Chloe

Chapter 19 - Shopping Again?!

Security was a commodity I was not familiar with. When I was presented it, I balked like a spooked horse and was slow to adapt. For years I had fought my insecurities, but now I am realizing it is easy to accept security. – Chloe’s diary.

Chapter 19

Shopping AGAIN?!

   The next thing she remembered was the sun blazing through her glass doors reflecting off the ocean water. She was very warm and secure. Holding very still, it took her a moment to identify the source of the heat was someone else. Startled she snapped open her eyes to find Edwin smiling sleepily next to her. She rubbed her eyes, blinking making sure she wasn’t mistaken. But he was still there, still smiling.

“Are you going to get in trouble?” she whispered, “Do you have anywhere you need to be?”

“No,” he stretched languidly, “I like this,” he added gesturing to them.

“Me too,” she snuggled closer.

   They stayed in bed until her stomach made a very unladylike noise. 

He laughed huskily as he nestled into her neck, “I suppose we must get up sometime.” 

Reluctantly she rose out of bed to the shower. He watched as if he wanted an invitation. She rolled her eyes and locked the bathroom door. Better safe than sorry.

   Done with her shower, she found Edwin in the kitchen fiddling with the coffee pot. He looked sexy and beautiful with his bare chest and shorts low on his hips. A shot of what she feared was solid lust strummed through her body.

   “Geez, that should be illegal,” her aunt said referring to the mega hot guy in the kitchen. Chloe jolted slightly at her comment. They both giggled like 13-years-old girls. 

 “Hallo, Ms. Clair, I hope you don’t mind me making a bit of your coffee,” Edwin said looking disgustedly at the coffee pot, “That is If I can figure it out.” Aunt giggled and said, “No, no, I don’t mind but let me at it. I have particular tastes when it comes to coffee and since my niece doesn’t drink it I can only rely on my skills to get it done.”

   “Yeah, her tastes run toward solid sludge so watch out,” Chloe said. It earned her a good-natured glare from Aunt.

Edwin was happy to oblige as Aunt filled the pot with water.

“So…umm, did you sleep well?” Aunt asked. 

Chloe snorted. Geez what a lame question! Rolling her eyes, Chloe answered, “Don’t worry Aunt, nothing happened last night.” Then she gave her aunt a peck on the check. A little sugar coating goes a long way when you know you’re trying to get away with something. 

Edwin left the room to give them some privacy. Either that or he was afraid of what her aunt would do to him. Coward.

“I should be shot allowing you guys to sleep under my roof,” Aunt commented as she watched the coffee pot drip slowly, “It’s wrong and I should probably be deemed the worst guardian in the world, but for some reason I can’t deny you this. I understand it and it may end in disaster, but I know that you need someone to love you and be there for you where I can’t. I understand that need more than most. It would be different if I didn’t think Edwin loved you and you were being irresponsible.” Aunt turned around from the coffee to give her a soft smile before continuing, “Besides, I remember what it’s like to be a teenager, and it wouldn’t matter what I said or forbid.  I’m gone too much and you would do it anyway. At least this way I at least know what is going on in my own house. I also know you will be careful and do the right thing,” Her aunt pointedly looked at her. Chloe nodded, she would be careful when something did happen between Edwin and her. Aunt, satisfied with her little lecture, patted Chloe’s cheek. She liked the pat. It felt motherly. 

Turning to start breakfast, Chloe talked while setting a pan on the burner, “Thank you Aunt, but honestly nothing happened last night.” Aunt smiled disbelievingly but didn’t argue. 

  She made them breakfast while Edwin sat at the table and watched her. She would send him small smiles as she prepared what she called “potato surprise.” She took mashed potatoes from a previous meal and refried them adding cheese, eggs, green onions, tomatoes. It was her favorite breakfast dish and wholly unhealthy.

  While flipping the potatoes over Edwin came up behind her and kissed her neck, she tilted her head to the side allowing him access. He wrapped his arms around her while whispering in her ear, “I love you.” 

It sent such delicious chills through her, she released the spatula to drop wherever, turned in his arms, and kissed him senseless. That was until she smelled her potatoes burning. Quickly turning around she found some of them got overcooked. She quickly removed the potatoes to a cooler burner and bent to pick up the spatula. With her head down she stepped around Edwin and took it to the sink to rinse it. 

Memories of her father slapping her repeatedly after she burnt a dinner came rushing back to her. It hadn’t been her fault, the oven had been faulty, but that didn’t matter to him. He had knocked her to the ground, forcing her to eat the half raw, half burnt casserole. 

She reached up and wiped a tear from her eye as she scrubbed the spatula over and over again trembling. Even though it was unreasonable the fear of retribution was still engrained in her. Rationally she knew that Edwin would never hit her, but emotionally it was impossible to get over.

She had to force herself not to flinch when Edwin put his hand on her right arm.

“I think it is clean enough, darling,” he said softly. She turned her head up to gaze in his eyes. Extending his index finger, he brushed off another tear that had escaped and smiled.

   “I would say sorry, but I’m not, can’t apologize for kissing you, ever,” He said. He pulled her in his arms, “Who needs breakfast when I have you?” He kissed another escaped tear. 

Shaking her head, laughing dryly, she said lightly, “Well it teaches me a lesson. I can’t cook and kiss at the same time.” 

In the past she would have berated herself for being so very stupid, apologized repeatedly, but with Edwin she didn’t want to. She wanted to be better, stronger for him. 

   After breakfast Edwin made a few phone calls, which she assumed was to his father or friends.  She didn’t care, as long as she could have Edwin for the day.

Her aunt had not gone into work yet which was rare. Maybe her aunt felt she needed a day at home to chaperone them, but whatever the reason, Chloe enjoyed having her favorite two people with her for the day. They had all settled down in the living room and were reading books when the doorbell rang, causing Chloe to nearly jump out of her skin, which amused Edwin. 

The doorbell rarely rang at the cottage and therefore they never expected anyone, ever. It was the beauty of living in a closed community.

Edwin snuggled into her as her aunt got up to answer it, a few seconds later Sandra came strolling in.

“I knew I would find you here, Edwin. You’re so predictable.” 

He rolled his eyes.

 For some reason that statement didn’t sit well with Chloe. It felt like a familiarity with Edwin that she had yet to learn. Chloe forced the jealousy down to her stomach. 

   Sandra continued, “Don’t get your underwear bunched up, Edwin. I’m not here for you. I’m here for Chloe. We’re going shopping!”

Huh? No one mentioned this to her. She looked around panicked to see if anyone knew of this but her aunt merely looked interested and Edwin had a vaguely bored expression.

“School is starting soon and I thought a few new clothes are just what you need!” Sandra continued.

A sharp stab of pain penetrated her stomach, Oh yeah, school was starting next week – joy. She’d forgotten. She slumped deeper into the cushions of her couch.

Her aunt had the exact opposite reaction. She was so excited by the prospect that she ran from the room, returning seconds later thrusting her credit card at Chloe. “Spend away honey!” 

Chloe stared at her aunt’s outstretched hand, wondering if she was joking, then her gaze sifted to her aunt who wiggled the card in front of her nose, then at Sandra who nodded encouragingly and then finally at Edwin who was fighting a smile.

Chloe started shaking her head “I don’t think…” but Aunt interrupted her “Oh honey don’t think, just spend.” And with that Aunt grabbed her hand and placed the card in it.

   Edwin stood up and said, “I need to head home anyway to bathe. I’ll see you back here later tonight.” He bent down, kissed her stunned lips and departed. 

Her aunt walked off, “I do have some work I have to get done,” and she, too, abandoned her to Sandra, who was smiling smugly. 

She felt manipulated.

   Before they left Sandra covered her beautiful red hair with a fashionable scarf and slid on big dark glasses. She explained, “I’m known through some of these shops and they try to get away with charging me too much. I think this way we can get some good deals!” Since Chloe was a complete shopping i***t, she trusted Sandra knew what she was talking about.