A/N: Finally we are at the end of Chapter 2. I decided to quickly post this last update so we can forge on ahead to chapter 3. Brisk and breezy - I hope I did this section justice. I just didn't want to agonize over it anymore. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and hit POST.
Thanks so much for the comments. I love hearing what you think about the story - fuels my writing fire.
JKJPatch - thanks so much for all your words of encouragement. You definitely are keeping me motivated to write.
Again unBETAed - (I am writing too fast for her to keep up! LOL) So excuse my errors and typos.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 2 part 4 - Melanie fidgeted in the hard wooden chair on the witness stand. The judge was conferring about something with the DA and Chloe’s lawyer, so Melanie was stuck waiting, on display in front of the entire courtroom. She was nervous enough without this added misery. Melanie hoped she could just get up say the facts and promptly sit back down. She didn’t want to be up there a moment longer than she had to be.
Being in the courtroom reminded her of Nick Fallon. Three years ago, she had sat in a courtroom very similar to this one and spoke on his behalf. Poor, sad, crazy Nick. Melanie honestly felt that Nick didn’t deserve to bear the brunt of the law for his crimes, but mostly she spoke at his hearing to impress Philip. She hoped that if Philip saw her asking for leniency from a man that had terrorized her, he would see she was a worthwhile human being. And it worked, for a while, until Stephanie sashayed back into his eye line. But for a few brief moments, Philip liked and respected her. She still couldn’t help but hope that Philip would like and respect her after she spoke in court today. Everything seemed to be about Philip since Melanie arrived in Salem, in one way or another. Today was no different.
She had tried to avoid looking at Chloe all morning. Melanie thought it would be safer to keep a detached distance. She didn’t want her emotions to get the better of her, especially on such an important day. Chloe always seemed to get a rise out of Melanie lately. She couldn’t look at Chloe without thinking about how she had tried to hurt Parker. Melanie realized that this viewpoint may be somewhat irrational, since Chloe was sick at the time and in treatment now, but she still felt it just the same. Ever since Parker was born, Melanie had been protective of him, now even more so. Her every instinct was telling her that Parker had to be protected from Chloe.
The judge was still conferring, so Melanie allowed her eyes to wander in Chloe’s direction. It was hard to avoid, since she was basically sitting right in front of her. There Chloe sat, looking model perfect as usual, casually sipping a glass of water, as if she were at a banquet instead of a hearing. Her tweed dress fitted to perfection, not a hair out of place. Melanie self-consciously smoothed down her own red hair, sure it was a mess compared to Chloe’s always pulled together style. If Melanie were completely honest she would admit she was slightly jealous of Chloe. Even with the entire world against her, Chloe still managed to look like the picture of grace. Melanie never could be that effortless, she was always saying the wrong things, laughing too loud, tripping over her own feet. She bet Chloe never tripped, not even while wearing five-inch heels.
The media frenzy surrounding this case had a whole lot more to do with how beautiful Chloe was and less with the welfare of a child. Every article or TV segment started off with Chloe’s face for the world to see. Maggie said the media were just interested because Parker is a Kiriakis, but Melanie knew the truth. A beautiful crazy lady was far more intriguing to today’s journalists than a frumpy stringy haired mom from Nebraska. Chloe looked like a model and the media was all over her. If Chloe managed to beat this rap, postpartum depression awareness groups would suddenly get a pretty new face to lend to their cause. Chloe would probably get offered a six-figure book deal when it was all said and done. She would get her baby back, marry a millionaire, and do the talk show circuit, all while flawlessly dressed. Maybe she would end up with her attorney. Leave it to Chloe to find the hottest man around to represent her.
And of course Melanie would be stuck in Salem, alone and worried about whether or not Parker was getting fed on time or a having a good night’s rest. Melanie definitely felt like the ugly stepsister in this fairytale. No prince was going to ride up to her house and offer her a glass slipper. At least not another prince. She had her shot at being Cinderella once, and her prince promptly decided the shoe fit better on Chloe Lane than on her own size 8 foot.
None of that mattered now in any case. Her only concern in life was taking care of her family. And Parker was a big part of her family, so she was willing, if not quite ready, to look out for him, no matter the costs. She made a promise and she intended to keep it. Not that it was a hard promise to keep. She loved that baby more than she ever thought possible. She was able to give all the love she kept bottled inside to Parker. The love she wished she could have given Trent to make him stop hurting her, the love she desperately had wanted to give to Philip to make him never leave, it all went to Parker now.
“Please take your seats. We are ready to continue. Mrs. Kiriakis you’re in a very interesting position in this case. You’re the one person that was involved with Ms. Lane intimately before and after the baby was born. And you currently have temporary custody of baby Parker,” stated Judge Leary.
“That is correct your honor,” Melanie responded trying to swallow the lump that seemed permanently lodged in her throat.
“Let’s start from the beginning. How did you come to be acquainted with Chloe Lane?”
“I knew her from around town. She was married to Maggie Horton’s nephew for a time, and she later became engaged to my father, Daniel Jonas. So I had many chances to run into her.”
“How would you characterize your relationship with her at that point? Were you friends?”
“I didn’t know her very well. She seemed sweet enough, very quiet though. I have a hard time with quiet people. I talk a lot and when someone doesn’t talk back, it makes me nervous.” Melanie giggled slightly as she twisted her wedding rings around her finger. “I don’t think I ever had longer than a five minute conversation with her, until Philip and I became engaged.”
“Your husband, Philip Kiriakis, was close to Ms. Lane?”
“Yes. She and Philip went to high school together. They were sweethearts, first loves,” she said rolling her eyes upward emphatically. “They maintained a close friendship over the years.”
“So you got to know her better through your husband?”
“And my father.”
Not that Chloe was very embracing of Melanie. She was rather standoffish for the most part. There was that time when Chloe planned a brunch for all of them. It was nice, but it felt more like Chloe was doing it to impress Daniel rather than truly wanting to bond as a future family.
“After spending more time with her, did your impressions of Chloe change?”
Melanie quickly glanced over at Chloe before answering. “Well she still was pretty quiet with me. Things were awkward between us. I think because Daniel and I newly discovered we were father and daughter. That’s a lot to handle out of the blue, not only for us, but for Chloe as well. I sort of thought she might have resented my sudden presence in her life.”
“Did Ms. Lane ever express any of those feelings to you?”
“No, she always maintained she was happy that Daniel and I found each other,” said Melanie looking down at her lap.
She always wanted to believe that Chloe wanted her around Daniel, but at times it was hard. She couldn’t help feeling like she was always interrupting a romantic moment or some big plans. The timing never felt right whenever she came around their apartment. Both Daniel and Chloe had assured her she was being silly, but Melanie still didn’t quite believe them. And after Philip told Melanie about Chloe’s hysterical pregnancy that occurred right when Daniel had found out he had a daughter, Melanie was even more convinced. She had barged into Daniel and Chloe’s lives at the worst possible moment.
“I have here in my report that you delivered Parker. Is that correct?”
"I helped. I was with Chloe when she went into labor at the Horton cabin. Lucky for us, my father arrived just before Parker was born. I’m not sure I could have managed without him. I didn’t picture my first birthing experience as a nurse to be in the middle of the woods.” Melanie looked over at Chloe and smiled. Chloe smiled back at her as if she too were remembering Parker’s birth.
It had been an amazing day, one that she had hoped would be a new beginning for the both of them. Chloe had given her a real family with Parker, a brother who would know her from the start. He wouldn’t be some newly discovered relative that had to find a way to accept and love her. She would be in Parker’s heart from day one, a real big sister. It was something she had always dreamed about. Melanie had felt so grateful. She wanted to forgive Chloe of everything after that. And she did, for about two hours, until she found out Parker was Philip’s baby and not her father’s. She felt like an idiot for even allowing herself to be that happy, even for a few hours. Melanie knew better. Dreams never came true for long in Melanie’s world.
“Was it because you were there at his birth that you developed a close bond with Parker?” asked Judge Leary turning to face Melanie more fully. “I ask this because you are his temporary guardian, and yet he was conceived with another woman outside of your marriage.”
“At first we all thought Parker was my little brother, so of course I loved him already. When I found out that he actually was my husband’s son, I was stunned. I was certain that all the anger and resentment I felt about his infidelity would impact how I saw Parker. But when I went into the NICU and saw his little face again, none of that mattered,” she said with a small smile, running her fingers through the front of her hair. “He’s his own little person you know? It doesn’t matter how he came into the world.”
“You lived with Maggie Horton the same time that Chloe and Parker did last November?”
“I have lived with Maggie since 2008. When Philip and I got married we continued to live there. It’s the only home I have ever known in Salem, anywhere really.” Melanie looked over at Maggie who was seated next to Victor. She gave Melanie a small wave from her seat. Melanie smiled back at her as she continued. “Parker was in the hospital for about a month because he was premature and developed an infection at birth. He was released in early November and that is when he and Chloe moved in.”
“Tell me about Chloe’s interaction with Parker during that time period.”
“It is kind of hard to say this,” Melanie hesitated pushing her hair out of her face before she spoke. “Chloe didn’t seem all that interested in Parker. She rarely held him or played with him, she was always so quick to pass him off to someone else. It almost seemed like she was annoyed by his presence. It was very strange, because I was around her during her pregnancy and she was excited about having the baby.”
“Can you give me some specific examples of this behavior?”
“At first it was subtle. People tend to gush over a newborn, asking to hold him and such, and Chloe would always let them. Which is fine in and of itself, but she seemed so reluctant to take him back. I think in the month that both of them were living with us, I took care of Parker more than she did. I would come in from the hospital and Chloe would be waiting for me by the kitchen door. She would claim she had to go get diapers or run some errand and she would shove Parker at me and leave. It sometimes would be hours before she returned. Don’t get me wrong, I love Parker and I was happy to spend time with him, but I just found it a bit confusing that Chloe seemed like she wanted to get away from him or something.”
“Did you ever witness Chloe neglecting the baby or drinking while taking care of him?”
“Does never responding when he cried count as neglect? It was either me or Maggie that got up with Parker in the middle of the night. Chloe didn’t seem to hear him. There also was this one time that she left Parker home alone. I came in from the hospital and Parker was in the kitchen strapped in the carrier crying his eyes out. Chloe was nowhere to be found. I know there were other instances when she left him alone as well. I didn’t witness those times so I can’t really speak on them. As far as drinking, I never witnessed anything directly. There was also this time I received a call from the Cheating Heart. My husband’s cousins own the place, so they called the house to tell me that Chloe was there drunk. It was the middle of the day, and she was supposed to be home with Parker, while I went to work. So I had to get someone to cover my shift and stay with Parker the rest of the day. Chloe finally staggered in a few hours later reeking of booze.”
“Did you ever report this to anyone?”
“Just my husband’s mother, Kate Dimera. She was as concerned as I was about Parker. I figured she would know what to do. I wasn’t really sure how to handle it. I didn’t know she was getting treated for postpartum depression until much later. My first thoughts were just that she was a bad mother. But I realize now that she was ill.”
“Where were you on the evening of December 9th, 2010?”
“I was working in the ER that night. I actually was there when they brought Parker in. I didn’t know it was Parker at the time of course. All I knew was that it was a baby suffering from exposure.”
“Before we talk about Parker’s situation that evening, let’s talk about Chloe. Were you there when Ms. Lane was brought into the emergency room?”
“Yes I was. Brady came in carrying her, they both were soaking wet. Chloe was rushed to a room and Brady was examined in triage. I actually was his attending nurse.”
“Did Mr. Black say anything to you about what happened with Ms. Lane?”
“Not really. He just said that he was worried because Chloe had fallen into the river. I remember asking him how she managed to do that, but he never really answered me.”
“Were you also the nurse that attended to Parker Kiriakis?”
“No I was not. He was immediately taken to intensive care. I didn’t find out the baby was Parker until a few hours later. My supervisor, Maxine Waters, called me into her office. She was the one that told me the baby was in fact my stepson. She also showed me the note that was pinned to him.”
“I have a copy of that note right here,” said the Judge as he sorted through the pile of papers in front of him. “ I assume she showed the note to you because you and your husband were referenced in it.”
“I think so. She told me that Parker was found in the middle of the woods and was probably left there for close to an hour. His cheeks were frostbitten and his body temperature was very low. They feared he was hypothermic. I couldn’t believe it.” Tears blurred Melanie’s eyes as she remembered Parker that night. “I thought someone had maybe kidnapped Chloe and Parker, tried to do them harm. My husband is from a very powerful family, sometimes things happen. But when I found out it was Chloe that did it, I just couldn’t believe it. How could anyone want to hurt something so precious?”
Wiping a few tears that had escaped from her cheeks she looked angrily over at Chloe. She could tell Chloe had been crying as well. Her nose was red and a few unshed tears were shining in her eyes. Melanie couldn’t help but feel a little pleased that Chloe seemed to be reacting to what she had said. She wasn’t trying to be malicious. She didn’t want to deliberately upset Chloe, but at the same time she needed Chloe to know the true impact of her actions. She wasn’t sure if any of this was real to Chloe, if she understood that Parker could have easily died that night, all because of her selfish behavior.
“I am going to read the note that was left with the baby aloud for the record,” stated the Judge taking off his glasses and holding up a paper in his hands. “The note says,
Dear Philip,
Please take your son. You will do a much better job raising him than I ever could. Everything I touch just withers and dies. I need you to save Parker from me. You and Melanie will give him a great life. I trust that. Be sure to tell him that I loved him, but I had to go.
Love you always, ChloeThis note was later turned over to the police as evidence and subsequently used to build the case against Ms. Lane. How did it happen that you were awarded temporary custody of Parker and not his grandparents or some other blood relative?” asked Judge Leary adjusting his glasses back on the bridge of his nose.
“It all happened so quickly. It was either find someone to take the baby right away or have him put into the child welfare system. I couldn’t let that happen, not even for a day. So I volunteered. I guess the court agreed because Parker was already living in the same household with me and I was actively involved in his care. Parker’s grandparents are older with very busy careers. I guess the court thought I was a better choice.”
“How is Parker since he has been in your care?”
“He’s a wonderful little boy,” Melanie broke into a broad grin as she spoke. “He is in the 95th percentile for his age in height and weight, which is amazing because he was premature. He’s a big baby that loves to eat and play. He’s alert and already is trying to sit up independently. Sleeping is not really his thing, but we are working on that.”
“So you have not seen any adverse reactions to his being left in the cold or to not having his mother around?”
“No your honor. He’s a very happy, healthy baby that smiles all the time. The way his face lights up when I come into the room, it reminds me of his father.” Melanie smiled sadly as she imagined Philip holding Parker, with matching grins on their faces. If only she were able to make that image a reality.
“So in your opinion, would you say that Parker is better off now that his mother is not in his daily life?”
“Wow that is a hard question to answer. I mean obviously every child is better off with a mother. I didn’t have a mother growing up and I’m very sure I suffered because of that. But with Parker, he always had a support system in place that made sure he was cared for even while Chloe was acting somewhat unstable. So I don’t think he senses that much of a difference in his life now that she is gone. I think Parker would be happy to have his mother back, and I also think he would still be just as happy without her. I’m the one that is having difficulty.”
“How so?”
Melanie sat back in her chair and took a deep breath. “I am scared by the idea of Parker being alone with Chloe. After she left him alone in the woods, I don’t trust her.”
Melanie heard Chloe make a muffled noise at her seat. Chloe looked pale and had one hand over her mouth and her other gripped onto her lawyer. Melanie straightened her back and gathered her courage. She had to see this through.
“Ms. Lane is getting treatment for her PPD. Her doctors feel pretty confident that incidents such as that one will no longer occur. Doesn’t that put your mind at ease?”
“Not really your honor. We’re talking about the life of a child.” Melanie turned and looked Judge Leary directly in the eyes. “Can you just so casually put him back in the arms of a mother that tried to kill him?”
A hush fell over the courtroom at her words. Melanie thought she even heard a gasp from Maggie, but she didn’t dare look in that direction. She couldn’t bear the disappointment she would inevitably see on her face. Melanie knew Maggie would not agree with what she was saying. But there was no turning back now. Melanie had finally found the courage to voice her fears. She felt liberated, she felt like she finally had come through for Parker and for Philip.
“Nothing about my decision is casual Mrs. Kiriakis. Parker’s welfare is first and foremost in my mind.”
“In my mind as well. I can’t shake the feeling that Chloe is a ticking time bomb. She may seem fine on the surface, I’m sure she even feels fine right now, but what happens if she snaps one day? Runs out of the house because she can’t cope and leaves a pot on or something? What if this time she jumps into the river with Parker in her arms? Can you live with those questions on your conscience your honor? I know I can’t. These thoughts have been keeping me up at night.”
“You hateful bitch!” yelled Chloe as she bolted from her seat. Her lawyer tried to pull her back down, but Chloe was vigorously fought him off. She made her way around the table and headed in Melanie’s direction, tears streaming down her face. “She is trying to steal my baby your honor. She wants to keep Parker!”
“Order in this court! I ask that you take your seat Ms. Lane and control yourself. Counselor handle your client,” said Judge Leary, loudly banging his gavel on his desk for emphasis.
Chloe’s lawyer rushed to her side, once again trying to pull her back to the table, but Chloe seemed determined. She was almost to the witness stand when a large baldheaded bailiff lifted Chloe clear off the floor. Her shoes hitting the ground as he picked her up.
“Put me down!” screamed Chloe. “I need the judge to understand. She told me! Last night she told me! She’s stealing my baby! You’ve got to stop her!” Tears slurred Chloe’s speech as she yelled. Her face was beet red and she was kicking and hitting at the bailiff almost hysterically, her dress rising up her thighs as she struggled. Melanie just stared wide eyed in shocked horror.
“Get her out of this courtroom!” demanded Judge Leary.
“I’m going to tell Philip about this Melanie! I’m going to tell him what you’re doing. And he will hate you. He’ll hate you forever when I tell him what you’re doing to his baby!” screamed Chloe as the bailiff carried her toward the door.
Melanie recoiled in horror at her words, every syllable feeling like a punch in the gut. “I am going to tell Philip! Philip will help me!”
The name ‘Philip’ echoed in Melanie’s ears as Chloe’s hysterical screams faded out of the courtroom. All that remained were Chloe’s pumps sadly scattered in the center of the courtroom. Melanie stared at them with tear filled eyes, fighting the urge to throw up in her seat.
“Due to the disruption, court is adjourned for today. Mrs. Kiriakis you are free to go. DA Woods, Mr. Donovan may I speak with you in my chambers please?”
The judge was already out of the door before Melanie even registered what he said. She was still haunted by Chloe’s words. “Philip would hate her”. Would he really hate her for protecting Parker? Melanie wanted to believe he would understand, but Chloe seemed so adamant. Maybe she was right, maybe Philip would hate her for the things she said.
“Melanie sweetheart.” Melanie turned toward the soft voice calling her name. Maggie was standing in front of her looking very upset.
“Did you hear what Chloe said? Did you hear her calling for Philip?” Tears ran down Melanie’s face as she spoke, the horror of just a few moments before replaying over and over in her mind.
“I’m more concerned about what you said Melanie,” said Maggie firmly.
“What did I say?” asked Melanie in confusion.
“On the stand. Do you realize what you did to Chloe up there? You might have made it a whole lot harder on her?”
“I didn’t do anything but tell the truth.”
“You couldn’t have meant all that you said. You don’t actually think that Chloe was trying to kill Parker?” asked Maggie in disbelief.
“She left him in the woods where no one would find him. That sounds like attempted murder to me.”
“Melanie! You need to stop this right now. If you’re trying to take out your anger over their affair here in this courtroom, I will be so disappointed in you. This should have been all about Parker.”
“I was thinking about Parker! I don’t care about their stupid fling. I don’t want that little boy hurt, or abandoned, or abused. I don’t want him to go through any of the things I had to. And I’m going to see to it he doesn’t. I’m sorry you don’t approve of me right now Maggie, but I’m not going to apologize and I’m not going to take anything back. Parents have the power to damage their children. I’m living proof of that. Chloe could really hurt Parker, she did it before and I don’t trust her not to do it again.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” chimed in Kate as she joined them at the witness stand. “I thought Melanie was very brave up there. You stood up for my grandson, and I want to thank you for that, sweetie.”
“Get real Kate! You don’t care about Parker, you just want to stick it to Chloe,” huffed Maggie.
“My distaste for Chloe Lane has nothing to do with what is right for my grandson. Not even you can argue that Chloe didn’t put Parker in serious danger when she had him in her care. Melanie just stated what we all were feeling, if we were honest with ourselves.”
“Where’s Parker now?’ asked Melanie.
“I left him at the house with Sonny and Abigail since I was unexpectedly called to court,” answered Maggie.
“I need to go see him,” said Melanie getting up from her seat and stepping down onto the floor with Kate and Maggie.
“I’m not done talking to you young lady,” said Maggie sternly with one hand on her hip.
“I could ring my son’s neck,” growled Victor as he suddenly appeared. “I just want to grab him and shake him. How could he do this? A Kiriakis man doesn’t shrink away from his responsibilities like this,” Victor pumped his fist in the air violently as he spoke. “He has one crazy woman screaming bloody murder and another taking care of his son and holding his life together. He should be here to handle this chaos he created himself. I just want to throttle him. I just – “ Victor shook his head in disgust, unable to find the words to continue. Melanie had never seen Victor this upset, he was visibly shaking and tiny veins were popping out all over his forehead.
“I think I should see you home,” said Maggie gently as she took Victor’s hand. “He’s my ride. So we are going to go. But this is not over,” she added turning to Melanie. “I will talk to you at home.”
“Maggie, I can’t see that there is anything left to say. I just really need to go and see Parker right now. I need to hug him and make sure he is all right.”
Melanie brushed past Victor and Maggie as she made her way down the aisle toward Daniel. Her father would take her home. He would understand what she needed. Daniel was waiting at the end of the aisle a few feet from the double doors leading to the corridor, watching her approach.
“Are you ready to go?” Daniel asked as he pulled Melanie into his arms.
Melanie nodded in response as she burrowed into his shoulder, thankful that there was someone in the world that would always be there for her. In the blink of an eye she had found unconditional love in the form of her father. Now in another blink, it seemed she would have to be the one to give that same unconditional love to Parker. She prayed she was up to the challenge, because it didn’t seem like either of Parker’s parents were going to be around to do the job.
--------------------------------------------
Next up chapter 3 - Maggie and Melanie have a talk & Chloe deals with the consequences of her actions.
