The Late Arrivals
Phillip slowly walked into the dining, amid an uncomfortable silence.
Ph: (getting anxious) Well… do I have to say it again? What is going on?
Vic: (in a calm tone) You know what's going on, Phillip. It's the reason why we're here… it's Brady's birthday.
Ph: (annoyed) I know that, but…
Vic: (grabbing his arm) Well… wish your nephew a happy birthday… (whispering to him) Remember what I told you outside… you are not going to ruin tonight or chase after Chloe, which amounts to the same thing. (smiling) Well…
Ph: (annoyed) Happy Birthday, Brady.
Phillip extended his hand.
Br: (coolly) Thank you… (shaking his hand) Uncle Phil.
Phillip released his hand abruptly and looked in Chloe's direction.
Mar: (trying to break the tension) Well… we were fortunate to arrange for an extra place setting… (smiling) We weren't expecting you, Phillip.
Ph: (looking at Chloe) It was a last minute decision, one that I am feeling better about, with each passing minute.
Phillip surveyed the table and noticed two empty chairs, one next to Brady and another, next to Belle, who was seated near Chloe.
Be: (hesitant) So, Phillip… you're going to sit next to me, tonight, or would you rather sit next to Brady?
Ph: No, Belle. I want to sit next to you.
Br: (under his breath) Naturally, since the seat is in close proximity to Chloe…
Ph: (sitting next to Belle) After all, who would turn down the chance to sit next to… (glancing at Chloe) a beautiful girl.
Belle noticed Chloe tensing up.
Be: (diverting his attention) Thank you, Phillip.
Vic: (changing the subject) Well, I guess I get to sit next to my grandson.
Br: I wouldn't have it any other way.
Victor smiled as he sat next to Brady. He glanced at Phillip, whose mind was obviously on the brunette, seated a few feet away. He noticed how grim the Wesleys looked and assumed that they were mirroring Chloe's expression, obscured by her turned back.
Vic: (to himself) The last thing I needed was for Chloe to be here. She's the cause of the friction between Phillip and Brady, although Phillip is taking the ball and running with it. In-fighting, because of a woman. If I wanted a tense night, caused by a beautiful woman, I would have invited…
Victor looked up and noticed a pair of familiar, long legs , at the corner table.
Vic: (getting up) Excuse me.
Victor approached the corner table.
Vic: (in a hushed, but stern tone) Nicole…
Nicole removed the menu from in front of her face.
Ni: (looking up) Victor… (in an innocent tone) What are you doing here?
Vi: I was about to ask you the same thing.
Ni: As you can see… I'm dining out…
Vic: Alone?
Ni: (playing innocent) No… there are other people here…
Vic: I meant…
Ni: (looking at the Wesleys) Like the Wesleys. Boy, doesn't Chloe look lovely tonight?
Vic: Since when have you gave a damn about Chloe?
Ni: (coyly) I don't, Victor. It was just an observation. Besides… there are other people here, like your family. Imagine my surprise when I learned that it was Brady's birthday…
Vic: Don't start, Nicole…
Ni: 'Don't start what'? Never have I felt so close to you as I do tonight…
Vic: Nicole, we can discuss this later…
Ni: Brady got a surprise, namely this party. Phillip got a surprise, namely finding his precious Chloe, 'waiting for him'…
Vic: (sternly) Do not make a scene.
Ni: (getting agitated) And last, but not least, I got the surprise of knowing that I was so unwelcome to this party, I wasn't even told about it, not that I would have come… (leaning back in her chair) although I am very fond your grandson. (cooing) He's such a lovely, (sighing longingly) lovely (raising an eyebrow) young man…
Vic: I suggest you lower your voice, right now.
Nicole fell silent.
Vic: I see, from your attitude, that I'm going to have to give you the same speech as I gave Phillip…
Ni: (opening her menu) Oh no, Victor. Your 'speeches' are reserved for your 'family'.
Victor snatched Nicole's menu and slammed it on the table.
Vic: (glaring at her) Trust me, there wasn't anything 'familial' about what I said to him, so it definitely applies to you. You are not going to ruin tonight, by executing hidden agendas or making any scenes. Now… I have a tighter reign on Phillip, since we are dining together, but you…
Ni: (defiant) You have no say, on what I do, or will do.
Vi: Don't I? Because if I find out that you are causing problems, I promise you, tonight's 'slight' will feel like a valentine. Do you understand?
Ni: (rolling her eyes) Your family's waiting…
Vic: (with cold eyes) Do not underestimate me, Nicole.
Victor walked away.
Ni: (making a face, to herself) 'Do not underestimate me, Nicole'… who the hell does he think he is? (glaring) Everything that you will get tonight, Victor, you have coming.
Nicole returned her attention to the menu. As Victor approached the table, he noticed that Phillip's chair was closer to Chloe.
Ph: (over his shoulder) Good evening, Chloe.
Ch: (barely looking over her shoulder) Phillip…
Ph: (inching closer) I didn't expect you to be here…
Ch: (tensing up) I could say the same about you…
Ph: (wanting to touch her) I can't tell you how happy I am…
Vic: (touching Phillip's shoulder) You're happy, Phillip? Well, so am I… to be here to commemorate this special occasion. ( looking at Chloe) And to say the least… it's a surprise to see you… all here. (looking at John) Why didn't you tell me that the Wesleys would be joining us?
Cr: Actually, Victor, we're not. We just happen to be out tonight, having a quiet family dinner, when we bumped into the Blacks.
Vic: (looking at Chloe) Well, from the sound of the singing earlier, you were definitely a part of our celebration.
Na: Believe me, Victor, despite the way things looked before, the Wesley and Black parties are separate entities.
Br: But that isn't written in stone, is it, Mrs. Wesley?
Na: ( looking at Chloe) No, it isn't.
Victor returned to his seat.
Vic: (attempting levity) Wow… so many detours, before and after we arrived. I'm sorry about that. I just had to speak to Nicole.
J: You know… she's more than welcome to join us.
Brady made a face, which Victor noticed.
Vic: (looking in Nicole's direction) That's okay, John. Nicole lives for nights when she's a 'free' woman…
Nicole threw him an icy look, which he subtlety reciprocated.
Vic: (looking up) Phillip…
Ph: (startled) Yeah, Dad?
Vic: Would you mind… moving closer to Belle? It looks like you're crowding Chloe.
Brady smiled to himself.
Ph: (embarrassed) Um… sure, Dad. (quietly) I'm sorry, Chloe.
Phillip moved his chair away from Chloe.
Ph: But I do have a question for you, Chloe. What did Brady mean by 'to your health'?
Chloe grew more uneasy.
Be: Phillip…
Vic: Phillip, it's just a general toast. Nothing you should worry about (looking at Brady) right, Brady?
Br: (uneasy) Yeah. Please, Grandpa, let's change the subject.
Vic: Okay. You and I have a lot of catching up to do. (patting his shoulder) I haven't seen you in a while.
Br: (glancing at Phillip, who's glancing at Chloe) I'm sorry about that.
Vic: Don't be. You have your own life, but I assume it was because of work.
Br: (looking at Chloe) Actually… no. (looking at him) I'll tell you about it later.
Vic: Okay. (staring at him) I don't know if it's because I haven't seen you for a while, but you look thinner. Are you alright?
Br: I will be.
Vic: Maybe it's just a bug going around… at any rate, whatever it was, it didn't affect your voice.
Be: (trying to be chirpy) He and Chloe sounded great, didn't they?
Ph: (looking at Chloe) Chloe always sound great.
There was an uncomfortable silence.
Br: (shifting the focus) But Dr. Wesley wasn't a slouch, either. Great Riff-Raff, Dr. Wesley.
Cr: Thank you, Brady.
Br: In fact, I will go so far as to say that you made our performance.
Ph: Well, that's just a matter of opinion.
Br: That's true, Uncle Phil, but I'm not alone in thinking that, am I, Chloe?
Chloe slowly turned around and looked at him.
Ch: (quietly) No… you're not alone, Brady. (looking at Craig) You were great, Craig. (turning around, smiling at Brady) and so were you.
Nancy touched her hand and smiled reassuringly.
Br: (with a crooked smile) Thank you, Div-… Chloe. And with that… let's kick this party into high gear.