When Darkness Falls Read Free Page A

was what it took, then so be it. Anything had to be better than this. For six months, she’d walked around in a daze, trying to find meaning to her life. The worst was overhearing the hushed conversations when her parents thought she wasn’t listening—like how Dan’s mom was footing the bill for the birthing expenses of the girl Dan had gotten pregnant. It was humiliating to hear them whispering behind her back because they thought she was too fragile to hear the truth. If some other girl was having Dan’s baby, then why was she seeing him? She was tired of being haunted by the past. Time to move on. Resolutely, she straightened her shoulders as she stepped into the hall and closed the door. The next instant, she nearly mowed over her mom who was standing with her hand on her hip. “Sorry,” she grumbled.
    “Chloe, I don’t feel good about you driving across country by yourself,” she began, picking up the argument that had been going on for days.
    “We’ve already been through this! I won’t be alone, I’m taking Beasty with me!” She tightened her grip on the handle of the suitcase and brushed past her, tromping down the steps. Her mom followed close on her heels.
    “Why don’t you leave Beasty here for now? I could book you a flight into Salt Lake, and you could be there in a few hours.”
    Chloe shook her head. “We’ve already talked about this. I’ll need my car.”
    Her mom paused. “Okay, then I’ll take off work for a few days and go with you. I’ll call Phil right now. I’ve built up enough leave that it shouldn’t be a problem. I can help take care of Beasty. I just don’t feel good about you stopping at hotels by yourself. For goodness sakes, it’s a three-day trip!”
    Chloe felt the urge to scream at the top of her lungs. Her mother could be so impossible! She put down the suitcase and turned to face her. Normally, her mom kept her short hair styled in a sleek bob that rounded just below her ears, but this morning, it was all over the place, and she didn’t have on any make-up, causing her to look older and more vulnerable. She was wearing her favorite terrycloth robe—the one that Chloe bought her last Christmas. A gush of tenderness rushed over her, making her feel guilty for getting so irritated.
    Her mom gave her a searching look. “You don’t have to do this alone.” She put a hand on Chloe’s arm. “Let me help you.”
    Before she could stop it, a tear escaped the corner of Chloe’s eye and dribbled down her cheek. Hastily, she wiped it away with the palm of her hand. “Mom, I’m going to Salt Lake City like you want me to. I’m rooming with some girl I don’t even know—simply because she’s the daughter of your best friend.” Her voice rose. “But you have to give a little here! Try to understand. I have to find my life, and I have to do it my way.” She gave her mom a pained look. “I’m doing the best I can.”
    Naomi held up a hand. “I know that, honey. I just want you to be safe, that’s all.” She shook her head and then pulled at the tie on her robe, making it tighter around her waist.
    “Is everything okay?”
    They looked toward the door as Chloe’s dad stepped into the room.
    Naomi offered him a tight smile. “Everything’s fine, Brian.”
    He looked back and forth between Chloe and Naomi with a raised eyebrow. “Obviously.”
    Chloe made a face. “Mom’s worried about me driving across country by myself.”
    “Yeah, I’m a little worried about it too,” he admitted. Before Chloe could respond, he went to the cabinet, retrieved a glass, and filled it with water from the sink. Then he leaned back against the counter, studying Chloe with those penetrating eyes that missed nothing.
    Heat rose to her face as she threw her hands in the air. “Not you too! We’ve been through this a dozen times already! I’m a grown woman!”
    He placed the glass on the counter. “Yes, we know that,” he said patiently.
    Her dad was the voice of reason