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Post by Kpatch on Jul 8, 2017 7:28:32 GMT -5
Previews
Thanks for reading and your great thoughts and comments last week.
This week we can look forward to more of the conversation between Philip and George, some of my favorite moments in this story.
Later in the week, Philip and Chloe take Parker to the office to get him reacclimated.
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Post by heroicmuse on Jul 8, 2017 7:37:42 GMT -5
Yay Philip and George are great. Can't wait to see more.
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Post by fluffysmom on Jul 8, 2017 19:59:55 GMT -5
I'm finally caught up. I agree with kathyj that Chloe and Philip could use some friends. Chloe could use a friend to talk to. I'm glad Philip is talking to George. I feel bad for all three. It's going to take time to work through the trauma of Parker's kidnapping. |
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Post by Kpatch on Jul 10, 2017 6:13:10 GMT -5
Chapter 36c
Philip looked down into his beer bottle. “Then I guess the rest of my life will be pretty empty.”
“Hey hey, that’s pretty maudlin, man. If I were a shrink, I’d tell you that you shouldn’t pin all your hopes on one person.”
“For the record, I don’t want you to be my shrink. I already have one of those. I need you to be my friend because I know I couldn’t ask for a better friend than you.” When George nodded, Philip said, “As for pinning all my hopes on one person, it’s almost like I have no free will because that one person is Chloe.” Philip took another swig of beer. “I lived the first decade of my adulthood with an emptiness in my gut because the woman I loved more than life itself was beyond my reach.”
George sighed. “Sounds like one of those star crossed lovers stories my wife likes to read.”
“Kind of, yeah. Don’t get me wrong, there were other women, and I loved them too, but none like Chloe.”
“Cuz she was your first love.”
“Yeah. I told you our history.” Philip stared at a spot on the wall behind George. The effects of the alcohol was starting to hit his brain. “She was my soul, my flesh, my bones, from that very first kiss on the Wesley’s porch. There’s never been anyone I’ve loved the way I love her. There’s never been anyone who makes me feel whole the way she always has.” He rested his hand on his knee, the one that had been amputated just below it. He stared into the beer bottle. “Sometimes I wish I didn’t meet her when I did, that I met her when I was older. Then I wouldn’t have had to go through my teens and twenties comparing every woman to her and feeling … I don’t know … incomplete.”
He shook himself and refocussed. “Trust me, I’ve tried to get over her. I really tried to make a life with someone else … several someone elses, in fact," he said, thinking about Belle and Stephanie and Melanie. "But it was never gonna work. Chloe was always in my heart, always the woman I really wanted, the woman I still want. I guess I know what the second half of my life is gonna be like.” He finished off the last sip of beer.
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Post by doolfan4life on Jul 10, 2017 7:10:18 GMT -5
Maybe Philip thinks he deserves the abuse?
I hate that Chloe treats him less than dirt
He deserves better love and respect from his partner
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Post by heroicmuse on Jul 10, 2017 7:21:57 GMT -5
Philip's description of their relationship is beautiful, but if its not working its not working and he needs to work through the heartbreak and possibly move on.
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Post by kathyj on Jul 10, 2017 7:24:51 GMT -5
Wow Philip, that is a heavy burden to put on Chloe -- and yourself.
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Post by mae00 on Jul 10, 2017 10:40:06 GMT -5
Sometimes friends are the best shrinks you can have.
Sadly love is not always enough. At this point, there has been so much relationship sabotage that trust with the other person is a hard thing for both of them. I know the heart wants what the heart wants, but in all honesty, Philip cannot continue to walk on egg shells around Chloe and he cannot continue down a road where the end result is always going to dead end in heartbreak. Philip will spend the rest of his life waiting for the next moment where Chloe rips him a new one over nothing. He won't be able to fully enjoy the moments like he should and he will resent her for that. Chloe will spend her life always looking for a way to find blame/fault or wrong-doing by Philip. because Chloe is always tense about everything instead of trusting her partner, she will resent Philip for not being able to be in the moment and enjoy it the way she should. That's not fair to either one of them and it's not fair to Parker.
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Post by fluffysmom on Jul 10, 2017 19:28:23 GMT -5
Philip is really opening up to George.
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Post by Kpatch on Jul 12, 2017 5:57:34 GMT -5
Chapter 36d
“Chloe was always in my heart, always the woman I really wanted, the woman I still want. I guess I know what the second half of my life is gonna be like.” Philip finished off the last sip of beer.
“Now cut that out,” George blurted. “You’re getting me all ferklempt.” He played with some papers on his desk to distract himself.
“There’s something so deep between us, a connection I’ve never had with anyone else. We could go for years without contact, and then we’ll see each other and it’s still there. And it’s not superficial. It’s more like supernatural.”
“Wow. I gotta say this, Phil, I think you idolize Chloe.” His brow knit. “No, idolize isn't the right word. Idealize! That's what I want to say. I think you idealize Chloe.”
On a sigh, Philip said, “I can’t deny that. I know you’ve heard mostly the downside, but believe me, when things are good between us, they’re off the charts.” He tilted his head back to take another sip of beer, but nothing came out. “You know, I used to tell her she was perfect. I wonder if it’s tough to deal with that when your first boyfriend tells you you’re perfect. She’s perfect for me, but I know she’s not perfect. Who is? She’s just a woman who has fears and anxieties like everyone, maybe more. She’s had it rough over the years.” He shook himself. “Here I go, making excuses for her again.”
“Now you sound like the shrink,” George chuckled.
“You know something, George,” Philip said with a bit of a slur. He leaned an elbow on George’s desk and pointed the mouth of the beer bottle at him. “You are the besht listener ever. No, for real! I mean it, man. Way better than Shawn Brady the Second or Nicole Walkman or Mary Richards Van Dyke.” Philip sat back in his chair and stared at that spot on the wall behind George again. Deep down he knew that Mary had done a lot for his family, but right now, all he felt was resentment for the situation he was in, and she was an easy target. “Mary Richards. I was kind of starting to warm up to her lately, but it’s all for nothing. We paid her a bushload of money. You know? Feels like it all went to washte.” He put the bottle down on the desk so hard, it made a clanging noise that echoed. “And now she wants us to come back for more. Prolly needs thirty thousand to update her kitchen. Ha! Fat chanche of that happening on my dime.”
“Back to square one, huh?”
“No. There’s no more squares to spare. It’s over, exchept for telling everyone the wedding’s off. Guess no one will be overly surprised. I hope you didn’t rent your tux yet. Meanwhile, I have groshery shopping to do.” Philip got up and rocked back a little.
George stood up and reached out without actually touching Philip. “You okay, Phil?”
Philip blinked several times. “I must be a lightweight if one beer can get to me.”
“You eat today?” George asked.
Philip thought for a moment. Philip hadn’t had anything but coffee since before Parker was kidnapped. “Or it could be that.”
“Stay here, okay? I’ll get you some water and a sandwich.” He pointed at Philip. “And don’t go getting in the car yet. I’m responsible for you right now.”
Philip held his palms up and plopped back into the chair. “Don’t worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. Except the guest bedroom,” he mumbled. “And maybe the rest room.” He thought for a minute and called out, “No gluten-free bread. I want manly bread.”
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Post by gapeach on Jul 12, 2017 6:08:33 GMT -5
I am so glad that George is taking care of Phillip! I ❤️George!!
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Post by melly on Jul 12, 2017 7:08:32 GMT -5
Manly bread......
I wish Philip were a little more clear-headed right now--or at least that he'll remember his talk with George clearly. I hate that Philip is so down on Mary, though I understand why.
Maybe it's time for a little distance between Philip and Chloe--it seems they both have some things to work through before they can have a healthy relationship.
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Post by heroicmuse on Jul 12, 2017 7:32:33 GMT -5
I hope Philip eating something will help him become more clearheaded. While tipsy or worse is not the time to make major life decisions.
It seems it is Chloe he needs more distance from, not Mary. Although therapy is a two way process. If Philip is going there expecting Mary to fix everything between him and Chloe without him putting the work in it will never work for him.
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Post by doolfan4life on Jul 12, 2017 7:46:42 GMT -5
I can understand Philips frustration with Mary and therapy
He does bend over backwards to make it work cuz he would do anything for Chloe and Parker
The problem isn't with Mary tho it's Chloe
She comes up with the idea of therapy but follows none of the advise when stuff goes wrong, she just pouts and acts spoiled
Philip just has blinders on when it comes to her
I'm glad George pointed out the things he did and I'm glad he's feeding him
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Post by sportsgirl on Jul 12, 2017 8:20:48 GMT -5
Glad George is there to make sure Philip doesn't get in his car. Philip is just tired of walking on eggshells around Chloe and getting nowhere and the whole Mary with therapy doesn't seem to working for him. Maybe Philip not putting Chloe on her throne is just what she needs. Now he needs to sober up and handle this the correct way.
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