"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss . . ."
The minister had no need to finish his sentence, because Philip was one step ahead of him. Bringing Chloe's entire body against his, he pulled her into a deep, titillating kiss. An inner peace settled over him as he realized that the woman he was kissing was, in fact, his wife.
Her mind fighting against the passion and love of her heart, Chloe felt a newfound feeling of anxiety course through her entire body. Up until the moment her lips met Philip's, she'd been living in almost dreamlike state. And, she had just woke up.
The smile that easily graced Philip's face disappeared when he slowly pulled away from the kiss to only realize that Chloe was wearing a deep frown that far from distracted him from the tears brewing in her eyes. He knew all too well the look lurking in those beautiful eyes. It was sheer panic.
Before Philip could find any words to reassure her, Chloe pulled completely away from him and darted down the aisle of the small chapel. Lifting the soft pink material of her dress in her hands, Chloe ran through the front of the building and out the doors. From behind her, she could hear Philip calling her name, his alarmed voice full of concern.
Refusing to listen to her heart, which was what Chloe blamed for getting her into the situation at hand, she turned to her right and ran through an open iron gate. Brushing past the beautiful flowers of early summer, she made her way down a narrow path. Overcome by her sudden fears, Chloe paid no attention to where she ran, she only knew that she must find a place away from the world she had just created for herself. When she thought that she could run no further, Chloe came upon a stone bench in a small clearing surrounded by the most lovely and fragrant flowers her senses had ever known.
Taking a seat on the inviting bench, Chloe captured a few deep breaths that she hoped would steady her rapid heartbeat. Keeping her face directed to the soft grass beneath her feet, Chloe attempted to take hold of her erratic emotions.
Chloe was granted only a moment of solitude before Philip's figure suddenly loomed over her. Her apology caught in her throat when she looked up and met his stare. There was no anger, no disappointment, nothing of the kind. Search as she may, all Chloe could find was love.
Kneeling before her, mindful to not dirty his slightly wrinkled tux, Philip placed a hand on her leg and asked, "Chloe, are you alright?"
"I don't know."
"What can I do to make it better?" Philip asked as he held her gaze. No matter what was troubling her, he knew that he would find some way to fix it. From this day on, he would allow nothing to hurt her like she had been hurt in the past.
Her tears spilling forth, Chloe whispered, "Never stop loving me."
Philip moved to sit beside Chloe on the bench and drew her to him, cradling her in his protective arms. He winced as he felt her stiffen in his arms before slowly relaxing. Though marrying Chloe had always been his dream, Philip was beginning to fear that he may have pushed her too hard, too fast. And, now, he'd hurt her yet again.
"Chloe, you know I love and that I always will. Nothing is going to change that. Please, tell me why you ran away from me."
Her voice hardly above a whisper, Chloe admitted, "I was scared. I'm still scared. We've made this huge decision without giving it any real thought. I'm just afraid that we rushed into this and that you're going to regret it once you have a chance to catch your breath. Or, even worse, you'll abandon me."
"God, Chloe, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything that I've done to you in the past. Let's face it, I've given you more than enough reasons to doubt my love and commitment. There were the childish names I called you in high school. Then, believing that you would actually post nude pictures of yourself on the Internet. Plus, I was always acting so jealous and possessive. Please, believe me when I say that I'm not the same person I was when we were kids in high school. I've done a lot of growing up, Chloe."
Shaking her head as the tears continued their descent, Chloe replied, "No, Philip, you don't understand. I've never doubted that you loved me and I understand how much you and I have both matured since our days at Salem High. That's not the problem."
"Then what is?"
"Me."
"You? Chloe, how could you possibly be the problem?"
Using the palm of her hand to wipe away the tears, Chloe answered, "The last time you and I were together, I was so afraid that I would lose you, or that you would stop loving me. It was that fear that drove me to Brady. He and I had so much in common. We agreed on everything-"
"Except the color of the towels."
Chloe couldn't stop herself from smiling at Philip's touching attempt to lighten the dark mood she had cast over them both. Her smile dropping just slightly, Chloe continued, "Right. We agreed on everything but the color of towels. But, I think you're missing what I'm trying to say here, Philip. Brady and I were two equals in everything. We shared the same interests and hobbies. We were both able to appreciate the finer points of classical music and the downfalls of certain historical plays. I felt so completely secure with Brady because I knew that he and I were so alike."
Philip unconsciously grimaced as he listened to Chloe speak about his nephew. Brady had been a thorn in his side since the first day he arrived back in Salem. Even before Brady and Chloe were aware of their strange attraction, Philip had seen it. And, he had been wise enough to fear it.
However, the moment he and Chloe were married, he'd felt that the fears of the past were no longer of importance. He and Chloe were together. That was all that was suppose to matter.
Philip gathered all the courage he possessed to ask a question that might have an answer that could break his heart all over again. "Are you still in love with him?"
Chloe's instant laughter shocked Philip. As beautiful as it sounded at that moment, he could find no reason for its arrival. He had asked a simple question, and Chloe had apparently thought it hysterically funny.
"Me and Brady? No . . . no . . .no a million times over. I'm not even sure Brady and I believed we were in love when we were actually together." Her laughter passing, Chloe gave Philip a weak smile and explained just what she was so desperately wanting him to understand. "That's the whole point. Brady and I were the best of friends . . . we still are. But, that's all we are or ever will be. He and I learned that lesson very quickly. You see, the reason I stayed with Brady so long was that he and I didn't share a soul, we shared a life full of similar interests. That was safe."
Philip could only nod as he listened to Chloe struggle to find the words to express all the things that she was feeling and thinking. Philip found himself listening even more intently to her words once he was reassured that her heart didn't belong to Brady.
"But, Philip, what you and I share is anything but safe. We do share a soul. But, I also know that we come from different worlds and that you love football while I adore opera. I'm so frightened, Philip. Because, I know that I love you . . . that I am, and always will be, in love with you. Even more scary is the fact that you're honestly the only man I've ever been in love with. I've always loved you, and now that we have forever waiting for us, I'm wondering if you won't reconsider. If you won't find someone else."
Cupping Chloe's tear-stained face in his hands, Philip brushed his lips against hers. In a tender whisper, he said, "You're looking at this all wrong. You make it sound like we're the same ends of two different magnets, causing us to somehow repel each other. That's not who we are, Chloe. When you were little, did you ever play on a seesaw?"
"Um, I suppose. Why?"
"Because, Beautiful, that's what our life together is always going to be . . . a seesaw. We balance each other. And, without the other there, we are nothing. Just some poor idiot stuck sitting on the ground. Chloe, you have to face it. We are simply meant to be, and even you can't fight against fate."
"I believe you," whispered Chloe as Philip enveloped her in his arms.
After a few silent moments wrapped in each other's arms, Philip and Chloe separated. Lovingly wiping away the last of Chloe's tears with the thumb of his left hand, Philip caught a glimpse of his watch. Before Chloe knew what was happening, Philip jumped to his feet and grabbed her hands, forcing her to also rise.
Stealing another uneasy glance at his watch, Philip anxiously stated, "We have to go."
"Philip, what's wrong?"
"Take a quick peek at your watch."
Doing as she was instructed, Chloe gasped as she saw just where the hands of her watch were located. Glancing at Philip with near desperation, she exclaimed, "Our plane leaves in fifteen minutes!"
Taking off in a sprint, dragging Chloe behind him, Philip replied, "I know. That's why we have to get to the airport - now!"
As he ran through the iron gate leaving the garden, Philip was relieved to see that a taxi has just pulled up to the chapel and another young couple was exiting. Sweet smiles shined brightly on their faces as they stared at the quaint chapel in nearly the same way Philip and Chloe had.
Before the taxi could drive away, Philip opened the back door and jumped in the backseat. Chloe, whose hand Philip still grasped tightly, nearly fell atop him as she, too, came tumbling into the taxi.
"We need to get to the airport - as fast as humanly possible," instructed Philip as he tried to catch his breath.
"Philip," Chloe nearly squealed as the taxi quickly left the chapel. "Our bags . . . they're still inside with our other clothes in them."
Taking Chloe's hands in both of his own, Philip commented, "We'll send for them. Right now, we have to get to the airport. We don't have any time to waste. I'm just glad that we decided to get married in the clothes we had for Belle and Shawn's wedding. You really had a great idea thinking that we should change into nicer, more romantic attire while we were waiting for the chapel to be free. Otherwise, we'd be showing up at Belle's precious wedding in our street clothes, and I know that she would kill us both for that."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hand in hand, Philip and Chloe dashed through the crowded Las Vegas airport. They ignored the slightly tacky souvenirs, and squalling babies, and everything else that might distract them from their single goal. Catching the plane to Salem.
.
Harshly throwing his exhausted body against the counter, Philip drew in a few deep breaths before pleading, "Please, oh, please tell me that the flight to Salem was delayed and that we haven't missed it."
The employee took a brief moment to visually inspect the young man leaning tiredly on the counter. From the pink vest of his tuxedo matching his companion's dress to his untidy hair, the woman noticed each and every detail. Most important, she noticed the way he gripped his companion's hand and entwined his fingers with hers and the way he had politely asked about the flight no matter how rushed he was.
"I'm sorry, but the flight has already taken off."
Collapsing against Philip's supportive shoulder, Chloe murmured, "Not again. This can't be happening again."
The minister had no need to finish his sentence, because Philip was one step ahead of him. Bringing Chloe's entire body against his, he pulled her into a deep, titillating kiss. An inner peace settled over him as he realized that the woman he was kissing was, in fact, his wife.
Her mind fighting against the passion and love of her heart, Chloe felt a newfound feeling of anxiety course through her entire body. Up until the moment her lips met Philip's, she'd been living in almost dreamlike state. And, she had just woke up.
The smile that easily graced Philip's face disappeared when he slowly pulled away from the kiss to only realize that Chloe was wearing a deep frown that far from distracted him from the tears brewing in her eyes. He knew all too well the look lurking in those beautiful eyes. It was sheer panic.
Before Philip could find any words to reassure her, Chloe pulled completely away from him and darted down the aisle of the small chapel. Lifting the soft pink material of her dress in her hands, Chloe ran through the front of the building and out the doors. From behind her, she could hear Philip calling her name, his alarmed voice full of concern.
Refusing to listen to her heart, which was what Chloe blamed for getting her into the situation at hand, she turned to her right and ran through an open iron gate. Brushing past the beautiful flowers of early summer, she made her way down a narrow path. Overcome by her sudden fears, Chloe paid no attention to where she ran, she only knew that she must find a place away from the world she had just created for herself. When she thought that she could run no further, Chloe came upon a stone bench in a small clearing surrounded by the most lovely and fragrant flowers her senses had ever known.
Taking a seat on the inviting bench, Chloe captured a few deep breaths that she hoped would steady her rapid heartbeat. Keeping her face directed to the soft grass beneath her feet, Chloe attempted to take hold of her erratic emotions.
Chloe was granted only a moment of solitude before Philip's figure suddenly loomed over her. Her apology caught in her throat when she looked up and met his stare. There was no anger, no disappointment, nothing of the kind. Search as she may, all Chloe could find was love.
Kneeling before her, mindful to not dirty his slightly wrinkled tux, Philip placed a hand on her leg and asked, "Chloe, are you alright?"
"I don't know."
"What can I do to make it better?" Philip asked as he held her gaze. No matter what was troubling her, he knew that he would find some way to fix it. From this day on, he would allow nothing to hurt her like she had been hurt in the past.
Her tears spilling forth, Chloe whispered, "Never stop loving me."
Philip moved to sit beside Chloe on the bench and drew her to him, cradling her in his protective arms. He winced as he felt her stiffen in his arms before slowly relaxing. Though marrying Chloe had always been his dream, Philip was beginning to fear that he may have pushed her too hard, too fast. And, now, he'd hurt her yet again.
"Chloe, you know I love and that I always will. Nothing is going to change that. Please, tell me why you ran away from me."
Her voice hardly above a whisper, Chloe admitted, "I was scared. I'm still scared. We've made this huge decision without giving it any real thought. I'm just afraid that we rushed into this and that you're going to regret it once you have a chance to catch your breath. Or, even worse, you'll abandon me."
"God, Chloe, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything that I've done to you in the past. Let's face it, I've given you more than enough reasons to doubt my love and commitment. There were the childish names I called you in high school. Then, believing that you would actually post nude pictures of yourself on the Internet. Plus, I was always acting so jealous and possessive. Please, believe me when I say that I'm not the same person I was when we were kids in high school. I've done a lot of growing up, Chloe."
Shaking her head as the tears continued their descent, Chloe replied, "No, Philip, you don't understand. I've never doubted that you loved me and I understand how much you and I have both matured since our days at Salem High. That's not the problem."
"Then what is?"
"Me."
"You? Chloe, how could you possibly be the problem?"
Using the palm of her hand to wipe away the tears, Chloe answered, "The last time you and I were together, I was so afraid that I would lose you, or that you would stop loving me. It was that fear that drove me to Brady. He and I had so much in common. We agreed on everything-"
"Except the color of the towels."
Chloe couldn't stop herself from smiling at Philip's touching attempt to lighten the dark mood she had cast over them both. Her smile dropping just slightly, Chloe continued, "Right. We agreed on everything but the color of towels. But, I think you're missing what I'm trying to say here, Philip. Brady and I were two equals in everything. We shared the same interests and hobbies. We were both able to appreciate the finer points of classical music and the downfalls of certain historical plays. I felt so completely secure with Brady because I knew that he and I were so alike."
Philip unconsciously grimaced as he listened to Chloe speak about his nephew. Brady had been a thorn in his side since the first day he arrived back in Salem. Even before Brady and Chloe were aware of their strange attraction, Philip had seen it. And, he had been wise enough to fear it.
However, the moment he and Chloe were married, he'd felt that the fears of the past were no longer of importance. He and Chloe were together. That was all that was suppose to matter.
Philip gathered all the courage he possessed to ask a question that might have an answer that could break his heart all over again. "Are you still in love with him?"
Chloe's instant laughter shocked Philip. As beautiful as it sounded at that moment, he could find no reason for its arrival. He had asked a simple question, and Chloe had apparently thought it hysterically funny.
"Me and Brady? No . . . no . . .no a million times over. I'm not even sure Brady and I believed we were in love when we were actually together." Her laughter passing, Chloe gave Philip a weak smile and explained just what she was so desperately wanting him to understand. "That's the whole point. Brady and I were the best of friends . . . we still are. But, that's all we are or ever will be. He and I learned that lesson very quickly. You see, the reason I stayed with Brady so long was that he and I didn't share a soul, we shared a life full of similar interests. That was safe."
Philip could only nod as he listened to Chloe struggle to find the words to express all the things that she was feeling and thinking. Philip found himself listening even more intently to her words once he was reassured that her heart didn't belong to Brady.
"But, Philip, what you and I share is anything but safe. We do share a soul. But, I also know that we come from different worlds and that you love football while I adore opera. I'm so frightened, Philip. Because, I know that I love you . . . that I am, and always will be, in love with you. Even more scary is the fact that you're honestly the only man I've ever been in love with. I've always loved you, and now that we have forever waiting for us, I'm wondering if you won't reconsider. If you won't find someone else."
Cupping Chloe's tear-stained face in his hands, Philip brushed his lips against hers. In a tender whisper, he said, "You're looking at this all wrong. You make it sound like we're the same ends of two different magnets, causing us to somehow repel each other. That's not who we are, Chloe. When you were little, did you ever play on a seesaw?"
"Um, I suppose. Why?"
"Because, Beautiful, that's what our life together is always going to be . . . a seesaw. We balance each other. And, without the other there, we are nothing. Just some poor idiot stuck sitting on the ground. Chloe, you have to face it. We are simply meant to be, and even you can't fight against fate."
"I believe you," whispered Chloe as Philip enveloped her in his arms.
After a few silent moments wrapped in each other's arms, Philip and Chloe separated. Lovingly wiping away the last of Chloe's tears with the thumb of his left hand, Philip caught a glimpse of his watch. Before Chloe knew what was happening, Philip jumped to his feet and grabbed her hands, forcing her to also rise.
Stealing another uneasy glance at his watch, Philip anxiously stated, "We have to go."
"Philip, what's wrong?"
"Take a quick peek at your watch."
Doing as she was instructed, Chloe gasped as she saw just where the hands of her watch were located. Glancing at Philip with near desperation, she exclaimed, "Our plane leaves in fifteen minutes!"
Taking off in a sprint, dragging Chloe behind him, Philip replied, "I know. That's why we have to get to the airport - now!"
As he ran through the iron gate leaving the garden, Philip was relieved to see that a taxi has just pulled up to the chapel and another young couple was exiting. Sweet smiles shined brightly on their faces as they stared at the quaint chapel in nearly the same way Philip and Chloe had.
Before the taxi could drive away, Philip opened the back door and jumped in the backseat. Chloe, whose hand Philip still grasped tightly, nearly fell atop him as she, too, came tumbling into the taxi.
"We need to get to the airport - as fast as humanly possible," instructed Philip as he tried to catch his breath.
"Philip," Chloe nearly squealed as the taxi quickly left the chapel. "Our bags . . . they're still inside with our other clothes in them."
Taking Chloe's hands in both of his own, Philip commented, "We'll send for them. Right now, we have to get to the airport. We don't have any time to waste. I'm just glad that we decided to get married in the clothes we had for Belle and Shawn's wedding. You really had a great idea thinking that we should change into nicer, more romantic attire while we were waiting for the chapel to be free. Otherwise, we'd be showing up at Belle's precious wedding in our street clothes, and I know that she would kill us both for that."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hand in hand, Philip and Chloe dashed through the crowded Las Vegas airport. They ignored the slightly tacky souvenirs, and squalling babies, and everything else that might distract them from their single goal. Catching the plane to Salem.
.
Harshly throwing his exhausted body against the counter, Philip drew in a few deep breaths before pleading, "Please, oh, please tell me that the flight to Salem was delayed and that we haven't missed it."
The employee took a brief moment to visually inspect the young man leaning tiredly on the counter. From the pink vest of his tuxedo matching his companion's dress to his untidy hair, the woman noticed each and every detail. Most important, she noticed the way he gripped his companion's hand and entwined his fingers with hers and the way he had politely asked about the flight no matter how rushed he was.
"I'm sorry, but the flight has already taken off."
Collapsing against Philip's supportive shoulder, Chloe murmured, "Not again. This can't be happening again."