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Post by Minako98 on Sept 13, 2012 14:17:46 GMT -5
Meant every word. You can't write fast enough for me. Same for me! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2012 15:06:01 GMT -5
Meant every word. You can't write fast enough for me. Same for me! Well I'll try my best! I've already allocated Saturday as a stay at home day which means I will have plenty of alone time for writing.  |
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Post by slyn11 on Sept 13, 2012 15:34:51 GMT -5
Well I'll try my best! I've already allocated Saturday as a stay at home day which means I will have plenty of alone time for writing. Write for me while you're at it! I got a huge birthday event to finish writing. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2012 14:48:45 GMT -5
Chapter 14
A day off and Melanie was doing everything in her power to stay busy, including grocery shopping, which she hated. But if she wanted to stand on her own, she had to learn to like it- she can’t have Maggie filling her fridge forever.
She throws open the kitchen door and struggles to enter with one arm full of bags and the other carrying Sophie’s baby-seat. “Oh, Sophie,” Melanie sighs as she sets Sophie’s seat on the table and the groceries on the counter, “You are getting way too heavy for that thing.” She leans over and kisses the sweet baby’s cheek, and places the pacifier in her small mouth. As she starts to unpack the grocery bags, she notices a pile of mail on the table. Her mom must have gotten it the other day. She picks up the pile, leafing through it before coming across a small, royal blue envelope, hand written and addressed to “Melanie and Sophie Jonas”.
“What’s this?” Melanie confusedly rips the envelope, pulling out a festive invitation. She opens it, a small smile crossing her face, “Parker’s birthday…” Shaking her head, she sits down at the table, looking up at Sophie happily sucking away at her pacifier. Melanie looks back down at the invitation, reading the asterisk at the bottom, “We miss you. Would love for you to come, but understand.”
Melanie sets the invitation down on the table and shakes her head, wiping her hand along her forehead. She felt so guilty. Not just for not being able to see Parker and Philip… but for missing Philip. It was essentially her choice to not see him, yet instead of hoping he is doing well, she finds herself hoping he misses her as much as she misses him.
“I’m a mess, Sopha-la.” She reaches up and caresses her baby girl’s cheek. “It was nice of Philip to invite us, wasn’t it?” Melanie picks up the invitation, studying it one more time, “I should call him and thank him…” She looks to Sophie, as is for reassurance, then laughs to herself slightly, “I can’t wait until you can give me some advice, because mommy needs it.” Melanie shakes her head before pulling her phone out of the diaper bag that’s in the chair beside her. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Melanie scrolls through her contacts until she lands on Philip’s name, her thumb hover’s over the screen before she drops the phone onto the table. She puts her head in her hands, “What is wrong with me? What am I so afraid of? It’s one phone call.” She looks up at Sophie who is watching her intently, “It’s just a phone call to a friend.” She shakes her head before picking up the phone again, “Okay, come on Melanie. Stop acting like a fool. Philip deserves at least this much from you.” She repositions her thumb over his name before pressing down on the screen just as it begins to vibrate, “Incoming Call: Jonathan”.
“Oh, Jonathan!” Melanie’s eyes grow wide as she answers, putting the phone to her ear, “Hello?”
“Hey Melanie, It’s Jonathan.”
“I know. I mean, I saw on my phone. How are you?”
“Fine. How are you holding up?”
“Okay,” She glances at Sophie, then down at the invitation on the table in front of her.
“Listen, I’m just calling to let you know that the Judge has asked us to be in court tomorrow morning at 9am…”
“Oh,” Her face falls. “Has she made a decision?”
“I don’t know. They didn’t say.”
“Yeah, but that’s the next step, right. I mean… do you think it was too fast? Should I be worried?” She grips Sophie’s tiny hand.
“You never know. Every judge is different. Just try and relax tonight, okay?”
“Okay, thank you, Jonathan. For everything.”
“You’re welcome. See you in the morning.”
“Okay, bye.” She sets the phone on the table, exhaling a breath she felt like she had been holding throughout the whole phone call. Sophie stirs from her car seat, grabbing her attention.
“Come here, baby.” Unbuckling Sophie, Melanie lifts her into her arms, snuggling her close.
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Post by MrsM on Sept 19, 2012 16:13:29 GMT -5
I hope it is good news. I don't know how much of this Melanie can take.
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Post by gapeach on Sept 19, 2012 19:28:28 GMT -5
MrsM, I don't know how much of this WE can take!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2012 19:31:24 GMT -5
Lol. Well one thing is for sure... Melanie's life certainly isn't boring anymore.
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Post by slyn11 on Sept 20, 2012 13:27:38 GMT -5
Jonathan has the worst timing!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2012 16:08:05 GMT -5
Chapter 15
Melanie stands by the bar at Chez Rouge with a glass of water, smiling as she watches Maggie showing Sophie off to everyone as Victor holds her. She was trying very hard to follow Jonathan’s advice to not worry, but failing miserably. That afternoon her mood had gone from bad to worse… and it took all of her energy to muster up the enthusiasm for her birthday dinner that night. Her birthday was in two days, but Maggie had planned to have a dinner for her at the restaurant tonight to celebrate with just their family. She was so grateful to have a family, and to have birthday dinners that she never had as a child. She just wished she could postpone her birthday this year, maybe just until further notice of happier times.
Maggie turns from her fixation on giggly Sophie, to Melanie who is walking away from the bar to take a seat at a table nearby. Victor follows Maggie’s gaze, before she turns back to him.
“I’ll be right back.” Victor nods, taking a seat at the bar with Sophie, as she walks away.
Melanie looks up as Maggie approaches, forcing a small smile, “Hi.”
“Hi…” Maggie seats beside her at the table, “You’re awfully quiet.”
“Yeah…” She nods, “Just thinking.”
“You know honey, we didn’t have to do this tonight…”
“No!” Melanie lowers her brow in protest, “No, you had this birthday dinner planned for me and I’m so grateful. Everything else was just bad timing but it isn’t going to ruin our family dinner.” Melanie smiles small, but adoringly.
“Okay. Do you want to talk?” Maggie reaches out, taking Melanie’s hand.
“There’s not really anything to talk about.” Melanie shrugs as she runs her hand along her glass. She looks up and smiles at Victor sitting at the bar with Sophie, talking to her. “She loves Papa Vic.” She chuckles as Maggie nods.
“He loves her! He misses her.” Maggie watches as Melanie’s face falls, and she looks back down to her glass, “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean anything by that.”
“I know,” Melanie nods, “It’s not that. It’s just everything. I can’t help but feel bad.”
“I know, sweetie, but you shouldn’t.” She watches as Melanie looks away, “Listen, I understand why you do…" She pauses with a sigh, "Well, you know how I feel.”
“Yeah,” Melanie looks up, with a soft smile, “Thank you.” She takes a deep breath, “I, uh, I got Parker’s invitation today.”
“Oh yes,” Maggie smiles, “He wanted to make sure that you and Sophie were invited. But he knows that you might not be able to come.”
“It was really nice of them to send us an invitation,” She smiles, “I wanted to call Philip and thank him…”
“But,” Maggie raises an eyebrow, “You didn’t?”
“Well, I was going to, but then Jonathan called.”
“I see.” Maggie nods then smiles, “I will tell him you appreciated the invitation. Unless you still want to call him yourself?”
Melanie looks Maggie in the eye for a moment before shaking her head softly, “No… I mean… I’m going to be busy the next few days. I won’t have time and I would like him to know.”
“Sure.” Maggie smiles encouragingly, watching as Melanie again averts her gaze, “Melanie, is there something else bothering you?”
“Hmm?” Melanie tilts her head in question.
“I said, is there something else bothering you?” Maggie waits for an answer before Melanie is distracted.
“Oh! Mom and Dad are here!” Melanie hurriedly rises from her seat and heads over to where Daniel and Carly have entered and are talking to Victor; Daniel happily lifting Sophie from his godfather’s lap.
Maggie turns, her eyes watching Melanie skeptically before she also rises from her seat to greet her son and Carly.
“Happy (almost) Birthday, baby girl!!!” Daniel smiles as he leans into a one armed hug with his daughter, and kisses her head lovingly.
“Thanks dad.” Melanie smiles, turning to her mom for a hug.
“How are you doing, honey?” Carly’s concern is clear.
“I’m fine,” Melanie nods with a smile, “Don’t worry, okay?”
“Okay,” Carly runs her hand along Melanie’s hair.
“Hi, honey.” Maggie smiles as Daniel kisses her cheek.
“She okay?” He speaks quietly, gesturing to Melanie as she talks to Carly.
Maggie’s eyes widen as she shrugs, “I hope so… but she’s not saying much.”
“Per usual,” Daniel sighs, and then turns his attention to Sophie tickling under her chin.
“I’m so glad that this will all be over soon. It’s the uncertainty of everything that’s killing her. Whatever is going to happen will be and we will all deal with it. It’s the not knowing that’s the hard part.” Maggie glances over as Carly and Melanie inch closer to them. Maggie smiles as Carly takes Sophie from Daniel, kissing her cheeks as the baby giggles.
“Carly, I heard about your new job with the clinic…” Victor comments as he puts his arm around his wife. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Carly smiles up from her fixation on Sophie, “It’s going great.”
“It’s going more than great,” Melanie looks up at Victor standing beside her, “Mom is doing amazing there. She is doing so much work and improving the clinic by leaps and bounds.”
“Okay…” Carly rolls her eyes, “Come on…”
“No, she’s right,” Daniel interjects, “You’ve brought that clinic up from the ground.”
“Right. Okay. Thank you…” Carly smiles nervously, bringing her left hand to Sophie’s wispy red hair.
“Um,” Maggie raises an eyebrow to Daniel after observing Carly’s naked left ring finger, “Why don’t we have a seat, hmm?”
“Yeah,” Daniel chuckles nervously. Then he walks to Melanie, wrapping one arm around her as he guides them all to the nearby table, “Let’s get this party started!”
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Post by MrsM on Sept 22, 2012 20:59:52 GMT -5
Aw so sweet!!
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Post by slyn11 on Sept 22, 2012 23:15:08 GMT -5
So much left unsaid in this chapter and feeling all nosy wanting to sit at the table and eavesdrop with them. Are we getting more of Melanie's birthday next chapter?
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Post by gapeach on Sept 23, 2012 8:28:48 GMT -5
Sure hope that Melanie's actual birthday brings her good news!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2012 8:32:40 GMT -5
We won't see any more of the birthday dinner but things will be touched on in the coming chapters. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2012 19:21:23 GMT -5
Chapter 16
Victor enters his living room to find Maggie bustling around, lifting cushions and throwing pillows. He looks at her inquisitively, “Can I help you with something, darling?”
“What?” Maggie looks up, slightly startled by his appearance, “Oh… Uh, I just lost my phone. Can you call it? It’s probably on silent so it won’t even help but it’s worth a try…” She continues to ramble as she continues to search over and under everything in the living room.
Victor dials the phone, and is drawn to the desk when the phone lights up and begins vibrating. He picks it up, holding it in view for Maggie, “Is this what you’re looking for?”
“Yes.” She walks over to him taking it from his hand, “Where was it?”
“Right there,” He puts his phone in his pocket and points to the desk.
“On the desk. Of course it was. I was sitting there talking on it.” Maggie shakes her head and heads to the bar, “You want coffee?”
“Sure. Thank you.” Victor picks up the newspaper from the desk and takes a seat in the arm chair. He looks back up, observing his jittery wife, “You sure you need that?”
“What? The coffee?” Maggie questions as she brings him his coffee and takes a seat on the sofa adjacent from him.
“How long have you been up?” Victor raises an eyebrow before setting his coffee on the table.
“Oh, well… I was up from 1-4, and then I fell asleep in that chair for about 15 minutes. Then I decided to try to go back to bed which was a fail. I laid there for an hour, with my eyes wide open before I finally got up and took a shower.” She took a sip of her coffee.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.” Maggie shrugs, “I’m just stuck between being glad that after today the uncertainty will be over… but I’m still scared to death that the outcome isn’t going to be favorable.”
“The only way that the outcome wouldn’t be favorable is if there was Dimera tampering or blackmailing involved …” Victor huffs before drinking his coffee.
“Chad swore to Melanie that he wouldn’t do that…”
“And? When has that ever meant anything before?”
“I know,” Maggie speaks softly, looking down wearily, “She was so prepared to make this work with him. That’s what gets me. She never wanted Sophie to be away from her father, she always wanted him to be an active part of her life. All of this is based on Chad’s paranoia and nothing else.”
“That boy is a basket case.”
“Do you really think that?” Maggie tilts her head in question.
“That he’s a basket case?” Victor raises an eyebrow before Maggie nods, “Somewhat, yes. I’ve seen him act like a raving lunatic on more than one occasion.”
“Yes… but do you really think he’s crazy? Or does he just act that way sometimes?” She asks, curiously.
“Maggie,” Victor studies her closely, “What’s the matter? Why are you asking my opinion on this?” He watches as she looks down and then back up again, her eyes brimmed with tears.
“Because,” She chokes, taking a deep breath, “Because depending on what the judge says today, my precious little innocent Sophie could be placed in the sole custody of a man that may or may not have serious mental incapacities. I just want to be realistic, that’s all.” She shrugs, wiping her tears with a tissue.
“Oh, Maggie… you’ve been so busy worrying about how Melanie is dealing with all of this, I don’t think you’ve even taken a moment to deal with it yourself.” Victor’s voice is soft and sympathetic.
“Yes, well…” Maggie sighs, “I don't need to get all wrapped up in this now. I have to be strong for Melanie, today. I can’t let her know that I’m worried because that will only make her more worried.”
“How do you do it?” He asks honestly, watching her as she composes herself, blotting her face with a tissue.
“What?” She looks at him curiously.
“You’re always so worried about everybody else. Always putting everyone else ahead of yourself and thinking about how your actions will affect them.” He shakes his head, “You amaze me every day.”
“Victor…” Maggie looks into his eyes, as her own are re-filling with tears.
“I’m just not that way… I don’t have it in me.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Well, that's not really the point, anyway,” He shakes his head, “I just want you to know I admire you so much for that. And it’s my mission to try to be for you, a fraction of what you are for so many.” He watches as she looks down, tears rolling to her cheek.
“Thank you,” Maggie looks up and nods.
“You don’t need to thank me…” He shakes his head before taking a sip of coffee.
“I do,” She nods, “Without you… I don’t know what I would do.”
“You’d get along just fine. I’m the one that would be lost without you.” Victor speaks, watching as Maggie sniffles and wipes a tear, looking away from him, “So who is watching Sophia this morning?”
“Oh, um,” Maggie looks up, her eyes wider, “Jennifer.”
“Jennifer? Well that’s nice of her.”
“Yes...” Maggie nods, picking up her coffee again.
“It’s nice that she still maintains a close friendship with Carly… you know… considering.”
“Considering?” Maggie smirks, “Things didn’t work out between her and Daniel and now he is happy with Carly. I would hope my Jennifer is open minded enough to deal with that.” She watches as Victor rolls his eyes, “Besides, she should probably get used to it. I don’t think Carly is going anywhere any time soon.”
“So we think. Doesn’t seem like your son is really hurrying on that…”
“I know,” She speaks softly, “I wish he would. It would be nice to hear some happy news.”
“You will hear some.” Victor reassures, “And I don’t think you will have to wait very long for that. Provided that this judge is in her right mind, there is no way she would take that little girl away from her mother and give her to a Dimera.”
“I pray that you’re right…” Maggie meets his eyes. “I just pray.”
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Post by slyn11 on Sept 26, 2012 21:03:42 GMT -5
AWw Magic. I've missed them. I love how you write them. I always saw Victor as a grumpy old teddy bear, and you definitely write that side of him so well.
Being the angst lover that I am...I wouldn't mind the judge ruling in Chad's favor. I know, I know...I'm bad.
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