"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."
"I wanted to kick my screen. Turn here and then keep going straight. It looked like the reporters caught her returning home from some place."
"I had no idea she was there. I wonder if my dad is."
"There's construction ahead so take the ramp. Your dad doesn't seem as mean as your mom. It's clear, you can get over. I always remembered him as being nice. Pass this truck. You didn't see much of him while you grew up, did you?"
"No he wasn't around. Lois was my parent."
"Chloe, just because someone has a kid, doesn't mean they should be a parent. I'm sorry to say this, but you got stuck in that kind of situation. Get off up here at the exit. Even though your mom and dad are the way they are right now, doesn't mean they'll always be. You have to find that fine line between acceptance and hope. Go down here."
"Wait we're going back to my apartment?"