A Toast
John checked his watch, again.
J: (under his breath) What is taking so long? (looking at Marlena) Excuse me, Doc.
John approached the hostess station.
J: (to Maggie) Excuse me, Maggie, but did Victor call?
Mag: (looking in the book) Um… no. (looking up) Actually, he called earlier, with his meal request.
J: (muttering) I guess he's running late… ( looking at her) Thanks, Maggie.
John returned to the table, where Belle and Chloe were chatting, as Brady ate a dinner roll.
Br: (looking up) Hey, Dad… what's the hold-up?
J: Nothing, Kid. What… did you want to get your drink on?
Br: (smiling) 'Get my drink on'? (eyes widening) Wow, Dad…. Actually, no. I'm getting hungry (watching Chloe reach for a roll) and from the looks of it, so is the Diva.
Ch: (glaring at him) Careful, Brady…
Br: (smiling devilishly) My point is… it's time for some toasts.
Ch: (standing up) How arrogant of you, insisting that the toasts, praising you, should begin, right now.
Br: (grabbing her arm) Where do you think you're going?
Ch: To my table… out of courtesy. Hey, I'm just making room for your head, scheduled to swell, in about 5 minutes.
She returned to her table.
Br: (looking at her) Just for the record, I didn't say anything about toasting me.
Ch: (looking over her shoulder) Oh, really?
Br: (standing up and looking at her) Yes, really. (looking at John) Dad, is it alright if I make a toast?
J: Go right ahead, if you are willing to toast, with water.
Br: It'll do. It isn't what you're toasting with. (looking at Chloe) It's who you're toasting to. With that said… Chloe…
Chloe slowly turned around.
Br: (looking at her eyes) Have I told you how glad I am that you're here? I mean, not necessarily, you being here, at Tuscany, on my birthday, but here, in Salem, right now?
Chloe bit her lip as she blushed.
Ni: (to herself) Oh, geez. I can't be a party to Brady, turning into a cream puff. (grabbing her purse) I'm taking a powder.
Nicole walked out of the dining room.
Br: As you all know, the Diva and I… fight.
Be: (derisive) Yeah… tell us about it.
Br: And it gets heated. The Diva and I have said things to each other… well, if it was said, by anyone else… it's safe to say it would have been the last thing said. (looking at her) But you and I have an understanding, an unusual one, to say the least, and we were in jeopardy of losing it… and so much more. But… I am happy to say that everything that is important to me is safe, now. This friendship, the opportunities for more fights, but the most essential thing to me is… (looking at her) you are safe, and at last, well.
Chloe smiled to herself.
Br: (trying to cover) In the past, I was awfully critical of Chloe, and she, of me. I slammed everything about her… her looks, her intelligence, her talent… (under his breath) her taste in men. But tonight, I'm going to make a confession. (smiling) I love her… looks (tongue-in-cheek) well, she's okay-looking. And I love her… intelligence… well, there's room for improvement. And I love her… talent, specifically her voice… her singing voice, which, at moments, can be absolutely divine, and her screaming voice, which can be awfully shrill…
J: (coolly) Brady…
Br: (looking at him) Yeah, Dad?
J: Are you sure this is a toast?
Br: Yeah, I'm sure.
J: Okay, because it doesn't sound like one…
Br: Well, that's because I'm not finished. (thinking) Now, where was I?
Ch: (coolly) You were saying that my voice is shrill…
Br: Oh yeah, your screaming voice. It is shrill, but like your singing voice, there are moments of divinity. Actually, it is ever-present because from it, comes your fire, your wit, your passion… absolute Chloe Lane is a very beautiful thing. And with that…
The room fell black, filling with groans and sighs of frustration.
Mag: (coming into the dining room) I'm sorry, everyone. Electricity should be restored, momentarily. Please, be patient.
The candlelight centerpieces, adorning every table, gave the room a subtle, eerily romantic glow.
Ch: (leaning in her chair) Well, Brady… aren't you going to finish your toast?
Br: Yes, I will, when the lights are on.
Ch: What's the matter? Are you afraid of the dark?
Br: (smiling) Now, you know that I relish the darkness.
Ch: (biting her lip) That… I do know.
Br: You look bored, Diva.
Ch: I am, a little…
Br: Is it my toast?
Ch: (covering) No… it's not as boring as I thought it would be.
Br: (smirking) Thanks, Diva.
Ch: You're welcome.
Br: Maybe you could take a little walk?
Ch: Alone?
Br: What… are you inviting me?
Ch: (coyly) Maybe, I am…
Br: (skeptical) You're just inviting me so you could 'influence' me…
Ch: Excuse me?
Br: Don't play innocent with me. Nothing or no one is going to steer me away from my destination, or rather, the point of my toast.
Ch: (pretending to get mad) Well, be that way.
Chloe took a sip of water and glanced at Brady. Placing the glass on the table, she began to hum softly. She watched as his trademark smile crept across his face.
Na: Chloe… what are you humming? It's sounds vaguely familiar.
Cr: To me, too…
Brady grew increasingly relieved that the room was dark, for his face was getting hotter.
Na: (thinking) Oh… I remember. It's 'The More I See You'. (grabbing Craig's arm) Oh, Craig, remember when Nancy Wilson performed it at the jazz festival?
Cr: (wrapping his arm around her) Yeah… not a single soul breathed, until she finished. It was an incredibly stunning moment, something that I will never forget.
Br: (under his breath, looking at Chloe) Neither will I.
Chloe hid her smile.
J: What was that, Brady?
Na: (looking at him) Brady… did you see her perform this song?
Br: Actually, no…. (looking at Chloe) Never mind.
Na: (looking at Chloe) Chloe, why did you stop humming? It was lovely.
Ch: (looking at Brady) I don't know… ( looking at Nancy) That's the thing about humming… it comes and goes. (returning her gaze to Brady) Like, right now… it's coming.
Chloe closed her eyes and began to hum softly. Nancy smiled, in adoration, as Craig's face turned red. There were scattered snickers, including Brady. Nancy threw him an icy stare, as Chloe concealed her smile.
Na: (defiant) Chloe, baby, sing for me.
Cr: (hiding his smile) Nancy, I don't think that's…
Na: (glaring at Brady) No one laughs at my baby. Go on, prove to him that you can sing. It's a lovely melody…
Ch: (looking at her) Mom, I don't have to…
Na: (adamant) Yes, you do. Don't let him get away with laughing at you.
Ch: (biting her lip) Okay, Mom. (looking at Brady) If you insist… (clearing her throat, singing softly)
In the velvet darkness
Of the blackest night…
Na: (beaming with pride) Oh… that is lovely…
Ch: (raising an eyebrow):
…Burning bright…
Chloe watched as Brady trembled.
Ch: (looking at him):
There's a guiding star…
No matter what or who you are…
Na: (giddy) My baby…
Brady and Chloe looked at each other.
Brady and Chloe: (in unison)
There's a light…
Some patrons: (in unison)
Over at the Frankenstein place…
The restaurant erupted in laughter, as Brady and Chloe tried to gather their composure.
Na: (blushing) OMG… I can't believe I didn't recognize it.
Cr: (through his laugh) I tried to warn you…
Brady and Chloe: (peppered with laughter)
There's a light…
Some patrons:
Burning in the fireplace…
Br and Ch:
There's a light… light… in the darkness
of everybody's life…
Some of the patrons clapped, as Brady sat down and Chloe covered her face, in embarrassment.
Cr: (in a low tone, imitating Riff-Raff)
The darkness must go down the river of night's dreaming
Flow morphia slow, let the sun and light come streaming
Into my life. Into my life…
The restaurant roared in laughter and applause.
Na: (squealing and grabbing his arm) That was perfect, Craig.
Br and Ch: (rising from their chairs, singing at the top of their lungs)
There's a light…
The restaurant:
Over at the Frankenstein place…
Br and Ch: (wrapping their arms around each other)
There's a light…
The restaurant:
Burning in the fireplace…
There's a light, a light…
Br and Ch: (in a gentle tone)
In the darkness of everybody's life
Chloe and Brady looked into each other's eyes, as the restaurant erupted in applause. She slowly backed away from him and returned to her table. Nicole returned to the dining room, just as the applause died down.
Ni: (whispering to Maggie) What's going on? What did I miss?
Mag: Just an impromptu floorshow, courtesy of Brady and Chloe.
Ni: (raising an eyebrow) Oh, really?
Cr: (over the applause) A great big hand for the MacDonald and Eddy of Transylvania.
Ni: Huh?
Mag: They sang a song from Rocky Horror.
Ni: (disappointed) Oh, so I didn't miss anything important?
Mag: Well, there's two schools of thought about that, Nicole.
Nicole rolled her eyes as she returned to her table.
Br: (walking to the Wesley's table) That was brilliant, Dr. Wesley.
Cr: Thank you, Brady.
Na: (smirking) And what about my daughter, Brady?
Br: (looking down at Chloe) Well, Mrs. Wesley, she made this whole evening possible. Mind you, it's my birthday and my parties are always fun.
Ch: (derisive) Mr. Modesty…
Br: … but her presence, here, added something very special.
Chloe looked up at him just as the lights came on.
Ni: (watching Brady and Chloe, to herself) You two… you really need to be careful or this won't be fun at all.
Br: (returning to his table) As you can see, she is beautiful… I mean, her voice is beautiful. And to think… I could have lost all of this… the friction, the singing… I've could've lost her. (picking up his glass) So, I guess this toast is to best friends. Not the kind of best friend that is ready-made or built-in, like the first person who made you laugh… (trying to smile) usually, that's your mom. Or, the first person who, through a lot of patience, showed you how to play… (looking at John) usually, that's your dad. Or, the first person, whose very presence, made you not want to hoard your things, (looking at Belle) but instead, made you want to share everything… if you're lucky, it's usually a younger sib. Or the first person, who isn't related to you, by blood, but becomes family, (looking at Marlena) by providing acceptance and sheer love… if you're lucky, that's a stepmother. Or the first person, who looks at you, through eyes, prejudiced by sheer pride, looking past all of your flaws and sees you as more precious, than everything he's worked for… usually, that's a grandfather…
A voice from the entryway: I was afraid you were going to leave me out.
The Blacks and the Wesleys looked toward the entryway.
Br: (turning around) Grandpa Vic!
Vic: (hugging him) Happy birthday, Brady.
As Victor hugged him, he noted Chloe's presence. The coolness of his gaze made her turn back around.
Vic: How are you, Brady?
Br: (pulling away) I'm great, Grandpa.
J: (sighing with relief) It's about time you got here.
Br: Were you why we were waiting?
Vic: (staring at Chloe) Yes. I'm sorry that I'm so late. We had some stops and… never mind that… finish your toast.
Br: (smiling at him) Okay, Grandpa. (turning around, looking at Chloe) This toast isn't for the ready-made, built-in best friend… a.k.a… family. This is for the best friend you make outside of your family. Not the first kid you met in kindergarten, or the one you play sports with, or the one you get into trouble with. This is for the hard-fought friendship… a major emphasis on the 'hard-fought'. A friendship, in spite of your best efforts, you see yourself as you really are and you begin to like yourself for it. And despite the protests, the other person likes the 'real' you too. This kind of friendship… I have it with Chloe Lane and I hope I do the same thing for her as she does for me. (lifting his glass) To you, Chloe. Never have I meant this, more than I do, right now. With all my sincerity… here's to your health.
The Blacks and Wesleys lifted their glasses and drank to her, as Nancy became misty-eyed.
Ch: (blushing) Mom… (leaning over and hugging her) don't cry.
Na: (through her tears) I can't help it.
Cr: (getting up and hugging the both of them) It's who she is, Kiddo.
Na: (pulling away) Besides… (trying to smile, as she wiped away her tears) these are happy tears…
Nancy's smile faded.
Cr: (concerned) Nancy… what's the matter?
Craig looked in the direction Nancy was looking.
Ch: (concerned) You guys…
From behind: What about Chloe's health?
Chloe slowly turned around.
Ph: (from the entryway) Well… is someone going to tell me what's going on?