I do not own Summerland.
Hey y'all! Oh God, I can't believe I made y'all wait this long for the next chapter!! But see, I wrote up the last chapter and thought it was all finished and then Krissy reviewed saying she wanted to see what was in the box!Well, turns out I hadn't written that in! Whoops! Yes, I know, idiot!! Anyway, so I had to write that in and it wound up being a whole other chapter! So y'all get two more chapters instead of just one! Hope y'all still wanna read after I made you wait so long!! I am so sorry about that, I really am. I promise I won't do it again:-)
Now, to thank all of my wonderful reviewers! Y'all are AWESOME!!
jesse-summerlandgirl: Yes, I killed him off. Almost hurt myself over that too! lol! But anyway, so glad you like it!! Ah! So you like drama, eh? Check out my story On The Edge Of Sanity it's packed full of drama. (Maybe you've already seen that story but I just thought I'd mention it to you.) Anywho, thank you so much for the review I hope you enjoy that last two chapters.
Chris Grace: Hey! Thank you so much for your great review!! I've gotten so used to seeing you in my reviews.. what am I gonna do when this storie's over? Well, still two chapters to go, so I'll worry about that later! Yes, he does need to live, but you're wrong, he doesn't need to live with you, he needs to live with ME! ;) Forever!! la, la la!! Uh oh, I'm daydreaming again...
froggy2045: Hey there! glad to see you reviewing again!! Thanks so much for it too!!! I hope I don't disapoint you with the ending...
chelsea: lol! It's seems I got a lot of "Oh my gods" out of y'all with this one! lol! you're the 3rd! Anyway, thank you so much for your great review! I'm so used to seeing you review here! I'll miss you when this story's over... I'm so glad it's that original!! That's what I was aiming for after all!! I'm sorry I made you cry... but don't worry, I cried writing it! lol! That's just sad isn't it? Ha, ha!
Kawahara Hikori: Thank you so much for the review!! I'm alright, how're you? Oh that's okay, I'm glad you're reviewing now!! And I've done that too. Yes, depressing... well, sorry 'bout that but hey, it's a story so... Nah, no one else gets killed. Anyway, thanks so much and I CAN'T WAIT for more of your story!! It's awesome!
Krissy: Awe, I'm sorry I made you cry... but you know... And I cried writing it so don't worry! Thanks for the review of course and I hope you're ready to see what's in the box cause here's the chapter about it! P.S. You were the one who made me write that in you know that!? lol! see you next chapter:-)
Wow! Who knew I could talk so much!! Well, I'll shut up now and let y'all read! Enjoy!!
6.
He's Gone... He Really Is
The next day Ava, Johnny, Susannah, Nikki, Derrick, Cameron, Martha, Erica and Lindsay set out to Spanish Cove to uncover whatever the secret treasure in the box Jay had left Ava was.
They arrived at the cave Jay had indicated and as he had predicted, they had to crawl in to get it.
"Uh... there's no way I'm going to crawl in there, Johnny... it looks well..." Ava said not wanting to go into the dark "cave."
"I can go if you want," Johnny offered with a smile.
"I'd like that," Ava said planting a quick kiss on Johnny's lips.
"Alright!" Johnny took the small garden shovel from Ava's hand and crawled into the cave. He got to the spot Jay had said the box would be at and began to dig. Not too long later his shovel hit something metal. With a small smile Johnny uncovered and lifted out a blue firebox just as Jay had promised would be there. He recovered his hole and crawled back out of the cave. Emerging from the cave his eyes stung slightly from the suddenness of the sunlight. He smiled at all the familiar faces standing before him and held the box up.
What had her brother put in the box? Why had he done it? When? Those questions swept through Nikki's mind as Johnny emerged from the cave and revealed a small blue metal box. Guess I'm about to find out! She thought, almost nervously.
She was so glad that Bradin's family had invited her to come and see what, of Bradin's, was in Jay's box.
Johnny came out of the cave, held up a small blue box with a smile and then solemnly handed it to Ava. With baited breath, Lindsay moved in closer to the circle of Bradin's "family" to see what was in the box.
Maybe Bradin had left something just for him in the box! Maybe it was some way to go be with him! Maybe Bradin wasn't really dead... maybe he was... Derrick knew none of that was true but he couldn't help but dream about being able to see his brother.. just once more... Johnny handed the box to Ava and she smiled taking it with shaking hands.
What could it possibly be? It seemed like whenever someone said there was something special somewhere your mind began to imagine a million different things it could be... Maybe the note was something he'd written to his brother and sister? How had Jay known about it anyway? Erica's mind raced as Ava took the box from Johnny with trembling hands and sat down in the sand to open it.
Bradin was a really good guy... He wasn't supposed to die this young... and Nikki's been so different since it happened... And just when she was moving on from her parents' death! Wonder what's in there? Cameron thought going over to Nikki and putting his arm around her trembling shoulders as Ava began to unlock the small blue box.
Poor Derrick... Martha came over and placed a soft kiss on Derrick's cheek as Ava clicked the lock and it fell from the box. Derrick looked up at her and then they both sat down in the sand, side by side.
All Susannah could do was to sit and wait to see what was in the box, she knew her best friend was really having a hard time doing this... She came over and sat on one side of Ava as Johnny sat on the other and all the kids sat down around them. Cam and Nikki, Derrick and Martha and Erica and Lindsay, all comforting each other at this hard time in their lives.
Wonder what it is... Poor Ava... God, I wish I could somehow make her feel better! Johnny felt hurt that he couldn't help Ava feel any better when she was hurting so bad... He sat down beside her as Susannah did the same.
Ava held her breath as she opened the lid of the small, blue firebox. Inside was a soft pale, light pink handkerchief with the name Karen embroidered into it in green and folded up neatly covering up something else. She looked up at the one face that was directly in front of hers and told her with her eyes to come closer.
Nikki saw Ava motion to her with her eyes and she moved in closer to her aunt and slowly removed the handkerchief from the box. Under it was a soft green handkerchief with the name Robert embroidered into it in pink. Nikki let tears fall from her eyes as she suddenly realized whose they had been. Her mother and father's... Ava recognized them as well for she hugged Nikki tightly and whispered in her ear, "Oh, I didn't even know these still existed!"
They had been given to the Westerly kids' parents on their wedding day many years ago. They were paler than they once had been but the memories and what they stood for were still very vivid indeed! "I didn't either..." Nikki whispered back... she had only been told the story by her grandmother one time when she was about 10 but had never seen them or talked to her mother about them... The story was that the two handkerchief's had been carefully and lovingly sewed by Karen's grandmother and given to them on their wedding day. Karen's was pink because it was her favorite color, the same reason Bob's was green, and the names were embroidered in the color of the spouses handkerchief as a symbol of unbreakable love and their intertwined hearts. Karen had told her grandmother that it was the most precious gift she had ever received in her life and that she would always cherish it. Bob had said a similar thing and that he loved how she had embroidered their names in each other's favorite color.
"How on earth did Brae end up with them!?" Nikki asked her aunt.
"I have no idea," Ava admitted truthfully. She really didn't and she was just as curious as Nikki. "But maybe we'll find out," she added as the two again turned their attention to the box on Ava's lap.
Looking back into the box, Ava saw an envelope with Nik, D. & Aunt Ava written across it in Bradin's sloppy handwriting. She looked up at Nikki and Nikki pulled it out of the box with a trembling hand. Ava put her hand on Nikki's trembling one and together they turned it over and slowly opened it holding their breaths.
Inside was a plain white piece of notebook paper covered in Bradin's handwriting. Nikki and Ava unfolded it and read it to themselves before they would read it aloud... Since it was addressed to Nikki she would decide if she wanted to read it to everyone or not.
Nik,
Hey, you know how I always tease you and call you things and stuff right? Well I just wanted to make sure that you knew I did that cause I love you! I love you more than anything in this world, Nik, and don't you ever forget that, got it!? (Derrick and you both.)
By this time tears were streaming down Nikki's cheeks as she read on.
And another thing, you are such an inspiring young lady. I am really proud of the woman you've become just over the past year. I know Mom and Dad would be. I know they would. And I know you're worried about what they would think of you and of some of the things you've done but hey, I know they would be proud of you and I know they love you and always have and will no matter what you do. Everyone makes mistakes, Nik. So don't even think that what you did back there, you know what I'm talking about, was something worse than a mistake. God, Nik, I swear I've made way worse mistakes than that! If you knew some of the stuff I've done, well... But just remember, I'm proud of you and I LOVE you no matter what. I always will.
Nikki was crying out loud now and Ava was hugging her close as she read the last little part of the note.
Now, if you're reading this, I'm sure you found Mom and Dad's handkerchiefs and I'm sure you're wondering how I got them, right? Well... I guess now's my last chance to tell you.
Do you remember that time Mom found me in my room with Kaci? And you remember what we were doing and how she didn't even get mad and she didn't tell Dad? Remember that she just made Kaci leave and she took me for a walk? Ha, ha! I was so scared she was going to tell Dad what we were doing... Anyway, she took me walking and she told me a story:
"Bradin, you know I need to tell your father what you were doing back there don't you?"
I just hung my head in response.
"I can't hear you, what?" Mom smiled.
"Yes, Ma'am," I said, still hanging my head.
"Well, Brae, I need to tell him but I think I should tell you a little story first, okay?"
"Okay," I agreed. I didn't want her to tell me any story! I was convinced that whatever the story was it was just gonna be a kind of "guilt trip" thing and that she was still gonna tell Dad. So what was the dang point of making me feel bad and still punishing me!?
"Bradin, when I was about 15, a year older than you are now, I experimented with the same thing you guys were back at the house. And my Mom found me. Now, do you know what she did to me?"
"No, Ma'am."
"Well, she told my father and I paid for it dearly. Then, I did it again, just 5 days after he ungrounded me!! Five days, Bradin! Do you know how stupid that was? And guess what? My mother found me again!" Mom admitted all this to me and I still didn't know where she was going with it.
"Um... okay?" I still couldn't look at her; I really was ashamed of it.
"I know, you don't get why I'm telling you this right? Well, she told my dad again and this time my father took me down to the lake and we skipped rocks while he talked to me about what doing that could do to you. About how bad it was for your health. About the effects it had on other people. About how it didn't just hurt you but it hurt others. How it hurt your reputation as well. Bradin, I never did it again. Never." Mom stopped walking and turned me to face her. Lifting my face she said, "Bradin Westerly, I love you. I am not going to punish you for what you were doing, I am only going to tell you what it does to you and I believe that you'll make the right choice after that."
Well, she told me alright! She told me a story about our uncle Henry, the one it prison. She told me how he started doing drugs when he was 16 and how he never stopped. And that's why he's in prison for killing someone. He was stoned the night he killed Marie, he didn't know what he was doing. He killed somebody without even realizing it because he was on drugs, Nik. He couldn't trust himself to make the right decisions and he certainly couldn't trust that he wouldn't hurt somebody! He just.. Well, he wasn't there anymore...
After she told me the story she didn't even ask me if I understood what she was trying to get across to me. She just took me back home and out into her garden in the back. She took me over to the fountain and under the water she opened a small compartment and pulled out a little silver firebox. In it were the two handkerchiefs and a music box. She got them out and handed them to me, "Bradin," she said, "these were your father's and my wedding gifts from my grandmother." She told me the whole story of them then said, "I want you to have them, I want you to know that I love you, Bradin, I love you."
I took the handkerchief, but I didn't want to, I felt like I didn't deserve enough to keep such a precious gift. I didn't think I deserved them, I thought they should've been given to you! But anyway, she gave 'em to me.
I'm writing this to give to you on your 15th birthday! But, if something happens to me before than and that's why you're reading this, than just know that I wrote every bit of this from my heart. Nikki, I love you. I told you the story about the drugs cause I didn't want you to make the same mistake I did and because Mom's not here to tell you the story... She wouldn't want you to do what I did, Pass the story on to D. for me if I'm not around alright? Thanks. And Nikki, thank you so much for being everything that you've been for me.
Well, I guess that's really about it, although I could talk forever here... ha, ha! I should probably just shut up now though! Again, I love you, Nikki Westerly, I love you.
Love,
Brae
Nikki cried for a full 15 minutes after reading the note Bradin wrote to her. Ava sat there holding her with tears streaming down her own cheeks and everyone else just stared with sad eyes as the note had not been read aloud. Finally Nikki swallowed her tears and Ava pulled out the next note. It was to Derrick.
Derrick,
Hey buddy, I'm sorry that I never let you know this before... I really should have, really. I want you to know now, though, I want you to know this and I want you to never doubt its truth. Got it? Good, here it is, D. I love you so much, more than you'll ever know. I am so proud of the young man you are, I really am. And Mom and Dad would be too. They really would be, buddy, don't ever think they wouldn't be or that I'm not. I am and you should know that.
Derrick, who Ava and Nikki had called over to read it with them, was trying desperately to hold back tears as the trio read on.
I wrote this to you to give to you on your 10th birthday, but if something's happened to me and that's why you're reading this than I want you to have something. It's in our room, under my bed in my box. The one I've never let you look in. Go up to our room and get the box and bring it down to the living room, or wherever you are, and read this:
Ava decided they all better head back to the house, which they did, and Derrick went up and got the box.
He came back down and sat next to his aunt to continue reading the note.
Open the box and ignore all the stuff in there except for two things. A baseball cap, my baseball cap from when I was exactly your age. I want you to have it. And one other thing, there should be a green notebook with Bradin written across the front. That was something I wrote right after Mom and Dad died. I only want you to read it, D. and Nikki can if you want her to, it might help her to move on as I'm hoping it will help you. But no one else, got it? Good. Well, I guess that's it, no, it's not really but I can't keep babbling on and on so I'll go now! Remember, Derrick, I love you more than words can express. Oh the box and everything else in it I want you to give to Nikki, ok? I love you, little bro, I love you.
Love,
Brae
Derrick opened the box and did ignore everything else until he found the two things Bradin had left to him. Then he handed the box to Nikki. Nikki took it with trembling hands and noticed an envelope with her name on it. She opened it and silently read it to herself while her aunt hugged Derrick who was crying.
Nikki, hey, I had to write this in case I don't get to tell you personally for whatever reason. I want you to have this box and everything in it except what I give to Derrick. Some of the stuff is just junk... most of the stuff is just junk come to think of it! Ha, ha! Anyway, it's all yours to do whatever you want with, some of it you might give to Derrick when he gets older or whatever... it's up to you, you can keep it all if you want or throw it all away! Again it's up to you but there's one thing in there that holds special meaning and would mean a lot to me if you kept. It's a music box. A glass music box that Mom gave to me when I turned 16, the day I turned 16... right before she... died.
But never mind that, that's sad, the music box isn't and neither was my 16th birthday! She gave it to me that night while she and I were walking down Old Sullivan Rd. and talking. She had brought her purse with her and we stopped down by the river, you know the one, and sat in the grass. She reached in her purse and pulled out the music box, she told me she knew it was sort of a girly thing to give a 16-year-old boy but that she wanted me to have it nevertheless. I smiled, I thought it was sort of a girly thing too, but I didn't know what it was.
It was given to our great, great grandmother on her 16th birthday, then given to our great grandmother on hers, then our grandmother on hers and Mom's on hers and finally me on mine. Assuming you're reading this cause I'm not here then I'm giving this to you for yours. You know, since it's probably not your 16th birthday! But it was your gift from me. Mom told me to keep it and give it to my oldest but, Nik; I want you to have it. Besides, I'm not gonna have an oldest now am I? Ha, ha! Not funny I know... But you're probably laughing between tears now! And now you're probably smiling and still crying all at the same time and thinking, "Oh, Bradin!" Ah ha! See, I got you to smile! And now you're laughing out loud at just how accurate my predictions were!
Sure enough, Nikki was doing all of that and now was laughing out loud making everyone stare at her, but she didn't care, her brother was still there whether you could see him or not, he always would be.
Anyway, enough babbling on my part, open the box and get the music box! It's at the very bottom wrapped in that stupid little blanket I used to be attached to when I was 4!
Love ya, Nik, I love you.
Brae
Nikki smiled at her brother's use of stupid in front of the blanket that he used to love so much! She returned her attention to the box and rummaged around until she found the little bundle. She carefully unwrapped it, unaware that everyone was still staring at her, and took the music box in her small and trembling hands.
It was shaped like a grand piano. It was made of glass with gold "black keys" and "white keys" made of diamonds. The "bench" was made of gold. The piano "lid" was up and the inside was decorated with silver and gold. The piano itself was made of a cherry colored wood and varnished till it shone. It was simply breath taking in its beauty. Nikki's breath caught in her throat as she looked at it. She suddenly heard gasps come from all across the room and looked up to find everyone staring at her wide eyed. She smiled at how funny they all looked then carefully turned the music box over and wound the key.
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there,
She was once a true love of mine...
Nikki heard the words clearly in her head being sung by her mother when she was a very young child as the music box sweetly played its tune. She felt tears come to her eyes as it played again, an octave higher than the last time. She missed her mother so much... and now Bradin. It was all too much, she clutched the music box tightly and let the tears fall down her face not caring who saw. Only a second passed before Nikki felt strong arms engulf her in a hug. She almost thought it was Bradin but quickly realized it was her boyfriend, Cameron, and fell into his loving touch. "I miss him so much, Cam, so much..." she cried into his shoulder as he held her.
"I know, Nik... It's gonna be okay though... It's gonna be okay." Cameron comforted her and held her tightly as the rest of the room erupted into tears and out-right crying. Why did he have to kill Bradin? Why? Why? Why! Why, Jay! WHY!? Cameron thought to himself, rather angrily, as he held his trembling girlfriend in his arms and the sun sank low behind the horizon. Bradin never did anything...
Well, there it is! Hope y'all liked it but I want to hear from you whatever you thought of it!! Let me know by pressing the pretty little review button!! Thanks so much!
Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15