Chapter 15
That evening Kelly enjoyed a nice quiet peaceful evening that really gave her a chance to review in her mind everything that is happened in the last week and how hers and Sammy's lives is quickly changing with Brandon coming back into her life. She admits to herself that she is extremely enjoying it and she knows that Sammy thinks the last week as been the best in his life. She really hopes that she and Brandon can make it work this time, not only for Sammy's sake, but also for their own. Before Sammy, she knows that she's only been the happiest in her life when Brandon was around, even if they weren't dating. He was always there for her; like no one else could ever be including Donna, Steve, Dylan, Andrea, and Brenda her five other best friends and David, her step-brother. They all have really been there for her since she find out about Sammy, but she only really wanted Brandon to be there with her. She thinks back to the time after Brandon left LA until when she saw him in New Orleans. Her life was completely empty, she dated a couple of guys, but no one serious and Dylan made her realize that she didn't really love Matt. She was just in love with the idea of being in love with someone because she was truly in love still with Brandon that she didn't know how to stop when he left.
During that time with Dylan, she realized that she and Dylan aren't for each other even with all of his soul mate talk back in college. Their relationship was always for a physical contact. When Dylan told Kelly about the last vision into his past life when he died, he saw Brandon, Kelly, and the rest of their friends throw flowers on top of him. Kelly made him realize that she was saying goodbye to her relationship with him…period.
(Flashback)
Kelly remembers their conversation, "We may have been part of a life together once in the past, but Dylan this is the present. Our relationship has only been physical and we can never work out any conflicts, what kind of relationship is that, because it isn't one that I want or need to be in. And Dylan, you need to know that I've never wanted to choose between you and Brandon because I didn't want your friendship to end like mine and Brenda's did after we made you choose. It wasn't fair to any of us. And you really need to know that I still choose Brandon, even if he isn't here."
"Do you really still choose him, Kelly, really? Then why isn't he here if you choose him?" Dylan yelled at her.
Kelly was able to keep her ground through, "It was a mutual decision, Dylan. Both Brandon and I know that we love each other, but weren't quite ready to really be married. Maybe we did make a mistake last year, but I do believe that we will be with each other in the future and I realize now that I need to protect that chance. So Dylan, you need to work through whatever you're going through and accept the fact that you and I are never going to happen again. And I definitely don't understand why you are here in LA, when I know that you belong with Brenda for this lifetime. Dylan, stop wasting your life without her." Kelly just leaves Dylan from his hotel room in silence.
(End of flashback)
Kelly then remembers watching a dvd of the beautiful wedding that Dylan and Brenda had two years later when they visited LA after their honeymoon.
The wedding took place in London, so she, Steve, Donna, David, and Andrea weren't able to go, but she definitely remembers watching Brandon in the video as the best man.
(Flashback)
Kelly was thinking that he looked like he was doing really well, but she could tell he was thinking of her the entire time. As they were watching the video, Brenda interrupted Kelly's thoughts, "Kelly, just call him. He would love to talk to you. He really does miss you; I finally got it out of him during the wedding reception."
Kelly sits back in the chair still looking at Brandon on the screen, "We both do, but there's something deep down inside of me is saying that it's not time yet…we're still not ready."
Both Dylan and Brenda look at each other rolling their eyes, "You see, Bren, I told you that she would say the same thing as he did."After Kelly heard him, a tiny grin came across her face because she is reminded that they are still doing the right thing.
(End of flashback)
As Kelly is still thinking back to the past, she admits that the best thing she did in her life during that time was go back to school for her masters and getting the job at West Bev High School. Kelly goes to bed that evening completely relaxed, but kind of wishes that Brandon was there with her. Although she's really happy that he's getting to spend some much needed time with Steve and the boys.
The next morning on Saturday, Kelly wakes up to a quiet house which is very abnormal with both Silver and Sammy normally running around. She goes ahead and gets ready for West Beverly Hills High School senior graduation. As she is at the graduation, she thinks ahead to next year's when Silver will be graduating and imagines what life will hold for her, Brandon, and Sammy.
As Kelly is at the graduation, Brandon and Sammy are still enjoying their time at Steve's and Janet's. When she gets finished with day around 4 pm, she calls them to let them know that she will be home in 30 minutes. Once she pulled into her driveway, Brandon pulls up right behind her and Sammy jumps out of the car as fast as he can to run up to Kelly.
As he is rushing to her, she drops everything in her hands so she can pick him up as he says, "Mommy, I've missed you!"
Kelly gives him a tight hug and a kiss on the check, "I've missed you too. You have fun camping in Uncle Steve's backyard?"
"Yeah, it was the best. Can daddy and I do it again?" Sammy asks.
Kelly lets out a small laugh, enjoying her son's excitement, "of course, you guys can."
"Can we tonight?" Sammy asks.
Kelly laughs again and then starts to tickle her son, "Then who I am going to hang out with tonight?"
"You can come with us," Sammy states as the most obvious answer through his laughter.
"You're so sweet, but not tonight honey. We're going to stay here tonight because Brett and your Aunt and Uncles are coming over tomorrow and you're going to see so many more people on Monday for Memorial Day at Grandma and Grandpas, remember," Kelly tells him.
"Oh yeah, I forgot," then turns his head towards Brandon as he is carrying their sleeping bags and picking up Kelly's things on the ground, "Is daddy staying the night?"
Brandon responds, "I'll tuck you in tonight and see you in the morning, okay bud. Come on let's head inside."
That evening, after they put Sammy to bed, Brandon pulls Kelly into his arms, "I've missed talking with you in the last couple of days."
Kelly rests her head on his shoulder, "hmm…welcome to my life, way too much going on, but it calms down for the summer once school is out."
"Good, lets head downstairs there's something I want to share with you," Brandon says as he leads her towards the stairs.
As they are walking down the stairs holding hands Kelly asks, "Oh yeah, what is it?"
"Well, you will never guess who I ran into yesterday morning at the Peach Pit, she was asking about you and Sammy. She's also sorry that she couldn't make it to his birthday party?" Brandon tells her as they settle down onto the couch.
Kelly is trying to think, "Hmm…I don't know, give me another hint."
"You used to work for her right out of college," Brandon tells her.
"Audrey from the Wyatt Foundation," Kelly asks and waits for Brandon to shake his head yes, "How is she? I haven't had a chance to talk with her since last fall," Kelly says.
"She's doing well and we got to talking, I told her about being away for the last several years and about just founding out about Sammy. And she told me about a possible job opportunity. Their looking to hire a liaison manager at the foundation; the position entails working with foundation to lobby for support and financial aid from politicians, the government, local communities, and taxpayers. It also includes communicating with the public to educate them about how the foundation can help when they are in need, so I could still write a bit about local stories like I did while at the Beverly Beat."
"That's great Brandon; I know you will do a great job," Kelly congrats him.
"Thanks, I think I'm going to give her a call on Tuesday to find out more information," Brandon says.
"So, Thursday night the girls and I had an interesting conversation about you and possible jobs," Kelly says giggling.
"Oh yeah, what are some ideas you ladies came up with?" Brandon asks smiling at her giggles.
"Well, we all agreed on the same thing and it was Andrea who said it. I've actually never thought of it before because it doesn't have anything to do with journalism or politics, but I think you would fit into the role very well and I know that you would enjoy it."
"Will you just tell me, please, what is it?" Brandon asks as he is tickling her making her laugh harder.
"Well, if you stop tickling me," she barely gets out of her mouth.
"Okay, I'll stop, I promise," Brandon says putting his hands up in surrender.
"Well, have you ever thought out what would happen to the Peach Pit after Nat retires?" Kelly asks.
Brandon takes a moment to let the thought sink in a bit, "Are you serious? The Peach Pit just won't ever be the same without Nat, though. Is he thinking about retiring?" Brandon asks.
"Well, in the last couple of years he's mentioned it in a joking way once or twice about retiring once Frankie is out of high school. He said he doesn't know what's ever going to happen to the place when he retire, but he also did say that he hopes someone who also considers this place home will come home in time when he does retire and finally croaks. Those were his words about a year ago, Brandon."
Brandon remains quiet for several moments before he speaks up slowly, "I can't say that I haven't thought about it because owning the Peach Pit as across my mind once or twice in the last ten years. Every time I've had a crabby burger I always think of how much he has been a second father to me. But I've always pictured myself as an old man if I ever owned the Peach Pit. Did he really say me?"
"Not specifically you're name, but he looked straight at me when he said it and I could see you in his eyes," Kelly gives Brandon a couple more moments of silence, "But Brandon, this isn't something that you need to decide tonight, okay. Frankie still has a couple years of high school left before Nat said that he wanted to retire. So, I don't think it's anything that you need to think about now, but maybe keep the option open for the future."
"So I should still go to the foundation next week?" Brandon asks.
"Yeah, definitely go and maybe check out some of the papers around here. You always did want to work for either the Chronicle or the LA times," Kelly reminds him.
"Yeah that is true, I'll look into them," Brandon says.
"Good, I wanna read some more of our journals to each other. It was hard not to look at them without you last night," Kelly admits.
"Well, I'm glad that you didn't," Brandon says as he gives her a small kiss before reaching for the journals on the coffee table.
