Chapter 140
Maya's POV:
Adam held my hand against his lips. We were lying in bed, tangled in the sheets after a long night. He kissed my knuckles slowly.
"Baby, I have to fly to Austin tomorrow morning."
I turned my head on the pillow. My body felt heavy and lazy. "That is great news. I can finally rest."
Adam narrowed his eyes. He bit my index finger. He didn't use much force, so it didn't hurt, but the threat was there.
"Keep provoking me," he said, his voice low. "I’ll cancel the flight. We can stay in this bed until tomorrow morning."
I rolled my eyes. "You wouldn't. You’d drain yourself dry. Imagine the headlines. 'The great Adam Sterling, found lifeless in a bedroom.' Your reputation would be ruined."
He played with my fingers. "You underestimate me. Even if we went all night, I’d still walk onto that plane looking better than anyone else."
I patted his chest. "Moderation, Adam. Learn it. Otherwise, you’re going to end up in a urologist’s waiting room long before your time."
"One more word," he warned, leaning close to my ear, "and you aren't sleeping tonight."
I got up early to make breakfast. Adam ate quickly and left for the airport. The apartment felt quiet without him.
My day was full but simple. Amy had preschool, and then her new boxing class. Her schedule was packed lately. When I wasn't driving her around, I kept busy. I cooked, cleaned, did laundry, and tended to my plants on the porch.
Chloe knew Adam was away. As soon as she got off work, she headed straight to Marlborough Street.
"Maya, your cooking is insane," Chloe groaned, eating a spare rib. "I want to live here."
I put another piece of meat on her plate. "You can. The guest room is empty."
I was serious. I missed having her around.
Chloe shook her head. "No way. Adam is a jealous maniac. He’d kick me out."
"He’s gone for a few days," I said. "Come stay while he’s in Austin."
Chloe hesitated. Then she smiled. "Okay. Deal."
She showed up the next day with a weekender bag. I had the guest room ready with crisp sheets. Chloe flopped onto the mattress and let out a long, happy sigh.
"This is the life," she groaned into the pillow. "Staying with you is dangerous. You have everything ready like you’re my mom. You spoil me."
I leaned against the doorframe, studying her. "Chloe, are you good? Did something happen?"
Her eyes darted away, avoiding mine. "No. Nothing happened."
The truth arrived at dinner time.
Parker Palmer walked in just as we were sitting down. I realized immediately why Chloe was hiding at my house.
Parker pulled out a chair next to Chloe. He started eating as if he lived here.
Chloe stared at him. "Parker, do you have no shame? You can't just invite yourself over. Adam isn't even here."
"With you here, Adam won't misunderstand." Parker said calmly, helping himself to the food.
The tension at the table was thick. Parker and Chloe weren't looking at each other, but the air between them crackled.
Amy leaned toward me. She whispered loudly. "Mommy, are Auntie Chloe and Uncle Parker fighting?"
"Maybe," I whispered back.
"Why did they come to our house to fight?"
I smiled. "Good question. I want to know too. But ignore them. Let’s just eat dinner and sip the tea."
Amy frowned. She looked at her juice cup. "Mommy, what tea? Did you make tea?"
I paused. "No, sweetie. 'Tea' is a word grown-ups use. It means gossip. Drama. We are just watching the show."
"Oh," Amy said. She nodded seriously.
After dinner, I went to the kitchen to clean up. The apartment was quiet for a few minutes.
Then Amy came running in.
"Mommy!" she announced. "Auntie Chloe took Uncle Parker outside."
"Did they leave?"
"I’ll check." Amy spun around and ran back toward the living room.
Two minutes later, she ran back. Her eyes were wide.
"Mommy," she gasped. "Uncle Parker and Auntie Chloe are kissing."
I froze. "Oh."
I wiped my hands on a towel. I turned Amy around by her shoulders and steered her toward the stairs.
"Okay, baby. Go play in your room. Don't come downstairs."
"Why?" Amy protested. "I thought we were supposed to sip the tea?"
I coughed. "I’ll sip the tea. You go play."
"But Mommy, I want to sip too."
"You’re four. No tea for you. Go upstairs."
"Fine." Amy trudged up the stairs.
I walked to the living room window. I peeked through the blinds. Sure enough, Parker and Chloe were on the porch. They were kissing. It wasn't a friendly kiss.
I closed the blinds and went back to the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, they walked back inside. They sat on opposite ends of the sofa.
I looked at Chloe’s swollen lips. They were terrible actors.
Parker didn't stay long. He thanked me for dinner and left.
Chloe stood up immediately. "I’m going to shower."
The next evening, Parker came back for dinner again.
It was a nightmare.
Parker picked up a piece of broccoli and fed it to Chloe. Chloe giggled and fed him a piece of chicken. They were in their own world. They completely ignored me and Amy.
I stared at them. Why were they doing this here? Were they taking advantage of Adam’s absence to torture me? It was gross.
Amy nudged me. "Mommy, are they friends again?"
"Obviously."
"What are they doing? Why are they feeding each other?"
I poked at my rice. "Maybe the food tastes better that way."
Amy nodded thoughtfully. She picked up a piece of pan-fried fish with her chopsticks. She held it out to me.
"Mommy, eat."
My heart melted. I ate the fish. Then I picked up a piece of beef and fed it to her. "Here, baby."
If they were going to show off their romance, we would show off our mother-daughter bond.
After dinner, Chloe suddenly volunteered to take out the trash.
"I’ll help," Parker said quickly.
They grabbed the trash bag and hurried out the back door.
I was wiping the table when Amy ran in again.
"Mommy! Uncle Parker and Auntie Chloe are kissing in the yard again!"
That was it.
I clenched my fist. I washed my hands and dried them. Then I marched upstairs.
I went into the guest room. I grabbed Chloe’s clothes and threw them into her suitcase. I didn't fold anything. I stripped the sheets off the bed and shoved the duvet into the closet.
I zipped the suitcase shut.
I dragged it downstairs. The wheels thumped against the steps.
Chloe and Parker walked back in just as I reached the living room. Chloe stopped when she saw the suitcase.
"Maya..." she started.
I ignored her. I picked up her purse from the sofa. I walked over to them and shoved the suitcase handle toward Parker.
I handed him the purse too.
"Take her," I said firmly. "And get out."