April, eight months later -
The heavy crimson velvet drapes in the bedroom were drawn closed but a small sliver where the plush material met allowed the early morning sun to stream in. Shane shivered and stirred, grabbing at the air as he realized his companion sleeping next to him had stolen the covers. He glanced at the clock and groaned, seeing the time was barely six-thirty.
Their flight home from New York had been delayed and he and Kimberly didn't land in Salem until almost midnight. After having spent most of the day stranded at LaGuardia, they were both grateful to finally arrive at the house. Dropping into bed, Shane thought how good it felt to be home, sleeping in his own bed, with the woman he loved so much wrapped in his arms.
Shane had to confess, Kimberly had been right. She had warned him that cross-country book tours were exhausting. Kim knew from experience how grueling they were and had even given Shane the opportunity to skip out completely but he wouldn't hear of it. Despite the hectic schedule, he would not have traded one minute of their time together. For the first time in a very long time, Shane felt complete contentment. He knew one reason was his relationship with Kim. The other was his job situation. He had absolutely no regrets resigning his position with the ISA.
In the beginning, Shane did have some doubts about leaving. Although he wouldn't voice them, he was concerned whether he had made the right decision to quit. He often wondered to himself, was he too hasty abandoning a job he had held so long? Kim must have sensed his reservations because she kept questioning his decision, assuring him that he did not have to leave the ISA for her. He smiled to himself, amazed at her intuitiveness. She did know him well. But in no time, all his doubts about leaving the ISA disappeared. He thoroughly enjoyed following Kim's book tour, though at times he felt more like an intruder than a companion. He loved seeing Kim in action, rushing from television interviews to book signings. He marveled at how polished and self-assured she carried herself and thought once again what a remarkable woman she was.
Yes, Shane thought to himself, a squire's life suited him perfectly. No more clandestine missions or dangerous assignments. He had sacrificed too much for far too long. Shane welcomed the opportunity to finally let Kim know, to actually show her, that she came first in his life.
Shane gently turned on his side being careful not to wake Kim. These were the moments he cherished, when he could watch her asleep, observing her in a way that was only for his eyes to see. Unable to resist the urge any longer, Shane leaned down and lightly kissed her shoulder. "I love you so much," he whispered. Stirring slightly at his tender touch, Kim curled into his embrace. Drawing her closer, Shane wrapped his arms around her incredibly soft body and pulled the quilt up around them both. Kim promptly fell back into a deep sleep and Shane chuckled at the sound of her slight snoring.
Now that the book tour was over, Shane was determined to change his and Kim's living arrangement. He thought of the black velvet ring box he had been carrying around in his jacket pocket for the last several months and knew the time had come to give the glittering contents to Kim. He desperately wanted to be her husband again, but ever since Christmas, he was no longer sure how Kim felt. Listening to her breathe, he let his mind wander back …
4 months earlier, Christmas at Donovan Manor
"Kimberly, what are you doing?" Shane stepped into the parlor and was surprised to see Kim struggling to move a rather large and ornate wing chair across the room. He rushed over and helped her settle it in front of the fireplace.
"I want the room to look perfect and the tree will look much better over there," she heaved, trying to catch her breath. "It's been such a long time since we've been together for Christmas." Kim paused, seeing the pain in Shane's eyes. "I just want everything to be nice. You know, for when Andrew and Jeannie get here."
Kim was right. It had been a long time. The last time just the four of them spent Christmas together, Jeannie was a baby and he had been with … well, he hadn't been with Kim. Shane shuddered whenever he thought about that time. He wished he could make that part of his past disappear but he knew he couldn't. All he could do was pledge himself to making Kim happy again. If that meant moving all the furniture, he would gladly drag every single piece across the room. But he much preferred dragging Kim up to bed. "Come here." He reached out and pulled Kim into a passionate kiss. "I think there's a better way to exert your energy."
"Really?" Kim could feel herself responding to his seductive kisses.
"Hmmm," Shane mumbled as his kisses moved across her cheek and down to the hollow of her neck.
"Hey, can you guys cut it out!" Startled, Kim jumped back at the sound of another voice. Looking across the room to the foyer, she saw a youthful replica of Shane standing beneath the archway. Except this version was a bit taller and possessed the broad shoulders that were a distinct Brady trait. But his waves of jet black hair curled at the nape of his neck just like Shane's did. And when he broke into a huge grin, Kim was again struck by how much his smile resembled Shane's.
"Andrew," she squealed, rushing to give him a hug. He put out his arms and mother and son held onto each other in a loving embrace.
Shane strolled across the room and greeted his son with a hug as well. "It's good to see you son."
"Hi Dad," Andrew said warmly, and then added, "Is Jeannie here yet?" He looked around the room then cast a questioning gaze at both parents.
Glancing at his watch, a befuddled Shane answered, "Oh my goodness, I should be leaving now for Heathrow to get her."
"Hey Dad, I can pick her up," Andrew winked. "You know, if you have more pressing matters." Kim blushed knowing Andrew was referring to the passionate embrace he had caught them in.
"No, that's fine. I think I can break away and pick up my own daughter." Shane affectionately slapped his son on the back as he headed out the door.
"So things are good between you two …" Shane heard Andrew say to Kim before the door closed behind him. Things were good, Shane thought, but he wanted to make them even better, as he patted the velvet ring box tucked securely in his jacket pocket.
Waiting in Baggage Claim for Jeannie, Shane was a mixture of excitement and worry, uncertain what to expect. He and Jeannie had only been together once since their tentative reconciliation last summer. Kim's hectic book tour schedule and Jeannie's demanding classes prevented them from getting together during the fall. The only time they managed a reunion was Thanksgiving but that was in Salem with the entire Brady clan. It was nice seeing Shawn and Caroline and the rest of the family but the huge gathering really prevented Shane from working further on his relationship with Jeannie. Other than a smattering of phone calls, he and Jeannie hadn't really talked. So Shane jumped at Kim's suggestion that they spend Christmas together at Donovan Manor. Just the four of them. Even though Kim and Shane could spare only a few days from their schedule and both Jeannie and Andrew had already made plans with friends for winter break, all four managed to clear their calendars for a Christmas reunion in the Cotswold.
As Jeannie stepped through the door marked arrivals, all Shane's fears and concerns vanished. Upon seeing him, a huge smile spread across her face and she ran unabashedly into his arms.
"Hi Dad," she said hugging him tightly.
"Hi sweetheart," Shane croaked, fighting to hold back the tears that had sprung up when she ran to him. He hadn't expected that from her but it was exactly what he needed. "Here, let me look at you." Shane pulled back and held Jeannie's hands as she stood in front of him. Standing there in her slim dark denim jeans with a camisole peeking out from under a burnished leather jacket and a wool scarf smartly tied at her neck, she looked much older than her years. Shane could see she was not a young girl any longer. Once again he was struck by all the years he had missed and realized all that he had lost.
"Dad?" Jeannie could sense her father's thoughts were drifting elsewhere.
Hearing her voice, Shane snapped back and gave his full attention to the daughter standing before him. He smiled warmly and reached to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You look wonderful."
"Thanks. So do you Dad," Jeannie exclaimed and Shane thought he would never tire of hearing her call him Dad.
Eager to get home, Shane reached down and picked up her carry-on. "Come on, let's get out of here. Mom and Andrew are waiting back at the house." Then he took her arm and ushered her toward the parking garage.
Later that night, Christmas Eve at Donovan Manor
"Let's see, a hotel on Park Place. That means you owe me fifteen-hundred dollars." Kim smiled as she held out her hand to collect the payment from an almost bankrupt Shane.
"This is robbery," Shane cried out indignantly. "We Brits are not good at building monopolies. I'm hopelessly out-maneuvered." Jeannie and Andrew laughed at his excuses while Kimberly waited patiently with an outstretched hand.
"Dad, I'm half-British and I still have plenty of money," Jeannie giggled to a still indignant Shane.
Shaking his head, Shane mumbled, "We should have played Clue like I suggested or better yet, gone to Midnight Mass."
Shane was alluding to their original plans for Christmas Eve. After dinner, they had planned to go to Mass but everyone claimed they were too tired from their travels so they decided to skip it. Besides, Kim reasoned, they still had to decorate the tree. She and Jeannie ran up to the attic for ornaments while Shane and Andrew dragged in the huge spruce that the groundskeeper had cut down the day before.
They spent the rest of the evening decorating the tree and piling the gifts under it. Tinsel and ribbon were scattered everywhere. Shane was pleased with how the tree looked and especially impressed with the number of gifts stacked beneath it considering there were only the four of them. Patting his jacket pocket, he remembered the most important gift was not under the tree.
Still not ready to go to bed after decorating the tree, Jeannie suggested a family game and although Shane preferred Clue, Monopoly was the almost unanimous choice. Now sitting here with barely a dollar to his name, Shane was eager to concede. "Let's call it a game." Looking over at the stacks of money in front of Kim and seeing the glint in her eye, Shane readily accepted defeat. "I acknowledge your mother is a ruthless land baron, the greatest wheeler-dealer ever and you two are future wheeler-dealers who will most assuredly follow in her footsteps," Shane ranted. "Now let's be finished so I can drown my sorrows in a glass of sherry."
Shane stood up and stretched, then strolled over to the cart to pour himself and Kim a glass of sherry. He looked back and Kim was smiling at him, her eyes dancing with joy. She didn't have to say it; Shane knew she was pleased to be surrounded by her family.
"Hey, I know what we can do," Jeannie said excitedly. "Let's each open one present like we used …" She stopped short, quickly realizing she was referring to past Christmases not spent with her father.
Walking back to the table with the sherry, Shane broke the uncomfortable silence that had come over the room. "That's a wonderful idea." He held Kim's gaze to reassure her there were no hurt feelings. "Why don't you pick first, Jeannie?"
While Jeannie was perusing the stacks of gaily wrapped presents, Andrew said quite innocently, "So when are you two going to take the walk."
Shane and Kim both eyed him quizzically. "The walk?"
"Yeah, the walk. You know, down the aisle."
Before Shane had a chance to answer, Kim jumped in, startling him with her eagerness to dismiss the subject. "We're way too busy to think about anything like that." Looking directly at Shane as if seeking agreement, she continued, "We barely had time to pull this little reunion together, what with the book tour and all. The only walk I'm taking is up to bed."
"Hey, hey, wait," Jeannie implored. First one gift, remember?" Kim smiled and settled back for the gift exchange, not noticing Shane's worrisome gaze.
The last few flames flickered in the fireplace, casting soft shadows throughout the bedroom. Kim and Shane lay entwined in the grand four-poster, sharing glistening skin and tangled blankets. Shane's hand gently stroked Kim's arm as she lazily outlined small circles on his chest with her fingertips.
"Mmmmm, that was nice," Kim murmured.
Shane smiled and looked down, kissing Kim on her forehead. "The entire evening was nice. This is exactly how I always imagined spending Christmas. My family together, here at Donovan Manor." Kim softly chuckled at this vision, as Shane continued his musings. "You know, one day we'll be celebrating Christmas with grandchildren scurrying about."
"Oh Shane," Kim replied, as he leaned over and gave her a long, sweet kiss, as if sealing what the future held for them. But he couldn't shake the unnerving feeling that had been plaguing him ever since Kim's reaction to Andrew's wedding question earlier in the evening. Her eagerness to dismiss the subject kept nagging at him. He didn't want to spoil the mood but even their sweet lovemaking couldn't diminish the dread he was beginning to feel. If he had any hopes of getting to sleep, he had to take the risk and confront Kim.
"Kim?" Shane asked tentatively.
"Uh-huh," she answered sleepily.
"I was thinking about what Andrew said earlier. About us and a wedding …"
Kim's eyes shot open. "Shane, there's no time now. We're in the middle of a book tour and I have all those rewrites due for the movie, too," she reasoned. "Besides, Jeannie's busy with visiting colleges and Andrew - well, Andrew always has something going on."
Shane was surprised at her excuses. "We're not talking about a huge wedding, Kim. A Justice of the Peace or constable would be fine."
"It's not a good time, Shane. Not now. Not during the book tour." She looked at him pleadingly.
"All right. We'll wait." Shane acceded to her view but he couldn't help the sinking feeling that overcame him as he read the disquiet in her eyes.