Maybe Baby
Brady and Mimi Saga
Chapter Eleven
Hanging his head Brady worked to relieve the growing tension in his neck, gently kneading, and rubbing it between his fingers. The moment of truth had come and suddenly he was a man of few words. Suddenly he had no answers.
"Brady?" Belle broke the silence. She studied her brother. Slow to respond he dropped his hand to his side and looked at up at her. His expression was pained and distressed, and his eyes bore deep into hers with an intensity that almost scared her. He was obviously trying to tell her something, but what?
"Your mother asked you a question son?" John stepped forward commanding Brady's attention. "What happened tonight?" He asked tilting his head to the side.
Belle sensed Brady's reluctance to open up and was no longer able to just stand by and watch as her father tried in vain to get any information out of her brother. "We need to have a talk big brother," she said stepping in beside him.
Brady watched curiously as Belle looped her arm with his.
"Mom, dad, can I talk to Brady alone for a minute?" She asked. She watched with tired eyes as her mother and father exchanged glances. Both she was sure sensed there was something more to this whole situation then meets the eye. Who wouldn't? Brady had been withdrawn and quiet for months now, making mysterious phone calls, he was in and out of the house constantly without so much as a goodbye.
"Belle," Marlena began taking a step toward her. "Sweetheart, I think it's important that your father and I get some answers," She replied glancing at Brady before returning her gaze to Belle, smiling thinly. "I would also like to be here when the doctor comes out."
Belle sighed, and looked her brother. He was absolutely broken there was no way that he could handle the tough questions that were about to be dealt.
Her attention returned to her parents.
"Mom…please," she begged. "I need to talk to my brother," Belle asserted, her eyes wandering between both Marlena and John.
All were struck by her plea, especially Brady whom was abruptly pulled out of his world of thought. He now watched his sister, the corner of his mouth curling up. He was completely touched and fascinated by her love and adoration for him.
"Alright," John agreed after a short pause. "Your mom and I," he threw his arm around Marlena's shoulder and smiled. "We'll check out the vending machines." He started pulling Marlena with him.
"We'll get the two of you a soda," she added, smiling. She looked at John, grabbed the hand that lazily rested on her shoulder and they turned and walked away.
**
"Alright Brady the parental unit is gone." She pulled away from him and sat in one of the chairs lining the wall nearest the emergency room. She was relieved to note they were alone.
She watched as he paced in front of her silent, his hands were stuffed in his pockets and his eyes were drawn to the emergency room doors as if by some sort of magnetism.
"What is taking so damn long?" He barked one hand now on his forehead and the other high on his hip pushing the tail of his jacket away from his body, She had been in there for a good 45 minutes to an hour and he had yet to be told anything. It was driving him crazy.
"Brady," Belle leaned forward in her chair and reached for his hand, but he'd moved just out of reach before she was able to grasp it. She shook her head in exasperation at his back. It was like she wasn't even there. She was completely sympathetic to him because she to feared for her friend and wanted to know what was going on, but she realized Brady wasn't just acting like a scared friend. He was acting like a scared boyfriend.
She inwardly laughed at the thought, as her eyes remained focused on Brady's back. After all she told herself it wasn't that long ago that her brother was desperately in love with Chloe, but now she was with Philip. Chloe told Belle what had happened that summer night not long ago when Brady declared his feelings, finally. She was furious that Chloe had broken her brother's heart, and told her as much. But, when Belle had arrived home early that night from her date with Shawn, She was surprised to find that Brady wasn't there.
Belle heard commotion outside the door she immediately switched off the TV and leapt off the couch.
Brady opened the door and found his sister waiting inside and he could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew. "I don't wanna talk about it," he said simply, averting his gaze and throwing his keys on the table that was just inside the door.
Belle watched him with her arms crossed in front of her and was completely annoyed when he strode passed her and into the kitchen.
"You want a PB and J?" He asks without taking his concentration off of his own sandwich meticulously spreading the peanut butter on a slab of wheat bread.
"Sure." Belle sits on a bar- stool in front of the counter, quietly watching for a moment as Brady stands behind the counter preparing the sandwiches. His movements were fluid and quick almost hypnotizing.
"So, how was the big date?" Brady asked glazing up at her, breaking the silence.
"Short," she replied.
Brady nodded.
"But, oh so sweet," She grinned, propping her elbow up on the counter, resting her chin in her hand.
Brady stopped what he was doing and looked at her. "You know, you really are nauseating." Belle just smiled wider and batted her eyes Brady could do nothing to thwart the laughter rising in his chest.
Brady handed Belle her sandwich, his laughter dissipating, leaving behind a small grin.
"So," Belle began nonchalantly, ripping a small section from the sandwich and popping it into her mouth. "Where were you tonight?" She asked her eyes fixed on the sandwich, studying it like it held the secret to life. Trying to act as though the question and the answer to it was no big deal.
Brady--who was standing sideways, lazily leaning a hip into the counter top—stiffened. His chewing slowed, he looked at Belle and after a moment he dropped his head, and swallowed. "I was with Mimi," he replied.
Belle's eyes widened, as a thought suddenly occurred to her. She stood and approached Brady stopping just behind him.
"Brady?" Belle placed a hand on his shoulder and he turned to face her.
"What?" He asked, craning his neck around still distracted by what was going on in the hospital cubical a short distance away.
Belle noticed, but kept talking, "Brady, what happened between you and Mimi the night you drove her home? The night she broke up with Kevin?"
Brady's head snapped back around, his eyes widening. "What?" He asked incredulously.
"Brady, did something happen between you and Mimi?" Belle asked searching her brother's eyes, trying to read his expression.
**