Bo unlocked the front door of their Victorian style house quietly, careful not to wake the sleeping baby inside. He turned back to his wife and smiled.
"I hope you had a wonderful night, fancy face." He beamed. He stared into Hope's deep brown eyes and was reminded once again, as he was every time he looked at her, how much he truly loved her.
Hope wrapped her arms around Bo's neck and looked up at him, smiling back.
"Every time I'm with you, I have a wonderful time." She closed in slowly and gently pressed her pink lips against Bo's. The kiss was affectionate, true proof that the love they shared was real. Not a day passed by that they forgot to thank God for the blessing they found in each other, and in their three beautiful children. Their oldest son, Shawn, who was just beginning his second year of college. Bo and Hope were so proud of him. He had received a full baseball scholarship to Salem University two years ago and was still doing great. Shawn also had a girlfriend, Belle, who he was serious about. The love that his parents shared gave Shawn the faith and hope that true love will always prevail against anything.
Bo and Hope's youngest son, Zac was still a baby, only two years old. Bo and Hope knew how lucky they were to have him. Due to horrible situations two years ago, their baby was switched with the baby of their good friends. The babies had been raised the first year of their lives in the wrong homes when the truth finally came out and Zac was given back to Bo and Hope. Such a happy little boy and a loving addition to the Brady family.
Then there was their middle daughter, Alyssa who was just a junior in high school. Bo and Hope loved her passionately but she was always so quiet, so reserved. She and her parents were very close but Bo and Hope sometimes felt that Alyssa held back her feelings. She had so many difficulties at school. She didn't have any friends and the teasing she endured from her peers caused her to have low marks. She was the exact opposite of Shawn, who was involved in school activities, had lots of friends and good marks. Bo and Hope were so pleased with their son when he frequently invited his little sister to hang out with him and his friends. Shawn loved Alyssa and wanted to see her happy. As did Bo and Hope. Not only with Alyssa, but with all three of their wonderful children.
"Shh Bo, we have to be quiet. It's past midnight, the kids are probably asleep." Hope whispered as Bo entered the house first and stumbled for the light switch. Hope followed him inside, shutting the door behind her and removing her fur coat. Bo approached his wife with a big grin and he took her hand into his own.
"What are you thinking?" Hope could tell by Bo's hearty smile that he had things on his mind.
"What do you say we go into the kitchen and celebrate our love over a glass of champagne?" Bo suggested in his low, romantic voice. Hope raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Brady, that's the best idea you've had all night." She led the way, keeping his hand locked in her own.
They pushed through the kitchen door to discover the kitchen light on, and Alyssa standing in front of the refrigerator, pouring herself a glass of milk. Hope puckered her brow as she watched her only daughter close the milk container.
"Hi mom, hi dad." Alyssa greeted in a low whisper and she sat down at the table with her milk. Bo and Hope, who hadn't expected anyone to be awake this late on a school night, sat down with their daughter.
"Alyssa, you have school in the morning. You know your mom and I like you in bed by 10:30pm. What's the deal?" Bo asked calmly. Bo and Hope never yelled at their children. They believed that talking calmly did the trick, as well as acts of discipline such as phone privileges taken away. Luckily, Bo and Hope had raised three terrific children who obeyed every rule and hardly ever broke them.
Alyssa shrugged slightly with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"I can't sleep. I tried to for an hour, but I can't." She said quietly as she sipped her milk, waiting for her parents to say something.
Bo and Hope exchanged concerned glances. This was the fifth night in a row that Alyssa couldn't sleep. She had complained about not being able to get comfortable, but Bo and Hope were beginning to wonder if there was something more to it than that. They were so concerned for their daughter.
"If you guys want to be alone, I can take my milk to my room." Alyssa got up to leave, but Hope shook her head.
"No of course not sweetie. Sit down." She said as Alyssa lowered herself back into the chair. She eyed both her parents and feared she would be in trouble.
"Honey, why can't you sleep?" Hope tried, knowing she would get the same excuse as the last four nights. When she did, she only nodded in disbelief.
"Alyssa, your mom and I are a little concerned. You haven't been sleeping lately. Is there a reason why you can't sleep?" Bo asked, hoping that his reserved daughter might open up.
Alyssa looked into the eyes of her mom and dad and knew they were sincere. She knew they loved her, she could feel it. It wasn't like she felt she couldn't talk to them, she knew they'd understand, but a part of her told her not to. To keep it to herself. With that mind set, Alyssa shook her head slowly.
"No dad, there's not really any reason besides the fact that I just can't get comfortable." She said unemotionally. Hope tried to hide her disappointment.
"Alright, well just remember that we love you and you can always come to us with anything. You know that right?" She asked, as she reached across the table and placed her hand over her daughter's and stroked it. Alyssa smiled and Bo could see the resemblance between the mother and daughter at that moment.
"I know that." Alyssa said quietly. Silence followed for a moment before Hope stood up.
"I'm making some tea. Alyssa, I think you should go take another shot at getting some sleep. Are Shawn and Zac asleep?" She asked as she filled the teapot with water.
"Yeah, Zac went straight to sleep after I read him Dr. Seuss. Shawn got home from his date with Belle about half an hour after you and dad left. He studied for a bit, then I heard him go to bed a little bit after I did. They're both asleep now." Alyssa reported. Hope nodded and kissed her daughter's forehead and embraced her tightly.
"I love you baby." Hope said, really meaning it.
"I love you too mom." Alyssa replied, sensing her mother was worried. Bo hugged Alyssa tightly and tousled her hair gently.
"See you in the morning sailor girl." Bo winked at his daughter as she smiled at the nickname. Alyssa remembered all the times Bo and Hope took her and Shawn out sailing on their boat. Bo had always called Shawn "sailor man" and Alyssa "sailor girl" and it stuck, even as they grew older. And now that they had Zac, Bo called him "sailor baby." Alyssa loved her family so much and remembering the times they shared together brought joy to her heart in her recent times of sadness.
"Goodnight." Alyssa took her milk and went upstairs.
Hope finished making her tea in silence, as her back was turned to Bo. Bo knew that Hope was trying to hide from him the fact that something was bothering her, but she couldn't fool her husband. He knew just by her silence that she had something on her mind. Bo was quiet as he observed her. She carried her hot tea back to the table and sat down, gazing into her cup. The smile that was spread across her beautiful face only moments ago when they first arrived home had been replaced by a sad frown and downcast eyes.
"Fancy face." Bo said, breaking the silence using the nickname he'd had for his wife since before they were married. The name meant so much to him. He even named his boat "fancy face" after his wife.
Hope looked up into her husband's eyes and could see that he was as worried as she was.
"Bo, I'm worried about Alyssa. Haven't you noticed that she's been more depressed lately? I mean, that smile she used to have is gone. Sure she still smiles, but it's lost its happiness. And now she isn't sleeping. Maybe we should have Marlena talk to her." Hope was talking about Marlena Black. She and her husband John were trusted friends of the family and their daughter Belle was Shawn's steady girlfriend. Marlena was a psychiatrist at the hospital, which was the reason why Hope suggested it.
"I don't know fancy face. I don't want Alyssa to feel forced into seeing a shrink." Bo hesitated.
"Marlena's not just a shrink Bo, she's a good friend. Alyssa trusts her and I think it would be easier for her to open up to Marlena rather than some other psychiatrist." Hope argued. Bo shrugged. She had a point, and it was obvious she was serious about it.
"Hope, I agree that there's something wrong, but let's wait. Let's keep trying to get her to open up to us and if nothing changes, we'll contact Marlena. Deal?" Bo extended his hand. Hope stared at it and then back up at her husband. She let out a long sigh, but took his hand and shook it.
"I don't like this Brady. I don't like it at all." Hope told her husband. He reached over and cupped her soft face in his hands.
"She'll be fine. She's a Brady. We always get through a crisis." Bo tried to reassure his wife. She only nodded, with doubtful eyes. Bo smiled at her.
"Do you still want that champagne?" He asked her with that grin. A smile crossed her face slowly.
"You bet I do Brady." She winked at him.