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Different Sides of the Track~Prologue-Chapter 1 (Shelle)
by Kitty (no login)
Prologue
<i>I remember it all so vividly.
Everything.
The sweet smell of Champagne filling the air.
The soft classical music playing in the background.
The roses. The white roses. Baskets and bouquets of them everywhere you'd turn. And their scent...oh that glorious scent, that came to mean, the Brady's were having one of their parties.
But what I remember most is that tree.
A live oak with long, strong branches. Perfect for climbing and oh would I.
I would climb to just the perfect height, then settle back and watch the Brady's guests dance the night away. I would stay in that tree for hours just watching and dreaming.
At the time, I didn't know exactly what I was dreaming for. A chance to dance in one of those princess gowns. The chance to mingle with such rich and famous people. Or a chance to become closer to Shawn, one of the Brady's strapping young sons.
Also known as, the object of my affection.
But dreaming dreams of Shawn was hopeless.
Afterall, I was just the housekeeper's daughter. I don't imagine he ever really noticed me as a child.
Or maybe I'm wrong.</i>
Chapter 1
Shawn Brady glanced hopelessly in the direction of the exit. If he moved quickly enough, he could escape.
Escape the horrible, horrible duty of mingling with his mother's afternoon tea guests.
He judged the distance to the door. About ten feet away, he could bolt for it, and they would never see him leave, much less know that he was gone at all.
He glanced up at his mother, who was blabbing about different types of wine with some old lady. She wasn't even paying any attention to him. She'd never miss him.
Yet, when he took one step closer to the door, he felt her hand clamp down on his shoulder.
Busted.
He winced and slowly turned to stare up into her stern face.
"Just where do you think you're going, mister?" She inquired, raising her eyebrow.
Hope Brady was an extrememly attractive woman of about 33. She had long, flowing brunette hair, which drove men crazy and drove women to jealousy. She had the chiseled face of a French model, and had once in fact modeled for a famous magazine. But her eyes were her crowning glory. Intense chocolate colored eyes, long, beautiful lashes, and perfectly arched eyebrows, that drew your attention straight to those eyes.
"Mom, please, you don't make the other's stay for your tea parties." He whined, sticking out his lower lip.
"Awww...Baby, it's only because you're brothers are not as handsome and charming as you. Don't you understand. My guests love you and are always charmed by your company. Please stay for me, darling. Please." She fluttered her long lashes and sent him a regal smile, then bent down and whispered in his ear. "It will be over soon, I promise."
So much for escape, it looked like he was stuck for at least another couple of hours, maybe even the entire day, it could be a lifetime before he got to leave.
~~~~~~~~
"Melanie, is the tea ready? Sally, what about those appetizers? Margo, have you all the trays prepared?" Lena Evans shouted out orders as quickly as she could.
She was a plain-looking blonde-haired woman of about 36. Her beautiful, golden colored hair was pulled back in a tight bun. And her blue eyes were weary and gray.
She glanced over at her little girl, who was sitting in the corner of the huge kitchen, playing with a single broken doll. She couldn't stand to look at Belle, so lonely, so forgotten.
She quickly glided across the room and scooped the girl up in her arms. "Alright my little beauty, why don't you serve Mrs. Brady's guests today?"
Belle lit up like a firefly. "Really, Mama, can I really?"
"Of course, now go brush your hair and put on your Sunday dress...tea will be ready to serve in five minutes."
Lena chuckled to herself when Belle galloped out of the room at full speed.
She closed her eyes and let out a breath. Simple things never last long, and she was back to work.
~~~~~~~~~
"So I said to this woman that I <b>was</b> Mrs. Bo Brady, and she better show me some respect!" Hope's guests giggled in unison as she finished up her story.
Shawn merely stared at his feet and sighed. Would the torture ever end?
He was 12 years old. He deserved to be outside, playing in the mud or something. Anything. Anything but mingling with old ladies at a tea party.
He looked up when he heard a series of 'oh's', 'ah's' and 'aw's'.
The guests were gathered around something at the door.
A puppy. A kitten. Probably a new piece of furniture or a dress.
He dug his hands in his pockets, and casually strode over to the group to see what all the fuss was about.
"Isn't she adorable?"
"Look at those eyes!"
"Her hair is like sunshine!"
"Can I take her home?"
Shawn pushed his way into the group to find Belle.
The housekeeper's daughter? They were making that big of a fuss over the housekeeper's daughter?
She wasn't even that cute. A 9-year-old pest is all he saw when he looked into those big blue eyes.
All legs, knobby knees, gangly and totally unattractive. What was the big deal about her?
"Everyone...this is the secret jewel of the Brady household..." Hope began. "...Isabella, our housekeeper's daughter."
"Secret jewel?" Shawn stepped forward into the circle beside Belle. "She's no secret jewel, she's Belle!"
Her eyes filled with hot, burning tears as she bolted out of the room. Out of the house.
"Shawn Douglas Brady, I'm suprised at you!" Hope scolded, firmly. "Go and find her. Tell her your sorry."
<i>And that's the first real memory I have of Shawn Douglas Brady...
A jerk, huh?
Well, don't be so quick to judge from first impressions. People are always a little different than you expect them to be.</i>