Page 17 of Through the Storms

“Guilty?” Riley wasn’t sure what she’d expected Chloe to say, but this wasn’t it.

“I told you I booked the trip on a whim. Well, that’s only part of the story. It’s my daughter’s birthday this week. Mia. She’ll be fourteen going on thirty.”

Riley smiled at the way Chloe’s eyes lit up when she said her daughter’s name.Odd, though.She’d never peg Chloe to be someone who’d book a trip the week of her daughter’s birthday. Riley inwardly rolled her eyes. Sure, because she knew Chloe so well. Though in her line of work, she’d learned to read people quickly.

“So you’re feeling bad because you’re here instead of being there to celebrate with her?”

“I can’t celebrate with her anyway.” Chloe’s eyes filled with tears. “That’s why I booked the trip, so I wouldn’t have to sit at home and climb the walls.”

Riley narrowed her eyes. “You’re gonna have to explain.”

“My ex came up with the ultimate scheme. He said I could have Mia for every holiday, except her birthday.” Chloe snorted. “Perfect plan. He didn’t want to beburdenedby her during the holidays, so he’d take a week in April. Super dadsacrificedall the other holidays to be with her on her birthday. When we were married, I always had to remind him it was her birthday since he never remembered.”

“And now you’re the bad mom that didn’t fight for it?” Riley’s heart went out to Chloe.

“Exactly. Try explaining that to a thirteen-year-old without bashing her father.”

“If he didn’t want her on the holidays, wouldn’t it have been worth the risk to call his bluff?”

Chloe’s face fell. “Shit. I was stupid, wasn’t I?”

“No,” Riley practically shouted. “You made a calculated choice. You know what he’s capable of better than anyone.”

Chloe shook her head. “That’s just it, I don’t. He’s crossed so many lines that I never thought he would. I wasn’t willing to take the chance.” Chloe turned, and her eyes held so much sadness. “I didn’t…I don’t…trust my own decisions anymore.”

Riley wanted to say something to make Chloe’s sadness go away, crack a joke to make her laugh, but Riley feared it would come off dismissive. “All any of us can do is the best we can in the moment. Divorce is hard. It sounds like he did a number on you.”Really?Did she just spew three clichés?

“He did do a number on me.” Chloe’s shoulders slumped. “I’m realizing it more and more every day.”

Chloe must not have noticed Riley’s ineptitude, but Riley surely could come up with something more inspiring than something out of a greeting card. “Now that you’re away from him, it’s your time to heal.”

“We were married right out of high school. Before I even knew who I was. That’s the thing. I let him tell me who I was all these years. Wanna hear something crazy?”

Riley met Chloe’s gaze and nodded to encourage her to continue.

“I’m not who I thought I was.”

Riley rolled the sentence around in her mind, trying to make sense of it. “Who are you then?”

“I’m not sure. I’m just now figuring out who I’m not.”

“I’m afraid you lost me.”

Chloe smiled. “I’m not selfish. I’m not lazy. I’m not a drama queen just because I want to express my emotions. And I’m not a bitch.”

What the fuck?Riley unclenched her hands that she’d balled into fists while Chloe spoke. She knew exactly what she’d say to one of her friends, and it would involve swearing, but she’d just met Chloe. “That’s messed up.”Dumbass.That was the best she could do? “I mean, that sucks that he did that to you.”

“I let him.” Chloe bit her bottom lip. “I can’t blame it on him as much as I’d like to. It’s not like he beat me or anything like that.”

Riley drew on her professional training as an EMT to hide her reaction to Chloe’s words. Chloe had no way of knowing that the conversation was cutting Riley to the core, and Riley didn’t intend on telling her. “Emotional abuse can be just as bad as physical abuse. Sometimes worse.” Riley had to sidestep a puddle in the lane, which made it easy for her to deliver her line without having to make eye contact with Chloe.

“That’s what my therapist keeps telling me.” Chloe put her hands in front of her chest and pretended to rip open her shirt like Superman. “I’m finally starting to break free and discover who I am.” Chloe smiled. “I like to paint and take long walks in nature.”

“That’s the spirit.” Riley’s heart still pounded, but seeing Chloe’s determination lightened her mood.

“If I can just get over feeling guilty about leaving Mia and spending the money, I’ll be set to chase storms.”

On impulse, as much to make herself feel better as it was for Chloe, Riley put her hand on Chloe’s back. “My guess is you have a big blowout planned for her birthday when you return.”