It had been a month since Chloe had been home and still no word from Marshall, she had sent two letters and had given a fair bit of leeway to the Australian postal service but nothing. Starring out the window of her bedroom watching the cars go by she doesn't hear her mother come into the room
"Chloe what are you doing? It's a lovely day you should be outside with Anna or at the very least doing something productive"
Chloe doesn't turn around
"You have been wallowing for a week now if he hasn't written maybe it's a sign"
This makes her turn around, her mother wouldn't lower herself to believe in anything whimsical or superstitious as signs from fate. As far as she was concerned that was for the lower class who refused to take responsibility for their station in life and needed a higher power to blame.
Oh yeah her mum was real understanding of the socioeconomic problems of the world *insert eye roll here*
"Then again maybe it just means he has moved on"
Her mother bristles, turning slightly pink in the cheeks, Chloe guess embarrassed by using destiny as an excuse
"Come on Chloe be realistic it was never going to work you are on the other side of the world for god's sake"
Chloe turns back to the window not even bothering to argue.
Slipping the key into the lock of her apartment Chloe struggles with her bags of groceries as her phone rings, her pulse quickens assuming its Marshall and pushing the door open with her knee she hits accept resting the phone between her ear and shoulder.
"Hey" She smiles
"Finally, beginning to think you were ignoring me"
Her heart sinks as she hears Chris's voice then she winces with guilt, it was her husband.
"Sorry babe I have been flat out with work"
"I assumed as much, I've been trying to reach you all morning"
"What's up?" she asks
"Chatty, just ringing to see how you are"
Again, the guilt hits, he was ringing to check in with her not knowing she had not only been dodging his calls but sleeping with another man. Slept with another man, she corrected herself it had only been the one occasion even if her entire being was begging for a repeat.
"I'm good..."
"Also, just wondering if you remember where you put my tool receipts, I'm meant to be going to the accountant tomorrow but can't find a fucken thing"
Even though there was the possibility the delay with the international line could be the reason he had interrupted her she wasn't so sure, but it didn't matter as the motive for his call was enough to assuage the guilt even if only a little.
"They are in the folder in the loungeroom cupboard with the rest of the important documents Chris"
Well aware that there was a double-edged sword here; mad because that's all he called for but grateful as it gave her a reason to somehow justify her sordid actions to herself.
"Well don't act like I should have known that, wouldn't have wasted the international calling if I had"
His tone suggested joking but there was a bite to it, Chris, like most people, didn't like to be made to look the fool.
"Just saying, same place we have left the folder for years"
"Alright, no need to be like that. Gayle called in yesterday"
Chloe stops putting the groceries away and straightens up
"Yeah? Why?"
"Woah don't sound so suss, to see how I was, it's not like I'm banging your mum"
The joke falls flat, not just because Chloe doesn't find it funny but because the mention of cheating triggers her guilt.
"Right well that was nice of her. Listen I have to go, I will call you later."
"Alright, hopefully when you are in a better mood. Love you"
"Love you too"
Her response is half hearted as she then taps the disconnect button.
Chloe grabs a beer out of the six pack on the bench and walks over to the couch, leaving the remaining shopping on the bench as she sips and contemplates how terrible of a person she is, on a scale of one to ten.
*****
It had been a productive day, even if a bit of it was spent copping it from the boys about Chloe and dodging Deshaun's judgmental gaze, for a wild boy guy sure had some weird morality clauses.
"I gotta call it a day" he finally says standing up
"Why got somewhere better to be?" Denaun asks
"Hanging out by behind stockyards would be better than hanging out with you bro" He quips grabbing his jacket.
"Ouch" Denaun clasps his chest
"I'm genuinely hurt"
Marshall throws the scrunched-up burger wrapper at him as he opens the door,
"Enjoy your escapade Marsh"
Deshaun's ever judgmental knowing gaze follows him out the door.
YOU ARE READING
Ghosts of the Past
ParanormalMarshall was Chloe's first everything; boyfriend, kiss, love. They met whilst at school when Chloe had moved to Detroit with her mum from Australia, although only together for two years before returning back to Aus it was meant to be them against th...
