"A Single Yellow Rose" - Chapter Five
"You listened to me," Philip repeated, "and now you've decided that it's not working…so this is my fault?"
Chloe shook her head. "No! That's not what I am saying. Please just listen to me Philip."
Nodding, Philip shoved his hands deep in his pockets. He could tell Chloe needed to say her peace and hopefully when she was done he would have a chance to convince her not to walk away from him.
"Mr. Connelly transferred me to another instructor…did you know that? No, of course not because I didn't tell you." Chloe continued without giving Philip a chance to answer her. "A few weeks ago he sent me to Andre, his protégé…does great things with students Mr. Connelly told me…yeah right, students that aren't good enough to work with him."
Chloe circled around Philip who turned to follow her, baffled at her words. "What do mean not good enough?"
"Oh please, I'm not naive enough to think that I am SO good that Mr. Connelly, the master, decided there wasn't anything more he could show me." Chloe spat out the words. "No, just the opposite in fact. But since Nancy was paying big bucks for these lessons, he wasn't about to cut me loose. So he pawned me off…brushed me off…sent me to the second string to borrow one of your football analogies. But I was determined to get better so he would want to work with me again. So, I did everything Andre asked of me. I went back to the basics but even that wasn't good enough for him. He said it was my-"Chloe's voice broke and she visibly swallowed before continuing, "he said it was my posture…the way I carried myself."
Philip felt such tremendous relief that it almost brought him to his knees. Chloe was upset because of how her voice lessons were going and that explained why she'd been acting so strangely these past few weeks. It wasn't him, it wasn't the two of them. 'Still', he thought, 'that didn't explain why she wouldn't let me near her earlier'. "Honey, I'm sure Mr. Connelly just wanted you to have the basics, like you said. You've never had any formal training and while I think you are terrific…he's is the professional."
"No!" Chloe bite down hard on her lower lip, trying to stifle the outcry as she put more distance between herself and Philip. "You don't understand!"
"Chloe, I think you are getting too upset about this. I know how important this is to you but you have to remember that you are just a beginner." Philip said, following her, "there's no rush…you have plenty of time to work on your singing and if this instructor really isn't working for you, you should tell your folks and maybe they can get you involved with someone-"
"HE TOUCHED ME!"
Stunned, Philip felt as if his soul emptied and was refilled with a roaring fury through which he could only speak one word. "What?"
"At first I didn't really notice…I mean I noticed but I didn't know," Chloe's eyes filled with tears, "I swear I didn't know. I mean, from the first day, he would position my shoulders, his hands on my collarbone or he would show me how I should be breathing through my diaphragm…"
Chloe voice broke and Philip heard the thread of hysteria there. He took a step towards her but she backed away from him quickly, stumbling. She held her fists clenched at her breastbone. "He would press…right here…"
"Chloe…" Philip's voice faltered in the silence that stretched between them.
"I thought I was imaging it…I kept telling myself I was crazy but his hands…kept…moving over my breasts…" Chloe reached up to her face and violently brushed away her tears. "I knew I had to say something, I knew it was up to me. So…I finally did…today…and he told me I was wrong…he told me I wanted this…he told me it was my fault…"
Chloe sank to her knees, her body racked with gut wrenching sobs. Philip rushed to her, wrapping her in his arms. "No! No, Chloe…it's not your fau-"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Chloe screamed as she fought to get away, clawing at his hands until he released her and she pushed him to the ground. "You PROMISED you wouldn't touch me again!"
Dazed, Philip couldn't move. He watched as Chloe crawled away from him, her eyes wide with stark and vivid terror. He instantly realized that it wasn't him she was seeing. Whatever that bast**d did it was dragging her into another nightmare even more shocking that the one that this Andre had caused. "Chloe, baby…"
"Don't call me that," her voice raged with fury. "You promise me…you said if I didn't tell anyone you would stop. You promised…you said you wouldn't hurt any of the other girls…I tried to cover up my body…I tried to hide it because I know what it does to you…please…don't…touch…me"
Philip watched as Chloe begged to an image he couldn't see. He was lost as to what to do. How could he help her? Reaching for his cell phone, he realized that he must have left it in the car. Damn! He wasn't going to leave her here but how could he reach her? Slowly he began inching his way across the ground. He had to get her out of this fear-induced haze and make her realize that she was safe with him. "Chloe …it's me, it's Philip."
"You said you wouldn't send me away…you said I could stay…" Chloe whispered in a ragged breath as she drew her knees up close to her chest, hanging her head.
Philip stopped when he just about reached her. "Chloe," again he repeated. it's me…Philip."
Chloe's head snapped up, her face wet with tears. Without warning, she rose and took off in a run for the woods. Shocked, it took Philip a second to start after her. Thankful for the full moon and the childhood cops and robbers games he and Shawn played here as kids he knew the woods like the back of his hand. He could hear Chloe crashing through the underbrush and he knew he had to get to her before she hurt herself. He took a sharp left, hoping to cut her off. Moments later, she crashed into his arms.
"No!" she cried, "no, no!"
"Chloe, Chloe." Philip called out her name, refusing to let her go. Her fists flared around his head and shoulders but he held tight to her. "Chloe, please let me help you. It's okay….you're okay."
"Let me go!" she screamed.
"I'm not gonna hurt you," Philip said calmly, praying he could reach her and praying he could control the wrath of fury that seethed inside of him over what she'd been through Right now he needed to concentrate on Chloe. "It's Philip…I'm not going to hurt you."
He repeated these words over and over until he felt the fight finally giving out inside of her. Slowly, she relaxed in his arms, her anger giving way to exhaustion.
"Philip…" she whispered.
"Yeah, it's me." Gently, he lifted her in his arms and walked back out to the clearing. He stopped at the edge of the pond and placed Chloe down on the grass. Taking off his jacket, he removed his tee shirt and dipped the corner of it in the water. He turned back to find Chloe hiding her face with her hands. Cautiously he touched her fingers with his own and Chloe slowly lowered them.
"Okay?" he asked, showing her his shirt.
Chloe nodded and he carefully wiped her face with the cloth. Chloe closed her eyes against his appraisal of her. God...did that all really happened? Did she really say all those things to him?
She had wanted to talk to Philip for the last couple of weeks about what was happening with Andre but she just didn't know how. She was afraid he would think it was somehow her fault or that she wanted it to happen and he would leave her. But today, when she had confronted Andre, he had said all those vile things to her she knew she had to tell someone, and Philip was the first person she had run to.
She had no idea that the past she had worked so hard to forget would come rearing back to her in such a nauseating and foul manner. Feeling him picking out leaves and twigs from her hair his touch was so gentle it brought fresh tears to her eyes. She tried to control them but they spilled out from under her lashes. Realizing that Philip's hands had stilled, she opened her eyes to find him staring down at her.
"Please don't hate me," Chloe tried to maintain her fragile control.
"Never," Philip answered without hesitation, "it's wasn't your fault. None if it." Chloe started to look away but Philip lightly held her chin. "Not what happened these past weeks and not what happened to you before. It's not…your…fault."
Chloe nodded slowly and Philip tenderly wrapped his arm around her and held her. "You've got to tell your parents, Chloe."
"No!" Chloe shook her head, "No, they would hate me. They would send me away."
"No, they wouldn't. Your mom and Craig love you very much and they will help you to get the help you need to work through all of this."
"I don't know…"
"Chloe, you took a big step tonight by coming to me and I'm sorry for making it so hard for you. I was only thinking about myself and I never thought what you could be going through would be something like this. I'm so sorry. I will be beside you all the way but this is something we can't handle alone."
"Will you come with me?"
"Of course, come on, it's getting late. I bet your mom is going nuts wondering where you are."
Philip rose and helped Chloe to her feet. He grabbed his jacket and put it on, the night air chilly on his bare skin. Chloe clutched at his tee shirt and they made their way back to his car. He made sure she was settled in before starting the car and heading out of the park. As they made their way through town, Philip drove with one hand, the other Chloe clung to with both hands. When they pulled up in the driveway, Philip saw two figures pacing through the front window. He felt Chloe's grip tighten on his hand and he knew she saw them too.
"They're worried about you, that's all. They don't know where you've been or what you have gone through, remember that okay?"
Chloe nodded in response and they got out of the car. Philip put his arm around her and they made their way to the front porch and quietly opened the door.
"Oh Chloe," Nancy cried, running in from the living room, "where have you been?"
Craig followed closely on her heels but both stopped short at the sight of Philip, bare chested except for his letterman jacket, holding Chloe tight in his arms and Chloe's face still red, her eyes swollen from crying.
"What the hell is going on here? Nancy voice rose another octave "I came back from shopping and some kid tells me you hitched a ride home from Chicago and when I got here Craig said he had no idea where you were!"
Philip held up his hand, trying to stop Nancy's questions. "Please, Mrs. Wesley, Chloe has been through a lot tonight."
"And whose fault is that?" Craig demanded.
"Not mine sir. Please, Chloe needs to speak with the both of you. Can we go in and sit down?"
Surprised by Philip's calm tone, Nancy finally noticed the fear in her daughter's eyes. She took a step closer which only caused Chloe to press closer to Philip. Nancy looked to Craig for help who only stepped away and motioned for Philip and Chloe to go into the living room. Nancy moved to sit at the end of the couch while Craig stood behind her. Philip walked with Chloe to the couch and helped her to sit down.
Reaching over, he shocked Nancy when he took her hand and placed Chloe's cold fingers in her warm grasp. "She loves you Chloe, you know that."
Chloe nodded in response, but seized Philip's hand when he started to back away. "Don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere." Philip glanced up and caught Craig's hard stare before returning his gaze to Chloe. "I'll be right here."
Philip moved to the back of the couch as Chloe slowly began to talk. Each word was a blow to his heart as her story spilled out with renewed tears. He wasn't sure if it was shock or understanding that was keeping her mother quiet but at least she and Dr. Wesley were listening and that was half the battle. Craig moved around to sit on the coffee table, but he didn't touch Chloe until she reached out for his hand. Philip felt the tears welling in his is own eyes, matching those in Dr. Wesley's and when one escaped down his cheek Philip let it fall without bothering to wipe it away.
When Chloe fell into Nancy's warm embrace, Philip watched as Dr. Wesley rose and motioned him into the dining room. Philip followed him and both men took a few moments to wipe their eyes and gather their thoughts.
"Thank you Philip, for bringing her home and for convincing her to tell us about all of this."
"I didn't know about any of this until tonight sir. I kind of figured that being moved from foster home to foster home was part of why she was so shy and wore all those bulky, black clothes before but I never thought…I mean ever since the dance she's been acting like a normal teenager, whatever that is."
"Did she react normally to you physically?"
"Ah, Dr. Wesley, we never…I mean, we haven't…"
"I didn't think you did but surely you two have at least done a little serious 'making out', I believe its still called that. You didn't notice anything different about her then?"
"No sir. I mean she was shy and she told me she had never even held hands with a guy before me but nothing ever happened like tonight. You don't think I did something to set this off do you?"
"No," Craig reassured Philip. "I think the actions of her music instructor is what brought all this back to the fore front for Chloe." Craig took a close look at Philip's face. "Come over here, by the light."
Craig slipped from father to doctor mode and examined Philip more closely. "What happened to your face?"
"Oh, Chloe was really upset when she took off into the woods. I caught up with her and I was afraid what would happen if I let go of her so I just held on until she realized it was me holding her."
"You are going to have a nice shiner there come morning."
"It doesn't matter. Is Chloe going to be okay?"
"Well…I don't know Philip. I would like to have her checked out by her doctor but since there was no penetra - um, I think it can wait until tomorrow. Do any of the other kids know about this?"
"No sir, we were alone when she told me. Belle and Shawn have noticed she'd been a little withdrawn lately but that's it."
Chloe and Nancy suddenly appeared in the archway of the room. Philip walked over to her and took her out stretched hand. "Are you okay?"
"No," she answered, "but I will be and that's a start."
"You must be exhausted and I'm sure my parents are on the lookout for me so I'm gonna head home. Are you going to be in school tomorrow?"
"I don't know. Mom wants me to go over to the hospital in the morning…"
Philip's gaze shot from Chloe to Nancy, who was busy wiping away her own tears. "Well, since Belle's in a lot of your classes I'll have her get anything that you might miss."
Philip could only stare at Chloe, knowing he should leave and let her get some rest but he didn't want to leave. Craig walked around and wrapped his arms around his wife. "Nanc, why don't we let Chloe say good night to Philip?"
Nancy was reluctant to let go of her daughter but Craig gently pulled her away. Hand in hand, Chloe and Philip walked to the front door.
"Are you sure you are going to be okay?" he asked. Chloe just smiled and Philip returned her smile. "I already asked you that didn't I?"
Chloe only nodded.
"Well, I am probably going to be saying that a lot because I care about you, you know?"
"I know that Philip."
"I'll call you tomorrow?"
"Do you want this back?" Chloe held out his tee shirt.
"No, you keep it, toss it…whatever."
Philip wanted to kiss her but he wasn't sure if that was what Chloe wanted so he settled for caressing her cheek with his fingertips and was rewarded when Chloe leaned into his touch. "Get some sleep and call me if you need me. I don't care what time it is, you've got the number to my private line in my room so call me."
Chloe nodded and then Philip quietly slipped out the door. During the drive home Philip replayed all that had happened tonight and the outrage built to such frenzy that he didn't even notice his father calling out to him when he stormed into the house minutes later. All he could think about was hitting something and hitting it hard. Stripping off his jacket as he walked into the weight room Philip headed straight for the punching bag that Austin left behind when he moved out. Pounding his fists into the solid leather over and over again sent the bag swinging into the air but it did little to relive his feelings of guilt and anger. Soon the muscles in his arms protested the continuous movement but still Philip refused to quit. Moments later two hands grabbed the bag from behind, holding it still. Philip looked up to see his father standing there.
"Go on son, whatever it is…get it out of your system."
Philip continued with his punishing workout but it only lasted a few minutes longer before he gave up and went over to a rack on the wall and grabbed a plush terry cloth towel. He covered his face with it as he leaned against the wall, unable to stop the tears from coming. Heaving sobs filled his chest and he slowly sank to the floor. Victor moved to join him and he held his son as a story of anguish and suffering filled the air.
*****
"Mr. Philip, wake up."
Philip felt the touch to his shoulder and he was instantly awake. Sitting up in bed he saw Henderson, in his bathroom, standing at the side of his bed. "What time is it?"
"A little after three sir."
"What is it Henderson? Is it Dad or Mom?"
"No sir, you have a phone call."
Philip's eyes went right to his bedside phone but then he saw the cordless in Henderson's hand. "Who is it?"
"It's Dr. Wesley sir."
Philip grabbed the phone. "Yes sir?"
"Philip is Chloe with you?"
"What? No…I've been asleep for a couple of hours. Why?"
"I just went to check on her and her bed is empty…she's gone."
to be continued…