| Original Message |
Joanne (no login)
Posted Dec 26, 2008 12:55 AM
Chapter 37
(Alice is flipping through Belles family scrapbook and comes across articles that Belle has clipped and placed within the book, the yellowed scraps of paper delicately covered in a protective seal to prevent them from falling apart. She fingers the picture of herself standing on the podium with tears in her eyes as the flag is being raised and thinks back to that day. Turning the page she finds more articles and a beautiful picture of her holding Lila as they both admire the gold medal around her neck)
Danny: (nuzzles the sleeping Alice curled up next to him on the bed) Hey Sleepyhead. Time to wake up.
Alice: Hmmm.( looks around sleepily) Danny?
Danny: The one and only. (smiles) Its time to wake up to go and celebrate.
Alice: I dont want to go celebrate. Id rather stay here in bed with you.
Danny: (cheeky grin) Well, we can stay here in bed and celebrate a different way. Ouff! (exhales sharply as he is jabbed in the ribs)
Alice: (sits up) Now Im awake and ready to celebrate. Let me go fix my hair and we can get going. (removes Dannys arm from around her waist and heads into the bathroom) Danny?
Danny: What?
Alice: Thank you.
Danny: Your welcome (smiles as Alice walks out looking like a million dollars) Ready? (Alice takes his hand and the two head out.)
******
(The next morning)
Alice: (wakes up and smiles as she remembers that she is now an Olympic champion and rolls over to find Danny sleeping next to her fast asleep) Danny! Oh my god! Danny wake up! (gives him a gentle shove) Wake up! You have to get out of here!
Danny: (groans and opens one eye) What? Why? Huh?
Alice: You have to get out of here before my dad kills you! (pulls the covers up around her) Danny! Get out of here quick! Why arent you mov.
Danny: (kisses her silent) Relax, he cant throw your husband out.
Alice: Husband? WHAT?! (looks at her left hand and on the ring finger is a golden circular band) What? How? Who?
Danny: (smiles) That leaves out where when and why. Dont you remember? We ran off and eloped last night.
Shawn: (pounding on the door) Alice Maria Brady, open this door NOW!!!!!! (The pounding continues to grow louder and louder until Shawn breaks the door down)
Shawna: (shakes the mattress) Alice! Wake up! Were going to be late for lunch!
Alice: (jerks awake and groans) Shawna, what did I do last night? (looks on her left hand to make sure there is no ring there and sighs in relief that it was a only a dream)
Shawna: Get really wasted celebrating that gold medal around your neck and we, being me and that guy of yours sneaking you back up the stairs to avoid the press. Hes going to get you into trouble Alice!
Alice: (groans again as Shawna opens the blinds a crack to let the sun in.) Close the window! If I got really wasted last night, why dont I have a hangover?
Shawna: Because we fed you a gallon of water and coffee to sober you up. Youll be feeling the hangover later trust me! (tosses her the morning paper) Oh yeah, you might want to think of something to say at the press conference later. Dads probably boasting to everyone and anyone that will listen.
Alice: (grabs one paper and freaks out) OH MY GOD!!! This wasnt a dream! This is a nightmare! (reads the headlines) Beauty and the Beast get cozy in Canada (scans the caption beneath the picture of her and Danny kissing in Brady and Genies hotel room) Americas latest sweetheart Alice Brady and her mystery man. (continues to read the article) Our sources tell the New York Post that the mystery man is Canadian NHL player Danny Sorenson of the Edmonton Oilers. The two were spotted partying way into the night after Alices gold medal winning performance in ladies figure skating. The two were later spotted heading up to her suite at the Hotel Vancouver. (Alice bursts into tears) SHAWNA!!!
Shawna: What?! (comes back into the room and sees the front page of the New York Post and Alice is about to burst into tears) Oh crap! Dad is going to FREAK!!!!!! (hugs Alice who is now crying) Dont worry Alice! Ill tell Dad is was me! Well get them to print a retraction and an apology! Come on Alice! Ive never seen you this upset before! Alice please stop crying! Dad will know somethings wrong!
Alice: (sobs) Dads going to kill him! Nothing happened! I swear!! Shawna, what have I done?!
Shawna: Nothing! Youve done NOTHING!! (stops for a moment) Alice, why are you so worried about Danny? This guy has been nothing but trouble for you since the day we met him. He cant even stay in your life long enough without causing you some drama and then hes gone again leaving you with a broken heart and me to pick up the pieces when he hurts you.
Alice: You dont understand Shawna! No one understands Danny but me!
Shawna: Oh I understand Danny alright. Hes in and out of your life as he pleases. For the love of God, please dont get involved with him again. (Alice breaks into a fresh set of tears and Shawna sighs) Im sorry sis. I shouldnt have said that. (Pulls her out of bed and into the bathroom.) Go take a shower! Ill go deal with Dad.
*******
Belle: Shawn Douglas Brady, if you dont calm down Ill be forced to resort to something youre not going to like!
Shawn: (ranting) Hes ruined her! Im going to kill him! No! Death is too easy for him! IllIlll Ill peel his nails off one by one! Ill.
Belle: SHAWN! (gives him a good smack in the gut) Theyre here! (rushes over to hug Alice) Sweetie are you okay?
Alice: (teary eyed) Mom.. (Belle just hugs Alice tighter) Nothing happened! I swear!
Belle: I believe you. We just need to convince your father now.
Shawn: I want him banned from this hotel! Andrew! Get a restraining order! I dont want him within 100 feet of my daughter!
Andrew: (looks at deranged Shawn and wonders what has happened to the cool collected cousin/agent he knows) Shawn, arent you overreacting a little? Im sure theres a really good explanation for all this.
Shawna: Yeah, it was me in those pictures, not Alice. Alice asked me play decoy and take the medal back to the room. I ran into a guy in the elevator and I pretended to be Alice when he asked me. We got wasted, well I did and he helped me back to the hotel.
Shawn: (whirls around) That was you!? Shawna Madeline! What were you thinking? How could you do this?
Shawna: I fucked up okay! Im sorry! I made a mistake Dad!
Shawn: Watch your language young lady!
Shawna: Dad, Im 25 ! Stop treating me like Im 5! If I screwed up, I screwed up! Deal with it!
Shawn: Oh I will be dealing with it! You are grounded young lady!
Shawna: You cant ground me! I dont even live at home anymore remember?
Alice: (covers her ears and screams) Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Both of you please stop it! It was me Dad! Shawna is just covering for me. I had a little too much to drink and Danny was just helping back to my room! Shawna was there! She was with us!
Shawn: Then why were you sitting in his lap and he was all over you? (looks at Shawna) Why are you covering for her?
Belle: Shawn! You are going to calm down and sit in that corner. Shawna please take your sister into the other room and help her calm down before this press conference. ( ushers her two daughters of the living room and into the bedroom.) How could you do that?
Shawn: Do what? Im only doing what any father would do.
Belle: Shawn, our daughters have been independent since the day they figured out how to break out of the backyard and head to the police station to find your dad and ask him for ice cream! You of all people should know that. You cant protect them forever and for Petes sake, grounding Shawna? Shes 25 years old! You two are exactly the same! You are your daughters father!
Shawn: (confused) What? What are you talking about?
Belle: Oh please! I look at Shawna and all I see is you being stubborn, rebellious and pushing every single button to see what you can get away with. She is you in a female form from head to toe. She is her fathers daughter from the moment she was born!
Shawn: Shawna is nothing like me! Granted shes closer to me than Alice is but shes nothing like me!
Belle: (sighs) Shawn Douglas Brady, open your eyes. From the time Shawna could speak, everythings been always about you! Dont you remember when she was little and they asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up? She wanted to be just like her Daddy. Well, guess what Daddy? Shes exactly like you whether you believe it or not! You wanted to be a doctor once. Well, shes on her way to being a doctor. Youre a secret agent. Shes been recruited by the CIA with med school completely paid for by them! Shawn, dont tell me Shawnas not her fathers daughter because she is whether you see it or not. The two of you dont always see eye to eye but you two are so alike youll always agree to disagree. Think about what I said, Ill see you at the press conference. I have to deal with our other daughter! (Shawn reaches out to grab Belles arm but grabs the air instead as Belle walks past him to comfort Alice.)
***************
Reporter: Miss Brady, can you confirm that you are dating Danny Sorenson from the Edmonton Oilers?
Shawna: (jumps to Alices defense) Why dont you mind your own business and stay outta my sisters personal life? How would you like it if I asked you if you want to confirm that you were cheating on your wife with that reporter standing beside you because you two were looking pretty cozy there before the press conference started?!
Alice: (yanks her standing sister back into her seat) SHAWNA! (turns to the crowd) Im not here to talk about my personal life. Im here to talk about skating. I will leave this media conference if Im asked anymore personal questions again. Am I being perfectly clear here everyone? Next question? (Everyone is still stunned with Shawnas outburst.) Good. Thanks everyone! (gets up to leave as the media snaps out of their daze and begin to fire questions. Alice ignores them all even as they push and shove microphones and cameras in her face forcing security to forcibly push the media back. The family finally make it out of the media area and are quickly ushered into waiting vans and whisked back to the hotel.)
Shawna: That reporter is a rat bastard!
Belle: (exasperated sigh) Shawna Madeline! Language please! Alice, honey, are you sure you want to stay? We can go home right away from this media craziness and you can get some rest. You look tired and you havent eaten a lot lately. Im worried about you.
Alice: (sits up after flopping on the bed) Mom, Im fine. I want to stick around for the guys. If they beat the Canadians, theyll want a gold medal family picture and interview. I already have one with NBC later tonight before the gold medal game. I wont be talking about what happened so you better let them know that right off the bat. I just want to hide out until the interview.
Shawna: Well, that settles it. Were having a girls afternoon (picks up the phone) Get yourself over here Nikki. We got girl problems! Tell the others to come too. Were having girls afternoon in, maybe a night too.
Nicole: Yeah, I hear ya. See you in a bit. (hangs up) Come on gals. Were having a pow wow in Alices suite. Shes got girl problems and she needs us.
Jillian: I thought we were going to the village to look for guys.
Addie: Sorry cuz. Sister trumps guys right now.
Lila: Mommy, I want to go too! Pllleeeeaassee??? We can make chocolate sundaes and then Alice will feel better right Mommy?
Genie: Yes Im sure she will but you need to go take a nap first. Well go visit with the girls later.
Lila: (face turns sad) Okay. Mommy?
Genie: What is it sweetie?
Lila: Can we get Alice and Shawna some ice cream?
Genie: (smiles) Yes we can. Come on girls. Ill drop you off at the hotel with some ice cream.
******
Nicole: (hugs Alice after hearing the details of last night and Shawnas outburst at todays press conference) The press need to get a life! (looks at Shawna) and you need to control the Brady temper! Mom is always teasing Uncle Andrew about it.
Jillian: Yeah Shawna, you made the top 10 sports rants for the afternoon. Youre famous now!
Shawna: Well that reporter was getting on my nerves. He kept pushing the issue and he was getting touchy feely with the female reporter beside him. Did they show that?
Addie: No, but one of the TV guys did mention that after you said that, the two reporters couldnt get out of there fast enough. (door knock) That must be room service! Ill get it!
Shawna: No I will. Dad said to check the trays and carts for bugs and hidden cameras. The tabloids want everything these days! (opens the door and is greeted by hotel staff from room service. ) Put it right here please! (pulls out a gadget from the table and starts scanning the two carts which beeps and buzzes as she passes over the open items. It starts to beep noisily as Shawna finds a tiny bug planted in the flower decorations. She pulls it out and grins evilly.) Gotcha! Hey! Anyone listening?! (taps the mic with her fingers) Well guess what? BUSTED!!! You want a scoop? Well, listen to this! (takes the microphone and drops it into a pitcher of water which causes the mic to emit a loud painful screeching and several loud thumps from the room next door.) Get security up there now and get the annoying press out or were leaving! (whips out her cellphone) Im calling Dad and Uncle Shane.
Alice: Shawna, chill out will ya! (sighs) There isnt much we can do now. (turns to the hotel employee) Please have security escort and throw these gentlemen out. If its possible, please destroy their evidence. (A security guard and his partner have arrived on the scene as Shane and Shawn get off the elevator.)
Security guard: Miss Brady, would you like to press charges?
Alice: No, just escort them off the property please.
Shawn: No, please have them arrested. (hugs Alice) Honey, let me and Uncle Shane handle this. (ushers her back into the hotel room and tips the hotel employee generously) Thank you for your discretion.
Hotel employee: (big smile when he sees the amount) No problem man!
Alice: (closes the door and screams) WHY CANT PEOPLE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE????? I want to celebrate and Im stuck in a hotel room!
Nicole: (smiles) Feel better now?
Alice: Much! You know what? To hell with the press. Eat up and were going out! I came here to win, celebrate and watch the Olympics, not hide out in a hotel room because some stupid tabloid wants dirt. Were going to the game. They want a story, then theyll get a story!
*******
(Alice sits down for her interview with NBC which is completed in record time to allow her time to rush from the studio to the arena to watch the final period of the gold medal match between Canada and the United States. The game has been fairly physical and very tight with Canada leading 3-1 with 5 minutes left in the game.)
Alice: (looks around the arena after graciously signing a few autographs for fans in the stands and sees a sea of red and white maple leaf jerseys surrounding them) These Canadians sure love their hockey!
Shawna: No kidding! USA! USA! USA! (joins in the USA chant going around)
Alice: Um Shawna? Not a good idea (points to several large burly men in Canadian jerseys glaring at her) You dont want to get jumped by 10,000 Canadian fans. Were in enemy territory.
Shawna: So? Im your sister, the gold medalist in ladies figure skating. (sees Ryan miss the net completely after a perfect tape-to-tape pass from Doug who gives him a tap with his stick) HEY BRADY!!! YOU SUCK!!!
Shawn: Shawna! Behave! Stop annoying your brother!
Shawna: Ryan doesnt mind Dad. I do it to him all the time cause BRADYS A LOSER!
Brady: (pretends to be insulted) Did you just call your uncle a loser?
Shawna: No, Im just bugging Ryan.
Danny: (sitting on the end of the bench closest to the US bench) Hey Ryan! Your sisters got some good lung power there. Too bad you didnt inherit any!
Ryan: Oh yeah Sorenson! Next shift, be prepared to be annoyed!
Pat Quinn: (taps Danny on the shoulder) Okay cowboy, reign it in. I know hes your teammate and all but concentrate. We have less than 3 minutes in the game.
(The American attempt a last minute effort to score on Carey Price but his cat like reflexes are no match for their firepower. The Canadian fans go wild as they countdown the last 10 seconds as the red and white maple leaf flags fly everywhere. The buzzer sounds as the Canadian team flies off the bench to congratulate their goalie for a job well done. The US team look dejected but have nothing to be ashamed of. They fought a long hard 60 minutes but were no match for the backstopping of Price and crew. Both teams line up at centre ice to shake hands with each other and congratulate teammates from opposing countries.)
Danny: Good job Brady!
Ryan: Im still gonna get you Sorenson. Mark my words. When we get back
Danny: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (grins) Is Alice here?
Ryan: She should be. I dont know where theyre sitting.
CBC Reporter: (grabs Danny) Can we talk to you for a second?
Danny: Sure. Catch you later Brady.
NBC Reporter: Ryan! Can we grab you for an interview?
Ryan: Sure!
NBC: Were live with Ryan Brady from Team USA. Ryan we saw you talking with your teammate Danny Sorenson from the Oilers. Any hard feelings?
Ryan: No, but hes still going to get it when we get back. Ill get him back at practice (evil grin)
NBC: We were talking with Alice earlier and she was cheering for you guys. She said if you guys won, there would be a lot of celebrating going on. You have a medal but not the color you were hoping for. Are you disappointed?
Ryan: Well, of course but theres always next time. The Canadian fought a good hard game and in the end we just couldnt beat Price.
NBC: Oh we have your sister here. Hi Alice, anything you want to say to Ryan.
Alice: I do. Hi Ryan, you still rock and Ill see you in a bit. Congrats!
NBC: Thanks Alice. She just said congrats and she will see you in a bit. Okay you know we have to ask. Whats the story between Alice and your teammate Danny? Is there a romance in the works there?
Ryan: (smiles) Sorry, not talking about that. Youll have to ask them because Im staying out of it.
NBC: Thanks Ryan. (Ryan skates off to join his brothers) Back to you at the studio.
Danny: (leans down and kisses the back of Alices neck) Hey beautiful. What are you looking at? (wraps her in a bear hug)
Alice: (snaps out of her thoughts) Oh nothing. I was thinking back to that day and all the events surrounding it.
Danny: (sits down beside her and smiles) You never thought it would lead us here to today?
Alice: (smiles wistfully) Well, Shawna did have a point. You kept popping in and out of my life. I wasnt sure if and when Id ever see you again.
Danny: Have you ever regretted marrying me?
Alice: (smiles as she leans over and kisses Danny) Never! You make my life complete and I wouldnt want it any other way.
Angela: (bursts in the door) Mommy! Mommy! Look what I found! (holds out a turtle) Its a turtle! Can I keep it?
Danny: Where did you find that?
Angela: Sheba found it and she started barking at it and digging for something in the snow so I picked it up so she wouldnt eat it.
Danny: (mutters to Alice) Is it even still alive? Let me see the turtle angel. (Angela drops it into his open palm as Danny inspects the animal and sighs)Angel
Angela: Whats wrong with the turtle Daddy? Is it sleeping and thats why it wont come out of its shell?
Danny: Something like that angel. (doesnt have the heart to tell Angela that the turtle froze to death from the cold.). Show me where Sheba found it.
Alice: Dont forget to wash your hands after you come in! (Danny waves and follows Angela outside as Alice puts the book away and goes up to check on Leo.)
Angela: Daddy, can I keep the turtle?
Danny: Sorry angel. I dont think the turtle would like it being cooped up in an aquarium. Its a little too big to keep as a pet.
Angela: Why?
Danny: Because this is a wild turtle. Its not like the ones in the pet store. If we keep this one, it might get sick from being cooped up and die.
Angela: (face drops) Oh. I dont want the turtle to die Daddy. We have to let it go then.
Danny: Yes we do. (heads over to the tree and manages to scrape a bit of the frozen earth into a hole, places the turtle inside and packs the snow on top of it) Sheba! (tugs on the dogs collar as she goes to investigate the turtle again) Come on girl. I think youve annoyed the turtle enough. (Sheba whines as Danny tugs her back towards the house.) Come on angel, back inside. You need to wash your hands now.
Angela: Bye bye Turtle. I hope you make it back to the ocean.
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