A/N - Finally I got a chance to post this. No students today, but an emergency meeting to discuss printing services. Oh joy! Anyway, onto better things, like Philip. We have reached the last part of Chapter 8. Philip has his conversations. The conversation from the vote we took the other day is in here too...and no the one with the most votes didn't win. Sorry.
Thanks to all the readers and comments. I appreciate that you are enjoying this tale. We have so much to go.
I bet there are typos on top of typos in this thing. It is long, and I am beta free at the moment. So be warned. I will fix them as I find them as always.
Discussion thread after this for sure. Chapter 8 had a lot of hidden goodies.
myhourglass.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=authorsficchat&thread=2776&page=24#89669======================
Chapter 8 pt 3There should be ‘do not disturb’ signs for hospital patients, same as hotel guests have, but neon, to keep the doctors at bay. Pretty much as soon as his nurse had left, the team of doctors had appeared. Barging in, throwing him fake pleasantries, placing their cold hands on his body. And Philip had to lie there and take it. That was the biggest indignity of all, he had no choice. The doctors were calling the shots and if they decided on more tests, then more tests it was. Philip was trying to be a model patient. Trying to cooperate, answering all of their questions in the hopes it would garner his release sooner, although, things didn’t look promising on that front. He was too weak to hold anything heavier than a book. And walking? Not a chance. Even if he did have a new prosthetic leg, he didn’t think he could balance himself enough to keep steady. His head was continuously spinning whenever he kept his eyes open, and since he apparently he had his eyes closed for months, shutting them for any other reason than sleep was not happening. Philip could deal with a little dizziness and blurred vision.
Dinner time must have been approaching, not that Philip was even allowed solid foods. Apparently they didn’t trust him to swallow properly, even though he seemed to be able to swallow that lick of frosting pretty well. But Philip suspected that it was meal time for the rest of the citizens of Salem, because his doctors finally scurried off rumbling about reservations and drinks. Must be nice to be able to just up and leave, to go to dinner, meet a friend, or just go home. Philip really wanted to go home, to sleep in his own bed, to wear something besides ill fitting pajamas. Then again Philip wasn’t exactly sure where home was these days. Did he still have the penthouse? Was he back at the mansion? Or was he living somewhere else entirely? There were so many blanks he needed to fill, but unfortunately no one was talking. His doctors had put a gag order on everyone he knew. No talking about the years he lost, and no discussion of current events. Philip wasn’t allowed to watch TV, use a computer, or even talk on the phone. He was starting to feel more like a prisoner and less like a patient.
Maybe he could convince his little nurse to sneak him a peek at SportsCenter or at the Financial Times, she seemed pretty eager to please. With a little coaxing, Philip figured he could have her wrapped around his finger. Then he remembered that big ass ring on her finger, and dismissed the idea all together. Just his luck, he gets stuck with a cute, flirty nurse, who obviously liked him, but who also was very married. Flirting and using his charms was far less effective on a non willing woman. Though Melanie did seem almost willing at times, she had made some very suggestive comments to him over the last few days. It had to be all an act, though. She was a newlywed, and a new mom, no way would she be willing to jeopardize all of that for a patient that didn’t have the strength to hold her in his arms. So he had to think of another way to sweet talk his little nurse. Maybe he could bribe her with extra paid leave. She looked like she could use a vacation. She had that frazzled mom look, but worse. Philip remembered how tired Belle used to get from taking care of Claire. She would be worn out, but so happy, because every lost minute of sleep was being spent with her child. It was good tired. That’s how Melanie seemed, good tired, but to the extreme. The girl needed a break and Philip could make sure she had one, right after she helped him get to Chloe.
There was a tap at the door. Philip turned his head toward the sound. Then a head popped in, blurry, but Philip thought he could see a smile.
“Lucas?” asked Philip squinting toward the door. “Is that you?”
Lucas walked into the room shutting the door behind him. Jeans and a tan sweater, his brown hair grazing his shoulders and a huge grin, came into focus as he approached.
“Ah yeah, do I look that different?” he asked.
“No just a little fuzzy. I can’t believe you’re here.” Lucas grabbed Philip’s shoulder and shook it, their manly version of a hug.
“Sorry I couldn’t get here sooner,” he grinned. “Couldn’t get a flight out.” Lucas leaned against the chair by the bed, but didn’t sit in it.
“Of prison?” asked Philip.
“Prison?” He laughed. “No from Hong Kong. I haven’t been in jail for years.” His voice trailed off. Then he said, “Oh I forgot.”
“Yep,” Philip smiled sheepishly. “I got a few holes in the brain.”
“You always had that problem, a few screws loose, probably some missing,” said Lucas as he playfully knocked Philip in the bed with his fist. Philip laughed as he tried to dodge his blows.
“Very funny. Laugh at my anguish.”
“That’s what brothers are for. So how are you otherwise?” he asked returning to his spot against the chair. “You look great. Webcam does not do you justice.”
“Webcam?” asked Philip.
“Mel used to Skype with me and put you on webcam so I could see you and talk to you.”
“While I was in a coma?”
It seemed so bizarre to think of his friends and family just sitting next to him while he was in that state. He couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for them. Maybe like a big wake except he wasn’t really dead.
“Melanie thought that you might be able to hear us talking to you and respond.”
Philip smiled shaking his head. “I can’t believe the little nurse did all that. She went above and beyond.”
“She was always getting these crazy ideas from those seminars and classes.”
“Classes? So you mean the class she is taking right now was for me?”
“I think so.” Lucas nodded. “She was pretty dedicated to finding a way to bring you around.”
“I hope my dad is at least paying for her tuition. She’s like the model employee. We need to double, no make that triple her salary.”
Were nurses really this dedicated? It didn’t seem normal that Melanie had taken such a profound interest in him while he was comatose. Philip was starting to feel suspicious. Maybe she had ulterior motives and was looking for a meal ticket or some leverage to use against his family. No one did this much for no reason.
Lucas snickered. “How about giving her half your net worth?”
“Let’s not take it that far. It’s not like she’s my wife,” Philip chuckled. “Seems like you know her pretty well.” He stopped himself short of asking Lucas about his nurse’s background. If she was doing something underhanded, he needed to feel her out more, so he wouldn’t tip her off.
“I do. She’s a cool girl. I think of her like family.”
“Like family?” This was getting weirder by the minute. His whole family seemed to know her and even like her. It just wasn’t how things happened in his world. His family was too jaded to just embrace random strangers, especially not employees. “Wow she must have really charmed you. Did she get all flirty with you too?” Philip glanced at Lucas sideways, trying to gauge his reaction.
“I can’t say she has. I don’t think I’m her type.” Nothing. Lucas seemed to genuinely like the girl.
“She got really friendly with me, not that I’m complaining, but she is married,” said Philip letting his guard down a little. Maybe he was just being paranoid.
“Yes she is. So what’s the last thing you remember?” asked Lucas changing the subject.
“Being at the plane crash site in a tent with Chloe.”
They almost had sex that night, but that wasn’t what Philip remembered most. It was the way she had accepted him. How she didn’t flinch when she saw his leg. She made him feel whole again, like he still had something to offer, he still could be worth something, maybe even to her.
“With Chloe?” asked Lucas as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Now that must have been something.”
“Let’s just say I think it was a life altering moment. I felt like it was the start of something big. Being stuck in a confined space like that, emotions flare, things rise to the surface. You know?”
“Oh I know,” he nodded with a devilish grin. “Stuck in tents, supply closets, elevators.”
“Sounds like you’ve been there.” Lucas must have been getting lucky in some pretty tight places by the look in his eyes. Philip knew a sex flashback when he saw one.
“I can certainly relate.” Lucas smirked.
“I’m very anxious to talk to her again. I did talk to her on speaker earlier, but that was before I got my voice back. I need to talk to her again, for real this time.” Philip adjusted himself more upright in the bed, to get a better view of Lucas.
“How did you to talk to her without your voice?” Lucas asked.
“Little nurse Melanie hooked it up.” That was pretty cool of her, maybe she wasn’t all bad. She could just be a truly caring and thoughtful person.
“She called Chloe for you?” asked Lucas a shocked look on his face.
“She did. Why are you acting so surprised? I just told you how helpful she’s been.” Now that look could mean something. Lucas looked like he was going to fall over when Philip had mentioned the call to Chloe.
“So what did Chloe have to say for herself?” asked Lucas making himself comfortable by leaning back against the footboard and putting his feet up on the chair.
Philip shrugged, still feeling like his prior conversation with Chloe left so much unsaid. “She told me she was out of town at a singing gig.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” mumbled Lucas.
“What do you mean?” asked Philip, his eyes slanting as he tried to figure out what Lucas meant by that comment.
“Nothing, just talking.” Lucas tried to act casual but Philip wasn’t buying it. He was hiding something. “I think I might be jet lagged. I came directly here from the airport.”
“I feel honored, but don’t tell Sami you came to see me first, she might slaughter you.”
“Sami is not an issue. We are no longer together and she has remarried,” he stated.
“Not EJ?” asked Philip raising his eyebrows.
“Nope to Rafe Hernandez. He’s a nice guy. Allie and Will seem to like him.”
“How are the kids?”
“Allie is four and Will is a freshman in college.”
“No way. Will is in college?” Philip asked, his mouth gaping in disbelief. “Man I feel old.”
“How do you think I feel? My son’s practically a grown man. It seems like just yesterday when he was as little as yours.” Lucas’ eyes widened as he finished his sentence. He started to fidget uncomfortably on the bed.
“Mine?”
“Uh…” Lucas stuttered, quickly avoiding Philip’s eyes.
“It’s okay. I know I have a son out there. I try not to think about him though because I gave him up.”
It was such an awkward subject. Lucas clearly regretted even hinting at it. Philip couldn’t blame him. He was sure his brother was probably ashamed of the choice Philip made about his son.
“You made the best choice you could at the time.”
Philip sighed, leaning his head back into the pillows. “I wonder about that. I was so proud to be Claire’s dad. I would have done anything to keep her in my life, yet I let my own flesh and blood go. What kind of man does that make me?”
“I think that makes you a good dad. You did what was best for both of those kids. You can’t beat yourself up over it,” said Lucas patting Philip’s leg. “And you never know, you might get another shot at fatherhood.”
“I wouldn’t put money on that. Seems to me I am very single right now. Not a woman has come through that door looking for me,” he declared pointing toward the door. “I can’t believe that I haven’t formed a lasting relationship in all of these years.”
“Don’t knock bachelorhood. I’m embracing it,” said Lucas jumping up to examine the stack of DVDs under the wall mounted TV.
“So no one for you since Sami?”
“I wouldn’t say no one,” responded Lucas, his back to Philip as he continued to look at the DVDs. “I had some hits and misses.”
“Pull up a chair brother and fill me in,” said Philip leaning over and patting the chair with his hand.
“I’m not supposed to do that. They want to monitor how much you find out.”
Philip frowned. “That’s such bulls**t. It’s my life and my brain. I should be able to determine what I can and cannot handle.”
“I think they are just worried you’ll pop a blood vessel or something from information overload.”
“Whatever,” he said dismissively. “I think people just like to control me.” It was divine payback for all the ordering around he had done in his life. Now it was his turn to be forced to follow orders.
“You just came back to us. Give it time.”
“Can you at least give me a hint at what I missed? A crumb? Something?” He was close to begging. At this point he had no shame, it was getting annoying being in the dark about his own life.
Lucas shook his head. “Mom and Melanie would kill me if I upset you.”
“What’s up with that anyway? Mom actually seemed like she was being nice to Melanie.” His mother wasn’t nice to anyone, especially not females. It was like she saw any woman in his life as a threat, even ones he had no romantic involvement with.
“Don’t look at me I’ve been in Asia,” said Lucas holding up his hands and backing away. “Mel has been here with you the whole time. I’m sure it counts in her favor with Mom.”
Philip decided to try another tactic, the direct route. “Do you know if Chloe ever came by? To visit?”
“I’m pretty sure she has, but like I said, I’ve been out of the country.”
“This is going to drive me nuts. I’ve just got to talk to Chloe,” he said running his hands roughly through his brown hair.
“Man, you just won’t let this drop. What the hell happened in that tent?”
“Lucas you don’t understand, it was…” he paused, a smile spreading over his face. “I can’t even find the words. And now I find out three years have passed. I’m starting to feel like I missed out on something really good.”
“With Chloe?” asked Lucas as he wandered about the room examining things.
“Yes with Chloe, who else? You know how I feel about her.”
No secrets in a town like Salem, not for someone like him, besides he had crashed and burned spectacularly with her in high school. At the time he had been the topic of much gossip. That was part of the reason he decided to enlist, to put some distance between not only himself and Chloe, but also from the idle minds of the town. Being humiliated and heartbroken was no way for an eighteen year old to live. So he ran. Philip was so glad he had made that choice. Joining the Marines was one of the best decisions of his life.
“Back then you were all about Belle, from what I remember,” said Lucas as he turned the faucet handles on the little sink on the wall with the door.
“I love Belle, part of me always will, but that was always completely separate from this thing with Chloe. You of all people should understand.”
Before he met Chloe, Belle was Philip’s first love. He’d never declared his affections of course, the ones he had been secretly harboring since the third grade. She had been a fixture in his life, her blond pigtails and big blue eyes. She followed her big brother Brady around like his shadow, annoying him endlessly, but Philip had loved her. It was a crush he thought he would never shake. Even as it became increasingly clear that Belle would only ever have eyes for Shawn, Philip held on to the hope that one day he would get a shot. She would give him a chance to prove that he was the man that could really make her happy.
Finally Philip did get that shot, well sort of. Complications and miscommunications that seemed to plague all love matches in Salem, had for once worked in his favor, giving him a chance to be with Belle. Denial is powerful, but deep down the heart always knows the truth, and deep down Philip knew that Belle’s heart wasn’t really his. He just fought like hell to change that fact. He couldn’t lose another love. He couldn’t go through that pain again. Not after Chloe.
“Because of Sami,” he said slowly, understanding on his face.
“Exactly.” Philip nodded. If anyone could understand the nature of a love you just can’t shake, it would be Lucas. He and Sami had been on a merry go round of romance since they were kids.
Lucas sighed, running his hands down his face. He looked tired. “I think you just need to relax, you’ll get all your answers soon.”
“I’m not going to be able to relax, until I see her. Lucas, just tell me one thing.” Philip turned on his side to face Lucas fully.
“What do you want to know?” asked Lucas moving closer to the bed, but stopping just short of sitting on it again. He leaned his knee on the mattress.
“Is Chloe single? I know she and Brady broke up, but is there anyone else, another man?”
“Not a man per se, but someone else, yes,” Lucas smirked.
“What do you mean not a man?” Was she a lesbian now? He couldn’t see Chloe making that switch, although the thought of Chloe with another woman was hot. “Is she hooked up with a younger guy? Some teenager? I can’t picture Chloe with some college guy.”
“College students have their appeal. Sometimes a little youthful energy is good for the soul.”
“You’re telling me that you’d date a college girl, some chick in class with Will?” asked Philip narrowing his eyes.
“I don’t know about that, but I wouldn’t count anything out.”
“I’m not sure I could do it. You’ve got to at least be able to drink legally to get in my bed. I think I’d feel like a dirty old man.”
Lucas broke into a fit of laughter, actually doubling over as his laughs shook his whole body.
“What’s so funny?” asked Philip.
“You’re still a little young to be a dirty old man.” Lucas shook his head as his laughter subsided, his face flushed from his outburst.
“You know what I meant. A girl’s got to be legal. So just tell me straight up, is she seeing anyone?”
“Chloe is very much alone these days,” replied Lucas. Philip’s heart lifted unexpectedly at the news, a broad grin overtaking his face. Chloe was single.
It always came back to Chloe. She had changed his life for the better, for the worse, for always. Philip just couldn’t imagine any other woman being able to take her place in his heart. She was a permanent resident, the one he compared every other love to, the one that set the benchmark for what real love should feel like. If any other woman came close, and Belle definitely had, he shut a just a little piece of himself off, to protect himself from feeling anywhere near what he had felt for Chloe. He wanted to keep those memories sacred, yet also bury them at the same time. Philip never wanted to love anyone that deeply again, he didn’t want to subject himself to that level of pain. The inevitable pain that comes from giving yourself completely to someone else, to letting someone inside your soul, Philip just couldn’t risk it. Unless it was for her. Chloe was the only one that would ever make him face the pain again. She was worth it.
“Earth to Philip. Where’d you go just now? Don’t tell me back to Chloe?”
“I can’t help it. I’m thinking about her more and more. What do you think it means?”
“I think that is your last memory, so your mind is hanging on to it. Making you fixate a little.”
Philip leaned his head on his hand. “I think it’s more than that. I remember loads of other things from that time, but they are not popping into my head every few minutes.”
“Maybe because the other things don’t come in such a beautiful package.” Lucas grinned.
Chloe’s face appeared in Philip’s mind. “She is unforgettable. Those eyes, that smile…”
“Those breasts,” added Lucas.
“Don’t go there man, please,” groaned Philip, his face contorting in distaste.
“I’m not allowed to appreciate a beautiful woman’s assets?”
“It’s bad enough I have to think about Brady appreciating. I don’t want to have to worry about you too.”
“Okay, fair enough. Just try to keep a level head.” He reached over and ruffled Philip’s hair. A move he often did when he wanted to put Philip in his place, to remind him that he was the younger brother. “No snap decisions until you know all you’ve missed these past few years. What you find out might change your perspective.”
“I won’t be jumping into anything, trust me. I’m just getting over Belle, she’s dealing with Brady.”
“That was years ago, Philip,” Lucas said softly.
“Right. I guess she’s over Brady then?”
“I would say so.”
He exhaled sharply. “I’ve got to get used to this.”
“You’ll adjust. Patience brother,” said Lucas patting Philip’s arm.
The door opened and Maggie Horton, dressed in a pale green suit, walked in with a baby in her arms, Melanie’s baby. Philip had a hard time making out his features, he was a bit fuzzy from that distance, but his bright blue eyes were like a beacon.
“Sorry to interrupt,” said Maggie.
“Aunt Maggie, am I late?” asked Lucas turning his back to Philip, stepping in front of Maggie, blocking Philip’s view. “I thought we were meeting up with Mel later.”
“Mrs. Horton?” Philip leaned forward in the bed to see her.
“Hello there Philip,” said Maggie, leaning around Lucas to wave. Philip could hear the baby making happy sounds as Maggie spoke. “So nice to see your smiling face.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to be smiling,” Philip responded, his smile widening.
“Let me get a look at this boy” Lucas took the baby from Maggie’s arms.” How’s my little nephew?” he asked.
“Nephew? You weren’t kidding about thinking of Melanie as family.” Lucas quickly looked back at Philip before once again stepping in front of Maggie. Philip could’ve sworn a look of horror had passed over Lucas’ face.
“She is family Philip,” said Maggie walking over to the bed. “Melanie’s like a daughter to me. She’s lived with me since she came to Salem.”
“She lives with you still? Even though she’s married?” Philip asked perplexed.
Maggie smiled. “Yes she does. It’s nice to have a full house again.”
“I just don’t get it. I saw the size of that ring. Her husband’s got to be loaded. Why is she working all hours when she has a baby? And why is she still living with you? What is he, some sort of deadbeat?”
Lucas let out a huge laugh from the back of the room. Philip noticed Maggie shoot Lucas a sharp look that made Lucas stop mid laugh. Philip had no idea what was going with those two.
Maggie took a seat in the chair. “Our home life is unconventional, but it works.”
“Lucas I couldn’t find Melanie. You think you and Parker could go look for her? I want to sit with Philip for a bit,” said Maggie turning toward Lucas from the chair.
“No problem. Gives me a chance to bond with this little guy. I’ll see you later Philip,” said Lucas without a backwards glance. It was like he was eager to get out of the room, away from him.
“I’m sort of surprised you want to visit me,” said Philip as Maggie returned her full attention to him.
“Why’s that?” she asked.
“I always got the impression you didn’t like me much.”
“I think I might have judged you unfairly. We didn’t know each. Your father tells such wonderful stories about you all the time.” She rubbed his arm affectionately, before grabbing his hand and giving it a quick squeeze.
“You talk to my father?” Philip asked in amazement.
“We’re friends,” Maggie explained.
“I never would’ve pictured the two of you associating. How did you even meet?”
“I’ve known your father for years, not well of course. We got to really know each other over the past year, a special event brought us together.”
“Something for the hospital I assume. I guess that makes sense.” Philip shook his head from side to side trying to let all of the new information sink in. “And Mickey doesn’t mind you hanging out with my dad?”
“Mickey passed away last year.” He noticed Maggie’s eyes filling with tears as she spoke.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. He was a good man.”
“Thank you, Philip. Enough about me,” she said shaking her head as if to physically clear it. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” He really wasn’t. His head hurt, his vision was blurry, his throat was raw, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Chloe, but that was nothing he could say to a practical stranger.
“Melanie keeps me posted about you. She was very excited that you got your voice back. She told me about that toy you used. Crazy girl.”
Philip could tell Maggie really cared about Melanie. The woman smiled every time she said her name. Maggie Horton wouldn’t embrace some shyster or con artist, so maybe he was off base about Melanie’s motives. He had to learn that not everyone was as messed up as his family. Good people did exist in the world.
“I sound like a frog, but it is better than having to type out words. Now if I only could get my memory back.”
“You’re always in such a rush. Slow down and let yourself heal. I know it’s probably pointless to say that to you.”
“How well did we know each other Mrs. Horton?” he asked looking the older red headed woman over. She spoke to him with such familiarity, as if she knew him well and spent extended amounts of time with him. He couldn’t think of any reason that would have him hanging out with Maggie Horton. They just were part of really different worlds.
“Well enough that you could call me Maggie,” she said squeezing his hand again.
“Well enough that I could ask you a favor?” asked Philip, a slow grin spreading on his face.
“I should think so. What do you need?”
“Can I borrow your phone?” he asked flashing his most charming smile.
“I get the feeling your doctors wouldn’t like that,” said Maggie wagging her finger at him disapprovingly.
“We can just keep it between us. I really need to talk to Chloe,” he pleaded.
“I thought you spoke to her earlier.”
“How did you know that?” He really didn’t have any privacy. Every move was common knowledge it seemed.
“Melanie told me,” she explained.
“Right. I did speak to her earlier, but I didn’t have my voice back then. I just want to be able to talk to her normally this time.”
“It means that much to you?” Maggie asked looking at him with what seemed like sympathy.
Why did everyone get so weird whenever he brought up Chloe? He felt like everyone was in on some big secret and he was the only one out of the loop.
“Nothing means more to me right now.” Philip admitted. He wasn’t sure he would be able to sleep if he didn’t check up on Chloe soon.
“I really shouldn’t do this,” said Maggie pulling her phone out of her purse. “But I think I know how to get in touch with her.”
“That would be great. I know she’s performing, but maybe we can catch her before she hits the stage.”
“Hi Drew. This is Maggie Horton. How are you?” Philip briefly wondered who this Drew was, but let it go. If he could get to Chloe, it didn’t matter.
“I’m very well, thank you. Drew, I have a special request that I’m hoping you could help me with. It is about Chloe. I need to speak with her. Oh you’re with her now? That’s perfect. Can I talk to her for a few moments?” Maggie gave Philip a thumbs up as she waited for Chloe to come to the phone.
“Hello Chloe? This is Maggie, honey. How are you? It’s good to hear your voice too. Are you taking care of yourself? Good, you have to stay strong.”
Maggie smiled as she spoke to Chloe on the phone, seeming really happy to talk to her. Philip hadn’t realized that Chloe and Maggie were close. In fact, he wasn’t aware that they had ever been more than passing acquaintances. So much must have happened in the past three years.
“Chloe I have a little surprise for you. Someone wants to speak to you. No, no not him. But I think you’ll like this person just as much. Hang on Chloe.”
“Okay Philip, remember she is under a lot of stress. Be sure to keep things light,” said Maggie before handing Philip the phone.
“I will Maggie,” Philip assured her as he put the phone to his ear, and watched her leave the room. He suddenly was feeling shaky now that Chloe was on the line. “Hello, Chloe?”
“Philip?”
“Yeah it’s me.” He cringed as his voice cracked slightly. He could only imagine what she must have been thinking about how he sounded.
“You’re talking,” she said. Philip could hear the smile in her voice.
“Yes it seems that way.” He tried to pull himself together, put on his most disarming voice. “I had to talk to you again, our last conversation just wasn’t good enough.”
“I did all the talking,” Chloe teased, laughing lightly.
“Yeah, you wouldn’t let me get a word in. So this time I thought maybe you would let me talk.” He teased her back, wishing he could see her face while they had this conversation.
“I guess I could do that. You sound like Froggy though.”
“From the Little Rascals? You remember that?” he asked with a shocked smile.
“How could I forget? We watched so many hours of Little Rascals when I was sick in the hospital with cancer.”
Philip hadn’t thought about those days in years. He tried to forget that Chloe was ever that sick, that he almost lost her. They had spent so much time in the hospital, cuddled on the bed together, just watching TV. Chloe always wanted to watch some old movie, some romance in black and white. Philip preferred a western if he was being forced to watch classic cinema. A gunfight could make even the lamest movie good. Or even better, cartoons. Philip had tried to convince Chloe that laughter was the best medicine and therefore they should watch Cartoon Network. Finally they compromised and agreed on the Little Rascals. It came on daily, two episodes, from 3PM to 4PM. Philip rushed from school to be there to watch. No way would he miss their standing date.
“I used to call you Darla and...”
“And you threatened to serenade me like Alfalfa,” she interrupted laughter in her voice.
“But I wouldn’t have been off key like him.”
“Sure you wouldn’t have,” she teased.
“Watch it Darla! Or I’ll start singing right now,” he threatened laughing heartily despite the pain in his throat.
“Please don’t, my head is messed up enough as it is.”
“Why’s your head messed up?” he asked not liking the sound of that. “Stage fright?”
“Something like that,” she answered, far more subdued than she had been before. “So you’re talking again, which is good. Any other improvements? Will you be going home soon?” Philip knew avoidance when he heard it, and Chloe was sidestepping big time. But he decided not to press her about it. Not yet.
“I think I have a bit longer in this place. You are just going to have to come and visit me. We can watch Little Rascals.”
“I would love that. So much,” she said warmly. A sadness had crept into her voice and Philip wasn’t sure what had changed between them so quickly. They were just laughing.
“Great, so when are you coming?” he asked his voice lifting hopefully.
“Oh Philip, I can’t,” she said sounding very disappointed.
“Are you touring or something?”
“Or something. You know that I would be there in a heartbeat if I could. Nothing would stop me.” She was crying. Philip could hear it and it tore him up inside. He never could stand it when Chloe cried.
“I just really want to see you.” It was more than that, he needed to see her. But he kept that tidbit to himself, so he wouldn’t scare her away with his intensity.
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. Wondering how you are.”
“I’ve been thinking about you too. Every time I close my eyes,” he admitted, putting it all on the line, hoping she wouldn’t crush him.
“Same here,” she said.
Philip couldn’t contain his smile. “Really?”
“Yes, sounds crazy doesn’t it?”
“Sounds like maybe we are just too far away from each other. Our minds are trying to tell us something.”
He felt like he could levitate from the bed, he was so happy. A weight had been lifted, she had been thinking of him too.
Chloe sighed. “I have so much in my head, I don’t know what’s real anymore.”
“And I have so much missing from mine,” he said quietly.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
He tried to laugh it off. “Nothing. I’ll bore you with that another time.”
“Philip I have to go now,” she said apologetically.
“Okay. We will have to talk again. You can’t be singing all the time.”
“We will,” she said softly.
“Chloe, can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” she almost whispered.
“Were you with me while I was in a coma?” Philip pressed the phone closer to his head as his pulse pounded in his ears.
“Do you mean did I visit you? Of course I did,” she replied.
“No I mean when I was waking up. Were you by my side? I keep hearing your voice, like you were calling my name.” Faintly in the background, pulling him to the surface, until he was surrounded by her sound, he strained to reach her and when he finally did, she wasn’t there.
“Yes,” she said breathily. “I was holding your hand the whole time.”
“Wow.” That was all he could say. There were no other words.
“I’ve got to go. You be good, Alfalfa,” said Chloe.
Philip smiled as the call disconnected. He knew it. He had felt it. Suddenly it all made sense. She had been with him.
As Philip let the conversation sink in, his apprehension rose, it had been great to talk to her and even better to know he had been right in his feeling that she was with him when he came out of the coma. Yet something felt very wrong. Where was she now? Why wasn’t she here with him? It didn’t make sense that she would watch him wake up and then just leave before getting a chance to talk to him. And mostly why was he still hearing her voice in his head, calling out for him to help her? There was something he was missing in all of this, and he had to figure out what it was. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his life and Chloe’s life depended on it.
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Next update - Philip meets Dr. Hill
