Chloe's Diary

PTE

ok you

owly walked toward the curb where I stood. She

ith a boy." I pulled free and shook my head

she s

g flat for a six-month stint in London. He was a traveling contractor, and Dera's mum an excessive shopper, whic

ith a flourish and threw back her hair. "For me, there is no more mom, no more dad. I haven't seen them in

rhos

is t

te her i

the university campus." She paused. "You've been all over the world, but

m's fate. But Dera's shallowness was more than h

er had

d to collect an item first. C

d her t

know in Lo

li

oked up on

my bag from

k. "Sounds prom

out on about her exploits, both wild and domestic, held no fascination. Her excitable voice faded i

following the whims of an older, bellicose American. She had been my first exposure

eland, washing the night sky in pinks and greens. They'd seen those same colou

had taken me on lonely dirt paths in West Africa and through jungles of Nic

so flippantly toss th

head between thum

e I

insane, and my parents would nev

ic would not ease. I had needed to stay in London, to give up my childhood and become parent. I owed Dad that much. But jus

ave prevented it. My capable hands. My competent hands. Dad and Mum trusted me

o forgivene

. E

jarred

ate and I drifted.

windy lane and poi

Bed and

. 1

ddress. Let's s

e sort it on my

. "I did not drive this far only to be denied a peek at

ke's a most unsettling thi

ur proper Engli

lt in front of the porch. From somewhere in the night, a s

pushed out of the c

pboard, it looked a place that belonged in a quaint coastal town. The inn stood unique among neighbouring apar

stopped

rd,"

door, and raised

ed. She smiled and waved, and when next I turned towa

I'd met on the plane. Save for the eyes. They were calmer, a cool brown peering out in place of his

spoke for se

her

y shoulder, and the

out of the shoulder strap a

r bag?" He appeared

en. "Have you not noticed th

out, and stroked the retur

came to re

into the inn. "Don't

you left the plane, which I will not hold against you, as long as you return mine to me . . ." I snatched the pen from his hands and raised it in front of his nose. "With all contents intact." I grabbed a quick brea

n. "I'm sorry, but

slammed i

avel this fa

ung open. This time, the tired body of a woman f

xpected to spew a list of ways that Elis had slowed my progress. The

come. This woman remin

g sigh. "My name is Guinevere Phinn, and my guess is that my son took t

deduction. Perhaps not

me

Elis 's handiwork. I peeked to make certain neither I nor any other member of my family hung on the walls, and quickly relaxed. The majority were landscapes. Mo

er side of the foyer. I turned from them in time

you further," I said. "

door and winced. "Here is my dilemma. Not knowing that Elis

"Underst

, Elis woke me to say that he had finished cataloging his

gs? He's been cataloging my belo

verything is fi

t .

k in order. Usually from lightest weight to h

m flop. "So we enter and gat

ot sleep. I will not sleep. My guests will not sle

well witho

n idea. In the morning, we will get your things. I promise. But tonight, pl

d welcomed many deviations, this deviation need not be. My bag and

not do th

with him?" I

dn't a

mething? Somethi

, no

toward the doo

inn. Dera's fingers worked

enough." She craned

can't collect it

age? They can't do that." She grabb

stay here tonight. There's room for yo

rue. I had places for us to be. You know, I - I was really looking forward to you being h

omething's odd about him. I mean, he re

me there's al

tened until I could hear her car no longer, until the sounds of c

, what exactly did Elis know about my life in Lo

the heaviest