Author's Note: Next chapter will be out after the prologue and first chapter of Sweet Revenge is posted next week.
Chapter Thirty-Eight – A Mother's Perspective
It was a typical day in Salem with autumn fast approaching on this October afternoon. As the leaves began to change colors, households in Salem became a buzz with new goings on around town.
The Kiriakis household was a buzz with dealing with Chloe's fair weather mood swings and Jarod's seemingly standoffish behavior with everyone except for Conrad. The Blacks and the Brady's were trying to figure what to do with JT. Almost a month had passed since he asked to move out of the home with the Brady's and still no decision had been reached as to where to send him. Truth be told JT had improved his behavior simply on the promise of being able to move out. But, at this point it wasn't enough for either Bo or Hope. Although, they were all more concerned about whom JT could live with and still allow them to maintain their ties with him. There was so much going on within every family that the ladies had a lot to discuss at their monthly lunch. The ladies were all sitting around the table after the remnants of their lunch had been taken away.
"So Chloe have you signed up for your Lamaze class yet?" Belle asked,
"Ugh! Don't remind me. Philip and my mother have been hounding me about that class for weeks, practically everyday."
"That's because those classes fill up before you know it." Mimi added to which Belle nodded in agreement.
"I know and I am planning to sign up later so I don't see the problem. Let's talk about something else. Like how did your talk with Conrad go, Meems?" Chloe asked wanting to move off the topic of her and her pregnancy since that was all anyone wanted to talk about with her lately.
"What talk? She hasn't talked to him yet." Belle answered.
"What! Why not?"
Mimi shrugged. "I don't know, it just doesn't seem like the kind of conversation I can get into with my son. What am I supposed to say, 'Hi Sweetie, know that kiss you saw a couple months ago between me and Jason and how you thought it was prelude to an affair, it wasn't.'"
"You think that's bad, imagine having to attempt to explain things you did as a stupid kid to your children. And then trying to rationalize it so that it doesn't sound so bad, on top of having to deal with my overbearing, annoying and obsessively overprotective husband and mother. I'm telling you it's ridiculous. What's worse is that the second I go on maternity leave I'll be stuck at home twiddling my thumbs for hours on end until this baby is born." She ranted.
Belle and Mimi hid their smiles silently thinking how cute Chloe was at seven months pregnant. "Yes, well Chloe don't worry I'm sure the baby will be born right on time and then you'll be able to relax."
"That's not likely, I mean don't get me wrong I love being pregnant, it's everyone else that's getting on my nerves. Besides that complete strangers feel compelled with the need to come up and touch my stomach as if I'm some sort of Buddha for them to come and rub, my children are really becoming pests, Jarod, is the worst, he's been so moody lately that its really touch and go. I can't figure out what's up with him. I mean sometimes he's an absolute angel keeping the twins and Jessie from getting too rowdy other times, I swear he's a Philip clone in training – being overly protective around me … it's annoying."
"Maybe he's just trying to be helpful and fill his father's shoes when Philip's not at home."
Chloe shook her head, " I don't think that's it Meems. It's not like Philip's off on business or anything. Something has him upset but I don't know what it could be. How did we get back to talking about me again?" She asked no one in particular. "I'm tired of talking about me, let's talk about something else. What's new on the JT front, have your parents decided who they want JT to stay with?"
"Not yet. They've come to a head at who each on them want. They just can't agree. So far the only thing my parents and Shawn's have agreed on is that they want whoever takes JT in to be someone they can trust who won't let JT run amuck. They want JT to be cared for by someone who will keep him in line." Belle answered.
"Well at least JT's behavior has improved a little bit. There haven't been any calls from the school in the last couple of weeks, so that's one thing to be happy about." The waiter returned with the change from the check and left.
"I guess that is something to be happy about Mimi." Chloe replied as she gathered her purse from the table.
"True, so are you going home or going back to work Chloe?" Mimi asked as she and Belle helped Chloe to her feet to leave the restaurant.
"Well, I'm going back to work for an hour or so to update some of my patient's files. Since I only have a week left of work before I go on maternity leave I'm trying to get all my files in order for my replacements."
"I forgot that next week was your last week before you go on maternity leave." Belle commented as the three ladies headed out to the carport.
"That's because I changed it. Originally, I had planned to begin my maternity leave closer to my due date. But, Dr. Miller suggested that I stop working at an earlier time to avoid a build up of stress. So I decided to take the doctor's orders." Chloe said as she unlocked the door to her Blazer with the electronic lock and opened her door. "So I take it I'll see you guys at the girls soccer tonight?"
"Yeah, we'll be there with bells on, no pun intended." Mimi added climbing into her own car.
"None taken." Belle answered as she followed suit and climbed into her own car and took off.
Jarod entered the office of his guidance counselor, Ms. Mason and sat down in the chair opposite her desk. The counselor took a seat behind her desk.
"So Jarod I understand you're going to have a new addition to your family soon. I imagine you're very excited about that."
"I guess," he deadpanned, his face stoic without any nuance of expression. "I already have a younger brother and two younger sisters so one more won't make a difference either way."
"I guess that's true but it still must be very exciting for you since you didn't live with your parents when your other siblings were born—"
"I don't mean to be rude but what does this have to with school? Because I really don't see how my feelings about my siblings has anything to do with this. What happens in my family is none of your business so unless you want to talk about school, I'd like to return to my class." Jarod declaring having had enough of people he didn't know asking him all kinds of questions about his family like it was their business in the first place when it definitely wasn't.
Eva Mason was taken back by Jarod rude behavior. Every single person she had interviewed about the child had only nice things to say about him. Even his own parents had seemed caught off guard when she simply mentioned that he had almost gotten into a fight. This certainly wasn't the response she expected to get from the reported extremely well mannered student. Her shock wore off moments later as she returned to the business at hand. "I apologize for going off point so we'll just wrap this meeting up so you may go back to your class. The purpose of this meeting is for you to know from time to time I will be pulling you out of classes to discuss your adjustment to coming to this school. This would be a time for you to ask me any questions you have about school, problems, if any, you're having in school or with other students." She paused to see if Jarod gave away any indication that there was a problem, but naturally he didn't.
"What kind of problems?"
"Anything, the point is to make sure you know that we have a dialogue with one another, so that you know I am here to help you with any problems you may have. So unless you have any questions you'd like to ask or problems you want to discuss you can leave. Ms. Sky, the secretary at the front desk, will give you a pass to go back to class." She explained and smiled.
Even though, he did seem as if he wanted to ask a question, he didn't. "I don't have any questions."
"Okay then you can get your pass from Ms. Sky and return to class Jarod."
He nodded, rose from his seat and left the room. As soon as he passed through the door, Eva slouched back in her chair dropping her pleasant smile, exhaling. "Well, that certainly didn't go as planned."
*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*
A couple of days later at Titan Industries, Philip sat at his desk going over a report he would need for meeting the next week. He should have already gone home considering that it was getting late. But, he wanted to finish the report that night so his weekend would be free to spend with his children. Since lately he didn't seem to be able to even take time off work to attend Ana's soccer game. It seemed as if the closer they got to Chloe's due date the more he became barreled down at work. He'd always known that having a corporate life would be time consuming but he liked his job and if it took working later nights during the week or some weekends in order to balance his work life with his family then he would do whatever was necessary to maintain it. Sighing, he focused his attention back on the file on his desk jotting down some notes.
A knock sounded at the doorway. "Yes?" He asked not glancing up from the desk since he expected it to be his secretary just telling him that she was leaving for the day.
"Still burning the midnight oil I see." Kate Roberts said as she strolled into her son's office.
Philip stood up. "Mother, what are you doing here?" He walked around his desk to greet her.
"Can't a mother simply come and see her son without any motive other than wanting to see him?" His mother asked as she tilting her cheek up for him to kiss before she lowered herself into a chair.
"I suppose if there was something that you wanted from me." He replied moving to lean back against his desk.
"Well, if you're going to be rude," she stood.
"No wait," he held up a hand. "Don't leave, I'm sorry Mother, I didn't mean to snap at you like that." He sighed pushing his hand through his hair.
"I'm sure you didn't but I'd like to know what's got you so snappish." She paused inquisitively looking at him. "It's not work is it — your father isn't being his usual overbearing self is he?"
"No, I'm not overworked."
"Well then is it your wife?"
"No it's not Chloe."
"So that leaves us with the children. Now let's see its not Jessie because she's too sweet to ever cause you headaches (of course, she's only five so give her time). The twins usually aren't a problem unless they've been arguing with each other (and that's normal). That leaves us with your darling little clone, Jarod. So what has my darling grandson done that's got you in a tizzy."
"My clone?" He scoffed. "Jarod is hardly my clone, we look nothing alike. Well except for the hair of course and maybe the eyes. But, other than that we barely resemble one another."
"While, I do think he does have a certain look that reminds me of you at that age, I was actually referring to his temperament. The two of you have very similar temperaments when it comes to your family and those who are important to you."
"I doubt that. Besides, if we're so much alike why can't I figure what's going on with him?"
"Because, like you he chooses to keep everything inside until he can't anymore. Until whatever's bothering him reaches a boiling point and he has to let loose."
"But, I was never like that, whenever something got me really upset I lost control over my temper completely. I-I could never hold things in like that."
"Oh but you did Philip. You see you'd get upset but you'd only loose your temper after you had so many concerns or insecurities inside that your only outlet was your temper. And Jarod is exactly like that."
Philip frowned thinking about it, it still sounded a bit off to him. "I don't know with Jarod it isn't like that. Like now for instance, he's been really moody lately. As if he's upset about something but whenever he's approached about it he just brushes off my concerns seems like nothing is wrong."
"So Jarod's being moody, secretive … changing his outlook as swift as a faucet goes hot or cold. I hate to tell you this darling but Jarod sounds like a normal male Kiriakis child. Let me give you a reality check sweetheart, when you were his age you were the exact same way with the occasion bouts of rowdiness and excessive quietness."
"I think your exaggerating a bit Mother. Besides, my situation was completely different. For one, Dad was in a hospital most of my childhood and any attitude was probably due to the fact that he wasn't around."
"Oh please Philip, save the psycho babble for someone who wasn't actually around when you were younger. Your attitudinal issues had nothing to due with the absence of your father. Philip sweetie, I love you because you're my son so I say this realize its with a mother's love … you were an arrogant little snot."
"I think that's a little harsh, Mother."
"Well, its true, the cockiness was endearing, at least to me. But, going back to Jarod … I'd say he's just going through a phase. And if you are lucky it'll only last through puberty."
"Gee, thanks." Then thinking of Jarod's moods he realized that it could possibly be something else. "Do you really think it's just a phase?"
"I'm not his mother or his father so I don't know. But, he's your son Philip … the question is what you think the problem is?" Kate answered turning to leave; she was almost at the door when Philip called her back. "Yes?"
"Do you remember if I ever had any trouble being Victor Kiriakis' son? I mean was I teased about it?"
"When you were in elementary school I remember you telling me once that the kids teased you because Victor was in the hospital. But other than what happened in high school, if they did tease you didn't tell me. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," he replied as his mother nodded and then headed out of his office.
Philip walked back around his desk; looking at the clock he noticed that it was almost six o'clock. He should be heading home. As he started to close the files on his desk to place them in his briefcase, the phone rang. Seeing that it was his private line he answered. "Yes, this is Philip Kiriakis."
"Hey Daddy," Ariana replied.
"Hi sweetheart what's up?"
"Can Rocky and 'Rena spend the night?"
"I don't see why not. But why don't you ask your mother?" He added placing the last file in his briefcase before he closed it.
"I did but she told me to ask you because as soon as you get home she's putting you on Daddy duty."
"Oh she did, did she?" Philip asked smiling at Chloe's idea of taking a break from the children.
"Yup. So we'll see you when you get home Daddy. Bye."
"Alright, baby. Tell your mother I'll be home in about a half hour. Bye." He said and then hung up the phone. A couple minutes later, gathering his suit jacket and briefcase he headed out of the office.
Please tell me what you think.