The Rest of Our Lives (Read 100,816 times)

[mae00]

NO PHILLIP!!! DO NOT SETTLE!!!!

Nicole is pushing this because she doesn't want to "be alone" and to have financial security. Her history with Philip's family should be more than enough to send him running away from this idea. A no-strings relationship ALWAYS has strings. Philip can be supportive and be an adoptive father to Holly without being married to Nicole.

[fluffysmom]

Getting married would only benefit Nicole. She gets the financial stability and a dad for Holly. I don't see any benefit for Philip. It will be confusing for Parker. He knows Philip doesn't love Nicole. If Philip wants to sleep with Nicole she'd be a willing participant with or without a ring.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 500a

When Chloe arrived at Mary’s office, Mary suggested she and Chloe take a walk, change the scenery, go to the park. “Let’s go to Lake Shore Park. We’ve never done that yet and I’ve found that fresh air and sunshine and a change of scenery can help unchain the mind, loosen the thought process, change one’s perspective. Let’s give it a try, shall we?”

Walking around the lake at the park, Mary began by saying, “When our last session ended, I gave you some homework, to think about why you run away instead of facing your emotions. Have you come up with anything?”

With a nod, Chloe said, “We talked a lot over the years about how I grew up without a mother and how that made me feel.”

“Do you think that has something to do with the reason you run away from pain,” Mary asked.

“Probably. I didn’t have the support and love of a mother growing up. Or of anyone. When I was little and living in foster homes, every time I’d think, this is where I’m going to grow up, the family would send me to the next place. And it was never any different at the next place. It was worse. But you get used to where you are, you know? In the beginning, I hoped I could stay where I was, but I just kept getting moved from place to place. That taught me not to get attached, because it was bound to end. It was just a matter of time.”

“How old were you when you were in these foster homes?”

“I don’t really remember.” Chloe plucked a leaf from a bush as they walked by and twirled it between her fingers. “The earliest I can remember is four, five, six. I do know that it went on for years until I was about 12. Then I got sent back to the orphanage and never got adopted, never had any more foster families.”

“Your formative years lay the foundation for the rest of your life,” Mary pointed out. “That could explain a lot about your current behavior.”

“You mean, the fact I tend to run away as a preemptive move, so they can’t run out on me?”

“Self analysis,” Mary stated with admiration. “That's good. But what do you think about that deduction?”

“I think maybe it’s true,” Chloe said, more as a question than a statement.

[doolfan4life]

I think it’s good that Chloe is realising where her behaviour stems from but if I’m being honest I’m surprised this hasn’t been talked about before
The main question now is what is she going to do about it going forward

[André DiMera]

Interesting.

[mae00]

It's good that Chloe is realizing where it STARTED and while yes, the past does shape your reactions and thought processes, it's not a set in stone piece that that's how life will always be. She has had the power to change that narrative since she got out of the orphanage. However, the only part of the narrative that she changed was who made the decision to end it. Not the ending itself.

[Trey]

I hope that Chloe comes to realize that she is orphaning Parker, too. Even though he's with Philip, he needs his mama.

And, re: Philip. He's so desperate for love and craving any sort of belonging, I don't blame him for considering Nicole's offer, but I do believe he's smarter than that. He's lonely and he needs more of a friend. He wants to be taken care of, too.

[heroicmuse]

I'm glad Chloe had this insight and that Mary is pushing her to think more deeply.

I'm not sure about the idea of having a session in the park. While it's a nice change of scenery, it might not be completely private.

[Kpatch]

Hello friends. Thank you all for continuing to read and comment. I love reading what you have to say. The Nicole/Philip twist is intriguing, right? It's been fun for me to write. I love writing things that surprise even me.

Here's what you can expect in the coming week.

-Please be kind to the author as Chloe’s session with Mary continues, and she begins to understand how she is perpetuating a cycle that began in her childhood. Will that realization be enough to get her to consider returning to Salem?

-Later in the week, Jennifer gets unnerved when she learns that JJ is moving out.

[heroicmuse]

It's about time JJ moves out, though if he's moving in with Gabi, it's way too soon.

Looking forward to more of Chloe's session. I hope she has a breakthrough.

[André DiMera]

Chloe’s session should be interesting.

Wonder where J.J. is moving.

Thanks for the previews!

[doolfan4life]

Thanks for the previews
I’m expecting JJ and Gabi to be taking this step as it sort of seems like the next stage for them

[Kpatch]

A quick reminder about where JJ's moving.

From Chapter 498

Gabi: "I was just thinking we could take our relationship to the next level. Move in together.” JJ’s brows raised and Gabi added, “You practically live here anyway. You’ve got a couple of drawers in the bedroom and your clothes are in my closet. What do you think?”

JJ: “I think it’s a great idea. Let’s do it.”

[Kpatch]

Chapter 500b

Chloe’s session with Mary continued as they walked around Lake Shore Park.

“You mean, the fact I tend to run away as a preemptive move, so they can’t run out on me?”

“What do you think about that deduction?” Mary asked.

“I think maybe it’s true,” Chloe said, more as a question than a statement. She looked Mary in the eye. “It feels true. Like I run away first because it feels inevitable that I’ll get thrown away. Like I don’t know when or how, but it’s always out there. It’s going to happen.” When Chloe’s tears began to flow, Mary fished in her purse for a pack of tissues and handed it to Chloe. “I know what you’re going to say. I’m a grown woman. I should get over things that happened to me more than 20 years ago, especially after being in a relationship with someone like Philip. Philip was never the kind of man who’d walk out on me. I know that. I know it in my head, but I made sure I ruined things, didn’t I?” she asked bitterly. “I gave him a reason to hate me and to want to get away from me. But why would I do something that makes no sense?”

“Chloe, sometimes even when you know something in your head, it doesn’t change a learned behavior,” Mary said with empathy. “It’s a proven fact that it’s hard to get over the traumas that happen in your formative years.”

Chloe stopped walking as a pained expression crossed Chloe’s face. “Do you think Parker will feel that way too? Unwanted? Unloved? Abandoned?” She gasped. “Oh god Mary. It would kill me to think he’d feel that way. No one deserves that, least of all my sweet angel.” Chloe went pale. “That’s exactly what my son is dealing with right now. Traumas in his formative years. He’s going to be a basket case when he gets older, isn’t he? Because of me.”

“Everyone internalizes things differently. Many people who are the product of broken homes go on to live a full, happy and productive life. But, you’re right. It will likely take extra work for him to get there.”

“Dear God. Do you think it’s too late?”

[André DiMera]

Glad Chloe is at least aware of this self-fulfilling prophecy.