[90]
Darren had chosen to remain silent all this time. It’s not that he didn’t want to talk; in fact, many questions were lingering on his tongue about what had happened. But seeing Chloe’s expression that indicated she didn’t want to be disturbed, Darren decided to back down.
Although he remembered their time with Chloe not too long ago, her joyfulness was contagious. Spending the whole day together, with the silly excuse of shopping for gifts, left a lasting impression that Darren longed to experience again.
“Are you ready?” Darren asked, glancing at Chloe, who was fastening her seatbelt. She merely glanced back with a chuckle.
“What do you think?”
“I’m asking myself. Did I spend the day with Chloe today?”
She laughed. “It seems you can joke around too.”
Darren started the car engine, following the route he had informed earlier.
“Speaking of gifts, are you sure what I’ve chosen will suit your mother’s taste?” Chloe still had concerns about this.
“I’m sure,” Darren replied with a grin. “Although I don’t know your taste, you two will get along.”
“You have high expectations, it seems.”
“Not really, Chloe. Ah, should I tell you about my mother? So you’ll know what she’s like?”
Chloe’s brow furrowed in curiosity.
“I have no reservations about sharing about my family, Sa. I hope to introduce you to all of them someday.
“For what reason?”
Darren glanced briefly at the woman who was now looking at him. Chloe’s eyes sparkled beautifully. The curve of her lips had captured Darren’s heart for a long time. Not to mention her appearance never bored Darren’s eyes. And the way she took care of herself.
Everything about Chloe left Darren amazed day by day.
“Perhaps… as a future wife?”
Chloe laughed. It was so delightful. The same feeling infected Darren. However, the man knew that his woman wasn’t belittling him. She was blushing, embarrassed. It was evident from her face that it turned pink.
If only Darren were allowed to touch that hint of shyness, he would have done so earlier. Unfortunately, Darren didn’t want to strain the distance between them because of his excessive behavior. He wanted him and Chloe to spend their time together in the best possible way-a quality time that would leave an impression that Darren was serious about getting closer.
Not just empty words.
“It’s better if you tell me about your mother,” Chloe turned her face away briefly, trying to normalize herself after Darren’s words. Goodness! Chloe felt like a teenage girl who had just heard sweet words from her lover.
The story about Jenni Tamara began to unfold. She was the lone figure who had raised Darren for the past twenty years. Darren’s father, Adrian Tamara, had passed away long ago. They discussed their place of residence in Surabaya, the number of siblings Darren had, what Jenni did in Surabaya, and even some seemingly unimportant things that Darren shared.
Occasionally, Chloe responded with laughter, a sparkle of wonder, and other questions that enlivened their atmosphere. The journey to the downtown New York City mall felt short. Darren’s car had already entered the parking area.
“Hearing the story about your mother suddenly makes me miss visiting my mother’s grave.”
Darren looked at Chloe sympathetically. “You must be close to her.”
“More or less. But I’m also close to my grandmother. Their graves are close to each other. So I can satisfy my longing for them at the same time.”
“They must be proud to have a daughter like you, Sa,” Darren said sincerely. “You can overcome anything in your life and be happy.”
“I hope so,” Chloe said while unfastening her seatbelt. But as she was about to pull the door handle, Darren stopped her.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
“Allow me.”
“Oh my goodness!” Chloe burst into laughter. But she let Darren do what was on his mind. And true enough, the man opened the door for her. He was extending his hand for them to hold. Little did Chloe know, that look in his eyes made her confident that Darren was serious about getting closer.
It wasn’t the moment where a couple exchanged vows before God. But the feeling Chloe experienced was similar. The only difference was that Chloe decided to open her heart and accept Darren’s presence this time, which she felt was quite good. It might be even more thrilling if the culmination of their relationship was a sacred promise.
That could happen a few years ago, considering Chloe also had to make many adjustments.
With a deep breath, she accepted his outstretched hand. There was a cold sensation there, but she felt her heart beating much more intensely. “Thank you.” That was all Chloe could say as Darren helped her down.
The man didn’t say anything. Their hands held onto each other.
“Where should we go first?” Darren asked after a while. They were already in the lobby parking area. “Any ideas?”
“I’m sure your mother has a lot of handbag collections. So let’s scratch bags off the list.”
“You know?” Darren blinked in surprise. “I didn’t even mention that.”
“Just a guess. Besides, you said your mother works as a tax consultant.”
Darren laughed. “You guessed it right. My mother’s bag and wallet collections are so extensive she even had a special wardrobe made for them. I accompanied her several times to shop for bags. That’s why I invited you because I was confused about what gift would be suitable for my mother.”
Chloe shook her head softly. “Clothes or dresses are out too. Shoes as well. Your mother is a working woman with high mobility. Fashion is something she pays a lot of attention to.”
Darren gave up on all of Chloe’s assumptions. They were completely accurate. “I think I should show you what my mother looks like.” He reached for his phone, tinkered with it a bit, and as soon as he found what he was looking for, he showed it to Chloe.
The image of a middle-aged woman who still looked fit, beautiful, elegant, and precisely as Chloe had imagined. Very fashionable despite having a reasonably challenging job. Her gaze was strikingly similar to Darren’s.
“Beautiful,” Chloe unconsciously praised. Like most high-class women, whatever she wore was not in an average price range. Chloe knew that. Regarding the fashion world, she had truly learned from the expert Agatha Theodore.
“The one in front of me is beautiful too.”
Those words made Chloe look up. Coincidentally, they were face to face. Darren gazed at Chloe without hesitation. Intensely enough to make Chloe feel like she had no solid ground beneath her.
“Alright, alright. Let’s find her gift.” To cover up her nervousness, Chloe immediately returned Darren’s phone. She also started walking, leading the way even though she didn’t know where her steps would take them.
Meanwhile, Darren smiled contentedly. He quickly caught up with Chloe’s steps, this time not caring if Chloe would get angry or show an annoyed expression because of his actions. He slipped his fingers, firmly holding onto that hand as soft as silk.
“So… what should we look for?”
Darren was fortunate that the hand didn’t reject his grasp. It made his heart swell with happiness.
“When is her birthday anyway?”
“In two weeks, but I will most likely not be in Surabaya. There’s a seminar in Medan. That’s why I want this year’s gift to be special to compensate for my absence.
Chloe nodded in understanding. “Maybe… a video compiling all of your mother’s journeys? Surely you have them, right?”
“Starting from when she was a teenager, I guess.”
“Sounds good. Up until now, she’s still busy with her activities. That moment might seem trivial and not expensive, but it would be memorable.” Chloe spoke up again. “I’m sure your mother is busy, not just for being busy. But there are many important matters there. She has to struggle to raise you and your sibling, right? How to balance her busyness and still be a beloved mother figure to her children. I think that’s not a bad idea.”
Darren looked at the woman next to him with admiration. “You’re right. And I’m sure Mama would love it. She’s indeed busy, but I realize her busyness is also for the two of us. You reminded me of when we gathered together, supporting each other. So we can continue to strive and live according to God’s will.”
Chloe nodded slowly. “I hope that gives you a different perspective on the gift.”
“No, it’s more than enough. I didn’t expect such an idea to be even more meaningful.”
“I hope I didn’t make a mistake by giving the idea. I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed later.”