Chasing the Moon (Read 22,477 times)

Author’s Notes: This story is the sequel to After the Fall.
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It picks up about 2 months after the earlier story ends.

Parker's Dialogue: Throughout this story, readers will get to “hear” Parker’s thoughts, the same way we heard Mikey’s thoughts in the movie "Look Who’s Talking." Note that, even though their reactions may make it seem like the adults hear his thoughts too, they do not. The readers are the only ones who know what Parker is thinking. Parker’s thoughts will be italicized throughout the story. Feel free to imagine that Parker sounds like Bruce Willis.

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Prologue

THE CONDO IN CHICAGO, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

Chloe looked at the clock again as she paced in Parker’s room. Parker stood up in his crib and watched Chloe grow increasingly anxious. He shook his little head.

Parker: Ma, could you please stop pacing. You’re making me dizzy.
Chloe: He’s not coming home. I just know it.
Parker: Who’s not coming home?
Chloe: He’s spending the night with her.
Parker: Ooh, a sleepover.
Chloe: What am I saying? If he wants to spend the night with his new girlfriend, he has every right. I had my chance, so I have no right to be jealous. Then ... why am I?

Chloe put her hand in the pocket of her robe and felt something. She took it out and looked at Philip’s dog tag.

***Flashback to 2 months ago***
Philip: The Marines have a motto.
Chloe: Um, that seems out of left field, but okay.
Philip smiled.
Philip: Semper fi. Semper fidelis. Do you know what that means?
Chloe: Always faithful.
Philip: That’s right. Loosely translated, it means “always trust.”
Philip took Chloe’s hand and placed one of his dog tags in her palm. She looked at him questioningly.
Philip: Here, I’m giving you one of my dog tags, and I’m keeping the other.
Chloe: I don’t understand.
Philip: This is our touchstone. A symbol of trust. ... I Philip, promise you, Chloe, that I will do everything in my power to prove that you can trust me again.
***End of Flashback***

Chloe: Semper fideles. Always trust. If I can trust him, then where the hell is he?

Chloe began thinking about the past few months. After she confessed the truth about becoming a prostitute and Philip disowned his mother, life at the condo became pretty blissful. They were parenting Parker together and tended to agree on most issues where Parker was concerned.

Chloe’s favorite times were when she and Philip took Parker to Lakeshore Park. Looking around at all the families there, it looked to the world like they were just another normal young family. Feeling normal became so important to Chloe after all the turmoil of the past couple years.

Philip was really good about creating an atmosphere of normalcy. He instinctively understood what Chloe needed and he provided that for her. He never seemed to judge her and he was more supportive than she ever imagined.

And so, Philip and Chloe’s friendship deepened and they were enjoying all the trappings of being a real family -- well almost all the trappings. There was nothing physical between them, nothing romantic -- despite the fact that at least one of them would have liked more from the other.


To be continued. Tune in for Chapter 1 of Chasing the Moon on Monday, 12/12.


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