Chapter Sixteen

The Ladies Have Arrived

Belle and Mimi were in Mimi's car driving about a mile away from Liz's house. Belle looked very pretty with her blonde hair long enough to reach her shoulders now. She had let it start to grow out when she first found out that she was pregnant. It now reached the middle of her back, but due to the heat she had put it up in a ponytail so she wouldn't get hot having it lay around her neck.

"So Mimi, why didn't you tell me you were coming to see Chloe this weekend. I mean I know that you and Chloe have become friends now because of Brady. But, I at least thought that you would have told me. With Shawn going out of town this weekend to do something for Victor. I thought that since Brady would be gone too, that you and I could spend some time together." Belle looked over at Mimi who was concentrating on the road.

"Belle, I was going to tell you that I was going out of town. But, I didn't think that you would want to hear about that. Besides, I didn't think Shawn would actually go out of town considering how overprotective he is of you. So anyway, what did he tell you about this mysterious trip that he and Brady went on?"

Belle frowned. "Mysterious, I don't know what's mysterious about it. But, now that I think about it, he really didn't tell me much about it. Just something about saving Kiriakis from getting into more fire. But, that's about it. So like I said nothing really." She rubbed her stomach as she responded.

"I'll bet he's saving Kiriakis ass from the fire." Mimi said to herself under her breath.

"What did you say?" Belle asked.

"What... nothing, I didn't say anything at all." She continued driving with her eyes on the road.

"You know I'm a little astonished that Brady let you come out here. I thought that you would have been home with Conrad. But, I guess since he's out of town it's okay. By the way, did Brady tell you why he's going out of town?"

"Kiriakis Business."

"That's weird." Belle frowned again.

"What's weird?"

"It's just that they both said Kiriakas business instead of Titan business. It's kind of like they weren't doing anything for Titan. But, something for Victor instead. That's probably it." She shook her head as if erasing the thought from her mind. "They're dong something for Victor. You know how much our husbands love their grandfather. So I guess I'm not just surprised by that." Belle rationalized as they pulled onto the street where Liz's house was located.

"I'll bet they're doing something for Victor." Mimi said under her breath as pulled onto the side of the street in front of Liz's house. As she unbuckled her seatbelt she looked over at Belle.

"Okay, Mimi why do you keep on doing that?" Belle also unbuckled her seatbelt, too.

"Doing what? I am not doing anything except getting out of the car." Mimi pushed open her car door and walked over to Belle's side to help her up.

"You know exactly what I am talking about. Every time I say something about Shawn or Brady you mutter something under your breath. So would you please just tell me whatever it is that is bothering you so I can enjoy my weekend." Belle requested as she eased herself up into a standing position and closed the door.

As Belle and Mimi started to walk to the door, it opened and out came Chloe. She was dressed in a short jean skirt that ended at her knees, a blue short sleeved top, with a lightweight sweater overcoat that covered the entire ensemble. "Hey guys, you don't know how much I missed you." She opened her arms wide and hugged both of the women together. When she released them, she turned around and walked into the house. "Come on, I want you to get inside and away from the hot sun." They walked into the air-conditioned house and shut the door. They walked down the hallway to the living room. "Go on sit down." Chloe said as they entered the beautiful living room.

"Chloe slow down, honey. We are not going to run away or anything. Everything will be fine." Mimi said following Chloe and a very pregnant Belle.

"Okay, Meems, you have been making little comments like that all day. What's wrong?" Belle asked again as she entered the living room and eased in a seat on the couch.

"Belle Black, look at you, you are so big." Liz said coming from the upstairs' rooms (her house had rooms on both floors). "No, don't get up." She said and went to hug the blonde.

"Hey, it's Belle Brady now. Hi Liz it's good to see you." She returned the slim brunette's hug.

"I know, I know. So where is the husband of yours at? I'm surprised he let you come out here by yourself." Liz stood up and pushed her hair behind her ears.

"He's away on business. Where are your husband and that adorable son of yours?" Belle asked as she noticed Kay enter the room.

"Well, Gabe is with his Daddy at the moment. Mimi, I didn't see you there. Where is Conrad?" She asked trying to move the attention away from Max. The other women all noted the action.

"Well he's with my parents this weekend. And my husband is with Shawn." Mimi answered.

"I forgot that you guys already knew each other. But, in any case, that is my cousin Kay and her cousin Liz. These are my best friends in the whole world Mimi Black and Belle Brady." Chloe said.

"Hi guys, Chloe has missed you so much. I am so happy to have you here. Oh yeah, my sister-in-law wants to talk to you Belle. She wants to compare notes with you on the dress that you designed for Britany Spears for the Grammy's." Kay said walking over to sit next to Belle who smiled at the thought of the dress. "Theresa said that she would be over later with Maria to meet you guys she is so excited."

"Whoa, Kay you haven't even let them catch a breath yet, calm down." Chloe said.

"Chloe it's okay. I have wanted to get together with Theresa for a while. But, you know how over protective Shawn is now that I'm pregnant." Belle said as she rubbed her stomach, all the while smoothing the material over her stomach.

"You no I'm surprised that Shawn let you come out here. I mean especially since he is a little bit too protective. It's like he thinks you're completely fragile.

"I know exactly what you mean. But, when Victor called him and asked him to go out of town on Kiriakas business, he couldn't say no." As Belle finished she noticed Chloe frown.

"Well, I don't know about Brady. But, when I spoke with Victor a few days ago he told me that he had restricted Shawn from going on any business trips that went outside of Salem. He did the same thing with Brady when Mimi was close to her due date. Whatever Shawn is doing, he's not doing it for Victor or Titan." Chloe said.

"But, I don't understand. Why would Shawn lie to me about what he's doing." Belle was about to get completely worried and start to freak out when she heard Mimi, "I told him that it wasn't going to work." Belle looked over at Mimi, as did the other women. "Okay Mimi, that's it. You said something this time and I want to know what. And don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. We all heard you." Mimi looked hesitant.

"Mimi your really getting me worried here. Besides, you know you can't keep secrets. You are going to end up telling us anyway. So why not make it easy on yourself and tell us now." Chloe said as she walked over to Mimi.

"I resent that. I can keep a secret." Belle, Chloe, and Liz all looked at her. "What I can. When have I not been able to keep a secret? Name one time."

"The Last Blast," Belle and Chloe voiced together.

"Okay, well that shouldn't count. Besides, Belle I swore that I wouldn't say anything. I'm not even supposed to know, technically."

"Look, Meems, if it's about Shawn, I have a right to know. You have to tell me. Please, Mimi." Belle begged her friend and sister-in-law. Mimi knew she had to tell somebody.

"Okay, I'll tell you but you didn't here it from me. Shawn and Brady are here, in Boston. They are doing something for Philip."

Kay looked up from her seat. "Wait a minute, now I don't understand. Philip isn't working while he's out here. He told Miguel that he was taking a break. He's even been staying at my house and as far as I know that's the only place he's been since he's been here."

"I know that, that is where they are probably going to be at too. Apparently, Philip called them and asked them to come down here to help him get you guys' back. It was supposed to go down on Saturday at some Latin Show." Mimi answered as she saw Liz walk over to the table and pick up some piece of paper. She held it up.

"Do you mean the Latin Sensation Showcase?" Liz asked holding up the flyer.

"Yeah, that's it. It's supposed to happen on Saturday at eight o'clock. How did you know what I was talking about?" Mimi asked Liz as she read from the flyer.

"Maria has been working on this for a month. That's why she came here. If she has been in on this then she knows exactly what the guys are planning to do. She has been working with my cousin Theresa. Do you know what they are doing?" Liz asked Mimi as she sat down.

"No, all I know is that each of the guys are planning to do something during the show."

"Okay, I have a question. If Maria was working with them then why hasn't she told us about this yet?" Kay asked as Liz's front door opened with Theresa, Maria and the children walked in.

"Auntie Belle, Auntie Belle," Azarian yelled as he and Devon ran towards the pregnant blonde on the couch.

"Whoa, look at you Azarian you have grown so big. And Devon, my darling, you are still as cute as a button." Belle said as she kissed the small children in front of her. "Maria, aren't you going to say anything?"

"Of course. I just can't believe how big you have gotten since I last saw you." She walked over to Belle and touched her eight-month pregnant stomach. " How are you doing, Blondie? I see you let your hair grow out."

"Okay, let's cut the small talk, how come you didn't tell us what the guys are up to?" Kay asked looking over at Maria.

"What thing? What are you talking about? I have no idea what the guys are up to." Maria answered a little confused.

"Come on, Maria, we know that they are planning to do something during the showcase on Saturday. You don't have to act like you don't know what we're talking about." Kay said then she saw Theresa's look of guilt.

"Okay, I have been working on the event. But, I have never even mentioned it around the guys except for Michael. Why is it so important away? Wait a minute does this have anything to do with Brady and Shawn being here?" Maria questioned looking at Belle and Mimi.

"They're here already. I thought it would take them longer to get here." Mimi said as she sat down.

"They didn't tell you that we didn't know they were coming here too?" Belle asked in return.

"No, as a matter of fact they acted like you had an agreement to come here separately. Because, I did ask them that. But, now that I think about it they were acting a little strange."

"Momma, can we go play?" Gabe asked he mother tugging on her skirt.

"Sure sweetie, Sara, will you go with them and make sure they don't get in to anything." Liz asked the blonde child who stood by her mother.

"Okay, Azarian, Gabriel, and Devon, come on let's go play." Sara said as she and the other children left the room.

"You guys, I don't think Maria is the one who the men have been working with. Do you have any ideas on who that person might be, Theresa.?" Kay asked her sister-in-law.

All eyes turned to the elegantly dressed fashion designer and hostess of the event. Unable to face the pressure she looked completely guilty. "I am so sorry, you guys."

"Theresa Winthrop, how could you help them with this. I thought you were going to stay neutral." Kay said to the woman toying with her wedding ring.

"What was I supposed to do? Miguel and Ethan begged me to help them and I gave in. But, the only thing I did was to arrange for them to be in the show. I don't know what they are going to do. I don't actually know anything more than what you already know. I think that you guys should be happy that I agreed to help them." She said as she stopped playing with her wedding rings.

"Oh my god, I just thought of something. This is a semiformal event. What are we going to wear?" Kay asked to no one in general, looking down at her own skirt and blouse.

"That's why you should be happy that I agreed to help. I made a condition that the only way I would help them is if you guys wore some of my own designs. But, you guys don't know this yet."

Belle started to ease herself up out of her seat. "Well that's great for them. But what about me? I mean I'm eight months pregnant. How am I supposed to find something to wear in two days?" Belle asked.

"Oh I have that covered because you and Mimi were included. I already knew that you were coming. So I went ahead had something fitted for you. I hope you won't mind wearing a Lopgerald creation." Theresa answered as she went to help Belle up.

"Of course, I wouldn't mind. It's just that I'm a little mad at my husband. That's all. I can't believe that he wouldn't tell me about this. I mean we have never kept secrets from each other. How could he keep this from me? And on top of that not tell me where he is going. Of all the rotten things in the world, couldn't he have at least told me where he was going. For God's sakes, I could have gone into labor." Belle said as she started to get angry at Shawn's secret.

"Belle, honey, I think that you need to calm down." Maria said taking out her bottle of cedar oil from a chain around her neck and giving it to Belle. "Sweetie, sniff this. I think it will make you feel better."

"I am fine, Maria. I don't need to sniff your cedar oil." Everyone in the room eyed her wearily. "Really, I just think that my husband should be taught a lesson about not telling me the truth." She said as that got everyone's attention.

"Oh my gosh, Mrs. Belle Brady seeking revenge. Now this I have to hear. So tell us what do you want to do." Mimi asked.

"First of all this is not a revenge thing. This is simply paying our dear husbands back for not telling us the truth. Are you in?" Belle asked.

"Let's hear your plan because I might want to get in on this too." Maria said suddenly very interested.

"But, I thought that you weren't mad at Michael." Belle said turning to Maria.

Maria blushed guiltily. "I'm not," the other women laughed at her. "I don't think you guys should be laughing at me, in my position and all."

"And what position would that be Mrs. Guerin?"

"Mimi, I think if you know what's best for you, you'll be quiet. Because I know how you got Brady to tell you the truth." Maria's green eyes flared as she looked at the surprised redhead.

"You wouldn't. How did you find out anyway?" Mimi asked aware that all eyes were on her.

"Let's just say that I have my sources. Now back to Belle's "payback" plan. I think that after all our respective husbands have put us through, we could all use a little payback. Agreed."

"Agreed," the women all echoed.

"Now, Belle tell us about your plan." Maria requested as all the women moved closer to hear Belle's plan.

"Okay, do any of your husbands like to dance?" Belle asked.

"Not really, unless it's with me." Was the general reply except for the a, "Only with me," and "If I make him."

"No, I don't think that you understand my question. I mean Latin Dancing and not the kind where you would do it public. If you know what I mean." Belle said.

"You mean the sensual kind, that has such an intense feeling of passion that you won't do it with anyone but your husband and your mother would be embarrassed to see you do it." Maria explained to the group.

"Exactly. If you want to get back at your husband that's what you should do. Dance like that." The women were silent as if they were thinking it over. Chloe rose from her seat and walked around until she stepped in front of them.

"Okay, the type of dancing I think you're talking about ... there is no way I would get up and do that with some random guy. Besides, that Philip will mostly likely hit any guy that I dance with like that. You know how irrationally jealous he can get."

"Okay, I think I can solve that problem easily. You wouldn't be dancing with some random guy. You would be dancing with your own husband. That's the beauty of the idea. He won't know until the last minute that he has to dance with you at all." Belle said as she looked around the room at the women. "So whose in? Who wants to torture their husband and have a little fun at the same time?"

"Well you know that I'm in. I just love to torture Michael."

"Me too," was the response from both Kay and Mimi. Everyone had answered to the plan except Chloe and Liz.

"Come on Chloe, if we're going to do it why won't you?" Mimi asked as she gestured to Kay and herself.

"That's all good and fine for you two. But, I am almost four months pregnant and showing a little more. I can't do this dance in public because it would look ridiculous with me in a tight outfit that shows a lot of skin." Chloe answered closing her sweater.

"Is that all you're worried about?" Belle asked. Chloe nodded. "Theresa and I can piece together some baby-friendly dance outfits that keep within the Latin style for all of you. Now will you do this?" Belle asked.

Chloe looked at Liz and saw the other girl shy away from her look. "I will do it only if Liz agrees to help." Everyone looked at Liz.

"You guys, I don't want to stop your fun. But, I don't want to do this." Liz said.

"Liz, look you don't have to dance if you don't want to but I want you to help. I know that none of this has been easy on you. But, you have to help please it would make me feel better. Since, it's all my fault in the first place."

"Chloe, its not you fault. It's just a misunderstanding between Max and myself. You have nothing to feel responsible for. Go ahead and do this, it sounds like it will be fun for you." Liz said as she began to out of the room.

"I will only do it if you agree to help." Chloe responded.

Liz stopped walking and turned around. She saw the looks on all of the women's faces pleading with her. "Okay, I'll help you guys." She said then turned and left the room and headed down to the children's playroom.

"So now that everyone's agreed, we can start making plans. I'll clear up space for the performances at the end. What I need each of you to do is pick a song to dance to." Theresa continued to map the plan for the women when suddenly Mimi interrupted.

"Okay everything sounds great. But, Belle what are you planning to do?"

"Oh, don't worry about that I have something special planned for Shawn." Belle answered.

The women began finish the plan for what they were going to do to surprise their husbands and every couple of seconds laughter was the one thing that could be heard.