Memories In Progress 2/12
Jan. 2nd, 2013 07:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lynnlee22Memories In Progress
2/12
OLTL/GL/The Guardian
February 2014
Paris
"Awww, sweetie, after the beautiful flowers and the dinner, you didn't have to do this." Kelly took the package from him smiling as she shook her head.
"I feel really bad. I haven't had the chance to go out much lately and Hope doesn't really care for the mall. I think it's that music the play on the loud speakers."
"You've already given me the bet gift in the world," he whispered, leaning in and kissing her cheek softly. "Now, why don't you open your present. I hope you like it."
Springfield
"Dad, this is serious," Shayne sighed, leaning back in the chair in frustration as Josh's smile grew wider and wider.
"I know it is, son. I'm sorry. Go ahead. I'm listening. We'll figure this out."
"I hope so, Dad because I'm screwed. I mean seriously screwed. I promised her a super romantic surprise and I can't even come up with a surprise, let alone a super romantic one. Hell, I can't even come up with an idea of what to have for dinner."
"Well, that's where we start then...dinner....what does she like?" Josh reached inside his jacket pocket, pulling out a pen and reaching for a napkin. This could be a long process, he thought with a smile.
Pittsburgh
"The dinner was amazing, Mr. Fallin," Lulu giggled, stumbling slightly as she tried to back into the doorway.
Nick reached out quickly, steadying her. "It was," he whispered, momentarily moving his lips away from hers. "The whole night was amazing and it's not even over yet."
He smiled as he watched her eyebrows raise.
"Oh really? What did you have in mind?" she whispered, slowly sliding his jacket off his shoulders and beginning her work on his tie.
"Well, I thought that since Laurie has the kids asleep and..." He stopped, turning his attention to the kitchen. "Did you hear that?"
Lulu nodded. "Yeah, it's coming from in there," she whispered, stepping in closer to him.
"I'm gonna go check it out," he said, stepping in front of her. "You stay here."
"Nick," she hissed, following closely behind him. "Please be careful," she pleaded, the fear evident in her voice.
He reached for the door flinging it open.
"Oh my God," they both said in unison.
Springfield
“She’s doesn’t eat steak and the last time she had a burger it made her sick, so that’s out. Chicken’s out too ever since the incident last week.” Shayne rubbed his face with his hands, glancing up at Josh for ideas.
“What incident?” he asked, trying hard not to laugh.
“Well, she saw this documentary,” he sighed, shaking his head. “It kind of all went downhill from there.”
“I see,” Josh smiled.
“And no seafood because of the mercury, and no barbecue because it gives her heartburn, and no deli meats because they can have something but I don’t remember what….”
“Son, Son, Son,” Josh reached out, grabbing his arm as he finally took a breath. “You’ve got to relax. I’m sure she’ll love whatever you come up with. What about pasta? It’s simple, classic and if I remember correctly, she loved the fettuccine your Mom made for dinner a few weeks ago.”
“You’re right.” He smiled. “You’re always right. I just…I guess it’s just getting to me. I want to make everything perfect, but lately it seems like nothing I do helps.”
“Come on son, don’t take it personally. Women…they just..they get that way sometimes. Sometimes there isn’t anything you can say. You just have to be there. You have to wait it out.”
Shayne smiled, taking a deep breath. “Right..I’ve just got to come up with something perfect for tonight. Something that will make her smile.”
“Well, what has made her smile lately? When is the last time she really relaxed?” Josh leaned back in his chair as he watched his son ponder his question. When Dinah left, he’d worried that his son might never recover and when she came back, she brought the light back to his life. Just the mention of her name made his eyes light up. He remembered a time when he had that kind of love in his own life.
“Last weekend…when we went up to the lake..She likes the fresh air..says it makes her stomach settle. We just sat there, by the water and talked. She really loves the water, you know. “ Shayne looked back up at his father, forcing his mind back into the present moment. If he allowed himself he could fall back into the memory of that night. The cool night air gently lifted her hair off her shoulders as she leaned in close to him. He wrapped his arms around her until he saw her eyes start to droop.
“What about a boat?” Josh suggested. “You could take her out on the water and..”
“No…No..” Shayne countered quickly. “She likes to sit by the water, but she can’t get on the water. Trust me. I tried that. By the way, those shoes you and Mom got me for my birthday last year…you think maybe you could tell me where you got those?”
Josh chuckled softly. “Sure, son. I can do that, but before we worry about the shoes, I think I might have an idea to satisfy that romantic surprise you need.”
“I’m up for anything, Dad. I’m certainly not any good at this.”
“I think you’re better than you think you are, son. Come with me,” he smiled.
Shayne shook his head and dutifully followed Josh out the door.
Pittsburgh, PA
“What are you two doing?” Lulu looked around the kitchen, trying to decide between crying and laughing as she stepped over the piles of bowls, spoons, flour, and raw eggs that littered the floor.
“Cake,” Anne said proudly, lifting up her hands which were also caked with flour. “For you,” she smiled.
Christopher walked over to Nick, grabbing around his legs and leaving sticky handprints everywhere he touched. “We were making dessert, Daddy,” he smiled up at him.
“I uh…I see that,” Nick whispered, smiling over at Lulu, whose eyes were still wide with amazement as she surveyed the disaster area that used to be her kitchen.
“Where’s Grandma?” Lulu asked?
“We left her asleep in the bed,” Anne smiled, still stirring the small amount of mix that still remained in the bowl. “We’re gonna surprise her too.”
“I bet you are,” Lulu grinned.
“You like it Mama?” Christopher asked, moving over hug her next. “It’s Valentimes Day…Grandma said. That’s why you and Daddy go.”
“It is,” Lulu smiled, motioning for Anne to come over towards her. She wrapped her arm around her daughter as she reached up, grabbing Nick’s hand. “And how lucky am I to have three Valentines this year?”
Springfield
“Keep your eyes closed,” Shayne whispered, carefully guiding Dinah up the few steps. “I’m not gonna let you fall.”
“They’re closed. I promise.” Cryptic didn’t even begin to describe the phone call she’d received this evening. All Shayne would tell her was to get dressed and be ready for him to pick her up at 7. Try as she might she couldn’t pry even the most insignificant detail out of him.
“Where are we?” she giggled. “It’s freezing.”
Shayne reached down, pulling a blanket from his bag and wrapping it around her shoulders in mere seconds. “Better?”
“You’re good,” Dinah smiled, leaning back against his chest as she felt his lips graze her cheekbone. “When can I open my eyes?”
“Just a second…just a few more steps.” Shayne looked out over the water. He couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful night. The sun was just starting to set over the horizon. “Ok.” Shayne stepped forward, wanting to see the look on her face when she saw everything he had in store for her tonight. “Open your eyes.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked out over the water. “The lake,” she whispered, her lips curving into a smile. “This is the house that Matt built for my mother. This is their dream house. I haven’t been out here in years. I love this place. How did you know about this?”
“I had a little bit of help, but you’re wrong you know.” It had been so hard for him to keep this a secret even though it had only been going on for a few days. The work Josh and Matt had helped him do was monumental, but together they’d done it.
“Wrong about what?” Dinah asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Wrong about where we are,” he smiled. “This isn’t their dream house. It’s ours.”
Dinah turned quickly, looking at him. “What are you talking about?”
He could barely contain his excitement. “I was talking to my Dad, trying to come up with something really special to do for you for Valentine’s Day. I know that you’ve been having a rough couple of weeks. You’ve been sick and not feeling well and I just really wanted tonight to be perfect. He asked me a question. He asked me when the last time was that you were really relaxed and happy and I thought about that day last weekend when we came out to the lake and sat by the water.”
Dinah felt her eyes burning with tears. She nodded, looking up at him. “That was wonderful,” she whispered.
“I just…I wanted us to have that and my Dad thought about this place. I went to Matt and talked to him about this place. Initially I asked if we could rent it out for the weekend, but he talked to your Mom and they want us to have it. They want this to be our place.”
She couldn’t speak. The words wouldn’t come. Her heart felt so full it literally might burst. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice hoarse with emotion. “I don’t’ know what I would do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” Shayne whispered, pulling her close to him again.
Paris
She ripped at the paper, large chunks of it falling to the floor around her.
Joey couldn’t help but smile as she watched her. Many things had changed, but some things stayed the same. Kelly still had her love for life, her love for presents, and most importantly her love for him.
As she lifted the lid to the square box, he watched her eyes narrow in confusion. She pulled out the small card. “Go to the nursery,” she read aloud. She looked up at him. “What did you do?” she smiled.
“Guess you’re gonna have to follow the instructions to find out?” Joey teased, helping her to her feet and following her up the stairs.
He heard her breath catch as she stepped into the doorway. “Joey…Is that?”
He nodded, reaching up to take her hand.
“How did you? Where did you?”
Kelly crossed the room quickly, sitting down in the wooden rocking chair. She ran her hands over the arms, grasping the ends firmly as she tears streamed down her face. “I can’t believe you did this,” she whispered.
Kneeling down beside her, he smiled. “I just…I wanted to do something special. I knew how much you missed your Mom…especially now and I also knew how much it would mean to you to have something of hers here….in this room. And now, when you hold Hope in this chair you can tell her about the nice memories that you had with Melinda.”
Kelly nodded, looking over at Hope who was beginning to stir in her crib. “She would have loved her,” she whispered. “And she would have loved you,” she said quietly. “Just like I do.”
2/12
OLTL/GL/The Guardian
February 2014
Paris
"Awww, sweetie, after the beautiful flowers and the dinner, you didn't have to do this." Kelly took the package from him smiling as she shook her head.
"I feel really bad. I haven't had the chance to go out much lately and Hope doesn't really care for the mall. I think it's that music the play on the loud speakers."
"You've already given me the bet gift in the world," he whispered, leaning in and kissing her cheek softly. "Now, why don't you open your present. I hope you like it."
Springfield
"Dad, this is serious," Shayne sighed, leaning back in the chair in frustration as Josh's smile grew wider and wider.
"I know it is, son. I'm sorry. Go ahead. I'm listening. We'll figure this out."
"I hope so, Dad because I'm screwed. I mean seriously screwed. I promised her a super romantic surprise and I can't even come up with a surprise, let alone a super romantic one. Hell, I can't even come up with an idea of what to have for dinner."
"Well, that's where we start then...dinner....what does she like?" Josh reached inside his jacket pocket, pulling out a pen and reaching for a napkin. This could be a long process, he thought with a smile.
Pittsburgh
"The dinner was amazing, Mr. Fallin," Lulu giggled, stumbling slightly as she tried to back into the doorway.
Nick reached out quickly, steadying her. "It was," he whispered, momentarily moving his lips away from hers. "The whole night was amazing and it's not even over yet."
He smiled as he watched her eyebrows raise.
"Oh really? What did you have in mind?" she whispered, slowly sliding his jacket off his shoulders and beginning her work on his tie.
"Well, I thought that since Laurie has the kids asleep and..." He stopped, turning his attention to the kitchen. "Did you hear that?"
Lulu nodded. "Yeah, it's coming from in there," she whispered, stepping in closer to him.
"I'm gonna go check it out," he said, stepping in front of her. "You stay here."
"Nick," she hissed, following closely behind him. "Please be careful," she pleaded, the fear evident in her voice.
He reached for the door flinging it open.
"Oh my God," they both said in unison.
Springfield
“She’s doesn’t eat steak and the last time she had a burger it made her sick, so that’s out. Chicken’s out too ever since the incident last week.” Shayne rubbed his face with his hands, glancing up at Josh for ideas.
“What incident?” he asked, trying hard not to laugh.
“Well, she saw this documentary,” he sighed, shaking his head. “It kind of all went downhill from there.”
“I see,” Josh smiled.
“And no seafood because of the mercury, and no barbecue because it gives her heartburn, and no deli meats because they can have something but I don’t remember what….”
“Son, Son, Son,” Josh reached out, grabbing his arm as he finally took a breath. “You’ve got to relax. I’m sure she’ll love whatever you come up with. What about pasta? It’s simple, classic and if I remember correctly, she loved the fettuccine your Mom made for dinner a few weeks ago.”
“You’re right.” He smiled. “You’re always right. I just…I guess it’s just getting to me. I want to make everything perfect, but lately it seems like nothing I do helps.”
“Come on son, don’t take it personally. Women…they just..they get that way sometimes. Sometimes there isn’t anything you can say. You just have to be there. You have to wait it out.”
Shayne smiled, taking a deep breath. “Right..I’ve just got to come up with something perfect for tonight. Something that will make her smile.”
“Well, what has made her smile lately? When is the last time she really relaxed?” Josh leaned back in his chair as he watched his son ponder his question. When Dinah left, he’d worried that his son might never recover and when she came back, she brought the light back to his life. Just the mention of her name made his eyes light up. He remembered a time when he had that kind of love in his own life.
“Last weekend…when we went up to the lake..She likes the fresh air..says it makes her stomach settle. We just sat there, by the water and talked. She really loves the water, you know. “ Shayne looked back up at his father, forcing his mind back into the present moment. If he allowed himself he could fall back into the memory of that night. The cool night air gently lifted her hair off her shoulders as she leaned in close to him. He wrapped his arms around her until he saw her eyes start to droop.
“What about a boat?” Josh suggested. “You could take her out on the water and..”
“No…No..” Shayne countered quickly. “She likes to sit by the water, but she can’t get on the water. Trust me. I tried that. By the way, those shoes you and Mom got me for my birthday last year…you think maybe you could tell me where you got those?”
Josh chuckled softly. “Sure, son. I can do that, but before we worry about the shoes, I think I might have an idea to satisfy that romantic surprise you need.”
“I’m up for anything, Dad. I’m certainly not any good at this.”
“I think you’re better than you think you are, son. Come with me,” he smiled.
Shayne shook his head and dutifully followed Josh out the door.
Pittsburgh, PA
“What are you two doing?” Lulu looked around the kitchen, trying to decide between crying and laughing as she stepped over the piles of bowls, spoons, flour, and raw eggs that littered the floor.
“Cake,” Anne said proudly, lifting up her hands which were also caked with flour. “For you,” she smiled.
Christopher walked over to Nick, grabbing around his legs and leaving sticky handprints everywhere he touched. “We were making dessert, Daddy,” he smiled up at him.
“I uh…I see that,” Nick whispered, smiling over at Lulu, whose eyes were still wide with amazement as she surveyed the disaster area that used to be her kitchen.
“Where’s Grandma?” Lulu asked?
“We left her asleep in the bed,” Anne smiled, still stirring the small amount of mix that still remained in the bowl. “We’re gonna surprise her too.”
“I bet you are,” Lulu grinned.
“You like it Mama?” Christopher asked, moving over hug her next. “It’s Valentimes Day…Grandma said. That’s why you and Daddy go.”
“It is,” Lulu smiled, motioning for Anne to come over towards her. She wrapped her arm around her daughter as she reached up, grabbing Nick’s hand. “And how lucky am I to have three Valentines this year?”
Springfield
“Keep your eyes closed,” Shayne whispered, carefully guiding Dinah up the few steps. “I’m not gonna let you fall.”
“They’re closed. I promise.” Cryptic didn’t even begin to describe the phone call she’d received this evening. All Shayne would tell her was to get dressed and be ready for him to pick her up at 7. Try as she might she couldn’t pry even the most insignificant detail out of him.
“Where are we?” she giggled. “It’s freezing.”
Shayne reached down, pulling a blanket from his bag and wrapping it around her shoulders in mere seconds. “Better?”
“You’re good,” Dinah smiled, leaning back against his chest as she felt his lips graze her cheekbone. “When can I open my eyes?”
“Just a second…just a few more steps.” Shayne looked out over the water. He couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful night. The sun was just starting to set over the horizon. “Ok.” Shayne stepped forward, wanting to see the look on her face when she saw everything he had in store for her tonight. “Open your eyes.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked out over the water. “The lake,” she whispered, her lips curving into a smile. “This is the house that Matt built for my mother. This is their dream house. I haven’t been out here in years. I love this place. How did you know about this?”
“I had a little bit of help, but you’re wrong you know.” It had been so hard for him to keep this a secret even though it had only been going on for a few days. The work Josh and Matt had helped him do was monumental, but together they’d done it.
“Wrong about what?” Dinah asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“Wrong about where we are,” he smiled. “This isn’t their dream house. It’s ours.”
Dinah turned quickly, looking at him. “What are you talking about?”
He could barely contain his excitement. “I was talking to my Dad, trying to come up with something really special to do for you for Valentine’s Day. I know that you’ve been having a rough couple of weeks. You’ve been sick and not feeling well and I just really wanted tonight to be perfect. He asked me a question. He asked me when the last time was that you were really relaxed and happy and I thought about that day last weekend when we came out to the lake and sat by the water.”
Dinah felt her eyes burning with tears. She nodded, looking up at him. “That was wonderful,” she whispered.
“I just…I wanted us to have that and my Dad thought about this place. I went to Matt and talked to him about this place. Initially I asked if we could rent it out for the weekend, but he talked to your Mom and they want us to have it. They want this to be our place.”
She couldn’t speak. The words wouldn’t come. Her heart felt so full it literally might burst. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice hoarse with emotion. “I don’t’ know what I would do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” Shayne whispered, pulling her close to him again.
Paris
She ripped at the paper, large chunks of it falling to the floor around her.
Joey couldn’t help but smile as she watched her. Many things had changed, but some things stayed the same. Kelly still had her love for life, her love for presents, and most importantly her love for him.
As she lifted the lid to the square box, he watched her eyes narrow in confusion. She pulled out the small card. “Go to the nursery,” she read aloud. She looked up at him. “What did you do?” she smiled.
“Guess you’re gonna have to follow the instructions to find out?” Joey teased, helping her to her feet and following her up the stairs.
He heard her breath catch as she stepped into the doorway. “Joey…Is that?”
He nodded, reaching up to take her hand.
“How did you? Where did you?”
Kelly crossed the room quickly, sitting down in the wooden rocking chair. She ran her hands over the arms, grasping the ends firmly as she tears streamed down her face. “I can’t believe you did this,” she whispered.
Kneeling down beside her, he smiled. “I just…I wanted to do something special. I knew how much you missed your Mom…especially now and I also knew how much it would mean to you to have something of hers here….in this room. And now, when you hold Hope in this chair you can tell her about the nice memories that you had with Melinda.”
Kelly nodded, looking over at Hope who was beginning to stir in her crib. “She would have loved her,” she whispered. “And she would have loved you,” she said quietly. “Just like I do.”