Dorothea's words were like an assurance that everything was under control and Chloe shouldn't worry about them too much.
In fact, she should be focusing on her little family—Vernon and Mackie, because they were also very important to her.
Chloe bit her lower lip.
She hated this gap between them. But she also understood that Vernon had a lot of resentment for Dorothea that he couldn't simply ignore. Dorothea abused him throughout his childhood, and he was already kind enough to let her stay with them.
She understood Vernon well.
But she wished that Vernon could eventually forgive Dorothea for her sins. So they could gather together like a real family.
"Alright then," Chloe nodded. "Do tell me if any of you need something. I'll be upstairs with Mackie and Vernon."
Dorothea nodded, "Now go, I know he needs you around, especially after a long day at work."
Chloe nodded, and she went up to return to her small family again.
Mackie smiled when she saw her Mommy had returned, "How's my cousins and Granny doing downstairs, Mommy?"
Chloe glanced at Vernon, who seemed to be ignoring her. She was saddened but then faked a smile in front of her daughter and replied, "They're also having a good meal, dear, just like the three of us."
"Un! Okay!"
**
It took them another hour to finally finish everything. Mackie went downstairs on her initiative since she wanted to play with her cousins before brushing her teeth and went to bed, thus leaving Chloe and Vernon alone.
Vernon finished drinking a glass of water and then went to the minibar and opened a bottle of wine before sitting on the long sofa, watching whatever movie was playing on the TV.
Chloe got worried when she saw that bottle of wine.
It was the sign that Vernon was really in a bad mood because he never touched booze unless he was stressed out or angry.
It saddened her to think that she was the one who ruined his Christmas.
So she carefully walked towards the sofa and joined Vernon.
She sneakily snuggled right next to him. She waited for Vernon to say something, but he only gave her a quick look before ignoring her completely. He busied himself drinking from that wine bottle while pressing the remote to switch the TV channel.
Not wanting to have a cold war with her man during Christmas, Chloe hugged her man's strong arm and said, "Vernon, are you mad?"
Vernon stopped switching channels. He gave Chloe a second glance and replied, "No."
"So you are mad."
"I'm not mad."
"But you're drinking wine. You don't drink alcohol when you're not angry or stressed out."
"I'm just in the mood for wine," Vernon insisted.
"But you're ignoring me…."
"I'm not ignoring you. We're talking right now."
Chloe pouted.
She hated this kind of cold banter between them. So she hugged his arm tighter and said, "Forgive me for letting them in, Vernon. But I… honestly, I'm not sorry for what I did."
"I don't want to ruin their Christmas, they deserve to have a joyful Christmas as a family," Chloe said. "But I… I also don't want to ruin your Christmas. So, I will do anything as long as you forgive me!"
"I'm not in the mood for that, Chloe."
Chloe's heart was aching when Vernon called him 'Chloe' instead of the usual 'Love, dear, or wife,' when they were being intimate like this.
It made her feel alienated and unloved.
"T—Then, what should I do to make it up so you won't be mad anymore?" Chloe asked. "I'll seriously do anything except for stopping them from coming here tomorrow. I already promised Mackie that she can spend Christmas with her cousins and Granny…."
Vernon let out a deep sigh. He dropped his bottle and finally shifted all his attention to Chloe instead, "I'm not mad at you, I mean it. I'm just… disappointed."
"I wonder where you put me in your priority scale," Vernon said. "I don't mind that you put Mackie above me as priority, as that is something you should do as a mother."
"But do you put me under Dorothea and those boys as well?" Vernon asked. "Naturally, I put you as my priority above all else. You are my number one. But seeing what you did to me, I wonder if you ever care for me."
"Chloe, do you think that I'll tolerate everything just because I love you? I also have pride, and I can't help being disappointed knowing that you don't seem to love me as much as I love you."
"But that's not true!" Chloe insisted. Her voice began to tremble as his accusation hurt her. "I just…I just think this is the best for you…"
"The best for me?"
"I just thought that you need a family," Chloe admitted. She looked down, disheartened, knowing that her effort to make him happy was in vain and even made things worse. "You need a family that will make you happy. That's why I'm telling the boys to decorate the tree with Mackie, and Dorothea to cook with me."
"To have a big family in your house, at least during holiday season, is a blessing," Chloe said. "I just thought that you must've been lonely all these years. I know that you didn't like Christmas with the Gray family when you were a kid, and I doubt you enjoyed the Christmas you spent before we reunited, because you don't seem to be in a long term relationship with anyone."
Chloe took the initiative to kiss Vernon and stared at him earnestly, "You are the only reason I went so far to create this atmosphere of a big family. You're the reason that I accepted Dorothea so you could make peace with your past, and you're the reason why I insist on fixing my appearance, so I can look beautiful for you."
"Vernon, I did everything because I want you to have a real home!"