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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 20:14:37 GMT -5
Chapter 33
It was quiet summer evening and Maggie, Victor, Philip, Melanie and Parker were each enjoying ice cream cones as they walked through the town square. They found a bench, and Maggie guided Parker to sit down, her hands full of napkin’s, trying to keep his mess at a minimum. Philip and Melanie stood together enjoying their treat as did Victor.
Parker looked up at Victor wide eyed, “What flayber did you get, grampa?”
“Pistachio.” Victor smiled, taking a seat at the bench next to the one where his wife and grandson were seated.
“Spitachio?” The little boys face contorted, looking between Victor and Maggie.
“Close enough...” Maggie chuckled.
“I got chocolate and banella buhcuz it’s my favorite kind, all twisted up like that, see?” He swirled the cone around in his hand as Maggie guarded it intently.
“Yes… We see. Let’s just eat now, before it ends up in your lap, hmm?” Maggie’s eyes were wide.
Parker nodded as he took another large lick.
Victor chuckled, shaking his head at Parker’s animated excitement. He looks up at Philip, “I think we may have made his day.”
“Yes.” Philip nodded, “Nothing he likes more than going out for ice cream, huh, Parker?”
Parker nods, his eyes as wide as saucers, as he continuously licks his cone.
Philip glances at Melanie, who looked uncannily similar to the little boy on the bench, “I think we may have made Melanie’s day, too…”
“Huh?” She looks up from her intent focus on the ice cream cone, causing everyone to laugh.
“Melnee, you like ice cream too?” Parker tilted his head in question.
Melanie’s eyes were wide, “I do…” she nodded.
“Oh! You know, next time we should take Parker to that spot on the beach where me and you always used to go, remember?” Philip questioned Melanie with a smile.
“Of course I remember.” She smiles, turning to Parker, “You’ll love it, Parker! We can get ice cream and go swimming!”
Parker’s eyes shot open, “Yeah!! Let’s go!!”
“No,” His father chuckles and shakes his head, “A different time, Parker. We already have ice cream today!”
Parker focused back on his cone, taking a lick just as it began to drip from the bottom, all over his lap. He looked up at Maggie sheepishly, “Uh, oh…”
“Oh, it’s okay,” She laughs, looking up at Melanie and Philip, “Maybe you could get us a dish? And many more napkins…”
Melanie laughs, “Okay. We’ll go get them.”
Philip instinctively followed Melanie in the direction of the ice cream parlor.
Maggie wiped off Parker’s lap and surrounded his cone with a pile of napkins, “Can you hold it like that?”
“Yeah,” He nods, his face dripping with ice cream.
She shakes her head and chuckles as she sits back in the bench and crosses her legs. She observes Victor, “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” Victor turned back from watching Melanie and Philip walk away, “It’s just that, despite everything, it’s still nice to see them together like that.”
“I know,” Maggie’s voice was soft, “I can’t help but worry, though.”
“So do I,” He sighed, “But I am glad that all of this has seemed to help Melanie get past her hard feelings for Philip.”
Maggie takes a deep breath and sits up, “Me too. But I just can’t stop thinking about what will happen when her memory comes back, with her and Philip as close as they are.”
“I suppose it doesn’t help that they are living under the same roof…”
“Well, of course not. But I can’t force her to go home… She keeps saying she isn’t ready and that she’s happy living with us.”
Victor nods, “I would never expect you to do that. I love having her there. I just hope it isn’t negatively affecting her.”
“Yeah, but maybe it’s something that should be left alone, you know?” She pauses, “I mean, whatever is meant to be, will be, right?” She raises an eyebrow to Victor.
"What do you mean?" Victor narrows his eyes.
Maggie shrugs, "I guess I just mean it's Melanie's life, not mine. I think she's had enough interference." She gives an affirming nod before turning back to Parker who is waving to someone approaching.
“Hi!! I got ice cream!” Parker smiles.
Maggie laughs and looks up, seeing Chad standing before them, “Hi, Chad!”
“Hi, Mrs. K.” He smiles as he kneels down in front of Parker, “That looks… uh… good.” He chuckles as he looks up at Maggie.
“Messy.” Her eyes are wide with seriousness, a smirk on her lips.
Chad smiles, “What are you three up to, tonight? Just getting some ice cream?”
“Yeah!” Parker nods happily, “Chocolate AND Bahnella!”
Maggie chuckles, “Parker convinced us that going out for ice cream tonight was absolutely necessary.”
“Of course it is!” Chad ruffled Parker’s hair before standing up to face Victor, “Hi, sir.”
“Chad,” Victor nods with a smile, “How are you doing?”
“Good…” He pauses, “Um…Mr. Kiriakis… I’m uh, I’m really glad I ran into you. I need to apologize.”
Victor shakes his head, “Not necessary, Chad.”
“It is, though. I was kind of, well, out of my mind. I still am. But-” He is suddenly distracted by the sound of a familiar giggle, turning in its direction. He swallows hard at the sight of Melanie walking with Philip, her hair tossled on her shoulders as they laugh together.
She looks up, her smile fading slightly as she meets eyes with Chad, “Chad! Hey!”
“Hi…” He smiles watching her as she approaches and hands Maggie the dish and napkins before addressing him again.
“How are you?” She smiles up at him as they walk together away from the group.
“Good! How about you?” He looks her up and down, “You look great…”
Melanie rolls her eyes, “Yeah… I’ve, uh, filled out, recently.” She chuckles placing a hand over her swollen belly.
“You look beautiful.” He smiles.
She looks down, “Thank you,” She smiles up at him, “I never thought I would, but I feel beautiful. It’s amazing… you know, knowing I have another living, growing, little person inside of me. I feel like I’m doing something good.”
He laughs, “You definitely are.” He looks past her, back to the family, “So you guys are just hanging out getting some ice cream tonight?”
“Yeah,” She smiles over her shoulder, then turns back to him, “Parker wanted to get ice cream. And I don’t really resist food very well lately…” She chuckles.
Chad laughs as Maggie approaches Melanie from behind, “Honey?”
“Yeah?” She turns.
“We’re going to head to the car…”
“Oh! Okay I’ll be there in a minute.”
“No, no, take your time.” She smiles to Chad, “It was good to see you!”
He smiles, “It’s always a pleasure to see you.” He watches as she turns and follows Victor, Philip and Parker.
Melanie smiles back to Chad and they make their way back to the benches and sit down, “I guess they thought we might want some privacy…”
“Are you okay with that?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Privacy? Yeah…” She smiles, “I’m not uncomfortable around you or anything, if that’s what you’re asking…”
“Okay… I just don’t want you to feel like you have to talk to me or spend time with me. I understand if…”
“Chad. It’s fine, really!” She smiles, “I can tell that you care about me. I care about you too.”
Chad nods, “I do care about you… I love you.”
“I know…” She looks down, playing with her hands.
Chad stared at her, almost as if in awe, before reaching out and placing his hand under her chin to lift her head. She met his eyes and before she knew it he had leaned in, placing his lips to hers. She reciprocated the kiss, before suddenly pulling away and quickly standing up from the bench.
“Whoa…” She placed a hand to her head.
Chad shook his head, “I’m sorry…” He looks up, “I shouldn’t have done that… I--”
“No, it’s okay,” Melanie laughs uncomfortably as she grabs her purse from the bench, “But I should go. I mean… everyone is waiting for me.”
Chad gets up as she begins to walk away, “Melanie… I..”
“It’s okay.” She turns, forcing a reassuring smile, “I’ll, uh, see you later.” She turned on her heals and disappeared around the corner.
Chad sighs as she sits back on the bench putting his head in his hands.
Chapter 34
-- Melanie confides in Miranda.
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