Back at the townhouse, I saw her car parked in its usual spot. Parking next to her, I got out and guided the limo to a few spots further down that were usually empty. The limo parked sideways in them until Charles and Beverly were out, and then it left.
“Here we go,” I muttered to myself as I stuck the key in the door.
When I got the door open, Chloe was standing in the middle of the living room, apparently on her way to open the door. She looked hopeful and happy to see me, but her eyes turned dark and her lips curled in a snarl when she looked over my shoulder.
“What are they doing here?” she yelled.
“They want to talk,” I said, trying to calm her.
“I don’t want to talk,” she said, moving toward the couch. “Tell them to leave.”
“Chloe, we need to have this discussion,” Beverly said. “I understand you are angry at us.”
“Angry doesn’t begin to cover it,” she said.
“Listen to me,” her father said. “Your mother and I took time away from our business to come down here and speak with you.”
“What a sacrifice,” Chloe scoffed. “What will happen if you aren’t there, Dad? Will the whole company just fall apart without your physical presence?”
“Chloe,” Beverly said in a warning voice.
“No,” Chloe said, defiantly, “I am quite done being talked down to and expected to just take it when people do it. I am also tired of acting like the sun rises and sets with your fucking jobs.”
“Language, Chloe,” Beverly said.
Chloe turned to her with a bitter smirk on her face. “I will say whatever the fuck I want to in my own home, Mom.”
“This is exactly what I feared,” Charles said. “She is too angry.”
“Wait,” I said, interjecting. “Everybody, calm down.”
“No,” Chloe said. “You think I’m too angry? You tried to run my life. Then you tried to ruin it. You’re damn right I’m angry. I’m angry that you tried to tell me how to live and force me to go along with your plans because it was convenient for you. I have every right to be angry with you. And as far as insolence, you don’t have the right to tell me what to do anymore. It’s not insolence. It’s independence.”
“Chloe,” Beverly scolded. “Don’t shout at your father like that.”
“Don’t scold me, Mother,” Chloe said. “The way you spoke to me on the phone was unacceptable. You hurt me just to hurt me, and you know it. You were cruel for the sake of being cruel.”
“Stop!” I shouted. “This is not why I brought you all down here.” I turned to Chloe. “I know you’re upset. I know you have a lot on your chest you need to get off, and you deserve to do that. But shouting won’t help anyone.” I turned to her parents. “Is this really why you came all this way? To fight? Your daughter is hurt and bitter and angry. Maybe you should listen to her for a few minutes first, before you write her off as a spoiled child. Remember, she is carrying your grandchild.”
There were a few moments of quiet as everyone tried to calm down. Charles and Beverly sat on the couch, facing Chloe on the love seat. I left the room to go get a few glasses of water for everyone, and when I brought them back, Beverly nodded her head at me.
“I would like to speak, if I may?” She asked.
“Go ahead,” I said, looking to Chloe for confirmation. She didn’t seem to make any indication one way or the other.
“Your father and I realize that you are no longer a child,” Beverly began. “You are an adult now, capable of making your own choices. Whether we view them as mistakes or not is irrelevant. They are yours to make.” She looked to her husband, who nodded. “We have to stop babying you and start trusting you not to intentionally embarrass us.”
“Matthew seems like a good person,” Charles said, startling Beverly by speaking calmly, his eyes trained on Chloe. “He came all the way down to us to convince us to come see you. Not because of money or fame or anything, but because he wanted us to all make amends. I respect that. As long as you are happy living like this, and he isn’t treating you poorly, then I have to get used to all this. I have to support you. Regardless of what you may think, Chloe, we love you. We only want what’s best for you. If this is what you think is best for you, then we will support it.”
Chloe’s eyes were brimming with tears, and when I looked to Beverly, hers were as well. Suddenly they all stood, and Chloe ran into her mother’s arms. They embraced, the three of them, for a few moments, her father kissing the top of her head. Beverly looked over her daughter’s head as it was buried in her shoulder and mouthed the words “thank you,” I smiled.