Page 34 of Chloe

“So,” she says, leaning against the counter and fixing me with a steely gaze. “You want to know how my evening went?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. My empathic abilities are going haywire, picking up waves of anger, hurt, and... is that fear? Oh boy, what happened last night?

Chloe takes a deep breath, then launches into her story. She tells me about the pageant, about her conversation with Oliver afterward, about her accidental revelation of the anonymous donation. With each word, I feel my hopes for a quick and easy wing-earning sinking lower and lower.

“And then,” Chloe says, her voice bitter, “he just left. Walked away like I’d committed some terrible crime. All because I tried to help.”

I stand there, stunned. This is not how it was supposed to go. They were supposed to fall in love, realize the true meaning of Christmas, and live happily ever after. That’s how these things work, right?

“Chloe,” I say carefully, “I’m sure Oliver was just surprised. If you talk to him—”

“Talk to him?” Chloe interrupts, her eyes flashing. “Why should I? He made his feelings pretty clear. And you know what? He’s right. I was a fool.”

“A fool?” I echo, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Chloe nods, her jaw set in a determined line. “A fool to think I could fit in here. A fool to get caught up in all this... this Christmas nonsense. A fool to think I should care about others more than myself.”

Each word feels like a physical blow. I watch as Chloe paces the kitchen, dismantling weeks of progress in a matter of minutes. The warm, caring woman I knew is disappearing before my eyes, replaced by the cold, hard businesswoman who first arrived in Benton Falls.

“I’m leaving,” Chloe announces, turning to face me. “I’m going back to the city, back to my real life. This whole Benton Falls adventure was a mistake.”

For a moment, I’m too shocked to speak. Then, to my surprise, I feel a surge of anger. All my hard work, all the progress Chloe has made, and she’s just going to throw it away? Oh heck no.

“Now wait just a minute,” I say, my voice sharper than I intend. “You can’t just leave. What about Oliver? What about the town? What about all the good you’ve done here?”

Chloe’s laugh is harsh and bitter. “Good? What good? I tried to help, and look where it got me. No, Rebecca. I’m done playing small-town angel. I’m going back to where I belong.”

As I watch Chloe turn away, reaching for her phone to presumably book a flight, I feel a moment of panic. This can’t be happening. I can’t fail. I can’t lose my chance at wings. I can’t let Chloe throw away her chance at happiness.

And then, like a bolt of divine inspiration, it hits me. This. This is what Henry was talking about. The work that still needed to be done. It wasn’t about getting Chloe and Oliver together or making Chloe love Christmas. It was about this moment, this test of faith and love.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to really look at Chloe. Not with my eyes, but with my heart. And what I see nearly takes my breath away.

Beneath the anger, beneath the cold exterior, I see a desperate, frightened woman. A woman who’s been hurt so many times that she’s terrified of letting anyone in. A woman who’s so afraid of losing control that she’d rather push everyone away than risk being vulnerable.

In that moment, I feel a wave of empathy so strong it almost brings me to my tears. Because I recognize that woman. She’s me. Or at least, she’s who I used to be.

“Chloe,” I say softly, all my anger draining away. “I know you’re hurt. I know you’re scared. But running away isn’t the answer.”

Chloe’s head snaps up, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, I see a flicker of something—hope? fear?— before her walls slam back into place.

“You know nothing about me,” she says, but her voice lacks conviction.

I take a step closer, wishing I could wrap my wings around her. Oh right, no wings yet. Maybe a hug will do?

“I know more than you think,” I say gently. “I know what it’s like to be afraid of letting people in. To think that success and money are the only things that matter. But Chloe, there’s so much more to life than that. And you’ve seen it here in Benton Falls.”

Chloe’s lower lip trembles, and I can see her resolve wavering. “It doesn’t matter,” she whispers. “I’ve ruined everything. Oliver hates me.”

I shake my head, reaching out to take her hand. To my surprise, she doesn’t pull away. “You haven’t ruined anything. I’m not sure why Oliver is so upset, but giving a gift out of love and generosity isn’t something to be ashamed of.”

As I speak, I can feel something shifting in the air around us. It’s like the entire universe is holding its breath, waiting to see what Chloe will do next.

“I don’t know how to fix this,” Chloe admits, and the vulnerability in her voice makes my heart ache.

“You don’t have to do it alone,” I tell her, squeezing her hand. “That’s what friends are for. That’s what community is for. And whether or not you believe it, you have both things here in Benton Falls.”

For a long moment, Chloe is silent. I can practically see the gears turning in her head, weighing her options, battling her fears. Then, slowly, she shakes her head. “No. I’m leaving.” She sighs. “It’s better this way.”

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