Book 4: Endless Nightmare

Chloe

It takes longer than I planned to have dinner served, but eventually I manage to get the food out of the pan and onto our plates. Tony and I eat together, talking about trivial things. I feel the elephant in the room, lurking in the shadows, but I don't bring the sensitive topics to the table.

I feel like we're both in such a nice place now, that I fear whatever and whenever I mention Mateo, the little bubble of happiness we are building might pop and my life will return to its usual nightmare. I’m dreading the idea of it.

I don't know how to bring up the topic of Ellie being his daughter, either. He’s probably still mad at me for keeping it a secret from him, and even though I know we will have to address it eventually, I want to postpone it for as long as I can.

When we finish dinner, I tell Tony to go take a shower while I clean up the kitchen. He does as I ask, even though he tries to fight me on it for a while, saying he will stay