24. Daniel
24
Daniel
At home, after Michelle falls asleep, I grab a glass and go straight for the Jack Daniels. But then it hits me—why bother with a glass if I’m not sharing with anyone? So, I take a generous gulp right from the bottle and slump onto the sofa.
That pang in my heart has followed me home from the office. My eyes fall on Chloe’s resignation letter, which is mocking me from my coffee table. I take another swig from the bottle; eyes still fixed on the letter.
And another gulp.
And one more for good measure.
Since my eyes refuse to focus on anything else, I close them and let my head fall back against the couch.
Chloe is all I can see. She looked so angelic, smiling with her green emerald eyes.
I open my eyes for another hit from the bottle, my gaze being drawn to the letter. As I swallow, my lids drift close again.
This time, it’s Chloe’s eyes watering whenever I threw a tantrum.
Another swig.
Next, Chloe’s cold eyes when she walked away and didn’t look back.
Eventually, I must have passed out because I jolt awake to the harsh sunlight streaming in through the window and the sound of my doorbell being pressed, over and over again.
I hesitate but drag myself up from the couch and peer through the window. My brothers’ shouting breaks through my stupor. “We know you’re there, dude! Open the door!”
Ugh! I shouldn’t have initiated the drunken video call to rant to these two last night.
Drunk me really needs a filter.
With a groan, I open the door, trying but failing to block their entrance. They just breeze past me into the house.
Ethan is the youngest brother by five years and the most successful of us all—a world-renowned plastic surgeon. I only see him once a year because he lives in Miami and is always busy.
“How did you even make it here this fast, Ethan?”
“Wow, good to see you, too, bro. Private jet, remember? Come on now, where’s my ‘I haven’t seen you in ages hug,’ buddy?”
“Make yourself at home,” I say with an eyeroll. I thought I was bad about flaunting my wealth.
Ethan stands in the middle of my living room, hands on hips, while Garamond thrusts a massive coffee into my hands. “Drink up. You’ll need it.”
“Can’t this wait?”
Ethan sniffs at me, recoiling, “You still reek of last night’s booze”
I shake my head in denial, trudge back to the living room, and collapse onto the couch. My head is pounding, and I’m not in the mood for whatever nonsensical intervention they’ve planned.
They trail behind me, and I instantly regret choosing the center seat. Had I sat at the edge, I wouldn’t be sandwiched between them.
Garamond is the first to speak up. “Enough.”
“You’re fired.”
“Well, you’d need to be my boss to fire me. You’re acting like a petulant child. Do you even know your employees?”
“Get lost, brother.”
“Feeling’s mutual.”
Then Ethan chimes in, “You had your day. That’s all you’re allowed.”
“And what if I decide to take more time off?”
Ethan folds his arms. “We got a plan.”
“What plan?”
“A rotation to babysit you. Until you’re back at work and living life, one of us will be on your tail.”
“You came all this way to babysit me? You could’ve done that from the phone.”
“I came here to help my bro in a time of need,” he bites back.
“I need some painkillers.” I get up and head for the kitchen.
Surprisingly, they don’t follow. Alone in the kitchen, I down a few glasses of water.
But my solitude is short-lived. They sit at the island, their eyes unwavering.
Garamond begins his lecture. “You were really beat up after Maddie’s passing. And that’s completely normal. But Chloe is here. You can take your time to feel sorry for yourself, but you can’t live like this forever. It’s time to move on. And, Michelle—she has a special relationship with Chloe, too. She needs someone in her corner, you know. Have you even thought about this from her perspective?”
“I’m not a child.”
“Then stop acting like one.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be chasing after Tiffany?”
“That’s rich, coming from you. Did you forget I left her the same day you claimed you felt nothing for Chloe.”
Ethan approaches me. “I get it. You feel at a loss and somewhat betrayed. But this time, you were the one in the wrong and let her go. I mean, I don’t know her, but it sounds like she really cared about you, and you messed that up.”
If only the caring part were true. If she left without that look on her face, maybe I’d be at peace. Or if she had moved on with someone else, it would’ve been hard, but maybe I could’ve come to terms with it. But realizing that I’m the reason she left, that I caused her so much pain she couldn’t stand being around me anymore? I doubt I’ll ever overcome that.
“This is torture.”
“Dad?”
We all turn at the sound of Michelle’s voice to find her standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“What’s happening? Why aren’t you at work?” Her eyes catch Ethan on the island, and she runs toward him. “Uncle Ethan! You’re here!”
Ethan picks her up and swings her around.
“Hi, Uncle Garamond!” she exclaims.
“And why aren’t you at school, little lady,” Garamond asks.
“I’m on Spring Break, remember? So, what’s going on? Why are you guys here so early?”
I rub my face. “I took a couple of days off work, that’s all.”
“You never, like never, skip work, Dad. Are you sick?”
“It’s nothing, sweetie. Want breakfast.”
Michelle squints at me, clearly not buying it, but lets it slide. “No, thanks. Can I call Chloe later? I need her help with more room stuff.”
“No,” I answer firmly.
“What do you mean no?”
“Chloe’s gone.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She quit her job,” I explain.
Michelle’s expression crumbles into one of distress. “What did you do to her, Dad?”
I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. Michelle presses me with a drawn out frown, but her eyes soften as she sees the pain written all over my face.
“Heyyy,” she coos, rushing over to wrap her little arms around me while her body curled into my lap. “I’m sorry, Dad. I shouldn’t have blamed you.”
It feels like my baby girl is trying to shield me from the world, and I can’t imagine anything sweeter.
I’m unable to hold back the sobs, and I think it’s mainly because of the alcohol in my system. “Chloe’s gone, Michelle,” I choke out. “I was a fool, a complete idiot, and I pushed her away.”
“Daddy, we can fix this, right?”
“It’s too late. She hates me. She quit and walked out of our lives. It’s all my fault.”
Garamond and Ethan stand like statues, watching us. I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I think I hear a camera click. Michelle holds me tighter, her small hand patting my back.
“It’s okay, Dad,” she whispers. “It’s going to be okay.” Then, out of nowhere, her eyes light up. “What if I told you there might be a way to get Chloe back?”