choke on this soup. But really, you’re beautiful and smart and funny. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
“Yeah, well, they don’t seem to know that,” I said, feeding her another spoonful.
We talked like that for a while until her eyelids started drooping. I tucked her in carefully, kissed her forehead, and whispered goodnight.
In my own room, I showered until the water ran cold. When I finally dragged myself out, I caught sight of the box under my closet. The one I’d shoved there years ago and tried to forget about.
I should have just gone to bed. But something pulled me toward it, and before I knew it I was sitting on my bedroom floor with the box open in front of me.
Inside were notebooks. Dozens of them. All my stories from over the years. I smiled, flipping through them one by one.
Then I found it.
The notebook with the worn black cover, the one I’d hidden at the very bottom. My hands started shaking as I pulled it out. I flipped through until I found it, the entry from ten years ago.
“The Night I Saw Murder.”
- Writer
