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He blinked hard. “Wait…what?”
“You can finish up at the Duluth office,” she said, annoyance heavy on her breath. “I want you there at eight hundred hours tomorrow morning, sharp. I’ve made some adjustments to the staff around here and I need you to pick up some new tasks. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
The click on the other end of the line did nothing to wake Jordan out of his brain fog. He stared off into the snow, the phone still pressed to his ears, swallowing down his disappointment. The play was tomorrow night. There was no way he could make it to Duluth and back in time. But if he didn’t go, Mary would be sure to fire him. He couldn’t risk it.
How was he going to break the news to Chloe?
Chapter Twelve
Before Chloe had taken two steps into her house, she could feel something was wrong. An odd noise was coming from the kitchen. A high pitched keening, almost like the drone of a far off siren. She stripped off her scarf and boots and bolted down the hallway, searching for the source. Sitting at the breakfast bar was her mother and sister. They huddled together as Brianna continued to wale and sob.
Chloe slid to a stop in her thick wool socks. She took one look at her sister’s agony and felt the floor give out beneath her. “What’s happened?”
Her mother gave her a warning look, the kind that should’ve sent her running for another part of the house. But, Chloe couldn’t pretend to be ignorant, especially when she had a good idea of what was causing Brianna so much heartbreak. She’d found out about Aaron and Ashley Lynn. That cheating, lying, pile of scum.
“I’m so sorry, Brianna.” She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her sister’s shuddering form. If only she would’ve told her sooner or found a way to break the news to her in a better way. “He’s such a jerk. You deserve so much better.”
Brianna choked on a sob and looked up at her through tear-soaked lashes. “I loved him. We were supposed to get married.”
Chloe nodded and patted her on the shoulder, perching her rear on the edge of the next bar stool. This was what sisters were for; to cry with when things didn’t go right. She could fulfill that duty with honor. “I know, Bri. But you’re better off. He and Ashley Lynn deserve each other. They can both be miserable together.”
She grabbed a napkin and dabbed her eyes, soaking it in a few swipes across her cheeks. Blowing her nose on the corner, she turned to her sister and blinked hard. “Ashley Lynn? What does she have to do with anything?”
“Well, he was…I mean, didn’t he tell you…?” Chloe couldn’t make the words form. She felt like a fly stuck in a sticky trap, her back pinned to the wall. Maybe she’d made too many assumptions. “Isn’t that why you broke up?”
“No!” She scowled and threw the crumpled napkin. It landed a foot away from the open garbage bin. “He told me he wasn’t sure if he wanted to get married anymore. We haven’t broken up.”
Shock crossed Chloe’s face and before she knew it, her sister had spun her around in her chair and trapped her against the backrest. “Chloe Ann Walker, you spill what you know,” she growled.
“Nothing!” She swallowed and leaned back as far away from her sister as she could manage. The glint in Brianna’s eyes meant murder. “It’s nothing, I swear.”
“You’re lying!” Brianna snapped. “Tell me, or I’ll pull out your braids one by one.”
“Girls…” Their mother tried to calm the situation down, to no avail.
“You’d better say, Chloe. I know you know something and you’re not telling. What is it you won’t tell your own sister?”
“Alright, alright!” Chloe threw her hands up and grimaced. “I saw Aaron and Ashley Lynn kissing last night at the church.”
It felt so good to get that off her shoulders that Chloe almost missed the shock that registered on her sister’s face, draining it of color. She looked to her mother for help, to defend her youngest daughter, but misery bloomed in her stomach the look of disappointment in her mother’s gaze.
“Why didn’t you say something last night, my dear?” their mother asked, searching her face for answers.
“I didn’t…I couldn’t…” The words came out like whispers.
“You should’ve told me the instant you found out.” Brianna pointed at her, new tears forming in her eyes. “You’re my sister. How could you keep that from me?”
“I was on my way to tell you.” Chloe slipped from the stool, holding her hands up in surrender. “I swear. I just couldn’t figure out how to say it.”
“It’s not that hard.” Brianna choked on another sob and pressed her hand to her mouth. “Bri - your fiance’s cheating on you with his sleazy ex-girlfriend. There. Easy.” She flew from the room and up the stairs, stomping down the hallway and finally into her old room, the door slamming behind her.
Chloe couldn’t believe what had just happened. This was just what she’d feared. Instead of being mad at the actual bad guy in the story here, her family was attacking her for dropping the bad news. It wasn’t her fault she’d stumbled onto it after rehearsal last night. She would’ve rather been anywhere else in the world. It wasn’t her fault.
“Mom, tell her I’m not the bad guy,” she pleaded, turning toward her. “Tell her it isn’t my fault.”
“Your sister needs some time,” her mother replied softly. She glanced at the ceiling in the direction of Brianna’s room. “She just had her heart broken and she feels like you betrayed her by not telling her sooner. Let her work through her feelings.”
Betrayed her? If anything, Chloe had helped. She would’ve clung to that loser longer than necessary if not for her. She opened her mouth to argue with her mother, but was interrupted by the ring of the doorbell. Hoping it was that dirtbag Aaron so she could tell him off, she marched toward the door and yanked it open with an angry grunt.
