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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 12:11:49 GMT -5
I have a bad feeling about that guy... Yeah he's creepy. But it isn't his fault, really. |
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Post by gapeach on Aug 2, 2012 16:29:11 GMT -5
I have a bad feeling about that guy... Yeah he's creepy. But it isn't his fault, really. He is probably working for Chad and taking pictures of Carly, Melanie and Sophie with is cell phone. |
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Post by MrsM on Aug 2, 2012 17:05:46 GMT -5
That was my thought.
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Post by Minako98 on Aug 3, 2012 6:43:53 GMT -5
^^ Me three!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 9:29:01 GMT -5
I don't think he was taking pictures. But I could be wrong...  |
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Post by slyn11 on Aug 3, 2012 10:30:54 GMT -5
I thought the guy was from her past....like a guy she conned
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Post by gapeach on Aug 7, 2012 9:44:08 GMT -5
Guess we will have to wait and see (but NOT patiently).
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2012 10:08:19 GMT -5
I'm so very sorry!! I need to stop making promises I can't keep. Lol! I'm really gonna try to post the next chapter tonight. But you'll have to wait a few chapters to know what the creepy guy's deal is. ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2012 21:12:00 GMT -5
Chapter 6
Daniel lets himself into Chez Rouge, entering the main dining room he looks around at the desolate space. Smiling to himself when he hears Maggie’s laughter coming from the kitchen and notices a class of ice water and her accounting books spread across a nearby table. Putting his hands in his pockets, he watches as she enters the room from the kitchen, her face lighting up in surprise at his presence.
“Daniel!” Maggie smiles as she approaches; meeting him in a hug.
“Hi… I hope I’m not interrupting your work.” Daniel nods to the array of papers.
“Of course not! Are you hungry? I can have Thomas make you something?”
“No, thanks,” Daniel smiles, “I just wanted to stop in a talk to you for a little bit.”
“Come, have a seat.” She gestures to the table, taking a seat herself while straightening her papers. “Have you talked to Melanie today?”
“Yeah,” He nods, “Yeah, she and Carly… and Sophie of course,” He chuckles, “They’re doing some shopping this afternoon.”
“That’s wonderful,” Maggie smiles brightly. It was nice to hear that Melanie was having a little fun, “She hasn’t been doing much lately.”
“I know, that’s why Carly proposed the idea. It’s hard to know what to do for her these days…”
“Yes,” his mother nods in agreement, “It certainly is. But she knows that she has two wonderful parents who are there to give get whatever she needs.”
“She has a lot of wonderful people around her,” Daniel smiles, “I think her luckiest strike is having you for a grandma.”
“Oh, no,” Maggie shakes her head, immediately getting teary, “Come on. I think we are the lucky ones. She’s a special girl. I just wish she could see it like we do.”
“You can say that again,” Daniel nods, “I could strangle Chad for putting her through this.” Maggie watches as Daniel’s anger rises at the mention of the name.
“I know,” She sighs, “But there is no use in getting angry over it. We just have to continue to take everything as it comes, one day at a time. And focus on what we have rather than worry about what we could lose.” She met his eyes and watched as his face softened.
“Wow.” Daniel shakes his head slightly, a smirk on his lips.
“What?” His mother tilts her head in question.
“You.” He looks up at her, “You always know exactly what to say. And how to say it. How do you manage that?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” She shrugs, playfully smiling, “It’s a gift.”
“It is. Unfortunately, it’s another one that skipped a generation.”
“Oh, come on!” Maggie scoffs, “It certainly did not. You are quite wise and very good at giving advice.”
“Maybe, but I’m bad at the patience part. You know that part where you have to give advice and then wait for the advisee to use it.”
“Yes, well, I’m not too great at that part either,” Maggie smiles, “So what brings you by, honey? You just wanted to come and talk about Melanie?”
“Uh, no,” Daniel takes a deep breath, “Actually, that isn’t why I came by.”
“Okay…” She observed him intently, waiting for the rest of his statement.
“I was actually coming here to scope out the venue…” He looks around the room, leaving Maggie confused.
“For what?”
“A wedding, perhaps? Maybe just a reception? I’m not really sure yet… We can work out the details later.”
“A wedding? Who…” Maggie was still confused before her eyes brighten and she gasps, “A wedding! For you?”
“Maybe…” Daniel smiles coyly, “I don’t know yet but I’m confident that will be the ultimate result.”
“Oh, Daniel! How exciting!”
“Yeah, it is, isn't it?” He smiles as he pulls a box from his pocket, opening it to show her the ring, “I just picked it up from the jeweler.”
“It’s beautiful, honey. Just breathtaking!” She looks up to her son with a smile.
“I thought so. Seemed like Carly’s style, to me.” He pauses then takes a deep breath, “I just figured I should come and find out if we had a place to do this thing if she per chance says yes.”
“You certainly do. And I’m sure she will say yes; no “per chance” about it.”
“Well, you never know. I can’t tell how Carly feels about getting married at this stage in our life.”
“She loves you… that’s for sure. So no matter what you both decide to do, as long as you are happy that’s all that matters.” Maggie pats his hand as she hands the ring back to him, “It would make me very happy to host my son’s wedding, though.”
“Would it? I wasn’t sure you liked that stuff…” Daniel chuckles when Maggie rolls her eyes.
“Melanie will be so excited.”
“I know,” He smiles wistfully; “I know she’s happy that Carly and I are together. It makes it that much more special… to know that we’re making our daughter happy.”
“It’s a win-win situation, isn’t it?” Maggie winks, “You know, your mom is pretty pleased with the situation, too.”
“Yeah?” Daniel tilts his head in mock question, then smiles, taking her hand, “Your support means so much to me. More than I could ever tell you.”
“Good,” Maggie smiles through her tears and gives an affirming nod, “Things are looking up, I think. We just have to get Melanie through this whole mess…”
“That we do,” He takes a deep breath, “I just pray every day that things work out for the best. I don’t think Melanie can handle anymore heart break. I don’t think any of us could handle that.”
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Post by MrsM on Aug 7, 2012 21:18:31 GMT -5
Awww what a sweet chapter. I hope Carly says yes!!
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Post by slyn11 on Aug 8, 2012 8:40:58 GMT -5
I loved this too. I like Maggie and Daniel's mother/son moment. Your Maggie is written like a warm hug. A wedding sounds like just what they all need in light of all their current stress. Fingers crossed that Philip attends and gets a dance with his BFF - Melanie.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 16:52:42 GMT -5
I loved this too. I like Maggie and Daniel's mother/son moment. Your Maggie is written like a warm hug. A wedding sounds like just what they all need in light of all their current stress. Fingers crossed that Philip attends and gets a dance with his BFF - Melanie. I love that description of "warm hug" for Maggie. That's how I look at her. such an endearing character. Maybe by the time the wedding rolls around, Melanie will let herself be around Philip. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 17:00:00 GMT -5
Chapter 7
Melanie rushes through the courthouse hall, meeting Jonathan by the doors. He looks at his watch with wide eyes.
“I’m sorry… I had to find someone to watch Sophie. Luckily, my grandma was watching Parker before he went to school so took her to the mansion.” Melanie looks around, pulling her phone from her purse, “What is this about, anyway?”
“I don’t know. It came through over the weekend. I just got the email last night.” Jonathan leafed through his papers, “Apparently Chad is displeased with the temporary visitation arrangement and is petitioning for more.”
“Okay? And we have to be here, why?” Melanie rolls her eyes, “I’m perfectly fine with giving him another day for visitation. Why can’t he just ask? Why doesn’t he have to call for an emergency court meeting every freaking time he wants something?”
“It’s okay,” Jonathan places a hand on her shoulder, “He’s just trying to wear you down.”
“It’s working.” She sighs as she looks at her phone, “Can we go in?”
“Sure,” He nods, before guiding Melanie in front of him and they enter through the double doors.
Chad and his lawyer are already seating at their side of the courtroom. E.J. seated behind them. Melanie takes a seat in her chair, hanging her purse on the back of it. She glances over and meets eyes with Chad… before narrowing them and turning away. He was playing games with her. For what reason, she would never know, but he took so much joy in calling her to court on short notice for no reason at all. Just another way for him to show her how much power he had over her.
“All rise,” The room rises from their seats as the judge enters, looking just about as annoyed as Melanie.
“Good morning.” The judge nods in Chad’s direction, then Melanie’s.
“Good morning, your honor.” Chad’s lawyer nods respectfully.
“I see in my notes here, that there is a matter regarding a request for increased visitation, is that right?”
“Yes, mam.”
“You state here that you are requesting this under the grounds that you believe Miss. Jonas is unable to provide adequate personal attention to the child?”
Melanie eyes widen out of her head, she looks over to Chad who avoids her gaze. His lawyer gives an affirming nod.
“Yes, Mam. Recently there have been some developments regarding Miss Jonas’ ability to parent.”
“Seriously?”Melanie grumbles under her breath before Jonathan clears his throat.
“Your honor. This is the first that I am hearing of such developments. Nothing in Miss. Jonas’ situation has changed in the past 5 months.”
“Has there been any significant change in your clients work hours, whether it be quantity or scheduled times?” The judge asks firmly.
“No, mam.”
“Your honor, we have documented evidence that Miss Jonas has had to adjust her schedule on several occasions and actually worked a double shift, just last week.” Chad’s lawyer stood tall as he interjected.
“Your honor,” Jonathan speaks up, “Miss Jonas had to fill in for a close friend who was ill. It wasn’t a normal occurrence. Since she already had child care set up for that day through her grandmother, Margaret Kiriakis, she didn’t find it a problem to take on the extra hours.”
The judge looked back to Chad’s direction, “What is the problem, then, sir? It isn’t abnormal for someone to pick up a shift for a friend, is it? One would say that shows good personal character.”
“Yes, your honor, but Miss. Jonas was obviously not thinking of her daughter in that moment and how it would affect her to not see her mother for the entire day.”
“The child was in very capable and loving hands, was she not? If you think lack of attention by the child’s mother is a problem, why would increasing time away from her mother solve that?” The judge questions.
“Well, you’re honor…” Chad’s lawyer rebuts, “Miss Jonas retrieved the child from grandmother’s restaurant in the late evening hours. It was a disruption to her routine. A baby should not be in a busy restaurant environment at all hours of the evening.” He watches as the judge looks back to Melanie and then addresses the group.
“All right,” The judge takes a deep breath, “After listening to the claims made by the petitioner, I do not find sufficient proof for need of a change in the previous arrangement that I have put in place. I would appreciate it if Mr. Dimera and his counsel would stop wasting the courts time with such matters as these. This case will be continued as originally scheduled.” The judge rose from her seat and vacated the bench.
Melanie looks up at Jonathan, “She doesn’t seem too happy.”
“She isn’t stupid. I just hope that the case doesn’t get transferred to another judge… because this one is definitely not on Chad’s side.”
“Why would it get transferred?”
“If she no longer wanted to deal with the idiocy.” Jonathan shrugs as he puts his briefcase on his shoulder and they begin to walk out.
Chad watches as Melanie leaves with Jonathan, without giving him a second look.
“God, he looks pathetic.” Melanie shakes her head, “I don’t even recognize him anymore.”
“He really used to be different? I mean… not pathetic?” Jonathan raises an eyebrow as he inserts the change into the coffee machine that Melanie rests against.
“Yeah. Well, maybe not. I don’t know. Maybe I never really knew him at all.” She shakes her head and runs her hand through the front of her hair. They both turn and watch as Chad and E.J. exit the courtroom with his lawyer.
“You know what’s weird, too…” Melanie narrows her eyes in thought, “I never told Chad that my grandma took Sophie to work with her.”
“What?” Jonathan took a drink of his coffee as his handed Melanie hers.
“I may have mentioned that I had to take Miranda’s shift that day. But I never told him that the baby was with my grandma. I certainly didn’t tell him that she took her to Chez Rouge.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I don’t know,” She shrugs, taking a drink, “Maybe I did tell him and I don’t remember.”
“Okay… but what if you didn’t?” He tilted his head. “What are you thinking, Melanie?”
“It’s just that when I was shopping with my mom the other day, we stopped for lunch in the square and I thought this guy was staring at me.” She shakes her head, “That isn’t the first time I have felt that, either. Usually when I have Sophie with me I can sense it more. But even without her, I have this feeling that someone is watching me.”
“You think Chad has someone following you?” Jonathan’s eyes were wide in question.
“I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“Well if we can prove that… then we can put a strike against him, for sure.” They make their way to a nearby bench, both still drinking their coffees.
“Yeah, but if we can’t prove it, then we are going to look like idiots. I don’t want to make waves.”
“Melanie, if you want to get this over with as quick as possible, you have to be willing to make some waves.”
“Maybe,” Melanie sighs, “But, I just don’t want to make him mad.”
“So instead you are just going to sit back and let him yank your chain?” Jonathan lowered his eyebrows.
“I’m not letting him do anything,” She looks up at him, wearily, holding her paper coffee cup with two hands.
“You can’t be afraid of him, Melanie, or you will lose your daughter.” Her lawyer friend warned as he took another sip of coffee, leaving Melanie to simply ponder the grim possibility.
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Post by MrsM on Aug 8, 2012 17:28:26 GMT -5
Oh Chad. What a weasel you are.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 18:17:01 GMT -5
Oh Chad. What a weasel you are. Right? He's a jerk. Just you wait. It gets better. ;-) |
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