Paradise, Chapter 18

[theblackpearl]

Wow. That one was LONG. LOL.

I am bouncing all over the place with your characters. The only constant I love is Carla. I know. I'm warped. She's consistent in her love/affection for Nick. Her kindness and compassion for all involved and her cool pragmatism.

And I really enjoyed the scenes with Carla and Nick before he had his drunk binge. They had a bit of light banter. Some good conversation. She is truly the best friend he's ever had, even not knowing much about him. Looks like he has a tough road ahead, though, but he needs to suck it up and quit feeling sorry for himself. Like Carla told him. She's right. If for no other reason (and there should be other reasons), Brooke will not find a wallowing in self-pity bitter Nick very attractive at all.

I think Ridge is pushing too hard. Brooke needs time. Time with her family. Time to settle the legalities. Time to re-orient herself with her professional life too. I can understand to a degree why he is so adamant and in such a hurry. He thought she was dead and had lost her forever. Now, he has her back and he wants to do everything all at once. Make all of her dreams come true and his as well. But his joy at having her back, as well as a bit of jealousy, is driving him to push too hard. I do think he is right about it being for the best about the baby though, but Brooke just could not hear that kind of thing at the time. A pregnancy with her weakened physical condition, plus the stress of Ridge/Nick, and Nick being the long distance dad would have made for a very hard time and possibly dangerous pregnancy for Brooke and any baby that might have been.

Brooke annoys me at times. Mostly because it's very obvious she knows perfectly well that she does not want to be with Ridge right now. But she won't take a hard line about it and just tell him. It annoys me when Ridge does it to women and it's just as annoying when Brooke is doing it. I don't think Brooke should commit to anyone right now. She needs time to assess herself and her life and what she really wants. And to be honest, if she wants Nick in her life, she needs time for them to really get to know each other because their life on that island was about as far removed from each of their realities as it gets. But I wish she'd be honest with Ridge, even if he gets mad and even if it hurts him. I'm starting to feel a little sorry for Ridge. Even if he is doing an impersonation of a bulldozer.

I think the reunion with her children was wonderful. I loved the time they had together. It was beautifully done, Dot. I have to say I think Ridge was right about the way they did it. The surprise was just phenomenal and it also gave Brooke the time with her family before the press descended on them. He was completely right about that. But the reunion was all I had hoped it would be and what I had been waiting for...for chapters and chapters! LOL. I am so glad Brooke is home.

And I do hope you have something wonderful planned for Carla, in the relationship department. She's been so good to them all. She deserves more than what she got from Nick. Yeah, I'm still kinda pissy over it and his drunken behavior did nothing but remind me what an ass he can be. Carla should have popped him in his smug, arrogant kisser for the Saturday comment. He should apologize. He should apologize every day of the rest of his life.

I am wondering...is Dan Callahan Carla's boss? I'm thinking so...is it possible that Carla will end up in L.A. looking after Tati on the sly for Omar? That could be interesting, indeed.

Good chapter. I ran the gamut of emotions.

Pam

[dotd]

Yay! I'm so glad you read a chapter and posted to me! 3 more to go! I know this was a long one, I need to try and shorten them a bit. At least that way I can produce more.
Well I am glad you are still liking Carla and I am thrilled that you at least liked some of the banter between Carla and NIck. They really make wonderful friends and I think little by little they are learning to appreciate that. I think that they never really were in love with each other and that if they can get past that they may have a better relationship than they ever did before.
I know you didn't like Nick getting drunk like that but the man is so unhappy and he feels he's lost everything. The woman he loves and the child he will never know. That can't be easy. He is drowning his sorrows and he's not too good at it. It really is supposed to supply a little comic relief and sympathy. But I don't know if you'll EVER have that for Nick LOL! I hope you're seeing him as more human and just flawed instead of arrogant like you did think. He does love Brooke and he feels like he will never see her again.
Ridge is pushing way too hard and he's blind too. He needs to see that Brooke isn't ready and she doesn't really want this. She does love him, but things really have changed and she needs time to reestablish her entire life. Getting married now would be a huge mistake, but hey, that's nothing new to Brooke and Ridge is it?
Brooke can be annoying. But usually she knows just what she wants and that is RIDGE RIDGE RIDGE. So now that she isn't sure about wanting that and she does love another man too, things aren't so black and white for her. She has played games. I think she needed to be home too. It's time she got back into her big old CEO chair and took on the world again. THEN she can deal with her love life!
I'm glad you did like the reunion. I wrote a LOT of it just for you. I knew how much you wanted to see it and while Bridget annoys the crap out of me, I really had to give you some mother/daughter/son scenes that you could cherish!
I'm not exactly sure what I have planned for Carla. I need to get her to LA because I want her in the story, right now, though you aren't there yet, she is in Chicago. But I need a way to bring her to town. I also need a man for her. Any thoughts on that??
Thank you so much Pam! Like I said, 3 more to go! And I am not yet saying about them! LOL!