Chapter 3

As the plane touched down in Amsterdam after an eight-hour flight, there was excitement in the air. Chloe had been placed next to Don, with Cindy on the other side of him. They had enjoyed the flight, and if their two days in New York hadn't been enough to cement their friendship, the flight would have.

Chloe always found when traveling abroad that one always felt an instant connection with someone from their own country, even if one wouldn't usually have anything to do with the other. It was as if you were automatically neighbors with common ground.

Upon their arrival and journey through customs, vans were waiting to take them to their hotel. It was around eight at night, and as long as there were no delays, she would be able to meet Silas for a later dinner.

"What do you say we grab a quick bite to eat somewhere after we settle into the hotel?" Robert asked Chloe, and she was pleased to be able to turn him down.

"I can't. I'm sorry. I have plans." Chloe responded.

"What kind of plans can you have?" Trina asked with a snort.

"I'm meeting a friend," Chloe explained.

The van grew silent at her reply, possibly waiting for her to explain, but when she didn't, the conversation started back up once more.

"Who are you meeting?" Cindy whispered as they arrived at the hotel and exited the van.

"An old friend," Chloe explained as she smiled when she saw Silas leaning against a pillar in the lobby. He had his phone to his ear, and for some reason, Chloe knew he was talking to Faye, who was back in Savannah. Silas often had to make trips to his home country for business, and it was rare for Faye to travel with him unless he was going to be gone for an extended length of time.

Chloe grabbed her duffle bag and moved toward Silas. They kissed cheeks and greeted each other in Dutch before he handed Chloe the phone.

Chloe chatted with Faye, reassuring her that she was alright and that the journey had been without incident. They had seen each other only days before, so it didn't take long until they said their goodbyes and then handed Silas's phone back to him.

"Can I check in first?" she asked.

"Yes, I'll wait here," he agreed as he placed his phone back to his ear.

Chloe turned towards the check-in desk and paused as she saw several pairs of eyes staring back at her. She smiled at them as she joined them.

"Isn't it always nice to meet up with old friends?" Chloe asked as she joined the others.

Cindy gave her a smile in return. "He's handsome," she commented as she looked back at Silas.

"He is," Chloe agreed as she watched Trina and Robert step up to the desk.

"They put me with Ms. Marks this time," Cindy said, looking forlorn at the thought.

"Look at it as a chance to get to know her," Chloe recommended as she stepped up to the desk.

They had put Chloe with Trina, which wouldn't have been her first choice, but since she would be out most of the evening, it probably wouldn't matter.

It took Chloe only about half an hour to check in, freshen up, and meet Silas. She was thankful she had packed a crushable wrap dress that could be worn for dinner because she knew Silas would take her to a fancy restaurant. He always did.

She and Silas talked about nothing in particular as they traveled to the restaurant, and the subject of Faye monopolized most of the conversation since she was something that they had in common.

They had ordered and were drinking a fine wine when Silas leaned back in his chair and studied her.

"What?" Chloe asked as she sipped her wine, uncomfortable with his intent stare.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Chloe?" he asked in a soft voice.

"Yes." She nodded.

Silas looked as if he wanted to say more, but he was one who rarely shared his opinion.

"If you have something you want to say, Silas, say it," Chloe insisted, leaning back in her chair while keeping her eyes glued to him.

"It's not the same. It's not what you remember. They're not who you remember." His voice was low.

"How could it be? How could they be? They've fought a war for twelve years." Chloe met his eyes. "Is it because you think I'm not a good enough nurse?"

"Not at all. You're an outstanding nurse, especially in emergencies. You're able to make quick decisions under pressure. That's not what worries me." He shook his head as he played with the stem of his wine glass, his long graceful fingers slowly rotating the glass.

The reflection of the candlelight caught Chloe's attention, and she focused on it instead of Silas.

Chloe felt the need to explain to him what she was feeling. He was the only one that had been there twelve years ago, and he was the only one with her now, worried for her.

"I've given up on him. He's not what this is about?" They both knew they were talking about Valentine without having to mention his name. "Did you know, two years ago, when you first arrived in Savannah to write your book, he didn't want anything to do with me? You left us to talk night after night, and he never said anything more than goodnight before he ended the call." Chloe swallowed hard around the tears in the back of her throat. "I started to give up on him then."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Silas asked.

She could feel his eyes on the bent head while she thought about the massive amount of lying and pretending she had done with her friends to make them all believe that Valentine still cared for her. It was another instance of her trying to force the situation to be something it wasn't.

"Because I was too proud, stubborn, and possibly in denial." Chloe shrugged. "Now he has a girlfriend, fiancé, whatever she is, and I know for sure it's over."

She wanted to ask Silas if he had known all those years ago when he had escorted her home, if he had known Valentine hadn't really wanted her, and if he had pitied her.

She wanted to know so many things, but she couldn't bring herself to ask the questions.

"Then why are you doing this?" Silas asked in confusion.

Chloe blinked back the tears in her eyes. "I want to see my father." She could feel the anger start to rise as she thought about it once more. "He could have given him back to me. He could have sent him home long ago, but he didn't, and he still doesn't. Even now that the war is over, he keeps him close." Chloe looked at Silas, her eyes shooting sparks of anger. "He's my father, my only family. I have a right to see him!"

"Are you prepared for the fact that he too has changed?" Silas leaned forward.

"Perhaps, but his letters are the same. He's a lot like you, steady and wise." Chloe smiled at Silas.

"It's easy to be steady and wise until we're personally involved. You're father and Valentine will be personally involved when you arrive, and I fear it will not go well." He looked as if he wanted to shake that fact into her.

"Have you told them I'm coming?" she asked with an urgent tone.

"No, against my better judgment, I haven't. You probably wouldn't get across the border if I had," Silas insisted.

"Well, Valentine is not personally involved, and he hasn't been for a very long time, so I don't see how my arrival could affect him in any way. I am sure my father will show concern about my choice to join him, but I find it hard to believe that he will not be happy to see me."

Silas shook his head. "Valentine loved you, of that I'm sure, and he loves your father as if he was his own-"

"He's my father!" Chloe hissed, noting the past tense form of love when he mentioned Valentine.

"I understand that, but Valentine will need to keep you safe for your father's sake, at the very least, no matter what he feels for you," Silas placed his hand on top of Chloe's, meeting her eyes. "Valentine is not who you remember him to be. He is a dangerous man, and he will stop at nothing to keep those he loves safe, even if they live across an ocean."

"But he doesn't love me anymore, Silas, so how can it matter?" Chloe's voice was low. "I appreciate the concern you feel, but I am doing this. I need to do this, not only because I want to see my father but also to lay to rest old ghosts."

"I understand that, which is why I haven't told him you're coming, but he will be angry," Silas assured her.

"Good, then we're meeting on even ground because I have twelve years of anger to deliver to him." Chloe removed her hand from under Silas's as their food was delivered.

"I don't agree with him or even understand many of his choices, especially when it comes to the way he had treated you, but he is my friend, and I will stand by him despite it..."

"And, why do I feel there is an and in there?" Chloe asked, her voice hard. Silas had let her know whose side he was on, and it wasn't hers, but she did appreciate his telling her that he disagreed with Valentine. It was a small comfort.

"And if he asks me to come and get you again, I will. I know if he does ask me to come and get you, it's because you're not safe, and I ask you, for Faye's sake, not to fight it." His voice was as hard as hers.

Chloe thought about the request and nodded her agreement, realizing that it was a fair request. Knowing Silas the way she did, he wouldn't agree to come for her unless it was truly necessary.

They resumed talking about nothing important while they ate their delicious food, which somehow managed to taste like dust to Chloe.

After dinner, Silas escorted her back to the hotel, where she fell into bed next to a snoring Trina.

She had been nervous about her trip before, but some of Silas's words had struck her hard.

Had Valentine changed that much?