Being (Read 25,770 times)

[fluffysmom]

I am thrilled to hear that Feline Flash. I can't wait!

[sportsgirl]

^^^What she said ;D

[felineflash]

Do y'all prefer postings on Saturdays or Fridays? I can just post Fridays if you'd prefer.

[Kpatch]

Can I be greedy and say both? If I have to choose, then Saturdays. (Sorry, I can never stick to the rules of the quiz.)

[felineflash]

Heh. I'll stick with Saturdays. Remember, I've got a promise to myself and y'all to start writing again when I've finished posting my first half.

[Kpatch]

Well, you can't blame a girl for trying to get more of this amazing story. Thanks Feline Flash!

[felineflash]

Chapter Four - The Cheatin’ Heart

Great. Just great. Where’s Max? He’d come to The Cheatin’ Heart because he could always dump his drunken sorrows on Max, but there was no Max behind the bar. Just some college guy he’d never seen before. Good old Max. Dependable, reliable, affable Max. Just like Bo. Being raised by Shawn Brady had its perks, you got called a good man and it was true. Of course, nice guys finish last, and only the good die young. So if I’m not a nice guy, why the hell do I keep losing everyone I love? He slid onto a barstool and ordered a shot of bourbon and a beer. Power drinking for those of power and privilege.

“Hey Philip,” Nicole said as she slid onto the barstool next to him. “Give me what he’s having…please,” she smiled at the bartender. “He’s kinda cute,” she whispered to Philip.

“I doubt he’s rich enough for you.”

“Ouch. And I thought we could have a couple of drinks together and play nice. What are you doing here anyway? I saw you and…what’s her name again? Leaving the pub, looked like you two were going to have some dessert.”

“Morgan did not care for what was on the menu. Nor did I,” he raised his shot glass as the bartender put her drinks on the bar.

“Trouble in paradise?” She asked after they’d clinked glasses and slammed their shots.

“Paradise? More like hell. She was going to be just another sweet young thing’s notch in my bedpost.”

“Honey, I’ve seen your bedpost, and that thing’s pristine. Philip, what you need, my hot, hot, hot stepson, is some action. Stat.”

“Sorry,” he chuckled. “Not buying what you’re selling.”

“That’s OK, no one is these days. The economy’s hitting everybody pretty hard. Even handsome British attorneys.”

“No luck with EJ?”

“Nope,” she drank some beer, “he’s still playing ring around the bimbo with Sami. So what happened with Morgan? Are you drowning your sorrows because she dumped you, or because you dumped her?”

He ordered another round for them both, “Who said I’m drowning my sorrows?”

“Your stepmama,” she smiled.

He sighed. Might as well talk to someone, at least he and Nicole could…commiserate. “I dumped her. After a few choice words. But like I said, I was never really interested.”

“Because of Chloe?” she prodded.

“Because of a lot of things. Chloe being first and foremost,” he said after slamming another shot.

Nicole was uncharacteristically quiet for a moment. “So, if you’re not upset about the dumping, and you’re not the dumpee, why so blue?”

“It’s not important.” Not something you’d understand. You’d never understand how it feels to not be whole.

“Come on, now, spill. You’ll feel better.”

“You think?”

“I always do,” she smiled.

“That’s because you probably get drunk at the same time,” he retorted.

“Exactly. You’re all set. Come on, spill…”

“Apparently she’s not fond of prosthetics…” Damn. That just came out of nowhere. I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell Nicole that. What the hell am I doing spilling my guts to Nicole of all people?

Her face fell, and he was honestly surprised by the look of sympathy in her eyes. Could Nicole Walker actually have a heart? Was it possible? “Philip, I’m sorry,” she put her game face back on, “you want stepmama to take care of her for you?”

“Not necessary,” he chuckled. “But thanks anyway. Sorry to lay that on you.”

“Hey,” she said quietly, “I know how it can be. I can’t have kids…sometimes you just feel like…you’re so different, no one’s ever going to see past it.” She slammed her shot and ordered the next round. “Now, let’s party and forget the sad stuff.”

“Deal,” he handed her another shot, and they clinked glasses again. “How’s Pookie? Fully recovered, I hope?”

Nicole’s face lit up. “She’s like a whole new dog. She’s got a whole new lease on life!”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said genuinely. “Nicole, I want you to know, I would never do anything to hurt your dog. I even sort of…like her. Aside from the peeing in my office.”

“She never peed in your office!” Nicole cried indignantly.

“Yes, she did…once. My dad was using it at the time.”

“Well, there’s why. She loathes Victor. She kinda liked you too, but who wouldn’t? I have a new picture of her in her new outfit for fall, want to see?” She was reaching into her purse.

“Sure,” he grinned. I think I’m losing my mind. I am certifiable. I am enjoying hanging out with Nicole, and I actually want to see pictures of the dog that peed on my presentation.

She brought out her wallet and showed him several pictures of Pookie. As ridiculous as that poor dog looks in those outfits, she looks damn happy. And then, for some unknown reason, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his own wallet. “That’s the latest of Claire. See how tall she’s gotten?” I have officially lost my mind.

“She is so adorable. Looks like sailing around the world agrees with her. You must miss her so much.”

“Every day.” He agreed.

“Who’s this little guy?” Nicole pointed to a picture of Pocket.

“That’s Pocket…I mean Tyler. My son.” My son. To whom I knew I could never give the life he deserved.

“I’ve heard about him. Clearly, he got his looks from you and not Mimi,” some things about Nicole would never change. But she didn’t pry any further.

And so they sat in pleasant small talk while they got dead drunk. He finally asked “So what about EJ? Isn’t Nicole Walker going to fight for her man?”

“You got ammunition? I’m out. I can’t fight whatever hoodoo spell Sami puts over men.”

“She hasn’t bewitched me,” he pointed out.

“Consider yourself lucky. And be careful, for God’s sake. It’d be a shame to lose you too.”

“Come on, Nicole, why don’t you just tell him how you feel?”

“So he can go make out with her in a staircase again? No thanks.”

“At least it wasn’t sex in an elevator,” he mumbled.

“You do have me beat there. So why don’t you tell Chloe how you feel?" She sighed. "You know what sucks? I really thought he was the one. I thought he was the one who was going to slay my dragons, you know?”

“Slay your dragons?” He laughed.

“Yeah, Philip. Put the demons to rest. I felt safe with him. I felt…at peace. Don’t tell me you don’t have dragons, Philip, don’t tell me you don’t have demons. I lived at the mansion. I know you work all night, hardly sleep. Walk the halls like some kind of ghost…” she shuddered. “Who slays your dragons? If you say Belle, you don’t get a cookie.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know what you mean. I know what you mean,” he said quietly. Chloe.

[MrsM]

Great chapter!! I can't wait to read more!! I love the banter between Nicole and Phillip!! Seemed real and easy.

[Kpatch]

Wow, fantastic chapter. I love Philip and Nicole as friends, confiding in each other, surprising even themselves. Yeah, Philip has Chloe in his heart and he'll never get her out of there.

[fluffysmom]

Terrific chapter Feline Flash. I loved Philip and Nicole drinking together and sharing their troubles. I like seeming them as friends and even confidants.

[sportsgirl]

What a truly wonderful chapter. I love this friendship & how comfortable they are with each other.. and I love hearing Pookie is so happy with Nicole!!

[gapeach]

Just read the story so far and am loving it. I also loved how 'mature' Lucas was when dealing with Chloe. God I miss Lucas!!

[felineflash]

Chapter Five - The Kitchen

“Hey Henderson,” Philip slurred as he stumbled into the kitchen. “Thanks for sending the driver. I wasn’t planning on sending him home, but I started to actually…have fun, and it wasn’t fair to leave him sitting out there all night.”

“Not a problem,” Henderson replied. “Sandwich?”

“I got it. I’m starving.”

“Glad to see you in a better mood. You looked pretty down when you left. Oh, and Philip,” Henderson never called him Philip on the clock, but these after hours chats were free-for-alls, “can you let Miss Hollingsworth know that it’s not kosher to slam doors? You’d think with her up breeding…”

“Not necessary. Morgan won’t be coming here anymore. Thank God.”

“Amen to that,” he caught himself, “I mean, I’m sorry, Philip. Although I take it you’re OK with that?”

It was so strange how Henderson turned on and off. On the clock, he was the formal butler, “Sir“, Madam”, formal speech. Off the clock, he was a regular guy. And a regular guy Philip had known almost all of his life. For all the strings Dad had pulled when he’d gotten his face nearly blown off in Afghanistan, it was Henderson who cared for him day and night, administering meds, talking him off of the proverbial ledge, even holding his hand. That had been a frightening time, thinking he’d look like some kind of monster, but in the end, Dad’s money had made good. He looked almost the same as he always had. A little better, he thought vainly.

“I am very much OK with that, Henderson. She wasn’t the one. She never was, I just…pretended, you know?”

“Well, no…I could never have pretended.”

Damn. He’d said something stupid, carelessly saying words and forgetting Henderson’s own story, told over late nights here at the kitchen table with Philip, of marrying the love of his life very young, and her dying while carrying their child, the child passing as well. He’d been a butler ever since, never believing there was anyone who could replace his wife and the mother of his child. “Henderson, I’m so sorry…I haven’t forgotten what you told me about your wife. Please don’t think that,” he pleaded.

“Of course I don’t. You’re young. Times are different. And she wasn’t the one, anyway, was she?”

“No. Of course not.”

“And it wasn’t Belle, although you might have done it for Claire…”

“You know I’d do anything for Claire. Anything. And Pocket. But Belle was…”

“Convenient?”

“Henderson, we’ve been over this…”

“Indeed. Let’s talk about something else,” Henderson smirked.

“I actually spent the night having drinks with Nicole…and I enjoyed it,” Philip told him incredulously.

“Well, clearly you had drinks…”

“No, seriously, I enjoyed hanging out with her. How weird is that?”

“She’s a broken soul, that one, “ Henderson said, shaking his head. “How’s her dog?”

“Fully recovered,” Philip replied as he sat at the table with his sandwich and milk. “I hate to ask this…”

“Philip, I love dogs. I think your father should have a dog. He’s the kind of man who needs a dog. I would never hurt that dog, even though those messes were going to be the death of me.”

“You don’t think it was my dad, do you?” Philip munched, “I can’t see Dad hurting a dog.”

“If your father wanted to hurt Nicole, he wouldn’t have wasted time on her dog, he would have hurt her directly. I’m just ashamed that it happened on my watch.”

I love how he understands Dad like I do. You just have to accept the man that he is. “Whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault.”

“Thank you. Strange things have been going on…”

“Like that note…”

“Exactly. But enough of that. So, no more Morgan, good for the doorjambs. So, Philip…”

“Don’t start,” Philip drained his milk and stood. “There’s nothing I can do about Chloe,” he continued, rinsing his dishes and putting them in the machine. “She’s moved on.”

“Then I’ll ask you how you’re feeling, how’s the pain, and how you’re sleeping,” Henderson taunted.

You know how much I hate that. I hate hovering. Maybe I deserve the pain. Maybe I deserve insomnia. Maybe I deserve to hurt. None of you know, none of you really know. “Henderson, please…we were having a good talk,” he implored.

“Well, then, I’ll just remind you that you made a promise to your parents, to Claire, to me, but most importantly, to yourself when you were recovering from your injuries. You said you’d never give up. I suggest you fight for Chloe, or you’ll regret it all your life. Good night, Philip.”

[fluffysmom]

Great chapter FF. I really enjoyed Philip and Henderson's candid conversation.

I hope your Mom is feeling better.

[felineflash]

Thanks, she's in LTAC (Long Term Acute Care) for a few weeks now for rehab. And...somehow, by cleaning my house, I've made it even more of a disaster. I've got piles of clean laundry EVERYWHERE. Gotta get the place straightened up, because tomorrow my friend's coming over to do a "photoshoot" of the cats that I can frame for my mom. Yes, I am a crazy cat lady. And I am a proud one, at that.