Chloe Character Analysis: The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey
Overview of Chloe in The Au Pair Affair
Chloe is a supporting character in Tessa Bailey’s The Au Pair Affair, introduced as the live-in roommate of the apartment Burgess Abraham secretly subsidizes for Tallulah Aydin. Described as an “ethereal blonde” with a guileless nature, Chloe works as a harpist and is the girlfriend of hockey player Sig Gauthier, who is also her future stepbrother through their parents’ upcoming marriage. Her warmth, unchecked honesty, and deep loyalty make her an essential emotional anchor for Tallulah as the protagonist navigates her new life in Boston.
Plot Role and Contribution to the Main Story
Chloe serves two primary functions in the narrative. First, she is the unwitting revealer of Burgess’s well-meaning deception. In Chapter Three, Chloe admits she was told to charge Tallulah only $700 rent because Burgess would cover the remainder via Sig. This disclosure forces Tallulah to confront Burgess’s protective tendencies and sparks a key conflict that deepens their romantic tension. Second, Chloe becomes Tallulah’s confidante and safe harbor. After Lissa catches Tallulah kissing Burgess in Chapter Twenty-Two, Chloe immediately offers her couch and listens without judgment. She provides the space Tallulah needs to process her feelings and ultimately helps pave the way for reconciliation.
Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions
Chloe’s motivations revolve around connection, loyalty, and a desire to please others, often at the expense of her own self-interest. She admits she “just live(s) here and hope(s) it all works out,” revealing a passive approach to life that contrasts with Tallulah’s guarded independence. Her actions consistently show she is:
- Guileless: She accidentally blurts out the rent arrangement because she cannot recall whether she was supposed to keep it secret.
- Loyal: When Tallulah arrives distraught, Chloe drops everything to comfort her, even when Sig tries to intervene.
- Supportive: She encourages Tallulah’s budding romance with Burgess, calling herself a “terrible romantic.”
- Self-aware about her dependence: She acknowledges Sig “fixes everything” and that she struggles with adult responsibilities like paying rent on time.
Chronological Arc
Chloe’s development is modest but meaningful. In her first appearance (Chapter Three), she is a naive young woman who cannot keep a secret and is easily managed by Sig and Burgess. By Chapter Eight, she has grown into a more confident friend, actively helping Tallulah escape an unwelcome classmate’s advances and sharing laughter while clubbing. In Chapter Twenty-Two, she demonstrates mature empathy: she listens to Tallulah’s confession of love for Burgess without judgment and offers practical shelter. While she still depends on Sig for guidance, her role shifts from a passive pawn to a supportive sister-figure.
Key Relationships
Chloe and Tallulah
Their friendship is built on mutual trust. Chloe admires Tallulah’s strength and does not hold a grudge over the rent deception. Tallulah, in turn, respects Chloe’s earnestness and vows to help her avoid being taken advantage of. In the chapter twenty-two scene, Tallulah stage-whispers her feelings about Burgess, and Chloe responds with genuine joy, reinforcing their bond.
Chloe and Sig
Sig is Chloe’s guardian figure and love interest. He “fixes everything” for her, from cleaning lessons to emergency rides home. In Chapter Eight, he arrives at the club to pick her up, showing his protectiveness. Chloe views him as both a protector and a source of frustration, as seen when she complains about being treated like a child. The relationship highlights Sig’s character and also underscores Chloe’s partial immaturity, though by the end of the arc she begins asserting her own opinions.
Key Decisions and Consequences
Chloe’s most consequential decision is revealing Burgess’s rent payment. This choice forces Tallulah to confront both her own pride and Burgess’s genuine care, which deepens their connection. Later, her decision to offer Tallulah a place to stay after the Lissa incident directly enables the reconciliation scene where Burgess and Tallulah talk. Without Chloe’s hospitality, the emotional reconciliation might have occurred elsewhere, but her home provides a neutral, safe space for vulnerability.
Connection to Themes and Symbols
Chloe embodies the themes of trust and vulnerability. Her inability to keep secrets ironically builds trust with Tallulah, who realizes she can be honest with Chloe. She also represents family and co-parenting indirectly through her role as a step-sibling-in-training; her relationship with Sig foreshadows the blended-family dynamics Tallulah must navigate with Lissa. Harp playing is a subtle symbol of Chloe’s artistic softness, contrasting with the violent world of hockey and mirroring the delicate emotional work needed to heal trauma.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chloe
1. Why does Chloe reveal the rent secret so quickly?
Chloe is guileless and admits she cannot remember if she was supposed to keep it quiet. Her honesty stems from a lack of guile rather than malice, which endears her to both Tallulah and the reader.
2. Does Chloe ever learn to be more independent?
The novel does not show a dramatic transformation; she remains dependent on Sig for practical matters. However, she shows emotional independence by choosing to support her friend against Sig’s initial request to leave.
3. What is Chloe’s relationship with Burgess?
They interact only indirectly through Sig and Tallulah. Chloe finds Burgess intimidating, describing him as “scary” even compared to her landlord.
4. How does Chloe’s harp playing tie into the story?
Her profession as a harpist is mentioned in Chapter Eighteen when she gets hired to play at a wedding. It underscores her artistic sensitivity and provides a contrast to the rough hockey world, aligning with the theme of transformation and second chances.
5. Is Chloe a round or flat character?
She is a flat character in the sense that she does not undergo significant change, but her consistent kindness and loyalty serve an important function in the narrative, providing warmth and stability for the protagonist.