Chapter 12

"What the hell?" Chloe asked confused looking up at the still naked woman in her bed.

"I've been wanting to tell you...I've been trying...Can we talk?" Beca pleaded getting herself up from the bed and grabbing her clothes slowly putting them on. She wanted them to have a calm discussion but had a feeling in her gut that it wouldn't be that simple.

"Beca tell me what? Why you have the picture I sent to my brother? The picture of when we first opened this place? Did you know him….and not tell me?" Chloe was a mixture of heated and upset. She didn't know how to feel right now. There were so many things happening, so many thoughts running through her head. Last night had been amazing, she never knew she could ever feel like that with someone. She never knew what making love was until last night, but now in this moment it feels as though her heart is being torn out. She feels lied to and almost cheated. Even when Tom would cheat on her she never felt like this, why is this so hard for her right now?

Beca was finally dressed and walking up to Chloe slowly placing her hands over hers that were still holding the picture.

"I've been trying to tell you I just it never seems to be the right time. I didn't even know what to say...I found this picture the day my platoon was hit." Beca tried to explain but the redhead knew that now wasn't the time she was too upset to process anything. This is what would happen when her brother was brought up. She would shut down. And now seeing this and remember the letter that was attached to it she just couldn't do it. She quickly retreated backwards through the door.

"I need to you to leave Beca. I can't do this. I can't talk about this right now." Chloe's eyes were looking down.

"Chloe please." Beca wanted nothing more than to open up to her, to let her in. With Chloe walls seemed non-existent, but she knew not to push the other girl. She simply gathered her wallet from the floor and exited the room stopping right in front of Chloe and simply kissing her cheek. She could taste the salt from her tears and now realized she was crying.

"I really want to explain but I know you'll let me when the time is right…" Beca trailed off and was heading for the door.

Chloe was still frozen in her place tears coming down her face falling onto the picture she held so tightly. This made her remember her letter that day.

Luke!

It has been forever it feels like since I've written you, even though I know it was last week. I'm looking forward to our call this Sunday the phone time really helps. I miss your voice! I miss you being here to help with Aiden, God does he miss you. Tom has been miserable lately. Pushing him to try out for football. I swear I about killed him when Aiden came home with a bloody lip from tryouts. Thankfully he didn't make the team, I woulda been so worried and I can't worry about both of my favorite guys!

Aubrey came by the other day. She misses you so much! She is happy though, that this is your final tour. Your last month in Iraq and your last 3 months in the Marines then you'll be here. All she can talk about is starting a family. You're in for it when you get back lol

I'm still teaching at the school, I love it so much! There is this one kid I swear is like you. Stubborn but super polite about it. He loves music he wants to learn guitar. I told him that my big brother knows how to play quite well. Nan is doing good too. Me and Aiden help her with the dogs and all the house chores, it's a lot of work though. I wish she would hire someone but she said she doesn't need to cause soon you'll be here and you can do all the handy work.

You have no idea how much we miss you. How much I miss you! You're my rock, my bestfriend, my ride or die. We've come so far and I am so proud of you! Mom and Dad would be too! I'm sending you a picture of me its the day we opened this place with Nan. That was a good day. You said you'd never seen me smile so big because I was finally surrounded by pups.

I love you so much! Stay safe. We can't wait to see you soon!

Little did Chloe know that this was going to be the last letter. That the next time she saw her brother he would be in a wooden box. These memories flooded back all too quickly and she fell down to her knees. She sat there for almost an hour before realizing that it was 7 am already and soon she would need to get Aiden ready to go to his father's. Even though it was her weekend she knew better than to "ruin" a political event for Tom and his family. So she picked herself off and quickly washed her face, not wanting her Nana or son to see the fresh tears.

By 8:30am she had everything set up and ready to go. Aiden was fed and all packed up for the one night that he would be away. Chloe began twisting the ring on her right hand, it had been her mothers. She found that when she was anxious she would spin it, and everytime she knew she was going to see Tom she would get like this.

"You ready to go to your dad's bud?" Her voice trying to stay strong.

"Not really but I'm just thankful it doesn't have anything to do with sports" The young boy said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Well lets sit on the porch and wait for him, I'll bring out some lemonade."

9:00am sharp a big black chevy pick up truck came flying through the front gates and halted abruptly to a stop. Tom hopped out and came up to the porch, he had a smirk on his face. He always had that "I'm better than you" kinda smirk. Just the sight of it made Chloe sick, she could never believe she ever was with a man like him.

"Well there Chloe thanks again for this. I mean either way he woulda came but thanks for being less dramatic about it than usual" He said.

"Can we not make this a thing right now Tom? Can you just make sure he gets to school tomorrow..on time this time?" She shot right back.

"Listen, you wanna get like this I can have lawyers brought in at a moments notice." he leaned in to whisper in her ear "I can make it so you would never see Aiden" his threat hit Chloe like a ton of bricks. "There. Come on son lets go."

"Bye Mom! I love you" Aiden said giving his mom a tight hug. "I'll see you tomorrow after school"

With that they were gone. A cloud of dust and dirt flying up behind them. Once again Chloe was alone or so she thought, until she turned to see her Nana with a grin on her face.

"Well Chlo Bear don't look sad. This gives you a night out I'm sure Beca would love to go out again. How did last night go?" The older woman said not knowing of all the things that had happened.

"Oh it was good we had a really good night. I just think that she's busy today probably. I don't want to take up all her freetime." Her lies seemed to work cause the older woman simply shrugged and went back inside. Chloe felt so alone, she needed to relax, to think about what to do. She made her way to the backside of the barn where the ladder went up to the roof. She climbed up and sat there. This was where her and Luke would come when they were younger, now it's her place to sort out her feelings. From a top you could see the thick forest that surrounded the ranch, the small system of creeks and rivers, and a few dirt roads. She loved it up here.

Chloe didn't know how long she had been up there. Time didn't seem to matter right now. She was thinking about her night with Beca. It couldn't have been a game for her..last night was too real for that. There was too much emotion behind every touch and kiss. It was in that moment that she knew that Beca never meant to hurt her, that wasn't her intention. She knew what she had to do. She climbed off of the barn and ran straight to her truck. She remembered the building that Beca lived in from the application. It was an old house converted into 2 apartments it was only a 15 minute drive. Chloe could feel herself speeding. She didn't care though she knew she needed to see Beca. She finally pulled up to the house. Taking a deep breath. It was now or never.