Chapter 685
MARRIOTT THEATER - LINCOLNSHIRE, ILLINOIS
A group of people, including Chloe, stood around the stage. Kinsey sat in the audience. This was the final rehearsal night for Chess. The lights went down, and after a moment of instrumental music, the stage lights came back on. The stage was now set to look like a hotel room. Chloe, wearing a black and white checked dress, sat on the bed, but then stood up as some music began. Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_as8qvieoA) to listen along.
CHLOE (singing): If it were love I would give that love every second I had, and I do. Did I know where he'd lead me to? Did I plan doing all of this for the love of a man? Well I let it happen anyhow, and what I'm feeling now has no easy explanation, reason plays no part. Heaven help my heart. I love him too much, What if he saw my whole existence turning around a word, a smile, a touch? One of these days, and it won’t be long, he'll know more about me than he should. All my dreams will be understood. No surprise, nothing more to learn from the look in my eyes. Don't you know that time is not my friend, I'll fight it to the end hoping to keep that best of moments when the passion starts. Heaven help my heart the day that I find suddenly I have run out of secrets, suddenly I'm not always on his mind. Maybe it's best to love a stranger. Well, that's what I've done. Heaven help my heart. Heaven help my heart!
SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Trix knocked on the door of Ciara’s room, then walked in.
CIARA; Hey.
TRIX; Hey. How’re you going?
CIARA: I’m okay. Therapy ended for today a little while ago, just been resting since then.
TRIX: That’s good.
CIARA: Thanks again for the peanut butter eggs.
TRIX: Of course. Thanks for the creme eggs. I loved those.
CIARA: I figured you would.
Ciara and Trix kissed.
TRIX: What’d Lily say about that weird thing you’re feeling in your leg?
CIARA: Not much, honestly. She ordered a scan, and she says she’ll have the results for me in a little bit.
TRIX: Well, that’s good, isn’t it?
CIARA: Yeah, it should be. So, what’s going on in the world outside this hospital?
TRIX: Well...among other things, I think my dad may have a long-lost sister. And I’ve a feeling my granddad is part of the reason why no one knew about her until recently.
HORTON CENTER
JADE: What’s that supposed to mean?
ERIC: It’s not an insult, just an observation. It’s just that I’ve noticed that you and Nicole have similar personalities, as well as similar thoughts about yourselves.
JADE: Oh, okay. Gotcha.
ERIC: As for what I said just before that, I’m just telling the truth.
JADE: You actually think I’ve changed?
ERIC: I do, very much so.
JADE: How?
ERIC: Well, let’s think about it. A few years ago, you made some bad choices that resulted in Claire, Joey and a few others becoming hurt, emotionally. However, having the life experiences that you have had since then, if you were able to go back, would you do things the same way?
JADE: No, of course not. What I did to Claire and Joey...it sucked, big time.
ERIC: Exactly.
JADE: But at the time, I wasn’t thinking like that. All I was thinking was that Claire deserved it for being perfect, and I was mad at Joey for breaking up with me.
ERIC: And do you still have those feelings?
JADE: No. And I know that it was stupid to think that way, now. Claire was actually nice to me and helped me and Emmy when we needed it, even though she didn’t have to. No one would have blamed her for not helping me after what I did to her.
ERIC: However, as you know, that’s not who Claire is.
JADE: Exactly. And, even though we can’t ever be like we were, Joey helped me more recently, too.
ERIC: Let me ask something else, if I may. Before, if either of them had offered help, would you have accepted it?
JADE: Probably not. Back then, I thought I could do anything and everything I wanted.
ERIC: What do you believe led to this change in your mindset?
Jade thought for a minute.
JADE: I guess having Emmy. Even when I was pregnant with her, I was trying to blackmail Joey into doing what I wanted. But once I had her...it’s like something in me changed. I didn’t want her to have to go through the same stuff I did as a child. I didn’t want her to be as screwed up as I am. I want her to be a better person that I am.
ERIC: Do you think that that, in turn, may have caused you to become a better person?
Jade thought again.
JADE: I guess.
ERIC: I have to agree. So, as you can see, you’re not a horrible person. You made some regrettable choices in the past, but you have worked to better yourself, and tried to make amends with the people you’ve hurt.
JADE: I guess that kind of makes sense. But what does that have to do with Nicole?
ERIC: This stays between you and I, okay?
Jade nodded.
ERIC: Nicole has had a similar story to you. Obviously, it wouldn’t be fair to either of you to compare your histories, and what Nicole told me was in confidence, as is what you are telling me, and I would never break either confidence. Suffice it to say that there are things you have experienced and thoughts you have about yourself that are similar.
JADE; Oh, I see.
ERIC: I know this is something you’re still working on, but please, try to have patience. It may be that Nicole just needs time before she is willing to open herself up to the idea of having a new half-sister, but I have every confidence that she will get there, at some point. If you want to try and reach out, that’s fine, just know that it may take some time for her to respond.
JADE: Okay. That makes sense. Thanks, Eric.
ERIC: You’re welcome.
