Chapter 5C
"Chloe? Sweetheart….John and Marlena are here to pick us up." Nancy
stood on the second floor landing and waited for a response from Chloe whose
door was slightly ajar.
"Already?" Chloe asked as she poked her head out with a slightly
astonished look on her face.
"Well, it’s just about 6:30 and I need to get to the Penthouse Grille to
make sure everything is ready to go. The nerves that go with being the co-chair
for this evening are close to giving me a case of hives."
Chloe, dressed in her blue bathrobe, came out on the landing to give her mother
a reassuring hug.
"Nancy, with your organizational skills, it will all go smoothly. Nothing
would dare go wrong for fear of facing the wrath of Nancy Wesley."
A weak smile was the response from Nancy.
"Thanks, honey, for the vote of confidence but I still have a mind to take
the calamine lotion with me just in case I break out in the next hour. Good
thing I decided to wear pink so I’ll match should I have to smear myself with
the stuff."
"Honey, John and Marlena are waiting. Let’s go. We still have to pick up
Maureen and David before we get to the restaurant," Craig bellowed to his
wife from the first floor entryway.
"I’ll be right down. I’m just talking to Chloe for a second and I’ll
be right there."
"Okay, but don’t take too long."
"I swear…..Craig does this every time. All afternoon he’s been just
lounging around reading medical journals and telling me we didn’t have to
rush. Now, he acts as if we’re running behind schedule."
"It’s a big night for him, too, Nancy. The COS is the host for the whole
event."
"I know, I know. I’m just venting. Anyway, changing the subject, I
thought you’d be dressed."
"That’s the last thing I have to do. I’ve been doing my hair the past
half an hour. What do you think?" Chloe turned her back to Nancy to let her
see what she’d elected to do.
"I’ve never seen you wear it like that before but I like it and so will
Philip."
"You think so? You don’t think it’s too plain or ordinary considering
the dress?"
"Absolutely not. You know……"
"Nancy!!"
"What?!"
"Come on…it’s not like you aren’t going to see Chloe ever again. We’ll
all be at the Ball in about an hour."
"Just a second!! I was going to say…"
"…Nancy, you’d better go before Craig needs to use some of the funds
raised tonight for his own recovery from a major coronary."
"Oh, I guess so. I just wanted to tell you to have a wonderful time
tonight. I don’t think I’ll see you much with all the running around I’ll
be doing."
"I will, Nancy. Make sure you and Craig have a few dances together. It is,
after all, Valentine’s Day."
Hugging Chloe, Nancy said, "your hair looks beautiful…just like the rest
of you." Nancy smiled as she withdrew from Chloe’s embrace and saw a
reciprocated smile from her daughter.
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"Nancy has been ready for over an hour and now I can’t get her
downstairs."
"Oh, it’s all right, Craig. I always have to wait for Marlena."
"Excuse me, …..always?"
"Yes, always. It’s weird. I leave the bedroom to go downstairs thinking
Doc’s right behind me. She’s dressed, the hair is done and half an hour
later, I’m thinking of getting a cup of coffee and reading a book."
"Oh, my word, how you do love to exaggerate."
"Okay, okay……..I don’t have the coffee."
"Very funny, John. Usually, I’m hunting for just the right shoes, purse
and jewelry."
"Nancy goes through the same routine. It makes me happy I have just one
pair of dress shoes. It takes all the guess work…."
The front doorbell sounded interrupting Craig.
"I’ve got a pretty good idea who that is." Craig headed for the door
and nodded back to John and Marlena. He opened the door to see Philip smile and
extend his hand to Craig.
"Good evening, Dr. Wesley."
"Good evening, Philip. I thought it was probably you when I heard the
doorbell. Come in, come in."
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Black."
"Hello, Philip. My, don’t you look handsome!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Black."
"That’s a fact, Doc."
"Are Shawn and Belle with you?"
"Oh, no..no…Shawn had his own car tonight…well, actually, his mother’s
car. He came by to get Belle just before we left. I’m assuming they’ll be
getting to the Ball around seven thirty. They were talking when we left."
"Speaking of leaving……..NANCY!!!!!"
"Shhhhhhhhh……for heaven’s sake, Craig. You don’t have to
shout," Nancy scolded as she came down the stairs.
"Well, it’s about time. Philip just got here."
"Hello, Mrs. Wesley."
"Oh, Philip, you look like you’re going to a ball." Nancy kidded.
"Thanks. Is Chloe ready?"
"Well, almost. She hasn’t put on her dress yet. Let me go tell her you’re
here."
Nancy turned to retrace her steps back up the staircase when Craig intercepted
her.
"I’ll go. I don’t want you spending ten minutes doing another farewell
speech."
"Fine, be that way. Oh, I forgot. While you’re up there, please grab the
camera."
Craig bounded up the stairs and knocked on Chloe’s door.
"Yes?"
"Chloe, we’re leaving."
"I thought you already had."
"Well, no…..someone else arrived and we were talking."
"Do you mean Philip?"
"Yup. You about ready?"
"Almost, I’m just putting on my dress and shoes. Tell him I’ll be down
in about five minutes."
"Okay. Oh, Chloe, tell you what. We really do need to get to the Penthouse
Grille. We’ll get plenty of photos of you and Philip there. I did kind of want
to get one of you alone."
Chloe opened the door and stepped out from her room. Craig felt his heart melt
at the sight of his stepdaughter.
"I thought you weren’t ready."
"Well, I just said that because I kind of want to make a grand entrance for
Philip."
"Ahhhh, okay. Your plan’s safe with me. That is a beautiful dress, Chloe,
and an even more beautiful girl wearing it."
"Thanks, Craig. It really is okay?"
"Okay doesn’t quite cover it. Spectacular and heart stopping are closer
to describing you."
"Oh, Craig,…."
"I’m not exaggerating, Chloe. You’re beautiful and Philip’s going to
need a drool bib when he sees you. Now, why don’t you stand at the end of the
hall and let me get a couple of photos, okay?"
She nodded and posed as Craig took pictures.
"Terrific! I’d better get downstairs to Belle’s parents and Nancy. I’ve
been nagging her about leaving and now she’s going to wonder what happened. I
don’t want to give her any ammunition to retaliate with. I’ll wait and tell
her in the car so Philip doesn’t hear about your entrance. Have a wonderful
time tonight."
"Thanks, Craig. You, too."
"Are you going to try to see if Philip sent you both bouquets of
flowers?"
"I don’t think so. I’m fairly certain he sent both."
"Okay, see you at the Ball." Craig gave her a quick kiss on the cheek
and went to rejoin the others who waited in the foyer on the first floor.
"And what were you doing up there taking all that time?"
"I…uhhhh…..couldn’t find the extra role of film. I gave up looking
for it and took a different one from the drawer. Everyone’s ready so let’s
go. Philip, you and Chloe have fun and we’ll see you at the Ball."
"Thank you, we will."
Nancy gave Philip a quick hug after Craig had given him another handshake. John
clapped Philip on the shoulder while Marlena gave him that approving smile
mothers give to their children and friends that only they possess the ability to
give. The adults exited the house leaving a chilly blast of night air as the
door closed. Philip waited holding the package he had guarded all week that held
Chloe’s Valentine gift. He found himself gazing at his watch, pacing and
looking up the staircase routinely.
"Phillip?" came the sound of Chloe’s disembodied voice from
somewhere on the landing above. His snapped his head up following the direction
of her voice.
"Yeah?"
"Did everybody leave?"
"No, I’m still here."
"I know that, you nut."
"Oh, you mean all the parental units? Yeah, they just left to go pick up
Mimi’s folks. Why?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering."
"Are you about ready?"
"No."
"Oh, okay."
He heard the rustle of material and turned to look at the top of the staircase.
Philip had lain awake nearly every night since inviting Chloe to the Sweethearts’
Ball imagining her at this moment and what she would look like before he drifted
to sleep. It had replaced the visions he usually had of scoring a winning
touchdown, making a three point basket or smashing a towering home run. None of
his fantasies had adequately prepared him for the vision that was Chloe as she
gracefully descended the staircase toward him.
Chloe looked down to see Philip standing in his tuxedo covered by a well-cut
black dress coat with a white silk scarf draped around the collar and hanging
down the front of the coat. His shoes were polished to a high sheen and
reflected the individual bulbs in the chandelier that hung in the entryway.
Every blond hair was in place and immaculately trimmed. His smile seemed to grow
wider and the dimples deeper as simply the most beautiful girl he had ever seen
came ever nearer.
The top of her dress was strapless black velvet that hugged her figure and
showed off her beautiful shoulders and flawless skin. The bodice ended in a
"V" shape just below her waistline. The skirt of the dress was purple
satin in billowing yards that rustled with her every step. She had lifted the
skirt slightly to traverse the stairs. Philip saw the dainty black suede pumps
and the black stockings that, for some unknown reason, were a complete turn on.
To not detract from the simplicity of the gown in all its understated elegance,
Chloe had pulled her hair back from her face and done it in one long French
braid with a purple ribbon of the same color as the skirt of her dress woven
into it. The end of the braid cascaded over her right shoulder where a tiny
purple bow was tied at the base of it. Small gold roses were the earrings she
wore.
As she stepped down into the foyer Philip stood completely still – almost
afraid to blink his eyes for fear that like all the other dreams he’d had of
this moment over the weeks, it too, would disappear. He continued to stare –
not uttering a sound.
"Philip, are you all right?" Chloe asked with concern. She reached for
his hand and felt how cold it was.
He stared for what seemed an eternity until he felt the warmth of Chloe’s
hand. It released him from his trance and he leaned forward to kiss her. Nothing
else seemed appropriate to do at that moment. As warm as her hand was, her lips
were warmer. Philip released her hand and wrapped his arms around her bare
shoulders drawing her nearer and felt her help him do so as she placed her hands
on the back of his coat pulling him into a closer embrace. Almost a full minute
went by before Philip felt the need for oxygen though to lose a few brain cells
seemed worth it if he didn’t have to release Chloe from the kiss. Chloe gazed
into the Adriatic-colored pools that were Philip’s eyes and knew this was the
best moment of her entire life.
"I asked you if you were about ready before and you said ‘no’", he
said in almost a whisper.
" That’s true…I wasn’t ABOUT ready…I was ready."
"I stand corrected. Chloe….you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever
seen in this world."
"Phillip….." Chloe began with an air of shyness.
"You are…..I know I’ve said you were the most beautiful girl…like
that night at the Last Blast but there really isn’t anything I can think of
that’s more beautiful than you are."
"Thank you, Philip. You look unbelievably handsome tonight. We have a
little time before we leave. Do you want to take off your coat?"
"Yeah, that would be great. It’s getting warm in here and I’m not sure
if it’s just because I have my coat on," Philip joked and let out a soft
chuckle. He proceeded to undo the shiny black buttons of his topcoat as Chloe
walked behind him to help him remove the coat. The sleeves of it slipped down
his arms as he extricated himself from them. Chloe took the coat and glided
across the floor to hang it up. When she turned her eyes widened as she saw
Philip opening the button of the tuxedo jacket.
"Philip…I don’t believe you. How did you know? Did Jason tell
you?"
"Nope, he didn’t say anything about your dress, just that I was going to
like it and you in it….I just had this feeling."
The cummerbund and bow tie he wore were the same shade of deep royal purple as
the skirt of Chloe’s gown.
"You must have taken some heat from the guys about that color."
"Ehhhhhhhh….a little, but I don’t care. When we walk into the Penthouse
Grille, I dare them to not say we’re the best looking, best dressed couple
there. OH, wait!! There’s something I have to get from my coat." Philip
sprinted to the coat rack and reached into the right front pocket to retrieve
something. As he sauntered back Chloe recognized the wrapping on a box as a
Valentine gift. Philip handed her the gift along with the card he had so
carefully chosen earlier in the day and kissed her on the cheek.
"Happy Valentine’s Day, Chloe."
"Thank you, Philip. Wait here."
Chloe walked to the bench beneath the staircase and picked up the red and white
meticulously wrapped gift she had assembled for Philip. She returned to face him
and handed him the box along with a card.
"Happy Valentine’s Day, Philip." She kissed him on the cheek but as
she backed away, Philip slid his free hand down her arm and kissed her lips once
more.
"Thanks, Chloe."
"Would you like to sit down on the bench and open it?"
"Sure, but you go first, okay?"
"Why?"
"I dunno….I guess I just would like to see what you think of it."
"Okay." Their hands intertwined as they walked to the bench. Chloe
carefully smoothed her skirt as she sat down to open her card first.
To Chloe - -
A heart not given to another
Is worth nothing.
I give you mine and am the wealthiest
Of mortals for having done so.
I love you, Philip - -
"Philip, that’s the most beauti…….I can’t say anything eloquently
enough in return."
"You don’t have to."
"But, I should…."
"No….just letting me see your face reading the words was all I
needed."
"…but….."
"..Shhhhh….I’m not finished. Now that you’ve read the card, it’s
time to open the gift that goes with it. The words will make more sense."
Chloe lifted the small box wrapped in brilliant red foil and tied with a white
curly ribbon. Philip smiled the entire time as he watched Chloe’s serious
face. She lifted the lid of the box and stared at its contents. The longer she
stared, the more serious Philip’s face became.
"Chloe, I thought you’d like it."
"You …..this…I….."
"It seemed so perfect when I took it from the strong box."
"The strongbox? Philip, you didn’t buy this?"
"No…….I thought about this a long time and it just seemed the right
gift for you…….. to give you on Valentine’s Day."
" I’ve never seen one like it."
"It’s my birthstone….an amethyst. It belonged to my grandmother….Dad’s
mother. She liked hearts and so her husband saved for years until he could
afford to buy the amethyst and have it cut into the shape of a heart to hang on
a pendant. Dad inherited it when she died and gave it to me when I was twelve
telling me that one day I should give it to the woman I loved. It brings luck
and constancy of affection to the wearer - at least that’s the legend. "
"Philip, don’t you think you should wait and be sure that you give it to…."
Philip quickly raised his fingers to her lips to still whatever the ending of
her thought would be.
"I know what I’m doing, Chloe. I’ve been thinking about it since last
fall. That was the first time I went to the bank and took it out to look at it.
I almost gave it to you for Christmas but it just seemed more appropriate to
give it to you today - - Valentine’s Day. I know you’ve told me you won’t
tell someone you love them until you’re absolutely sure. Well, see…I am….now.
I can wait….however long it takes…..because I know you love me. Like the
card said…that heart is a purple rock….that’s all it is as long as it sits
in that safety deposit box.. But, by giving it to you with the history of love
it has when it is given to someone, it’s beyond appraisal. It isn’t just
what it is but what it symbolizes between the giver and the wearer. Please, tell
me you’ll keep it."
Tears glistening in her eyes, Chloe stared at Philip. His heart began to pound
as he saw her lower the box to her lap. If she gave him back the pendant, how
awkward and painful the remainder of the evening would be. He had taken a chance
telling her exactly how he felt. He wouldn’t regret having told her…..just
the result if Chloe felt overwhelmed by his gesture and withdrew from him.
She looked at the pendant on its filigree gold chain resting on the black velvet
lining of the box. The facets of the heart displayed the deep purple quality of
the gem.
"I…will accept it…."
"…great…."
"…on one condition, Philip."
"Oh……….and that would be?"
"That eventually, when I know for sure whether I love you the way you need
for me to, I will put the heart on and never take it off again. But, if I can’t…"
"….that’s not gonna happen….."
"…if I can’t, I will return the pendant to you and not a word will be
spoken about it ever again."
"Okay, I’m fine with that."
"Promise me, Philip, that if I return it you won’t try to change my
mind."
Philip looked into her eyes and saw the seriousness reflected in them. He looked
at the pendant and back into her face once more. He nodded his head.
"Promise me, Philip."
"Okay,…all right….I promise not to try to change your mind. But, I have
a condition of my own."
"Philip…" Chloe said his name with exasperation in her tone.
"You’ll wear the pendant tonight…"
"I don’t think that’s…"
"Please, Chloe, I want to see you wear it just once……before you put it
away and eventually put it back on forever."
Philip pleaded with his voice, eyes and body language as he sat not touching her
but affecting her every bit as much as if he were.
"All right….I’ll wear it tonight."
"May I help you put it on."
"Please, I don’t want to break the clasp."
Philip removed the pendant from the box and undid the safety clasp as Chloe
turned away from him presenting her back and lifting the French braid with her
left hand. Philip brought his arms over her shoulders holding the two sides of
the chain in his fingers lowering it until it rested on her chest. He felt her
velvet skin beneath his fingers as he closed the safety catch and ran his hands
down her bare arms upon finishing his task. Chloe turned to face him lowering
her hair and looked at Philip with a question on her face.
"How does it look?"
"Like you were made to wear it and it was made to be worn by you."
Chloe stood and walked to the mirror beside the front door with Philip following
her. She gazed on her reflection and the amethyst heart that glittered in the
facet-captured light. Amazingly, it was an exact match to the material of her
dress.
"See what I mean, Chloe? It’s perfect."
She looked at Philip in the reflection before turning to up into his gentle
eyes.
"Thank you, Philip. I never have gotten a Valentine gift before and I
certainly never expected one like this. You’re right….it is perfect with the
dress."
"There’s one more thing that goes with the gift when it’s
bestowed."
"Oh, Philip, not something more. It’s too much….the pendant
alone."
"Uh…Uh….this is what goes with the pendant after it’s given."
Philip placed his hands on either side of her face and leaned in gently placing
a kiss on her forehead, cheeks, eyelids, nose, chin and mouth. He drew back
wearing a smile before bringing her face to his once more for a longer, deeper
second kiss on her mouth.
"There, that’s the rest of your gift."
Chloe smiled and took his hands from her face holding them as she backed her way
toward the bench once more. They sat down and Philip picked up the card and
present Chloe had given him.
"I don’t think my gift is very much after this, Philip."
"Let me be the judge of that. Besides, anything from you is special."
"You may not think so…it’s kind of stupid now that I think of it…."
"Hey…..don’t call my girlfriend stupid."
He laughed and opened the card in the bright red envelope.
Dear Philip - -
Dreams, wishes, hopes, feelings,
All the intangible gifts life gives us
Are invisible - - until, we find someone
Who shows us they do exist by simply
Loving us.
Thank you for showing me they really are there - - Chloe
Philip noticed his hands shook as he finished reading the card a second time. He
looked at Chloe and saw what he knew was love in her eyes…no one would
convince him that was anything but love. He returned the card to the envelope
and picked up the big square, flat box and began to remove the ribbon with the
flocked hearts on it. Removing the lid, he found several layers of tissue paper
covered the item.
"I wanted to be sure it didn’t break," Chloe said as if reading his
mind.
He lifted up the last crumpled sheets of tissue and saw what Chloe had been
uncertain as to whether he would like it or not. He picked up the triple sided
picture frame. In the middle was the photo that had been taken of them at the
Last Blast dance. They faced the camera smiling with arms about one another. In
the hinged frame to the left was a baby picture of him he remembered seeing in
the baby book his mother scrupulously kept of his first seven years of life. To
the right of the center photo was the picture of another baby in a pink sleeper
with white lace on the cuffs and collar. Philip stared at it until he realized
it was Chloe. At the bottom of the frame in the middle a scripted message was
placed – "of such humble beginnings are great things born".
"Where did you get the baby pictures?" Philip said in an emotionally
choked voice.
"Nancy gave me mine on my birthday. I had no idea she even had a baby
picture of me. It was the only one she ever had. I’d never seen myself as a
baby. I was kind of goofy looking."
"No, you were even beautiful then."
"When I got the idea about doing this I called you mother and told her. I
asked if she’d be willing to let me have a photograph. I was so surprised when
she agreed and told me she loved the idea. First thing I noticed, you had
dimples even then. Look at that smile. I particularly like the fuzzy blond hair.
You’re wearing OshKosh…designer labels even then."
" I love this, Chloe. You couldn’t have given me anything store bought
that would have meant as much."
"Soooo, you like it?"
"I love it and I’ve got a place picked out in my room to put it so I can
look at it when I wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night."
Philip swiped lightly at his eyes with the sleeve of his tuxedo. Chloe wasn’t
expecting the reaction Philip had but a part of her was pleased she had followed
through on her idea.
"I think this has been some Valentine’s Day."
"I think you’re right."
"And," Philip looked at his watch to check the time, "it’s not
over yet. Let’s get our coats and bundle up. It’s really chilly tonight. We
have a Ball to attend, my lady."
He replaced the photo frame in the box and placed the tissue gently over the
glass. Chloe got her small, black velvet clutch purse and handed her black fur
jacket to Philip. He admired her beautiful shoulders and back as he slipped the
jacket on her. Donning his dress coat, he gathered the ribbons and paper from
the open gifts from the floor and placed them on the table.
"I see you got the pink roses."
"Yes, they’re beautiful."
"I remembered you liked them better than red. This is a nice bouquet. Did
Craig give that to Nancy?" Philip pointed to the display of red carnations
and baby’s breath.
"uhhhhh……I don’t know."
"Well, they’re nice. Come on, let’s go dine and dance the evening away
with friends at the Penthouse Grille." Philip offered Chloe his arm as they
headed toward the front door. Philip opened it as Chloe walked outside. As the
door closed she turned to lock the deadbolt and stared at the red carnations
certain Philip hadn’t sent them - - uncertain as to who had.
to be continued...
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