Chapter 8
Shawn pulled out his cell phone on his way back to the car. He dialed Madison's number. A friendly voice came through the phone, "Hello?" "Madison, Hi, it's Shawn Brady. How are you?" "I'm fine, how are you doing? I've been wondering how you're holding up." Shawn paused for a split second, "I'm just trying to take things one day at a time. Hey I was wondering, do you want to get together for coffee or something?" Now it was Madison's turn for a short pause, "Well, OK. I'm going away for Valentine's Day weekend with a couple of friends, but maybe when I get back we can get together." "Ok, well you've got my number so why don't you give me a call when you get back and we'll set up a time to meet up. I'll talk to you later Madison, Bye." Shawn was relieved that Madison was busy tonight. He knew his dad was just trying to help, but he was just not ready to be dating, especially on Valentine's Day.
After lunch, Belle turned on the TV. There was a commercial for Hallmark cards for Valentine's Day. Hearts flashed all over the screen. Belle had another flashback, this one was of a snowman with her hat, scarf and a paper heart pinned to its snow chest. She said to herself. "That's what I was doing when the avalanche hit, I was getting my hat and scarf off the snowman." Things started to get clearer, she saw another snowman with the same 'I love you' heart. Then she saw him, this handsome man with brown hair and soulful brown eyes. She remembered what he said when she saw the snowman, "He's telling you the truth Belle, I do love you." Belle jumped out of bed, "Oh My God Shawn! I remember, Nurse Kennedy, I remember!" She screeched. Nurse Kennedy rushed into the room. Everything came flooding back, the anniversary weekend, the race, and the avalanche. "Oh my God, Shawn must think I'm dead! I have to get home to Salem NOW!" Nurse Kennedy jumped in, "Whoa whoa, wait a minute Belle, you can't leave right now. You need to be examined and discharged by the doctor. Don't forget you were in a coma for a long time." "But I need to get home to Shawn; he needs to know I'm alive. Please help me!" Nurse Kennedy thought for a second, "OK I'll make a deal with you, let the doctor check you out and give you a clean bill of health and when my shift is over tonight I'll bring you down to Salem. Do we have a deal?" Belle nodded excitedly, "yes, yes of course. Thank you so much!" Nurse Kennedy left and Belle said dreamily to herself, "I'm coming home to you Shawn."
The microwave beeped signaling that the popcorn was ready. Shawn opened the door, grabbed the bag and headed for the living room. He popped in a DVD of The Matrix. Everyone had tried to get Shawn to go out with them tonight but his goal for the evening was to forget it was actually Valentine's Day. Within minutes, Felix was up on Shawn's lap purring to keep him company. Halfway through the movie, Shawn nodded off. In his dreams, Belle was alive and they were on a plane to Italy to start their European tour. "Shawn, we are going to have the best time on this trip. Imagine, seeing buildings that are hundreds and hundreds of years old, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Roman Baths. Places that our ancestors lived before they moved to America. It'll be great." Belle beamed. She looked as beautiful as ever, her blonde hair framed her face and her blue-grey eyes sparkled. Shawn reached over to put his arms around Belle when the 'fasten seat belt' sign lit up and the reminder bell chimed. He put his seat belt on but the bell still rang. The third time it rang, Shawn awoke from his dream to the sound of his doorbell ringing. Sleepily he got off the couch, rubbed the sleep from his eyes and walked to the door. He flicked on the porch light and opened the door. There, right in front of him, stood his beloved Belle.
Shawn pulled out his cell phone on his way back to the car. He dialed Madison's number. A friendly voice came through the phone, "Hello?" "Madison, Hi, it's Shawn Brady. How are you?" "I'm fine, how are you doing? I've been wondering how you're holding up." Shawn paused for a split second, "I'm just trying to take things one day at a time. Hey I was wondering, do you want to get together for coffee or something?" Now it was Madison's turn for a short pause, "Well, OK. I'm going away for Valentine's Day weekend with a couple of friends, but maybe when I get back we can get together." "Ok, well you've got my number so why don't you give me a call when you get back and we'll set up a time to meet up. I'll talk to you later Madison, Bye." Shawn was relieved that Madison was busy tonight. He knew his dad was just trying to help, but he was just not ready to be dating, especially on Valentine's Day.
After lunch, Belle turned on the TV. There was a commercial for Hallmark cards for Valentine's Day. Hearts flashed all over the screen. Belle had another flashback, this one was of a snowman with her hat, scarf and a paper heart pinned to its snow chest. She said to herself. "That's what I was doing when the avalanche hit, I was getting my hat and scarf off the snowman." Things started to get clearer, she saw another snowman with the same 'I love you' heart. Then she saw him, this handsome man with brown hair and soulful brown eyes. She remembered what he said when she saw the snowman, "He's telling you the truth Belle, I do love you." Belle jumped out of bed, "Oh My God Shawn! I remember, Nurse Kennedy, I remember!" She screeched. Nurse Kennedy rushed into the room. Everything came flooding back, the anniversary weekend, the race, and the avalanche. "Oh my God, Shawn must think I'm dead! I have to get home to Salem NOW!" Nurse Kennedy jumped in, "Whoa whoa, wait a minute Belle, you can't leave right now. You need to be examined and discharged by the doctor. Don't forget you were in a coma for a long time." "But I need to get home to Shawn; he needs to know I'm alive. Please help me!" Nurse Kennedy thought for a second, "OK I'll make a deal with you, let the doctor check you out and give you a clean bill of health and when my shift is over tonight I'll bring you down to Salem. Do we have a deal?" Belle nodded excitedly, "yes, yes of course. Thank you so much!" Nurse Kennedy left and Belle said dreamily to herself, "I'm coming home to you Shawn."
The microwave beeped signaling that the popcorn was ready. Shawn opened the door, grabbed the bag and headed for the living room. He popped in a DVD of The Matrix. Everyone had tried to get Shawn to go out with them tonight but his goal for the evening was to forget it was actually Valentine's Day. Within minutes, Felix was up on Shawn's lap purring to keep him company. Halfway through the movie, Shawn nodded off. In his dreams, Belle was alive and they were on a plane to Italy to start their European tour. "Shawn, we are going to have the best time on this trip. Imagine, seeing buildings that are hundreds and hundreds of years old, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Roman Baths. Places that our ancestors lived before they moved to America. It'll be great." Belle beamed. She looked as beautiful as ever, her blonde hair framed her face and her blue-grey eyes sparkled. Shawn reached over to put his arms around Belle when the 'fasten seat belt' sign lit up and the reminder bell chimed. He put his seat belt on but the bell still rang. The third time it rang, Shawn awoke from his dream to the sound of his doorbell ringing. Sleepily he got off the couch, rubbed the sleep from his eyes and walked to the door. He flicked on the porch light and opened the door. There, right in front of him, stood his beloved Belle.