"A Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Forty-One
University Hospital Christmas Ball, Penthouse Grill, Titan Publishing Building
"Well…you've certainly done it this time," Craig whispered fiercely in Nancy's ear as he held out her chair when she rejoined the head table.
"It's just that I am so proud of her honey," Nancy said, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill out regarding of how many times she batted her false eyelashes.
"I'm proud of her too but that doesn't mean I want her living a thousand miles away from us," Craig's voice was low as he sat back down. "You know damn well Chloe hadn't made her mind up yet."
"Of course she has Craig…what in the world would make her turn down an offer like that and stay here in Salem?"
"My son."
The Wesley's turned to find Kate staring intently at them. "I take it the two of you failed to see the pain on Philip's face as he just raced out of here but I can assure you that he knew nothing about this."
"Nothing is etched in stone yet Kate," Craig said smoothly, the last thing he wanted was to upset the wife of one of the hospital's biggest benefactor.
"Oh really? According to your wife Chloe's bags are already packed and ready to go."
"That is not what I meant-" Nancy started to protest when she noticed Chloe was about to rush past their table. Reaching out she managed to grab her daughter's arm. "Chloe…where are you going?"
"Mother! Please…not now!"
"Honey you look so upset…what is going on?"
Chloe grabbed her mother's hand and twisted her arm free. "I can't talk to you now!"
Nancy twisted around in her chair, watching as Chloe disappeared in the crowd. "Now where could she be going?"
"Probably after Philip…I think you have underestimated her feelings for him," Kate said.
"I know my daughter is very infatuated with your son and frankly the seriousness of their relationship has begun to worry me."
Victor watched as a familiar look came over his wife's face. It was an expression of calmness that hid a growing fierceness he'd seen many times in the boardroom downstairs in Titan's offices. Lifting his brandy glass to his lips, he decided to stay of this conversation…at least until it was necessary to do so.
"My son has treated Chloe with the utmost respect and caring. He has stood by her side through what has been a very troublesome few months for her and I know his feelings for her are sincere and have been from the very beginning."
"And what beginning was that?" Nancy shot back. "When he teased her to tears about her choice of clothes or hairstyles? Oh no…wait…it must have been the night he made her a unwanted prize in a childish prank!"
"I know exactly what happened this past spring and Philip has more than made up to Chloe for that incident. He too suffered in his desire to get to know Chloe better and I think the two of them are better people now because of the time they have spent together."
"Suffered? Your son doesn't even know the meaning of the word suffer-"
"My son has a given name Mrs. Wesley," Kate interrupted as she reached for her wineglass, "please be so kind as to use it."
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"Is it so difficult for you to form the word Philip?"
"Of course not! I use it all-" Nancy again stopped mid sentence as she saw Mimi heading for her with one of Philip's friends beside her. "Mimi! Where are you rushing off to…and where did you get that coat!"
"Oh this…" Mimi stopped in her tracks, looking down at Jason mom's mink jacket. "Can you believe I forgot I had it on? Have you seen Chloe?"
"Good evening Mimi…Jason," Craig said, leaning forward in his chair.
"Good evening Dr. Wesley," they said in unison, turning to look at each other.
"Hello Mr. Kiriakis," Jason said, turning to Philip's parents, "Mrs. Kiriakis."
"Hello Jason."
"Mr. and Mrs. Kiriakis," Mimi said, nodding in their direction.
"Congratulations Miss Lockhart," Victor said, "winning that award is quite an accomplishment."
"Th-thank you," Mimi said, a bit unnerved by the compliment from a man she'd thought had no idea who she was. "Have any of you see Chloe?"
"Or Philip?" Jason added.
"Philip stormed out of the room a few minutes ago and Chloe just followed him," Kate said. "Why?"
Mimi and Jason exchanged glances before answering, unsure of exactly what to say.
"Well…I think Philip was a little upset with Chloe's news so he took off…and Chloe went after him." Jason said. "We thought maybe we should go too…just in case."
"Yeah, please excuse us…come on Jason," Mimi said, pulling on his arm and Jason willingly followed her away from the four pairs of parental eyes.
"That's it!" Nancy said, tossing her napkin back on the table. "I am going to find out what is going on. If Philip Kiriakis thinks he is going to get Chloe to change her mind and throw away this terrific opportunity-"
"I'm going with you," Kate said returning her glass to the table. "If you think I am going to let you lay into my son you've got another thing coming."
"Ladies…you are not going anywhere," Victor said quietly as he watched the dark liquid swirl around the inside of his glass as he gently turned in the palm of his hand. "I think our children are very capable of dealing with this issue on their own."
Kate looked over at her husband recognizing his calm tone and disinterested demeanor as a facade he often used and she knew it was now masking his unconditional love for his son. But many times over the last few months he told her that Philip was becoming a man and it was time he dealt with the issues in his life instead of having his parents do it for him.
"Don't you agree Dr. Wesley?" Victor said quietly with a steady gaze across the table.
"Yes I do," Craig responded before turning to his wife. "Let her be Nancy…let them be."
*****
Chloe raced out into the reception area, stopping short when she saw Philip punching furiously at the elevator's control buttons. "Philip…wait!"
She watched as his shoulders turned rigid at her words but he didn't turn around. Walking up behind him, she waited until she stood by his side before speaking. "We need to talk."
"Leave me alone."
"Please Philip…I need to talk to you."
"No…you don't. I believe you need to be home packing."
"Philip you don't understand-"
"There is nothing wrong with my hearing Chloe…or my comprehension. Your mother made quite clear what your plans are. I'd wish you good luck but somehow it would come out insincere," Philip turned and stared hard into Chloe's eyes. "And that would make me a liar…and I think there are enough liars standing here at the moment."
Chloe returned Philip's stare, his words cutting deep to her heart but behind the anger that filled his eyes she could see the hurt and betrayal he was trying desperately to hide. When Nancy had shocked her by making the announcement of her acceptance in front of everyone, she'd immediately looked for Philip in the crowd, knowing he was going to be upset since she'd never had the chance to tell him about the letter that just arrived in the mail today.
"I didn't lie to you," she said softly.
"So you kept the truth from me…it's the same thing!" Philip shot back, turning back to again jab at the elevator button.
"It's not what you think Philip…please let me explain everything to you."
"Why now Chloe? Because you were caught?"
"Caught…what are you talking about it?"
"You're going to make me spell it out for you? Fine…I will. You're winging your way off to the Big Apple next month and guess what? So is Brady!"
Suddenly the doors slide open and Philip immediately stepped inside and hit the button for the bottom floor lobby. Stunned, Chloe could only stare at Philip as he centered his gaze on the floor. Just as the doors started to slide close, she reached out and grabbed one, activating the automatic release and the door slide back inside the walls. "You know about Brady?"
"Do I know about Brady?" Philip's head shot up as he repeated Chloe's words. "Do I know about Brady…gee, why is there no surprise in your voice…oh wait, you already knew that he was transferring to another college next semester!"
"He just told me this evening…while we were dancing. That is why you saw me giving him a hug. I was happy that he decided to seriously pursue his music."
"Yeah I just bet…the two of you together in New York."
"Philip you are being crazy!" Chloe said, stepping inside the elevator.
"Just get the hell out of here!"
"Forget it!" Chloe cried. "You can't make those kind of accusations and think I am just going to let you walk away! I told you…I didn't know about Brady until tonight and I just found out about being accepted in the High School for Performing Arts today!"
"You expect me to believe that?" Philip said.
"Of course I do!"
Philip stared into the eyes that first captured his attention so many months ago. They were standing on the pier, Chloe breathless from running out of the pub after her impromptu performance at Shawn's birthday party and he was the same after racing to catch up with her. He didn't even know why he had followed her but something inside of him told him to go after her and for the first time he didn't question…he only listened. Of course when he got there the two of them fell into their usual bickering but the moment he reached up and pulled off her glasses he found himself mesmerized by her beautiful eyes. Eyes that revealed a Chloe she was trying desperately to hide from everyone and yet, Philip felt as if she had the ability to look deep inside to a part of him that he didn't even realize was there. Now those eyes were again looking at him, but he couldn't see past his own hurt to recognize Chloe's shock and pain.
"Philip!"
"Chloe!"
Mimi and Jason raced over to the open elevator. Out of breath, Mimi leaned against the opening, panting. "Are you two okay?"
"Yes…we're fine," Chloe answered, breaking free of Philip's stare.
"Yeah…peachy," Philip said. "And Chloe was just leaving."
"I am not!"
"Look, all I want to do is get the hell away from here now…for the last time…get out!" Philip grabbed Chloe's arm pushing her though the door and into Jason's arms before hitting the 'close door' button.
"Philip…wait!" Chloe cried as he disappeared from view behind the silver doors.
"Maybe you should let him go and cool off," Jason said, helping Chloe to regain her balance. "I know Phil when he's like this…there's no reasoning with him."
"I can't let him go…I have to explain," Chloe said as her eyes filled with tears. "I can't let him go on thinking that I-"
Suddenly the doors to the matching elevator opened and after a couple exited Chloe rushed inside. "Come on…close…close," she begged pressing the inside buttons.
"Chloe…wait!" Jason shouted banging on the doors as they slid closed in his face. "Now what?"
"I don't know…all that's left is the stairs and we'll never catch up with them that way," Mimi said. "Maybe there's a service elevator."
"You're right…there's got to be one in the kitchen," Jason said. "Come on!"
"Oh here…take this thing before God knows what happens to it!" Sliding her arms out of the mink jacket Mimi handed it over to Jason who just stood there staring at her. "Hello…Jason… the jacket?"
"Jacket…right," Jason said, blinking himself out of the trace caused by seeing Mimi again in that red dress. "I'll put this back and get yours…where's your ticket?"
"In there…go!" Mimi said, tossing her purse at Jason before turning back to push the elevator button again, "and hurry!"
Exiting the elevator, Philip reached into his pockets for his keys as he headed across the deserted, dimly lit lobby.
"Philip! Please wait!"
His footsteps faltered as the sound of Chloe's voice but he forced them to continue moving forward as he quickly swiped at his eyes with this jacket sleeve before pushing open the double glass doors and stepping out into the cold night air.
"You can't just walk away from me!" Chloe yelled, as she lifted her skirt high off the ground and hurried after him. The snow and wind stung at her bare shoulders and arms as she followed Philip across the parking lot, her high heels no match for the snow covered ground as her nylon clad feet quickly became soaked.
"I'm not walking away," Philip said stopping at his mustang, "I'm driving."
"I know you're mad at me and you have every right to be," Chloe said, grabbing his arm just as he was about to open the door, "I wanted to tell you about being accepted but I couldn't get you alone tonight and then my mother with her big mouth…please believe me…that was the last way I wanted you to find out. I didn't even know they were considering me for admission until the letter arrived today."
"That's bullshit Chloe…I saw you carrying around applications for that school in your books!"
"So what! Shawn got paperwork for the Merchant Marines," Chloe said, pushing her hair off her face, "and Jason carries around Nomar Garciaparra's rookie baseball card in his wallet for luck!"
"Are you telling me you didn't fill out an application?"
"No I'm not saying that…I did fill one out but-"
Philip yanked open the driver's side door. "And when was that…right after Brady secretly visited you to apologized for being a drunken ass and you so readily forgave him? God, you must have been planning this for weeks!"
"Philip…no!" Chloe cried as he slid in behind the wheel of the car pulling the door out of her frozen fingers and slamming it shut. Racing around the front of the car, she prayed that the passenger door was unlocked. Quickly yanking it open, she felt her feet slip out from underneath her but she managed to get into the front passenger seat. It was just as cold inside the car as it was outside but at least it was dry.
"Get out of my car," Philip said, shoving the keys into the ignition and gunning the engine.
"Not until I tell you everything."
"What makes you think I'm interested in hearing everything? The details of your new life are the last thing I want to hear," Philip said dropping the car into reverse. "Now…get out!"
"Well you are going to listen because it was your fault I filled out that stupid application in the first place!"
"What?" Philip cried as he hit the gas, quickly glanced over his shoulder and backed out of the parking spot. "Don't try to turn this thing around so it's my fault! I am damn sick and tired of always being at fault!"
"Well I'm sorry about that but this time it was your fault," Chloe said as she struggled to get on her seatbelt, quickly glancing at Philip grateful to see that he too had his on, "because I filled it out last summer."
"What do you mean last summer?" Philip said, throwing the car into first gear. "When?"
Chloe turned in her seat as much as her seatbelt would allow so she was facing Philip. "The day I found out about the bet…I was devastated by what you and Shawn had done to me…I wanted to run away…to leave Salem. To get away from Shawn, Belle…you."
Philip's eyes closed for moment. "Well…it looks l-like you got your wish," he said, he voice softer now.
"I wanted to go where no one knew me…where I could go back to being plain, freaky Chloe who thought only about opera and not about friendships, dating and fun. I felt so betrayed at that moment by what you had done that I couldn't see past the bet…I even had my mother arrange for me to have an audition tape created."
"I told you…I don't want to hear this!" Philip said, stepping on the gas and racing out of the parking lot, taking a sharp right on to Main Street the rear end of his mustang fishtailing until he was able to regain control of the car.
"But I never made that tape Philip!" Chloe cried as she braced herself feeling the car's tires trying desperately to gain traction on the icy road. "I headed out that day and found a beautiful crystal vase filled with a dozen yellow roses on my front porch…and a card from you. Do you remember what you wrote?"
"That was six months ago Chloe," Philip lied, forcing his eyes to stay straight ahead as they raced down the center of the road. "I can't even remember what I had for homework last night."
"You said you were sorry for hurting me and that no matter what you would always be my friend…it took a lot for me to decide to believe in those words…and to stay."
"So what made you send in the application now Chloe?" Philip snapped, his hands gripping tightly to the steering wheel. It was getting harder to see the road so he flipped on the wipers but that didn't take of the watery sheen that filled his eyes. "What did I do wrong… was it that day out in the stables… or did Brady just do something right?"
"This has nothing to do with Brady…how can I get you to understand that! I didn't send in the application!"
"So what are you saying? The opera fairy just whispered your name into the ear of the school principal and he decided to send you an acceptance letter?" Philip said, as they continued to race down the center of the road. "Give me a break!"
"Nancy sent the application in Philip…I had no idea. She got a tape from the news station of me singing at the Habitat groundbreaking for Mimi's house. I was just as surprised to get that letter today in the mail as you were to hear about tonight at the ball. You know they only take a select number of new students every year and hardly none past their junior year."
"Congratulations"
"Philip…I had to give the offer consideration…that's why I was so eager to get you alone tonight so I could share this with you-"
"So okay…you've shared it now why don't I just drop you off at the nearest pay phone and you can give Brady a call so the two of you can plan your trip together!"
"Damn it! I don't want Brady…I want you! I love you!"
Hitting the brakes as they came upon a light that suddenly changed from yellow to red, both Philip and Chloe tilted forward in their seats as the car came to a stop. A silence filled the interior of the car that matched the silence of the empty, snow covered street.
'Did she just say what I thought she said,' he wondered.
'Oh my…did I just say that,' Chloe thought dropping her head to her chin. 'I can't believe it I just blurted it out like that!"
"What did-" Philip stopped to clear his throat as it had constricted tightly at her words. "What did you just say?"
Chloe felt the tears pressing against her closed eyelids as she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Wrapping her arms tightly around her, she shivered in the still cold car, her breath coming in short gasps as she tried to come to grips with the powerful emotion she'd just revealed. Suddenly a car honked it horn, startling her. Looking up, she saw that Philip was staring straight out over the steering wheel, the swish of the wiper blades creating a rhythmic beating that matched the pounding of her heart. She jumped again as the sharp bleeps of the horn of the impatient driver behind them filled the air but Philip remained still.
"The light Philip…it's green."
Philip turned to look at Chloe and his chest tightening at the sight of her huddled in the passenger seat, her beautiful hair lying in wet strands against her skin. He watched as she struggled to gain control of herself but she still didn't answer him as the car behind them roared around them and disappeared into the dark night. 'Did she regret what she'd just said,' he thought.
Turning away from the pain that question created, he reached out and flipped on the heater and a warm rush of hot air spilled over them. "It's alright Chloe," Philip said softly as he stepped on the gas pulling out into the intersection, "we all say things in the heat of the moment we later regret…hell, I'm famous for it."
"I don't regret it."
The words came so softly that Philip wasn't sure if Chloe had spoken them or if he wanted to hear them so badly he imaged it. He turned his head to look at her but his eyes suddenly grew wide as a pair of bright lights blinded him…
Every inch of his body burned with an inferno of pain and yet he could feel the coldness of the snow as it landed on his face and hands and seeped up from the ground through his clothes. He tried to open his eyes but the falling snow caused him to blink wildly to ward off the swirling flakes. Turning his head to the side filled his ears with a crunching sound that echoed inside his head like when you've grown tired of sucking on a piece of hard candy and you find yourself breaking it into slivers of small pieces with your teeth. Moving to cover his eyes with his hand, Philip cried out as a horrendous pain tore from his shoulder and he instantly froze, praying that lying still would make it go away.
Tentatively moving his other hand, he fought against the pain until it laid flat over his eyes. Squinting, he saw twin rows of bright spots of light that disappeared into the darkness, as a bright red glow seemed to shine down on him. Forcing himself to turning back he again gazed up at the darkness and watched as the red glow changed to a vivid green then a brilliant yellow before again returning to a bright red. Wrinkling his nose at a strong odor that seemed to surround him, he rolled his head in the other direction, his brain demanding that he try to think…to reason…to figure out where he was.
Twisted pieces of red metal curled upward toward the sky, reminding him of the modern art sculptures his mother kept trying to bring into the mansion but his dad was always vetoing them in favor of more traditional pieces. His gaze drifted over the warped, misshapen object as a feeling of familiarity came over him…he knew this sculpture…it was something special to him but he didn't know why. An appreciation of the arts was something he normally deferred to his girlfriend. A sudden rush of nausea flowed over him and he struggled to stay awake, as he still didn't know where he was. He continued to stare at the object as it towered over him.
Something wasn't right...something wasn't right…something wasn't right…
The words reverberated through him as he fought against the pain that threatened to engulf him. It was then he saw her…she laid near the bottom of the sculpture, almost as if she was part of it…coming out from the middle of the distorted piece, resting on a black cushion with one arm on her stomach and the other stretched out underneath her head. She was facing away from him but he found himself inching his way toward her, the torture of moving his body caused a screaming pain to erupt from his chest as he forced his muscles to obey his command to move. He had to get to her…she needed him and he needed her…he didn't stop to question that realization but only labored to get closer to her.
Hours seemed to pass until he was able to reach her and he watched a ribbon of dark red trail down the peach and cream colored skin of her arm until it streamed across the front of her hand making its way down her fingers until it formed droplets that fell to a growing pool in the snow that sparkled with fragments of ice scattered across it. A word formed in his brain and he tried to open his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Again and again he tried but his voice refused to allow him to call out to her. A blackness was settling over him but he fought against it as he reached out for her, his finger lifting up to touch hers as he finally forced the word pass his lips before slipping into the comfort of unconsciousness.
"Chloe."
to be continued…