Chloe (Angel Institute #4)

Chapter 15

Fifteen

REBECCA

I ’m standing on Chloe’s front porch, my golden hair catching the early morning sunlight. I can’t help but grin, thinking about the romantic evening Chloe and Oliver must have shared at the church pageant last night. My wings are practically quivering with anticipation—not that I have actual wings yet, but a girl can dream, right?

I take a deep breath, inhaling the scent of evergreen and spice, which seems to permeate everything in Benton Falls during the holiday season. The porch is dusted with a light layer of snow, and icicles glisten from the eaves, creating a picturesque winter wonderland.

Straightening my fuzzy white sweater—because even angels need to look cute while blending in—I reach out to knock on the deep green front door. The wreath, adorned with red berries and an enormous bow, sways gently with the motion.

“Chloe?” I call out cheerfully. “It’s Rebecca.”

I hear shuffling inside, and then the door swings open. My cheerful smile freezes on my face as I take in the sight before me.

Chloe looks... well, let’s just say she doesn’t look like a woman who spent a romantic evening at a church pageant. Her usually impeccable hair is a mess, her eyes are red-rimmed, and she’s wearing what appears to be an oversized sweatshirt with “I’d Rather Be Working” emblazoned across the front. It’s about as far from her usual polished appearance as you can get.

“Rebecca,” she says, her voice flat. “What are you doing here?”

I blink, thrown off balance. This isn’t the Chloe I’ve come to know over the past few weeks. This Chloe reminds me of the cold, independent woman who first arrived in Benton Falls. It’s like watching all my hard work unravel before my eyes.

“I... uh...?” I stammer, “I mean, I thought I’d stop by and see how your evening went. The pageant was beautiful, wasn’t it?”

Chloe’s eyes narrow, and I feel a chill that has nothing to do with the winter air. “The pageant,” she says flatly. “Right. Why don’t you come in, Rebecca? I think we need to talk.”

As I step inside, the warmth of the house wraps around me, but it does little to dispel the sense of unease growing in the pit of my stomach. The living room, which had seemed so cozy and festive just yesterday, now feels oppressive. The twinkling lights of the Christmas tree seem to mock me, reminding me of how quickly things can change.

Chloe leads me to the kitchen, where the scent of coffee hangs heavy in the air. She pours herself a cup, not offering me one. Not that I need caffeine, being an angel and all, but still. Rude.

“So,” she says, leaning against the counter and fixing me with a steely gaze. “You want to know how my evening went?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. My empathic abilities are going haywire, picking up waves of anger, hurt, and... is that fear? Oh boy, what happened last night?

Chloe takes a deep breath, then launches into her story. She tells me about the pageant, about her conversation with Oliver afterward, about her accidental revelation of the anonymous donation. With each word, I feel my hopes for a quick and easy wing-earning sinking lower and lower.

“And then,” Chloe says, her voice bitter, “he just left. Walked away like I’d committed some terrible crime. All because I tried to help.”

I stand there, stunned. This is not how it was supposed to go. They were supposed to fall in love, realize the true meaning of Christmas, and live happily ever after. That’s how these things work, right?

“Chloe,” I say carefully, “I’m sure Oliver was just surprised. If you talk to him—”

“Talk to him?” Chloe interrupts, her eyes flashing. “Why should I? He made his feelings pretty clear. And you know what? He’s right. I was a fool.”

“A fool?” I echo, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Chloe nods, her jaw set in a determined line. “A fool to think I could fit in here. A fool to get caught up in all this... this Christmas nonsense. A fool to think I should care about others more than myself.”

Each word feels like a physical blow. I watch as Chloe paces the kitchen, dismantling weeks of progress in a matter of minutes. The warm, caring woman I knew is disappearing before my eyes, replaced by the cold, hard businesswoman who first arrived in Benton Falls.

“I’m leaving,” Chloe announces, turning to face me. “I’m going back to the city, back to my real life. This whole Benton Falls adventure was a mistake.”

For a moment, I’m too shocked to speak. Then, to my surprise, I feel a surge of anger. All my hard work, all the progress Chloe has made, and she’s just going to throw it away? Oh heck no.

“Now wait just a minute,” I say, my voice sharper than I intend. “You can’t just leave. What about Oliver? What about the town? What about all the good you’ve done here?”

Chloe’s laugh is harsh and bitter. “Good? What good? I tried to help, and look where it got me. No, Rebecca. I’m done playing small-town angel. I’m going back to where I belong.”

As I watch Chloe turn away, reaching for her phone to presumably book a flight, I feel a moment of panic. This can’t be happening. I can’t fail. I can’t lose my chance at wings. I can’t let Chloe throw away her chance at happiness.

And then, like a bolt of divine inspiration, it hits me. This. This is what Henry was talking about. The work that still needed to be done. It wasn’t about getting Chloe and Oliver together or making Chloe love Christmas. It was about this moment, this test of faith and love.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to really look at Chloe. Not with my eyes, but with my heart. And what I see nearly takes my breath away.

Beneath the anger, beneath the cold exterior, I see a desperate, frightened woman. A woman who’s been hurt so many times that she’s terrified of letting anyone in. A woman who’s so afraid of losing control that she’d rather push everyone away than risk being vulnerable.

In that moment, I feel a wave of empathy so strong it almost brings me to my tears. Because I recognize that woman. She’s me. Or at least, she’s who I used to be.

“Chloe,” I say softly, all my anger draining away. “I know you’re hurt. I know you’re scared. But running away isn’t the answer.”

Chloe’s head snaps up, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, I see a flicker of something—hope? fear?— before her walls slam back into place.

“You know nothing about me,” she says, but her voice lacks conviction.

I take a step closer, wishing I could wrap my wings around her. Oh right, no wings yet. Maybe a hug will do?

“I know more than you think,” I say gently. “I know what it’s like to be afraid of letting people in. To think that success and money are the only things that matter. But Chloe, there’s so much more to life than that. And you’ve seen it here in Benton Falls.”

Chloe’s lower lip trembles, and I can see her resolve wavering. “It doesn’t matter,” she whispers. “I’ve ruined everything. Oliver hates me.”

I shake my head, reaching out to take her hand. To my surprise, she doesn’t pull away. “You haven’t ruined anything. I’m not sure why Oliver is so upset, but giving a gift out of love and generosity isn’t something to be ashamed of.”

As I speak, I can feel something shifting in the air around us. It’s like the entire universe is holding its breath, waiting to see what Chloe will do next.

“I don’t know how to fix this,” Chloe admits, and the vulnerability in her voice makes my heart ache.

“You don’t have to do it alone,” I tell her, squeezing her hand. “That’s what friends are for. That’s what community is for. And whether or not you believe it, you have both things here in Benton Falls.”

For a long moment, Chloe is silent. I can practically see the gears turning in her head, weighing her options, battling her fears. Then, slowly, she shakes her head. “No. I’m leaving.” She sighs. “It’s better this way.”

“But Chloe—” I interject.

“No,” she shakes her head again. “It’s better if I go back to Boston.” Chloe’s eyes are brimming with emotion and I don’t know what to do, but she solves that issue for me with her next command. “It’s time for you to go. I’ve still got some packing to do.”

And just like that. I’m dismissed and destined to be a useless heavenly weather forecaster forever.

* * *

As Chloe shuts the door, I stand on the porch, my mind racing. This is a total disaster. Chloe’s not willing to try, and Oliver’s still hurt and angry. How am I supposed to fix this?

I close my eyes, reaching out with my angelic senses. I can feel the swirl of emotions in the town – the excitement of children looking forward to Christmas, the stress of adults trying to get everything done, the warmth of love and friendship that seems to permeate every corner of Benton Falls. And underneath it all, I sense two distinct threads of pain and longing—Chloe and Oliver, both hurting, both wanting to reach out but held back by fear and pride.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” I mutter to myself. “Why do humans have to be so complicated?”

As if in answer to my question, I feel a familiar presence in the vicinity. I open my eyes to see Henry sitting on the porch bench, his silver hair slightly mussed and his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Having some trouble, Rebecca?” he asks, his voice gentle.

I sigh, slumping back against the couch. “Henry, this is a disaster. Chloe and Oliver had a fight, Chloe’s leaving town, and now I have no idea how to fix things. I thought I was doing so well, and now... now I feel like I’m right back where I started.”

Henry nods sagely, stroking his beard. “Ah, but are you really? Think about it, Rebecca. How would you have reacted to this situation when you first started your assignment?”

I pause, considering. “I... I probably would have been angry. Frustrated that Chloe was messing up my chances of earning my wings. I might have even given up.”

“And now?” Henry prompts.

“Now,” I say slowly, realization dawning, “now I just want to help. I want Chloe to be happy, to find love, to understand the true meaning of Christmas. I don’t care about my wings—well, okay, I care a little—but it’s not the most important thing anymore.”

Henry’s smile is warm and proud. “Exactly. You’ve grown, Rebecca. You’ve learned to put others before yourself, to see beyond the surface to the heart of what really matters. That’s what being a guardian angel is all about.”

I feel a warmth spreading through me at his words. He’s right. I have changed. The Rebecca who first arrived in Benton Falls wouldn’t recognize the angel I’ve become.

“So what do I do now?” I ask, feeling a renewed sense of determination.

Henry’s eyes twinkle mischievously. “Well, you could always call in a favor from our friends in the Cupid department.”

I stare at him, my jaw dropping. “Wait, that’s a real thing? We can do that?”

Henry chuckles. “Of course it’s real. Where do you think all those romantic holiday movies get their inspiration from? But I don’t think you need reinforcements just yet. And you’ve still got your Miracle Card, right?”

I nod, my mind already racing with possibilities. Which miracle do I ask for? “Chloe and Oliver love each other. They’re just... stuck. Afraid. Just need a little push.”

“Perhaps,” Henry says, standing up. “But remember, the choice is ultimately theirs. We can guide, we can inspire, but we can’t force. That’s the beauty and the challenge of free will.”

Ugh. “Free will,” I mutter. “It’s great until it applies to my assignment.”

Henry chuckles. “You’re not the first angel in training with those sentiments.” He waves and then disappears, leaving me alone with a seemingly impossible challenge. But I smile. After all, I’ve got a Miracle Card in my back pocket.