Brady was bored out of his mind. Belle was out probably with Shawn, and besides he had caused enough trouble for her earlier when he saw her kiss Philip. His dad was up talking to Marlena in their room for privacy, they had been doing a lot of that lately. Brady decided that he would go up to his old room, his room before becoming paralyzed and search for his ex-college roommate’s phone number. As he stepped out of his room the house seemed unnaturally silent—no, he thought, I can hear dad and Marlena’s garbled voices. He walked up the stairs, it had been a long time for him, and it felt really good to be able to do something so simple as walk up a flight of stairs. He opened the door to his room and the voices of John and Marlena became louder considering they were in the next room. Brady sat on the bed and perked up his ears trying to find out what they were arguing about—probably me, he thought. He put his ear up to the wall to listen in. The voices were very muffled but he could make out what they were saying:
“Please, can’t you just leave it alone?” Marlena pleaded.
“No, he’s my son, how can I just sit back and watch him grow up in another home?” Great now they’re thinking of sending me away, thought Brady. It was always the same with Marlena, her recent mission after having him hunted down, was getting rid of him.
“John, he is Hope’s son, yes but….” She paused, hesitating to repeat the horrible truth that had been tearing her and John apart for months. Brady was confused, he’s not Hope’s son. Who could they be talking about?
“But,” continued Marlena, “He will grow up to know Bo as his father because Bo is Hope’s husband and you are mine and that’s the way it is. We cannot have this out in the open. What would it do to Belle, to Brady? You have to accept that although JT is your son biologically you have to look past that so that Bo and Hope can raise him.”
“What the hell?” He whispered. Brady was shocked. Was he hearing this correctly? JT is his father’s son? With Hope? Brady’s mind raced. It couldn’t be true, why would his father have an affair with Hope?……………..He had a………..half-brother…………..so did Belle……..and so did……………...Shawn.
*
Belle and Shawn were walking around the park. It was a balmy spring evening. The rest of their dinner at the Pub had been in almost complete silence. Neither of them knew what to say or do. They weren’t even holding hands. Shawn had wanted to forget but he couldn’t…he kept picturing Philip and Belle kissing. He felt awful because he had promised Belle he would forget it. Belle was silent because she still felt bad for what happened, but she figured it should be Shawn that spoke first. A breeze came and it made Belle shiver. Shawn stopped walking and grabbed Belle. He put his arms around her body, tightly. Belle gasped at the sudden movement. He was so beautiful. The moonlight cast shadows on his face but his lips, oh his lips were so inviting. Shawn exhaled, his breath shook. Belle felt his warm breath on her face, her chest. It made her tremble.
“Still cold?” He whispered. Belle was speechless. She parted her lips and took a deep breath—he was making her knees melt. Shawn leaned into her and kissed her forehead, then her left cheek. He placed his mouth right near her ear and just breathed. Belle closed her eyes, she could feel electricity and he wasn’t even touching her with his lips.
“Belle” he whispered, barely inaudible. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” He pressed his lips to her earlobe. Her hair caressed his face. He pulled back to gaze into her eyes. She was so beautiful, he thought. Shawn lowered his eyes to look at her lips, he kissed them lightly and tightened his arms around her.
“Shawn” was all that could escape her lips. Shawn devoured her mouth. They were both lightheaded in this moment of innocent passion. They leaned against each other and at the same time held each other up. Shawn felt tingles all over his body. A perfect moment. Emotion overcame him and Belle.
*
Brady was in a state of stupor. His dad and Hope had a baby??? JT was his brother and Belle’s and, OH SHIT!!!!!!!!! Shawn’s!!!! Belle and Shawn shared a sibling. He stood up from the bed, not knowing what to do. How could this be? It was disgusting to him that they shared a brother and were dating. He couldn’t let that happen. But he was not going to tell Belle the news. No. He had to break them up somehow. He would not let Belle be humiliated by the mistake his father and Hope had made.
“Shawn……” he said. His mind raced, half in shock still, half scheming. He had to make him understand that he had to end his relationship with Belle. For Brady it was the only thing to be done.
