Chapter Thirty-Six
(The following morning, over breakfast.)
Chloe stared off into space, not looking at Brady who was across the table from her. She absentmindedly nibbled at the pastry in her hand, taking small sips from her orange juice every now and then. Her mind was not at the table in the restaurant, it was still on the balcony of their hotel room. She was thinking about her dream, wondering the meaning and the intent of it, and trying not to worry about the future.
Brady stared at her with one eyebrow raised. "Hey... Diva... A penny for your thoughts?"
Chloe snapped back to reality and looked at him confusion. "Huh?"
"What's going on? Are you okay?"
"I... I had a strange dream last night. That's all."
He frowned at her, his eyes filled with concern. "A bad dream?"
Chloe shook her head. "No, not bad, just different. I... I dreamt about your mother."
Brady wiped his mouth with his napkin and sat back in his chair, his expression turning into one of shock. His eyes looked the other way and he replied quietly, "So did I."
"What? You did too? What happened?"
"I dreamt that the doors to the balcony were open. I got up to close them and I saw her standing out there. She was dressed all in white, and she was so beautiful."
Chloe bit her lower lip nervously, her heart beating faster as he spoke, amazed at the strange coincidence of it all. "So, you talked to her?"
Brady nodded and continued. "I did. For a little while. She told me how proud she is of me, how much she loves me... how she loves you too..."
"She didn't give you a warning, did she?"
"No... Why? Did she give you one?"
Chloe sighed heavily and nodded. "Well, she said it wasn't technically a warning. Just a reminder that there's always something fresh brewing around the corner. Something that we're going to have to overcome. But, she was very encouraging... She said that we could overcome anything."
Brady reached his hand across the table and rested it on top of hers. "Whatever you're thinking right now, don't worry about it. You and I together can beat anything."
"Disease? Death? Act of God? We're not superhuman, Brady, and life is very fragile. I know that you and I are strong, but we can't beat everything. Sometimes we're not meant to overcome tragedy... no matter how much we believe we can. Bad things happen, and we can fight all we want, but we can't always change what's meant to be."
"I know that. I'm not trying to be unrealistic... Some things are always going to be out of our control. But, we can control how we deal with them and what we learn from them. You know that as well as I do. I don't know why you're suddenly so pessimistic. You brought *me* back from wherever I was... You did it with faith, hope and love. Why so worried now?"
Chloe shrugged in confusion and frowned at him. "I... I don't know. It just seems that whenever things are at their best... something really terrible happens."
Brady squeezed her hand tightly and smiled at her. "I know it feels that way, and sometimes it is. But... You just have to live in the moment, don't worry about the future, and don't think about the past. Just live for now. Take it as it comes, right?"
"Brady... You are definitely your mother's son. Or at least I imagine you are. That's what she tried to tell me in my dream."
"Well, my father always said she was a very wise woman. And, she took her own advice. She knew when she got her diagnosis that she didn't have much time left. The cancer was so serious, and it couldn't be stopped. But, she took every single day that she had left and made it something special. She lived every day like there was no tomorrow. And it's because of her, that I dropped my big bad attitude... Her life, however short it was, inspired me to live for now, not for yesterday or tomorrow. And, you, are the one that gives me the strength to continue doing that."
Chloe smiled widely and nodded. "You're right, I know you are. I need to stop worrying and enjoy the rest of my completely fabulous honeymoon."
Brady grinned and sat up straight. "That's right. No more sad face, Chloe Michelle Lane Black... And that's an order.
She started giggling at him and performed a mock salute. "Sir, yes, sir!"
Brady laughed along with her, and when his laughter subsided, he looked over her shoulder strangely, glancing towards the other side of the cafe. His laughter stopped and he looked back at his wife, his mouth open in surprise.
"Chloe... You are never going to guess who is having breakfast in the same cafe we're having breakfast in."
Chloe raised her eyebrow thoughtfully and then winked at him. "Uhmmmm... Pavarotti?"
Brady rolled his eyes and then pointed towards the person he was referring to. "Noooo... Look."
Chloe pushed his finger away and laughed. "It's rude to point, you know."
Brady put his hand down and Chloe turned her head to look behind her. A pretty brunette was sitting alone at a table in the corner flipping through a magazine and sipping coffee. Chloe turned back to Brady, her eyes wide with shock.
"It's Princess Greta... She's here in Venice? I wonder why."
Brady shrugged and looked past Chloe at the princess. "I don't know. Maybe we should go say hello. She's always been close to my dad, and I know he'd be upset if we didn't."
"Well, I didn't really know her all that well when she lived in Salem, but yeah, let's go."
Brady stood and led Chloe by the hand towards Greta's table. Greta was engrossed in her magazine, not looking at them as they stood beside her table.
Brady spoke first to get her attention. "Excuse me, Princess Greta Von Amberg."
Greta rolled her eyes, probably thinking it was another person who recognized her from her photos in magazines and newspapers, but she looked up, her glare of annoyance quickly turning into a smile of recognition. She stood immediately, and smiled at both of them. "Brady Black? You're here in Venice? Wow... And, Chloe, right? Chloe Lane?"
Chloe nodded and smiled at her. "That's me."
Greta let impulse take over at the sight of two faces from Salem, hugging them both excitedly. Chloe had only known her in passing, but Greta was one of the friendliest people she had ever met.
"It is so good to see some familiar faces... all the way from Salem, U.S.A. Please sit down, talk to me, and tell me what you're doing here in Italy."
Chloe and Brady obliged taking the empty seats across from her as Greta returned to her seat. Brady held on to Chloe's hand and smiled at her, then turned back to Greta.
"We're here on our honeymoon, actually."
Greta's eyes widened with surprise. "Get out... Really? Congratulations to you both. Wow..."
Chloe smiled at the princess and nodded. "And we're having a baby too, in March."
"Geez... You guys really know how to pile on the good news. That's wonderful. So... John Black is going to be a grandpa, huh? How does he feel about that?"
Brady shrugged slightly. "He's thrilled, that's for sure. But, he constantly reminds us that it makes him feel old."
Greta grinned and waved her hand dismissively. "Old? Your father is forever young and he's still as handsome as he was when I was a little girl. I don't think he has anything to worry about. By the way, Hope told me about what happened to you... your hospitalization and everything... I was really sorry to hear that. But, you're okay now, right?"
"Better than ever. Good as new. Everything is perfect now."
"I'm so glad to hear that."
Chloe interjected with a question of her own. "So, you know what we're doing here... What are you doing here in Venice?"
Chloe noticed a twinkle Greta's brown eyes, as she explained. "Well, I've been working with the children at the orphanage in Paris for awhile... And one of the women that I worked with there came to do the same thing here in Venice. So, I came here to check things out, help out with the children, spend some of my royal trust fund."
"That sounds like it must be so fulfilling. I only wish that when I was floating around the system as a child, that there was someone like you around."
"It has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Those children, no matter what they had to grow up with, have such amazing spirits. They're so strong and they teach me more than I could ever teach them."
Brady patted his wife's knee under the table and glanced at her meaningfully. Chloe smiled back at him in understanding. She had come from a background to those children that Greta loved to take care of, and somehow she too had survived everything that had happened to her.
Brady looked at the princess thoughtfully and shifted subjects. "So... I don't mean to pry. And you don't have to answer me... But, besides the children, why did you leave Salem?"
Greta sighed softly, her smile fading a little. "I love Salem, I really do, and I love all of the wonderful friends that I have there. But... I wasn't happy. I had some bad luck, make that EXTREMELY bad luck, with relationships. I was lost. I guess I left to find my happiness."
Brady nodded in understanding, feeling lucky that he had found his happiness in the woman that sat beside him. "And what about now? Have you found it yet?"
Greta chuckled softly and shook her head. "Are you always this nosy, Brady Black?"
Chloe nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, he is. Always."
"Well, if you must know, the answer is... Not yet. But, I will. I know that working with children is my calling in life. But, I'm still kind of hopeless on the romantic end of things. And... I'm still coming to terms with my father."
Chloe raised an eyebrow curiously. "Your father?"
Greta nodded uneasily. "Yeah, it's nothing I want to talk about. Believe me... the revelation of my paternity was not easy to take. I'm still having a hard time dealing with what..."
Greta corrected herself suddenly and continued, "...with *who* I am. I can't even say it out loud. It's difficult."
"Don't worry... We won't push you. Some things are better left unsaid, I guess."
Chloe sighed softly, thinking of her own paternity. For the most part, she didn't care. She really had no desire to have a relationship with her biological father, whoever he was. She didn't need him when she had Craig. But, part of her was still curious, wanting to know where she came from and if she had any siblings, or cousins or aunts and uncles.
There was an awkward pause, and Greta eyed them both curiously. "So... Have I missed any really good gossip? Hope has kept me on some of the major events... but I'm sure she's left out some of the details."
Brady paused to think and then grinned at her. "Well, my wicked stepsister..."
"Sami?"
"The one and only. She's hot on the pursuit of Brandon Walker from what I know."
Greta laughed softly and rolled her eyes. "Poor Brandon. Only God can help him now. Once Sami Brady starts something, she doesn't stop until she's destroyed everything in her path. I'm just glad Austin finally wised up and got rid of her."
Brady nodded in agreement. "Yes, but he had to move twelve hundred miles away to do it."
"So, if Sami is after Brandon... Where does that leave Jennifer?"
Chloe shrugged in confusion. "I think they broke up... I'm not sure, I don't know either of them too well. But... they're definitely not together anymore."
Greta glanced at her watch and sighed sadly. "I hate to do this to you guys, but I have an appointment that I'm going to be late for if I don't get going right now. If you don't have any big plans that I'd be butting in on, would you two like to meet me for dinner?"
Brady looked at Chloe who was nodding her agreement. The three of them stood as Greta grabbed her purse and magazine off the table. Brady looked back at Greta and replied to her invitation.
"I don't think that will be a problem at all."
Greta clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oh good. I'm so glad to have a couple of familiar faces to look at for once. There's a little place around the corner from here called Forte. Say about seven o'clock?"
Brady gave her a brief hug and nodded. "Seven is perfect. We'll see you then."
"Great... I can tell you all of the really cool hidden places to go in Venice."
Greta hugged Chloe next and Chloe smiled in appreciation. "Sounds like a great idea. Thanks, Greta."
"Alright, you two have fun today... I'll see you tonight."
Greta smiled and waved, quickly making her exit. Brady turned to Chloe and kissed her briefly. "I'm going to go pay the bill... If you're ready to leave."
Chloe nodded but kept her gaze towards the door that Greta had just walked through. "Yeah... I'm ready."
"Okay, I'll meet you out front."
Chloe stayed glued to one spot as she watched Brady head towards their table to pick up the check. For some reason, running into Greta had triggered something inside her. The desire to find the one last piece she needed in the puzzle of her life. Unlike Greta, Chloe had found her purpose and happiness, but there was still one thing missing.
***
A surprise cameo by Princess Greta? Woooo... Betcha didn't see that coming? Wondering why? Two reasons: 1) I felt that poor Greta was one of the most underused characters in Days history. She had so many potential storylines that could have been written, especially with all her ties to other characters. But, did (to quote Lib) "Evil Langan" ever give her a chance? Nope... She got a crappy Garden of Eden story and then she was part of the "Jack is gay!" storyline. Lame. Lame and crappy. CRAP-PY! And we still don't know who her father is. 2) Could this possibly be a setup for a ... sequel? Oh yeah... An idea came to me that I will eventually have to write... eventually. And it involves Broe, Greta and some other things that I won't mention yet.
(The following morning, over breakfast.)
Chloe stared off into space, not looking at Brady who was across the table from her. She absentmindedly nibbled at the pastry in her hand, taking small sips from her orange juice every now and then. Her mind was not at the table in the restaurant, it was still on the balcony of their hotel room. She was thinking about her dream, wondering the meaning and the intent of it, and trying not to worry about the future.
Brady stared at her with one eyebrow raised. "Hey... Diva... A penny for your thoughts?"
Chloe snapped back to reality and looked at him confusion. "Huh?"
"What's going on? Are you okay?"
"I... I had a strange dream last night. That's all."
He frowned at her, his eyes filled with concern. "A bad dream?"
Chloe shook her head. "No, not bad, just different. I... I dreamt about your mother."
Brady wiped his mouth with his napkin and sat back in his chair, his expression turning into one of shock. His eyes looked the other way and he replied quietly, "So did I."
"What? You did too? What happened?"
"I dreamt that the doors to the balcony were open. I got up to close them and I saw her standing out there. She was dressed all in white, and she was so beautiful."
Chloe bit her lower lip nervously, her heart beating faster as he spoke, amazed at the strange coincidence of it all. "So, you talked to her?"
Brady nodded and continued. "I did. For a little while. She told me how proud she is of me, how much she loves me... how she loves you too..."
"She didn't give you a warning, did she?"
"No... Why? Did she give you one?"
Chloe sighed heavily and nodded. "Well, she said it wasn't technically a warning. Just a reminder that there's always something fresh brewing around the corner. Something that we're going to have to overcome. But, she was very encouraging... She said that we could overcome anything."
Brady reached his hand across the table and rested it on top of hers. "Whatever you're thinking right now, don't worry about it. You and I together can beat anything."
"Disease? Death? Act of God? We're not superhuman, Brady, and life is very fragile. I know that you and I are strong, but we can't beat everything. Sometimes we're not meant to overcome tragedy... no matter how much we believe we can. Bad things happen, and we can fight all we want, but we can't always change what's meant to be."
"I know that. I'm not trying to be unrealistic... Some things are always going to be out of our control. But, we can control how we deal with them and what we learn from them. You know that as well as I do. I don't know why you're suddenly so pessimistic. You brought *me* back from wherever I was... You did it with faith, hope and love. Why so worried now?"
Chloe shrugged in confusion and frowned at him. "I... I don't know. It just seems that whenever things are at their best... something really terrible happens."
Brady squeezed her hand tightly and smiled at her. "I know it feels that way, and sometimes it is. But... You just have to live in the moment, don't worry about the future, and don't think about the past. Just live for now. Take it as it comes, right?"
"Brady... You are definitely your mother's son. Or at least I imagine you are. That's what she tried to tell me in my dream."
"Well, my father always said she was a very wise woman. And, she took her own advice. She knew when she got her diagnosis that she didn't have much time left. The cancer was so serious, and it couldn't be stopped. But, she took every single day that she had left and made it something special. She lived every day like there was no tomorrow. And it's because of her, that I dropped my big bad attitude... Her life, however short it was, inspired me to live for now, not for yesterday or tomorrow. And, you, are the one that gives me the strength to continue doing that."
Chloe smiled widely and nodded. "You're right, I know you are. I need to stop worrying and enjoy the rest of my completely fabulous honeymoon."
Brady grinned and sat up straight. "That's right. No more sad face, Chloe Michelle Lane Black... And that's an order.
She started giggling at him and performed a mock salute. "Sir, yes, sir!"
Brady laughed along with her, and when his laughter subsided, he looked over her shoulder strangely, glancing towards the other side of the cafe. His laughter stopped and he looked back at his wife, his mouth open in surprise.
"Chloe... You are never going to guess who is having breakfast in the same cafe we're having breakfast in."
Chloe raised her eyebrow thoughtfully and then winked at him. "Uhmmmm... Pavarotti?"
Brady rolled his eyes and then pointed towards the person he was referring to. "Noooo... Look."
Chloe pushed his finger away and laughed. "It's rude to point, you know."
Brady put his hand down and Chloe turned her head to look behind her. A pretty brunette was sitting alone at a table in the corner flipping through a magazine and sipping coffee. Chloe turned back to Brady, her eyes wide with shock.
"It's Princess Greta... She's here in Venice? I wonder why."
Brady shrugged and looked past Chloe at the princess. "I don't know. Maybe we should go say hello. She's always been close to my dad, and I know he'd be upset if we didn't."
"Well, I didn't really know her all that well when she lived in Salem, but yeah, let's go."
Brady stood and led Chloe by the hand towards Greta's table. Greta was engrossed in her magazine, not looking at them as they stood beside her table.
Brady spoke first to get her attention. "Excuse me, Princess Greta Von Amberg."
Greta rolled her eyes, probably thinking it was another person who recognized her from her photos in magazines and newspapers, but she looked up, her glare of annoyance quickly turning into a smile of recognition. She stood immediately, and smiled at both of them. "Brady Black? You're here in Venice? Wow... And, Chloe, right? Chloe Lane?"
Chloe nodded and smiled at her. "That's me."
Greta let impulse take over at the sight of two faces from Salem, hugging them both excitedly. Chloe had only known her in passing, but Greta was one of the friendliest people she had ever met.
"It is so good to see some familiar faces... all the way from Salem, U.S.A. Please sit down, talk to me, and tell me what you're doing here in Italy."
Chloe and Brady obliged taking the empty seats across from her as Greta returned to her seat. Brady held on to Chloe's hand and smiled at her, then turned back to Greta.
"We're here on our honeymoon, actually."
Greta's eyes widened with surprise. "Get out... Really? Congratulations to you both. Wow..."
Chloe smiled at the princess and nodded. "And we're having a baby too, in March."
"Geez... You guys really know how to pile on the good news. That's wonderful. So... John Black is going to be a grandpa, huh? How does he feel about that?"
Brady shrugged slightly. "He's thrilled, that's for sure. But, he constantly reminds us that it makes him feel old."
Greta grinned and waved her hand dismissively. "Old? Your father is forever young and he's still as handsome as he was when I was a little girl. I don't think he has anything to worry about. By the way, Hope told me about what happened to you... your hospitalization and everything... I was really sorry to hear that. But, you're okay now, right?"
"Better than ever. Good as new. Everything is perfect now."
"I'm so glad to hear that."
Chloe interjected with a question of her own. "So, you know what we're doing here... What are you doing here in Venice?"
Chloe noticed a twinkle Greta's brown eyes, as she explained. "Well, I've been working with the children at the orphanage in Paris for awhile... And one of the women that I worked with there came to do the same thing here in Venice. So, I came here to check things out, help out with the children, spend some of my royal trust fund."
"That sounds like it must be so fulfilling. I only wish that when I was floating around the system as a child, that there was someone like you around."
"It has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Those children, no matter what they had to grow up with, have such amazing spirits. They're so strong and they teach me more than I could ever teach them."
Brady patted his wife's knee under the table and glanced at her meaningfully. Chloe smiled back at him in understanding. She had come from a background to those children that Greta loved to take care of, and somehow she too had survived everything that had happened to her.
Brady looked at the princess thoughtfully and shifted subjects. "So... I don't mean to pry. And you don't have to answer me... But, besides the children, why did you leave Salem?"
Greta sighed softly, her smile fading a little. "I love Salem, I really do, and I love all of the wonderful friends that I have there. But... I wasn't happy. I had some bad luck, make that EXTREMELY bad luck, with relationships. I was lost. I guess I left to find my happiness."
Brady nodded in understanding, feeling lucky that he had found his happiness in the woman that sat beside him. "And what about now? Have you found it yet?"
Greta chuckled softly and shook her head. "Are you always this nosy, Brady Black?"
Chloe nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, he is. Always."
"Well, if you must know, the answer is... Not yet. But, I will. I know that working with children is my calling in life. But, I'm still kind of hopeless on the romantic end of things. And... I'm still coming to terms with my father."
Chloe raised an eyebrow curiously. "Your father?"
Greta nodded uneasily. "Yeah, it's nothing I want to talk about. Believe me... the revelation of my paternity was not easy to take. I'm still having a hard time dealing with what..."
Greta corrected herself suddenly and continued, "...with *who* I am. I can't even say it out loud. It's difficult."
"Don't worry... We won't push you. Some things are better left unsaid, I guess."
Chloe sighed softly, thinking of her own paternity. For the most part, she didn't care. She really had no desire to have a relationship with her biological father, whoever he was. She didn't need him when she had Craig. But, part of her was still curious, wanting to know where she came from and if she had any siblings, or cousins or aunts and uncles.
There was an awkward pause, and Greta eyed them both curiously. "So... Have I missed any really good gossip? Hope has kept me on some of the major events... but I'm sure she's left out some of the details."
Brady paused to think and then grinned at her. "Well, my wicked stepsister..."
"Sami?"
"The one and only. She's hot on the pursuit of Brandon Walker from what I know."
Greta laughed softly and rolled her eyes. "Poor Brandon. Only God can help him now. Once Sami Brady starts something, she doesn't stop until she's destroyed everything in her path. I'm just glad Austin finally wised up and got rid of her."
Brady nodded in agreement. "Yes, but he had to move twelve hundred miles away to do it."
"So, if Sami is after Brandon... Where does that leave Jennifer?"
Chloe shrugged in confusion. "I think they broke up... I'm not sure, I don't know either of them too well. But... they're definitely not together anymore."
Greta glanced at her watch and sighed sadly. "I hate to do this to you guys, but I have an appointment that I'm going to be late for if I don't get going right now. If you don't have any big plans that I'd be butting in on, would you two like to meet me for dinner?"
Brady looked at Chloe who was nodding her agreement. The three of them stood as Greta grabbed her purse and magazine off the table. Brady looked back at Greta and replied to her invitation.
"I don't think that will be a problem at all."
Greta clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oh good. I'm so glad to have a couple of familiar faces to look at for once. There's a little place around the corner from here called Forte. Say about seven o'clock?"
Brady gave her a brief hug and nodded. "Seven is perfect. We'll see you then."
"Great... I can tell you all of the really cool hidden places to go in Venice."
Greta hugged Chloe next and Chloe smiled in appreciation. "Sounds like a great idea. Thanks, Greta."
"Alright, you two have fun today... I'll see you tonight."
Greta smiled and waved, quickly making her exit. Brady turned to Chloe and kissed her briefly. "I'm going to go pay the bill... If you're ready to leave."
Chloe nodded but kept her gaze towards the door that Greta had just walked through. "Yeah... I'm ready."
"Okay, I'll meet you out front."
Chloe stayed glued to one spot as she watched Brady head towards their table to pick up the check. For some reason, running into Greta had triggered something inside her. The desire to find the one last piece she needed in the puzzle of her life. Unlike Greta, Chloe had found her purpose and happiness, but there was still one thing missing.
***
A surprise cameo by Princess Greta? Woooo... Betcha didn't see that coming? Wondering why? Two reasons: 1) I felt that poor Greta was one of the most underused characters in Days history. She had so many potential storylines that could have been written, especially with all her ties to other characters. But, did (to quote Lib) "Evil Langan" ever give her a chance? Nope... She got a crappy Garden of Eden story and then she was part of the "Jack is gay!" storyline. Lame. Lame and crappy. CRAP-PY! And we still don't know who her father is. 2) Could this possibly be a setup for a ... sequel? Oh yeah... An idea came to me that I will eventually have to write... eventually. And it involves Broe, Greta and some other things that I won't mention yet.
