Stealing Home (Read 9,789 times)

[Kpatch]

This is the last segment in the After the Fall series which began in October 2011 (can you believe it??).

In keeping with the the “Stolen” theme, the final segment in the series is called Stealing Home. In this story, we’ll wrap up all the loose ends and bring back a couple of characters we haven’t seen in a while. Stealing Home will begin on Monday.

The other stories in this saga are listed below, in chronological order.
After the Fall
Chasing the Moon
Question of Love
Destiny's Child
Stolen Moments
Stolen Years 

[Kpatch]

I'd like to set the mood, so I'll share with you one of the two songs that was my inspiration as I wrote the story. I almost always have songs that provide the inspiration for my stories. Please enjoy.

Heart Hotel by Dan Fogelberg



Lyrics
Well there's too many windows
in this old hotel
And rooms filled with reckless pride
And the walls have grown sturdy
And the halls have worn well
But there is nobody living inside
Nobody living inside...
Gonna pull in the shutters
On this heart of mine
Roll up the carpets and pull
in the blinds
And retreat to the chambers that
I left behind
In hopes there still may be
Love left to find
Still may be love left to find.
Seek inspiration in daily affairs
Now your soul is in trouble
and requires repairs
And the voices you hear at the
top of the stairs
Are only echoes of unanswered prayers
Echoes of unanswered prayers.
Well there's too many windows
in this old hotel
And rooms filled with reckless pride
And the walls have grown sturdy
And the halls have worn well
But there is nobody living inside
Nobody living inside...

[gapeach]

Can't wait!!

[unavitasegreta]

Yay!!!!!

[phloefansince2000]

Yay I can't wait I will NEVER get tried of reading about my favorite couple of all time! Phloe fan for life!

[Kpatch]

I'm glad you guys are excited. I am too!

Here's some bits of dialogue from the coming week. Any guesses who says what?


“I can’t believe I missed that.”

“You can let me go.”

“I want to share my bed with you.”

“It should be clean.”

“Let’s go.”

“Phil, is that you?

“You remind me of someone.”

“Hey, I was just thinking about you.”

“Better off without me?”

“Was it supposed to be tough love?”

[gapeach]

Not even going to try and guess cause I NEVER get it right! Will just wait and read as it unfolds!!!

[melly]

Please tell me there's some Craig and Nancy here....(especially Craig)...

[fluffysmom]

I can hardly wait to read the new story Kpatch.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 1


To an outsider peering inside the car, Philip, Chloe and Parker looked like a regular family, heading out for a day at a beach or maybe a park. But they were anything but your average family. It was a sunny day in late June, perfect for a drive, but this wasn’t just any drive -- it was the pathway to the future. Even though it was about a hundred mile drive from Salem to Chicago, the road in front of them seemed short to Philip compared to the road they’d already traveled — all the years, all the bumps and detours along the way. It was finally behind them. Finally, Philip and Chloe were about to start a new life together with their young son Parker.

As elated as Philip was to be moving on with his life, which had been on hold far too long, that’s how miserable his father was when he heard the news. Philip did the right thing leaving Chloe upstairs with Parker. She didn’t need to be subject to Victor’s cruelty.

Victor: Have you taken leave of your senses?
Philip: This shouldn’t come as a surprise, Dad. This has been my goal all along, resuming my life with Chloe and Parker in Chicago.
Victor: Sometimes I wish you were the one who lost your memory instead of Chloe.
Philip: Nice. If you recall, Chloe didn’t just lose her memory. She was drugged and subject to electroshock treatments, courtesy of Kate Roberts.
Victor: It's a damn shame that lobotomy didn’t take.

Good thing Maggie returned to the living room when she did, because Philip almost punched his father. If the man wasn’t 80 years old, he just might have done it. But Maggie did a far better job of humbling Victor for uttering that offensive comment, the way only Maggie knew how.

Philip had really hoped his relationship with his father turned a corner. Victor was so supportive and sympathetic to Philip when they both thought Daniel was Parker’s father. His father was really there for him during those dark days. But father and son clearly had different agendas and as soon as Chloe was back in Philip's life, Victor was back to being Victor, trying to run Philip’s life.

One hand on the wheel, Philip squeezed Chloe’s hand with his other, almost as a way to reassure himself that she was real, that she was really with him, that she was really sitting beside him in the passenger seat. When he felt her lace her fingers with his, it told him everything he needed to know, that it was all true.

He glanced at her and smiled before looking back to the road. Then he took a quick look in the rear-view mirror and caught sight of his son in the back. Parker’s puffy little cheek was leaning on his own shoulder and he snored softly, belted securely into his car seat.

“What are you thinking?” Philip looked at Chloe as she posed the question. “You have this funny little smirk on your face. What are you thinking?”

Philip inhaled. “Just about how far we’ve come.”

Chloe glanced at the mileage gauges on the car and her brow knit.

“No, not that,” Philip clarified. “I mean us. Our lives. Six months ago when I came to Salem, I had lost everything. I had nothing. Now,” he smiled and brought her fingers to his lips. “Now I have everything,” he said, kissing her knuckles.

“Philip,” Chloe said, blushing a little. “You are so sweet. Just as sweet as ever.”

Philip rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the road. “Not really,” he said quietly as thoughts of his cruelty toward Chloe seeped into his brain. What would she say if she knew he tossed her aside as soon as he was told Parker wasn’t really his son? Would she give him the chance to explain his reasons, or would she deny him the chance, just as he had denied her? Would she hate him forever if she knew the truth?

Chloe told him she didn’t want to know why they broke up. She gave him an “out” and he took it willingly, even though he knew it wasn’t the right thing to do. If her memory comes back, she’s going to remember….

Philip shook himself out of the dark place his mind was heading and refocused on the road ahead. He heard Chloe ask a question but his mind was elsewhere. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Teasingly, she said, “I asked if we have enough gas in the car to get there?”

Philip glanced at the gauges. “Yeah, I gassed up at Sycamore and North Franklin, just after we left the mansion. Don’t you ... um ... remember?” Considering Chloe’s amnesia, he wished he hadn’t asked that last question.

She replied with a light smack on his arm. “Philip! You’re supposed to say ‘you don’t know,’ and then I’m supposed to ask where we’re going.”

His lips curved into a smile when he realized that Chloe was alluding to their banter on the night they drove to the lake as teenagers when Philip carved their initials in that tree. “Wow. Sorry. I can’t believe I missed that,” Philip said with a sidelong glance. “I guess I was focused more on the present than the past.”

“Well, don’t lose your sense of humor,” Chloe said, leaning over and kissing Philip’s cheek.

When she rested her head on his shoulder, Philip felt the last of his worries dissolve. Everything was going to be perfect, he decided. There’s nothing to fear.


___________________
Copyright ©2014 kpatch. All rights reserved.

[gapeach]

Love the start to this last adventure. Glad we got a glimpse of Victor in this chapter. I sure hope Phillip finds a way to tell Chloe the truth before her memories return!!

[melly]

Uh oh....they left Salem without Chloe knowing why they broke up? Oh Philip....

[gapeach]

Sept 29, 2014 5:40:51 GMT -5 melly said:

Uh oh....they left Salem without Chloe knowing why they broke up? Oh Philip....

It was HER idea. Phillip was ready to tell her but she didn't want to know!!!

[phloefansince2000]

Wow I can't believe Philip still has his doubts I hope to God they continue to stay together! Great start can't wait to read more!

[fluffysmom]

I'm glad to see them returning to their home in Chicago.