Disclaimer: I don't own any characters on Summerland or the show itself. If I did I wouldn't be sitting here writing stories.
Hey all! I want to thank Summerland Chick, Bensbabygirl, Sasha, Lyssa, kandykane33, Malfoyz-babe, and bubbles88 for reviewing my story and a special thanks to Kireen-1/Jmacrocks, for giving me three reviews and the compliments. That really made my day. So here is the new chapter.
Chapter 9- The Tragedy Continues
Bradin had to take a minute to process what she had just said. Once he did, he focused on Claire. Her face was tear stained but hidden behind fresh fallen tears. Her eyes were blood-shot and her hair was knotted. Bradin brought his hands to her chin and brought her eyes to match his. He saw pain and fear in her eyes.
"Claire…please…who's dead?" Bradin asked softly. "You need to tell me."
"We…we were in…were in the store…" she was having trouble speaking. "They were…oh god."
"Claire…calm down. Tell me," Bradin looked at her vexed. She wiped at her tears and tried to continue.
"We were in the store…and this guy came in. He was shopping around…just looking here and there. My mom and dad weren't paying attention…" new tears were pouring down her cheeks now. She fell to the sand. "They were shot Bradin. They're dead."
Bradin sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. She collapsed into his chest. He appeased her for about 5 minutes when Ava called. "Bradin, are you out there? I need some guy muscle."
"Um, just a minute Aunt Ava," Bradin picked himself up and brought Claire to her feet. He kissed her on the forehead. "It'll be OK. I'll make sure of it."
Bradin grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She sniffed, gave a faint smile, and followed Bradin. Walking into the living room, Claire tried to hide her face from Ava. She didn't want to draw attention to herself because she feared Ava questioning her. Ava realized that she was upset but didn't ask her because she knew Claire didn't want to speak.
"Um…I'll be back down Aunt Ava. I have to uh…get something from my room. Come on Claire," she nodded her head and followed him up the steps. She walked into his room and sulked onto his bed. He sat down beside her. "Are you going to be OK while I help my aunt?"
She just shook her head. Bradin took that as a sign that she was going to be fine and he walked out the door, closing it before leaving. Claire sat in the room his her head hidden in her hands. She was in shock and refutation. She rocked back and forth on Bradin's bed.
Bradin was downstairs helping Ava move the couch to get her ring that rolled underneath it. Once she found it, they moved the couch back and Bradin started up the steps. Before he could even reach the first step Ava grabbed his arm, pulling him back.
"Bradin, what's wrong with Claire? I know she's hiding something," Ava nagged.
"I don't want to tell you…not until she says I can, anyway. I'm just not sure she wants me to yet," Bradin tried to stay calm and not start anything but he knew Ava was going to nag.
"OK," she said. Bradin looked at her befuddled. He hadn't expected to get off so easy. He shrugged and walked up the steps. Looking back in the room, he noticed that Claire wasn't on his bed anymore. He scratched his head and wondered towards the bathroom. Cracking the door, he found Claire rummaging through the medicine cabinet looking for something.
"You won't find any pills in there. So don't go pulling something stupid," he said with a hint of disconcertion in his voice. She looked at him with great pain and started to cry again.
"What makes a difference whether I live or die? It doesn't matter. I have no one that would care anyway," Claire dragged herself over to his bed and collapsed. Bradin followed her and sat down next to her, rubbing her back to let her know he was there.
"That is no where near true and you know that. You have so many people that love you and care for you. Like the rest of your family," Bradin consoled her. She looked up from the bed at him with disgust.
"What family? The only family I had was my mom and dad and they're gone now. So who else is there Bradin? Nobody!" She pushed her head back down. He flinched.
"Just because your not blood doesn't mean your not family. That was taught to us in like second grade Claire. And I happen to know a whole house of people down there that consider you family. So don't think that you don't have anyone Claire. Because you know that I care about you. And I swear that that won't change," he grabbed her up by her arm and wrapped his arms around her waist. He wiped her tears off her face and kissed her softly. This was a meaningful kiss. Bradin wanted to prove that he cared for her and wanted the best for her.
Claire broke the kiss and stared into his gleaming green eyes. She gave him a faint smile and hugged him. "Thank you."
"I'm sure if… we told Aunt Ava what happened then she would be happy to let you stay here. You could sleep in Nikki's room. I'm sure she'd love the company," he offered. She smiled sweetly.
"I couldn't possibly just barge in here and ask if I can stay here. It's rude," Bradin shook his head.
"You never asked remember? I offered a spot. That's not barging. And nobody would mind; they all love you. And trust me, you will fit in just fine," they both laughed. Bradin gave Claire a hug. "It'll all work out. I promise."
Three days later was the funeral. Claire told everyone what had happened and Bradin made the suggestion of letting her stay under the circumstances. Of course everyone agreed and Claire was another member of the family. Bradin was happier than anyone though, because he knew that he would be able to see Claire that much more.
Everyone was rushing around the house getting stuff moved in and out for Claire. They hadn't done anything about the funeral yet because of the autopsy and finding the guy who shot them and etc. So they had some time to fix things and get things settled. As everyone was just settling down on the couch to relax there was a knock on the door. They all groaned and Bradin was the elective to get off the couch and get it.
"Sure, I'll get that!" Bradin yelled sarcastically. He heard a couple of scoffs and chuckles but shook it off. He opened the door to see some kind of agent standing in the doorway. Before greeting him the man walked in the house. "HI!"
"Is there a girl by the name of Claire Sanados here?" he asked rudely.
"Thanks for coming, my name is Bradin," he said to the man cockily. The tall man shook it off and turned to face him. Bradin had to look up to see him and when he did he smiled. "What's yours?"
The man scowled and Bradin got the hint. Bradin cleared his throat. "She's in the living room. Just straight ahead," he pointed. The man walked with a scowl on his face and Bradin made a face behind the man's back before following him to the room.
Upon entering, everyone looked up to see the tall blonde figure and Bradin next to him. Compared to him, Bradin looked like he was 2 inches tall. And believe that he felt 2 inches against the man.
He approached Claire with a macho sort of step to him. Bradin imitated him and tried to walk in the same way. Claire giggled and the man turned to look at him. He stopped immediately and coughed, walking backwards towards the kitchen. Claire rose to her feet. "Are you Claire Sanados? I'm David Calhoun."
Bradin rolled his eyes. "So you tell her," he mumbled. David ignored him and continued. "Is that your brother?"
Bradin snorted and Claire smiled. She coughed, embarrassed. "That's…um…actually my boyfriend. Sorry, he's on edge today for some reason," she said, speaking more to Bradin than to David. He nodded.
"That explains it. Anyway, I'm here to discuss what your mom and dad left you in their will. And…um, is that Bradin? Well if it is, he was left with something to. Is this a bad time?" David asked politely. She shook her head 'no' and both Bradin and Claire followed David outside. He stopped about halfway off the patio.
"This is the deed to the house that they left to your aunt but the made the will over a year ago and as you know she passed away and your parents never changed it so the house is yours. You can sell it or rent it out of keep it vacant until you want to use it but since you are already 18 it is up to you," David stuck out the deed and Claire grabbed it, opening it to see what was in it. She sat it on the lawn chair and focused her attention on David.
"The next matter of business is money. I have here in this will that any and every speck of money your parents owned belongs to you. And for an 18 year old that is a lot. That's over 30 million. I…" he saw Claire's eyes widen in shock. David smiled and continued.
"I know that may come as a shock but your parents had it saved for a long time and believe it or not, that isn't all. There is also, in this financial record, the issue of an oil drill on their property from Ohio that is estimated worth about 90 million. Your parents knew that they had all of this money but did not want it used for unnecessary purposes. They trusted that when you inherited this money, you would find a good cause for it."
Claire felt dizzy and slid down to the sand. Feeling sick to her stomach. Bradin kneeled down beside her. "You going to be OK?" he laughed.
"All that time living in a broken down plain Jane house when we could be living in Beverly Hills. Well, aren't my parents full of surprises," she rolled her eyes and stood. "Is there anything else that I own now? Oh, maybe a farm in Kentucky? How about a mall in Oakland?" Claire said in derision. She smiled and David smiled back.
"Well there is one more thing but this is concerning Bradin. Evidentially your parents knew Bradin for a while now. This was updated no more than two days before the accident. Which is a little odd but its here. This is for you," David handed the blonde a piece of paper inside of an envelope. Bradin shrugged and opened it.
He saw a 'for Bradin' on the front of the letter. He unfolded the letter that was folded over into three parts. He read it.
Dear Bradin,
Hello sweetie. If you are reading this then obviously we are gone. I know you and my daughter are close. I hope that it will stay this way. I considered you my own son. Please take care of my daughter. She is a treasure. I hope you're the man I always thought you were and treat my daughter right. And please make sure she's happy. That's all we ask.
Rebecca and Don Sanados
P.S. Don't say anything about this letter to Claire. We don't want her to be angry with us when we aren't even here anymore because if I know my daughter, she would.
Bradin felt a tear slip down his face. He wiped it away but Claire saw. "Hey, what is it? Are you OK? Let me see," she went to see it but Bradin shoved it in his pocket. She scowled. "Fine, but I'm going to get it later. I don't care if it is in your pocket. That just gives me an excuse.
"OK and on that note, I thin it would be a good idea to leave. You can go to the bank and check this in. Just sign your name and they'll know who you are and what you want. You can leave the money in the bank for now and keep adding on to it or you can get it out and go buy the whole state of Hawaii but it's in your hands now."
"Thanks David. I appreciate this. And um…can you wait here for a second," she went in the living room and grabbed her purse. She saw a group of people standing at the window and she knew the family was spying on them. She smiled and Derrick walked up to her.
"Are you going to move away because of all of the money you have?" Derrick asked innocently. Claire smiled and shook her head.
"No…well… if I'm still welcome to stay here I'd rather not go anywhere for a while," Claire asked referring to Ava.
"Now do you think I would kick an 18 year old with no clue what she wants to do with her life out of my house? Not a chance," Ava smiled reassuringly. Claire smiled from ear to ear.
"I can pay rent or something and I can stay on the couch. I don't have to…" Nikki cut her off.
"Don't even say it. You'll be staying in my room. I always wanted a sister and now I actually have the next best thing. Do you really want to ruin that for me?" Nikki smiled at her. Claire smiled back and turned her head, wondering where Bradin was. She found him outside on the patio, sitting on the lawn chair, watching the sun, absent-mindedly. She sighed and walked out, grabbing a chair and sitting next to him.
"Are you going to tell me what the letter said now?" Claire asked him. He didn't respond. "Are you OK?"
"It wasn't a shootout," he didn't look at her. He just stared out. Claire shook her head.
"What are you talking about?" she asked him. She moved closer and placed a hand on his leg. He swiped a hand over his face and looked at her.
"I mean that that person who killed your parents didn't just shoot them at random. He knew them. He knew who they were. He knew something about them that made him do what he did."
"That…w-what made you think that."
"The letter Claire. Something about that letter just sent a chill up my spine. Like something was wrong."
"What does that have to do with someone knowing who my parents were and a motive to kill them?"
"Because your parents knew it was coming too."
This is where I think I should leave it. Hehe! Well I'm bored now because this chapter is over so I think I'll go watch a movie or something until I think of more things for the next chapter. See ya!
