Read Online Love Letters by Geraldine Solon - Free Book Online Page B

tell her all his plans because he didn’t believe Chloe would understand. And she had to admit, as she sipped on her tea, she’d never had to worry about money while growing up and had always been happy-go-lucky. It was up to Richard to make their future bright. And Chloe also had to admit she had agreed to Richard’s terms of quitting her job and selling the house, but lately Richard had complained she wasn’t acting herself. Perhaps she was simply overwhelmed with the wedding preparations.
    Chloe had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized Richard was talking until he said, “Well, didn’t you agree you would sell the house and quit your job?”
    “ Those were your ideas, not mine,” Chloe snapped.
    Richard moved his chair close to hers and rubbed her shoulders. “Baby, you’re not making any sense. Are you all right?”
    “ I think you better go. It’s getting late and we both have work tomorrow,” Chloe said, stiffening in her seat. She wanted to tell him that she had spoken to her mother and to share the letters from Ignacio with him, but she was feeling too confused right now. She was afraid he would just use them to try to convince her that he was right in making all the decisions for them as a couple.
    Richard wrapped his arms around her waist. “It’s okay to be nervous with the wedding coming up. Let’s give it some time, okay? I’m sure we’ll find the right buyer.”
    She forced herself to nod as he kissed her goodnight and left.
    A part of her wanted to fulfill Richard’s wishes, but giving up her job was something she couldn’t do. She remembered her customers’ smiles each time they walked out of the store, a satisfied look that every bride knew. Chloe kept the beautiful cards they wrote, thanking her for their gowns and the wonderful experience they’d had with her. She couldn’t count how many weddings she’d attended, and how many buckets of tears she’d cried watching her customers wear the gowns from Brides Only. She couldn’t leave her job.
    Yet she wasn’t just upset about leaving her job. She was angry at her mother for not telling her about Ignacio or her wanting to be a Broadway actress. She was confused about why her mom had never ended up with Ignacio, but more than anything she needed to see Josh.
    She carried Greta to her room and turned off the lights, then lay down on her bed. Tossing and turning, she fell asleep just before dawn.
     
    ***
    Chloe didn’t hear her alarm clock that morning and woke up at nine fifteen, barely enough time to take a quick shower and rush to work, never mind breakfast. Her energy was already depleted after talking to her mother and arguing with Richard the night before. What she needed was a power bar to rejuvenate her. She hopped in the shower and ten minutes later she was in her Jetta ready to head to work with wet hair. She hated days like these.
    Her cell phone rang while she was backing out of the driveway. It was Nicole.
    “ Hi, Nic, you’re never going to believe it. I finally called Mom. Oh boy, she’s still the same Suzanne. I guess two years really was a vacation for me,” Chloe joked.
    “ Hmm, interesting. By the way, can we meet for a late lunch? I need to talk to you and I made two sandwiches. We can eat here at the back of the salon during my break.”
    Chloe rubbed her temple, feeling a terrible headache coming on. “Sure. Everything okay? You sound down.”
    “ I can’t talk now, but meet me here around three. Let’s talk then,” Nicole said.
    I hope Nicole didn’t get into a fight with Matt.
    Ten minutes later, Chloe arrived at the shop, turned on the lights and put her purse in her office. As soon as she turned the open sign over, four women walked in. It was a busy day for Chloe, whose customers flew in and out the door the entire morning. She had lost all track of time until Maureen told her that Nicole was on line one.
    “ Are you coming?” Nicole asked.
    “ I’m sorry. I’ll be there