Stolen Years (Read 27,772 times)

[fluffysmom]

I hope the momentoes will trigger some of Chloe's memories.

I'm looking forward to their date. I hope Philip can come up with a plan.

[MrsM]

So sweet.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 24


Philip went downstairs to talk to Nancy and Craig. Chloe wanted to go on a date with him and it was important that he have her parents’ support. The last thing he needed was for this to blow up into something ugly. As much as he hated tangling with Nancy Wesley, he wasn’t a kid anymore. He was an adult, and whether she liked it or not, he was the father of her grandchild, and he wasn’t about to let her pettiness interfere with his relationship with Chloe, not anymore.

He found Nancy and Craig having coffee and reading the Sunday newspaper in the living room. Nancy shot Philip a dirty look and resumed her reading. Craig’s greeting was more friendly.

“Is everybody settled,” he asked.

Philip nodded and took a seat in a sectional chair. “All set. There’s something I want to talk to you both about. Chloe wants to go out tonight.”

Nancy looked at Craig. “We can take her to the Penthouse Grille,” she suggested.

Craig shook his head no. “We can’t take her out in public, Nancy. At least not yet. She might run into people she knows or worse, Kate Roberts’ minions.”

“Kate’s minions?” Nancy asked, clearly confused. “What are you talking about?”

“Um,” Craig glanced at Philip, realizing he made a slip of the tongue. Luckily, Philip picked up the ball and the subject of Kate was quickly forgotten.

“No, you don’t understand,” Philip interjected. “She wants to go out with me.”

“Philip,” Craig sounded slightly exasperated. “We agreed she can’t be seen in public.”

“I know. I have that covered,” Philip said. “I’m going to take her somewhere very private and very safe. She’s getting claustrophic here. She needs to get out of the house.”

Nancy flung her newspaper down in dramatic fashion. “Absolutely not. You are not taking Chloe anywhere. I forbid it. You are nothing but trouble for my daughter and I’ll be damned if I let you get close to her again. Is that understood?”

Philip chuckled, thinking it was too late. They were already getting close, very close. But instead of saying something quite so incendiary, Philip said, “She’s 30 years old, Nancy. You no longer have a say in Chloe’s social life.”

“Oh that’s where you’re wrong, Philip,” Nancy shot back. “She’s my daughter and I don’t care how old she gets, I will always have a say in her life. This is a new ballgame, Philip. Chloe doesn’t remember her life with you. She’s a blank slate, and I am going to make sure her story has a very different ending this time! You and your ego have caused Chloe nothing but pain and heartbreak. But not this time and never again! Am I making myself clear?”

“Are you finished?” Philip asked, his patience wearing thin. “Because you can protest all you want, but it’s not up to you whether Chloe wants a life with me again. It’s up to her.” Philip rose to his feet.

“Philip ---,” Craig tried interrupting.

But Philip continued. “And you’d better believe that I’m going to do everything I know how to do to make sure Chloe’s story has a happier ending this time. I’m not giving up on her, Nancy. Not now, not ever!”

“Philip!” This time Craig shouted. He pointed up the staircase to the second floor landing.

Philip turned around and his eyes locked with Chloe’s. Oh god. She heard everything. “Chloe.”

[gapeach]

Rut ro Shaggy. This can't be good (or can it???). Can't wait to see what Chloe has to say tomorrow (can we get a short sneaky peek??)

[fluffysmom]

I liked the Philip and Nancy confrontation. They were both honest. Uh oh to Chloe hearing all of that.

[Minako98]

I'm glad Chloe heard it... she'll know that Philip is on her side at least.


but then again, in soap land, she probably didn't hear anything.

[melly]

VERY Craig and Nancy!

How much, exactly, did Chloe hear? And will Craig be willing to go ahead and let her know what's been forgotten?

I WANT NANCY TO GO AFTER KATE!!!!!

[Kpatch]

Jun 12, 2014 9:15:28 GMT -5 gapeach said:

Can't wait to see what Chloe has to say tomorrow (can we get a short sneaky peek??)

Thanks for asking gapeach.

Okay, but just a little one.
After what she overheard, Chloe will ask for some honest answers about her and Philip's relationship.

[melly]

Good for her! Yes, she's been through a crazy experience, but none of these three can shield her forever. Not only impossible, but unfair.

[MrsM]

Uh oh. Curious to see what questions Chloe will ask.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 25


“Philip!” This time Craig shouted. He pointed up the staircase to the second floor landing.

Philip turned around and his eyes locked with Chloe’s. Oh god. She heard everything. “Chloe.”

Chloe turned around and ran back into her room. Philip rushed toward the stairs but Craig stopped him, standing in front of him and physically holding him back. “Philip wait. Let me. Let me talk to her.”

Philip’s heart was pounding in his chest. He looked upward toward Chloe’s closed door. He wanted to go to her, but he knew that Craig was probably right. Craig was reasonable, less emotional than he or Nancy. So Philip nodded.

Craig went upstairs and knocked on Chloe’s door. “Honey, it’s your dad. Okay if I come in?”

Craig entered Chloe’s new room. She was leaning on a chest of drawers, looking at the framed picture of Parker and fingering Philip’s dog tag.

“How much of that did you hear, honey?”

Chloe shrugged. “I heard Philip say he wasn’t giving up on me.” She turned to look at Craig. “That sounds like something you say when a patient is dying. Am I dying, Dad? Is my leukemia back?”

Craig sighed. He walked over to Chloe and took her into his arms. “Oh honey, no, not at all, nothing like that.”

“Then what did Philip mean?”

“He meant he wants you to get your memory back. That’s all.”

“But he sounded so upset. Angry.”

“Ah, you know your mother sometimes brings out the worst in people.”

Chloe leaned away. “Would it be awful if I said I wish Nancy would go back to New York?”

Craig raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Chloe went to the bed and sat down. “She has this negative energy. She makes me ... I don’t know ... anxious.”

He sat down beside her. “She sometimes has that effect on people.”

“How do you put up with her? I mean you love her.”

“I do. Granted, she’s not an easy person to live with," Craig conceded, "but neither am I. I guess you could say we get each other.”

“Can I ask you something? I want an honest answer,” Chloe said.

“I’ve never been anything but honest with you, honey,” Craig replied, “even when I probably shouldn’t have been. So ask away.”

“Before this happened to me ... the seizures, the memory loss ... what was my relationship with Philip?”

“Hmmm.” Craig took a deep breath and sat down on the bed beside Chloe. “From what you told me, I think the two of you had a pretty good relationship, at least most of the time. But if you want details, I can’t give them to you. You’ll have to ask Philip.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. What was the big secret, she wondered. “Nice avoidance.”

“Sorry honey, that’s the best I can do. So ... I hear you and Philip have a hot date tonight. Ahem, let me rephrase. You’re going on a date with Philip?”

Chloe felt her pulse quicken just thinking about it. “We are, and I honestly can’t remember ever being so excited about anything in my life. And when I say I can’t remember, Dad, I mean exactly that.”

Craig grasped Chloe’s hand as if to ground her, to keep her from getting overly excited. “Sounds like you’re looking forward to it.”

“Beyond looking forward. … I know you have reservations about me and Philip, but I don’t. I have no reservations about him. He's been so good to me, so polite.”

“Polite??” Craig repeated with surprise.

“Yes, polite. He's always respectful and concerned. He treats me like he thinks I'm a piece of fine china and I might break,” she explained. “Sometimes I wish he wouldn't be so polite,” she said, almost to herself. Then she looked at Craig. “Dad, I feel like we’re on the verge of something really wonderful. So, could you please be happy for me?”

Craig thought for a minute. “Sure baby, I can be happy for you. But I’m also you’re father, so you have to allow me to be a wee bit worried too. So I gotta say it again. Until you get your memory back, take it slow and be careful.”

“I know. I know. Be careful.” Chloe smiled and kissed Craig’s cheek. Then she looked toward to the door. She got up from the bed and left the room. Looking down from the second story railing, she saw Nancy downstairs seated on the living room sofa and called down to her. “Where’s Philip?”

“Sweetie! Are you okay?”

“Yes Nancy, I’m fine. Where’s Philip?”

“Oh. Um. He went out for a while.”

“Well, when you see him, give him a message for me, okay?”

“Of course, sweetie.”

“No, I mean I really want you to give him this message,” Chloe reiterated. “No interpretation or misrepresentation. Tell him I’ll be ready for our date at 7:00 sharp.”

[gapeach]

Please don't make us wait till Monday for the next chapter. Loved Craig and Chloe's conversation.

[melly]

Jun 13, 2014 7:23:46 GMT -5 gapeach said:

Please don't make us wait till Monday for the next chapter. Loved Craig and Chloe's conversation.

Yes, please! At least some spoilers or something....I'm scoring essays from yesterday through next Wednesday and need to read GOOD writing!

[MrsM]

Well that went better than I expected it to.

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad Chloe isn't mad at Philip. I'm glad Craig is okay with the date. Good thing Nancy didn't overhear Craig and Chloe's conversation.