Gonna post an extra chapter tonight, so that jkjpatch can be EXTRA happy on Wednesday.
Chapter 23 - BygonesChloe got to the Brady Pub only five minutes late, but she found Nicole looking forlorn at the bar. “Hey, sorry I’m late,” she began, but Nicole didn’t even look at her. “Nicole? Oh, come on, you’re mad at me because I was five minutes late? Get real. After the hell you’ve put through in the past, I shouldn’t even want to be here. Nicole?”
“Huh?” Nicole finally turned and looked at her. “Oh, hey there. I didn’t notice you. What were you saying?”
“Uh…well…”
“How about a drink? Martini?” Chloe nodded, and Nicole called Pete over, “Martini for Chloe, more OJ for me, please.”
“OJ?” Chloe stared.
“Hello, ladies,” Philip interrupted, putting his arms around the two of them. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to ruin girl talk. I just need to speak to Nicole for a moment,” he grinned.
Chloe sipped her drink as she watched Nicole and Philip walk over to a table to talk.
I guess he took care of Trent Robbins. God, Philip, I hope you didn’t do anything stupid. They talked for a few minutes, and then came back to the bar.
“I’ll see you for dinner?” He asked as he kissed Chloe on the cheek.
“I’ll be there,” she replied.
“Later, Nicole. Take care, OK?” He smiled and left.
“So, you and Philip back on again?” Nicole asked.
“I guess…maybe…”
“What, you’re worried about Southern Belle Barbie?”
I’ll always be worried about her. “He says they’re over, but--”
“Sure sounded like they were when he told me he dumped her. Especially after what she did to him, the little twit.”
“What she did to him?”
What on earth could Morgan have done to Philip that he would have told Nicole about? Is that why he’s with me? Because he’s getting back at her?“He…didn’t tell you, did he?”
“Tell me what?
Nicole…”
“It’s…not my place. Just ask him. Oh, wait…you’re thinking this is some sort of revenge thing to get back at Morgan?” Chloe stared. “Just talk to him, Chloe. Trust me, he’s done with her. Trust me.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“Look, I talked to him the night they broke up, and he was so far from broken hearted, it was almost comical.”
Damnit. I thought we’d have a nice dinner tonight, but now it looks like we’ve got more talking to do. “I take it Philip took care of your problem with Dean Robbins,” Chloe changed the subject.
“He told you? Of course he told you. Yeah, hopefully, problem solved. But I don’t know…I have a bad feeling that the fat lady hasn’t sung yet,” Nicole replied worriedly. “My life is…God, my life is a mess.” She drew a ragged breath, and Chloe was surprised to see tears on her cheeks.
“Nicole? What’s going on? You look like hell, you’re crying…”
“I’m pregnant.”
“You’re what?” Chloe exclaimed.
“Believe me, you’re not even half as surprised as I am,” Nicole sobbed. “I don’t even know how this happened.”
“Well, usually, it involves a man and a woman…Come on, you’re not sixteen, you know how it works, don’t you use any protection?”
“I’m not supposed to be able to get pregnant, remember?” Nicole cried.
“Well, obviously, that’s not the case, if you’re sure.”
“Of course I’m sure…God, thanks for being so compassionate!”
Chloe stared at her.
She’s absolutely serious. Oh…my…God. Compassion…Nicole’s been replaced by a pod person. “Nicole, look,” Chloe put an arm around her, “I understand that you’re upset, I do. It’s just…well, I have to say, our friendship is kinda weird for me, you know? You did…well, you did try to scar me for life, for one thing.”
Nicole dried her tears and smiled a little. “It is weird, isn’t it? God, I hated you. But I really don’t anymore, and I’m really, really glad that your scars did heal. You know that was all Stan…or Sami…or Satan, whatever you want to call her. Oh, God, Chloe, what am I going to do?”
I guess that’s as close as I’m ever going to get to an apology. Besides, I actually like her now, too. Bygones be bygones. “I’m guessing that the lucky guy is EJ?”
“Who else?” Nicole started to cry again.
I can think of several…Chloe, stop. She needs a friend, you need a friend. “Does he know?”
“Not yet. I just found out for sure myself today. I don’t know how to tell him.”
“I’m sure he’d want to know.”
“And I’m sure the minute Sami found out she’d be busy trying to one-up me. God,” she sobbed again, “listen to me. I’m pregnant! Oh, God…”
“Nicole,” Chloe put her arms around her, “everything’s going to be alright. Really. You’ll be a great mom. This is a happy thing!”
“You think?” Nicole pulled away. “Come on, Chloe, I can barely take care of myself. And I really, really want a martini right now,” she wailed.
“You take excellent care of Pookie. You’ll just…have to learn how to change diapers. It’s really not that bad, if you just focus on something other than the smell…” And Nicole was off of her stool and running to the bathroom.
When she sat back down, Chloe said seriously, “Nicole, you are ready for this. Look how much you’ve changed since I first met you. You do know that you’re ready for this, don’t you?”
“No,” Nicole replied, sipping her juice. “I’m terrified. And what if EJ wants nothing to do with me?”
“I can’t believe that would happen, look how he is with Johnny.”
“And Sami,” Nicole spat.
“Nicole. Come on, you’re a strong woman. Even if he did turn his back on you, you can do this. I know that you can. Hey, look at me,” she waited until Nicole looked her in the eyes. “You are going to be fine. And I’ll be there to support you, OK? So you’ve got me, Pookie, I’m sure Philip will be there for you too…”
“And what about EJ?”
“I think you need to clue him in first. But I’m sure that he’s going to be thrilled and supportive. I mean, come on, Nicole, this is a happy thing, you and EJ are a good match…what can go wrong?”
Chapter 24 - Mountains from MolehillsAnd my life just keeps getting weirder. Philip felt as if he was watching a tennis game, watching Chloe and Victor being civil to each other. Victor would ask her something about the opera, she’d answer quite pleasantly, and Philip felt as if he’d stepped into the Twilight Zone. Victor and Chloe had now been talking through most of dinner and into dessert about Puccini. It was mind boggling. He could barely get a word in edgewise. And now, as Victor rose to leave, he told Chloe that she was more than welcome to stay at the mansion for as long as she pleased.
“Well, I’ll bid you two goodnight. I have some calls to make.”
“Good night, Dad,” Philip said, still wondering just what the hell was going on.
“Good night, Victor. Thank you so much for your hospitality,” Chloe offered as she rose.
This is so weird. So weird. But that was actually an interesting conversation, so I guess I’ll just play along. Besides, I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
“Where are you going?” Philip asked her as she passed his chair.
“Nowhere in particular, I just thought since we were done eating, the customary thing to do would be to leave the table,” she replied, maybe a little too tartly. Ever since that conversation with Nicole, the paranoia had set in…
Philip’s using me to get back at Morgan. I just know it.
“OK…”
Maybe I should hang around whenever she and Nicole get together. Things have turned decidedly chilly around here.
“Philip, let’s go for some coffee. I want to ask you something.”
And I’d rather do it out in the open, away from Victor’s ears.
“I’ll just tell Dad we’re leaving,” he said as he pushed his chair away from the table and left the room.
“So what do you want to ask me?” He asked once they were in the car heading to the Java Café.
“Did Nicole tell you?”
OK, not what I wanted to ask, but I’m not ready for the answer yet, so maybe after some coffee I’ll spring it on him.
“Did Nicole tell me…what?”
“Oh. Then maybe I shouldn’t.”
It isn’t my place to tell him anyway. OK, change the subject. “So how did your meeting with Dean Robbins go?”
“It went. I think he’ll leave her alone, he’d better, anyway. Did Nicole tell me what, Chloe?” He slid a glance at her.
“Philip…”
“You can’t just drop something like that and expect me to back off. Come on, what should Nicole have told me? Does it have to do with Trent? Or Dad?”
“Oh, no,” she said as they got out of the car, “Nothing like that. It’s personal.”
“Personal,” he said as he held the door open for her.
What could Nicole have told Chloe that was personal…Chloe knows how she feels about EJ… “Did something happen between her and EJ?”
“You could definitely say that.” They ordered their coffees, got them from the barista and sat down.
“Did they get together? Good!”
“That’s not exactly it. She’s…” Chloe lowered her voice, “she’s pregnant, Philip.”
Philip buzzed his lips. “That’s not possible. Nicole can’t have children.”
“Looks like she can and will, God willing.”
“You’re kidding! Nicole’s pregnant! Wow. And EJ’s the father? Has she told him?”
“No, and that’s why I shouldn’t have told you.”
“Hey, I’m not saying anything. Good for Nicole. I think she’ll be a great mom.”
“She’s petrified.”
“She’ll be OK,” he nodded. “So that’s what you wanted to ask me? If I knew about Nicole?”
Chloe drew a deep breath. “No.”
God, I really don’t want to know the answer to this, I’m really afraid to know the answer to this. And I’m not going to cry in front of a bunch of caffeine junkies. “Do you feel like a walk on the pier?”
Anything to stall, Chloe, anything to stall.
“Sure,” he smiled, and once again he held the door for her as they left the café and headed out to the pier. “So…what is it?”
This is mysterious. And kinda hot. What is going on in that head of yours, Chloe?“Philip,” she began as they walked hand in hand. “I want you to answer me honestly. No more lies. I can take the truth. I need the truth.”
Yow. What the hell? “I have nothing to hide from you, you know that.”
“OK. Then fine. I need the truth. Are you using me to get back at Morgan?” She stopped, took her hand from his and looked at him.
“Am…I…what…the hell? What are you talking about, Chloe? Why would I want to get back at Morgan for anything? And no, I’m not. Because the whole concept is completely ridiculous!” He exclaimed.
“Oh, really? Even after what she did to you?” Chloe stared.
“Did to me? What? I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, Chloe. Morgan never did anything to me…where are you getting this from?”
“Come on, Philip, I know she did something, Nicole told me,” Chloe accused.
“
Nicole told you that
Morgan did something to
me? What the hell is going on?”
He does look genuinely confused. OK. But I still need to know what that little tart did to him. “You talked to her the night you and Morgan broke up, I take it?”
“Yeah, we ran into each other and had a few drinks. We had a good time. But…I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
What the hell did I even say to Nicole? We looked at pictures of the dog, we drank…a lot. I told her that I broke up with Morgan, she talked about EJ…and I obviously had one too many shots because I sure as hell don’t remember telling her Morgan did something to me. We talked about…wait…what was it? “You want your stepmama to take of her for you?” Oh, my God. Oh, Nicole. Leave it to you. I’m kinda touched, though, that she’s defending me like that. But… “Oh, hell. I know what it is. Nicole’s making a mountain out of a molehill, as always,” he smiled.
“And?” Chloe asked.
“And, it was nothing. Really. Don’t worry about it.”
If I go into it with Chloe, then she’s going to start thinking that I’m some sad, bitter guy who can’t handle what happened to me, and everything’s going to get blown out of proportion.
“Philip, what did she do? And are you with me right now just to get even?” Her voice rose, she was getting a bit angry now.
Would you just tell the truth?“Listen to me. I am with you because I want to be with you, because I’ve always wanted to be with you. Would you please stop worrying about Morgan? I’ve already told you everything there was to tell you about her and me, I don’t know what else I can do, Chloe!”
“You can tell me what she did to you,” she said quietly, sadly.
Just tell me the truth, Philip. Please.
“God, really, it’s no big deal, but fine. I guess my being an amputee is Salem’s best kept secret, because Morgan didn’t know, and when she found out, she sort of wigged. That’s all it was. I happened to mention it to Nicole, and I guess she felt she had to defend me or something. That’s all it was, honest. Morgan didn’t kidnap my firstborn or steal my credit cards or do any other heinous thing to me. She’s just a naïve kid and I led her on. So she said some unpleasant things to me after I hurt her feelings. I can’t say I really blame her. She apologized, and honestly, I’d forgotten about the whole damn thing. So can we drop this now? Please?”
“What did she say to you?” Chloe whispered, looking down.
“I don’t even remember, Chloe. Really, it’s not a big deal.”
Can’t we just drop this now, please?
“It
is a big deal. To me it’s a big deal, and it obviously was to Nicole. And if you told Nicole about it, you were obviously hurt--”
“Yeah, I was hurt. I’d be lying if I said I enjoy having people comment about my leg. I mean, come on, right? But I remember when I was one of those kids who called you names, and I didn’t even stop to think about how that hurt you. So maybe it’s just karma, huh?” He touched her cheek.
“Philip,” she took his hand, “you didn’t deserve--”
“Shh. Things are the way things are. Do I get bummed out about my leg? Yeah. Am I self conscious about it? Yeah. I’m still learning. But you know what?” He nuzzled her neck, “when I’m with you, none of that matters,” he whispered in her ear.
“No, it doesn’t,” she whispered in his. “How do you feel about a bath?” She asked huskily.
“I feel that a bath is absolutely in order this evening,” he grinned mischievously as he led her back to the car.
