Reasons Why - 16

Chapter 16

 

Chloe fought the urge to scream, but in her haste to pull herself to her feet, she misjudged the floor of the pool and slipped under the water, emerging with a splutter. A hand wrapped around her arm and she was almost lifted out of the water by Chris, who stood watching her intently.

As she coughed and wiped the water from her eyes, Chris’ concern gave way to humour and he could barely fight the laughter that was rising in his throat. His father was stood beside him looking a little stunned, and convinced that Chloe was an intruder.

                “You ok?” he finally asked her, tilting her chin to meet her eyes. When she nodded, he grinned, “I thought you were going back to Phil’s!”

                “I was,” she hissed, “but I got really hot doing YOUR work, so I had a quick swim. It was so pleasant I relaxed for a bit...I must have fallen asleep!”

Handing her a towel, he couldn’t stop grinning, “Looks like you will be meeting my parents after all.” Turning, he smiled at his father who was still looking confused, “Dad, this is my friend Chloe, Chloe this is my father, Spiros Petrakis.”

Chloe moved towards the older man and shook his hand, “pleased to meet you Mr Petrakis, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

There was a hint of suspicion as his eyes glanced between Chris and Chloe, but then he relaxed slightly and offered, “I wish I could say the same about you!”

Chloe chuckled, pleased that the attention had been thrown back to Chris.

               

                “Dad, I had no idea that Chloe was here, I would’ve warned you otherwise. Have your swim; I’ll take Chloe in to meet Mom. We can talk later.”

They’d not made it to the door when there was a splash that signified his father diving into the cool pool. In the kitchen stood a woman, obviously cooking.

                “Mom?” His mother turned then jumped in surprise to see someone else in the kitchen. “This is my friend Chloe; she fell asleep out the garden and scared Dad half to death! Chloe, this is my mother, Kassandra.”

                “Nice to meet you Mrs Petrakis!” Chloe once again offered her hand, despite her pleasantries, neither parent had been gushing in their greeting, but then she was a rather unannounced surprise. The older woman nodded her head, she was glamorous in a middle age Sex in the City kind of way, her black leggings and white top were both gold trimmed, then there was her matching shoes. Her hair and make-up were immaculate, a copper bob that tucked neatly under her chin with perfect light make up. Chloe had never looked that perfect in her life.

As Chris, aware of the slight awkwardness, tried to explain with as little fuss as possible how Chloe came to be asleep in the garden, a whirlwind appeared through the door from the hallway.

All three glanced at the commotion, and were rewarded with a young girl depositing a whole set of bedding - sheets, pillows and duvet on to the work surface.

                “Mama! It smells! I can’t have this on my bed.”

So this was the infamous Tiana Petrakis, the nineteen year old youngest sibling. Chris had warned her about the spoilt nineteen year old, and as Chloe studied her she was stunned, she was beyond beautiful, with her rich long chestnut hair, deep chocolate eyes and beautiful tanned complexion. But her beauty was shadowed by the grotesque scowl plastered across it.

Chloe could feel the tension in Chris as he took a deep breath, “Tiana! This is my house, if you have a problem don’t squeal to ‘Mama’, speak to me. It’s detergent. That’s all you can smell! That bedding was fresh on an hour ago. Grow up!”

                “Christos! Please!” His mother placed a hand on his shoulder, and Chloe almost gagged at the expression on her face as she gazed adoringly at her youngest child. “You know your sister had allergies. She needs to sleep, we all do. Don’t be hard on her!”

Despite all that he’d said, she’d dismissed Chris’ comments about his youngest sister, but here it was harder to ignore and quite honestly she was shocked, and disgusted.

Chris shook his head, “hard? Yeah right! There is no alternative here. Unless you want to buy some from Wal Mart or something!”

Talia nodded and for the first time looked at him with a smile.

                “Oh no Tiana. I am NOT going for you. If you have the issue you go. I’m taking Chloe home. It’s up to you!”

His mother interjected again, “we don’t know where the shops are darling.”

He groaned, “I knew this would happen. Jeez! Welcome to my home all!”

Storming out of the house, Chloe had to trot to keep up with him, “shall we take Didi’s car?”

                “Shit.” His anger deflated like a popped balloon, “I forgot that was here. You drive home, I’ll follow...will you come with me?”

She nodded with a smile, “Of course.”

There was something very intimate about shopping for bedding as a couple. Linked hands strolling up and down aisles of the shop. She couldn’t help but chuckle when he finally selected a Disney Princess set, all pink and diamonds. Childish fabrics for a childish girl. She wasn’t in a rush to be there when he handed that over.

                “I still can’t forget my father’s face when he found you in the pool!”

They were sat on the veranda back at Phil’s drinking diet coke from ice cold cans. Chloe couldn’t help but blush, she’d been party to more than she imagined when she fell asleep in the water, and now she had more insight into Chris’ life than she had a few hours earlier.

                “It was all a little ugly...” her face still heated at the memory of the discomfort that situation had caused.

He shook his head and placed a finger over her lips, “hauling you out of the pool, all wet and almost naked...” he grinned, “put it like this, it was all a bit awkward trying to hide my hard on from my father!”

She glanced sideways at him, “really? For that?” She ran a finger up her side, lifting the light cotton vest to reveal firstly her trim stomach, and then that vivid red and blue bikini top that instantly brought a groan to his lips. “May be I’ve got a cure for that?”

With her sexiest grin she stood and made for the door, but had barely reached the stair case when he caught her, and dragged her down to the floor...neither of them could make it any closer to her attic bedroom.

Chloe refused to dine with his family that evening, despite his pleas; she had no desire to make small talk with them. It was only ten pm when Chris was rapping at the door. They spent a few hours curled up in her attic bedroom, reacquainting themselves with each other, and Chris forgetting about the hell he’d left behind.

The next evening, Sunday, Chloe was going to Chris’ game with Phil and Carter, and of course the Petrakis family were all in attendance. Chloe again kept her distance, though she had agreed to meet them all for dinner that evening. Phil dropped her off at the restaurant giving her a nudge of encouragement.

Chris had chosen the best restaurant in town, a speciality fish place that overlooked the harbour. Chloe was there first and followed the maître’d to the table on the veranda. She ordered a white wine and sighed a deep breath. She wasn’t looking forward to the evening.

Hearing a noise across the room, Chloe turned her head to see Tiana burst into the quiet dining room dressed in what could only be described as a bra, with a low slung long skirt. She stood out like a sore thumb in the conservative restaurant; this was what Owen would have deemed a posh place. Eyes all around the room darted to the girl as she sashayed through the tables in an almost pornographic way. Chris followed behind with a scowl on his face; he’d never looked so uncomfortable.

The parents brought up the area, beaming around the room as they followed.

Chris slid into the seat next to her, stooping to kiss her cheek. As his lips touched her skin, he breathed, “I’m SO glad you’re here. I need you!”

Turning her face, she met his lips with hers, and gave him a swift kiss, hoping that he could read her support in the gesture. 

His parents sat opposite them either side of the Princess Tiana like a lopsided board meeting. The atmosphere was tight, so after ordering drinks everyone consulted the menu.

                “So, Mr Petrakis, Chris tells me you love golf?” It was an immediate hit. Spiros Petrakis seemed to be equally as enthralled with the sport as her father. Soon he was describing his favourite weekend trips in the Garden State. Chris smiled on appreciatively as the merits of various drivers gave way to exploits at the driving range. Chloe was never more grateful for those torturous trips over the years with her father and Owen to a variety of local courses.

                “Daddy,” a whining voice came from the opposite side of the table, and Tiana, who'd spent the last few minutes scowling, drew attention back to herself. “Did Mama tell you that Lebrun Lipstick called me back after the audition?”

Spiros smiled his face suddenly bisected by a proud smile, “she did Petal, and we are SO pleased!”

Chris groaned, he’d obviously heard this story a dozen times. Kassandra turned to Chloe with a gloating grin; she was starting to hate this family. “Tiana is on the verge of a modelling career she’d so beautiful it’s only what she deserves!”

It’s a pity that beauty is only skin deep she thought as she linked her fingers with Chris’ under the table.

The meal was delivered to the table, and finally the in depth discussion about Tiana’s fifteen minute interview had stopped.

                “So Mrs Petrakis, do you get home to Greece very often? I’ve only been to Athens once, and I loved it. The Acropolis is beautiful; I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere that has made me feel so at one with history!”

Kassandra’s eyes widened in surprise, “we went last year. There aren’t many family members left anymore! And you’re right about the atmosphere there, I always think you could almost see the Greek God’s of Mythology there. It’s amazing!"

Chris laughed, “Do you remember taking me there when I was about ten and I cried I was so scared!”

Chuckling Spiros laid down his glass, “you’d spent weeks reading all about it but then thought that every breath of wind was a ghost as all the stories were about Gods from the past! You were white as a sheet!”

He groaned, as all four burst into laughter. “Is this all laugh at Chris day?” But he wasn’t self conscious and laughed as hard. Chloe noticed the sour face of his sister, but ignored it.

Chloe’s sole was beautiful and she had to pause from talking to devour the pale delicate fish.

                “So when are you coming back to New York?” Spiros asked Chris. “I want to finish work now, take your mother off on trips...but I don’t want anyone but you to step into my shoes.”

Chris groaned, this was obviously a common bone of contention between him and his father. “Dad you know I won’t be doing this forever, but I enjoy it. I don’t want to argue with you over this, but I’m not interested in giving up my dreams...you know that!”

Spiros scowled, and Chloe realised this was his ploy, to pin him down in front of others, bully him in to doing what the older man wanted. Tantamount to bullying in Chloe’s eyes.

                “He’s very good at lacrosse,” she offered, “and more than a celebrity around here. It’s great!”

Chris squeezed her thigh glad of her support, but Spiros was determined to berate the fallibility of playing sport against the reliability of his diverse business. Chloe wanted to laugh, to point out that Chris was not just living his dream, but he was damn good at it...and he was investing heavily for the future. He had properties, had ideas for his future. It just seemed a little sad that they didn’t appreciate all that he was.

                “So what do you do Chloe?” Kassandra was looking at her intently, and she was pleased that she seemed interested in her. The meal had been hard work but it was obviously paying off, the coolness of his family had eased.

                “I’m here visiting my brother at the moment, looking after my nephews. I’ve been working as a junior lawyer back home. But I’m between jobs at the moment.”

                “What law?” Spiros asked, his awkward conversation with Chris forgotten.

                “Criminal.” She replied reaching for her wine. She hated looking at the older couple because sat between them was the sullen face of Tiana.

As she named the company she had recently left, a crash preceded Kassandra’s full glass of red wine falling over shattering and spraying thick red liquid all over Chloe’s meal, and pale silk blouse. Chloe gasped, but as Chris reached for a napkin to dab at her ruined top, and Kassandra looked absolutely stunned, Tiana did a poor job of hiding her grin.

She had done this on purpose, Chloe was convinced of that, after all she’d tried to sabotage any attempt at conversation that didn’t involve her, and whilst Chloe was there she was another person to take attention away from her.

                “You did that on purpose!” Chloe looked down at her ruined top and sighed. “What a bitch!”

Kassandra gasped, “Excuse me! That was an accident, and I don’t appreciate you accusing like this!”

Chloe sighed, “People don’t grin at accidents.”

                “Mama?”

Chloe groaned as the older woman reached out a hand and laid it over her daughter’s in sympathy, “you know how people act when they’re jealous of you!”

                “Jealous?” She fought not to raise her voice. Chris was desperately trying to calm her, but she had no obligation to these people, and they didn’t deserve him either. “You are a spoilt brat, and you tipped that wine deliberately. You hate not being the centre of attention! SO immature!”

                “Now hang on young lady!” Spiros was half stood, trying to defend his daughter.

Chloe shook her head, “it’s ok Mr Petrakis, I’m leaving! I’ve seen enough of this farce.” She reached for her bag, then shook her head as Chris made to stand, she wanted him to stay. “You have a wonderful son Mrs Petrakis, one of the most charming, beautiful and successful men I’ve ever met. It’s just a pity you can’t appreciate him a fraction of the amount you do that brat. It’s scandalous! It really is.”

Then with her head held high, she marched out of the building. She’d barely reached the road when Chris’ arm wrapped around her from behind.

Turning in his arms she shook her head, “You should’ve stayed.”

He shook his head, “I saw her hit over the glass...intentionally. That’s typical Tiana behaviour.” He pulled her into his arms, “but no one ever stands up for me normally.”

She thrust her lips on to his as a waft of emotions threatened to cause tears to fall, poor Chris. He deserved so much better. And as the realisation hit her that he'd chosen her over his family, she knew she’d eventually desert him and hurt him when she left more than they had.