Keeping the Faith (Read 12,230 times)

[Trey]

jkjpatch...the new master of suspense! It's official! LOL

[Kpatch]

Aug 3, 2012 23:23:26 GMT -5 Trey said:

jkjpatch...the new master of suspense! It's official! LOL

Ha! I'm the new Alfred Hitchcock.

[Kpatch]

This is the final week of the story, so I can't give you much in the way of spoilers. Just a little.

Monday
Chloe finds out why she received Philip’s dog tags.

Tuesday
Is there a doctor in the house?

Wednesday
Labor Day.

Thursday
Finale.

Friday
Epilogue.

[fluffysmom]

Thanks Kpatch. It's the end already?!

[djm]

Labour Day is wednesday. Ohhh I can't wait. I can be helpful if needed. I know what to do. Philip just has to be there for the birth. Please Kpatch. I am still holding hope that Philip sent the tags and is sitting front row center.

[Kpatch]

SALEM METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE

Another knock brought another good luck package, this one an envelope. A letter-size envelope with something chunky inside. Chloe knitted her brow and opened the envelope. She pulled out a neck chain, attached to which were Philip’s dog tags. Chloe gasped.
Chloe: Oh god, no.
In that instant, Chloe felt the blood drain from her body. Receiving his dog tags like this must mean ... he’s dead. She took out the note that was inside the envelope and read the short message.
“I know you hate surprises, but ... surprise!”

She looked up from the note, back into the reflection in her mirror and saw a man in uniform standing in the doorway behind her.
Philip: Hey baby, did you miss me?
Chloe said Philip’s name, but she was so stunned that no sound came out of her mouth. She spun around to feel Philip’s arms close around her, and his lips kissing hers. Between the spinning and the kissing, Chloe nearly fainted. She broke off the kiss and spoke breathlessly.
Chloe: God, Philip. Is this for real? You feel real, but are you really here? Are you really alive? Or am I dreaming again?
Philip: It’s really me, sweetie. I’m really home.
He held her face and peppered kisses on her cheeks, her forehead, her eyelids and finally her lips, again and again until another voice in the room called to him.
Wesley: Daddy! Daddy!
He looked at Chloe’s tear-streaked face and let her go momentarily, upon seeing his son a few feet away. He went to Wesley and lifted him high in the air before pulling his son to his chest.
Philip: Big guy! It’s my big boy. Oh man I missed you.
[Holding Wesley tightly, he walked back to Chloe, and cupped her cheek.] You’ll never know how much.
He kissed her again.
Chloe: Philip, you’re here. Oh my god. You’re really here. Where did you come from?
She kept touching him to make sure he was real.
Philip: Marine helicopter dropped me off on the roof.
Chloe: Are you alright? What happened? Where were you? ... And why the hell didn’t you call me?
Philip: You’re beautiful when you’re angry.
Chloe: Oh shut up.
She buried her face in his chest and put her arms around both Philip and Wesley. The stage manager knocked.
Stage Manager: Places. We need everyone on stage.
Chloe: Oh my god. I ... I can’t go yet. I have to stay here to make sure you don’t disappear.
Philip laughed. He put Wesley down and took his dog tags from Chloe’s clenched hand and put them around her neck.
Philip: I’m not going anywhere. I’ve waited a very long time to watch you play Hanna in The Merry Widow. It’s the only reason I came back.
Chloe: Liar. What happened, Philip? Were you held hostage? How did you escape?
Philip: I was in hiding. The whole team. There were 10 of us and the Iranians tried to smoke us out. They almost got us but the physicists [he lowered his voice] had an escape route under the lab. There was an underground tunnel system that led to a bunker. We had no communications whatsoever and minimal provisions. The Israeli government didn’t even know we hadn’t been taken hostage. But at least we were relatively safe. ... Oh Chloe. Oh god how I wanted to let you know I was okay, to hear you tell me you’re okay. Are you? You look beautiful. But, are you okay?
Chloe: I’m fine. At least I am now. Now that you’re here.
Philip: Oh sweetie, I thought about you every second of every day. You and Wes and our baby. I love you so much, Chloe.
Chloe: I love you too, Philip. I was so afraid you were .... [Chloe hugged Philip tight.] I can’t get any closer than this.
Philip: Thirty-seven weeks. I know. I’ve been counting the days.
Chloe: I have to ... I have to go on stage now. Promise you won’t leave.
Philip: I’ll never leave you again. That’s a promise.
He kissed her and she kept hold of his hand as she left the dressing room and her fingers slid out of his grasp. She prayed that this wasn’t just another mirage and that he’d still be here after the performance.


To be continued ...

[sportsgirl]

YAY!!!!!

[fluffysmom]

Love this chapter. Talk about perfect timing for Philip to arrive at the opera house. I'm so relieved that Philip is okay.

[MrsM]

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love his timing! Perfect!!!!!

[DancingDays]

Yay!!!! Philip is ok AND he's back!!!!

[djm]

What a chapter. Love the timing. Thanks Kpatch

[Trey]

I went from to . Can't wait for Phil to make it up to Chloe and to change that light bulb!

[jc20886]

[Kpatch]

SALEM METROPOLITAN OPERA

A few minutes later, the house lights went down and a spotlight fell on center stage. Philip walked into the spotlight and the audience erupted with applause and cat calls. Philip smiled broadly.

Philip: Thank you. Thank you all. I’m Philip Kiriakis and I’m pleased to present the grand opening of the Salem Metropolitan Opera House. Building this theater has been a labor of love for me and my wife, and for the architects and builders. We’re very excited that you came here tonight. We’ve assembled a very talented cast and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

On a personal note, I want to thank everyone for their support and prayers over the past couple of months. It’s been a trying time for me and my family and I’m grateful to be home again. God bless you. And God bless the U.S.A.

The audience applauded wildly as Philip left the stage and suddenly it was quiet and dark. After a minute, the curtain rose, and the opera began. Philip got settled in his seat, front row center, where Chloe could see him smiling at her.

Chloe sang her heart out playing Hanna for the next hour and a half. The Merry Widow was the perfect choice for the premiere. It was lighthearted and comedic and thoroughly entertaining. It was a nice escape from real-life drama.

Every so often throughout the performance, Chloe put her hand to her chest and felt Philip’s dog tags tucked under her costume. They were a joyful reminder that he was really home.

When the show ended, Maestro brought Chloe a bouquet of roses onstage, as was customary. The cast enjoyed a standing ovation and three curtain calls. The curtain came down and instead of immediately filing out, many audience members made their way to where Philip was, to shake his hand, welcome him home, and find out what happened during his time in Israel.

Bo and Hope greeted Philip with hugs and kisses, as did Lucas and Sami, and Brady and Nicole. The stage manager made his way through the crowd and grabbed Philip by the arm. He whispered something in his ear. Philip looked at him with surprise, then made a mad dash up the steps to the stage and behind the curtain.

When he arrived onstage, he saw Chloe lying on the floor. The floor around her was wet. She held her hand out to Philip. He grasped it and kneeled beside her.
Chloe: My water broke. The baby’s coming.
Philip: Oh god. We need to call Dr. Bader.
Chloe: There’s no time. It’s coming now.
Philip: Don’t go anywhere.
Chloe: Um. I wasn’t planning on it.
Philip got up and went back in front of the curtain and called out.
Philip: Is there a doctor in the house?

To be continued ...

[Minako98]

Phloe is coming! Phloe is coming!!