Chloe and Becky were privately schooled. They met through an arranged play date set up by their mothers, and they’d been inseparable ever since. Edmund, on the other hand, was a different matter.
“You there?” Becky laughed.
“Sorry, I must have dozed off. Feeling better?”
“Yes, but that pounding is on my nerves.”
Chloe smiled, stood up, and walked over to the edge of the pool. “Oh my, I found the hammering, Beck. There’re roofers on the neighbor’s guesthouse. Look at that…”
“Look at what?” Becky rolled over to see what Chloe was talking about. “What in the heck are you looking at him for? You’re practically married, though I must admit he’s quite the male specimen. However, you’re spoken for.”
“Well, my mother and father can marry Edmund. I’m certainly not.”
“The man on that roof is certainly not an Edmund.” Becky stretched her neck to get a better view. “Fine indeed…Wait, what do you mean you aren’t marrying Edmund?”
“My mother and father are in the same social circle as Edmund’s parents and they shoved us together. He doesn’t mind, but I do! They’re all filthy rich, and my parents found that pig to be acceptable. He only cares about my money and my looks. Seriously, that’s all he talks about. When I got my trust fund a few years ago, Edmund really started to pour it on thick.”
“You’re rich, too, so why are you judging him? That’s not like you.”
“Oh my God, look at that man…”
“Chloe, you seriously need to cool off. That guy wouldn’t be any good for you. Besides, if you think your parents are going to let you get hooked up with something like that, you have another thing coming.”
“I just want to be happy. I want someone to love who’ll love me back…someone who’ll acknowledge my heart, not just my looks, status, and my money.”
“You’re getting married,” Becky reminded her.
“I told you, I’m not marrying Edmund. As a matter of fact, today’s a great day to end things with him.”
“…Sweetie, do your parents know how you feel?” Becky sat up and took her sunglasses off. She'd never seen her friend this upset before.
Chloe felt her cheeks flush and eyes burn. She had no intentions of spilling what she’d been hiding inside these walls for all her life. Pretending to be happy in her engagement, pretending she was close with her parents and that they called her at least three times a week, had finally made her break. Slowly she turned her back to her friend and stared up at the neighbor’s roof. She heard Becky get up and walk toward her. She thought she could be strong, but as soon as she felt Becky’s arms go around her, she lost it. The tears came out in force.
“My parents don’t really know anything about me. Raised by nannies while they traveled all my life isn’t exactly anything to bond over.”
Not grasping the extent of what she heard, Becky tried to give the best advice she could drum up. “You have to tell them how you feel and that you’re breaking things off with Edmund.”
“I’m an adult. I don’t have to tell them anything. Do you know they haven’t bothered to call me in a very long time? They talk to the staff here at the house, but they don’t ever speak to me. I grab the phone from Lois if she’s talking with my parents. All I hear is them hanging up.” Chloe jumped in the pool to wash away the tears.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie, I had no idea…” Becky wiped the tears off her own face. “Why didn’t you say something to me?”
“Do you know how embarrassing and humiliating it is to say that my parents don’t care about me, don’t know who I am, when your folks are so kind and loving to you?”
Becky helped her out of the pool and they sat on the edge. She kept her arm around Chloe and let her head rest on her shoulder. They sat in silence for a long time, both lost in their own thoughts. The girls were very protective of one another, and Becky had to fight her strong urge to try and contact the Burlington’s.
“Love, I’m not trying to stick up for your parents, but you have to know that being this rich puts you in a different category. Poor people and rich ones don’t have a lot in common.”
“Don’t take offense to this, but you wouldn’t know, and neither would I.” Chloe stood up and dried off. “I’m going to go introduce myself when he gets off that roof. If things go badly, you can be the first one to say ‘I told you so.’"
Chloe dozed off and when she awoke, the hammering sounds were gone. She looked up at the roof and didn't see anyone. The sun was going down, and she began to panic. Dang, I missed him! She certainly didn't mean to sleep for so long. Then she heard the sound of a car motor and someone drive away. Maybe that wasn't him.
“You’re acting like a guy,” laughed Becky as she tried to lighten things up. “Besides, he’s going to be all grimy and sweaty, and probably smell.”
“I can’t help myself. Do you know when the last time was that a guy turned my head? Edmund might not be very great looking, but it was his personality that made him unattractive to me.”
“You went from this kind, polite, almost bashful girl to a heathen!”
“That’s okay, because this heathen is going on a mission. It’s about time I actually do something I want to do. If Edmund calls, tell him to go to hell. If my parents happen to call, tell them I moved.” Chloe took off in the house and changed into shorts and a baggy t-shirt, then hurried back outside and smiled at Becky.
“Are you seriously going over there?”
“Yep.”
“Well now’s your chance. He’s walking across the grass to a ratty truck.”
Chloe took off running down the long driveway. By the time she hit the middle of the lawn, the roofer was driving away in his truck. She slowly walked back to the pool and sat on the chair.
“You know what? That’s a big roof,” began Chloe as she brightened up. They aren’t finished with it yet. Tomorrow, throw on some more sunscreen. We’re going to sit out here all day if we have to.”
“….And Edmund?”
“I’ll take care of it. He needs to be with a woman who prioritizes like he does. Did you know that he doesn’t even want children? He thinks they’re dirty. I can’t be with him. You’re my best friend, Becky. You have to stand behind me and not tell another soul about this.”