While his baby sister braved the storm with Zach Wesley and Philip locked
away Jason and Mimi, Brady sat alone in his dimly lit living room. He knew
he needed to be finishing his Economics case study or working on some
things for Basic Black, but such tasks seemed terribly trite at the moment.
Brady released a labored sigh while tightly gripping the documents he held. Though the papers weighed hardly more than a feather, they had been able to crush his spirit with the force of a cement block.
A clap of thunder boomed outside, but Brady paid it little attention. Instead, he focused on the asinine predicaments that had become his life. Returning to Salem after his time at boarding school and year of college, Brady had vowed to both stay in control and keep his heart guarded from the cruelties of the world. A timid glance at the ring on his finger proved to Brady that he had failed. And, never before had failure felt so confusing . . . or so right.
Shifting his gaze from his gold wedding band to the documents he grasped, Brady attempted to formulate a plan of action. He recognized what he had to do but had no idea how. Brady found it all but impossible to imagine going upstairs and telling Chloe that his private investigator had finally discovered who her father was. Even more difficult for Brady to envision was handing the proof to Chloe only to see her world crumble.
A steady knock on the door tore Brady from his reflections. Discreetly slipping the paternity documents under the sofa, Brady rose to his feet to see who had braved the storm.
Crossing the small living room with quick, efficient strides, Brady swiftly made his way to the front door. Opening it without bothering to look through the peephole, Brady was quite surprised to find his neighbor on his doorstep. Stepping aside so his soaked cousin could enter, Brady asked, "Shawn, what are you doing here?"
"Actually," Shawn hesitantly answered. "I just dropped by to see Chloe."
"Dropped by?" Brady incredulously asked. "Nobody drops by in the middle of a rain storm."
Completely avoiding Brady's skeptical comment, Shawn said, "So, is Chloe home?" After all, Shawn found it highly unlikely that Brady would be the least bit sympathetic about his problems with Belle. Instead, Brady would most likely try to pulverize Shawn for even daring to not be perfect in Belle's presence.
Brady found himself inexplicably weary of Shawn's motives. "Yeah," he slowly answered. "She's upstairs studying."
"Great, I'll just go up and . . ."
"No," Brady interrupted with more force than he had intended. Truth be known, Chloe was in her bedroom studying. And, if their marriage had any chance of passing as sincere, no one could find out the newlyweds had separate bedrooms. Covering for his outburst, Brady continued, "She's probably just laying around . . . in her underwear. You know how girls are. Why don't you go ahead and grab yourself something to drink in the kitchen. I'll run upstairs and let her know you're here."
"Yeah . . . okay," Shawn uneasily responded. He had been at the Black home less than five minutes, and he was already beginning to feel more than a little apprehensive about his visit.
As soon as Brady saw Shawn slip into the kitchen, he reached under the sofa and retrieved the documents he had stashed away minutes earlier. Brady had already decided that Chloe wasn't ready to know the truth, so he would just tuck the papers away until he had built up Chloe's self-confidence and proven to her that her future was not dependent on her mother's past.
After a quick dash up the stairs, Brady reached the second floor. His bedroom stood to the right, Chloe's was to the left, and the shared bathroom was straight ahead. Wanting to hide the papers before informing Chloe of her visitor, Brady veered right and quietly shut the door behind himself.
Mere seconds after Brady slipped into his bedroom, Chloe stepped out of hers. She had spent an hour in her room vainly attempting to study. Yet, her thoughts kept wandering back to Brady. Living in such close proximity to the handsome blonde was causing Chloe more distress than she had ever anticipated.
She often wondered if her husband had any idea what it did to her to see him strutting around the house in a towel after his morning shower. Knowing Brady, Chloe suspected he knew exactly how it made her feel - and that was why he continued to do it.
Once Chloe had given up the pretense of studying, she had languidly crossed her small bedroom and picked up the package that had been delivered while she was at school. Brady had not mentioned what it contained, he had merely left it on her dresser after opening it.
Lifting the box lid, Chloe had felt a slow smile engulf her face. The contents were none other than her and Brady's wedding photographs. She had carefully pulled the album out of the box. Chloe had taken great care when placing the album on her lap.
Each photograph that she had encountered only made her think more of her growing feelings for Brady. The situation only worsened when Chloe had come to a page where Brady had left a sticky note indicating that the candid shot on that page was his favorite. Knowing that Brady had also taken the time to look through the pictures and choose the ones he most liked meant a great deal to Chloe.
Now standing on the landing, Chloe knew that she had to do something. She had no idea what that something was, but she knew she would figure it out once she found Brady.
Chloe was almost all the way down the stairs when the entire house went dark. To herself she sarcastically grumbled, "Perfect." This was certainly not the ideal time for a blackout.
With immense caution, Chloe made her way down the remaining steps. She scanned the dark living room for any signs of her spouse. After narrowly avoiding a conflict with a chair, Chloe directed her search toward the kitchen.
And, as she stepped into the doorway of the kitchen, she saw a silhouette move in the darkness. For the first time in recent history, Chloe threw caution to the proverbial wind. With precise steps she crossed the open space of the quaint combination of kitchen and dining room.
As the masculine figure turned away from the counter, Chloe squinted to try and determine which way he was walking. Though the room was plunged in darkness, she thought she saw him approaching her.
Chloe took a deep breath and made her move. Reaching her hands through the thick darkness of the stormy night, Chloe took hold of her companion's face. Thunder boomed an ominous warning as Chloe pulled the man's face toward hers, covering his shocked lips with her own.
As the first intimation of mistakenness began to emerge behind Chloe's closed eyelids, a flash of lightning cast a brief hint of daylight upon the room. In the doorway Brady froze, his eyes sending his mind an image it did not wish to receive. There, in his own kitchen, were his wife and cousin locked in a lovers' embrace.
Without making a sound, Brady quickly stepped out of the doorway and headed back toward the stairs. He was unsure what he was going to do, but he knew he wasn't ready to be near Chloe.
After carefully navigating his way through the dark, Brady found himself back in his bedroom. Though his body was firmly planted on his bed, his tired mind wandered back to countless events whose significance he felt he had underestimated.
As far as he could see, all the signs had been there. Even before Brady had met Chloe, Shawn had been her close confidant, though rumors persisted that they had been more than friends.
At the infamous love machine party at the pub, it had been Shawn who ended up fighting with Philip because of Chloe. Although Brady had never gotten all the details, he was well aware that the following day something else had happened between Shawn and Chloe. Whatever that mystery episode was, it had caused Belle much anxiety.
Once Brady and Chloe had begun their masquerade of an engagement, Chloe had insisted on asking Shawn to be the best man at the wedding.
Finally, Brady reflected on Shawn appearance this very evening. After seeing Shawn and Chloe together in the kitchen, Brady was certain that Shawn had not just dropped by as he had claimed.
Looking up at the darkness, Brady muttered, "Shawn didn't drop by for a cup of friendship, he came over for a heaping helping of foreplay . . . jerk."
While Brady had been skulking up the stairs, Chloe had quickly concluded that the man she had passionately assaulted was not her husband. Though her lips had only encountered Brady's on a few occasions, it was a feeling that could not be forgotten or duplicated.
Pulling away from her companion, Chloe squinted through the dark to make out his facial features. However, saving her from going to such trouble, her friend plopped that last large battery into the flashlight and pointed the beam toward his face. "Hey, Chloe."
Chloe squealed Shawn's name in shock. She then used both hands to shove him back a little farther. "What are you going here . . . kissing me?"
"Kissing you? Chloe, you attacked me!"
"Just answer the question," Chloe continued, too flustered to really think clearly. "What are you doing in my kitchen during a blackout - and how'd you find that flashlight?"
Shawn was silent for a moment as he turned back to the counter drawer and readied another flashlight. Handing it to Chloe, he finally answered, "I came over to see you because I've been having some problems with Belle and wanted your advice. Brady was going to go upstairs and get you while I grabbed something to drink. When the lights went out, I grabbed a flashlight. Since I was the one who moved half this stuff in here while you and Brady were on your honeymoon, it wasn't hard to find the emergency things."
"Oh," Chloe quietly conceded. She was thankful for the darkness as her cheeks turned an even brighter shade of pink. "I didn't know you were here and thought you were . . ."
"Brady," Shawn guessed. "Yeah, I got that much."
"I'm really sorry, Shawn."
Shawn laughed softly and joked, "Don't worry about it. I guess we should just be glad that this wasn't another one of those bizarre misunderstandings witnessed by Belle."
Cringing just slightly, Chloe replied, "Um, yeah. I have a feeling that things between the two of you wouldn't get any better if she had seen what just happened."
Again, Shawn gave a gentle laugh. "I can just see the two of us trying to explain that one."
Chloe reluctantly joined Shawn in his lighthearted laughter, knowing that he was doing his best to alleviate the tension and put her at ease. "It would definitely be hard to talk our way out of that one. It's just a good thing that little . . . kiss will become another of those things that stays between the two of us."
His expression slightly more serious, Shawn responded, "Oh, yeah."
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
Jeremy Horton carefully slipped out of his drenched jacket. Silence and darkness were all that had greeted him when he had arrived home just minutes earlier. Jennifer and Abby were at Alice's for the evening and Jack would be gone until Saturday covering a story for the Spectator. That left the young college student with an evening of blissful relaxation.
Just as Jeremy plopped his tired body onto the sofa, there was a loud knock at the door. Carefully navigating his way across the room in the darkness, Jeremy made his way toward the front door. Unlocking the door, he opened it just enough to discover that his ill-timed visitor was Jan Spears.
Crossing her arms across her chest, Jan snidely greeted, "Would you let me in? I'm getting totally soaked out here."
In a state of near disbelief, Jeremy took a step back and granted the dark- haired vixen entrance to his family's home. His mind inadvertently drifted back to stories warning that vampires could only enter your house with permission. Yet, once you gave them that initial authorization, they had free reign to come in at any moment and suck the life right out of you.
Jan released a pained yelp as she bumped into the stand beside the couch. She grumbled incoherently as she finally found the sofa and sat down. "Ugh, I thought I was going to die out there."
Though he was not entirely sure he cared to hear the answer, Jeremy asked, "And, what exactly were you doing outside during a thunderstorm?"
"I had my mother drop me off at Jason's house, but there was no one home. Then, after forever I saw you pull up and head in here. I figured even being warm with you was better than hanging out in the rain."
"Why were you even going to Jason's house? Don't tell me you were going to try something stupid."
"My relationship with Jason is none of your business."
"Relationship?" Jeremy incredulously questioned, searching the drawers for the emergency flashlights and candles. "I didn't think Masters wanted anything to do with you."
Across the pitch black room, Jan sent a withering glare. Before she had the opportunity to make a malicious rebuttal, she felt something heavy land in her lap. Taking hold of the object, she realized it was a flashlight. By the time she located the button to turn it on, Jeremy had already filled the room with light from his own flashlight and was busy lighting a handful of candles.
"God, I should have known you'd act like some boy scout." Casting her beam of light in Jeremy's face, she continued, "Look at you acting all prepared. Seriously, you're like a walking spokesman for the boy scouts."
Under his breath, Jeremy muttered, "This coming from the dark-haired version of Anna Nicole."
"What was that?" Jan asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Nothing important." Sitting down on the opposite end of the sofa, Jeremy offered, "Once the rain lightens up, I'll drive you home."
"No, you won't. As soon as this storm is over, I'm going back over to Jason's house to see if he's home yet."
Displaying his rare sarcasm, Jeremy replied, "Oh, yeah, because he'll be oh- so-happy to see you."
Jan rose to her feet, unwarranted offense filling her body. "Look, Horton, let me tell you something. Jase is just mad because I dumped him a few months ago, but that doesn't mean we won't be getting back together. I'm the best thing to ever happen to him and that little twit Mimi is just another distraction."
Jeremy's bewildered reply died on his lips when a faint flash of light flickered through the room.
Crossing the living room and entering the foyer, Jan stated, "That looked like headlights pulling up. Maybe Jason is home." A quick peek through the front window disproved the brunette's theory. Her tone being drastically less hopeful, Jan said, "Ugh, looks like my mom came back to pick me up. I'm outta here."
Without another word, Jan sat the flashlight down on a nearby table and darted outside into the rain.
Jeremy approached the front door and locked it behind his departing guest. Shaking his head, he muttered, "That had to be the weirdest thing to happen to me since I came back to this crazy town."
Brady released a labored sigh while tightly gripping the documents he held. Though the papers weighed hardly more than a feather, they had been able to crush his spirit with the force of a cement block.
A clap of thunder boomed outside, but Brady paid it little attention. Instead, he focused on the asinine predicaments that had become his life. Returning to Salem after his time at boarding school and year of college, Brady had vowed to both stay in control and keep his heart guarded from the cruelties of the world. A timid glance at the ring on his finger proved to Brady that he had failed. And, never before had failure felt so confusing . . . or so right.
Shifting his gaze from his gold wedding band to the documents he grasped, Brady attempted to formulate a plan of action. He recognized what he had to do but had no idea how. Brady found it all but impossible to imagine going upstairs and telling Chloe that his private investigator had finally discovered who her father was. Even more difficult for Brady to envision was handing the proof to Chloe only to see her world crumble.
A steady knock on the door tore Brady from his reflections. Discreetly slipping the paternity documents under the sofa, Brady rose to his feet to see who had braved the storm.
Crossing the small living room with quick, efficient strides, Brady swiftly made his way to the front door. Opening it without bothering to look through the peephole, Brady was quite surprised to find his neighbor on his doorstep. Stepping aside so his soaked cousin could enter, Brady asked, "Shawn, what are you doing here?"
"Actually," Shawn hesitantly answered. "I just dropped by to see Chloe."
"Dropped by?" Brady incredulously asked. "Nobody drops by in the middle of a rain storm."
Completely avoiding Brady's skeptical comment, Shawn said, "So, is Chloe home?" After all, Shawn found it highly unlikely that Brady would be the least bit sympathetic about his problems with Belle. Instead, Brady would most likely try to pulverize Shawn for even daring to not be perfect in Belle's presence.
Brady found himself inexplicably weary of Shawn's motives. "Yeah," he slowly answered. "She's upstairs studying."
"Great, I'll just go up and . . ."
"No," Brady interrupted with more force than he had intended. Truth be known, Chloe was in her bedroom studying. And, if their marriage had any chance of passing as sincere, no one could find out the newlyweds had separate bedrooms. Covering for his outburst, Brady continued, "She's probably just laying around . . . in her underwear. You know how girls are. Why don't you go ahead and grab yourself something to drink in the kitchen. I'll run upstairs and let her know you're here."
"Yeah . . . okay," Shawn uneasily responded. He had been at the Black home less than five minutes, and he was already beginning to feel more than a little apprehensive about his visit.
As soon as Brady saw Shawn slip into the kitchen, he reached under the sofa and retrieved the documents he had stashed away minutes earlier. Brady had already decided that Chloe wasn't ready to know the truth, so he would just tuck the papers away until he had built up Chloe's self-confidence and proven to her that her future was not dependent on her mother's past.
After a quick dash up the stairs, Brady reached the second floor. His bedroom stood to the right, Chloe's was to the left, and the shared bathroom was straight ahead. Wanting to hide the papers before informing Chloe of her visitor, Brady veered right and quietly shut the door behind himself.
Mere seconds after Brady slipped into his bedroom, Chloe stepped out of hers. She had spent an hour in her room vainly attempting to study. Yet, her thoughts kept wandering back to Brady. Living in such close proximity to the handsome blonde was causing Chloe more distress than she had ever anticipated.
She often wondered if her husband had any idea what it did to her to see him strutting around the house in a towel after his morning shower. Knowing Brady, Chloe suspected he knew exactly how it made her feel - and that was why he continued to do it.
Once Chloe had given up the pretense of studying, she had languidly crossed her small bedroom and picked up the package that had been delivered while she was at school. Brady had not mentioned what it contained, he had merely left it on her dresser after opening it.
Lifting the box lid, Chloe had felt a slow smile engulf her face. The contents were none other than her and Brady's wedding photographs. She had carefully pulled the album out of the box. Chloe had taken great care when placing the album on her lap.
Each photograph that she had encountered only made her think more of her growing feelings for Brady. The situation only worsened when Chloe had come to a page where Brady had left a sticky note indicating that the candid shot on that page was his favorite. Knowing that Brady had also taken the time to look through the pictures and choose the ones he most liked meant a great deal to Chloe.
Now standing on the landing, Chloe knew that she had to do something. She had no idea what that something was, but she knew she would figure it out once she found Brady.
Chloe was almost all the way down the stairs when the entire house went dark. To herself she sarcastically grumbled, "Perfect." This was certainly not the ideal time for a blackout.
With immense caution, Chloe made her way down the remaining steps. She scanned the dark living room for any signs of her spouse. After narrowly avoiding a conflict with a chair, Chloe directed her search toward the kitchen.
And, as she stepped into the doorway of the kitchen, she saw a silhouette move in the darkness. For the first time in recent history, Chloe threw caution to the proverbial wind. With precise steps she crossed the open space of the quaint combination of kitchen and dining room.
As the masculine figure turned away from the counter, Chloe squinted to try and determine which way he was walking. Though the room was plunged in darkness, she thought she saw him approaching her.
Chloe took a deep breath and made her move. Reaching her hands through the thick darkness of the stormy night, Chloe took hold of her companion's face. Thunder boomed an ominous warning as Chloe pulled the man's face toward hers, covering his shocked lips with her own.
As the first intimation of mistakenness began to emerge behind Chloe's closed eyelids, a flash of lightning cast a brief hint of daylight upon the room. In the doorway Brady froze, his eyes sending his mind an image it did not wish to receive. There, in his own kitchen, were his wife and cousin locked in a lovers' embrace.
Without making a sound, Brady quickly stepped out of the doorway and headed back toward the stairs. He was unsure what he was going to do, but he knew he wasn't ready to be near Chloe.
After carefully navigating his way through the dark, Brady found himself back in his bedroom. Though his body was firmly planted on his bed, his tired mind wandered back to countless events whose significance he felt he had underestimated.
As far as he could see, all the signs had been there. Even before Brady had met Chloe, Shawn had been her close confidant, though rumors persisted that they had been more than friends.
At the infamous love machine party at the pub, it had been Shawn who ended up fighting with Philip because of Chloe. Although Brady had never gotten all the details, he was well aware that the following day something else had happened between Shawn and Chloe. Whatever that mystery episode was, it had caused Belle much anxiety.
Once Brady and Chloe had begun their masquerade of an engagement, Chloe had insisted on asking Shawn to be the best man at the wedding.
Finally, Brady reflected on Shawn appearance this very evening. After seeing Shawn and Chloe together in the kitchen, Brady was certain that Shawn had not just dropped by as he had claimed.
Looking up at the darkness, Brady muttered, "Shawn didn't drop by for a cup of friendship, he came over for a heaping helping of foreplay . . . jerk."
While Brady had been skulking up the stairs, Chloe had quickly concluded that the man she had passionately assaulted was not her husband. Though her lips had only encountered Brady's on a few occasions, it was a feeling that could not be forgotten or duplicated.
Pulling away from her companion, Chloe squinted through the dark to make out his facial features. However, saving her from going to such trouble, her friend plopped that last large battery into the flashlight and pointed the beam toward his face. "Hey, Chloe."
Chloe squealed Shawn's name in shock. She then used both hands to shove him back a little farther. "What are you going here . . . kissing me?"
"Kissing you? Chloe, you attacked me!"
"Just answer the question," Chloe continued, too flustered to really think clearly. "What are you doing in my kitchen during a blackout - and how'd you find that flashlight?"
Shawn was silent for a moment as he turned back to the counter drawer and readied another flashlight. Handing it to Chloe, he finally answered, "I came over to see you because I've been having some problems with Belle and wanted your advice. Brady was going to go upstairs and get you while I grabbed something to drink. When the lights went out, I grabbed a flashlight. Since I was the one who moved half this stuff in here while you and Brady were on your honeymoon, it wasn't hard to find the emergency things."
"Oh," Chloe quietly conceded. She was thankful for the darkness as her cheeks turned an even brighter shade of pink. "I didn't know you were here and thought you were . . ."
"Brady," Shawn guessed. "Yeah, I got that much."
"I'm really sorry, Shawn."
Shawn laughed softly and joked, "Don't worry about it. I guess we should just be glad that this wasn't another one of those bizarre misunderstandings witnessed by Belle."
Cringing just slightly, Chloe replied, "Um, yeah. I have a feeling that things between the two of you wouldn't get any better if she had seen what just happened."
Again, Shawn gave a gentle laugh. "I can just see the two of us trying to explain that one."
Chloe reluctantly joined Shawn in his lighthearted laughter, knowing that he was doing his best to alleviate the tension and put her at ease. "It would definitely be hard to talk our way out of that one. It's just a good thing that little . . . kiss will become another of those things that stays between the two of us."
His expression slightly more serious, Shawn responded, "Oh, yeah."
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
Jeremy Horton carefully slipped out of his drenched jacket. Silence and darkness were all that had greeted him when he had arrived home just minutes earlier. Jennifer and Abby were at Alice's for the evening and Jack would be gone until Saturday covering a story for the Spectator. That left the young college student with an evening of blissful relaxation.
Just as Jeremy plopped his tired body onto the sofa, there was a loud knock at the door. Carefully navigating his way across the room in the darkness, Jeremy made his way toward the front door. Unlocking the door, he opened it just enough to discover that his ill-timed visitor was Jan Spears.
Crossing her arms across her chest, Jan snidely greeted, "Would you let me in? I'm getting totally soaked out here."
In a state of near disbelief, Jeremy took a step back and granted the dark- haired vixen entrance to his family's home. His mind inadvertently drifted back to stories warning that vampires could only enter your house with permission. Yet, once you gave them that initial authorization, they had free reign to come in at any moment and suck the life right out of you.
Jan released a pained yelp as she bumped into the stand beside the couch. She grumbled incoherently as she finally found the sofa and sat down. "Ugh, I thought I was going to die out there."
Though he was not entirely sure he cared to hear the answer, Jeremy asked, "And, what exactly were you doing outside during a thunderstorm?"
"I had my mother drop me off at Jason's house, but there was no one home. Then, after forever I saw you pull up and head in here. I figured even being warm with you was better than hanging out in the rain."
"Why were you even going to Jason's house? Don't tell me you were going to try something stupid."
"My relationship with Jason is none of your business."
"Relationship?" Jeremy incredulously questioned, searching the drawers for the emergency flashlights and candles. "I didn't think Masters wanted anything to do with you."
Across the pitch black room, Jan sent a withering glare. Before she had the opportunity to make a malicious rebuttal, she felt something heavy land in her lap. Taking hold of the object, she realized it was a flashlight. By the time she located the button to turn it on, Jeremy had already filled the room with light from his own flashlight and was busy lighting a handful of candles.
"God, I should have known you'd act like some boy scout." Casting her beam of light in Jeremy's face, she continued, "Look at you acting all prepared. Seriously, you're like a walking spokesman for the boy scouts."
Under his breath, Jeremy muttered, "This coming from the dark-haired version of Anna Nicole."
"What was that?" Jan asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Nothing important." Sitting down on the opposite end of the sofa, Jeremy offered, "Once the rain lightens up, I'll drive you home."
"No, you won't. As soon as this storm is over, I'm going back over to Jason's house to see if he's home yet."
Displaying his rare sarcasm, Jeremy replied, "Oh, yeah, because he'll be oh- so-happy to see you."
Jan rose to her feet, unwarranted offense filling her body. "Look, Horton, let me tell you something. Jase is just mad because I dumped him a few months ago, but that doesn't mean we won't be getting back together. I'm the best thing to ever happen to him and that little twit Mimi is just another distraction."
Jeremy's bewildered reply died on his lips when a faint flash of light flickered through the room.
Crossing the living room and entering the foyer, Jan stated, "That looked like headlights pulling up. Maybe Jason is home." A quick peek through the front window disproved the brunette's theory. Her tone being drastically less hopeful, Jan said, "Ugh, looks like my mom came back to pick me up. I'm outta here."
Without another word, Jan sat the flashlight down on a nearby table and darted outside into the rain.
Jeremy approached the front door and locked it behind his departing guest. Shaking his head, he muttered, "That had to be the weirdest thing to happen to me since I came back to this crazy town."