When Darkness Falls Read Free Page B

in the household and the mediator between Chloe and her mom. Chloe was an only child, and she knew it wasn’t easy for her dad to be the only male in a household with two hotheaded females that often disagreed. Her eyes met his, and she silently pled for his understanding. If she could get through to him then he would eventually convince her mom to see things her way.
    Finally, he looked at Naomi. “Chloe’s right. This is something she needs to do on her own. And we need to be supportive.” There was a note of finality in his voice.
    Naomi crossed her arms over her chest and looked away.
    Chloe looked at her mom, standing there defiantly, her chin jutted out. She felt herself soften. “Look, I’m sorry.” The space between them seemed to grow large as her mom’s lower lip began to tremble.
    “Can you at least wait and leave after church? I was hoping that we could all go together this morning.”
    It always came down to this. Every argument she’d had with her mom in the past six months had church rolled in somehow, and she was sick of it. Why couldn’t she just leave things be?
    “You haven’t been to church since Dan’s memorial service,” Naomi continued.
    Chloe rolled her eyes.
    “Honey, I know all of this has been hard, and we don’t always understand why we have to go through certain trials, but we have to have faith.”
    “Can’t you see I’m trying to put my life back together the only way I know how?” The words came out harsh and broken.
    Naomi’s face fell. “You used to listen to me. Why won’t you listen to me now?”
    She jerked her hair back from her face. “Okay, I’m listening. SO TALK!”
    “You need to pray about it. If you’ll just—”
    “Maybe I don’t feel like praying, all right? Heck, I don’t even think anyone up there is listening!”
    A stunned silence went through the room.
    She could tell from the stern look on her dad’s face that she’d gone too far. Before he could scold her, she sought for the words to make amends. “Look, I’m sorry.” The words felt heavy in her mouth as she forced them out. “I know praying is important to you, and I wish I could tell you I believed everything you do.” Her voice broke. “But I don’t right now. Okay? Can you just give me some space to sort all of this out?”
    Tears pooled in Naomi’s eyes. “Oh, honey.” She embraced Chloe in a tight hug. After a few minutes, she pulled away. “I’m going with you.”
    Chloe closed her eyes. “Mom! Don’t! I’m a grown woman, for goodness sakes!”
    “A trip across country … alone? It’s just not smart, Chloe!”
    “I won’t be alone!”
    “What?” Her mom’s face drained, and Chloe realized she’d made a huge mistake. Of all the stupid things to say! Now her mom was looking at her in that way that had become all too familiar over the past few months. It was the look that said You’re crazy .
    “What do you mean you won’t be alone ?” Naomi said. Chloe hated the way she was choosing her words carefully, as if she were afraid that one wrong word would be enough to push Chloe over the edge.
    She blew out a breath. “I’ll have Beasty with me. That’s what I meant.”
    Naomi cocked her head. “Chloe, what is it that you’re not telling me?”
    Her heart started to pound. “You’re making more out of this than it is.” She hated the fear that was creeping into her mom’s eyes. Her dad was looking at her the same way. She felt it too—that sickening fear that left her feeling completely and utterly hopeless.
    “You know that Dan is gone, right?” Naomi grabbed hold of Chloe’s arm. “You know that, right?”
    A chill went through the room and sliced through Chloe. She wondered if her parents had felt it. She stumbled backwards. “Yeah, Mom, I know. I’ve got to go.”
    “Did you pack some warm clothes … your coat? The winters get cold.”
    “Yes.”
    Their eyes met.
    “Call me or text me every few hours, so that I’ll know where you are.”