Chapter 3

As Chloe rolled out of the hotel bed she staggered to the door and opened it to see Gil standing there. She gave him a quick hug and let him in.

After she had dressed she let Gil take her small suitcase as he led her out to his car. When they reached the house they both stepped out. She left her suitcase, as she had to fly back later that day.

“I don’t think I can do this.” She said as she stopped half way up the path that led to the front door.

“Yes you can. You have to.” He said as he walked back to her and took her hand. “Please.”

She nodded and he led her up to the door. When she stepped in side he let her hand go and walked through to the living room. Matt and Jeff looked at their dad, but when they saw Chloe they both got to there feet. “You three need to talk.” Gil said as he left them and walked into the kitchen.

Chloe stood there for a minute looking at the brothers before Matt asked her to come and sit down. She sat in the leather armchair as Matt sat on the opposite end of the sofa to Jeff.

After they sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Jeff spoke.  “What are you doing here?” he asked her coldly.

“Your dad asked me to come and talk to you.”

“I think you said all you had to say at the airport.” He snapped before he got up and ran up the stairs to his room. Gil saw him and went up after him.

“Matt, what are we going to do?”

“I don’t know.”

“We need to be clear about what is going to happen.”

“I know. But Jeff doesn’t want anything to do with me. He won’t be in the same room with out having a pop at me. The only time he doesn’t is when dad is around.”

“Matt, Jeff is going to have to. We are having a baby and there is nothing that is going to have to change that. I want you to be with me when I have this baby, I want it to know its father.”
”I want to be with it and you the baby too. I want it to know me. I want to hold it in my arms.”

“I know you do. But how?”

“I can get time of work and if you are having it in England, then I’ll come there.”

“Ok, but when?”

“Well how about three or four weeks before?”

“Ok. So now we just have to tell Jeff.”

“Jeff son.” Gil said as he walked into Jeff’s room. Jeff sat on the bed and held the picture of Chloe in his hands. “I thought you would want to see her.”

“I did, but when she walked in there, I just heard her words from the airport. They made me… GOD!! I don’t know, I don’t know anymore.” He said as he replaced the picture.

“Do you love her?”

“Yes, of course I do.”

“Are you mad at her?”

“Maybe, yes.”

“Why?”

“Because of the things she said to me. She hates me.”

“Would she have come all this way if she hated you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you want to be with her?”

“Yes I do but it’s not that simple.”

“It never is.” Gil said as he got up and opened the door as Chloe knocked on it. He let her in as he stepped out, shutting it behind him.

“Hey.” She said softly.

“Yeh.” He replied.

“We need to talk.” She said as she slowly walked over to him but he turned away from her. “Jeff, please, don’t do this.” He still didn’t move. “If you want me to walk out of that door and never come back in your life again, just say and I’m gone.” As she starred at his back she felt the tears in her eyes. She turned around and slowly walked to the door. As she opened it, Jeff turned around to see her leaving.

“Clo, don’t go.” He said softly. She turned around slowly to see him walking over to her. He shut the door and took her hand and led over to the bed, where they sat down and turned to face each other.

“I need you to hear what I have to say.” Chloe said as her eyes locked with Jeff’s.

“Ok.”

“I love you, you know that. But, I am having this baby, Matt’s baby. No matter what you do or say nothing is going to change that. I know it is hurting you but I can’t kill my baby, it has as much right to be here as I do. I can’t do that Jeff. I want to be with you but if you can’t accept that I am having Matt’s baby and your attitude to us both doesn’t change, then I’m sorry, we can’t carry on like that.”

“I love you too. But I’m sorry. I can’t be with you if you have this baby. I can’t put myself through that.”

“Ok, I understand that.” She said as she lifted her hand to her face and wiped away her tears. As she dropped her head she instantly felt Jeff’s hand lifting. He moved closer to her and pulled her one final time into his arms. She let herself fall against his chest as she placed her arms around him and held him tightly.

After Jeff and Chloe came downstairs, Matt and Chloe had told him about what was going to happen. He said it was fine with him. As Chloe said she had to leave they all stood up and Matt hugged Chloe and then so did Jeff. Matt then extended his hand to Jeff who took it but only to pull him into a brotherly embrace. Chloe smiled as the brothers hugged. She looked over to Gil who stood in the doorway. She walked over to him and was about to leave them but she looked back and they still embraced each other. She smiled and then followed Gil out of the house.

“Thank you.” He said as the two of them stood at the gate.

“I didn’t do much.”

“Yes you did.”

“Maybe a bit but I caused it so it was the least I could do.”

“You better get going.”

“Yeh I’d better.”

“You take care of both of you.”

“I will I promise.” She said as she gave him a quick hug and said goodbye. 

As Chloe’s plane landed in London she walked through the airport and got another flight to Monaco. When she got there she made a phone call.

“Eddie. Hi. How are you?”

“I’m fine you?”

“Good. Look about your offer.”

“Yeh.”

“Can I take you up on it?”

“Sure.”

“I really appreciate this Eddie.” Chloe said as he helped her onto the boat.

“It’s not a problem. Why don’t you come and see my parents.”

“Sure.”

As he led her to the front of the boat his parents, Cathleen and Eddie senior got to their feet and greeted her. After exchanging pleasantries Eddie took Chloe’s bag in one hand and her hand in his other as he led her down to show her where her room was.

“Ok, here you go.” He said as he placed her bag on the bed.

“Thanks.” She said as she slumped onto the bed and buried her head in her hands.

“Didn’t you sort all of it out?” Eddie asked as he sat beside her and looked at her.

“Kind of. But Jeff and me aren’t together, which is what I wanted. I love him so much.”

“I can’t say I understand because I don’t.”

“You wouldn’t get in such a mess.” She said as she lifted her head revealing the tears that were falling from her eyes.

“Hey, Come here.” He said as he gently wrapped his arms around his friend. “I hate people crying.”

“Sorry.” She said a she lifted her head and smiled at him. “I better not keep doing that, I might ruin your reputation and rumours will start to fly.”

“Let them. We know the truth. “ He said smiling at he. He stood up. “Lets get something to eat.” He offered her his hand, as she took it he pulled her to feet and led her back up to deck where they sat around with his parents and laughed, and drank. But Chloe was good and stuck to Orange Juice.

 Chapter 4

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