“JEFF I CAN’T!!” Chloe screamed at Jeff as they got to the airport a week later.

“Baby come on. We’re going home.” Jeff said as he tried to get Chloe into the airport.

“I’m not going Jeff, I can’t!” She replied pulling her arm free of his grasp. She dropped the bag she had at his feet and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction. Jeff called after her, gaining a few strange looks from the people around him. He picked up her bag and headed of in the direction she had left in.

“They weren’t on the plane dad.” Matt said as he waited at the airport in North Carolina.

“Have you spoken to them?”

“No, both of their mobiles are switched off.”

“Come back home then Matt and I’ll call the airport at Monaco.

“Ok. I’ll see you soon.”

 

“CLO!!!!!” Jeff shouted across the harbour. He knew Eddie’s boat was here but he wasn’t on it as he was at the next race. Jeff was the only one in the harbour. It stood lifeless with only three boats bobbing on the water. “CLO!!!!!!” He shouted again as he ran across the wooden decking.

No reply. Again and again he tried but with no success. His heart fell, as he thought of his wife out there alone. He wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be ok. But he couldn’t and it was killing him.

Jeff crossed his arms across his chest as he shivered in the cool night breeze. He decided to try her mobile. Switched off. He tried again. Switched off.

After leaving the harbour Jeff went back to the hotel room he had booked and he pulled on a jumper and jacket. He took his mobile out of his pocket and looked down at the screen. One message received. He read the message aloud. “Leave me Jeff. I’m not who you want, I’m not who you need. Go home; go back to your job and family. Leave me behind and in the past.”

A tear ran from Jeff’s eye as he read it again. He wouldn’t leave her. Never. Jeff’s mind wondered to where he thought Chloe maybe, but his heart sank as he remembered he had been there on his way back to the hotel.

Jeff’s mind couldn’t rest. He had to find her. He needed to find her. Now. He turned the light in the room of and walked out of the door after checking her had the key card. He walked through the lobby and out the front door where he was met by the cold night air. He pushed his hands into his pocket when he remembered his phone. He pulled it out and dialled Chloe’s number. This time it rang.

 

Chloe jumped as her phone rang beside her. She picked it up and looked at the screen. ‘Jeff’ She thought for a second before pressing the ‘end’ button. She placed it back down and looked out to the sea. She cuddled her knees and rested her head on the wall that was beside her. She closed her eyes. This was going to be a long night and she knew it.

 

Jeff almost screamed when she didn’t answer. He had to find her. He ran from the front of the hotel until he reached a place he and Chloe had spent a lot of time at in the past weeks. He walked to their tree and sat down. He cried as he thought of his wife out in the cold. Alone. Probably scared, and far from well. She needed to be looked after. She needed help.

 

Chloe opened her eyes and looked down at her mobile that was again ringing. She picked it up in her cold shaky hand and put it to her ear.

“Jeff.” She said in the loudest voice she could manage, which was little above a whisper.

“Where are you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Baby tell me.”

“Somewhere by the harbour.”

“I’m coming ok? Just keep talking to me.”

No reply.

“Clo?”

No reply.

“CLO!!??”

All Jeff could hear was the water in the background. He needed to find her. Now.

Chapter 11