Chapter Three

Secrets Revealed

After the lunch had ended with Chloe, Mimi went back to her office to finish up some work. Belle had never showed up for the lunch but she did call to say that she wasn't coming and that something had come up. Both Chloe and Mimi wondered what was wrong but when they asked she refused to say. She had insisted that she was fine. They agreed that if the problem were really serious that Belle would have told them. So they left the restaurant both returning to their respective jobs.

Mimi rounded the corner, returning from a meeting, when she saw a man in her office. He had in his hands a picture of her kids. As she got further into the room she could see the light reflect off his blonde hair, the exact shade of her husband's. Immediately, she assumed it was Brady. But, what on earth was he doing here in the middle of the day. No matter, she thought, obviously he was trying to surprise her. Pushing her shoulder length hair out of her face, she quietly dropped her purse on the chair before she snuck up behind Brady and kissed him on the neck.

He shot straight up and turned around. It was only when he turned completely that she realized that it wasn't Brady at all. It was Jason.

"Oh my God," Mimi raised her hands to her face to hide her flushed cheeks. "Jason. I am so sorry. I thought that you were Brady." Mimi moved away from him taking her hands down from her face.

"Hey, it's alright. Don't even worry about it. But, I must say that is truly one of the nicest hellos I've gotten in a while." Jason moved to sit down in the chair in front of her desk as Mimi moved to the other side of the desk.

"You don't know how sorry I am about that. I can't believe I actually thought you were Brady." She laughed a little in disbelief as she settled back into her seat. She turned on her computer and waited to log on to it. Giving herself something to do as she gathered her composure. Once she did that she turned towards Jason. "So, what are you doing here?" She asked.

"Well, I thought you might like to go to lunch with me today. But, your secretary told me that you already had plans. So I'd thought I would wait for you to get back."

"Oh, I had lunch with Chloe and Belle today. Then I had to go to a meeting for the paper. That's why I was late getting back. I hope you haven't been waiting long. What did you want to talk to me about?"

"You know what, maybe today's not a good day you obviously have work to do. So I will just leave you to it." Jason rose from the seat and started to leave.

"Jason, if you needed to talk to me, you can go ahead. It won't be a problem, my work can wait."

"No, really I don't mean to keep you--,"

"Jason, you aren't a bother at all. Now, just tell me what you wanted to talk about." As Mimi finished talking her phone rang. She picked it up on the third ring, holding one hand up to tell him to stay put. "Salem Broadcasting, Head of Production, Miriam Black speaking what can I do you for?"

"Hi Mom," Conrad said. Mimi covered the phone with her hand and spoke to Jason.

"It's my son. If you can wait, it'll only take a few minutes."

"No, that's alright. I'll just see you later." Jason turned and started to leave.

"She misses you too Jase." Mimi called out, Jason stopped and turned to her nodded and left her office. She took her hand off the phone. "Mr. Black what can I do for you?" Mimi asked her son.

"I wanted to know if it's okay with you if I go to Chris' house after school."

"If it's alright with his Dad but, remember you need to be home early so you--,"

"So I can do my homework. I know mom. Thanks." Conrad finished saying as he hung up the phone.

Mimi sighed as she replaced the phone on the desk. After looking at the picture on her desk she returned to her computer to work a little before picking up her youngest children.

Titan Industries…

Philip and Brady had just completed a security briefing. They were in his office discussing their families.

"So tell me honestly do you think Jason would try anything? I know you know him a little better than I do." Brady asked as he sat in the chair across from Philip.

"Look, Jason has had some hard times. But, I don't think he would do anything to ruin the relationship he has between him and Mimi. Besides, I think he gave up messing around with married women a long time ago. He hardly does that anymore. I don't think you should be concerned about it." Philip looked at his nephew and watched him carefully. "That's it isn't it. You think that he might try something with Mimi."

Brady looked pensive but decidedly annoyed. "I know she says he's a good guy and that he's her friend. But, I get the distinct feeling that he wants to be more than just friends with her. And I don't trust him as far as I can throw him. It's as simple as that." Brady's eyes darken as they did whenever as he thought about Jason trying something with his wife.

"Look, Brady, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Mimi would never cheat on you she loves you too much to ever do something like that. Take it from me; it doesn't pay to get jealous when it's really an innocent relationship."

"Jealous, who said anything about being jealous? I'm not jealous of anything. And definitely not of Masters. I am simply stating my -- my opinion of him that's all. Nothing more."

"Uh huh, okay whatever. All I was saying is that it seems a little--,"

"A little what? I am not jealous; case closed there is nothing else to say. Let's talk about something else." Philip's eyes filled with glee, it was definitely jealousy on Brady's part. He only hoped that when the time came, Brady was able to hold in the infamous temper of his. "Let's talk about you and Chloe." Brady said.

The glee left his eyes immediately as they soften a bit. "What about Chloe and me?"

"Well, you haven't said anything to me about how you're handling the whole thing with Jarod." Philip stood up and walked to the window of his office. He looked very well bred in his suit; with only slight reminiscent of the boy who'd once visited his father. Now his son was visiting him.

"What is there to say about Jarod? He is Chloe's son and that's that." Philip still looked out at the window. "I—what else is there to say?"

"You have nothing to say, about the fact that you're wife has another child, by a man other than you. How about the fact that you've got this child in your house with your kids not knowing if he has some possible homicidal tendencies? Whew, you're a better man than even I am. Because, if some child suddenly appeared claiming that he was Mimi's son, man I would—"

"You would what?" Philip turned around and looked at Brady. "What you would do? I know that Jarod is her son and that's all I need to know. He doesn't have any homicidal tendencies. He's been the perfect child. But, it's me who's been having the problems. Me." He said as she came back to his chair and sat down. Pushing his hands thru his hair he sighed as he rubbed his hands over his face. "Chloe knows it, she knows I've been well...we haven't really …"

"Whoa, you and Chloe aren't--" Brady paused. "You know Phil, there are drugs you could take that would help you--,"

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Philip asked staring through his fingers before moving his hands from his face to stare at Brady questioningly.

"You said that you and Chloe aren't having sex."

"No, that's not what I said. This is not about sex, Brady! I never said--," he said stalking toward him. He said moving his hands in frustrated movements. Then massaging his neck as he walked away glaring at Brady with his head tilted to the side. "You know everything's not about sex, man." His eyes zeroed in on Brady, who was holding his hands in a surrendered move.

"Okay. But, it sounded--,"

"Well it's not about that!"

"Then what is about, Phil? What's wrong?" Brady asked as he became concerned. Philip wasn't usually this emotional about things.

"I look at Jarod and I don't know how to act. He has taken to the twins and Jessica so easily. They don't think that anything is wrong. They adjusted so easily to having a brother, better than even Chloe or I could have expected. I guess, another part of me wishes that the kids had not adapted so quickly because I haven't adjusted as quick as they did … I don't know … I guess it's just that I haven't acted the same way, as I was when Jarod first arrived. And Chloe knows it."

"Look Philip, I'm sure Chloe understands why you've been acting the way you have. She's a smart woman. Besides I'm sure she realizes how hard this must be for you. She knows it's going to take a lot of getting used, you know, having a son by another man and all." Philip had a weird look on his face. "What?"

"That's just it, Chloe swears that she has not been with anyone else and I know she is telling me the truth."

"Philip, you know I love Chloe a lot, she's one of my best friends. And I'm only mentioning this because you need to think about it," he paused and looked at Philip. "Maybe she had a relationship with someone else and didn't want to tell you about it."

A muscle pulsed in his well-defined Kiriakis cheekbones. "Brady, the only reason that you haven't been thrown out is because you're family. So please take that that into consideration before you insult my wife again." It was only at that point in the conversation that Brady realized how Philip knew Chloe was telling the truth. Philip was the only man that Chloe had ever been with since they were married.

"Philip, I wasn't trying to insult Chloe or anything. I was simply trying to remind you of that option. But, if you're so sure, tell me who do you think Jarod's father is?"

"I am," Brady was studded in silence. "What I mean is I think of Jarod as my son. He's a part of Chloe and that's all I need to make him mine. But, biologically I can't be sure. I have an idea, some well-substantiated leads. But that's all they are right now. I'm so close, I can feel it." He stared at the picture of Chloe and their children on his desk. It had been taken when she was six months pregnant with Katherine. It was odd that the picture was still on his desk since a newer one had been taken with Jarod in it, at Chloe's insistence. Chloe had been so happy then, she was ecstatic. But then tragedy struck and she hadn't been the same since. It was for that reason that he had kept his suspicions of Jarod's paternity to himself. If it didn't turn out like he thought then Chloe would be none the wiser.

"Well are you going to tell me?" He looked up, a little surprised because he had forgotten that Brady was still there.

"No, at least not until I'm certain. Look if I need to go out of town to figure this out, will you cover for me?"

"You're that sure?"

"I know enough not to tell Chloe until I am 100% positive. So can I depend on you to help me?" Philip awaited Brady's answer. "I need to know that someone will be there for Chloe if I leave. Can I depend on you for that?"

"Yes, of course and Mimi too. We'll both look out for Chloe."

"No, you can't tell Mimi. I need you to promise me that when I leave you will protect her for me. Make sure she is okay." Philip looked serious as he gazed into Brady's eyes almost pleadingly.

"I will. When are you leaving?" Brady asked.

"I don't know. But, when I do I'll let you know." Philip said walking him to the door.

"Okay, take care, man." Brady said with a hug and a generous pat on the back.

After Brady had gone Philip sat in his office by himself. He thought about his wife; the love of his life, Chloe and all the things she had to go through over the years. Losing her friend from college, Jessica's mother, had saddened her but she pulled through and was able to make it thought that by becoming Jessica's sole guardian. Then the death of their daughter, not two years ago had taken its toll on her. Jarod's arrival had brought her back to life again she was almost whole again.

But, Philip knew in the back of her mind there was a fear, that she could lose him once they found his father. He wasn't going to let that happen. No one was taking another child away from Chloe. He would make sure of it.

Shawn used his own keys to open up the door to his parents' house. Bo had called him earlier that day to ask for help with something for Hope. So naturally he had said yes and he came right over after dinner. As he pushed open the door to the kitchen he heard his father's angry voice. Closing the door quietly, he walked over to the doorway between the kitchen and living room. His father was yelling at his mother for something. He had never heard his father this angry before in all his thirty-four years.

"Hope, how could you… how could you lie to me about this? I asked, time after time, if you knew who JT's birth father was and you told me again and again no. But, all along you've known that John was his father." Bo yelled at Hope who had tears running down her face.

"Bo, I'm sorry. So sorry. I didn't always know, but I suspected and found out it was true. You have to understand that I thought at the time that keeping it a secret was for the best." Hope grabbed his arm and held onto it as if she was afraid of something. But, Bo pulled away from her disgustedly.

"Hope, sorry isn't going to cut it this time. You've kept this secret for far too long. Tell me does John know?"

"Yes, he does. He's always known the truth. And he agreed to keep it a secret for me. But, I—," Hope stopped talking as she heard the back kitchen door slam, a car start then, drive off. She looked at Bo shocked, "Oh god, please tell me that wasn't JT." She said running to the front door of the house after Bo who had left to see who it was.

"No, it wasn't JT." Bo said gravely. Hope breathed a sigh of relief until she saw his face. "It was Shawn. Damn, I forgot I asked him to help me with a surprise for you today. Before of course you threw this one on me. Well, I hope you are happy now you're little secret is out. And it not only ruined our lives, it's ruined our son's." Bo brushed pass Hope into the house.

Hope stood alone outside her arms wrapped around herself. "I'm sorry, so sorry. How am I ever going to fix this?" She asked the cool night air as she stared out into the darken sky.

Belle had just put Ian in his bed for the night and was in the living room drinking a cup of tea. She was waiting for Shawn to get home. He had been gone for over two hours, since Bo asked him for help. JT was gone on a school trip for the night. Belle was worried. It had almost been a week since she'd issued an ultimatum to Hope and she knew someday soon the Brady family would be rocked from its core with this secret. And she fully intended to be there for Shawn. Not a day had gone by that she didn't struggle with telling Shawn the truth about JT herself. But, Belle had made a promise to Hope to let her do it and she would. Then together she and Shawn could help each other deal with the pain.

As she sipped her tea, her oldest daughter coming to say goodnight pulled her out of her thoughts. "Hey sweetie, coming to say goodnight?"

"Yeah, but I wanted to tell you that Grandma called while you were bathing Ian." Serena responded pushing her shoulder-length chocolate brown hair behind her ears.

"She did?" Serena nodded before turning around so that Belle could put her hair in a braid. "Did she say what she wanted?"

"No just that she wanted you to call her, she said it was important."

"Oh well, I'll call her later." She braided the end of Serena's hair and placed a barrette on the end of it. "There now, I'm finished. You better go on up to bed so you won't be late for school tomorrow." She kissed Serena's cheek. When Serena didn't leave right away Belle wondered what was wrong. "What's wrong, honey?"

"Nothing, I guess. It's just that I wanted to wait up for Daddy. He said he'd tell me about your island adventure and how you guys saved Granny's ruby."

"I didn't know your father was telling you about that. Rena, it looks like he's going to be late. So I'll remind him about the story tomorrow. Okay?"

"Okay, but could you tell him I want all the gory details and he can't leave anything out including your late night escapades alone." Serena said smirking.

"Where did you hear about that young lady?" Belle questioned arching her eyebrow.

"From Conrad of course. He told me, Ana and Domy and Jarod all about it. Of course it was the PG version. Well at least that's what he said." Serena said as she grinned wickedly.

Belle nodded. Note to self she was going to have to talk to Mimi about telling Conrad these things. The last thing I need is for Serena to find out about half the stuff Shawn and I did then. ~ She stood and started to walk Serena to her room. As they started up the stairs, they heard the sound of a car in the driveway. Serena bounded off the stairs.

"Well, it looks as if you may get your edited adventure story after all, sweetie. You can ask your Dad when he gets in." Belle said as she turned and followed her daughter back down the stairs. She walked over to the window by the door and watched as Shawn approached the house. From where she stood he looked fine. But, as he walked into the light of the porch she realized something was wrong.

Shawn unlocked the door to his house expecting to see Belle waiting up for him. When he walked in the house his eldest daughter immediately attacked him.

"Hi Daddy, I told Momma you'd get back in time to tell me about the island adventure. " Serena jumped up and down in both excitement and happiness that her father was home before she ran grabbed hold of his shirt to make him look down at her.

Shawn wasn't in the mood or in the right frame of mind to deal with his exuberant daughter. Yet, he knew that he had to deal with her delicately so not as to hurt her feelings. He leaned down and lifted her into his arms. "Rena, sweetie, I am really tired and I don't think I will be up to telling you about the adventure tonight." Serena's small mouth pursued in a pout. "But, I promise I will tell you all about it tomorrow."

She was silent for a moment. "Well, okay Daddy. Momma told me you probably would be too tired from helping Grandpa anyway. Do you promise not to leave out a single detail?"

"Yeah, I promise you, Serena. I won't leave out a single detail."

"Okay but it have to be really, really good," she answered as she was set down on the floor.

"Don't worry, it will be none of that sweet PG kids stuff. PG-13 action all the way."

Serena frowned a little as she looked at he father. "PG-13 Dad, shouldn't I at least get rated R since you can't tell me tonight?" Although, she knew it was a long shot she asked anyway.

"Rated R, I think not little Miss Brady. You should be happy you're getting PG-13 since you aren't thirteen yet. Now, why don't you go on to bed munchkin." Shawn swatted Serena's tush and sent her on her way. He had to smile at her audacity even in his mood. She left the room giggling happily.

As soon as their daughter left the room, Shawn shoved his hands through his hair and walked over to the chair to sit down. He had been driving around for the last two and a half hours trying to decide the best way to tell Belle about JT. It would be shocking for her at first but she needed to be told. No, she had to be told.

"Shawn what's wrong?" Belle watched as he sat down. He looked uneasy and maybe even a little annoyed. Whatever was wrong it was serious. "Please tell me. Whatever is wrong, Shawn, tell me."

He didn't know what to say to her. ~ How can I tell her this, she is going to be so hurt, so shocked, ~ he thought as Belle moved in front of him sitting on the coffee table holding his hands.

"Shawn you're starting to scare me by not saying anything. Please just tell me whatever it is that has got you so … so… messed up." Belle wondered what was wrong. Although she had a sneaking suspicion he had found out about JT, she knew that couldn't be it because Hope would have warned her. Hope would have given her some sort of warning promised that she would.

"I was at my parents house. My mom and dad were having a fight about…" he paused. "I don't know. I just came in from the backdoor. And she said--,"

"Shawn I--," Belle started to interrupt him. But Shawn was on a roll and couldn't be stopped.

"Belle please, don't interrupt me." He stared into her eyes and held her hand tightly. "JT … he's my-our brother. JT is our brother. John is his biological father." Shawn released the breath that he had been holding. Then he waited for Belle to show some kind of response. "I know this is a shock to you, Belle. But we can get thru this together. I promise." Seeing Belle's neutral yet sad expression he realized that she had yet t say anything. She didn't look shocked to him either kind of like she already knew. But, she couldn't have.

"Shawn I—I already knew." Belle said softly, he looked thoroughly shocked.

"But, you couldn't I just told you."

"No, I found out on Monday. That was the reason I never made it to lunch with Chloe and Mimi. I walked in on my father and your mother talking about it. I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say." Shawn had pulled his hand out of Belle's to push it through his hair.

"You've known for a week. Why didn't you tell me? I thought we never kept secrets from each other. You deliberately acted like nothing was wrong all day. Why, why didn't you tell me?" He stood and began to pace the living room.

"Shawn that's not true. I wanted to tell you. But, your mother begged me to let her do it. Please don't be angry with me. I wanted to tell you this so bad. But, I couldn't do that. She had to be the one to tell you." Belle stood and attempted to walk over to him. But, he moved away from her holding his hand out before him to keep her away.

"Belle, you should have told me. You're my wife. And this is not just some little fib. It involves a child, my brother––our brother— and if my mother didn't feel the need to tell me were you ever going to?" Belle attempted to answer him. "If she kept this secret for over 18 years what makes you think she would tell me anything?"

"Shawn I made her promise me she would tell you. And if she didn't I would. I'm sorry that I didn't say anything to you. But, I thought that since it was your mother's secret then it was hers to tell. Can't you understand that?" She placed her hands on his shoulders and this time he didn't move immediately.

"Oh I understand, I understand that you didn't tell me and that's all I need to know." He grasped her hands and pushed them away. Then he pocketed his keys to his motorcycle, grabbed his leather jacket and headed to the door. Belle stood in the same place and watched him gather his things. "Where are you going Shawn? You can't just walk out on me while we're talking."

He turned the knob and opened the door. "Yes, I can. I need to get out for a while to think." He started to walk out the doorway.

"I'm sorry," Shawn turned around and looked at Belle. He nodded and then walked out of the house. Belle stood still as if her feet were glued to the floor. After hearing the motorcycle fire up and leave she slowly fell back on the couch and cried.