Stolen Years (Read 27,771 times)

[wendylou]

Well that's interesting. Chloe knows she and Brady are divorced. I wonder what he told her about that before they jumped right into watching The Sound of Music. At least Brady was nice to Phillip.

I'm thinking Craig needs to hurry back.

[mae00]

I hope Philip realizes that Nancy is behind all of this. Brady didn't even know where Chloe was being held.

Craig is gonna be PO'd when he gets back!!

[MrsM]

I have a feeling the it is about to hit the fan!!

[melly]

Nancy's definitely up to her old tricks! Not subtle, is she? I don't think Craig will be too happy....if for no other reason than having one more person traipsing in and out of the house could draw attention and make people suspect where Chloe is.

[fluffysmom]

I suspect Chloe was happy to have someone besides Nancy in the house.

Poor Philip. What a nightmare to return to. He should definitely leave the boxes in the car for now.

[gapeach]

Hope Chloe follows Phillip upstairs and explains what is going on. Can I just say I DON'T LIKE NANCY!!

[Kpatch]

Chapter 22


He changed into a pair of pajama bottoms and lay shirtless in bed for hours looking up at the ceiling. Craig must have returned home at some point, because Philip could hear the muffled sounds of Nancy and Craig arguing from the master bedroom down the hall. It was all so surreal.

So is this how it ends? The way it began, Philip wondered, with Brady stealing Chloe right from under Philip’s nose? The last clear memory that Chloe has was being married to Brady. She was shocked and saddened when she learned they weren’t together anymore. She apparently didn’t remember everything going downhill, the drugs, how it all ended. So as far as she was concerned, everything was great between them. Why wouldn’t she want to get back together with Brady. In her heart, she probably still loved him as much as she ever did.

Damn it! He pounded his fist on the mattress. Here Philip was, trying to tread lightly, even keeping Chloe at arms’ length for the sake of her emotional health, and Brady just slithers back into her life like nothing happened. He felt sick to his stomach. He couldn’t bear the thought of living his life without her. He’d already spent too much of it that way.

Philip heard a noise at the bedroom door. He sat up in shock when Chloe opened the door and came inside wearing a button down nightshirt. Without a word, she climbed into bed next to Philip and rested her head on his chest. Was he dreaming?

“Hard to sleep with them yelling at each other, just like the old days, you know?” Chloe whispered. “I can hear them. They’re fighting about me. Is it terrible that Nancy just got here and I already wish she was gone?”

Philip was almost too stunned to respond. Chloe had come to him as if it was the most natural thing in the world. A few hours ago she was cuddling with Brady, and now she was here with Philip, confiding in him, holding onto him. Don’t question it Philip, he told himself. Seize the moment. He put his arm around her and held her close. “I know how you feel,” he finally managed an answer.

“I missed you,” she said. Those three words removed the heavy weight from Philip’s heart, and suddenly he could breathe again.

He smiled and squeezed her shoulder. “I missed you too.” Then like an idiot, he asked, “What happened with Brady?”

“He went home,” she replied. “We talked about what happened to us in Vienna. He took full responsibility for our marriage falling apart.”

“Are you okay with that,” Philip asked. “I mean, the things he told you.”

She nodded against his chest, her hair tickling his skin when she moved her head without lifting it. “I have to be,” she sounded resigned. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“I guess not.”

“He told me we stayed on good terms afterward. I was really glad to hear that. ... Funny, he looks so much older than he did the last time I saw him. Well ... the last time I remember seeing him.” She chuckled. “But I said that about my father. And about you too, didn’t I?”

Philip nodded. “We’ve all gotten older.”

“Not me,” Chloe said lifting her head off Philip’s chest and looking at him. She pointed a finger at Philip and laughed. “And don’t you dare tell me I did, Soldier.”

Philip grasped her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. “I won’t say a word.”

Their eyes locked as if they were seeing each other for the first time. Several moments passed without any words. He looked into Chloe’s eyes and she had that “undress me” look that he knew so well. Finally, she leaned over and kissed his lips. His libido kicked into gear and he started to wrap his arms around her, but she pulled back.

“When are we switching rooms,” she asked quietly.

Seemed like an odd question at that moment. Philip shrugged and ran his fingers through her hair. “I was thinking maybe tomorrow, if that’s okay with you.”

Chloe nodded and got out of bed. “Good night, Philip.”

“Chloe, wait.” Without thinking, Philip caught her hand and said, “Don’t go.”

She smiled sweetly and leaned over the bed again. “I don’t feel like being rejected again,” she said softly. She kissed her index finger, then pressed it to his lips. “Good night.”

She left the room and left Philip completely frustrated, but he knew she was right. He ran his hand over his face. Now he was sure he wouldn’t be getting any sleep at all tonight.

[MrsM]

I bet that eased a little of Philip's worry.

[melly]

Interesting. Did Craig know that Brady was going to update Chloe? She did seem to take it well, all things considered.

[Kpatch]

Jun 10, 2014 7:35:28 GMT -5 melly said:

Interesting. Did Craig know that Brady was going to update Chloe? She did seem to take it well, all things considered.

Craig didn't even know that Brady was coming over. But Craig had already told Chloe that she and Brady were divorced and he regretted telling her that much. Brady filled in some of the blanks, so I think that will help Chloe emotionally. Maybe I have to write that conversation and it can be a weekend bonus chapter.

[melly]

Duh. I remember that now. But I would never turn down a weekend bonus chapter!!!!

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad Chloe came to Philip's room. It had to ease his worries. Tonight is not the night for them to take it to the next level. Nancy would go ballistic if she caught them together. I can see her doing bed checks to make sure everyone is behaving properly.

[gapeach]

I am also glad that Chloe went to Phillip and explained the Brady situation. I would also like to 'hear' their conversation this weekend.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 23


Philip brought the boxes inside the next morning and he was carefully placing the mementos he brought back from Chicago around the room before Chloe moved in.

He put a framed picture of Parker on the dresser. He was trying to decide which dog tag to hang over the frame. If he left the one that said “I love you, Chloe,” that would be a little too much information, since it was obviously his dog tag. His name, rank, and serial number were on it. It would be obvious that he’d given it to her. So instead, he left the one she inscribed for him, the one that said “I love you Philip.” Then she would just know that someone had it engraved for him, but it would be up to her to remember the rest. He placed the heart-shaped shell ornament she made him on the dresser in front of Parker’s picture.

The planter was in the room, along with her favorite tea cup, her iPod with her favorite works from Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” to Rod Stewart’s “You’re in My Heart” to the Jonas Brothers among the playlist. He put the shoes in the closet, the workout clothes in a dresser drawer, and he draped the shawl over a chair. He hoped that these trinkets that represented their life and their love would have an impact. He hoped his plan wouldn’t backfire on him somehow, the way they so often did.

After that was done, Philip and Chloe switched rooms, passing each other in the hallway as they brought their clothing into their respective rooms.

When they were finished, Chloe called to Philip. He wondered if she saw the mementos and had questions. When he entered the room, she was standing near the closet holding the red dress against her body.

“When am I going to get to wear this,” she asked.

Philip’s lips parted. He didn’t know what to say because he wasn’t sure he understood the question.

Chloe must have read Philip’s puzzled expression, so she clarified. “You said you were going to take me out somewhere so I can wear this. Well?”

Philip smiled, showing off his dimples. “That’s right, I did.”

“You aren’t going to try and get out of our date, are you Soldier?”

Philip walked further into the room. “Not a chance. I’m dying to see you in that dress.” And out of it, Philip thought to himself. “How about tonight? Oh....”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“How do I pick you up for a date with that bulldog downstairs guarding your every move?”

Chloe laughed. “Well, you’ve done it before. Bet you can think of something. Get creative, Kiriakis,” she dared him.

Philip looked sideways, wheels turning. Then he looked at Chloe and a smile formed on his lips. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. How’s tonight? You doing anything?”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “Surely you can do better than that.”

Philip nodded, bowing his head in an exagerated fashion. “Sorry, Miss, I’m a little out of practice. Take two. Chloe ... Would you do me the honor of being my date tonight?”

Chloe squinted at Philip. “Better. But it needs work. However,” she said, drawing out the word, “yes, I will be pleased to be your date tonight.”

They laughed. “Great. So ... pick you up at 7:00?”

“Please do,” Chloe nodded rather formally.

[gapeach]

Can't wait to see how Phillip gets Chloe out of the house with Bulldog Nancy downstairs!