"Okay, I'll have to check it out tomorrow." There's no way I'm doing that. "Thank you."
As Matthew turned, a pang of compassion conflicted with his urge to maintain a safe distance. There she was; lost, nervous … in need. After a few steps he stopped and turned back around to face the beautiful young woman. His instinct to fix the problem would win this time. "I'm on my way home. Why don't you follow me, and I can take you to the manager. She usually stays up late, but I'll call on the way to make sure."
"Okay, that sounds great!" Kill me now …
Chloe sat in her Jeep and waited while Matthew got his truck started. She drove close behind the old rusted pickup. The further they drove the worse the area was looking. She didn't dare stray in this part of town. I'm out of my mind. Feeling both frightened and exhilarated, Chloe picked up her cell phone and dialed her best friend. She tried to keep the phone hidden underneath her hair.
"So, like your ex has called me twice looking for you. Did you even call Edmund?"
"Yes, I called him. I tried to explain and was even direct about ending things, but he wouldn't listen to what I was saying. I'm totally done with him. But there's something interesting that's happened, and if I don't come home, I've been killed in Detroit."
"You're in Detroit?!?!" Becky gasped loudly.
"Yeah, I was driving around, got lost, and then ran into that roofer's pickup truck at some dive bar. His name is Matthew, and he's-"
"Are you crazy?!"
"Well, I lied to him." Chloe cringed.
"Okay, spill it."
"Becky, I told him that was your house, and I was an out-of-town guest for a few days. I also said I was looking for an apartment and … .a job."
"Chloe, what were you thinking? What kind of job do you think you're going to get? You never worked a day in your life."
"I'm going to be a cleaning lady."
"Oh. My. God."
"Becky, please! I've never done anything a little risky or fun in my life. I'm tired of just existing! All I am is guaranteed employment for some of the staff."
"You're in Detroit … "
Okay, we're here. I have to go. I'll call you as soon as I can. Becky, please cover for me, and don't say anything to anyone. Tell the staff I have a bad headache and fell asleep at your house."
"I won't rat you out. I don't agree with what you're doing, but damn, I kind of envy you. I love you, and please stay safe."
I hope he's not a serial killer. Chloe took a deep breath as Matthew walked over and opened her door for her.
"Well, this is it. Nothing fancy, but it keeps us warm."
Us? What the hell does 'us' mean? If he's married I'm going to lie in the road.
"You're married?"
"No way. I live with my father and help take care of him."
"That's so sweet, Matthew." You're a great guy just for that!
Matthew smiled but didn't comment on the compliment. "Let's hop inside and see Sherry."
The apartments were red brick, definitely in need of some upkeep. At least the place didn't have bums and prostitutes walking around it. Chloe followed Matthew to the entrance, where he stopped and held the door open for her. She stepped into the hallway, and ten thousand different cooking smells, mixed with smoke, smacked her in the face. What the heck is that smell? The carpet was semi-clean in the hall, but stained. Chloe walked behind him to an apartment. The living room had been converted into an office, and sitting behind the counter was a slender, fragile looking woman in her sixties with dyed black hair. She was stubbing out a cigarette into an overflowing ashtray.
"Matthew! It's wonderful to see you, sweetheart. How's your dad?" Sherry stood up and turned off the television.
"He has his ups and downs. I stopped in to see if you were still looking for a housekeeper."
"Yep, I sure am. Do you know someone?"
"This is Chloe. She's interested in the job, and she's also looking for an apartment to rent."
"Well, you can come right over here, dear. I'll need you to fill out an application, and then we can chat a little bit." Sherry smiled widely, displaying smudges of lipstick on her teeth.
Chloe walked over to the dingy chair and tried to sit only on the edge of it. The stains on the fabric were from God knows what.
"Thank you so much, Matthew." Sherry got up and gave him a hug.
He hugged the delicate woman back and then turned to Chloe before walking out the door. "Do you think you can find your way back out of here? If not, follow me and I'll take you to your neighborhood. This area isn't safe for you, especially at night."
"No, it's okay. Thank you so much for everything, and it was a pleasure to meet you." So, I'm getting an actual job, and he's just going to leave? How do I get out of this one?
"Likewise," he replied, as he winked at Chloe and then went out the door.
Matthew was right; Sherry was such a sweet lady. Chloe really liked her. Her voice was warm, grandmotherly, and her eyes were so gentle. She ended up staying and talking with the older woman for over two hours. Time just seemed to fly by. She got the job and was given a one bedroom apartment to live in. It hadn't been rented in a long time, and Sherry seemed happy to have someone she perceived as decent living there.
"I'll have to go back to my friend's place and get my things together. Do you need me right away, or is a week okay?"
"Sure, sweetie. Whenever you're ready to start, just let me know. I can be as flexible as I'd like to be. I own the building."
"Thank you so much, Sherry."
True to her nature, she squeezed Chloe's hands. "Any friend of Matthew's is a friend of mine."
I could probably count on both hands the number of times I had physical contact from my mother.
After a few wrong turns and breaking the speed limit, Chloe found her way out of the bad neighborhood. When she drove through the gates at the estate, her heart sank. It was four in the morning when she arrived. The guards detained her for fifteen minutes, grilling her about where she'd been. Chloe told them she fell asleep in the Jeep. They weren't happy but let her go. She was relieved they hadn't yelled about looking for her. But seeing Becky's car in the driveway gave her the biggest relief.
"Chloe! My God I was so worried about you!" Becky threw her arms around her friend.
"I like him, Beck. He seems really nice and humble. Matthew even takes care of his dad. I don't know much about him yet, but one thing's for sure. I want to see him again."
"I love you, Chloe. But you're out of your mind."
"Maybe I am. But I'm going to get a new life. This may be tricky, but I'm definitely going to do it. I'm not asking you to come to Detroit with me, just help me to the finish line, okay?"
"If the finish line was under the ocean, I'd find a way to help you cross it … even if you are crazy."
Chapter 3
Chloe awoke to the steady sound of hammering. Springing out of bed, she ran down the hall to the large staircase and headed out the patio doors to the pool. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she quickly scanned her neighbor's guesthouse for any signs of Matthew. Even though Chloe couldn't see him, she knew he was up there. Her stomach had butterflies, her pulse quickened. Suddenly aware she was standing outside with her hair a mess and worn pj's, she slipped inside the pool house and put on her baby blue bikini and smoothed down her hair. When she was almost out the door, a thought occurred to her. Why am I worried about how I look? I don't want another Edmund. Throwing her pj's back on, Chloe ran back to her room and changed into a pair of old shorts and a plain t-shirt instead. Walking quickly back through the kitchen, a familiar voice made her jump.
"You didn't even get your coffee, but I knew you'd need some. Here you go."
"Thank you, Lois." Chloe took the steaming cup and the two women stepped outside to the pool.
Lois Shepherd was the cook for the Burlington's. She was about the same age as Chloe's mother, though that was their only similarity. Lois was loving and kind, and had raised Chloe from infancy. She was the woman who put bandages on the little girl's knees and made sure she was kept warm and fed. There were nannies that stepped in after her shift ended, but they never bonded with the young heiress. Lois never married or had children of her own, but she always wanted a family. Even though her child bearing years were way behind her, it seemed natural for her to step in for the absent parents.
Lois hated the way Sylvia and Earl ignored their only child. She knew there'd be problems from the get go when the young mother barely held baby Chloe. It wasn't because Sylvia was mean or resentful. She was fearful, uncertain, and lacked knowledge. Lois always knew that Sylvia wasn't raised with doting parents either. When conversations about mothering arose, Mrs. Burlington would inevitably fake an illness or walk off.
Watching Chloe grow up to become a fine, loving young woman made Lois smile. She was happy that, despite Sylvia's absence, Chloe still rose above. Every time Sylvia or Earl called the house, Lois always asked if they wanted to talk to their daughter. By the time Chloe came running to the phone full of excitement, the call was disconnected. It got difficult coming up with excuses as to why the call ended or why her parents stayed away. Eventually, Lois just held her while she cried. It was easier when she was a young child. Children believed whatever they were told. But when Chloe became a teenager, there was no hope in any cover-ups to protect the young girl's heart. She bit her tongue through the years, no matter how hard it was to do. She knew how powerful the Burlington's were, and they wouldn't hesitate to fire her. If that happened, who could she trust to take care of Chloe? Hiding her anger was a difficult task to say the least.