The Rest of Our Lives (Read 100,776 times)

[doolfan4life]

I think Kayla needed to hear another dr say they would have made the same call
I hope she gets her licence back
End of the day Daniel chose to drive and that’s on him

[André DiMera]

Sounds like Kayla might get the job.

[mae00]

That interview went really well!! I'm glad Kayla heard someone else say that they would have done what she did and that circumstances are rarely ideal. I hope the rest of the interviews with the partner go well and that the other staff doesn't give her too much grief.

[fluffysmom]

I liked the doctor saying that he would have done the same thing as Kayla. I hope that makes Kayla feel better.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 465a

It was late afternoon and Chloe had returned home from her job at Lakewood Church where her workday typically ended at 3:00 p.m. She was about to get a cold drink when there was a knock at the door. When Chloe opened it, she was stunned to see Mary on the other side. “Mary! What are you doing here?”

“Mind if I come in?”

“Of course.” Chloe gestured for Mary to enter. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’m fine,” Mary told her as she took a seat on the sofa. “Come sit.”

Chloe’s brow knit as she eyed her therapist with skepticism, but refrained from sitting. “Did Philip send you? I never told him I was here but I’m sure it wouldn’t be that hard to find out. Was he afraid I’d kill myself?”

Mary didn’t answer directly. “I’m sorry to drop in without calling first, but I don’t have your phone number. You don’t have the same phone anymore, do you?”

“No um. I’m using a Trac phone. You still haven’t told me how you knew I was here.”

“I have a question too,” Mary stated. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you leave your husband?” Chloe flinched and Mary said, “I know I’m not usually so direct but I don’t usually pay house calls either, so consider this an unannounced visit from a friend. I’m worried about you. I’m worried about your whole family. And don’t think I didn’t notice your question about killing yourself. Talk to me.”

A tear rolled down Chloe’s cheek. “I lost my family the night I got into a car with Brady.”

“Philip didn’t think that. He sat by your bedside for months waiting for you to regain consciousness.”

“I know. Everybody told me that. But he shouldn’t have been waiting. I betrayed him. I betrayed everything we had. I destroyed everything we had and I would destroy everything else if I stayed in Salem.”

“What do you mean everything else?”

Chloe sighed heavily and sat next to Mary on the sofa. “I keep having the same dream over and over and it always ends the same, with Philip and Parker dying because of me.”

“That’s a dream, Chloe,” Mary reminded her as she reached for Chloe’s hand. “A nightmare, but it’s not reality.”

“It is reality.”

The sound of the front door opening diverted their attention. “Honey, I’m home,” Xander called out good-naturedly as he entered the apartment. He looked at the women on the sofa. “Sorry, love. I didn’t know you had company.”

Chloe swiped at her tears and said, “This is Mary Richards. Mary, this is Xander.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” he said.

Mary cocked her head and she looked quizzically at Xander but said nothing.

“I didn’t mean to intrude. I—.” He looked at Chloe. “Why don’t I go pick us up something to eat at China Star. Will you be staying, Miss Richards?”

“For dinner? No.”

“I’ll give you some privacy,” Xander decided. “Chloe? The usual?” Chloe nodded and Xander said, “Be back in half an hour.”

When Xander left, Mary asked, “Who is that?”

[André DiMera]

Mary’s reaction to Xander was interesting. Curious what Chloe tells her.

[heroicmuse]

I guess Mary has got the wrong idea about Chloe and Xander's relationship.

[doolfan4life]

I can see why that was such a shock
Especially with xander being his usual charming self
I hope Chloe just explains who he is and it’s not fixated on

[Trey]

LOL whoops, Xander! I can see how Mary viewed that little scenario.

And, you go, Kayla! I hope you get your license back and your groove back. I'm glad she's rebuilding.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 465b

When Xander left, Mary asked, “Who is that?”

“A friend.”

“A friend you’re living with?”

“Not the way you think. I have no interest in getting involved with anyone ever again. I think of him as my bodyguard.”

“Does your body need guarding,” Mary asked.

“Mary!”

Mary smiled a little. “Good. Feisty Chloe is still in there. I apologize if my comment was offensive. I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Xander is Philip’s cousin and Philip was allowing him to live here for convenience. I had no idea Xander was living here when I moved back. Xander had no idea I was coming. It’s just temporary until I find a place of my own.”

“You have a place of your own. In Salem,” Mary said gently.

Chloe got off the sofa and walked back toward the kitchen. Clinging to the kitchen counter she uttered, “I can’t go back. I told you. I’ll destroy them. They don’t know how much safer they are without me.”

Mary waited several moments before asking, “Do you remember when Parker got kidnapped a couple years ago?”

Chloe’s head jerked around quickly. “Of course I remember.”

“I know you had some memory loss, so I wasn’t sure if you knew.”

“Why’d you bring that up?”

“I know how painful that was for you. How frightening, and I remember you saying you’d give anything to have Parker back, safe in your arms. Do you not feel that way anymore?”

Chloe choked back tears. “If you knew how much I miss my sweet angel.”

“Tell me about that.”

“I almost can’t breathe, I miss him so much.”

“Yet, here you are, miles away from him.”

“I’ve caused both of them enough pain for a lifetime. Parker’s going to need you for the rest of his life because he didn’t get the kind of mother he should have had.”

“Have you abused him?”

“No, of course not. Not physically anyway, but emotionally, yes. I’ve turned his world upside down again and again.”

“Did you do that intentionally?”

“No,” Chloe answered defensively, “but that doesn’t excuse me for not putting him and my unborn baby ahead of some stupid mission I thought I had to save Brady and his son.”

“Let me ask you this. Do you think Parker thinks you’re not the mother he needs?”

“I don’t … I don’t know.” She put her hands over her eyes and shouted. “Stop. Please just stop asking all these questions. I can’t bear to talk about this anymore.”

Mary walked toward Chloe and took her face in her hands. “That’s fine. We don’t have to talk anymore today, but honey, we’re not done. We need to work through this together. I know you’re in pain. I can feel it. You’re not alone, Chloe. I’m going to keep calling you and we’re going to keep talking.” Mary took a step back and held out her phone. “Put your new phone number in my contacts.”

[doolfan4life]

I like how direct Mary was
Shows how unrealistic Chloe’s notions are
It needs to be pointed out as such
I’m glad she’s not leaving her in her time of need and letting her know she will be back

[André DiMera]

Glad Mary’s making Chloe talk about this.

[Trey]

I'm glad to see Mary push, too.

[mae00]

I always did like Mary. Chloe has been coddled for way too long and allowed to run away too often when things get tough. I love that Mary is being direct and almost harsh in some cases with her to figure out where things really stand.

[Kpatch]

Thanks for your readership and comments, everyone. I was talking to a friend about how crazy it is that this story has been airing for 3+ years but in story time, it’s only about 8 months.

Here’s a little preview of the coming week.

-Sarah is excited to make plans for her and Xander’s wedding, but Maggie has reservations.
-Alex orders Stephanie to accompany him on an overnight trip to Chicago.
-A call from Mary unsettles Philip.
-Nicole reacts to Sarah’s wedding plans.