Chapter 3

Chloe awoke to the loud buzz of excitement outside the cabin door and she searched the room for Phillip but could not find him. His bed had already been folded back into the normal seat. Chloe shot up in a frantic panic and opened the cabin door ignoring the fact that she was still in last nights wrinkled clothes and that her disheveled hair lay in knots on her shoulders.

Outside several people were in the halls gathering their suitcases and belongings in anticipation for the upcoming Galisha Station. Chloe tried to search through the crowd for signs of Phillip but to no avail. After a brief moment she retreated back into her own cabin hanging her head in disappointment.

As she shut the door and turned around Chloe walked right into a tall figure, looking up she found herself captivated by Phillips caramel brown eyes.  His arms steadied her and he conveniently left them there. Chloe was so caught off guard that she placed her head in her hands and silently began to weep there in Phillips arms.

In a sadden voice Phillip asked “Why are you crying my dear sweet Chloe? It pains me to see your face filled with tears and pain.”

Chloe pulled her head from her hands and sobbed about how she thought he had left her and how she thought she would never see him again. She hadn’t even realized how much she would miss him until the sudden fear that he had just up and left her. It was a rather overwhelming thought that this man has affected her so in the short two day train ride that she had spent with him.

“Sweet Chloe I would never leave without saying goodbye. Look here under my seat didn’t you see my luggage my dear? ”

Chloe felt like an idiot because there it was tucked neatly under his seat, a small little beacon that she missed. If she had stopped and looked instead of panicking she could have avoided the painful racing of her heart that had her all flushed and almost to the point of tears again.

“Then where were you? I couldn’t find you just now and there is no way you could have come inside while I was in the hall I only walked a few feet away and never saw you.”

“I walked in just now and you were not here Chloe. I couldn’t have just appeared out of thin air, so you must not have seen me.” Phillip explained in a matter of fact tone.

“Of course you can’t it’s just I only turned my back for a second….” Chloe trailed off finally hearing how ridiculous her statement was sounding. People don’t just appear from nowhere. Giving in to Phillip’s explanation Chloe moved to begin folding up her bed. She couldn’t help but feel like his explanation didn’t quite add up.

She suppressed the feeling and hurried to gather her belongings as she felt the breaks begin to slow down the train. Phillip just stood leaning against the door observing her frantic rush and pointing out things here and there that she had missed in her hurry.

Once Chloe had finished putting her things away in here suitcase she turned and waited for Phillip to let her out. He reached for his own suitcase and opened the door to leave the cabin.

The hall was crowded with people eager to leave their small cabins and be on their way to their final destination. Phillip took Chloe’s arm and placed it in the nook of his own and led her through the crowed hall, down the steps and onto the wooden platform of the train station.

Taking in a deep breath Chloe took in the sights of the city. Two story buildings lined both sides of the main street leading from the train station. There were several small stores with large windows to display the various goods that each offered.

In one window Chloe stopped gasping at a beautiful purple dress that had a heart shape cut at the neck, with black satin buttons and a long flowing skirt that had a layer of black lace that flowed gently over it. The sleeves of the dress were rounded and ended just above the elbow.

“That dress is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen.” Chloe exhaled. As she stood in the middle of the sidewalk, her arm laced in Phillip’s, she couldn’t help but feel like she was living another life. It was so wonderful to have Phillip’s company and she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Phillip looked down at Chloe and simply smiled. It seemed as if he was agreeing with her thoughts. Chloe laughed to herself. There she goes again. It seemed that should couldn’t help but have crazy feeling like that about Phillip. It was as if she thought he was a magician or something.

Phillip led Chloe down a small street just off the main one and up the stairs to a small hotel. The exterior was painted in a soft carnation pink; the shutters of the several windows were in a dark ruby color and the roof was layer with dark grey shingles.

Phillip opened the large door and ushered Chloe into the lobby. Its interior closely matched its exterior with the same shades of color on it walls. Wallpaper of soft pink roses was on every wall and the dark mahogany desk was set perfectly in place so that it was the first thing visitors see when they walk through the door. The small older lady behind the desk was the picture of welcome as she stood staring at the two with a bright smile on her face.

“Welcome to the Cardinal Inn. My name is Emily. How may I help you folks today?” Emily stood tall wearing a burgundy uniform that didn’t quite flatter her figure. Her long white hair sat on the top of her head in a neat bun with a few strands escaping down the back.

“Yes miss we would like two rooms with a view of Lake Galisha please. We will be staying for ten days and will need maid and laundry service. ” Phillip spoke to the woman in a stern proper voice, one that Chloe had never heard him use. As he spoke again he leaned forward and looked Emily straight in the eyes “I do not want any visitors or disturbances to me and my lady friend, it this to be understood?”

“Ye-Yes sir” stuttered Emily. Phillip had intimidated her to such an extent that it baffled Chloe. Chloe soon dismissed it however for she loved that Phillip was making the commitment of another ten days with her. Her heart was pounding in her chest at the thought of him spending his entire visit with her.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Phillip staring at her and as she turned to look him in the face he quickly turned away but not fast enough for her to see a deep hunger in his eyes. Chloe didn’t understand and simply dismissed it as another unusual Phillip phenomenon. She was, after all, having several incidents of such phenomenon and it must all be in her head. Phillip turned back and as Chloe had expected his eyes showed nothing but a bright joy.

“Chloe, girl, you need to get a hold on your imagination” Chloe said under her breath.

Emily handed Phillip the two room keys and Phillip took Chloe’s arm once more in his own and led her up the stairs to their rooms.  The walls of the stairs had many pictures and several were black and white and caught the interest of Chloe. As she slowed to inspect the pictures closely she felt the gentle tug of Phillips arm and made a mental note to do so at a later time.

At the top of the stairs Phillip stopped inspected the small sign that indicated the room locations and turned down the left hallway. After passing several doors in the dimly lit hallway Phillip stopped in front of a Chloe’s room and opened the door. He held the door as she went in and he walked in after her and closed the door behind him.

The room was a smaller version of the hotel lobby. The bright day sunlight was shining through the white curtains illuminating the room. The same rose wallpaper lined the walls.  A massive mahogany bed was set on the far end with two matching night stands on either side. Large lamps were places on both night stands and a large round mirror was placed just above the head of the bed. On the other end was a large matching ten drawer dresser, a dressing mirror beside it and a small brown sitting chair was to the left. To her immediate right was the bathroom and to her immediate left was the closet.

Chloe laid her suitcase on her bed and began to pull out her clothes and place them in the dresser and closet. Phillip sat in the sitting chair admiring Chloe. Realizing that he was staring at her Chloe stopped midway through her step and looked at him. He didn’t seem to have his suitcase anymore and Chloe was trying to search her thoughts of when he parted with it.

“Where is your suitcase, Phillip? I don’t remember you bringing it up the stairs.”

“I left it with dear Emily. She will have the bellboy bring it up and unpack it for me. I thought that I would take you out for lunch and quick tour of the town.” Phillip sat back in the chair and waited for Chloe’s response, picking at his fingernails.

“That sounds wonderful, but I am in desperate need of a shower and a change of clothes.” Chloe replied a little annoyed that he hadn’t considered this. “I was a long train ride and neither of us has showered in two days. You must feel a little grimy so go take a shower and I will see you in an hour.”

Phillip stood up in protest, it seemed he was eager to get her to go with him somewhere and Chloe was having none of it. She found herself pushing him to the door and explaining that she would be done as quickly as she could.

“Just promise me one thing Chloe” Phillip turned swiftly, his face had taken on a seriousness that Chloe had never seen before and he looked her directly in the eyes as if he wanted her to understand the seriousness of what he was about to say. Once Chloe gave him a silent nod he continued. “Promise me Chloe that you will not open this door for any one”.

Chloe gawked at this but looking into Phillip’s she saw a fear that scared her to her core and she nodded her head in agreement.

As soon as Chloe had agreed Phillips face changed immediately to joy and she once again found that familiar joy in his eyes. Something about that joy made Chloe giggle and she turned him around once more and she shoved him through the entry way to her room shutting the door slowly behind him.

Walking from the closed door Chloe was relieved that she could finally change out of her wrinkled clothes and exchange them for a warm shower. She observed that Phillip had failed to give her the key to her room. She made a mental not to get it from him when they left for lunch. She didn’t want to be stranded outside the dark hall locked out of her room if for any reason she was separated from Phillip.

            The bathroom had all the amenities of home and Chloe wondered how much this was going to cost her at the end of her trip. Peeling away her clothes she let them simply fall to the floor. She turned on the shower and let down her hair. She normally wore it down but without the daily showers she was forced to pull it up in a bun.

            The warm water on her body felt wonderful as it washed away the long train ride. Chloe let her mind process the last two days. Phillip was wonderful. He was everything she never thought she would ever have and she was not sure how willingly she was going to give him up.

After her shower Chloe lay on her bed wrapped in her towel and was amazed at the softness of the bed. She curled up on the bed and closed her eyes for a moment.

“A small rest won’t hurt.”

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[K.M. Lucero]

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