Chapter Thirty-Three
Chloe
I’m home alone again, nothing new. Paul’s taken a lot of trips this past year. I’m starting to wonder if he does have another woman, or multiple women. For the last time, what are we doing to each other? Why put each other through this pain, this distrust? Maybe it’s my guilty conscience that’s hoping he’s the same as me, hoping he has someone else so I don’t have to feel these twinges of guilt.
I have a plan now. I can move in with Audrey. She’s actually more than happy to have me come and live with her. I know it will be amazing. I moved in with Paul right after graduation so I never had that single girl experience after high school. Maybe that’s part of this. Maybe I need to be free from all men for a while.
As much as I wish I could do that, I don’t think I have the power to pull away from Mason. He consumes too many of my thoughts, and as much as it scares me to never talk to Paul again, it scares me even more to let go of Mason. This right here is the answer to what I need to do.
I’m trying to decide what to do today when there’s a knock on the door. No matter how many times this happens now, it sends my heart racing. It’s most likely a package delivery for Paul, but Mason does show up more often than he should. I’m sure the neighbors are talking. He seems to always know when Paul’s gone. Then again, Paul’s gone a lot, so maybe he doesn’t know. Mason’s so confident, Paul doesn’t worry him.
I open the door to find a delivery driver standing before me, holding a long, narrow box. “Chloe Dagwood?”
“Yes,” I say. I haven’t ordered anything so I’m not sure what this might be.
“Please sign here,” the man says. He hands me a clipboard, and I sign. “Do you want me to bring it in?”
“Is it heavy?” I ask, eyeing the box.
“No, but it’s large,” he tells me with a smile.
“I’ve got it,” I tell him. He hands it over, and I bring the box inside. It’s labeled This Side Up so I’m careful as I open it. When I pull out the artwork inside, tears spring to my eyes. I lean it against the wall and stare at the beautiful image in total shock.
My fingers are trembling as I take out the card and open it. Inside is a short message.
Chloe,
For a woman who will find herself.
Sweet Dreams,
Mace Wild
I don’t try to stop the tears streaming down my cheeks as I gaze at the woman on the rock looking up at the moon. How in the world does Mace Wild know me? How does he know how much I wanted this painting that I couldn’t afford? Did he have cameras in that room the night I was looking at his incredible artwork?
I have copies of his other prints, which were expensive enough, but this is an original, signed by him, with a note to go along with it. I feel like I’m dreaming.
I’m not sure how long I stand before my beautiful art before I carefully lift it and carry it to the bedroom. I hang it on the wall, then lie in my bed and stare at it for hours. Maybe this is a sign that I need to set myself free. Maybe this is the answer I’ve been searching for.
Whatever it is, I’m unbelievably happy in this moment, happier than I’ve been in my entire life. I can lie here and stare at this image all day long and imagine it’s me on the rock, and that all of my worries are being lifted to the heavens.
This has come to me at just the right moment. As soon as Paul returns we’re going to have our talk. It’s time. I need to be set free, and I need to set Paul free. Even if it ends tomorrow with Mason, what’s been done can’t be taken back. I can’t ever go back to Paul with a clear conscious. I can’t live that way. I have to walk away. I stare at the painting until my eyes can no longer stay open. I need to be free. A heavy weight is lifted from my chest as I close my eyes for the final time on this unusual night.
I fall asleep with a smile on my lips.