February 2008

Kimberly adjusted her seat to a comfortable position, closed her eyes, and finally exhaled. The day's events flashed through her mind—a painfully persistent staccato of scenes, a reminder that Poppa was gone. A grown woman now with a family of her own and living so far from Salem, Kim still felt that a part of her would always be Pop's little girl, "his best and his brightest." That nickname once upon a time felt heavy, requiring her to be more than who she was. Yet long ago Pop had erased the pressure she had put on herself, reassuring her that he loved her no matter what. She often heard his voice in her head when she talked to Andrew and Jeannie, whether celebrating their successes or supporting them through tough times. Truth be told, it was Poppa's words that had sparked the fire in Kim to persevere, to fight for the life she and Shane shared. His brogue came back to her now, as distinctly as it had all those years ago on the pier when she and Shane seemed to be at an impasse:

"Well then, girl, fight for it. Aw, come on now, I know, look, it's easy to quit. It is, it is, everybody thinks that's the thing to do today—to be quitting. Let me tell you something about life, young lady. You sit there for all those long years, and then one day you're gonna turn around you're gonna look at yourself and you're gonna say, 'What, what if . . .what if I'd fought for that?' Well, if you're gonna fight, now is the time to do it.'"

Taking Poppa's words to heart, Kimberly had fought for her and Shane—even during the years it seemed that he had abandoned her and had turned to Kayla. It was that fight in Kim that enabled her to survive when their love seemed lost. She remembered that upon hearing Shane tell of Drew's machinations that fight flickered in her heart—the part of her had known their love was still alive despite what seemed to be true.

Sighing deeply, Kim acknowledged that the painful sacrifices she and Shane had to make to preserve the safety of their family. Their absence was painful for both Poppa and Mama. There was some comfort in the knowledge that she and Shane had revealed most of the ruse to them five years earlier when they had come to celebrate Jeannie's Confirmation. Kim recalled their astonished faces as she surreptitiously led them into the wing of the house where the Donovans happily led their lives as a family. She could sense the truth register on their faces with each step they took. Very few people—the Donovans, Peachy, Kayla, and Stephanie—frequented this wing. Learning it all—Drew's deception and death, Shane's complicated impersonation of him, Stefano's threatening and looming presence—was both a relief and misery for Kim's parents. Shawn and Caroline had always been convinced Kim and Shane belonged together: what they witnessed now—their love obvious and their children happy—affirmed this belief. Elation for their daughter and her family was tempered, though, as Shane and Kim explained the charade they lived. Kim wished she could have spared them the worry about Stefano, but she knew with Bo and Roman in Salem, no harm would come to them.

But harm had befallen Pop. A plane crash. From what Shane could tell Stefano was not the cause, yet with the news of John's true identity and Brady's disappearance, Kim and Shane made the painful decision that only she would travel to Salem for Pop's funeral. Oh, she wasn't alone. None of the Donovans were anymore. Andrew often joked even the President of the United States wasn't as well guarded as he, Jeannie, and Kim. The guards were skilled at keeping a safe distance, allowing them privacy, yet they were always an arm's length away whether the Donovans could see them or not. Henry, Kim's bodyguard, sat across the aisle from her on the flight back to California, and he was indistinguishable from the hundred other passengers.

Caught up in a maelstrom of emotions and memories, Kim turned her head toward the window, remembering her last conversation with Pop. Lamenting she had missed another Brady Christmas, Kim was uncharacteristically glum during that phone call. Trying to quell her sadness and lift her spirits, Pop said, "Oh, I know it isn't easy. Near or far, your mom and I, we love you. Family is a blessing you can feel no matter how far apart we are."

"Oh, Poppa, you always know what I need to hear." Kim had sniffled.

Next came the Irish proverb Pop was wont to repeat to his children: " 'Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God,' Kimmie. Know that what you're doing to keep your family together is worth the sacrifice." As Kim dabbed her eyes with one of Pop's old handkerchiefs, she resolved to continue to make him proud. This promise lulled her into a fitful slumber.

As the plane touched down in Los Angeles, Kim was anxious to get home. She felt a hunger to see her home, hug her children, and embrace her husband. On the walk to claim her baggage, Kim took her cell phone from her purse and called home.

"Mom?" Jeannie's voice immediately soothed Kim's anxiety.

"Yep, it's me. My plane just landed."

"How are you, Mom? I mean, how was, um, everything. How's Grandma?" Jeannie asked unsure of the right words to say.

"Your grandma is one amazing lady. It was a tough day, but she's doing okay." Kim explained.

"How are you holding up, Mom?" Jeannie's dark green eyes searched the space in front of her as if her mom were right there.

"I'm doing okay." Kim's voice quivered, but she recovered. "I'll be better just being home with you guys. Is your dad there?"

"He's on his way home, and Andrew just called to say his two o'clock class was canceled and he'd be here by dinner time. I thought you'd like if we were all together tonight, so I'm making dinner for the four of us. Dad is picking up dessert."

"Oh, Jeannie Beanie, that's just what I needed. How'd you guess?"

Sighing, Jeannie let her childhood nickname slip by without chastising her mom: "I just know you so well. You're always telling me how family is everything, a blessing we should hold on to."

"I said that?"

"Yep. Try Dad on his cell. You know he never goes anywhere without it."

"Will do. See you soon, honey. I love you."

"Love you, too, Mom."

As Kim pressed the speed dial to reach Shane, she smiled to herself remembering Jeannie's words: "You're always telling me how family is everything, a blessing we should hold on to."

Shane's voice mail picked up almost without the phone ringing. Kim began the message in her usual way: "It's me, love. The plane has landed and we're collecting our bags. I'll probably make it home before you. See you there." The message finished, Kim was about to hang up, but she was moved to speak again into the phone: "I love you, Shane." By now Henry had collected his bag and Kim had hers, so they moved to the limousine waiting for them.

"Climb in, Mrs. D. I'll put your bags in the trunk." Henry advised.

"Thanks, Henry." Kim nodded gratefully, put her hand on the handle, and opened the door.

What transpired next seemed to happen in slow motion. Kim climbed into the limousine and immediately sensed something was amiss. She had not shut the door, but as she tried to step out of the vehicle, a rock hard hand impeded her exit and shoved her onto the black leather seat.

"Where do you think you're going?" The sneering voice spat the words. In one swift move, an unconscious Henry was forced into the back seat, too, and the doors were slammed shut and locked. Kim began shouting, pounding on the windows, but it was already clear this was not an amateur operation. Whoever this was knew exactly what he was doing. Whoever this was came prepared to take down an expertly trained bodyguard. Kim pounded next on the opaque window dividing the limo's driver from its passengers.

"What are you doing with us?" Kim cried. "What do you want?"

The window slid to reveal the back of the head of a gray-haired man. Remaining silent, he held up his left hand—a fist, and stretched his fingers. Kim's eyes recognized his gold ring, yet it took a full deep breath for the dragon insignia it bore to register.