Romance of the Iron Maiden
Valley of Shadows
Chapter fourteen: Confessions
"Out with it! What did your doctor say? The three of us are worried sick about you!" Daphne demanded.
"Daphne, she said…I" Velma dabbed her eyes and blew her nose before continuing, "She said I was FAT! Oh, she was nice about it. She used the term 'pudgy' but she meant FAT!"
"You are telling me all this worry has been over a few pounds overweight?!" Daphne asked, astonished.
"She put me on a diet and exercise program, then Shaggy comes along and asks me to marry him…Daphne, I know I'll never be as beautiful as you were on your wedding day. I know that and accept it…but I swore I would not walk down that aisle FAT! Then one day I found this little nothing of a bikini and I've been working extra hard to fit into it."
"Velma Dinkley! You? In a bikini? So when can I see it?"
When the girls arrived back at the table, they were laughing so hard that all plans were put on hold until that evening.
If Velma and Shaggy were to stay overnight at Fred and Daphne's then sleepwear had to be acquired. A stop at Shaggy's solved one half of the problem. Daphne convinced Velma that a shopping trip was in order. With the weight loss a new pair of pajamas was mandatory. Plus she needed a new outfit that actually fit for the visit with Uncle Fred.
After dinner and the dishes cleared, Velma pulled the book containing the necklace from her bag, passing it around the table.
"Has anyone noticed the name of the book?" Shaggy held up the book for everyone to see. "It's 'Valley of Shadows'. Vel you better lay in a large supply of Scooby Snacks. You're going to need them."
"Velms, have you had a chance to see the paper the necklace rested on?" Fred asked.
"I didn't notice any paper. Remember I was a little busy at the time."
"You should…take a look."
The paper was a map, yellowed with age; wrapped inside the map was a coin. Velma let the others look at the map while she took a close look at the coin.
"Hey guys…I think this is a real doubloon and look, the cross on this coin is the same as the necklace. I think we've got a mystery to solve."
"That's my line but you're forgiven…this time" Fred said laughing. "This map looks old but that can be faked by someone who knows what they're doing."
"Guys, I don't know about you but it's been a long day and I'm bushed. Fred do you have someplace safe to put the book and necklace until morning?"
"Sure, there is a safe in the den. Either I or Daph can get it for you whenever you want it."
Later that night, the house was quiet when a robed figure made its way down the hall. The figure stopped several times, listening for any sound. The figure continued down the hall only to stop, listening. The figure stopped in front of one of the doors, listening for any sound coming from inside the room or outside. At last satisfied, the figure took a deep breath exhaling softly, reached for the knob and eased open the door, slipping inside. The room was dark, except for the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the window. Slowly the figure approached the bed and the sleeping form without pausing.
"Shaggy? You awake?" Velma whispered.
"No" Shaggy snickered, instantly recognizing the voice. "Yes" he said raising the covers.
Velma straightened, letting her robe fall to the floor, slid under the covers.
"Hold me. I missed your arms around me."
He wrapped her in his arms, holding her close, feeling her body trembling.
"What's wrong Vel? You're trembling."
I'm a little scared…I normally don't talk about myself but I feel you need to know something about me…You know I'm an only child…but do you really know what that means?" she moved to lay half on top of him, letting her fingers caress his chest.
"Most people will say 'no siblings, no brothers, no sisters' and they would be right, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. With my parents being gone on business so much, it meant being 'farmed out', sometimes your house, Fred's sometimes, I liked being at Daphne's the best. One night we stayed up all night, twenty four hours, watching TV, I think it was 'Creature Feature' marathon. Some of the stories I could tell on that girl! Of course I'll never tell, some of the stories she could tell on me!
It means that after a party and every one is gone, you are left alone. Shaggy, how many nights did I cry myself to sleep, from pure loneliness? It means no dates, because you're tagged as a loser, a nerd, and no one wants to date a nerdy loser, or if they do they want to take advantage, do the nerd a favor, she'll 'put out' out of gratitude. It means no prom for the same reason.
And love? Forget love. It's like you grow up and are ready for a real bike, not one with training wheels, but a real grown up bike. It's waking up on Christmas morning and running downstairs, and there it is! Your very own grown up bike! but it's still in the carton…you have to put it together by yourself…with no directions. You work and work and you get it together…if your lucky there are no left over parts…So you have your new bike all put together…now there's another problem. You have it together but you don't know how to ride! And there is no one to teach you…Daphne should know to put Kleenex in all the bedrooms!
If you are really lucky, someone comes by and says they'll teach you, but your past experiences say you don't trust anyone…so you don't. I've been one of the lucky ones. I found someone I can trust, who loves me and I love him back. Shaggy, I'll always honor you. To prove that, I'm going to ask a question and I want an honest answer.
If you say 'Don't go, its too dangerous', we'll see Uncle John tomorrow and see what he says and get his opinion on how to get rid of it. The mystery stops there. Shaggy, do we continue or do we stop?"
"You would do that on just my say so?"
"Yes…we won't always agree, I'm not that naïve but you will always be my husband and I'll always honor that."
"I never realized it was like that for you. If you cried yourself to sleep one night, it was one night too many. Vel, you look at me with those big, beautiful eyes and flutter those long eyelashes at me and I'd go to the ends of the Earth and fight any dragon just because you asked."
"No dragons Shaggy" she said, unbuttoning his pajama top. "Just a simple request…teach me to ride that bike…teach me the first lesson tonight, here, now."
"It would be my honor but you do know what you're asking? This doesn't have a 'do over', once done there's no going back."
"I know" she whispered, pushing the top off his shoulders, dropping it on the floor.
"First lesson is 'Hugs and Chocolates' he told her, his hand slipping under the hem of her new baby doll nightie, lifting it over her head, letting it drift to the floor, joining his top.
"We don't have any chocolate; Daphne might have some in the refrigerator."
"I love you Vel" he laughed.
"I love you too, Buck…OH! Oh! I think I'm going to like my lessons."
The next morning, Velma woke, kissed Shaggy, "Thank you" she whispered. He replied something unintelligible. She rose, slipping into her baby doll and robe, slipping across the hall for her morning shower then to her bedroom to dress in the peach colored skirt and print blouse she had picked for the trip to Uncle John's, adding the necklace Shaggy had given her.
The smell of fresh brewed coffee led her to the kitchen to find Daphne pouring a cup.
"Good morning…sleep well?" Daphne asked, a knowing smile playing with the corners of her mouth.
"I…we…" Velma stammered.
"Velma, no need to explain. I wasn't trying to be nosey; I opened your door this morning to invite you for coffee. When I found your bed hadn't been slept in, I just had to peek in Shaggy's room. You two were so cute, all wrapped in each other's arms. Fred and I love you two and only want you two to be happy. You do look beautiful in peach, it looks good on you. You are happy aren't you?"
"I think I'm really happy for the first time in my life."
"Good. Fred and I have some errands to run. Probably be gone two or three hours. Consider this your home, you know where every thing is, just lock up when you leave."
Fred entered the kitchen, getting a cup from the cupboard. "You're looking quite the foxy lady this morning." The girls broke into peals of laughter, which left Fred with a puzzled look on his face. "What did I say?"
Later, after Fred and Daphne had left, Velma heard Shaggy moving about, letting Scooby out. He came into the den, leaning over Velma's shoulder to peek at what she had on the computer.
"Good morning Vel" he whispered, nuzzling her neck.
"Good morning Buck" she whispered back, leaning her head to one side.
"I…I guess I couldn't or didn't know how to say 'I love you' before." He whispered in her ear.
"You said it beautifully a thousand times, I wasn't listening…I'm listening now, I was listening last night." She shut the computer off, rose and slipped into his arms,
"Go shower and dress, I'll have breakfast ready and I'll let Scooby in."
"If you weren't dressed, breakfast could wait…"
"But I am dressed, and I'm going to stay that way. Now scoot!"