"You have to unlock the door, I don't have my key."
Matthew unlocked the door and slowly opened it. Chloe kept her eyes on the ground so she wouldn't trip and end up being admitted again.
"Where would you like to sit, love?"
"I'll go over there to the couch. On her way she lifted her eyes, and saw them all.
"Welcome home, Chloe!" shouted Matthew, Conner, Becky, Sherry, Lois, and John.
"Oh my God! You guys are sooo perfect!"
After all the hugs, Chloe was given her gift. They all pitched in and bought her a really nice recliner and a new cell phone. Conner got up from the chair, walked over, and wrapped her gently in his arms.
"Welcome home, Chloe. Welcome home."
"Conner, you're walking!"
"I quit smoking and I'm taking better care of myself. I walked down here and left the wheelchair at home."
"You walk better than me now. I'm so proud of you … "
Everyone had a great time and Chloe loved her presents and the surprise party, but the best gift of all was when Matthew escorted her to the bedroom and opened the closet door. Hanging neatly next to her things were Matthew's clothes.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Becky made sure that Chloe got to all her physical therapy appointments after the casts came off. She could move her fingers on her injured hand, but she'd have to work really hard to get them fully functioning. Luckily, she wasn't showing any signs of nerve damage. She managed pretty well on her own, although Becky and Lois stopped by to help out often. The only thing she couldn't do was drive. She was given the okay to get behind the wheel, but she was frightened. Matthew knew he had to help her work through her fears so she wouldn't end up being a prisoner in this home, too.
"Let's go car shopping, sweetheart."
"I don't want to drive, Matthew, so I don't need a car."
"Please?"
"Not right now, it's too soon."
He stopped trying to push her, but would mention it from time to time. She wasn't budging though, and that was worrying him.
One Saturday afternoon it was raining, so he couldn't work. Thumbing through the classifieds, Matthew saw a few nice cars that Chloe would like, and they'd be a lot safer.
"Look at these, Chloe. You want to ride over there and take a look?"
"I have a car and a Jeep at my parent's house, so we could go over and pick those up if you want, but I'm not driving either until I'm ready. Let me call and make sure it's still in the garage."
"Actually, I think I'll put a movie in and we can watch it together. It's pretty crappy outside anyway." The last thing he wanted to do was have Sylvia mistreat her on the phone, or come face to face with either of her parents. He'd take Becky over and she could pick up the Jeep. He'd rather Chloe drive that one anyway for safety. Matthew made a mental note to call Becky. But he knew she was just as ticked off as he was. Either way, he didn't see this ending well. There was still some time for things to improve, because the wedding wouldn't be for several months. One thing was for sure; he and Becky were running out of excuses to cover up her parent's neglect.
"Just go in there and ask the staff. You might as well try to get keys for both vehicles while you're there. Do you know if they're even home?"
"I don't know, Matthew. Sylvia stopped taking my calls."
"Should I come with you?"
"Do you think you can stop yourself from punching her in the face?"
Matthew hesitated.
"Wait in the car," said Becky as she patted his shoulder. "Wish me luck."
Becky knocked on the front door. A young woman on the staff opened the door.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, I'm Chloe Burlington's friend and I'm here to pick up her two vehicles."
"Her vehicles? I don't understand."
"She has a red Jeep and a Mercedes in the garage."
"I'll have to ask Mrs. Burlington. Come in, please."
Becky stepped inside but never left the foyer. She pretty much grew up in this house, but it was so foreign to her now.
"Becky, why do you need Chloe's car?" Sylvia laughed.
"I'm here to pick up her Jeep too. Her other car was wrecked and she's still recuperating. I thought I'd pick them up for her before the roads got too bad."
"She only has one vehicle, the Mercedes we bought for her."
"Where's her Jeep?"
"I got rid of it. What kind of person with her status drives a Jeep, not to mention an older model?"
"Chloe loves that Jeep. When she bought it, it was new. I'd like her to have it back."
"It's gone I'm afraid … "
"You got rid of it?"
"Yes, I did. Becky, dear, my daughter isn't going to be driving a vehicle that totally lacks class, and she's not driving a Mercedes in … Detroit. Those thugs would do God knows what to her."
"You care, why?" Becky was done trying.
"Don't be silly, she's my daughter."
"You're pathetic, did you know that? You're a pathetic, angry, self-centered woman."
"I think this conversation is over, Rebecca."
"Yeah, I think you're right. I tried being nice to you for Chloe's sake, hoping you'd hate her less. You'll die an angry, old woman, Sylvia. And by the way, all your hard work at being the biggest bitch ever is doing nothing for your wrinkle lines … "
Chapter 14
Matthew and Chloe sat in front of the television after dinner. Chloe was feeling so much better, but still had a hard time with certain movements and got tired easily. The doctor told her the recovery process with someone who suffered injuries such as hers was long. Matthew had been very gentle with their love making, and even though things were getting back to normal, Chloe still wouldn't drive. He stopped talking about it and decided she'd get behind the wheel again when she was ready. Matthew turned on the news, and he couldn't have picked a worse time to do so.
"Mrs. Burlington, how is your daughter doing after her tragic accident?"
"As good as can be expected," Sylvia answered nervously.
"Have you spoken with her today? She's living at the estate, isn't she?"
"No, she isn't living here."
"Does she have permanent disfigurement or can she go back to a normal life?"
"I spoke with her a bit ago, and she's doing well. That'll be all for now." Sylvia stopped the interview and continued driving through the gates.
"She just lied like that?"
"Baby, I know it's hard … "
"It devastates me! How can you treat your own child that way? That's my house, which means they're home. I thought they were gone! Not one time, Matthew, not once did she call me! I could have used her to lean on many times in my life, and she was never there! Always out of the country … but now, now I find out she's home?!"
Matthew had no words to make it better. The truth was, her accusations were correct. He turned off the television and held her while she cried. When Chloe calmed down some, he excused himself saying he forgot to lock his truck. The moment Matthew walked outside, he called Becky.
"She knows. Chloe knows her mother's home."
"Let me guess, she saw her mother lie her butt off on camera?"
"Yeah and she's not doing very good. Care to come over and help me cheer her up?"
"On my way."
By the time Becky arrived, Chloe had stopped crying and was just getting out of the shower. She acted cheerful, but it was very evident it was just that. Acting.
"Come on, love, we're getting out of here."
"I don't want to go anywhere, Becky, it's six-thirty."
"I didn't ask. Let's go."
Chloe rolled her eyes but did what Becky told her to. She knew better than to argue with her when she spoke like this.
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise. Come on."
Chloe climbed in the Jaguar, the car she'd been in a hundred times with Becky, and her heart started to race. She wasn't afraid of the speed, or her friend's driving skills. Intersections with traffic lights scared the heck out of her. Becky read her body language, facial expressions, and was well aware of the little things Chloe did when she got nervous, like playing with her clothing. But still, Becky drove for half an hour.
"Seriously, where are we going?"
"Right here." Becky got out of the Jag, walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. "Hop out."
"Why?" asked Chloe as she got out of the car.
Becky climbed in the passenger side and closed the door. She rolled the window down and smiled. "Drive."
"I'm not driving your car."
"You've driven it many times. You're more than capable of handling a stick."
"I'm not ready for this … "
"Oh, you're not ready to go back out in the world, but you're ready to allow that accident to keep you hostage inside your home. Get in."
Chloe walked over to the driver's side and got behind the wheel. The engine was still humming. She made one last plea to her friend, which got her nowhere. Putting the car in first, Chloe headed up the dirt road. No other cars were around, and for that, she was relieved. After a few turns and going up other streets, she remembered how much fun driving Becky's car was.
"I saw my mom on the news this evening."
"Yeah, so did I. Turn here. How much did she crush you this time?"
"A lot. I wanted to explode."