- 15.
Winter break arrived, and Mrs. Miller’s calls
started, one after another, urging me to come
home for the holidays.
They had raised me, after all. I couldn’t be
completely heartless.
After much deliberation, I bought a train
ticket and headed back to Millerton, laden
with gifts.
As soon as I stepped inside the Miller house, I
heard a shrill voice.
“Jake Miller, what do you mean?”
“I’m carrying your child! I’m not here to be
treated like this!”
L
I froze. Chloe, very pregnant, was yelling at
Jake.
Jake’s face was dark, but he didn’t argue
back, only trying to placate her.
“Chloe, calm down. The doctor said you shouldn’t get upset. It’s bad for the baby.”
“I want that coat! Go buy it for me, now!”
“Chloe, I’ll buy it for you next time, okay? I
already spent my allowance for this month.”
Jake carefully guided Chloe to a seat.
“It’s your fault you are still just a Captain, did
you give your money to your ‘sister‘ instead?”
Jake’s expression changed. “Chloe, don’t be
riaicuious. Saran and I are over. It ́s Nisnea.
“Over? Do you think I’m stupid? You write to
her constantly! You think I don’t know?”
“You don’t care about me at all! You only
care about her!”
Chloe cried, pounding on Jake’s chest.
Jake’s face was etched with impatience. “I told you, there’s nothing between us!”
Standing in the doorway, watching this scene unfold, I felt a surge of bitter amusement.
In my past life, he’d hidden his
communication with Chloe from me.
In this life, he was hiding his letters to me
from Chloe.
He wanted both, unable to commit to either.
