Authors: Sadie Grubor
"Oh no you don’t," I held her chin and crushed my lips to hers, delivering a kiss that I hoped she would think about all day.
"I’m picking up Tony later this evening. Come with me?" I asked as I allowed her to pull away from my embrace.
"You mean from your family?" I saw her instantly tense up and she bit her lip.
Excuse me Donald, could you please wait in the car while I fuck Chloe against this door?
"With Elaine?"
I nodded, "It will be fine. I promise that they will be on their best behavior."
"I don’t think so," I tried to interrupt her, but she stopped me. "I think it is way too early for that, for this to be something we talk about outside of us."
My face fell and she definitely noticed. "Why?"
"You know why," she argued.
"No, I don’t. I want to shout from the rooftops that I have you back, where you will stay, if I might add," I smiled crookedly at her.
"Oh you think so?" she smirked.
"Mhmm…baby you are never going anywhere ever again. I may not be the smartest man, but I will not make that mistake again," I raised an eyebrow at her and she laughed lightly as she leaned in to kiss me.
"Come on, I’ll call your father and tell him that we will be down this evening and we can eat dinner at my parents.
Together, as a family. The way it should be."
She looked at me nervously while she contemplated and then nodded hesitantly in agreement. I smiled largely and finally let her go, though it killed me for her to not be close to me.
After I did a couple of hours of work from my home office, I called Mina to let her know about dinner. She didn’t answer, so I left her a voicemail. Then I called my mother.
"Hey
, baby," she answered.
"Good afternoon
, Mom," I smiled.
"You sound very
…good," she lightly chuckled. "Did you have a good night?"
"Yeah, you could say that," I laugh
ed quietly and rubbed the back of my head. "How is Tony? Did he do okay?"
"Yes, he did very well. He is so smart
, Leo, so much like you at that age." I could hear the smile in her voice.
"I’m glad he was good for you." I cleared my throat quietly. "Hey
, listen. I was thinking that we should have dinner at your house tonight. You know, Mina & Oliver, Roni, Max, & the kids, Judith & Kenneth, Chloe & me. What do you think?"
"Oh, that sounds lovely, though I don’t know about
Kenn….wait! You and who?"
Shit…not the reaction I was hoping for.
"Please tell me that she hasn’t worked her way back into your life
any more than she already has to be!"
"
Mom, please…" she cut me off.
"Leo Anthony, are you crazy?"
"Funny that’s the same thing that Chloe asked me last night," I chuckled. She didn’t find it as humorous.
"Last night?" I heard her take some breaths. "Honest to
God, Leo! I don’t know what to say to you. After everything she put you and this family through, how on earth can you…?" I cut her off.
"Exactly
, Mom, I can forgive her just as she forgave me for leaving her and ignoring her. Just as I can finally say that I am the happiest that I have been in…well, in forever." I sighed and pinched my nose.
"This is what I have wanted for so long and since she is willing to try with me again
, I am taking it and running. I need you to please be supportive and accept that I am in love with Chloe. I always have been and always will be."
I heard her sigh heavily. "Leo…"
"Mother…" I countered.
She exhaled. "Fine, but I don’t have to like or accept it
, Leo."
"I would appreciate it if you would at least try to be understanding."
"Leo…"
"Yes
?"
Was she going to agree and really just try to see how happy this made me
?
"Stop and get some red wine on your way here
." Then she hung up.
I exhaled
deeply, this may not go as well as I hoped.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Tell Me How You Really Feel
Chloe
I knew that this was going to be a tough night and when I questioned myself as to why I even agreed to this
, I knew the answer immediately- Leo. He wanted me to do this for him and after everything I'd done to him, the pain I caused, this was the least I could do.
When I arrived
at Leo’s apartment he was ready to go and we headed down to his car. Both of us were silent for about twenty minutes until Leo broke the silence.
"Chloe?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay?"
I sighed. "No, not really," I shrugged. "I know this is going to end badly."
"Nonsense, it will be trying, I’m sure, but it will all work out," he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than me.
We went back to silence again for a few Moments.
"Can I ask you about something?" he glanced at me quickly then back to the road.
"Of course." I responded, searching his face.
"I would like for you to sign papers to change Anthony’s last name to Mackey
." His eyes stayed straight on the road.
"Okay," I answered quietly.
"Really?" he sounded shocked.
"Leo, why would I argue
with that?" I threw my hands up at him.
"I don’t know. I just wasn’t sure what your reaction would be." He shrugged and I started to look straight ahead when his next question popped out quickly. "Um…have you considered changing your name? I mean
, back to Fisher?"
I returned my gaze to him quickly
, searching his face again. He was serious.
"Uh
…no, I hadn’t thought about it." I answered honestly and his face fell. "Leo…" he cut me off.
"It’s fine," he
grumbled and I could tell that it was time to end that conversation.
We arrived
at the familiar town and Leo drove straight to his parent's house. When we arrived, Elaine was at the door holding Tony. As we climbed out of the car, Tony wiggled in Elaine’s arms until she put him down.
"
Momma!" he ran straight into my arms and I squeezed him tightly. It felt so good to hold him.
Leo came up behind us and ruffled Tony’s hair.
"Hey, little buddy." Leo acknowledged.
"Daddy!" he reached for Leo. I let Tony go and
, as I turned, I caught Elaine’s cold glare at me.
This was going to be
sooo bad.
Elaine had stayed in the kitchen
, which I’m sure was to avoid being around me. Kenneth and Judith arrived soon after we got there and I was thankful for their presence.
"Chloe," Judith sang
, wrapping her arms around me.
"Hey
. baby," Kenneth leaned in and kissed my forehead.
The three of us sat together on the couch and talked as Tony entertained Leo and Robert with his new
doctor kit Robert bought for him.
"Chloe
, are you sure that this is a good idea?" Kenneth asked in a very hushed tone.
"No, I’m not," I hushed back. Judith put her hand on my knee and squeezed.
Mina and Oliver, Max, Roni and the kids, arrived about ten minutes after Kenneth and Judith. Things were feeling good until Elaine returned.
"Dinner is ready," she said with a plastered smile.
Everyone filtered into the dining room to eat. There was a small table set up for Lin and Tony who were laughing and giggling together. I smiled at them.
Dinner was pretty quiet for the most part with general conversation taking place. Robert talked about the hospital, Elaine discussed a charity event that she was helping with, and Mina
spoke about the new fashion line she was working on.
Leave it to
Max to get the evening moving.
"So, are you guys officially
back together now?" He used his fork to motion back and forth between us.
I blushed
. Just as Leo was about to speak, I heard Elaine snort. All eyes went to her.
"Elaine…" Robert was using a warning tone.
"What? I didn’t say anything." She smirked in my direction.
"E
laine please, let’s just try to—"
"Sure
." She took another sip of her wine. "Let's just try to understand how this," she motioned between Leo and me, "is actually going to work." She paused. "After
she,
" she pointed sternly in my direction, "has caused such a mess in our lives."
"Mother…" Mina hissed and then looked to me apologetically.
Elaine downed the last of her wine.
"Mina, you of all people should be agreeing with me right now. Hell
, she practically destroyed your and Leo’s relationship."
I felt the tears but refused to let them come. I deserved what she was saying but
, at the same time, this wasn’t the way to do it.
I saw Roni stand quickly.
"Well, since someone is letting alcohol get the best of her mouth, I’m going to take the kids next door with me." She roughly threw her napkin down on the table and rounded up the kids with Max right behind her.
"
Mom, can you please try to understand the entire situation?" Leo’s fist hit the table and I put my hand on his fist in an attempt to calm him.
"Leo
. how could you be with this lying, selfish bitch after…."
"
Okay, that is enough!" All of our heads snapped toward Judith, who had just tossed her napkin on the table and stood. "I have had it! Yes, Chloe made a huge mistake and, yes, she was completely wrong. No, I do not understand how they can be together right now, but damn it, Elaine, I will not let you sit there, half-intoxicated, and insult my daughter any longer! It’s enough! This is for them to work out. Not you!"
Dad
stood quickly and put his hand on Judith’s shoulder trying to coax her to leave with him. Judith shrugged off his hand. "No, Kenneth, it’s time Elaine got off her high horse! We all know she's made her own mistakes and yet none of us EVER sat and persecuted her!" I watched Judith’s eyes flash knowingly at Elaine.
"Don’t you dare…
" Elaine shot up from her chair, slamming her hands onto the table.
"Okay….okay…let’s all
just relax please." Robert stood with Elaine now. I put my head in my hands, leaning my elbows onto the table. Leo rubbed at my back. "Maybe it is time for everyone to go—"
Elaine wasn’t finished.
She stared at Leo and me.
"Don’t comfort her!" Leo’s eyes turned on his mother.
"You have completely crossed the line, Mom…I asked you—"
"Oh no
! I have things to ask…plenty of things, Chloe!" I looked up at her and glared.
"FINE!"
I screamed and now I was on my feet. "Ask away, Elaine!"
She smirked evilly and
, as she opened her mouth, "Elaine…please just stop this now before it goes any further," Robert pleaded and put an arm over her shoulder.
She pushed him off quickly.
"Why did you choose Anthony for his name? Was it a sick joke to you?!"
"I was being selfish. I felt like it was the one thing that I could give Leo." Elaine’s expression became more saturated with hate.
"The one thing that you could give HIM?! Are you serious?" I flinched slightly. "You could have given Leo HIS son, Chloe."
"You know what
. Elaine, it was...it is, very complicated and I feel guilty, I really do. I know that that isn’t enough…"
"Damn right it isn’t enough!" She shouted.
Judith slammed her hand on the table. "Elaine!" We snapped our attention back to her now. "You damn well know that you have made huge mistakes, yet you were forgiven! Do not make me call you out on being a hypocrite!"
"I am not a hypocrite!"
She yelled.
I watched as Robert’s face became pained
, he slunk back into his chair mumbling, "Elaine, I told you to stop."
I heard Kenneth huff loudly and try to pull Judith away. O
nce again, she shrugged him off. He gave up and sat down with his hands running through his hair.
"Oh you aren’t
, huh?" Judith walked around the table and met Elaine face to face.
"Judith
, you keep your mouth shut." I saw fear flash across Elaine’s face.
I looked down to Mina who was twisted in her chair with tears streaming down her face.
"Mom!" Leo shouted. "Just stop it. We’re leaving! Chloe let’s—"
"She
can leave anytime she wants to! No one is keeping her here!" Her eyes looked like they could shoot flames through me.
"Let’s talk about two years after you moved here
, Elaine! Let’s talk about Elizabeth!" I looked around and saw confusion on everyone’s face; except Kenneth, Robert, Judith, and Elaine. Elaine looked shocked and hurt.
"Stay out of things that you don’t…" Judith cut her off.
"Or, let’s talk about the baby!" Judith shot out again. "Except, instead of her having it, you ‘got rid of it’!" Judith spit the words out with venom.
"Fuck you
, Judith!" Elaine shouted and tossed someone’s glass of wine in her face. Kenneth and Robert got to them before they could grab each other. The profanities that were flowing freely from their lips had me in shock.
Then Judith’s words seemed to register. "Elizabeth?
" Leo groaned. "Wasn’t that the woman that used to work with…" Leo stood with hatred in his eyes. "And then she was gone…" He couldn’t finish.
"Leo…" Elaine looked pained.
"I think we should just call the kettle black and then go about our lives!" Judith shouted as Kenneth forcefully, but lovingly, pulled her from the room. I was still shocked by Judith’s protective nature.
"Mother?"
Mina whimpered.
Elaine wiggled from Robert’s grasp and went to Mina
, pulling her into a hug. Elaine started to bawl her eyes out and latch on to Mina.
"Fuck!" Leo yelled. "
You got Elizabeth pregnant and then you…you…" Leo looked to Robert. "And you knew about this?" He looked at his mother.
Robert sighed and leaned forward on the table. "Leo, your mother and I…" he took a deep breath before exhaling loudly
. "Your mother and I were separated for about a year. Not that you or your sister would have really noticed. I was always at the hospital because of my schedule anyhow, so it wasn’t such a shock that I wasn’t home much. I mostly slept at the hospital, in a guest room, and…well, and at another woman’s place." He rubbed his forehead. "We were separated and were living our own lives, so it wasn’t technically cheating by either of us. We were both well aware that the other was ‘with’ someone else at some point." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair again.
"You have an open marriage?" Mina leaned out of her mother’s shoulder
, tears still streaming. Oliver was rubbing her back and being the only silent body in the house.
"No
," Robert whispered out raggedly. "Like I said, we were separated."
"What about the baby?" Leo spit out.
"A month after we resolved some of our issues and decided to work harder on our marriage, the woman I'd been with found out she was pregnant." Robert looked at Elaine who buried her face in Mina’s shoulder. "I told your mother, who forgave me, but…she didn’t want the baby." He couldn’t finish. "Anyhow, she decided to terminate the pregnancy." He stopped and it took everyone what felt like an hour to regain their composure.
Leo broke the silence. "You have the nerve to criticize and…"
"Leo!" I shouted at him putting a hand on his arm. He looked at me confused. "That’s enough." I looked at Elaine who pulled away from Mina with swollen red eyes. "Everyone makes mistakes and your mother loves you. She only wants what is best for you." I dropped my napkin onto my chair and headed toward the front door.
"Chloe!"
Leo caught up to me. "Please don’t leave, stay with me."
"Leo
, I will be next door. I don’t think that me being here is such a good idea." I smiled weakly and left. I heard a loud thud after the door closed behind me, but I refused to find out what it was.
Leo
"Leo?" Mina shouted at me. Robert appeared next to me and was examining my hand that I had just slammed into the wall.
"I’m fine," I spit out. I stormed over to my mother and looked down at her. "I hope you’re happy now!" She reached for me and I swiftly ran out the back door.
I knew where I was going, I was going to Chloe. There was no way that I was going to let this break us.
"Leo!" I turned and saw my mother, broken, and standing at the back door.
"What?" I groaned toward her, but not getting closer to her.