Author's Note: This story will be on hiatus until Bitter Vengeance is complete since it will only have ten chapters.
Chapter Thirty-One – A Fourth of July Celebration
It was a bright and sunny day in Salem, as everyone was getting ready for the Fourth of July party at the Kiriakis Manor. It was a way for everyone to come together and celebrate a town full of relatives who rarely if ever got together. Sometimes because of work, and sometimes because of just plain forgetfulness, but what ever the reason nothing was going to keep them from the celebration this year.
Chloe was in the backyard still in her jeans and t-shirt from earlier during the day surveying the vast yard. Ensuring everything was ready for the first party she and Philip were going to host in two years. Everything had to be perfect.
"Henderson everything looks ready back here. The nets have been set up for volleyball, right?" She asked sweeping her hair off her shoulders.
"Of course it has Chloe you should stop worrying about everything. I'm sure Henderson has set it up. There is absolutely nothing for you to fret over." Nancy said as she assured her daughter for like the 1000th time that everything was ready. "You would think this was the first time that a party has ever been thrown the way you're worrying over it."
"I know Mom, but I want everything perfect for Jarod's first gathering of all the family. And besides that with his grandmother and Casey coming I'd like for them to be able to enjoy themselves as well." Chloe said not noticing her mother's grimace when she referred to Emilia as Jarod's grandmother. "I'll just check over things once–––,"
"Chloe, I'll do that for you. You just go get changed into your clothes because they (they being Philip, the children and Mrs.Amodeo with Casey) will be here any moment." Nancy said hoping to shoo her daughter away.
"Okay, I'll go get changed then. Thanks, Mom." Chloe leaned over and kissed her mother's cheek before going back into the house to get dressed. Nancy remained, standing there with Henderson as she watched her daughter leave.
"You know sometimes Henderson it almost seems like she's still sixteen." Nancy sighed shaking her head as her thirty-four year old daughter walked out of the distance before going to do one last check over things for Chloe.
*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*
A couple hours later the party was in full swing as everyone was enjoying themselves. The children were all off playing in the pool, playing volleyball, and various other sports in the backyard. JT and Issac amused themselves by flirting endlessly with Casey; both boys were trying to woo the beauty because she was special to each of them – she wasn't related to anyone in Salem. Nancy and Emilia were getting to know each other after a rather tense introduction sipping cold iced tea and watching the children in the pool. Craig had been held up at the hospital in a board meeting, as was Marlena. Hope was conversing with her cousin Jen and Gram. Bo and Roman were talking cop shop. And Kate, John, and Victor seemed to be involved in a discussion on business matters. Everyone was having a good time.
"Chloe did I tell you how much I adore your outfit." Belle said from her seat under the shadowed table. "Where did you get it? Cause I don't remember seeing it before." Chloe was dressed in a floral print halter-top and a matching green skirt.
"I brought it from this little boutique when we were in Virginia. I just saw it and had to buy it."
"That's right she bought that on one of the many shopping trips I was forced to endure. She made sure I had a bag out of practically every store we visited every time we went out." Philip added from his chaise lounger in back of Chloe, she was sitting in front of him.
"Yeah well you know Belle's the same way. It seems like every time we go out of state there's a new store that she just has to go to. I'm sure Mimi's the same way, right Brady?" Shawn questioned from his spot holding a sleeping Ian had tiredly fallen asleep shortly after they arrived at his first Independence Day party.
Brady was only half listening to the conversation around him. His mind was more focused on his recent problem with his son and brother. One of them had seen Jason kiss Mimi and completely misinterpreted it. It was only when Mimi tapped with a slight look of worry that he returned to the conversation. "Oh, um yeah, sorry, Meems is just like that. I'm going to go get a soda, I'll be right back." He said before getting up and heading to the bar Philip and Chloe had set up with all kinds of drinks.
"Okay what's up with him?" Belle asked as she looked over at Mimi curiously. Mimi watched him go slightly confused.
"I have no idea. He's been acting a little odd lately; you'll have to excuse him. But, he'll snap out of it sooner or later." Shrugging she moved her sunglasses from her hair to cover her eyes. "Either that or I'll be forced to knock some sense into him." She received bemused looks from both Belle and Chloe.
*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*
Brady walked over to his brother standing in the pool next to Casey who was sitting on the edge along with Isaac in an aquamarine blue bikini. He leaned down next to them.
"Can I borrow my bother for a second?"
"Sure, Brady. Go JT, I'll keep Casey company." Isaac replied happy to get the chance to be alone with 16-year-old beauty.
"Thanks," Brady answered with a laugh at Isaac's eagerness to be rid of his relative. He helped JT out of the pool and walked off to a fairly shaded area in the backyard.
"So what did you want to talk to me about oh brother of mine that was so important and couldn't wait until tomorrow? I mean didn't you see I was trying to get to know Casey."
"No, it couldn't wait until tomorrow," Brady said pausing as his youngest son along with Jessica came up to him.
"Hey Dad could you show Jessie that cool airplane trick you taught me?" Spencer exuberantly requested.
"Yeah Bre why don't you so Spence here the little trick and I'll go back to chatting with Casey." JT said slyly as he attempted to bypass Brady and head back where he came from, only to have Brady stop him by grasping his shoulder and holding him in place.
"Not so fast JT," he looked down at his son and niece. "I'll show the trick in a minute Spence but first I need to talk to your Uncle JT. But, don't wait on me because I also happen to know that Philip knows a really neat airplane trick too. And if you ask him I'm sure he'll be happy to show you it." Brady replied clearly pawning the children off on Philip.
"Okay Dad we'll go ask Uncle Philip," Spencer said before he and Jessica took off calling for Philip.
"Oh that was smooth Brady. Well now that the munchkins are gone why don't you tell me what you want so I can go back to Casey."
"I have it on good authority that you saw something between my wife and another man and totally misinterpreted it. And then you preceded to tell Conrad about it and now he's angry with Mimi."
"Whoa, whoa, Brady, you're barking up the wrong tree here. I never saw anything it was the other way around. Conrad saw the kiss and told me, not the other way around." JT corrected his brother not wanting to become involved in anymore-family dramas with affairs ever again.
"So Conrad saw Mimi?" Brady asked double-checking.
"Yup, that's about the size of it. I told him that he probably saw some kind of misunderstanding, which is totally plausible. But, you know how Con-man jumps to conclusions and well everything was blown out of proportion. Look can I go back before Isaac steals Casey away from me?" Brady nodded and JT went running back to the pool. Brady sighed as he searched the vast backyard for his son, spotting him playing some game with Dominic and Jarod he decided that that confrontation was best left to another time.
*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*
Nancy and Emilia were chatting by the pool when after talking about numerous topics they had nothing left to discuss. So a brief period of silence went over them.
Emilia gazed around the backyard noting all of the people there. It seemed like practically the whole town of Salem was there. There were just so many people, she'd never imagined when she returned Jarod that he would have all these people there for him and she said as much to Nancy.
"Oh family is something Jarod has no shortage of here. Not only with my daughter and son-in-law but with you too." Nancy added.
Emilia nodded as her gaze landed on Chloe and Philip talking to each other on a lounge chair. Philip was sitting with his back to the chair and Chloe sat in front of him. His arms were around her over her slightly rounded stomach. Chloe was only four months pregnant and barely showing at all. But, the look on her face, her motherly glow gave it all away. As Chloe looked up at him, her eyes shining with love and laughter, Emilia felt like she was intruding on a private moment. It was obvious from the way they looked at each other that they were truly in love. "They love each other a lot don't they?" She asked nodding toward the couple.
"Yes, they do, every since high school. You know it's kind of scary to even say that. But, my daughter found her first and only true love in high school when she was sixteen."
"I know exactly what you mean. My first husband and I were high school sweethearts, so were my son and daughter-in-law. And even when it's happened to you it always so hard to believe that you're child could find the person that belong with at such a young age." Emilia said looking back a Nancy. She smiled. "Have they always been like that?"
Nancy returned her smile. "As far as I can remember they have. I can't tell you how much I didn't want to like him when Chloe first started to date him. Even though, I could see he wore his heart on his sleeve with his feelings for her, I couldn't help but feel apprehensive around him because I knew I just knew that one day he would take my baby girl away." Emilia nodded understanding completely. "I honestly don't think that feeling went away until after they got married and had the twins. He was so caring and protective to both his children and Chloe. When he's with the children or with Chloe there's a different side of him that comes out … a softer side like they are the only ones in the world. I just can't explain it." Nancy finished as tried to search for the words, Kate walked over to them.
"Hello Nancy," Kate said with barely a glance toward Nancy before turning to Emilia. "I don't believe we've met yet, I'm Kate Roberts." She held out her hand for Emilia to shake.
"This is Jarod's grandmother Emilia Amodeo, Kate. Emilia, this is Kate, Philip's mother." Nancy said introducing the two women as they shook hands. Kate sat down at the table next to her.
"I'm pleased to meet you Ms. Roberts."
"No, please call me Kate. And the pleasure is all mine. I can't tell you how happy I am to meet the woman who brought Jarod home to us."
Emilia shied away from the gracious comment. "Oh please, don't thank me. I only did what I had to do. Anyone would have done it."
"No Emilia not everyone would give up a child to his rightful parents. Some people would have just kept Jarod and never even tried to look for his natural parents. But, you did and I honestly can't think of how life would be without my grandson here. And I know for a fact that Chloe and Philip feel the same way."
"I agree with Nancy, Emilia. Why, I know the twins and Jessica just adore their older brother. They wouldn't be able to scheme so well without him."
"Scheme? Jarod doesn't scheme, he's too shy to do that." Emilia said Nancy and Kate looked at her incredulously.
"Oh he most certainly does. The second he and Conrad get together a scheme is definitely in the making. For example, he and the children are grounded now for the last scheme they pulled." Nancy started as she and Kate delighted Emilia with misadventurous tales of Jarod and his siblings and Conrad.
~*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*~
The sun had long died down and the light began to disappear from the sky. But, the party around the Manor was still going strong. Everyone was relaxing and having a good time. Although, not in the pool. Philip had been talking to Victor and John when he noticed that Chloe had left her seat by Belle and went into the house. Sensing that something was wrong he decided to go check on her in the room.
"Excuse me Dad, John, I need to go check on something." He didn't wait for Victor and John to reply before he left. After he walked inside the house and went through a few rooms, he didn't see her. Then he walked into the living room to see her staring at the baby pictures of their children. "Chloe baby, what's wrong?"
"She would have been sixteen months old today, Philip." She turned to him then with tears glistening in her eyes. "I still remember what it felt like to hold her after she-she died. I remember what she looked with her soft brown hair and bl-blue eyes." She stopped talking this time over come with emotion. "She never got a chance to live Philip to grow," Chloe said as Philip pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair while she sobbed remembering the child they had lost two years before, Katherine Nancy Kiriakis named after her two grandmothers,
"Chloe it's okay, I understand honey just let it out, let it out." Philip said as held his wife in his arms until her crying had subsided a little. He led her to the couch and sat her down. "Are you okay?" I'm worried about you." He told her as he took a napkin from his jean pocket and handed it to her. She wiped her eyes and sat staring down at the napkin.
"I want to tell you that I'm fine Philip but I'm not." She paused before continuing. "I was sitting there with Belle watch her feed Ian and I started thinking about how I can't wait for this baby to be born, how much I want him or her." She smiled whimsically. "I remembered then, Philip. Today was the day our daughter, Katherine Nancy would have been 16 months old. How could I forget her Philip? I'm her mother I carried her for nine months and because she died I just forgot about her. We don't even mention her when we talk about our children. It's as if she never existed. I think about her everyday but today I didn't." She paused trying unsuccessfully not to cry. "No one talks about her, no one thinks about her, to them she doesn't matter because she died and that's not right. She did matter to me and even if no one thinks about her I do."
"I think about her Momma," Both Philip and Chloe turned to see Ariana standing at the doorway. She walked into the room coming to sit in the chair adjacent from her parents.
"You do?"
"Do what?" Jessica asked coming into the room with Jarod and Dominic close on her heels. Philip pulled her into his lap.
"Think about Katherine. Momma thought no one remembered her." Ariana answered.
"You mean the baby, Momma was pregnant wit' when I came?" Jessica asked to which Ariana nodded. "I 'member her. She kicked me when she was in your tummy." Chloe smiled wearily, having her tensions soothed by her children.
"I remember little Katie too. She had pretty blues eyes like yours Mom and grandma's hair color – you know that reddish brown shade. But, I thought we couldn't talk about her because it made you sad." Dominic added.
"At first it did, Dominic. But, I didn't want you to forget about her by ignoring that she existed. She was here and she lived for however, brief that time was she lived and was apart of this family. She deserves to be remembered because of that."
"Your mother is right, we should talk about Katherine more. I think about her everyday, what she would have looked like, how she would act, whose personality she would have." Philip looked over at Chloe and grasped her hand. "It's okay to talk about her to either of us, we want her to be remembered and when this new baby gets here she won't be taking the place of Katherine. He or she will be another Kiriakis child to love."
Jarod stood off to the side, he honestly agreed with what his father was saying but felt slightly out of place because he had no memories of the younger sister he'd lost. "But, I don't have any memories of Katherine." Chloe padded the seat next to her beckoning him to sit beside her.
"Then we'll tell you about her … your sister Katherine." Chloe said as Jarod sat down and was told about the sibling he never knew.
~*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*~
Shawn and Belle were sitting together under on of the umbrella-covered tables, Shawn held an awake Ian in his arms. "So where did Chloe and Philip sneak off to?" He asked.
"I don't know. They probably left to have some alone time in the house. I doubt they ever get much of that."
"Yeah like they don't get enough alone time as it is." He snorted. "I mean since Chloe is pregnant I thinking that have way too much alone time. They have enough alone time for everyone here. Right Ian? They spend too much time together." Shawn said holding his son up in his lap as he tickled his stomach.
"You would say that," Belle added with a soft unladylike snort of her own as her younger brother and daughter walked over to them. JT held Iris and Serena lagged behind bringing up the rear.
"Hey peeps. I realize you're an old boring couple but aren't you going to come watch the fireworks with us young folk." JT said as he brought Iris up and tickled her stomach, sending the child into a fit of giggles. "Considering that your eyesight is getting worse by the minute I think it would behoove you come closer so you can see better."
"First, I'm not old, Shawn is old but I'm young," Belle corrected. "And secondly, we were coming because I know Ian doesn't want to miss his first Fourth of July party does he?" Belle asked as she picked up her baby son from Shawn's lap and cooed him. Looking over at Serena, who was desperately trying not to laugh she moved her gaze to JT looking so cool and calm. Something was going on. "Okay so what happened?" She asked with her perfect imitation Black arch.
"JT got––," Serena started but was stopped as JT's free hand covered her mouth.
"Nothing, nothing happened." Serena pulled his hand away and announced JT's issue.
"JT got dumped by Casey," she announced finally running to her father as JT tried to swat her. "He got shot down for Isaac." She said in a singsong voice as she darted behind her father as stood up.
JT rolled his eyes. "It's not that funny, Rena."
"Oh yes it is," Serena said before collapsing into giggles which also sent little Iris into a set of her own giggles.
"So now you're turning on me too, munchkin? Here Shawn take your little traitor." JT said as he handed the giggling toddler to her father and started walking to the fireworks viewing site.
"Well you know JT I could give you a few pointers if you like––," Shawn started.
"Now, this I would have to see." Belle replied walking alongside her husband and half-brother.
"Shawn, if I wanted advice on how to get a girl I'd ask someone else. Don't take this the wrong way but waiting two years to ask a girl out just isn't my style." JT responding sending both Belle and himself into laughter.
"Ha, ha JT that's real funny." Shawn said as they arrived at the viewing site.
~*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*~
Brady was talking to John about what JT had told him. "So did JT tell you?" John was asking.
"Yeah, I talked to him and he told me that he never saw Mimi with that ass Jason."
"John, Brady I hope you two aren't talking about business again. It's a party." Marlena said as she, Mimi and Spencer walked over to them. "You'll miss the fireworks."
"Yeah, Dad, you and Grandpa don't want to miss the fireworks." Spencer added.
Mimi noticed the sudden change in both John and Brady's demeanor. She knew they had been talking about something but it sure wasn't business. "Did we interrupt anything?"
John and Brady looked at each other before Brady replied smoothly, "Nope of course not. We were just taking about business like Marlena said."
"Are you sure it sounded pretty intense." Mimi added suspiciously for some reason she got the feeling Brady wasn't telling her everything.
"No we were just talking about a meeting Dad went to." Mimi looked unconvinced.
"Hey Spencer, why don't you come with me and Grandpa to the viewing area. So we can get a good spot." Marlena asking sensing that Brady and Mimi needed to talk without the impressionable ears of their son around.
"Okay Grandma," Spence said taking her hand and heading off to the viewing grounds with John and Marlena beside him. But, not before John could pass a look at Brady. Mimi crossed her arms and waited for Brady to say something.
"So what was with the look, what exactly were you John really talking about?"
"What look?"
"Oh don't play stupid with me, you know what look. So cut the bull and tell me what it was for." Mimi replied not giving an inch or taking his stupitified look for real.
He sighed. "If you must know he was just asking me about Belle. He wanted to know how she was doing." He answered thinking fast, knowing that would appease her.
"Why wouldn't he say anything in front o f Marlena?"
"You know how Marlena gets and he doesn't want her to think that there is something wrong when there isn't."
"Oh well, that explains it I guess. I knew you would tell me anyway. You don't keep secrets from me." They started walking to the viewing area. "Not that you could anyway."
Brady frowned. "What's that supposed to mean? I can keep secrets from you."
"No you can't."
"Yes, I can."
"No you can't"
"Yes–– why are we arguing about his?" Brady questioned.
"I have no idea ––– you can't"
"I can––," He said before Mimi stopped and placed her hand over his mouth.
"How about we agree to disagree and leave it at that?"
"Fine,"
"Fine," Mimi agreed then smiling mischievously as the fireworks started she said, "No you can't." And so the playful bickering between the husband and wife continued as they, along with their families celebrated their Independence Day.
Please tell me what you think.