A Love Affair to Remember (Read 853 times)

[Kpatch]

Prologue


TITAN JET, January 2010

Victor [on the phone]: I’m on my way to New York, Philip.
Philip [at home]: Why? What’s going on?
Victor: I need to meet with our creditors. There’s talk of them calling Titan’s loans.
Philip: What???
Victor: Not to worry, son. I’m sure it’s just a ploy to change the terms of our loan agreement.
Philip: Is there anything I can do?
Victor: Just hold down the fort and don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.
[As he hangs up the phone, the plane lurches. He buzzes the cockpit.]
Victor: Joe, what was that?
Joe, the Pilot: Just a pocket of turbulence, sir.
Victor: Liar.
Joe: One of our engines is malfunctioning.
Victor: What’s the plan?
Joe: We’re going to try to land at O’Hare Airport and have it checked.
Victor: Will we make it?
Joe: Leave the flying to us, sir.

Victor [mumbling to himself]: Damn it. I wish I didn’t call Philip stupid. Those may be the last words he ever hears from me. I hope he remembers how much I love him. That nothing is more important to me than family....

[Victor leans back in his seat and has a series of flashbacks.]

***FLASHBACK TO SEPTEMBER 2009***
Victor: It’s just ... the older I get the more I realize that I want my family around me. Close by. It’s as simple as that. I worry about you, Philip. And I worry slightly less if you’re under my roof.
Philip: You just want to keep tabs on me.
Victor: I just want you around, like I said. I love you ... very much. And I want you to have a good life. That’s more important to me than anything.
Philip: I love you too, Dad. [They hug.]

***FLASHBACK TO OCTOBER 2009***
Victor: You know, of all my children and grandchildren, there’s only one male heir who got it right when it came to affairs of the heart. And you certainly did that, Bo.
Bo: Yes, I did.
Victor: Don’t mess this up, Bo. Don’t lose the love of your life. Don’t make the same mistake I made.

***FLASHBACK TO APRIL 1986***
Kimberly Brady: You still love her, don’t you?
Victor: You have no idea how much I love Caroline ... how different both of our lives would have been if we’d been together.


***BACK TO PRESENT***

Victor: How different our lives would have been ...

[Victor closes his eyes and his life begins flashing before him. He begins recalling his youth, his early days in Salem during the summer of 1952, when he was a teenager working at the fish market with Shawn and Caroline.]


To be continued ...


______________________________________
Copyright © 2010 kpatch. All rights reserved.

[Kpatch]

TITAN JET, JANUARY 2010

Joe, the Pilot: Hold on sir. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Victor: It already HAS been.

[Please click here to listen to the song while you read the chapter:

Victor closes his eyes and his life begins flashing before him. He begins recalling his youth, his early days in Salem during the summer of 1952, when he was a teenager working at the fish market with Shawn and Caroline. As a youth, before he had a mustache, he looked a little like Philip. He thinks about how beautiful Caroline looked when she was 17. She was petite and had wavy blond shoulder-length hair pulled back into a pony tail. She looked like a combination of a young Kayla and Kimberly... ]


JUNE 30, 1952

RYAN’S FISH MARKET, SALEM

Shawn: So yer a high school graduate, are ye?
Caroline: I wish you could have graduated too, Shawn.
Shawn: Some of us got more impartant things te do than be goin’ te school. Uncle Johnny needs me here in the market full-time. Not like you and College Boy who can come and go as ye please.
Caroline: Who’s “College Boy”?
Shawn: Ye know ... Kiriakis.
Caroline: Why do you call him College Boy?
Shawn: Because he’s always braggin’ about goin’ te college. Where is he anyhow? He was supposed te start workin’ 15 minutes ago.
Caroline: I’m sure he’ll be here shortly.
[Victor walks in.]
Victor: Sorry I’m late. I had a meeting with one of my professors.
Caroline: Congratulations, Victor.
Shawn: What are ye congratulatin’ him fer? Bein’ late?
Caroline: I’m congratulating him on finishing his freshman year in college.
Victor: Thank you, Caroline.
Shawn: Late is late, no matter the excuse. Time te get te work. The ice box needs cleanin’.
Victor: I’ll get right to it. [He goes into the back.]
Caroline: For heaven’s sake, Shawn, why are you so hard on Victor?
Shawn: Someone’s got te be. He has no family in Salem and he’ll end up a juvenile delinquent if someone doesn’t take him in hand. He’s livin’ on a bloomin’ houseboat, bejeezuz.
Caroline: Mind your tongue!
Shawn: If he amounts te anything at all, he’ll have ME te thank.
Caroline: I’ve never known anyone to be so full of themselves as you are, Shawn Brady.
Shawn: Maybe I’m just tryin’ te impress ye, darlin’.
Caroline: Well, it’s not working. [Two women enter the market.] Pardon me while I take care of your customers.

To be continued...

[Kpatch]

TITAN JET

Victor [buzzing the cockpit]: Joe, what’s going on?
Joe: We’re trying to get clearance from O’Hare, but there’s bad weather and they’re looking to divert us to another airport.
Victor: Well, keep me posted.
[Victor leans back in his seat and continues to remember his past. ]


RYAN’S FISH MARKET

[Please click here to listen to the song as you read the chapter:
]

Johnny Ryan, proprietor: Thanks fer yer help today, kids. Let’s lock up, Shawnie.
Caroline: Good night, Mr. Ryan. Good night, Shawn.
Victor: May I walk you home, Caroline?
Caroline: Thank you.

[They leave the store and walk along the riverfront toward Caroline’s home.]
Caroline: I wish Shawn weren’t so hard on you.
Victor: I can handle it.
Caroline: You’re a hard worker, Victor.
Victor: Shawn is just being competitive. He means no harm.
Caroline: What has he got to compete with you over?
Victor: I think he’s envious. My parents sent me to the states from Greece so I could get a decent college education. Shawn has no prospects outside of the fish market.
Caroline: Your family is very important to you, aren’t they?
Victor: Nothing is more important to me than family. My parents sacrificed a lot to send me to college here.
Caroline: I think it’s nice that you’re so close with them. You must miss them.
Victor: I do. ... You know, I think there’s another reason Shawn is jealous of me.
Caroline: Why?
Victor: He sees me as a rival for the only thing in that fish market worth fighting over -- you.
Caroline: Victor!
Victor [smiling]: You’re beautiful when you blush, Caroline.
Caroline: Aw, go on.
Victor: I mean it.

[They are walking past a riverfront night club, and hear a Nat King Cole song playing.]
Victor: May I have this dance, Miss Caroline? [He bows.]
Caroline [curtseying]: Why yes, Mr. Kiriakis, you may.
[They dance slowly on the pier outside the night club ... first at arms length, and little by little they get closer as Victor wraps his arm around Caroline’s waist and they look shyly into each other’s eyes.]


To be continued....

[Kpatch]

RYAN’S FISH MARKET, 1952, two weeks later

Shawn: Say, College Boy, have you decided what yer gonna be when you grow up?
Victor: I’m going to be a businessman.
Shawn: Ye mean yer gonna be one o’ them travelin’ salesmen?
Victor: Hardly. I’m a student of business and industry. I’m going to follow in my father’s footsteps.
Shawn: What kind o’ business?
Victor: Import/export.
Shawn: Big shot College Boy.
Caroline: Shawn!
Shawn: Pshaw. Yer never gonna amount te anything.
Victor [shouting]: You mean like YOU have?
Caroline: Victor!
Victor: I have work to do. I’ll be in the back room.

[Later that day, Victor is walking Caroline home, as has become their routine.]
Victor: You’re awfully quiet tonight, Caroline.
Caroline: I never heard you raise your voice like that before, Victor. It was distressing.
Victor: I’m awfully sorry, Caroline. It’s just that Shawn was goading me.
Caroline: Apparently he succeeded.
Victor: What he thinks isn’t important.
Caroline: What is important to you?
Victor: What do you mean?
Caroline: I mean your plans, your dreams.
Victor: My dream is to be with you. You’re my dream.
Caroline: Me?
Victor: Of course. Don’t you know by now how I feel about you, Caroline?
Caroline: Not exactly. I mean, you’ve never even tried to kiss me or anything.
Victor: My father taught me to always be respectful of a fine young lady like you. I didn’t want to take advantage.
Caroline: Even if I want you to?
[Victor gently kisses Caroline. Then he kisses her again, this time, more earnestly. Then they smile at one another as Victor takes Caroline’s hand in his and continues to walk her home.]


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

TITAN JET, JANUARY 2010

Victor: Joe, what’s our status? Joe? Joe! Are you there?
Joe: Yes sir. I’m going to have to dump some fuel in case we need to make a crash landing.
Victor: Good grief!


RYAN’S FISH MARKET, 1952, THE NEXT MORNING

Please click here to listen to the song: ]

Victor [whistling]: Good morning, Miss Caroline.
Caroline [whispering]: Oh good, you’re finally here. I was starting to worry. We need to talk.
Victor: About what?
Caroline: About ... you know.
Victor: Sorry, I don’t.
Caroline: I just want to be discreet about ... you know. About the kiss.
Victor [teasing]: Oh, the kiss. That was indeed scandalous!
Caroline: It’s no joke, Victor. We work together and I ... I have a reputation to think about.
Victor: And you think it would ruin your reputation to have people know you’re dating a college man?
Caroline: Victor Kiriakis, stop making fun of me. You know exactly what I mean.
Victor: You mean because I kissed you.
Caroline: That’s right.
Victor: And you kissed me back.
Caroline: Oh, for heaven’s sake, Victor.
Victor: We did nothing wrong, Caroline. We kissed. It was all very innocent. And very, very nice.
Caroline: Then stop looking at me that way!
Victor: Which way?
Caroline: That way. [They start laughing.]
Victor: I love it when you’re feisty.
[Shawn enters]
Shawn: What’s so funny? I want te hear the joke, too.
Caroline: It’s nothing. I was just making fun of Victor because he whistles off-key.
Shawn: We’re not payin’ ye to be a canary, ye know. Get te work.
[Victor does just that as he picks up a large crate and takes it outside. Caroline follows him. ]

Caroline: Victor, please don’t let Shawn get to you.
Victor: He isn’t. He can’t. [He puts the crate down and takes her hands in his.] Nothing can get to me today, Caroline. I’ve never been happier. [He moves closer to kiss her and she pulls away.]
Caroline: Victor! Not in public!
Victor: Want to see why I was late this morning?
Caroline: See??? See what? What are you talking about?
Victor [taking her by the hand]: Come, I’ll show you.
[They walk behind the fish market.]
Victor: You have to close your eyes. It’s a surprise.
Caroline [covering her eyes with one hand]: Victor, this is silly.
Victor: You can open them now. You can look. What do you think of that?
[Caroline is facing a large maple tree with the words “V&C 4 Ever” carved inside a heart.]
Caroline: Victor, I don’t know what to say.
Victor: Do you like it?
Caroline: No. I don’t like it. I LOVE it.
[She throws her arms around him and they kiss.]


To be continued...

[Kpatch]

THE SALEM RIVERFRONT, two weeks later

[Victor and Caroline are walking along the riverfront together one evening after work.]

Caroline: What do you want to do tonight?
Victor: I thought you said you were tired.
Caroline: I was. But I’m not anymore. Being with you makes me feel ... alive.
Victor [smiles broadly]: The carnival is in town. Would you like to go?
Caroline: I would adore it!

[Please click here to listen to the song:

Victor takes Caroline’s hand and they walk to the carnival. It is located at the site of the present-day Salem Place Mall.]

Caroline: Ooh, I love that stuffed poodle.
Victor: I’ll win it for you!
Caroline [teasing]: I’d like to see you try!
Victor: Is that a dare?
Caroline: What do you have to do to win?
Victor: I have to knock down three of those bowling pins with this baseball.
Caroline: I think it’s too hard for you.
Victor: Just you watch!

[Later, Victor and Caroline are on the carousel. She’s holding the stuffed poodle and sitting side-saddle on one of the painted horses as he is sitting astride it, with both arms wrapped around her from behind, his cheek pressed against hers. He kisses her on her cheek. She turns around and smiles at him.]
Victor: Are you having a good time?
Caroline: You have no idea.
Victor: Then tell me.
Caroline: I’m having the best time of my whole entire life. Can’t you tell?
Victor: Can I tell YOU something?
Caroline: What?
Victor [whispering in her ear]: I love you, Caroline. I love you with all my heart and I’m never going to leave you. Not ever.
Caroline: I love you too. [He kisses her softly on the lips.]

[Later that evening, with the sights and sounds of the carnival fading behind them, Victor and Caroline walk along the riverfront holding hands.]

Caroline: I don’t want this night to end.
Victor: What would you like to do next?
Caroline: I want to see your houseboat.
[Victor stops and looks at her quizzically.]
Caroline: I want to stay with you tonight.
Victor: Are you sure?
Caroline: Very sure.
[They kiss passionately, then walk toward Victor’s houseboat with their arms around each other.]


To be continued....

[Kpatch]

RYAN’S FISH MARKET, the next morning

[Please click here to listen to the music that’s playing: ]

[Victor walks into the market and smiles at Caroline.]
Shawn: What’s in the paper bag yer holdin’?
Victor: Nothing important.
Shawn: Say, College Boy, this telegram just got dropped off for ye.
Victor [opening it]: It’s from my mother.
Caroline: Is everything alright?
Victor: My father ... is dead.
Caroline: Oh dear heavens. Victor! How did he die?
Victor: It was an accident of some sort. She doesn’t say exactly what happened.
Caroline: I’m so sorry.
Shawn: Yea, me too.
Caroline: Is there anything I can do?
Victor: She wants me to come home to Greece. She wants me to help run the family shipping business.
Caroline: Oh no.
Shawn: Well, it was nice knowin’ ye. I better go find the Help Wanted sign.
[Shawn leaves.]
Caroline: My poor Victor. [She strokes his face.]
Victor: My poor father. I can’t believe he’s dead. What will my mother do without him?
Caroline: You have to go to her.
Victor: Yes. I have to. ... Nothing is more important than family. But ... wait, I can’t go. ... I can’t leave you, Caroline. I won’t.
Caroline: But your family needs you.
Victor: I don’t know what to do.
Caroline: I think you do.
Victor: You’re right. I know exactly what to do.
Caroline: What do you mean?
Victor: You’ll come with me!
Caroline: To Greece???
Victor: Yes! We’ll have a wonderful life together there. You will love my homeland.
Caroline: I can’t. I can’t leave Salem.
Victor: Why not?
Caroline: I’m only 17 years old.
Victor: Girls in Greece get married a lot younger.
Caroline: But I can’t leave my family.
Victor: Then I’m not going either.
Caroline: Don’t be a fool, Victor.
Victor: What did you say???
Caroline: You need to go!
Victor: But last night. ... Everything we said to each other ... the plans we made ... to be together forever.
Caroline: Forever will have to start a little bit later.
Victor: How can you be so level-headed?
Caroline: One of us has to be.
Victor: Alright. I’ll go. But I will be back. I’ll come back for you, Caroline.
Caroline: You’d better come back.
Victor: I almost forgot.
Caroline: Forgot what?
Victor [takes the stuffed poodle out of the paper bag and hands it to Caroline]: You left this on my boat last night.
[Caroline takes it and holds it to her chest.]
Victor: Tell me you’ll wait for me, Caroline.
Caroline: Of course I’ll wait. I promise.
[They kiss.]

Caroline: Good bye, Victor.
Victor: Good bye, Caroline. I’ll think about you every day we’re apart. I will never stop loving you. Not ever.
[As he leaves, Caroline starts to cry and hugs the stuffed poodle.]
Caroline: I’ll never stop loving you either, Victor.


TITAN JET, JANUARY 2010

[The plane is vibrating like crazy.]
Victor [on the intercom]: Joe, what’s going on? What’s the status?
Joe: We’re 250 miles from Salem, sir.
Victor: Will we make it?
Joe: I’ll let you know.


To be continued...

[Kpatch]

TITAN JET, JANUARY 2010

[The plane is vibrating like crazy.]
Victor [on the intercom]: Joe, what’s going on? What’s the status?
Joe: We’re 250 miles from Salem, sir.
Victor: Will we make it?
Joe: I’ll let you know.


SALEM, 1962

BRADY’S FISH MARKET

[Please click here to listen to the song:

Victor returns from Greece for the first time in 10 years. He is standing in front of the old maple tree, looking at the worn and weathered inscription he carved 10 years before. “V&C 4 Ever.” A couple of children approach.]

Boy: Who are you?
Victor: My name is Victor. Who are you?
Boy: I’m Roman Brady.
Victor: And who’s this pretty young thing?
Roman: This is my sister, Kimmie.
Victor: Doesn’t she speak?
Roman: She’s not allowed to talk to strangers.
Victor: Do you know who owns this fish market?
Roman: My parents do. And it’s da best damn ... I mean ... darn fish market in all of Salem.
Victor: Tell me, Roman Brady ... is Shawn Brady your father?
Roman: Yes, sir. Do you know him?
Victor: I do. We used to be good friends. I’d like to say hello to him.
Kimberly: He’s in Cananada.
Victor: Ah, it seems you’ve found your tongue, princess.
Roman: She means Canada.
Victor: I see. What’s this you’re holding, young lady?
Kimberly: My poodoo.
Victor: Seems to me I’ve seen this stuffed poodle somewhere before.
Kimberly: It’s mine! It’s mine!
Roman: Hey Mister, wanna see my birthday presents?
Victor: It’s your birthday, is it?
Roman: Come on.

[The children drag Victor inside, where Caroline is wrapping up the food from Roman’s birthday party. She looks up and is shocked to see Victor.]
Caroline: Victor Kiriakis???
Victor: Caroline???
Roman: Do you know him, Ma?
Victor: Are these ... YOUR children? Are you and Shawn ...? I had no idea.
Caroline: I almost didn’t recognize you with that mustache.
Victor: I’m told it makes me look more mature and business-like. Do you like it?
Caroline: Roman, why don’t you take Kimmie upstairs and go play with your new birthday toys.
Roman: Aw jeez.
Caroline: Roman Brady, mind your tongue!
Roman: Okay. G’bye Mister.
[Roman and Kimberly go upstairs.]

Victor: You look beautiful Caroline, just as beautiful as the last time I saw you.
Caroline: When did you get back to the states?
Victor: This morning. I thought I’d try to find ... I never expected .... When did you and Shawn get married?
Caroline: Nine years ago.
Victor: I see. Shortly after I left. And you have two children?
Caroline: Actually three. Kayla ... my one-year old ... is down for a nap. And what about you?
Victor: I’m running my family’s shipping business in Athens.
Caroline: So you’re just visiting?
Victor: I came to see about setting up operations here in the states. At the Port of Salem.
Caroline: It’s too bad you didn’t get to see Shawn. He went into town for a few hours. He’ll be sorry he missed you.
Victor: So, you and Shawn got married nine years ago.
Caroline: That’s what I just said. He’s the love of my life.
Victor: That would make Roman ... how old?
Caroline: Roman is eight.
Victor: Really? Then why does his birthday cake say “Happy 9th Birthday”
Caroline: It’s not what you think, Victor.
Victor: Roman is my son!?!


To be continued...

[Kpatch]

SALEM 1962

BRADY’S FISH MARKET

Caroline: Roman is eight.
Victor: Really? Then why does his birthday cake say “Happy 9th Birthday”
Caroline: It’s not what you think, Victor.
Victor: Roman is my son!?!
Caroline: He’s Shawn’s son.
Victor: I left you with a child???
Caroline: I think you need to leave now.
Victor: Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you write to me?
Caroline: Write to you??? You didn’t leave your address. Do you know how many Kiriakises there are in Greece??? I tried to find you, but .... [angrily] Why didn’t YOU write to ME?
Victor: I did. I wrote you a hundred letters.
Caroline: What? I never received any.
Victor: I’m not surprised. I never sent any of them.
Caroline: You’re not making any sense.
Victor: Things were extremely ... messy ... when I got home.
Caroline: Messy? What does that mean?
Victor: My father’s death was no accident.
Caroline: He was murdered?
Victor: He had very complicated business dealings. And many enemies.
Caroline: Complicated? Do you mean illegal?
Victor: Let’s just say that his death set off a string of events that took my life in a direction I never imagined. It turns out that my father sent me to school in America to keep me out of the line of fire.
Caroline: I’m not sure I understand.
Victor: Upon returning to Greece, I found out it wasn’t safe to be a Kiriakis. Or to know a Kiriakis. If anyone knew about you or how I felt about you, they would have used you as my Achilles heel. They would have harmed you or threatened to harm you. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you, Caroline. As much as it pained me to stay away from you, at least I knew you were safe.
[Caroline is in tears.]
Victor: I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you, Caroline.
Caroline: Shawn doesn’t know, Victor. Please, you mustn’t say anything.
Victor: Shawn doesn’t know that Roman isn’t his son? How can he not know?

[Caroline relates the story to Victor.]


RYAN’S FISH MARKET, 1952

Shawn: You’re lookin’ kinda pale, darlin’. What’s the matter? You sick?
Caroline: It’s nothing.
Shawn: Tisn’t nothin’. Look at ye. Ye look terrible. And ye been cryin’. [He sits down beside her.] Tell me, darlin’.
Caroline: I can’t. It’s too awful.
Shawn: It’s Shawnie yer talkin’ te. Ye can tell me anythin’, darlin’. I’m yer friend, ye know.
Caroline: Oh Shawn, I feel so ashamed.
Shawn: What ever could a sweet thing like you be ashamed of?
Caroline: I ... I’m not that sweet ... I’m having a baby.
Shawn: Mother o’ Mary. You? Yer havin’ a baby? Who done this te ye? Tell me his name and he’s a dead man.
Caroline: No, I won’t tell you.
Shawn: Ye better tell me quick cuz there’s gonna be a shotgun weddin’ bejeezuz.
Caroline: It’s over. He’s gone. He was... I didn’t know him very well. He was just passing through town.
Shawn: Ye poor darlin’. What’re ye gonna do?
Caroline [crying]: I don’t know. I don’t know.
Shawn: Well I do. You’ll marry me is what you’ll do.
Caroline: What?
Shawn: You’ll marry me.
Caroline: I can’t let you do something like that, Shawn. We’re just teenagers. And you have your own life to live.
Shawn: Oh my sweet Caroline. Don’t ye know I’m in love with ye?
Caroline: You’re what???
Shawn: I been in love with ye since the day I laid eyes on ye.
Caroline: But you never said anything. You never ....
Shawn: I could tell ye didn’t think o’ me that way. And it’s okay. But now ... now there’s a chance. And I’m willin’ to take that chance. We’ll get married and I’ll love yer baby like it’s my very own.
Caroline: You would do that for me? To save my honor?
Shawn: I would indeed. And it would be MY honor, darlin’, if you’ll have me.


BRADY’S FISH MARKET, 1962

Caroline: On the day of our wedding, Shawn said he would never ask me the name of my baby’s father and I needn’t ever tell him.
Victor: And you never did?


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

BRADY’S FISH MARKET, 1962

Caroline: On the day of our wedding, Shawn said that he would never ask me the name of my baby’s father and I needn’t ever tell him.
Victor: And you never did?
Caroline: I never did. I think he knows, though. I think he’s always known it was you. But he’s too much of a gentleman to make an issue of it. Besides, he loves Roman to pieces. He is Roman’s father.
Victor: I can tell that Roman is a fine boy. It’s obvious that Shawn has been good to him. And it seems like you’re quite fond of Shawn.
Caroline: Fond? I adore him. I may not have been in love with him when I married him, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that he’s the kindest, most honorable man in the world. I love him very much.
Victor: Then why were you afraid to tell me that he’s out of the country?
Caroline: What are you talking about?
Victor: You said he went into town for a few hours. But Roman and Kimmie told me that he’s in Canada. Is that true?
Caroline [pauses]: Yes.
Victor: It’s Roman’s birthday and Shawn isn’t even here for it?
Caroline: You of all people have no right to speak about Shawn that way. We have a business to run. This fish market is our livelihood and Shawn often has to go to Nova Scotia to meet with our salmon vendor.
Victor: That may be so, but it still doesn’t explain why you didn’t want me to know that he’s out of the country. [He moves closer to her.]
Caroline: It’s none of your business.
Victor: You were afraid that I would know you were alone. Because if you were alone with me ...
Caroline: You’ve got a lot of nerve, Victor. I’d like you to leave please.
Victor: I don’t believe you really want me to leave.
Caroline: I didn’t want you to leave ... all those years ago, when you got that telegram from your mother, because I knew deep down that you wouldn’t be coming back.
Victor: Yet you encouraged me to go.
Caroline: You always said that nothing is more important than family, and I knew that if you weren’t there for your family, you would regret it for the rest of your life.
Victor: And now ... now I regret ever leaving you.
Caroline: You don’t have to tell me about regret. I can’t count the number of times I wished I’d said yes when you asked me to go to Greece with you. Or how many nights I fantasized about you coming back to me.
Victor: Caroline, as soon I saw you today, all the old feelings came flooding back. You feel it too. I can see it on your face.
Caroline: Victor. [He kisses her. Caroline pulls away and slaps him.] How dare you. My children are upstairs.
Victor: And mine.
Caroline: Don’t you dare ever say that again! Roman must never find out you’re his father. Ever. If you breathe a word of this, it will be the last breath you ever take. Do you understand me, Victor?
Victor: Don’t worry. You’ve made yourself abundantly clear. Roman will never hear from me that I'm his father. You have my word. But know this much, Caroline BRADY. You haven't seen the last of me.
Caroline: Is that a threat?
Victor: It's a promise.
[He leaves.]


To be continued...

[Kpatch]

BRADY’S FISH MARKET, 1962

Caroline: Don’t you dare ever say that again! Roman must never find out you’re his father. Ever. If you breathe a word of this, it will be the last breath you ever take. Do you understand me, Victor?
Victor: Don’t worry. You’ve made yourself abundantly clear. Roman will never hear from me that I'm his father. You have my word. But know this much, Caroline BRADY. You haven't seen the last of me.
Caroline: Is that a threat?
Victor: It's a promise.
[He leaves.]


A FEW HOURS LATER

[Please click here to listen to the music that’s playing: ]

[Victor returns as Caroline is locking up for the night.]

Victor: Caroline.
Caroline [startled]: Victor, what are you doing back here?
Victor: Please don’t be afraid. I came back to apologize for my behavior earlier. I was out of line.
Caroline: Yes, you were.
Victor: I hope you won’t hold it against me. I wasn’t expecting to learn that my life has turned into a Greek tragedy. You see, the greatest love of my life was my first love, and today I realized that I’ve lost her. Caroline, you are the reason I returned to Salem. I was naive enough to think that I could come back, find you, and we would pick up where we left off. Was I a fool to believe that?
[Caroline doesn’t answer, and Victor takes that as a hopeful sign.]
Victor: If you don’t mind ... May I ask how you came up with the name Roman for our son?
Caroline [smiles]: It seems silly now. Promise me you won’t laugh.
Victor: I promise.
Caroline: I was worried he might look like you and that people might suspect that he’s your son ... that he’s Greek. And Roman is the opposite of Greek, so ...
Victor: Haha.
Caroline: You said you wouldn’t laugh.
Victor: I apologize. Tell me, how long has Shawn owned the fish market?
Caroline: Since his uncle Johnny passed away ... about five years ago.
Victor: It looks like you’ve made it into a successful business.
Caroline: Shawn has a lot of grand ideas for the place.
Victor: I have another question to ask.
Caroline: What is it?
Victor: Do you remember the last thing I said to you before I left ten years ago?
Caroline: I ... I’m not sure.
Victor: I think you do remember. I told you that I would never stop loving you.
Caroline: Yes. I do remember.
Victor: And I never have. I have never stopped loving you, Caroline. And in spite of everything that’s happened ... or, perhaps, because of it ... I think you’ve never stopped loving me either.
Caroline: I can’t do this, Victor.
Victor: We never finished our love story, Caroline.
Caroline: Maybe we never finished, but it is over.
Victor: Not for me it's not.
[He takes her in his arms.]
Caroline: Victor, don’t.
Victor: You want me as much as I want you. I know you do.
[He kisses her. She tries to resist, but she can’t. She begins kissing him back. They lower to the floor and make love.]


To be continued...

[Kpatch]

BRADY’S FISH MARKET, 1962

Victor: We never finished our love story, Caroline.
Caroline: Maybe we never finished, but it is over.
Victor: Not for me it's not.
[He takes her in his arms.]
Caroline: Victor, don’t.
Victor: You want me as much as I want you. I know you do.
[He kisses her. She tries to resist, but she can’t. She begins kissing him back. They lower to the floor and make love.]


TITAN JET, January 2010

Joe: Mr. Kiriakis, I need you to get into position.
Victor: What???
Joe: I need you to get into crash-landing position. Prepare for a crash-landing!

[Please click here to WATCH the video. Then return to read the rest of the chapter. ]


SALEM AIRPORT, JANUARY 2010

Joe: I‘m sorry for the bumpy landing, sir.
Victor: No need to apologize. You got us back in one piece.
Joe: Wish I could say the same for the plane. I’ll bring it into the hangar to get it fixed.
Victor: Good. After it’s repaired, I’ll want to sell it. I don’t ever want to fly in that plane again. I’ll buy a new one.
Joe: Shall I prepare one of Titan’s other jets for a flight to New York?
Victor: No. I’ll reschedule my meeting in New York for another time. Right now, I just want to go home and see my family.
Joe: Would you like me to call Henderson to send the limo?
Victor: No need. I’ll take a taxicab.
Joe: Yes sir. Get home safe.
Victor: Ha! You too.


IN THE CAB

Victor: Driver, I’ve changed my mind. Nevermind the address I gave you. I want you to take me somewhere else.


To be continued. Tune in tomorrow for the finale ...

(Video co-created by kpatch and Kazz)

[Kpatch]

Outside the Pub, Victor walks over to the old maple tree where he carved his and Caroline’s initials over 50 years before. Victor touches the tree and, even though the letters are hard to read after all these years, he can still feel them. “V&C 4 Ever.” Victor stands there for a few minutes, then goes inside the Pub. He walks over to the jukebox and selects “That’s All,” the first song he and Caroline danced to.

Caroline hears the song and looks around. She sees Victor and smiles.]

Victor: Good evening, Caroline.
Caroline: Victor, you look like you’ve seen a ghost! Are you alright?
Victor: I’ve had a rather trying day.
Caroline: Sit down. I’ll bring you some coffee.
Victor: If you wouldn’t mind, I’d rather have something a bit less stimulating.
Caroline: How about a nice cup of tea?
Victor: And a bowl of your chowder.
Caroline: I’ll bring it right out.

[Victor takes his coat off and sits at a table. As he waits for his meal, he watches Roman and Bo playing darts. Caroline returns with the food.]
Caroline: Here you go. Enjoy.
Victor: Caroline, have you got a minute?
Caroline: For what?
Victor: To sit. Just to chat for a bit.
Caroline: I suppose I could spare a few minutes.
Victor: Thank you.
[She sits across from him.]
Caroline: What happened that you had such a rough day today?
Victor: Oh, this and that. I had to go out of town briefly.
Caroline: Well, you look awfully tired. I’m sure you’ll be glad to get home.
Victor: That’s why I came here. Seeing you ... and our sons. I am home.
Caroline [teasing]: Now, don’t go getting all sentimental on me.
Victor [smiling]: Sentimental? Me? Not a chance.


The End

[fluffysmom]

A very enjoyable sweet romantic story. I really liked seeing the young Victor and Caroline in a story!

[slyn11]

I loved this! Victor was so sweet and sexy back then. I loved the tree carving. Like father, like son..awwww

Victor: I do. ... You know, I think there’s another reason Shawn is jealous of me.
Caroline: Why?
Victor: He sees me as a rival for the only thing in that fish market worth fighting over -- you.
Caroline: Victor!
Victor [smiling]: You’re beautiful when you blush, Caroline.
Caroline: Aw, go on.
Victor: I mean it.

So in your world Roman AND Bo are Victor's children? Or did I miss something on the show?