Love Outside my Reach

It was Jordan.

"You are still here," he said flatly, as if nothing had happened.

"Get in. Let me drop you off at the bus stop" Even as the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Since when did he become a softie? He quickly shook off the thought. No, of course this was part of a plan.

Chloe didn’t move.

With a grunt, he pulled out a card and pen from his jacket, scribbled something quickly, and tossed it out the window. The card landed by her feet.

"That’s my card. Meet me at the address I wrote on the back. Tomorrow. Four p.m." Without another word, he sped off.

Chloe stared at the card lying on the road. Her mind spun with a dozen possibilities, each one darker than the last. She didn’t bother picking it up. Hugging her bag closer, she set off toward Alamosa.

The night air was icy, and the road stretched endlessly ahead. Every step felt heavier than the last, her shoes biting into her heels. She pulled her coat tighter, but the chill was not just from the wind, it was from the memory of Jordan’s voice, the cruelty in his eyes, the way he had shoved her away as though she were nothing.

Her phone buzzed for the third time that hour. It was her mum's sister, Mary again. Chloe silenced it, too drained to explain anything over the phone. What would she even say? That her job had ended before it even started? That she was now in debt for a gown she hadn’t ruined? She pressed the phone deeper into her coat pocket.

By the time she reached the bus stop, her legs threatened to give way. She was lucky to catch the bus before it moved. She dozed off as soon as she took a seat. Four hours turned into minutes as she awoke at her destination. She texted Mary to let her know she was at the bus stop. Her aunt replied her immediately.

Hold on. I'm coming to get you.

A single streetlight flickered above, buzzing faintly. She sank onto the cold bench and buried her face in her palms. Minutes went by. Cars passed. People came and went. She stayed.

Headlights finally slowed in front of her. Chloe lifted her head, squinting against the glare. The door of a familiar car swung open.

“Chloe!” Mary’s voice cut through the night, scolding and sounding relieved at the same time.

Her aunt fussed over her. "I told you not to risk traveling back at night. Why didn't you just wait till tomorrow? And why do you have to carry your travel bag though? Isn’t it stressful? You can always share Judy’s clothes, you know.”

Chloe shrugged.

Mary pressed a small flower into her hands. “Congratulations on your new job,” she teased with a laugh. “Do my flowers feel awkward?”

“No, Aunty. Thank you,” Chloe managed a smile.

“You don’t seem happy though. You must be exhausted.”

Chloe opened the back seat and threw in her bag. “Yeah. It has been a very long day."

She was not in the mood to chatter, but her aunt didn’t notice. Mary chattered all the way home.

When they arrived, Chloe was baffled to meet a mini party at home. Judy and Danny popped balloons and sprayed celebratory ribbons. A small apple tart sat at the center of the table.

Chloe resisted the urge to roll her eyes and sigh wearily. How could they be celebrating her getting a job as a maid? Funny that she had even lost the job already.

With the little strength she had, she tried to laugh and smile along. How could she tell them she had lost the job she barely just got? And the manner in which it had happened too. She felt like such a big fool.

She opened her bag and brought out the leftovers from the Cavanaughs.

The family was so happy that Chloe could not help but smile. It was like a feast for them.

She excused herself and went off to the tiny room reserved for her. Sitting on the bed, she held her head in her hands and sobbed quietly. The muffled laughter of her cousins drifted through the thin walls, but she felt miles away. Her phone vibrated for the umpteenth time since she had put it on silence on her way back.

Tiredly, she brought the phone out if her bag to check the caller ID.

Not her mother. Not her aunt. Not Judy. Not anyone she knew.

An unknown number.

Chloe froze, her heart beating abnormally in her chest. For a long moment, she simply stared at the screen, her thumb hovering, trembling. Whoever it was, they had tried calling her all night.

She swallowed hard and swiped to answer.