Dido’s “Here With Me ” was playing on the radio as she was gripped with the nightmare that had assaulted her night after night since she was just a child.
As she sprung to a sitting position, she felt the tears washing over her heated cheeks as she slumped forward, resting her hands on her knees.
She reached over for the light and turned it on, bathing her bedroom with soft light.
She was told over and over that she had her mother’s fear of the dark, but that was no comfort to the young woman who slipped her feet into her slippers and went to her computer.
Turning on the monitor, she double clicked on her email.
To: IvoryPrincess@ToscanoFoundation.southfl.net
From: BlackPrince@BlackIndustries.umiami.edu
Subj: Re: Re: Escape Date: 31 July Time: 10:34 PM
“Izzy, please reconsider this. For not just yourself but Dad especially. You know just how much he needs you there with him.
Tell you what, wait until I get home from the Miami conference … please?”
Brady.
Isabella hit reply and began to type:
From: IvoryPrincess@ToscanoFoundation.southfl.net
To: BlackPrince@BlackIndustries.umiami.edu
Subj: Re: Re: Escape Date: 1 August Time: 12:50 AM Ā Ā
“No, Brady I won’t reconsider my decision. I want to know what happened with my Mother the same as you did when you learnt that my namesake passed away. It’s only fair that a person know their history.
But I will wait until you come home. That much I will do.”
Love you brother mine,
Iz.
Feeling better, she shut the monitor and tried to go back to sleep.
*~*~*~*
“John, she’s 21 and I think it’s time she goes out on her own.”
Belle came down at that moment and she leaned over to kiss her father. “Well you’re how old Kristen. I think it’s time that YOU go out on your own.”
John put his hand over Belle’s. “Honey.”
She pulled it away. “Yes I know, I promised. But how can I live by your new rules Dad, when your wife can’t look or act towards me without disgust written all over her face. What’s wrong Kristen, do I remind you of the person you ran over?”
John snapped. “Isabella!”
She glanced at him sideways. “Yes Father, I know. It was an *ACCIDENT*, which as I remember correctly is the same excuse she’s given everytime that something has gone on in my life, starting with the decision to send me off to school and so forth.”
Kristen was about to speak but Belle held up her hand. “Don’t bother.” She looked to her father. “I did come to tell you that I am moving out and into the loft.”
John was about to protest when Kristen began to gush. “Save it. Wait till I’m out of the house before doing the Victory Dance.”
Belle threw down her napkin. “Be careful Pops, the widow spider will wait to kill and devour you whole once I’m gone.”
Kristen watched the younger woman leave the room and then turned back to John.
“You know, she’s right. You DO get a wierd look everytime that Isabella walks into a room.”
He laid the napkin down on the table and came out into the hallway just as Belle turned from putting on her suit jacket.
“You don’t have to do this.”
She smiled and checked her watch. “I do. I can’t live in the same house as her.”
*~*~*~*
“Good Morning, Isabella Black here.”
She reached for a pen and began to jot down the information.
“Looking at the schedule, I can definitely come in to see you at 2. That’s NOT a problem at all Uncle Mickey.” She broke into a smile. “This is such a big help for me in this pursuit.”
Her smile faded as she saw who was standing in her doorway.
“Uncle Mickey I have to go, the chip off your family tree is here to see me.”
Mickey began to laugh. “Say hello to Jeremy for me okay?”
She shook her head. “He’ll be lucky if I don’t hurt him first.”
Jeremy sat down. “Try not to bruise me too much sweetheart.”
As she hung up, she turned her blue eyes to him. “Why are you here Troll boy?”
He leaned forward to face her. “I’m here to help the police with a case.”
“Then go and HELP them. Leave me alone!”
He shook his head. “No…” He sat back in the chair. “Still the same Isabella.”
“No, I’m the Isabella you made by breaking my heart.”
He checked his watch. “I’m also here to extend an invitation to you to come to the new opening of the Dr. Marlena Evans Psychiatric Wing. Great-Gram asked me to do this.”
Belle felt the tears wanting to flow. “Tell Mrs. Horton that I’ll call her.”
Jeremy looked at her and wanted nothing more than to hold her and make everything all right.
They had been sweethearts for as long as they could remember and it had been a running joke within the family and friends circle that they would grow up and get married.
But he chose to go into the Police Academy, upon graduation becoming a member of the illustrious ISA.
And that was the decision that turned Isabella from the laughing girlfriend into the ice princess that sat before him.
The long blonde hair she normally wore loose around her shoulders was pinned up, she was dressed in a lovely summer suit and all Jeremy wanted to do was kiss her.
“Izzy?”
She held up her hand. “No, I’d rather you go.”
He shook his head. “I’d rather I stay.” The blue eyes flashed across the table at him.
“You go and you go NOW because Jeremy Michael Horton, I can’t even describe what I feel towards you and every moment you stay PAST that and I get dizzy. Please just get out of here.”
He smiled. “I still get to you don’t I!”
She lifted an eye. “Go Troll Boy!”
He threw up his hands. “What’s with the Troll Boy comment?”
“Part of me wants to say it’s cause you treated me like crap. BUT lemme show you instead.”
She went into her desk drawer and pulled out a small compact and held it up so he could see his reflection. “Comb your hair lately?”
Growling, Jeremy stood up. “There’s time when you can really be a witch.”
“Yeah so you keep telling me. So if you dislike this side of me SO much, then leave.”
He did as requested, pausing only to turn and look at her from the door.
“Love you Belle.”
She peered up through her bangs, a faint familiar smile beginning to play at her lips.
“Of course you do … bye Troll.”
Once she was sure it was safe, she reached into her desk to pick up the photo that she had hidden a long time ago.
It was of her and Jeremy.
*~*~*~*
The Mustang roared out of the Foundation parking lot around 45 minutes later. Belle having made sure that all of her files concerning the case were safely back in the safe.
It was paranoid, she knew. But she didn’t want anyone knowing of the letter she was given on her 21st birthday by Mickey just before she was to join the family at her party.
“Belle this was to be opened by you on this very night.”
She had no way of the Pandora’s box this tiny letter would open for her.
*~*~*~*
She pulled into the parking lot and checked the time.
Seeing that she still had a good 45 minutes, she pulled the oversize purse that was in the passenger seat to her and began to rummage through it.
She remembered what the bank official said about having all this money and he hoped she would know what to do with it, and she smiled as she slipped the tiny diamond on a golden chain from the purse.
“I will make my dreams come true.”
*~*~*~*
It was a bright room, painted in soft colours.
The one comfort that Belle had in the sanitarium that her father had requested that her mother stay at, was that it was more a home. To the small child who watched as her mother slipped into a world away from theirs, her main fear had been that Momma would be in the hospital forever.
Belle remembered her childish fear of hospitals and luckily John reassured her that Mommy wouldn’t be in the hospital.
“She’s going to a place that can make her better. It’s not a hospital but a clinic.”
15 years later, she was still in her ritual of coming to the clinic and taking care of her Mom.
Laying her jacket on the chair near where her mother sat motionless, Belle unpinned her hair and came to kneel in front of her Mother.
“Momma, I did as the letter requested. I brought everything out of the safety deposit box and it’s here with me. But I don’t understand, why would I have to do this. I know you wrote in the letter that you felt I was the only one who could do what you needed to be done, but I don’t get it.”
She laid her head in her Mother’s lap, feeling again like she was four and feverish, wanting nothing more than to have her Momma sing to her as she ran her fingers through Belle’s long blonde hair.
“Hush now baby..”
“It’s just an hallucination.” Belle tried to convince herself of wanting Marlena so badly that she tricked herself into hearing Marlena.
“Momma’s here and there’s nothing to fear.”
Belle lifted her head to check her mother. If she was still hallucinating, then why was the voice sounding so cracked, so unlike her mother’s normal tones and more like a voice that had long been unused…
“Baby… my baby.”
Belle’s eyes began to well up with tears as she saw her Mother looking at her, REALLY looking at her.
“I’m not dreaming?” She reached out a hand to lay it against Marlena’s cheek and a smile came to her face as Marlena laid a hand over hers.
“No honey, you’re not.”
Come to me now And lay your hands over me Even if it’s a lie Say it will be all right And I shall believe
I’m broken in two And I know you’re on to me That I only come home When I’m so all alone But I do believe Ā Ā
He downed the drink in one gulp, finding the burning sensation a fitting tribute for one who’s doomed to hell.
His gaze fell to the mantel where he had kept one photo, Kristen had allowed him that one small thing.
It was of Belle with Marlena and Brady. Her Christmas recital…
“Daddy, take a picture!”
He did and for that one small moment, he felt like the four of them were a family in every sense of the word. To look into the faces of his two precious children, he could see not only himself but the two women he loved most in the world.
But it was the little blonde who stole his heart.
He had so many chances and he had screwed up every one to the point where he was truly surprised that Belle and Brady still even spoke to him.
“How do I make this right?”
That not everything is gonna be the way You think it ought to be It seems like every time I try to make it right It all comes down on me Please say honestly you won’t give up on me And I shall believe And I shall believe
Belle looked shellshocked. “Momma?”
Marlena smiled. “Yes, it’s me.”
For once in her life, Isabella Black was at a loss for words as she gazed upon her mother. Wanting to laugh and cry, she chose to do both as she allowed Marlena to take her in her arms.
“I’ve wanted to do this every time you came here honey.”
From the cocoon of her arms came the muffled reply. “Then why didn’t you?”
Marlena laid her hand on her daughter’s hair. How to tell her of how yet again, Kristen had laid the trap and won..
“Oh honey.”
Marlena pinned Belle’s face in her hands and smiled. “Please believe me when I say that all I had ever wanted to do was be with you and Brady. To love you both and be a mother to you both. But I couldn’t.”
“Why not?” Belle slipped out of her mom’s grasp and stood up. “Daddy would have protected you, hell even Brady and I would have.”
She paused then instantly apologized. “I’m so used to venting.”
Marlena nodded. “I remember.”
She looked at her daughter and a pain hit her that in looking at this beautiful creature before her, that so much time had past. Yet again, she lost time with a child … HER child, thanks to a DiMera.
“Isabella, my injuries healed a long time ago. But thanks to the medication that someone ordered for me to be given, I didn’t stand a chance. The moment your father had me brought here, I KNEW that there would be no way of my ever coming out.”
Belle shook her head. “That’s not true. Daddy said this was the best place for you.”
Marlena tilted her head. “Sweetheart, your father was told by someone else that this would be the best for me. Someone with a vested interest.”
Belle grimaced. “Kristen.”
Marlena nodded. “For so long, she was afraid of the power she felt I held over your father. So much so that she lied to him about the child she carried, kept the four of us from being a family and murdered an innocent woman to keep your father believing that your brother John Junior was his.”
Belle nodded, she and Brady had kept in touch with the young boy, who had been renamed EJ and adopted by Susan’s grieving widower, Edmund.
Suddenly a thought hit her. “Momma, we have to call Daddy.”
She came to stand in front of her mother. “You’ll have to lean on me, but we’re getting you out of here now.”
“WHAT IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!”
Belle froze and realized that it was her father in the doorway and spoke without facing him, keeping her eyes on Marlena, who was smiling.
“Daddy, it’s not as it seems.”
John came in, throwing his jacket on the chair.
After his last drink, he had decided the way to make it right was to come see Doc. Never in a million years did he expect to see their daughter trying to plan a jail break.
From around the figure of their daughter came a voice he didn’t expect to hear.
“Hello John.”
Belle stepped aside to show John the miracle and she quickly brought a chair.
“Dad, you’re going to need this.”
*~*~*~*
Kristen crumpled up the brief note that John left for her and went into the library.
Pouring herself a neat gin and tonic, she hoisted the glass and made a simple toast.
“To Marlena, may you continue to rot away in the clinic, keeping those little secrets that you’ve kept for SO long.”
“What secrets would those be Kristen?”
She turned to find her step-son Brady sitting in a chair away from her line of sight.
“I’m asking a question, kindly answer it for me please.”
He laid his book down and raised an eyebrow. “Yep that’s what I thought. All speech but NO action.”
She finished her drink and turned to look down at the bar, forcing herself to think quickly. This was not John or Belle she was dealing with, but a whole new entity.
“Brady you misunderstood me.”
He stood up. “Yeah I have. Like my father before me, I chose to believe your lies. However, one person didn’t and you treated her like dirt. Just kept Belle wanting revenge, your head on a platter.”
Kristen blinked. “I tried to love her, she just made it so hard.”
Brady shrugged. “How so, she was only what 3, 4 when you first started screwing our father. Belle was the most lovable child I knew. The only reason you acted the bitch with her, was because she looked like the one person you hate most. Our mother.”
Kristen kept cool. “Brady, she’s not your mother.”
“Well neither are you and you kept at me to call you that. However, Marlena to me in all ways that matter IS.”
“I’m so glad to hear you say that Brady.”
They turned to find Belle standing there. “Because I have a surprise.”
She looked at Kristen warily. “Someone’s here to see YOU.”
John came in backwards, obviously pushing something.
“Who is it?”
Brady looked to Belle who mouthed. “Watch.”
As John turned the wheelchair, Marlena tilted her head. “Hello Kristen.”
“Talk to me Izzy.”
Isabella Black glared across the table at the most annoying man she had ever known and gestured to his hair. “Jeremy, PLEASE get a comb.”
He closed his eyes. “Izzy, I can’t leave you alone until after…”
“Until after you get my statement as to why it was my darling stepmonster felt the need to pull a gun and try to go after my mother … AGAIN.”
Jeremy laid the pen down. “Iz..”
“It’s Isabella and I’ve already given my statement to Uncle Abe. Go get it and I’ll sign it. I have nothing to say to you. I just want to go to the hospital and make sure that my brother and mother are fine. Is that so wrong?”
Jeremy looked at her. “Isabella, if you’ll just tell me what went down tonight, I’ll drive you myself to the hospital. Please, just for once in our whole entire relationship, CO-OPERATE!”
She raised her eyebrow. “Pardon me?”
She leaned forward. “Listen troll, you want to know the truth?” She slammed her fist down. “I’ll tell you. That BITCH after having the truth stare her in the face in the form of my MOTHER, had the nerve to pull a gun and say that my mother’s luck had finally run out.”
Isabella shrugged. “I sure as hell wasn’t going to let her kill Mom. So when she aimed at her, I ran at her, then we struggled for the gun.”
“And it went off?”
“You tell me, I’m sure by now you all know the results of Kristen’s autopsy.” The hazel eyes flashed a challenge he wasn’t ready to rise to, so Jeremy repeated his question.
“Yes it went off.”
She closed her eyes, the memories a never ending playback..
“It went off twice and I found myself looking down to see where I was hit.” She shook her head, her blonde hair falling around her face, sealing her away from Jeremy.
“But to my surprise, I wasn’t.” She lifted her head. “But that was when I saw that Brady and Kristen had been hit instead.”
She took a deep breath. “There was no revenge in my head or my heart when I went for the gun. I just couldn’t lose my mother again.” She glanced at her hands. “But she died.”
When she lifted her head again, she was crying. “Jeremy, she died.”
Forgetting his professionalism for a moment, he came around and drew her into his arms.
“Ssh, it’s going to be okay.” He laid his hand on the back of her head. “Izzy.”
She lifted her head and felt herself unsettled as she stared into his blue eyes.
“Your bad for my health.” She stepped away, drying her eyes.
“Isabella, won’t you let me help you?”
She reached for her purse, pulled out her compact and then looked at him.
“You can help me by living up to a promise for once and get me to the hospital please.”
*~*~*~*
John looked up from his watch. “She should have been here by now.”
“She’ll be here. Jeremy and Abe said this was just a formality, that they just needed her statement and then she’d be free to come here and be with us.”
He nodded. “I just will feel better when she’s here and away from Jeremy.”
“Well unfortunately, your wish isn’t coming true.”
John saw where Marlena was pointing to and cringed. “Why?”
“Because I promised her that once we were finished taking the statement, I’d bring her to you.”
Isabella came to sit beside her Mother.
“Mother, I’d like to introduce you to …”
Marlena smiled. “Jeremy Horton.”
He smiled. “It’s so good to see you Dr. Evans.”
Isabella looked at her mother. “You’re alright?”
Marlena cradled the face she loved in between her hands. “I’m fine. Mike checked me over while your brother was in surgery.”
Belle’s eyes widened. “He’s??”
Her mother smiled. “Brady’s in recovery.”
Belle felt her walls breaking and she began to sob. “I’m so sorry.”
Marlena smiled. “For what?”
Belle looked at her mom. “For running for the gun, for fighting with her. If Brady dies.”
“Brady is in recovery and will be just fine. Honey, it was an accident.”
“Listen to your mother Belle.”
She turned slightly. “Now that I have her back, you better believe I will.”
John smiled. “Thank you Belle.”
“My turn to say For What?”
He looked at Marlena. “For being the one to see that your Mom was going to be alright.”
Belle flashed a smile to Marlena. “I will always be my momma’s girl.”
Marlena grinned. “I should hope so.”
Belle caught sight of Jeremy. “I need to go apologize to troll boy.”
As she walked away, Marlena peeked up at John. “Troll boy?”
He grinned and sat down. “Belle coined the nickname over his hair.”
Marlena peeked around John to where Belle was standing in front of Jeremy. “Yeah he does seem, well kinda hair challenged.”
John began to laugh. “That’s one way of putting it.”
*~*~*~*
“How?”
Belle smiled. “Dad kept it because he thought Brady or I would want to live in it.”
John glanced back to his daughter. “Yes but they both chose other accomodations.”
Marlena nodded. “Belle would you stay with me?”
From under her lashes, Belle observed her father’s reactions. “I think that would be great.”
She winked. “What do YOU think Dad?”
“Fine.”
*~*~*~*
It was that one word statement that had John kicking himself.
Their DAUGHTER figured it out first and he should have been the one to figure out all of the lies.
He slowly sat on the sofa. “How do I make things right?”
Ā
John was knocking at the door bright and early the next morning.
He began to laugh at the person who opened the door, who wasnāt in nearly the same perky behavior as her father as she stepped away from the door asking a grumpy question.
āDo you even KNOW what time it is?ā
John nodded and closed the door, taking in his daughterās sleeping attire.
Her hair was totally disheveled and she was clad in one of his old Salem PD t-shirts and an oversized pair of flannel pajama bottoms, she was even wearing a pair of thick socks.
āNice look Izzy.ā
She bowed. āWasnāt expecting to be social atā¦ā She turned looking for her watch.
John chuckled. āOn weekends, your so like your Mom.ā
She shrugged. āSue me. What time is it?ā
John grinned. ā7:30ā
Belle slumped onto the couch, made a face and peered at her father through her bangs.
āWinning her over would work better Dad if you came at a half decent hour.ā
John chuckled and leaned over the side of the couch to Belleās overnight bag to pull out a comb.
āIām not used to my fashion conscious child looking like she was dragged through a hedge backwards.ā
She took it and began to work on her hair. āI feel it so why shouldnāt I LOOK it?ā
Her father nodded. āGood motto.ā
She took the elastic from the end of the brush and pulled her hair into a ponytail.
āIām planning to cross stitch it onto a pillow.ā
Finding her watch stuffed under the cushion, she put it on and smiled.
āAs much as I love your company Dad, if I have to be up this ungodly early on a non-working Saturday, SHE is going to be gotten up.ā
Clearing her throat, Belle let out a screech. āHEY MA!ā
John watched as the same routine that Belle had done to become relatively conscious was done again by an equally disoriented Marlena and did his hardest not to laugh.
Belle grinned. āI donāt know Dad, in that state I may not even trust her to walk and chew gum at the same time with any proficiency.ā
Marlena muttered something about ungrateful children and slumped over on the couch.
Belle stood up and leaned over to kiss her fatherās cheek. āLove you.ā
āWhere are you off to?ā
She gestured at her clothes. āTo get dressed. Besides sleeping beauty, thereās one other person I would make sure is up at this ungodly hour and after what heās done to me over the years, payback is a bitch.ā
*~*~*~*
Carefully she slipped the window open and crept inside.
āFor a cop that makes as much money as you do J, your truly a pig.ā She paused and looked around the room.
āHow much do you want to bet Black that heās shed his clothes down the hallway?ā
Leaving the living room, she hung a left and sure enough, she began to follow the trail of discarded clothes and found him on his bed, sleeping on his stomach.
Kneeling down, she lightly trailed one fingernail across the bottom of his left foot.
āMiss me?ā
He sleepily mumbled. āNo do that ā¦. Izzy does that.ā
She smiled. āI trained you well.ā
Coming around side him, she propped her head on her hand.
āJ, wake up.ā
Getting no response, she leaned forward and placed a kiss on his bare shoulder.
Isabella Black had loved this man since she was a child and the most annoying factor outside of his leaving her to go to the ISA was the fact that you literally had to shove dynamite up his butt to make him wake up.
There actually was one OTHER thing but she was upset with him enough to not want to be made love to.
So after exhausting all other resources, she came to the last one.
āJEREMY MICHAEL!ā
Turning his head slightly to one side, he opened his right eye and smiled. āCome to apologize?ā
She raised an eyebrow. āNo, Iāve come to torment you. Mom and Dad are together at the Penthouse and as he was WAY too chipper when he arrived way too early, Iāve decided to come and torment you.ā
He rolled over, trying to smother his face from either side with the pillow.
āHow did I get so lucky?ā
Belle grinned and swatted his hands from the pillow.
āYou got so lucky because you met me.ā
He sat up. āNice ego there Belle.ā
She grew silent. āThe other reason is to say that.ā
He raised both eyebrows. āWhat?ā
āYour right, we need to talk.ā
*~*~*~*
āSo much time apart and it took our daughter to get the answer.ā
Marlena looked up and smiled. āWell I did tell you once that children get their intelligence from their Mothers.ā
John smiled and took a drink of his juice. āThat you did.ā
āIsabella figured it out because she wanted to have constants in her life. Thanks to fate, she had never had it.ā
He bit his lip. āHow about you?ā
She blinked. āHow about me what?ā
He smiled. āWould you want to have constants again back in your life?ā
A frown marred her delicate features. āDepends on what they are.ā
He waggled his eyebrows. āYou and I?ā
She hesitated. āI donāt know. You broke my heart before.ā
John nodded. āI know and thatās what made me realize just how much I want to be in your life and make things right again.ā
She grew distant. āYou canāt give me back time. Time with Belle and Brady, time with you and the other children.ā
He nodded. āBut I can give you new memories, new dreams.ā
She held out her hand. āOne step at a time.ā
He took it. āWhat do you mean?ā
She smiled. āI want to be courted. This time I want it done right and I want to get to know you properly.ā
He smiled Bradyās smile. āYou got it pretty lady!ā
She walked him to the door. āPlease make me feel confident that this was the right thing.ā
He kissed her hand. āThat I can safely do.ā
“For our first date, you’ve brought me to a club?”
John grinned. “Uh huh and there is a reason WHY I’ve done it too Doc.”
She smiled at the use of the old nickname that only John used. “I know the reason, your cheap.”
They grinned and John clutched his chest. “Ow….score one for my favorite shrink.”
“Seriously John, why are we here?” She looked around as they sat down. “This isn’t something I’d expect from you.”
He nodded and waved to Brady, who was with his girlfriend, Jessica. “Why can’t I ever remember her last name?” Ā Ā
“Well you will soon, because she’s agreed to marry me.”
Marlena grinned at John’s expression. “You KNEW?”
She nodded. “Uh huh, Brady and Jess came to see me this morning so I could be introduced to our future daughter in law.”
Jessica smiled. “The honor and pleasure were totally mine. Brady has told me so much about you that I had no choice but to come and see if the legend fit and believe me it more than has.”
As the women examined Jessica’s ring, Brady took John aside. “Did you tell her?”
John shook his head.
“No, but to change the subject for a moment why didn’t you tell me son?”
Brady flashed the trademark Black grin. “We just did.”
John’s reply was cut short by the emcee coming on stage to announce that there was going to be a 5 minute delay before the performance.
“Our singer is having a technical difficulty and will be ready shortly.”
Brady began to laugh as he sat beside Marlena and Jess. “I bet she is. The technical difficulty is named Jeremy Michael.”
*~*~*
“Get the hell away from me or so help me.”
He crossed his arms. “So help me what Isabella?”
She picked up the glass of water. “You’re going to wear this.”
He shook his head. “Not even close.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why do you do this, choose the worst possible times to come and try and make me fall back in love with you. J I’m NOT the teen who watched you go into the academy and come out a member of the bloody X-men.”
He threw up his hands. “Isabella, how many more years are you going to make me be on the cross over chosing the police field to be my career?”
He moved around the dressing room. “Your father, uncles and even your cousin Shawn Douglas went into that career.”
She leaned against the dressing table. “That’s them, you’re YOU.”
He paused. “Lost me.”
She made a face. “Like that’s a surprise. Let me clarify for you. Their family, their NOT the man that I …”
Her sentence was cut off by the knock on the door. “Iz, you’re ON.”
He stepped in front of her. “I’m the man who you what?”
She shook her head. “Figure it out boy wonder I have to go sing.”
*~*~*~*
“Why are the two of you smiling?”
Brady and John wore identical expressions. “Cause your HERE Mom.”
Marlena shut one eye. “Try that again on someone who doesn’t know the power of the Black boys mental capacity. What’s going on?”
Hearing the applause, John gestured to the stage. “Belle’s going on.”
Confused, Marlena turned around wide eyed at the sultry beauty who stood center stage.
Dressed prettily in a golden halter styled dress with her hair cascading in ringlets, Belle looked like a 40’s starlet as she focused on the man who stood at the bar.
The poets say that all who love are blind But I’m in love and I know what time it is The Good Book says “Go seek and ye shall find.” Well, I have sought and my what a climb it is My life is just like the weather It changes with the hours When he’s near I’m fair and warmer When he’s gone I’m cloudy with showers
“I didn’t know she could sing.” Marlena turned shocked to John, who was loving her reaction. “She wanted this to be a surprise.”
“Well I AM.” She turned back. enchanted as she listened to her daughter.
“I didn’t know she could sing.”
“I didn’t know you could sing.”
She grinned at him from Alice’s piano. “I didn’t know that I could sing.”
Jeremy came to sit with her, nuzzling closer. “Belle, there’s something I have to tell you.”
Belle forced herself not to remember that this was the very song she had been playing while waiting at the Center for Jeremy, who had been helping his great-grandmother.
In emotion, like the ocean it’s either sink or swim When a woman loves a man like I love him Never treats me sweet and gentle the way he should I got it bad and that ain’t good
“Dance with me.”
John blinked. “Excuse me?” Marlena grinned. “Losing your hearing honey? I said dance with me.”
John shook his head. “These women nowadays.”
Brady began to laugh and kissed Jess’s hand. “Would you like to dance pretty lady?” Ā Ā
My poor heart is sentimental, not made of wood I got it bad and that ain’t good But when the weekend’s over and Monday rolls around I end up like I start out, just cryin’ my heart out He don’t love me like I love him, nobody could
“No, I don’t have to listen to this.” She threw his promise ring at him. “I am NOT going to sit there by the phone and wonder if each time it rings, it’s going to tell me you died. I’m not going to be like Momma and wonder if radio silence means that I’ll never know where you are. I don’t WANT to love you as much as I do J. But I DO know that I won’t be mom and dad to any children of ours while you’re saving the world. That is a damned fact!”
I got it bad and that ain’t good Like a lonely weeping willow lost in the wood I got it bad and that ain’t good And the things I tell my pillow, no woman should
Jeremy downed his beer and watched her with haunted eyes.
This creature tormented his every waking moment and it was to the point now where he didn’t know if he had to wind his butt or scratch his watch.
Isabella Black kept him to a point where he lived to make her smile and lived to be kept off-guard by the engima that was the woman he loved.
The only certainty in their on-off relationship was clear.
He WAS going to get her back.
I got it bad and that ain’t good Tho folks with good intentions tell me to save my tears
Marlena listened to Belle’s anguish through the song and turned back to John.
“She’s had experience singing this type of torch song before hasn’t she?”
John nodded. “She and Jeremy.”
At his love’s confused expression, John began to explain the story that was their daughter and the man she loved.
I’m glad I’m mad about him, I can’t live without him Lord above me, make him love me the way he should I got it bad and that ain’t good
Isabella watched Jeremy leave and as he never looked back, he never saw her eyes welling up with tears. Ā Ā
*~*~*~* Ā Ā
“Belle?”
She lifted her eyes from the notes she was writing and found her mother standing there.
“How was date #2?”
Marlena nodded. “It’s was fine. Your father took me to dinner.”
“That’s good. I’m glad that he’s doing this courting thing properly.”
Belle nodded and turned back to her report.
“Isabella, please turn around.”
As her daughter did as asked, Marlena sat down.
“I need to apologize to you.”
Belle blinked. “For what?”
“For not being here with you, to be your shoulder to lean on through everything with Jeremy.”
Belle shook her head. “Jeremy is over.”
“I don’t think so sweetie girl. You forgot that we were there at the club.” Marlena smiled. “Sweetheart, I SAW the love in your eyes and his.”
“Love is not enough.” Belle tucked her hair back behind her. “Jeremy’s only love is the ISA and I can’t and won’t risk losing my mind on top of my heart out of worry for his sorry excuse of a body.”
Before Marlena could continue, her daughter launched into a tirade.
“He’s the most exasperating man that I know, outside of the family and yet when I see him, either I want to kiss him or ask him to love me forever.”
Marlena nodded. “Then why don’t you?”
Belle looked at her mom, a faint smile on her lips. “Because I can’t risk my heart.”
Marlena smiled. “You already have honey. By loving him as much as you do.”
Belle’s eyebrow raised in an almost eerie reenactment of her fathers.
“Then why don’t YOU go to Daddy, give him a ring and tell HIM that you want to have forever?”
To her daughter’s surprise Marlena reached for her purse, turned and walked out of the penthouse.
Her eyes huge, Belle grabbed her things and as she waited for the elevator, she began to punch numbers after numbers into her cell phone.
“You’re NOT going to believe THIS!!”
Ā
Belle came running out of the penthouse and ran smack into Jeremy.
āNot now!ā He nodded. āYes now.ā
She grimaced. āThe biggest day I have waited for outside of our wedding day troll boy is about to happen ā¦ I THINK, and youāre keeping me from it.ā
He squinted. āSay again?ā
āMy mother is off to propose to my father and Iām here having to explain it to you. Get out of my way laughing boy so I can go witness this!ā
He blinked and moved around to the driver side of his car.
āNo.ā
He nodded. āThe good thing about being a cop is that from time to time when necessary, I can put on the flashing light and siren. Isabella get IN the car!ā
She shook her head. āYour car wonāt last the day.ā
Rolling his eyes, Jeremy came around and picked her up. āYOU wonāt last the day.ā
Ignoring her protests about pieces of junk held together by chewing gum and shoelaces, Jeremy closed her door and got inside.
āI want you to be happy for once and if this will make you happy Iām driving.ā
She groaned. āWhy now!ā
*~*~*
Marlena stood in front of the loft door with her tiny box in her hands and bit her lip as she knocked again.
She was about to go when Bradyās smiling face appeared. āHi ya beautiful!ā
She smiled. āHi yourself. Is your father around?ā
He turned slightly. āYep he is, Jess bought him a computer game and heās checking it out. Come on in.ā
āDad thereās a pretty lady here to see you.ā
“Does your mother know?ā
Marlena raised an eyebrow as Brady choked back a laugh. āNope apparently not but you really should turn around Pops cause sheās a lady on a mission.ā
Marlena turned to her son. āHow did you know that?ā
Brady shrugged. āHow else do I know anything about the family?ā
Marlena closed her eyes. āLittle daughters have big mouths.ā
“Yep none bigger than our Belle.ā John turned around and smiled.
āIām leaving in case either of you care, behave and Iāll be at Jessās if little big mouth should phone here.ā
John waved. āBye son.ā
As the door closed, Marlena turned to John. āI need you to sit down.ā
*~*~*
āI told you.ā
Jeremy peered up from under the hood of his car. āBlack, I SO do not need the lecture from you at this point.ā
She smiled. āI wasnāt going to lecture you. If you had been so kind as to let me say what I was going to say, it would simply had been I told you the gas station was closed.ā
Jeremy closed the hood. āWell now that the water has been topped up.ā
Belle watched as he cleaned his hands and decided to bite the bullet.
āWhy did you leave the club the other night?ā
āWe had nothing more to say.ā
She balled her hands into fists. āWant to try that again?ā
āI came thisclose to admitting what you wanted to hear and still you walked away.ā
She threw her hands up. āI give up. Thank god that Len came when he did to call me to the stage before I made a total idiot out of myself and admit that I ā¦ā
āYou what Izzy?ā
She glared at him. āSorry, I aināt going to say it so too bad.ā
He stepped towards her, lacing his thumbs into the loops of her jeans. āSay it Isabella.ā
Her perfume was wafting around him, light and delicate like flowers, powdery sweet.
Her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck and she nuzzled closer.
āI love you Jeremy. I always have.ā
āWell hallalujah. Sheās admitted it.ā
She ran her hand through his hair. āShut up and kiss me.ā
*~*~*
āWell?ā
John blinked. āI donāt know what to say baby.ā
She smiled. āWell I know itās probably not on the par of the hospital proposal all those years ago and itās not what you could come up with on short notice. But hey, Iām a girl and Iām not in a creative mood, thanks to the challenge I got.ā
He grinned. āFrom who?ā
Marlena winked. āYOUR daughter.ā
John leaned forward and scooped up Marlena, settling her in his lap. āOUR daughter and for once I am glad she rushed headlong.ā
He kissed her hand. āTo answer your question honey. I would love nothing better than to marry you.ā
As he allowed Marlena to put the claddaugh ring on his hand, she began to explain the ring significance but stopped with the muffled thump on the loft door.
āJust a second honey.ā
He crept to the door and counted to three before whipping it open.
As if on cue Brady, Jess, Jeremy and Belle fell inside landing in a heap.
Flashing her trademark grin, Belle peered up and winked as John helped her up.
āHi Mom, Dad. Howās things?ā
John glanced to Marlena, who sat on the couch. āSheās yours alright John.ā
Belle raised an eyebrow. āIāll thank you for that compliment and Iāll ask again. Howās things?ā
Jeremy let her help him up.
āWell kids, we have some good news for you.ā
As Belle broke into a catcall, Jeremy scooped her up. āWeāll be right back. Miss Isabella needs a time out.ā
As they watched her go, they heard Belle. āI need a time out, you need a good hair combing and a flea dip you dog. Let GO of me!ā
Brady closed his eyes. āYep, their back together.ā He quickly made the sign of the cross and broke into a smile. āIām giving it three weeks.ā
*~*~*
They lay stretched out on the couch, her back against his stomach while Jeremy was propped up against the armrest.
The jazz played around them as he nuzzled the side of her face. āSo Miss Izzy B.ā
She shook her head. āSssh, enjoy the silence.ā
āYou finally have it all. Your mom is okay and happy. Sheās going to be marrying your father once he gets HER a ring and Bradyās engaged.ā
She grinned. āYep and now we come to you.ā
He kissed the side of her neck. āYep now we come to us.ā
Belle loved the sensation of what he was doing to her, but shook her head. āWeāre going to take it slow.ā
Jeremy blinked and lifted his lips from exploring her neck. “How slow is slow?”
She turned slightly. “Until I feel confident again about you and I, one day at a time.”
*~*~*
Belle’s words were still on Jeremy’s mind when he pulled into the club a couple of days later.
Coming inside, he found John and Marlena with Jess and Brady listening to Belle singing a spirted version of “Can’t Fight The Moonlight”.
“Do I need to take an insulin shot to sit with you four or is it okay?”
Brady grinned. “Well judging by how peaceful little sister is, we’ll keep the sugar shock to a minimum for ya.”
The applause signalled Belle’s end and as she left and the opening notes started on the other singer’s ballad.
Johnny’s daddy was taking him fishin’ When he was eight years old A little girl came through the front gate holdin’ a fishing pole
“Jem, this is Isabella.”
His dad looked down and smiled, said we can’t leave her behind Son I know you don’t want her to go but someday you’ll change your mind
Jeremy turned big eyes at his dad. “Take Shawn-D, take Brady, heck take Phillip but not BELLE!”
The little lips pouted. “I can fish! Poppa taught me and I want to go!”
And Johnny said “Take Jimmy Johnson, take Tommy Thompson, take my best friend Bo Take anybody that you want as long as she don’t go Take any boy in the world Daddy please don’t take the girl
Jeremy smiled as he took a swig of his beer. “She got to go fishing.”
Same old boy Same sweet girl Ten years down the road He held her tight and kissed her lips In front of the picture show
Belle’s eyes were huge. “Why did you do that?”
He shrugged and raised his eyebrow. “I wanted to and judging by your blushing Isabella, you wanted me to do that too.”
Stranger came and pulled a gun Grabbed her by the arm said “If you do what I tell you to, there won’t be any harm”
Belle’s eyes were huge. “Jeremy please do what he says.”
And Johnny said “Take my money, take my wallet, take my credit cards Here’s the watch that my grandpa gave me Here’s the key to my car Mister give it a whirl But please don’t take the girl
“That’s why I want to do this Belle.” He reached for her. “I don’t want you to be hurt again.” She turned around and tears were shining in her eyes. “Jeremy. I’m fine. Their just bruises and he’s been arrested!”
She fell into the chair. “Please change your mind.”
He grew quiet for a moment, the pain from their enforced separation making him feel weak and when it subsided, it allowed his mind to wander to what a future would be like…
Same old boy Same sweet girl Five years down the road There’s going to be a little one and she says it’s time to go Doctor says the baby’s fine but you’ll have to leave ‘Cause his momma’s fading fast and Johnny hit his knees and there he prayed Take the very breath you gave me Take the heart from my chest I’ll gladly take her place if you’ll let me Make this my last request Take me out of this world God, please don’t take the girl
Johnny’s daddy Was taking him fishin’ When he was eight years old
“John, I need to talk to you.”
John turned to Jeremy. “Sure son, what is it?”
“Belle said something a couple of days ago about the two of us well taking things a day at a time. It hit a nerve and I realized that she was the only woman I want in my life.”
John nodded. “And?”
“I wanted yours and Dr. Evans’s permission to ask Belle to marry me. I know she’d probably say NO, but I wanted to do things right.”
The song ended and as the lights began to come up, the family heard the sharp crack and glass shattering.
Brady and John covered their ladies but Marlena peeked up from under John’s arms and let out a heartbreaking shriek.
“JOHN … BELLE!”
Jeremy looked and found Belle slowly crumpling to the ground and lunged for her.
“No, not like this. Not now!”
Covering her body with his own, frantic thoughts went rushing through his head.
Take the very breath you gave me Take the heart from my chest I’ll gladly take her place if you’ll let me Make this my last request Take me out of this world God, please don’t take the girl
~*~*~
John, Brady and Jeremy were helping find clues and Marlena was trying to help with stabilizing her daughter for the journey to the hospital.
Stroking her daughter’s hair, Marlena’s tear filled eyes kept seeing her as she was as a baby, at 2, 4 and flashes as she came to see her in the hospital.
To stay calm for her daughter, Marlena focused on her as a sweet faced blue eyed baby.
There had been one night when Belle was fussy and nothing could calm her.
Marlena had stayed up rocking her baby, loving this quiet time and the sweet powder scent of her.
She had sung a lullabye that suddenly came back to her now as a way to keep Belle calm.
I don’t know what brought us here Something in the stars said you and me I don’t know where this feeling comes from Surely it was meant to be For I have known you even in my dreams My eyes are open, my heart can see
She lowered her lips close to her daughter’s ear. “Belle honey, it’s Momma.” She was rewarded with a weak squeeze to her hand. “We’re going to take you to the hospital and you’re going to be just fine sweetie girl.”
As sure as stars light the midnight sky As sure as children wonder why As sure as newborn babies cry I was born to give my love to you Born to give my love to you
Marlena smiled. “I love you so much and I’m so proud of the way you’ve grown up into this little spitfire, doing and saying things that I would NEVER have had the courage to. Isabella, the best thing I have ever done in my life was love your daddy so much that it created the perfect legacy in your wondrous smile and the laugh that sends my heart soaring whenever I heard you.”
Heaven must be holding on To all the love I’m feeling now Here we are this is the moment I believe it’s our turn somehow Hearts together, hands across the night One forever, finally in sight
“Now we’ve got our second chance. We’re together and we’re so close to finally being a family.” Marlena’s train of thought was stopped by Belle’s weak cry for her father and Brady.
“Their outside with Jeremy honey. Their trying to find clues to who could of done this to you love.” Marlena bit her lip to prevent Belle from seeing her cry. “You have to hold on just a little longer.”
As sure as stars light the midnight sky As sure as children wonder why
Marlena imagined what a beautiful bride her Belle would be.
“I, Isabella Marie Black take you Jeremy Michael Horton to have as my husband. For joy and in pain, sickness and in health, for laughter and tears, with all that I have and all that I am, I will honor you for all the days of my life.”
As sure as newborn babies cry I was born to give my love to you Born to give my love to you
John, Jeremy and Brady came in to find Marlena standing over the stretcher, hand holding tightly to Belle’s with tears streaming down her face as she looked at the still face of her girl as they finished the last things before taking her to the hospital.
I was born to give my love to you (I was born to give my love to you) I was born to give my love to you I was born to give my love to you
Ā
Belle sat at her computer a few days after coming home from the hospital and was typing furiously as Brady came into the room.
āDoes our mother know your assaulting the computer like that?ā
Belle shot him a glare from over the top of the screen.
āDid you know that if someone lies in a hospital bed for nearly 5 weeks, things do NOT get done.ā
Brady leaned against the side of the doorway and smiled his fatherās smile.
āCorrection, they DO but not the way that YOU like.ā
She turned her attention back to her work, flipping her brother the finger.
āOoh OHG!ā
A smile flitted across her face. āThat abbreviation used to drive Dad nuts.ā
āIt did until I saw Brady DO what constitutes an OHG!ā
The trio laughed. āSweetheart, he is right on one thing.ā
She slumped into the chair. āI DID get a clean bill of health from Doctor Mike.ā
āWhen did you start calling him that?ā
āWhen she started dating his son.ā
Marlena came in and smiled as she addressed her daughter.
āHoney, heās here.ā
Belle straightened up. āOkay.ā
*~*~*~*
āAcknowledgement of my flowers that I brought especially for you to the hospital would have been nice Princess.ā
She sat down and surprised him by nodding, a thoughtful expression flashing in her blue eyes. āI was rude.ā
He studied her. āWho are you and what have you done to Isabella?ā
She looked up. āBullets age you far faster than childhood squabbles.ā
He inched closer. āI thought that I lost you. Iz, you looked so tiny.ā
She lifted her eyes and shook her head.
āCanāt lose something that you KNOW belongs to you.ā
Jeremy watched silently as she got up and went to study the family portraits that had been recently brought out of storage by Marlena.
āIāve been in love with you since the age of 3 when you threw my ruby bear into Salem Harbor because I made fun of your hair.ā
He smiled. āI DID go get it for you.ā
āYou had no choice, your Dad made you jump in the harbor.ā
She found the photograph that she was looking for and brought it back to the couch, Jeremy saw the mood change by the change of color in her eyes.
āEven when I was SO scared that I would lose you thanks to the ISA and the police academy, there were times when Iād.ā
Jeremy felt his heart lurching, waiting on her to continue.
āYouād what?ā
She handed the photo to him. āIād want nothing more than to be like this again.ā
Curious, he turned the frame over and his eyes widened.
It had been taken unbeknownst to them by Brady.
Fast asleep in each otherās arms at the Blackās Chalet the first time they had decided to go on a trip alone, of course Brady being the protective guy he was brought his girlfriend Jess with him.
She watched him with the photo for what seemed like forever and finally reached for it to snatch it back.
āNOOOOOOOOO.ā
She paused. āCome again?ā
He grinned. āNot tonight dear.ā
She raised an eyebrow. āGreat, I confess my heart and YOU make double entrendres with my question, nice move there Horton.ā
He got up from the couch. āWell, I DO have one trick up my sleeve.ā
Both eyebrows shot up. āYou have sleeves?ā
āI was going to do this on that night your parents became engaged, but you had to upstage me and got shot.ā
As she watched him kneel down in front of her, Isabellaās eyes widened and he grinned.
āIf I had have had ONE clue this would have had you spellbound and silent, Iād have proposed to you when you were 12.ā
Her blue eyes welled up with tears. āConsidering youāre about as romantic as the great plague, Iāll take what I can get.ā
He staggered backwards. āOw, Iām as romantic as a disease?ā
She smiled. āYep, sad but true.ā
He grinned and moved back closer.
āIzzy, Iāve loved you all my life and all that Iāve done and accomplished has been so that I could make you proud of me.ā
He lowered his eyes to the tiny velvet box.
āThe only thing I have ever wanted in return is to be in this moment, looking into your eyes and watching you as I asked this question.ā
He smiled. āIsabella Marie, would you please make me the happiest man in the world and become my wife?ā He opened the box to reveal the elegant diamond.
āI want to grow old with you, laugh with you, weep with you and rejoice with you. Izzy, please say yes.ā
She burst into tears, worrying him. āIz?ā
āIām so sorry.ā
He shook his head, finding it hard to speak. āNo please Princess.ā
She realized that he thought she was saying no. āJeremy itās not what you think.ā
āYou just said Iām so sorry.ā
She nodded. āI AM sorry, sorry that I said that crack about you and the plague.ā
āThe answer to your question is a simple yes.ā
She came off the couch and knelt in front of him. āJeremy, I want nothing more than to be your wife.ā
*~*~*~*
Brady, Marlena and John were sitting on the patio when Jeremy and Belle appeared a few minutes later.
It was Brady who noticed his sisterās glow and so addressed his friend.
āWell?ā
Jeremy tore his eyes from Belle and beamed. āI did it.ā
She raised an eyebrow. āThey knew?ā
Marlena grinned. āHe told us of the plan while you were in the hospital honey.ā
John smiled. āHe had also asked permission to do it the night that you had been shot. So we all were just counting time until he worked up the momentum.ā
Marlena got up from the chair and came to examine her daughterās ring.
āAnd weāre so glad that he finally did.ā She hugged them both. āWelcome to our family Jeremy.ā
Belle looked at her new fiancĆ© and smiled. āYeah welcome to our family honey.ā
“To the left.”
“If you have me do that just once more Isabella, I’m going to.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Do what Jeremy?”
He threw up his hands and let out a growl earning a giggle from Belle.
“I don’t know but I can’t handle decorating our apartment with you, the Martha Stewart Clone.’
“That’s not what you told Brady I was last night on the phone.”
She squinted. “Something about a dictator in a thong?”
“I’m going to play basketball.”
“You go and I’ll decorate and you’re not going to like what you come home to.”
He scooped up the ball. “Risk I’ll have to take. Bye Lucy.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind then if I break your bongo drums Ricky?”
*~*~*~*
“No offense John, but your daughter is a witch.”
“She prefers the title control freak.”
Brady grinned and brought over their burgers.
“Jeremy, you’ve known Belle her whole life, you KNOW what she’s like. So what’s with the buyer’s remorse?”
Jeremy took a bite of fries. “I don’t know.”
*~*~*~*
“Hi you’ve reached Horton and Black, sorry neither of us are available to come to the phone at this time. But if you leave your name, number and time you called we’ll get back to you as soon as Jeremy remembers to recharge the phone. Have a nice day.”
Belle sat on the couch and shook her head as she listened to Pete from the station remind Jeremy of the charity bowling night.
“It’s a small thing but small leads to bigger and I’m not good with bigger.”
She drew her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them.
Getting up, she went into the bedroom and changed her clothes.
Scribbling a quick note in case he came back and she wasn’t there, she left.
*~*~*~*
She was filling up her gas tank when she heard a familiar voice.
“I never thought that I would see this sight.”
She turned around and shook her head at the figure climbing off his motorcycle.
“Shouldn’t you be sailing around with the Merchant Marines?”
Shawn Douglas Brady smiled as he took off his sunglasses.
“Here I thought you would have missed me little Belle.”
She crossed her arms. “Take a look Shawn, I’m not so little.”
He nodded, looking her up and down. “No, you certainly are not.”
“Why are you home?”
She watched him smile and found it hard to believe there had once been a time when she would have gone with him.
He shrugged. “I’m home cause I’m finished my time away, I want to have solid ground under my feet and be with my family.”
He smiled. “I want some of Grandpa’s chowder.”
His eyes darkened. “I want to reclaim what’s mine.”
“Well here’s to you getting what you think that is.”
The look in his eyes made her shiver. “Oh I will get it all.”
*~*~*~*
After Jeremy went off to the academy, Belle became friends with Shawn Douglas, who took an interest in his cousin’s pretty girlfriend.
The friendship turned romantic but Belle hit strike two with a Horton-Brady who chose instead to go to sea rather than deal with his feelings for his cousin’s girl.
“What is it about the men in that family?”
She took a sip of her cinnamon chai tea and shook her head.
“Do you often talk to yourself little one?”
She turned and found her mother behind her.
“No only on days when the men in my life decide that the cosmos needs to kick me in the butt.”
Puzzled, Marlena sat down. “Come again?”
Belle waved her hand. “The man I’m marrying is a pain in the ass and now when I least expect it, HE comes home.”
“Who’s HE?”
“I think she means me.” Marlena turned and burst into a smile at the young man who was so like his father. “Welcome home Shawn Douglas.”
He leaned in to kiss her. “Thank you Aunt Marlena.”
“Yes, welcome home and now go ship out again Boat boy.”
Marlena spun around. “Isabella!”
He laughed. “It’s okay, Princess Mood Swing and I have issues.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I have no issues. YOU on the other hand could do with some time on Mom’s couch.”
Marlena looked from her child to her former nephew. Ā “I’m confused.”
Belle looked at them. “Don’t be. I’ve had a similar relationship with HIM that I’ve had with Jeremy.”
She grabbed her purse. “Mom, I’ll call you later.”
Shawn grinned. “Aren’t you going to going to kiss me goodbye honey?”
“No, but I’ll tell you where and what to go kiss if you don’t stop Shawn.”
He smiled to Marlena. “She obviously is adopted, a daughter of yours would have better manners.”
*~*~*~*
Belle came home to the loft and began to pack.
“This is ridiculous.” She looked around the bedroom and grabbed the last few things.
As she packed, she thought over how she was going to tell Jeremy of her decision, of wanting to call it off.
“We were moving too fast?” She shook her head.
“You were right and I’m a chicken?”
She sank onto the bed. “This just isn’t right.”
“Belle?”
She rolled over and found Jeremy looking at her. Ā “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know where to start.”
Jeremy came to lean against the dresser. “Where are you going?”
She looked at her suitcases. “I think it’s best that I be grown up about this.”
He shook his head. “About what Belle?”
She began to work at her engagement ring. “It’s not been right and we both know it.”
He looked at her hand. “No Izzy, please.”
She nodded. “Yes Jeremy. We both know that while we love each other, we’d drive each nuts within days of getting married. It’s best to cut bait and call it a day.”
“I’ll get Brady to come get the rest of my things.”
Remembering how it all went just a few hours before, Belle sat with her head on her chin and took another drink of her tea.
“So who crapped in your cornflakes princess?”
She lifted her eyes. “With pick up lines like that, it’s no wonder to me why you’re dating that rubber doll.”
Shawn sat down and peered at her closer. “What’s wrong?”
She began to fidget. “Don’t do that, drives me nuts.”
“Well who the hell asked you to park it with me?”
“Okay, this isn’t good. What happened?”
She tore at the napkin so much that he reached across for her hands. “Izzy!”
She pulled them away. “Don’t touch me!”
“There was one time that you did exactly what you’re doing now. Jeremy hurt you.”
She bit her lip. “Did I tell you that I saw your Mom do that every time she was scared.”
“Do what?”
“Put her hands into fists. Izzy, tell me.”
She laid her hands flat on the table. “He didn’t hurt me Shawn. It was me, I hurt him.”
“How Iz?”
She shook her head. “It’s not important.” He grimaced. “I think it is important.”
His eyes dropped to her hands. “Especially Iz when your not wearing the ring.”
“How the hell do you do that?” He leaned back in the booth. “Do what?”
“Read minds, stop it cause it makes me nervous.”
He grinned. “I don’t read minds, I just know you.”
“Well let’s see if you’ll think so highly of me then Shawn D, cause I called off my engagement.”
Her eyes grew clouded. “Postponed it, oh I don’t know what it is.”
He watched her. “I take it then cousin Jeremy didn’t take that well.”
She lifted her eyes. “Didn’t take it well, understatement of the year.”
Shawn Douglas got up from the booth. “Come on, we’re leaving.”
She made a face. “I don’t think so.”
He rolled his eyes. “Princess, I’m not driving the motorcycle, it’s Dad’s Jeep.”
She gathered her purse. “Oh thank god, cause that is the rusted bolt of death.”
“It’s dark.”
She looked around and waited for him to come around the car.
“So observant there aren’t you.”
She leaned against the car and shook her head.
“Glad to see your time away didn’t dull your sense of humor.”
“I’m here with you aren’t I?” She rolled her eyes as he came to stand beside her.
“Let’s go for a walk.”
They headed down the steps to the pier and stood for a moment in companionable silence.
“Do you remember when we were little?”
He went to sit down on the bench. “I remember a lot of things Iz.”
She ran her hand through her hair. “Things were so much easier then. No second guesses and no real hurting people.”
“You obviously had a reason WHY you didn’t want to marry him.”
She looked away. “Why are you being so nice?”
He grinned. “Cause a lady taught me to always watch over damsels in distress.”
She smiled. “I was a bossy 8 year old.”
He stood up and came to stand beside her. “You were sweet Princess.”
They locked eyes. “Ready to tell me now why you did it?”
She lowered her eyes. “When I was eight, I watched Kristen with my father and the feeling that something was WRONG was overwhelming. I made the promise to myself that I would never do that to myself or the man I would marry.”
She moved away from Shawn and went to sit on the steps, looking at the stars for a moment.
“Don’t get me wrong, I did love Jeremy but it wasn’t the same from the first time years ago.”
“What changed?”
She looked at her bare hand. “Little things and then one big thing came rushing into my head.”
He watched her. “What was it?”
She shrugged. “You.” She looked up and saw the reaction in his eyes. āDonāt please.ā
He was lost. “Don’t what?”
Seeing that she was close to tears, he pulled her up to her feet. “Isabella?”
“Don’t feel like you have to be nice cause of this. I mean you’ve been gone and probably forgot all about.”
He laid his fingers over her lips. “I remember every smile, every laugh, how you felt in my arms when we danced here under the stars after the summer formal. Izzy, your every memory in my heart since the day he asked me to watch over you.”
Her eyes widened. “Then why didn’t you stay?”
He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Because you were his and believe it or not, there are some rules that I DO follow.” He smiled and tilted his head. “One of them is do not steal what belongs to your cousin.”
She swatted at him. “OW!”
He rubbed his chest. “Isabella what the blue hell was that for!”
“You’re too freaking honorable!”
“Your damned right I am.” Ā He caught her hands. “Behave yourself!”
She turned slightly and grinned. “You first.”
He stepped back. “Okay.”
“Why were you?”
He grinned. “Cause if I had, I’d never let you go and we both were too young for how I felt about you.” Ā Ā
She grimaced. “So your telling me this now, get me excited and BOOM it’s out into the big blue sea again right Boat Boy?”
He shook his head. “No, no it’s not.”
She raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “And why should I believe that?”
He grinned. “Try it’s the truth. Try it’s because Grandpa Victor asked me to come home to learn about the family business.”
She froze. “You working with Brady, oh that’s bad.”
He made a face. “Why is it? I mean it shows your parents that I’m now a grown up and that makes me respectable.”
“For what?”
He stepped towards her. “For this.”
Pulling her to him, his lips claimed hers.
*~*~*~*
They were sitting wrapped in each other’s embrace and looking at the stars.
“Do you remember the first night you taught me about the stars?”
He nuzzled her hair. “I do, that was the night I learnt just where you were ticklish.”
She looked up. “There’s our star.”
He smiled. “Yep, next to Brady’s Mom’s.”
They were contentedly quiet then suddenly her head shot up.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked at him. “I have no place to go. I don’t have a home.”
He grinned. “You do, you can come live with me.”
“Where?” She looked around him. “Last time we spoke you just moved home.”
“I already bought a house.”
He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “Come on and I’ll show you.”
*~*~*~*
“This is a house?”
He looked around. “Yeah, it’s a house. A LIGHTHOUSE.”
“So what, your going to be watching for boats?”
He grinned. “No, I’m going to be turning it into an office.”
“For?”
He went to one of the boxes and pulled out his diploma. “For this.”
Coming closer, she began to read then burst out laughing. “No way.”
He took it back. “I graduated it thank YOU.”
She crossed her arms. “My very own Private Detective.”
He came to her and tried to hug her. “Of course, cause I’m the only one who’s going to be guarding this body tonight and every night from now on.”
She ducked out under his arms. “First rule, NO MORE CRAPPY LINES!”
She ran behind the couch. “Second rule, we’re taking this slow.”
He paused “Why?”
“It’s not as if I don’t know you already Isabella Black.”
She stopped running. “Well this is true, but I’m not going to be all over you on the first night.”
“Why not?”
“Cause I want to know about you first.”
He stopped running. “Well this is true, but I’m not going to be all over you on the first night.”
“Why not?”
“Cause I want to know about you first.”
“Name’s Shawn Douglas Brady, born in Salem to Beauregard Aurelius Brady and Hope Williams Brady.”
She saw him coming and began to run again. “My family is the owners of The Brady Pub and also a whole heap of other things on the Kiriakis side.”
He caught her just as she ran back to the couch and the force sent them both over the back of it.
“You KNOW me Izzy, please just believe.”
“I want to.” Their faces were inches apart. “But what Izzy?”
She began to squirm. “But your elbow is in my stomach.”
Sitting up, there was a knock at the door.
“I think you better get it.”
He leaned in for a kiss. “Okay but don’t you move.”
“This is a lighthouse, where in the hell can I go. I mean it doesn’t even have CORNERS!”
She pointed towards the door. āAnswer it!ā
Chuckling, he went to the door and spoke in a louder than normal voice.
āOh hey BRADY!ā
Rolling her eyes, she curled up on the chair and watched the exchange.
āShawn I hate to bug you but I need your help.ā
He nodded. āSure cousin. Whatās up?ā
Brady was frantic. āBelleās missing.ā
Shawn looked over Bradyās shoulder. āUm, no sheās not.ā
Gesturing behind him made Brady turn to find his sister sitting there.
āHi ya big brother.ā
Bradyās eyes widened āWhat in the hell are you doing here?ā
Shawn smiled. āSheās my new roommate.ā
Brady and Belle looked at him. āI am?ā āShe is?ā
Shawn nodded. āI already asked you, I assumed.ā
She rolled her eyes. āWhat have I taught you about assume? It makes an ass out of YOU and Me.ā
He made a face. āKeep it up and youāll be sleeping out on the railing.ā
Brady stepped towards his sister. āI thought that you and Jeremy were.ā
She blinked. āWere, key word in that sentence. Brady, I called off the engagement tonight.ā
He shook his head. āIf it was over the events of this morning.ā
She closed her eyes. āNo, it was over the fact that I donāt want to marry someone out of the idea of what was rather than what could be.ā
He sank into the couch. āYouāve lost me.ā
She tried not to laugh. āI love him, but not to the extreme of wanting to spend forever with him. It changed.ā
āChanged for who?ā
He saw Belle and Shawn exchange glances.
āIām going to go now.ā
She tore herself away from Shawn. āWhat for?ā
āSo I can let Mom know that youāre in safe hands.ā
Ā
āIām going to kill him.ā
Marlena lunged for his back, wrapping her hands around his and nuzzled his neck.
āNo, your not.ā
He grinned and nodded as he pulled her around to settle into his lap.
āOh yes I am and then Iām locking our daughter in a convent and no you canāt stop me. What in the hell was she thinking?ā
Marlena played with his tie. āI think she realized a lesson that you learnt too late. That itās better to be with the person you love rather than a person whom you canāt truly love. She loved Jeremy but.ā
John nodded, hating the pain that briefly shone in his love’s eyes.
āBut not the way she loves that Brady kid.ā
āShawn Douglas and heās not little anymore John.ā
He grimaced. āCanāt we send her to the convent in Alamainia.ā
She burst out laughing. āYou tried that once remember, they found out Vivian was her great-aunt and something was said to the effect that they wouldnāt take her not even if she bathed in holy water?ā
āSomething about her being still too close.ā He joined the laughter.
āItās not that I donāt like the boy. But geeze, not a Brady.ā
Marlena playfully punched his shoulder. āWhat were you when I fell in love with you?ā
John shrugged. āA Mummy?ā
Marlena grinned. āMaybe, but you were destined to be MY mummy.ā
He reached into his pocket and smiled. “Marry me love.”
*~*~*~*
Shawn Douglas woke up and found himself entangled with the one person who continually haunted his dreams for his duration at sea.
āBelle?ā Trying to shift, he pushed her hair from her face.
āHey sleepy!ā
Opening one eye, she smiled. āHey.ā
Sitting up, she blushed. āThis isnāt what I thought it was going to be like.ā
He grinned a grin that ensured her stomach did flips. āWhy am I suddenly scared of what you thought?ā
She laughed. āI didnāt expect to wake up on the couch.ā
He stood up and pulled her to her feet. āWell you have and now is the first day of your new life.ā
āWhat new life?ā He grinned. āAs Iām going to tell you.ā He waved his hand. āI donāt think I have to.ā
She colored again and he pulled her to him. āI know that I promised, but I need to do this.ā
Teasing her lips with his own, he slowly deepened the kiss.
*~*~*~*
āBelle answer that.ā
āIām on the ladder, YOU go answer it!ā
Shawn stuck his head out of the kitchen. āThe pancakes will burn, get DOWN!ā
Throwing the drop cloth at him, she let out a yell. āIām COMING!ā
Opening the door, she smiled. āHi Aunt Hope.ā
Allowing her to come in, Belle adjusted her ponytail. āDear, someoneās come to see you.ā
āIām not open for business yet.ā He froze. āHi Ma.ā
Hopeās eyes widened. āDear?ā
Belle grinned. āI think weāre out of milk.ā
He panicked. āNo you donāt.ā
She leaned in forward to kiss his cheek. āIām walking.ā
*~*~*~*
āSo?ā
Shawn shrugged. āIām in love with the girl.ā
Hope nodded. āI see that, but take it slowly. I mean sheās just broken up with Jeremy.ā
He looked at her across the table. āShe and I were in love before Mom.ā
āAnd you broke it off with her. You left and Shawn, she was devastated.ā
He studied his plate, pushing the food around idly. āThe men in our family arenāt known for wise decisions. I told her that as much last night, that if she hadnāt have been Jeremyās then, that I would have made her mine.ā
Hope smiled. āHow does she feel?ā
Belleās scream interrupted them as Shawn bolted for the door.
*~*~*~*
They found Belle trying to coax the terrified puppy out from the middle of the road.
āHoney!ā
She waved at him. āI canāt do this and Iām afraid heāll be hurt!ā
Hope began to distract on-coming traffic while the duo worked to bring in the stray.
*~*~*~*
āWe canāt keep him.ā
Belle finished washing the puppy, who finally stopped shaking. āHer.ā
Shawn grimaced. āBelle.ā
āIf weāre going to be working from here, then you need a security system and what better system then a dog?ā
She set the puppy down and smiled as it shook itself. āBelle itās no bigger than your shoe!ā
She shrugged. āWhatās your point?ā
Coming towards him, she started to laugh. āThe toughest packages usually are the smallest people. I should know, what was it again that I did to you when I was 9?ā
He grimaced. āI could have killed Brady for teaching you defense in hockey.ā
They burst out laughing. āOkay, you win.ā
āShe can stay.ā
*~*~*~*
āSheās not going to like it, but yep Iāll get her to the Pub.ā He grinned. āDonāt worry Grams. Thereās nothing like happy news to get a family cheered up.ā
He waved to Belle who walked in with the puppy. āTalk to you later.ā
āWhatās up Sherlock?ā
Shawn smiled. āWeāre going to dinner at the Pub.ā He pulled her to him. āApparently thereās some news that weāre wanted to be hearing.ā
She nodded. āMom and Dad are FINALLY getting married.ā She beamed. āMom emailed me via the phone.ā She pulled it from her purse and hit read before handing it off to a stunned Shawn Douglas.
āI thought your Mom was technologically disinclined.ā
She hugged him. āIn the right hands, we Black women can do just about anything.ā
He grinned and kissed her, his hands roaming under the t-shirt and sweater.
āIām beginning to see that.ā
She played with the buttons on his shirt. āSmart boy.ā
“Kiss me.”
Belle shoved him away, bursting into infectious laughter. “My parents are over there.”
Shawn grinned. “So big deal, mine are over the other way.” He pulled her to him. “So pucker up.”
She doubled over. “Such a romantic.”
He reached down and straightened her up. “Only for you.”
Their eyes locked and she smiled. “I could get quite attached to you sailor man.”
John looked at Marlena and smiled. “First time he hurts her, I’m on him like ham on rye.”
*~*~*~*
Weeks flew by until it was the day of Marlena and John’s long awaited wedding.
Belle woke early and left the house before Shawn Douglas, leaving only a note for him to meet her at the church.
“Don’t forget, wedding is at 2.” He crumpled the note. “Please woman, I can tell time.”
As he came away from their bedroom window, he went to the desk and double checked that the little box was still there.
“I think it’s going to be a great day.”
*~*~*~*
“Mom, you look gorgeous.”
She turned and found the children standing in the doorway smiling at her, their joy at this moment leading her into a matching radiant smile as she held out her hands.
“I can say the same for all of you.” Eric and Brady came in first, followed by Carrie, Sami and Belle.
Brady hugged her. “So are you ready for it, I mean this is a big step.”
Belle rolled her eyes. “God help us, it’s Dad.”
Marlena smiled at her daughter and then nodded to her son. “I’ve been ready for this for years.”
She gazed into their faces. “I’m so touched that you were all willing to be part of our day.”
Belle laid her hand on her mother’s shoulder. “I think its all of us who are touched that you wanted us to be.”
Marlena got up and led them to the corner, where there was a bottle of sparkling cider.
Pouring each a glass, she led them in a toast. “To our family may we be as together and united as we are today.”
Each of the children happily responded. “To our family!”
*~*~*~*
“Want some help with that?”
He turned and found Shawn Douglas standing in the doorway. “Yeah please, my best men have deserted me.”
“Their with Marlena, I saw them go in as Mom, Dad and I arrived.”
John nodded as he finished adjusting the tie. “How did you know how to do that?”
Shawn grinned. “Your daughter.”
John stepped away to check in the mirror and saw the younger man’s distress. “I take it she’s why your here?”
Surprised, the younger man could only nod. “Well yeah.”
John turned around. “You love her don’t you?”
“She’s the only one I’ve ever loved with this intensity. I think I’ve loved her since the first day I saw her.”
John grinned. “Then you have our blessings.”
“How did you know?”
“Belle is the type of girl who believes in tradition and I know that family means the world to you too. To ask me to marry her would be the only reason you came after me on my wedding day.”
Shawn burst into a smile. “Well yeah you’re right.”
John patted him on the shoulder before reaching for his jacket. “Good Luck son, and in case she says yes, welcome to the family.”
Shawn watched him go then suddenly picked up on what he said. “What do you mean in case she says yes?”
*~*~*~*
Shawn sat with his parents and grandparents, all watching as the wedding party made their way down the aisle.
Eric escorted Sami, Carrie came with Brady and then it was time for his Isabella.
Dressed in a slip dress of rose patterned silk, her hair was up in a twist with little curls escaping here and there. She carried a bouquet of tiny tea roses and as she came closer to him, she winked.
“Easy son, this isn’t your wedding.”
Hope smiled, having been with Shawn as he picked out Belle’s ring.
“Bo honey, leave him alone.” She grinned. “You know strange things happen at weddings.”
*~*~*~*
As the couples danced, Shawn came and slipped his hand around Belle’s waist.
“Come with me.” She turned and smiled. “I can’t. I have to go pose with Mom and Dad in a minute.”
He gestured to the couple, lost in their own little world. “Love, I don’t see them coming apart anytime soon.”
Belle blushed. “You’re right.”
Turning back to face Shawn, she found him on one knee.
“Isabella, m’amour.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh no.”
He nodded, smile as bright as her eyes. “Love will you marry me?”
Belle could have sworn the family was holding it’s breath as it was just too still around her.
Finding her voice, she smiled and nodded. “Yes, yes I will marry you.”
As their lips met and she allowed him to slip the elegantly simple ring on her hand, the family broke into applause.
Yet another bond united the Horton/Brady/Black families in their circle of love…
The End..
The Jarlena Journal 