Ghosts of the Past

Ghosts of the Past: chapter 24; Glass house

##So for those that are still with me (first of all thanks!) second of all apologies life gets in the way and unfortunately this fell by the way side. Back to feeling the writing with a second wind.##

For what has to be the only time in Chloe's life Gayle is the first one to blink.

"Right well perhaps you better get the mousse for your husband" She turns and walks back into Chris's room..

Chloe lets out the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding and tries to calm her nerves, adrenaline for what she thought was going to be a reveal all argument pumping through her, hands shaking slightly. Reaching out to the nurses station to steady herself she bows her head and closes her eyes, trying to get her breathing back to even.

"He will be ok love, he is a very positive man your husband"

Chloe looks to the owner of the hand on her shoulder. A nurse maybe I her mid-fifties, a kind face and reassuring smile.

"Thanks" Chloe replied, although at this point she didn't know how she felt. Of course she was glad he was ok but the emotional manipulation her mother had used to get her back here was infuriating. It shouldn't have surprised her but it didn't make her less angry.

"since the moment he came in the other day he has been a real trooper"

The confusion and hurt must be showing on her face Chloe thinks as the nurse mistakes it for concern for her husband. And why wouldn't she! That's exactly how a wife is meant to be feeling right now is she not? She certainly isn't meant to be thinking of Marshall's arms around her and finally appreciating that it was her at her happiest. Shaking her head to try to clear it she turns to smile at the nurse, game face on.

"I know and I really appreciate all the help he has received here, the hospital has done an amazing job. I just got off a long international flight and just frazzled I think"

"Oh sweetheart you would be! Look, he is due to go home today but why don't I hold off the discharge, you go home get yourself a nice shower, maybe a quick nap, he can leave tonight."

This time Chloe's smile is genuine and her shoulders slump letting her guard down.

"Thank you so much" Chloe felt the tears begin to well, it could be the feelings of guilt for Chris and especially for the way she left Marshall or more than likely it was the fact that the kindness this women had shown her in two minutes almost quadrupled that of her mothers in her lifetime.

The nurse pulls her into a quick hug, patting her back. When Chloe pulls away she wipes at the tears and once again tries to control her breathing.

"I'll explain to your mother and husband, its OK, we will see you in a few hours"

The nurse is some kind of saint, she has to be Chloe thinks as she walks back towards the elevator not even giving the suitcase that she left in Chris's room a second thought.

As she is waiting for a cab outside the hospital she pulls out her phone and calls Marshall. Straight to voice mail, fuck.

Taking her key out of the lock and walking into her house Chloe takes in the familiar surroundings and is surprised how clean it is. Chris must have hired a cleaner, she thinks, or he has had whatever that women's name is around. This last thought brought a bit more anger than she had anticipated god she was a hypocrite. She begins to peel her clothes off, looking forward to a hot shower but quickly tries Marshall one more time, again voicemail, she hopes he didn't block her number. Stepping into the shower and turning the taps on it takes her a moment to realize the body wash she is reaching for isn't hers, and judging by the fact that its milk and almond and not "good old traditional soap" she knows its not Chris's. Uck the double standard she is holding is going to follow her everywhere throughout the house. She hears her phone rings and quickly gets out of the shower hastily wrapping a towel around her hoping its Marshall. One look at the caller id tells her it isn't it is a Sydney number.

"Hey babe, the nurse said you needed a shower and a nap but just thought I'd let you know I got Thommo to drop some things into the house for you, just to make you feel more comfortable"

It would have been a semi decent excuse if Chris had of known she was coming home, even the body wash itself only had a few pumps taken out of it, it looked near new. But props to him for being able to think about incriminating evidence whilst doped up on painkillers.

"thanks babe, appreciate it" she wasn't ready to call him out and after all let she is who without first sin yada yada.

She hangs up and moves to go sit on the edge of their bed. What the fuck had happened to her life. Five months ago yeah things weren't perfect but she definitely wasn't in this cluster fuck of her own making. Being honest with herself she knew the only reason she had looked for the job in Detroit (that's right despite telling Chris she had been offered It, she herself had applied and it wasn't the first time) At the time she had kidded herself saying she was doing it to follow her mother's stellar career example and lets be honest she didn't have any hope in hell of actually every seeing Marshall. But at the end of the day that's why she had applied, for some kind of rare hope she would be able to see him.

Chloe dresses and then heads to the kitchen, needing water after all the booze on the plane. She opens the fridge and once again evidence of Chris's relationship..unless he had taken up drinking Moscato. She closes the door without getting a drink and walks to the door, just get it over with bring him home she thinks.

*****

Chloe walks back in from the shops with Chris's specific list of items, specific in the flavor of chips and which beer.

"Chloe holy shit why didn't you tell me!"

She stops at the entrance, heart pounding, she had meant to bring this up but was waiting until he was better. It wasn't about Marshall anymore, it had been three days and she hadn't heard from him, her calls still going to voicemail. Regardless she had planned on finally doing it, telling him and leaving, once he could look after himself that is, but this isn't what she wanted and by god if it was Gayle that told him!

She walks into the lounge room and for a brief moment her heart stops

"How the hell did I not know you knew Eminem!!"

Marshall is in her house, leaning casually against the sliding door, how, what why!