Chloe
I LOOKED AT COLLIER AND wondered what our life would have been like had we gotten together when we were younger. I don’t want to sound like a crazy woman, but it felt right. Like this was destined. Now I sounded like Dionne and Alex.
I finished feeding Parker and he started his yawing exercise, followed by his sleep serenade.
“What is that noise?” Collier asked.
I laughed. “That’s Parker.”
He laughed. “Are you serious? He sounds like an old man.”
“I know. He inherited that from his father. Let me put him…” I started to get up, when Collier stepped in.
“Let me,” he extended his hands to take Parker.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Let me try.” I placed Parker in his arms and watched as he rocked Parker until he calmed down and fell asleep.
About ten minutes later, I approached him. “Here, I’ll take him.”
He stood up. “I’ll put him down. Point me to the nursery.”
“Third door on the right.”
He gingerly walked down the hall to Parker’s room. I waited until he was in the room and hurried down the hall behind him, and stood outside the door.
“Little man, I need your help. I’m trying to convince your mommy that you and her dating me is a good idea. Maybe you can tell her it’s okay. I never stopped loving her. She’s the reason I never got married. I’ve been waiting on God to send her back to me, and He has. Not only did He bring her back, but she came with a little something extra, you. Now if she’ll only trust God this is a good thing, maybe the three of us can be a family.” I quietly walked back out to the patio.
I heard his footsteps and looked up. “How did it go?”
He sat down and placed the baby monitor on the table. “Easy.” He smiled.“Where’s his father?”
“With his twenty something year old fiancée, I guess.”
“Oh.”
“How did you like church?” I needed to divert all relationship talk after hearing his conversation with Parker.
“I like your pastor. He’s a little different from mine, but I like him.”
“Do you and Moses go to the same church?”
“Yes. In fact, he and Alex have taught a couple of the singles classes.”
“She didn’t tell me that.”
“No?”
“Is she different when she’s there?”
“Yes and no. Here, she seems more like Alex Miller Adair and there, she’s very much Mrs. Adair.”
“Really?”
“When she’s in New York, it’s like she’s on holiday from her life.”
“I understand.”
“They’ve been renovating the townhouse, and it keeps her busy. I know she’s still adjusting. He loves her either way. What’s he like here?”
I poured more lemonade. “Quiet. I think he’s still trying to find his way. He spends a lot of time with Bas and Quentin, and like her, he seems to be on vacation from his life.”
“I think once they really get used to being married, you won’t be able to tell the difference between their east coast and west coast personalities.”
“Exactly. Have you been to dinner with them?”
“Do they act like that all the time?” I asked. We laughed and he gently touched my hand.
“Yes. And it’s contagious. Wait until you go dancing with them.”
“My friend doesn’t dance.”
“Your friend may not, but my friend’s wife does. You should see them. They go dancing, not clubbing. They’ve got a few places they like to go.”
“You’re kidding!” The woman he described sounded nothing like my friend.
“No. Or you’ll be over for dinner, and they’ll be in the kitchen dancing.”
“No, I haven’t seen that.”
“They asked me to stay with them, and I said no. I learned my lesson never stay with newlyweds,” he smiled. “His first wife was nothing like Alex. He seems freer, relaxed…he’s like the guy I first met in college.”
“Her fiancé wasn’t very affectionate. You only knew they were a couple because they said so. But when you see her with Moses, you know they’re a couple.”
“Exactly. When we go out it’s like chaperoning two horny teenagers. They can’t keep their hands off each other.” We laughed.
“What’s with that?”
“It’s just them.” He looked at me and smiled. “I asked about the honeymoon--”
“What did he say?”
“He had this stupid grin on his face and said it was nice.”
“That’s all she said. I was all ready to hear some juicy details and all she said was, it was great and the place is beautiful.”
“It all has to do with some rule they have about keeping everything private.”
“I can’t blame them. If more people did that--”
“That’s the same thing I said. Tell me about the wedding.”
“It was very intimate and filled with love...very much like them. They got married in his grandmother’s garden. Alex was beautiful and he was a nervous wreck. I tease them about how they carry on, but I want that. I want to kiss my wife in public and not care who sees. I want my wife to know I’ve got her back. I want to dance with her in public. I want to give her the world and know she doesn’t expect it. I want a partner. That’s what they have. He said she refers to their marriage as a team, and said he’s the captain. They said they have to do whatever is necessary to keep the team progressing.”
“Wow.”
“So far it’s working. Like the other night, he called her at the last minute to meet his publisher. She didn’t complain, she showed up, wooed his publisher, stood in the back row of his reading like a dutiful wife, and he was very proud. And when she needs help at the store, he goes over and does whatever she asks him to do.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No. They’re for real. If anyone told me three years ago my heartbroken best friend would be married, I would have said they were lying. Much less, that that same friend and his wife would teach me how valuable a good marriage is, I’d have said “no way”. But here I am, waiting on God to bless me like He’s blessed them.”
“When I came back and found out Alex was married, and she told me about the rules they have, I decided right then the next time I get married, I’m doing that.”
“So CJ, what…”
“Want to watch a movie?”
“Sure.”
We went inside, popped in a movie, got comfortable on the sofa and spent the rest of the day watching movies, playing with Parker and Collier showing me how to use my stove. Now I knew how Alex ended up in New York with someone she barely knew. When you know it’s right, nothing else matters. I think this is what Alex was trying to tell me. There are just some things in your relationship you need to keep secret.
Alex
“PALM SPRINGS,” MOSES SMILED AND kissed me. “I really needed this. Thank you, baby.”
“You’re welcome.” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Have you spoken with Collier?”
“No, why?”
“No reason.”
He looked at me. “Really?”
“Okay, so I want to know what’s going on, if anything between him and Chloe.”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“I left her a message.”
We pulled up to the valet and stopped the car. Moses walked around, helped me out and we walked into the restaurant to the hostess station.
“Hello, welcome. How may I help you?” the hostess said.
“Hello. We have a reservation. The name is Adair.”
She checked her iPad and looked up at Moses. “Table for two. Follow me,” she said.
We followed the hostess and as I looked around I, spotted a familiar face and stopped walking. Moses almost stepped on the back of my foot, and grabbed my waist.
“Babe, I’m sorry.”
“Is that Collier with Chloe?” I asked.
“Where?” He looked in the direction I was pointing.
“What…I believe it is.”
“Did you tell Collier we were coming here?”
“No. Did you tell her?” he asked.
“No.”
“Right this way,” urged the hostess.
We kept walking and Chloe looked up, and our eyes locked.
“Wait one moment,” I said to the hostess. We walked over and addressed the big pink elephant in the room. “Hi.”
Collier looked up. “What are you two doing here?” he asked.
“We’re here for a little relaxation.” Collier stood up and hugged me and then his best friend. “What’s up, man?”
“I thought you went back a few days ago?” Moses asked.
“I had uhm—”
I walked over and hugged Chloe. “Hey, Miss Chloe.”
“Hi.”
Moses walked over and hugged her. “Looking good Chloe.”
“Thank you, so do you,” she casually flirted.
“Sir, would you and your wife like to join your friends?” asked the hostess.
“Do you mind?” Moses asked the lovely couple.
“No, have a seat.” Collier was very receptive, but my best friend looked pissed. It’s all their fault. If they wanted to keep this rendezvous a secret, they should have come to the professionals. We knew how to date in secret.
Moses pulled my chair out and I sat down. “Thank you Baby.” He walked around and sat down next to me.
“I’ll send the server over to take your drink orders,” the hostess informed us.
“Thank you,” Moses replied. “When did you two get here?”
“We drove down after church,” Collier answered. “What about you?”
“Us, too. We probably passed each other on the highway. How long will you be here?”
My husband was cute trying to get answers without coming right out and asking. I was just the opposite. If I wanted to know something, I just asked or in this case, said nothing. I knew it would irritate Chloe more if I didn’t ask.
“Until Wednesday,” Collier answered.
“Us too. Where are you staying?” I asked.
“The Chapman” Chloe answered. “What about you?”
“The Wilson,” I replied.
Dinner was excellent, and filled with great conversation and a ton of dirty looks from my best friend. I liked this and could see the four of us spending more afternoons together, and couples trips. I eased my hand up Moses’ leg and he looked at me.
“How long are we going to dance around this?” Chloe asked.
“Dance around what?” Moses asked. “Honey, do you know what she’s talking about?”
“I can’t say that I do.” I kissed him.
“Stop it, Alex. I know you want to know what’s going on,” Chloe said.
“Not really.” I turned to Moses. “Honey, it’s getting late. Get the check.”
“No, I got this,” Collier said.
“Only if you let me get lunch tomorrow,” Moses replied.
Collier looked at Chloe. “CJ, are you okay with lunch tomorrow?”
There was that look again. The one that said if I had a knife, I’d cut you. “Sure.”
“Well, we’re going to get out of here,” I announced, and Moses stood up and helped me up.
I walked over, kissed Collier on the cheek, and gave Chloe a hug and a kiss. She whispered, “I know what you’re doing.”
“Sweetie, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stood up. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Collier, thank you for dinner.” Moses walked over and they bro-hugged. Then he went over and kissed Chloe on the cheek.
“Kiss Parker for us. Goodnight.” I grabbed Moses’ hand and we left.