15. Chloe

CHAPTER 15

Chloe

I stand next to Rendal, watching him spread out the checkered picnic blanket on the soft grass. The sun warms my skin, and a gentle breeze carries the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Zola and Penelope are already off in their own world, their laughter echoing across the park as they chase each other.

"They're having a blast," I say, smiling at Rendal. He looks up at me, his blue eyes twinkling.

"Yeah, they sure are. It's great to see them getting along so well."

I'm about to sit down on the blanket when movement catches my eye. My heart drops to my stomach as I spot a familiar figure striding towards us. Valeria. Her presence always brings a cloud of tension, and I can feel it settling over our perfect afternoon.

Oh great, she's here again, I think to myself, trying to keep my expression neutral. I glance at Rendal, wondering if he's noticed her yet. He's still arranging things on the blanket, oblivious to the approaching storm.

Valeria waves enthusiastically, her smile wide but not quite reaching her eyes. "Hey there!" she calls out, her voice carrying across the park. "Mind if I join you guys?"

I freeze, unsure how to respond. This was supposed to be our time together, a chance for us to bond as a family unit. Valeria's presence threatens to upset the delicate balance we've been working so hard to maintain.

But I smile as Rendal looks at me, not wanting to start any drama. "Go ahead," I answer, but I think Rendal can see the tension lining my face.

He looks between me and Valeria, but before he can say anything, Zola rushes up to her mother, eager to see her. And that is all it takes for me to force down my own feelings.

After Zola and Penelope take off again, I watch with growing unease as Valeria settles herself on the picnic blanket, strategically placing herself between Rendal and me. The afternoon sun suddenly feels too hot on my skin, and I resist the urge to fidget uncomfortably.

As we start to unpack the food, Valeria leans in close to Rendal, her voice pitched low and intimate. "She's having such a good time. She's always loved the park." Rendal nods without looking up at her. "Not as much as the beach, though. Remember the first time we took her there? She was so tiny then, barely able to toddle around in the sand."

Rendal nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, she loved chasing the seagulls."

I clear my throat, trying to join the conversation. "That sounds adorable. Penelope loves the beach too?—"

But Valeria barrels on as if I hadn't spoken. "Oh, and what about her first birthday party? We had it in a park just like this. You were so nervous about blowing up all those balloons, Rendal."

"I was afraid I'd pop them all," Rendal quips, caught up in the memory.

I feel a twinge in my chest, a mix of hurt and frustration. It's like I'm invisible, my presence barely acknowledged. I try again, "We should plan a beach day soon. The girls would love?—"

"Zola, honey," Valeria calls out, effectively cutting me off mid-sentence. "Come here and tell Daddy about the new trick you learned at gymnastics."

As Zola bounds over, excited to show off, I feel myself being pushed further to the periphery. Valeria dominates the conversation, her voice a constant stream of shared memories and inside jokes with Rendal. Every time I attempt to contribute, she smoothly redirects the topic or speaks over me.

The picnic food turns to ash in my mouth as I watch Valeria lean in close to Rendal, touching his arm as she laughs at something he's said. Her presence is overwhelming, filling up all the space between us, both physically and emotionally.

I catch Rendal's eye, silently pleading for him to include me, to acknowledge the awkwardness of the situation. But he seems caught up in Valeria's web of nostalgia, responding to her prompts about their shared past with Zola. I know he's only thinking of his daughter, but I'm struggling to maintain my calm.

Needing a break, I walk over to the kids, who perk up as soon as they see me. "Can we go on the swings?" Penelope asks.

"And you push us really high?" Zola adds.

I nod, taking Penelope's hand in one and Zola's in the other. I lead them both to the swings, grateful for a moment away from Valeria's domineering presence. As I push the girls, her giggles fill the air, momentarily lightening my mood. But I can't shake the feeling of Valeria's eyes boring into my back.

"Higher, Mommy!" Penelope squeals, and I oblige, pushing her a little harder.

"Zola seems so happy having both her parents here," Valeria's voice carries across the playground, saccharine sweet but laced with venom. "It's just like old times, isn't it, Rendal?"

I flinch at her words, feeling a sharp sting in my chest. I try to focus on Penelope's laughter, on the simple joy of pushing my daughter on the swing, but Valeria's presence taints even this small moment.

After a while, the girls run off to play in the sandbox. I follow to where Rendal is sitting on a nearby bench, hoping for a chance to reconnect. But before I can even sit down, Valeria wedges herself between us, her smile triumphant.

I clench my fists in my lap, frustration building inside me like a pressure cooker. I'm about to break the biggest rule on the playground and push her off this bench…or worse.

"You know, Rendal," Valeria continues, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Zola's been asking about spending more time with the three of us together. She misses having both her parents around."

I feel my nails digging into my palms as I struggle to maintain my composure. The implications behind Valeria's words are clear - she's staking her claim, reminding me that I'm the outsider here. I glance at Rendal, silently pleading for him to say something, to include me in some way.

He looks between the two of us. "I think she seems very happy any time she gets to play with Penelope," he says smoothly, though it is short lived when Valeria dives in, trying to drag him down memory road again.

But Rendal makes a visible effort to include me in the activities with the kids. He stands, walking over to where the girls are building a sandcastle, his eyes meeting mine with an apologetic smile.

"Hey Chloe, come join us. We could use your artistic touch on this castle," he says, patting the sand beside him.

I smile gratefully and start to move towards them, but Valeria quickly interjects.

"Oh, I've got a great idea for the tower! Zola, remember how we used to make those fancy spires at the beach?"

She smoothly slides into the space Rendal had cleared for me, effectively blocking my path. I pause, unsure of how to proceed without causing a scene.

Rendal frowns slightly, then turns to me. "Chloe, why don't you and Penelope start on the moat? We'll make it a competition - see who can build the best part of the castle."

I nod, appreciating his attempt to involve me. "Sounds fun! What do you say, Penelope? Want to make the best moat ever?"

Penelope jumps up excitedly. "Yeah! Let's do it, Mom!"

As we start digging, I can't help but notice Valeria's constant attempts to monopolize Rendal and Zola's attention. She keeps bringing up old memories, effectively excluding me from the conversation.

Rendal tries to steer the talk towards more inclusive topics. "Hey, maybe we could all go for ice cream after this? There's a great new place that opened up nearby."

Before I can respond, Valeria chimes in. "Oh, that reminds me of that little ice cream shop we used to take Zola to when she was a toddler. Remember, Rendal? She'd always get chocolate all over her face."

I can see Rendal's frustration growing, but he's clearly trying to keep things civil for the girls' sake. He catches my eye and gives me a reassuring smile.

"That sounds great," I say, forcing a cheerful tone. "Though it's getting late. But I know a perfect spot for a picnic nearby. Maybe we could make it a whole day out of it soon."

Valeria's smile tightens. "Well, I'm sure Zola would love to spend some quality time with just her parents. Wouldn't you, sweetie?"

I feel my heart sink, but I keep my focus on building the moat with Penelope. I don't want my tension with Valeria to spoil the girls' fun.

Rendal clears his throat. "Actually, I think it would be great if we all went together. The girls have so much fun playing with each other."

But that does nothing to deter Valeria.

As we finally arrive back at my house, I feel a wave of relief wash over me. The day has been exhausting, both emotionally and physically. Rendal and I settle onto the porch swing, the gentle creaking of the chains a soothing backdrop to the evening's quiet.

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage. "Rendal, we need to talk about what happened today."

He turns to me, his blue eyes filled with concern. "I know, Chloe. I'm sorry about Valeria showing up like that."

I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat. "It's not just today, Rendal. It's... it's everything. I don't know how much more I can take of Valeria being around all the time."

My voice cracks slightly, and I hate how vulnerable I sound. But I need to be honest with him.

"Every time we try to have a moment together, she's there. It's like she's purposely trying to come between us."

Rendal takes my hand in his, his touch warm and comforting. His expression is serious as he looks into my eyes. "Chloe, I promise you, I'm going to talk to her. This can't continue."

I feel a glimmer of hope at his words, but I'm still wary. "What are you going to say?"

"I'm going to make it clear that her behavior is unacceptable," Rendal says firmly. "She needs to understand that while she'll always be Zola's mother, our relationship is over. And she needs to respect the boundaries of our new family dynamic."

I squeeze his hand. "Thank you, Rendal. I just... I need to know that we're in this together. That you're committed to us."

"We are." He leans in and presses a quick kiss on my cheek. "I promise. I'll talk to her."