The Perfect Storm (Read 18,757 times)

[fluffysmom]

May 23, 2021 12:38:35 GMT -5 meemz said:

Aww stories ending are bitter sweet for me. We will miss the perfect storm’s phloe. Looking forward to the daily posts!

Stories ending are bittersweet for me too.

Thanks for the intriguing lines preview Kpatch.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 26d


“Which reminds me.” Philip hesitated for a moment. “Um. Did Brady make it back to Salem okay?”

“I assume so,” Chloe shrugged. “I guess I should text him now that phone service has been restored.”

“When do you think he’s coming back to Marathon?” Philip asked, trying to sound casual about it.

“I don’t know if he is coming back,” she answered with a shrug. “Anyway, I’m sure I can do the rest on my own.”

“Let’s take a drive to Marathon tomorrow and see how the club fared in the storm,” Philip suggested.

“Only if you feel up to it.”

“And Chloe, you don’t have to do the ‘rest of it on your own’,” he said, hooking his fingers into air quotes. “I’d like to help you do whatever’s left to do before the club opens. Hire the staff. Choose the menu. Whatever you need. I mean that.”

“I just may take you up on it.”

“Use me.” He smiled a sexy smile.

Chloe sighed. “Do you know how good it is to see that twinkle in your eye again?”

“And this.” He leaned forward and softly kissed her lips. “It feels like we haven’t done that in a month.”

“We’ll have to make up for lost time as soon as you get your strength back,” she replied with another kiss.

“Hey, I’ve been thinking.” Philip grew serious. “Miscommunication seems to be the theme of our story lately. Where do we go from here?” he asked.

“I know one thing. I'm not giving up. We've traveled too far to get here. So we just keep on working at it,” Chloe told him. “Talking, keeping the lines of communication open. We both know that relationships take work. So we keep at it.”

“Together.”

“Yes, together. Because I don’t want to face life without you. I’ve done that, and I couldn’t make that work either,” she admitted.

“Yeah. Neither one of us has been overly successful living with someone. We're both used to being on our own, doing things our own way and not having to compromise or collaborate.” He reached for her hand. "Chloe, I meant it when I said I’d be willing to do couples counseling. Whatever it takes. I want this to work.”

“Me too. This has to work. Parker’s really attached to you.” She smiled and rubbed his arm. “I am too.”

“I like the sound of that. Come here.” He kissed her again.

When the kiss broke, she pushed his hair off his forehead. “More soup?”

“That would be great.”

“Be right back,” she told him as she left the bedroom.

Philip laid back on his pillow and laced his hands behind his head. He looked up at the ceiling and a small smile crossed his lips. Not so long ago, he was a hermit, a bitter, lonely man with no purpose left in life. Every thought, every memory made him cringe.

Now look at him. He had a woman in his life who loved him, and it happened to be Chloe — the love of his life. Her son loved him and regarded him as his father. They’d weathered the storms, both figuratively and literally. Life didn’t get much better than this.

[André DiMera]

I, too, am curious about what happened to Brady, and if he’ll be coming back. Glad Philip and Chloe agreed to keep talking.

[krw627]

Great chapter! Glad they are taking steps to work on their communication skills.

[heroicmuse]

I'm glad Philip and Chloe are aware of their communication issues and working on them. Finally!!!

[doolfan4life]

I’m assuming this isn’t the end of Brady, I’m also curious
Ps his sexy smile made me see those dimples 😍

[mae00]

I love Philip's dimples! **swoon**

Well, they've made the first step in admitting part of the problem. Let's see how long this lasts.

I'm curious about the way Chloe worded it about Brady coming back.

[meemz]

This chapter was like being wrapped in a plush blanket on a cold day. Loved it & love philip’s contentment at the end.

[Kpatch]

Thanks guys! I love how you were able to envision Philip's dimples from that line about the sexy smile!

And that "plush blanket on a cold day" comment is like a bowl of Chloe's chicken soup for me!

[fluffysmom]

It's good to see Philip so happy. I'm glad they are communicating.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 27a


Two months later… a week before Opening Night!

While Parker was at school, Philip and Chloe went to Soprano’s for a dry run of the food service.

The staff set up a table against the wall dressed with a white tablecloth, a single stem rose in a vase and a votive candle. Philip handed Chloe her checklist on a clipboard. 


“The staff did a nice job setting this up,” Philip remarked.

“It’s beautiful, but I don’t think we should have real candles in the votive holders. Fire hazard.” She made a notation on her checklist.

“I agree. Let’s go battery-operated.” He held out Chloe’s chair and she sat down. He took a seat opposite her.

Within a moment, a waiter greeted them. “Good afternoon. My name is Raul and I’ll be your server this afternoon. These are the specials,” he said, indicating a trifold menu on the table. “Take your time reviewing the menu. I’ll be right back with your drink orders.”

Chloe scowled. “But he didn’t take any drink orders.”

Philip reached across the table and covered Chloe’s hand with his. “Relax. They’ll work out the kinks. Hey, put down your clipboard a sec. Let’s dance.”

She looked at him like he was nuts. “Dance? But we have a million things to do.”

“Let’s do this first.” Philip rose from his seat, took her clipboard and set it on the floor near her chair. “Just go with it. It’ll help you relax a little.”

He picked up a remote controller from their table and clicked on the sound system. (click to hear the song that’s playing.) Then he held out his hand.

Chloe took his hand and he pulled her into his arms. “Impressive move,” she said with a little laugh.

“What? Me or the music?”

“Both.”


“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” he replied before kissing her lips. Speaking quietly, he said, “Remember a while back when I rescinded my marriage proposal and said you deserved a better proposal, one that included music and flowers?” Chloe raised her brows. “What would you say if I told you this was the real thing?”

Smiling broadly, Chloe said, “I’m pretty sure I’d say ‘yes’.”

Pulling her closer, he said, “In that case, will you marry me, Chloe Lane?”

Chloe pressed her lips to Philip’s in a long, heartfelt kiss. Leaning away, she said, “You know I will. ... And this?" She gazed into his eyes. "This is most definitely the real thing.” They kissed again as the waiter scurried to their table and quickly poured each of them a flute of champagne. He quickly left. “So, I guess we did have drink orders,” she laughed.

“Surprised?”

“Very.” She kissed him again. “So, soldier, tell me the truth. How long have you been planning this?”

He looked up toward the ceiling as if he were trying to remember. “Hmm. Probably somewhere around sixteen years.”

[krw627]

Now that's how you do a marriage proposal! Well played, Philip!!!

[heroicmuse]

Aww what a romantic proposal!

[André DiMera]

That was a great proposal! Loved the music!

[doolfan4life]

That was so sweet
Very romantic