Author's Note: This is for the Brimi folks. Sorry for the lateness of this chapter I just couldn't get the conversation right at first. I'm two-thirds of the way through the next chapter so you'll probably see that sometime next week so be on the look out for it. All right enough chatter on with the fic…
Chapter Thirty-Three – Dirty Little Secrets
Brady stood in the kitchen looking out the window at his son playing with the basketball on the court outside his garage. Conrad had been out there for a while, every since he'd arrived home from school. He'd just walked through the door dropped his bag off, grabbed his basketball and headed outside to shoot some hoops. He hadn't even come in when Mimi had left with Racquel and Spencer to get some movies from the video store. For Conrad, that was unusual being the movie connoisseur that he was. But, he claimed he had something on his mind and wanted to stay home. Mimi didn't think anything of it but then she didn't know what Conrad had on his mind.
"Hey babe what's up?" Mimi asked as she slipped her arms around his waist from behind. He turned in her arms and pulled her to his side as he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Nothing much, I'm just watching your son practice shooting hoops," he nodded to where Conrad was shooting jump shots.
"Ahh, I bet he's practicing to make the team this year. I thought he was going to come in and watch the movies with us. But, I guess not." She sighed and slipped away from the window to get a glass and pour herself some juice. "I'm worried about him. My poor baby seems so depressed lately which is very odd considering how excited was to be one year away from going to high school."
Brady nodded, "Well how about I go see what's up with him. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to." He said knowing full well the reason Conrad had been so indifferent lately was because of the kiss he'd witnessed between Jason and Mimi all those months ago. It was time from him to step in and clear it up before it worse than it already was.
"If you think anything you can say will make a difference than go ahead and try." She told him as she watched him go outside to talk with their errant son.
"Mom, Aunt Belle's on the phone for you." Racquel yelled out from somewhere else in the house.
"Okay sweetie, hold the phone for me." Mimi said as she placed her glass on the counter and left to get the phone.
[center]*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*[/center]
Brady walked up to the makeshift court and stood on the sidelines watching Conrad make a jump shot. He had to admit, his kid was a pretty good shot and would definitely be a star on the court this year.
"Dad, I'm fine and I don't want to talk. So you can go tell Mom that she doesn't need to send you out here to check on me." Conrad said as he dribbled the ball in place for a couple of moments before looking up at his father.
"What makes you think your mother sent me out here to talk to you? I could just be coming out to play some B-ball with you."
Conrad snorted and made another jump shot before glancing at his father. "Well, I did see you and Mom talking by the window. Besides, I'm not stupid you know. And for future reference NEVER say B-ball when the guys are here." Holding the ball in his hands he waited for his father to speak. "Okay so talk because I'd like to get back to my game."
"You know Conrad, I thought about coming out here and trying to beat around the bush about something. But, since you obviously know so much I'll just get right to it. A couple of months ago, you saw something between your mother —,"
"I don't want to talk this—," Conrad tried to leave the court only to have Brady pull him back.
"That's fine you don't have to say anything I'll do all the talking," Brady said as he grasped his son's shoulders to ensure that he wouldn't try to go inside. "A couple of months ago, you saw something that involved your mother and another man. But, it's not what think Conrad, she didn't—,"
Conrad jerked away from Brady, and looked at him, his blue eyes bright with a mixture of confusion and fear. "You know?"
"Yes, I know, I've always known."
"But how? I-I only told JT," he whispered quietly.
"Your mother told me the day it happened."
Conrad frowned with confusion. "And you didn't do anything? You forgave her? I-I don't understand."
"No you don't and you wouldn't because you don't know actually what happened but I do."
"I saw her kiss him," Conrad exclaimed interrupting his father.
Brady grabbed his son by shoulders and held him in place in front of him. "No, you didn't. You saw Jason make a move her, he kissed her but she pushed him away. She didn't kiss him back." As Conrad looked as if he was going to protest, Brady shook him slightly but not enough to hurt him. "No, listen to me, I've never lied to you Conrad and I'm not now. Jason was in the wrong here. He made a move on your mother and she told him that they didn't have that type of friendship. She came home and told me about it the same day. And then I went to see Jason and made sure he never made a mistake like that again. She didn't do anything wrong."
"But I-I saw her kiss him … I ran away … I-I cou-couldn't —,"
Brady pulled Conrad into his arms and hugged him. "I know son. I know but your Mom didn't kiss him. She wasn't having an affair." He told his broken son. Brady knew that it was hard for Conrad to understand that he'd misinterpreted was he'd saw. But, he had to deal with it and realize that he had made a mistake in thinking his mother was cheating on his father. In thinking that Mimi had somehow betrayed him. Conrad pulled out of his father's arms and turned away briefly. But, Brady could see he was trying to pull himself together through all of the sniffles and tears.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I just …" his voice was full of emotion as he used his hand to swipe tears from his face.
"Hey," Brady walked up behind his son and ruffled his hair. "It's okay. I understand why you've been acting the way you have. But,"
"Mom doesn't." Conrad finished as he pierced his father with a look of recognition.
Brady nodded. "Exactly, she doesn't know and I haven't told her. Now I was going to let you explain to her your behavior for the last couple of months. But, I think that you've had enough emotional moments for the day. So I'm going to tell her for you. I'd like for you apologize to her at least but, I'm not going to make you do it. It's something you should do when the time is right." He turned Conrad back to him, "listen to me it's not your fault that this happened and I don't want you to beat yourself up about it. Okay?"
"Yeah Dad." He replied softly and allowed himself to be pulled into his father's arms once more.
Brady released his son and stepped back. "Everything's going to be fine trust me. Once you go Black, you never go back." Conrad showed a hint of a smile through the obvious inner turmoil. "Now, I'm going back inside. You come in when you're ready." He said before walking off the court back to the house.
When Brady walked back into the kitchen a few minutes after leaving Conrad to think some things through by himself he caught his youngest son in the midst of climbing on top of the kitchen cabinets.
"Hey Little Man what are you doing climbing on the counters?" He asked walking to the child and abruptly taking him off the counter and placing him back on the ground.
"I'm trying to reach that cabinet to get the popcorn out." He pointed to the cabinet above his head.
Brady opened the cabinet door and took out a popcorn bag handing it to Spencer. "Next time ask someone Spence. I don't want you to get hurt climbing up here."
Spencer nodded as he tore the plastic wrapping on the bag and threw it in the trash. Then going back to where the microwave was located he looked up at it realizing that once again he was too small to reach it. Turning to his father he pierced him with a knowing gaze. "Hey Dad, can you help me reach the button?"
"Of course but only if you let your old man have some of your popcorn." Brady reached down and lifted his son up on the counter, sitting him down on it so he could place the bag in the microwave and set it.
After punching in the correct buttons on the microwave he turned to his father and replied, "But you're not old Dad."
"Spence my boy you're good for my ego." Ruffling his son's light brown hair he lifted him off the counter and placed him back on his feet.
Seconds later Mimi appeared in the kitchen with the cordless phone in her hand. "Hold on for a second Jarod, Conrad's outside." She walked over to the screen door, opened it and called out, "Conrad telephone." Then she closed the screen door. "He'll be just a second Jarod."
Conrad came running into the house and took the phone from Mimi's outstretched hand. But, instead of speaking into it he paused and then looked into his mother's green eyes. "Mom I'm sorry for the way I've been acting lately." Repositioning to ball on his hip he leaned down and kissed his mother's cheek. Then he took off out of the kitchen. "Hey K-man what's up?"
Mimi stood by the island in the kitchen somewhat shocked for a moment. "Well, that certainly was different." She fixed her green-eyed gaze on Brady, "I guess whatever you said really got to him. You'll have to tell me what you said."
"I'll tell you later." The microwave beeped.
"Okay, Spence where's your bowl?" She asked as she took the popcorn out of the microwave and shook the bag. Meanwhile, Spencer took out a bowl from the floor cabinets to put the popcorn in. He handed it to his mother and she filled it with buttery popcorn. Taking a few kernels off the top she sampled the buttery snack. "Alright, Spence you can take this in to Rocky and tell her she can start her movie. We'll be out in a bit." She handed him the bowl and waited for him to leave the kitchen.
"Don't run," Both Mimi and Brady called simultaneously to their son.
"I assume you have something to tell me since you've conveniently evacuated the kitchen. So out with it. What's going on?" Brady asked as moved to lean back against the counter with his arms crossed.
"I do actually have something to tell you but it's not good news." Mimi warned pushing her shoulder length auburn hair off her shoulders. "Belle called and it seems that your brother got himself into a little bit of trouble at school."
"What kind of trouble?"
"I don't know exactly what he did. But, he was suspended—"
Brady interrupted her. "For how long?"
"I'm not sure a day, maybe two at the most."
He grimaced. "Oh well that's great for his senior year. Only three weeks into school and he's already suspended. That's going to look great on his record."
"Brady don't over react we don't know for sure how serious this is. And I'm betting since it's only a couple of days it's not that bad." She walked over to him and placed her hands on his arms calmingly. "Look, when Belle finds out more she'll call and give us a heads up so let's not assume the worst here." Mimi was attempting to calm her husband down considering that she knew how close he and JT had become over the summer. He treated his brother like he treated Conrad, like another son. And it hurt him to think that his baby brother was going down the wrong track in life. "JT is just going through a rough time trying to deal with his parents and everything. You went through the same thing yourself. Just give him sometime and I'm sure he'll put himself back on track."
"You forget Meems it took me the better part of two years to get over my issues with Marlena. And in my case my problems were unfounded. But, JT is dealing with a betrayal here and it's not just some little issue that he's going to get over. He's been lied to his whole life by his parents. It's a break of trust and you don't get over that easily especially when it's someone you never should have to lose trust in."
Grasping his face between her palms, Mimi made eye contact with him. "Brady, honey, I get what you're saying, how you understand what JT is going through but he's not you. And no matter how much you just want to give him back that trust it's got to come from his parents. I'm sure they are trying to earn that trust from him but it's going to take sometime and they're going to make some mistakes along the way but eventually he will come down and realize that. Unfortunately, that's going to be something he has to do by himself completely. So the best we can do is just be there for him and help him along the way."
Brady nodded; taking her hands from his face he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. "Thanks."
"Anytime sailor," Mimi replied placing her hands on his chest as she leaned up for another kiss.
"Mom, where're the drinks?" Racquel called out from the den.
Sighing, Mimi pushed herself away from Brady. "I'm being paged. And unfortunately, I doubt our darling children are going to wait so I must go," she said as fetched some bottled waters from the fridge. She paused at the doorway on her way out. "You're coming aren't you?"
"Yeah, I'll be out in a few seconds I just want to grab something. Save me a seat."
"Will do." Then with the click of her heels Mimi left the kitchen and went into the den.
Brady busied himself washing his hands and grabbing a glass to fill with ice and some soda. He was grabbing a coke out of the fridge thinking about JT's situation, how Bo and Hope and his father were handling him. His situation with Conrad was similar in that Conrad had lost his trust in his mother thinking she betrayed the family with Jason. But, luckily for him he'd solved the problem before it had gotten out of hand unlike with JT. Bo and Hope hadn't caught onto JT's less than stellar behavior until it was too late. His half-brother had a hard time dealing with everything that had been handed to him and he was still in the process of dealing with it. It was only now that he was starting to really act out that Bo and Hope knew there was problem.
They both knew why JT was acting out and were doing everything they could to get their son back to where he had been before the secret of his paternity came out. And if for some reason Conrad had had a deferred reaction to the kiss, Mimi would be out in the cold about the entire situation. She still didn't know what the cause of his rather cold mood had been, but that had to be changed; she had to know, now.
Brady walked out of the kitchen and down the hall to the den where his wife was. "Mimi, I need to talk to you." He waited for his wife to get up from her seat.
"What's up?" She asked as she came to the doorway, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"I have to tell you something that I should have told you weeks ago." He grabbed her hand and pulled her behind as they walked down the hallway into his office before he closed the door.
"Okay you dragged me down the hall to tell me something so what is it? What's got you so up in arms?" She asked moving back to sit on the corner of Brady's desk.
"Remember when I told that I knew the reason Conrad has been acting all strange these last couple of weeks?"
"Yeah, honey it was only like ten minutes ago. I'm so old I can't remember that far back." Mimi answered hoping to get a smile or something out of Brady, anything to get that determined expression off his face.
"This is serious Meems, it's about Conrad," he told her when it seemed that she wasn't taking him seriously.
Mimi's smile froze lightly. "Okay, I can see that Brady, I just don't see the point in making it all dramatic as you obviously intend to." She stopped smiling. "See now I've got my serious face on so tell me whatever it is you were going to tell me about Conrad." She deadpanned.
"It was the kiss."
Mimi gave him a blank look. "Um, Brady I'm sure that means something to you but you've lost me. What does us kissing have to do with anything?"
"I'm not talking about you and me, Mimi. I'm talking about your kiss with Jason."
Her brow furrowed. "What about it?"
"To make a long story short Conrad saw it and mistakenly assumed that you and Masters were having an affair. Apparently, he was supposed to meet you at your office that day and when he got there he saw Jason kiss you but didn't stick around long enough to see you push him away."
"Wait a minute, he saw that kiss," she gasped her hand going to her heart as she thought about that horrifying day months ago. She raised her gaze back to Brady's intense blue eyes. "How long did he think I was having the affair?"
"He just found out today that you never had an affair—,"
"And how long have you known that he knew?"
"Mimi," he sighed as he saw anger and hurt seep into her eyes rubbing a hand through his hair he answered her. "When he found about the … he told JT and JT told my Dad who told me. I've known since June I thought it would work itself out and —,"
She interrupted him holding her hand up. "You let our son go through this-this emotional war with himself for months and didn't do anything because you thought it would work itself out?" Her eyes went wide incredulously. "I don't understand, why didn't you tell me when you found out then I would have talked to Conrad and these past few months would never have happened." Snapping her mouth shut she hopped off the desk and headed toward the door. "Get out of my way, I'm going to talk to my son and explain—,"
He grabbed her arm before she could open the door and turn her around. "What are you going to tell him that I already have?"
"I don't know," She replied honestly, her green eyes brighten with what could only be anger. "My side of things I guess. I just have to tell him myself that I never did anything with Jason and that it was completely one-sided."
"He already knows that Mimi."
"Okay well, I just — I want to make he's alright. What's wrong with that?"
Releasing her arm he cupped her face gently tilting it up. "Mimi, I understand that you want to-to make things better. But, he needs time too to deal with his guilt. I think you should wait a couple of days, two or three before you say anything to him." He ran his hands through her hair, massaging her scalp as he pulled her to his chest and kissed her forehead.
"I'll give him some time. But, only a few days." Mimi replied as she pulled away from Brady's embrace slightly to look him in the eyes. "If something like this ever happens again, god forbid, tell me. I have a right to know especially when it concerns our children." She moved out of his embrace completely this time and pushed her hair away from her face. "Before, I completely get all Mom like and kiss my baby. I'm going to back to the movie with the kiddies." She requested as she reached down and grasped his hand. Then together they took the short walk back down the hall to the den. As they walked back down hallway, Brady put his arm on her shoulder.
When they reached the doorway to the den, Mimi paused just looking at their children all in the room-watching Scream. Rocky was on the couch with the bowl of popcorn beside her, Spencer sat down on the floor with Conrad who was playing with Edge, the Scottish terrier. She glanced up at Brady, "I won't let anything destroy this. Nothing, nothing will come between our family again." Brady nodded and wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck.
"And neither will I."
Please tell me what you think. Next chapter will reintroduce the Bradys and you'll find out about JT's suspension and everything.