Chapter 50
Belle sat with her head hung low as she watched the final ten contestants perform on stage. She was so proud of her girls for making it through to the final rounds of the competition, tonight, the first would earn their place. She didn’t know how she was going to take the chosen songs, knowing that it was ‘honor the parents’ week. She knew that Aimee had been carefully choosing the songs that would be heard and she knew that the girls knew something was happening between her and James; After all they weren’t stupid. The sound of Abi’s giggle caused her to look up and see her daughter alone on the stage. ‘Dear God, just let me get through this without breaking down, and I’ll be a better person.’
Don't tell me what it's all about
'Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out
Out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I'm have here to remind you
What do you get when you fall in love
You only get lies and pain and sorrow
So, far at least until tomorrow
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
“Don’t even talk like that Shawn, I could never love someone other than you.” Belle insisted as she paced around Shawn’s home office. “I don’t know why you’re even bringing this up again. We’ve been through it again and again.”
“I just want to make sure my daughter is cared for.” Shawn replied leaning back over his living will. After all the family losses he’d experienced he’d opted to write his will, and have it legally binding. “I want to makes sure she has the best upbringing she can have if I’m not here for her.”
“But you will be here for her Shawn.” Belle argued with a pout. “And this discussion ends here. I will not look for another husband if you happen to be pulled away from us. No way, no how “ I’ll Never Fall in Love Again .”
I'll be there to comfort you
Build my world of dreams around you
I'm so glad that I found you
I'll be there with a love that's strong
I'll be your strength
I'll keep holding on
If you should ever find someone new
I know she'd better be good to you
'Cause if he doesn't
I'll be there
“This is far from over Belle.” Shawn said as he watched her shift uncomfortably in the chair. He knew she didn’t care much for flying and wished that they could have driven from their destination to home so she’d feel better. “You know how I feel about this.”
“I don’t care how you feel Shawn Brady.” Belle huffed crossing her legs for what felt like the hundredth time since their conversation started. “I’m tired of having this conversation! I will not move on if you die, never.”
“But if you do.” Shawn said crossing his arms and wondering when she got to be so stubborn. “If you do Belle, I want to make sure you find someone who’s good to you. And I want you to remember that no matter what I’ll Be There.”
Belle groaned outwardly when Lacey took the stage. Knowing Aimee she’d managed to take Lacey’s happy songs, full of love from both her parents and turn it into a way to hurt her. It bothered her how Aimee refused to accept that she was moving on, it just didn’t make sense to her.
Every day's a new day in love with you
With each day comes a new way of loving you
Every time I kiss your lips my mind starts to wonder
And if all my dreams come true
I'll be spending time with you
Oh I love you more today than yesterday
But not as much as tomorrow
Oh I love you more today than yesterday
But darling not as much as tomorrow
“Come on Miss Black, you have to come out of there sometime.” Shawn said in a sing song voice as he leaned against the bathroom door. “Come on Belle, your hair can’t look that bad now. So what if it’s pink, I’ll love you anyway.”
“No you wont!” Belle called from inside. “And it’s not pink!”
“I don’t care if it’s green I want to see it.” Shawn called back wondering if he could still pick a lock with his knife. He remembered picking the lock on the Blacks penthouse when he was younger to surprise Belle, but he was out of practice. “Come on Belle, you know I’ll still love you. Maybe I’ll love you more.”
“I doubt it.” Belle said pouting at her hair. She’d attempted to prove to Shawn that she could go a year with out to have her hair colored and had tried to do it at home. Well, her blonde streaks had come out white, and now she felt like a fool. “I really doubt it.”
“Come on sweetie.” Shawn urged jiggling the knob. “I will love you more. At least More than Yesterday.”
Before the rising sun we fly
So many roads to choose
We start off walking
And learn to run
And yes! We've only just begun
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talking it over just the two of us
Working together day to day, together
And yes we’ve just begun.
“I promise not to ask much of you Belle.” James said catching her blue eyes with his. “All I want from you is a child. I will care and protect you if you will do me the honor of bearing a child.”
Belle looked at James with wide eyes. The prospect of having more children had never occurred to her, despite the fact that she was only thirty one. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes, say you’ll be my wife.” James said taking her hand a placing a soft kiss against her knuckles. “I swear to you all I ask of you is for you to give me a son or daughter to call my own. I will take in your children and raise them, provide for them as best I can and I will allow you to be safe. I know it’s scary to think of, but I promise I will ask nothing of you.”
“I don’t know if I can do this.” Belle said as she felt panic well up in her chest. It had been quite a while since she’d had a panic attack and didn’t feel like fainting. “And if I say yes, where to we go from there?”
“Forward my dear.” James replied with a smile. He knew she’d say yes to his request, after all, he knew exactly what she wanted. “After all, We’ve Only Just Begun.”
Belle finally started to relax when Autumn took the stage. There was nothing she could do to make her feel bad, she was of no relation. She also knew that she and Aimee didn’t get along so there was no way that Aimee fixed the songs. She leaned back in her chair and smiled as James’s hand rested on her shoulder from behind.
I'm gonna do all the thing for you
Oh God wants a girl to do Oh, baby (oh, baby)
I'll sacrifice for you
I'll even do wrong for you Oh, baby (oh, baby)
Every minute, every hour
I'm gonna shower you
With love and affection
Look out, it's coming' in your direction
I'm gonna make you love me
Oh, yes I will
Yes I will
I'm gonna make you love me
Oh, yes I will
Yes I will
“Thank you again for the gift you’ve given us.” Shannen Johnson said as they all stood on the runway of Salem International. “You have no idea what this means to our family to have a daughter to raise. Thank you again.”
“Thank you for raising my baby.” Belle said fighting off tears. It seemed that all she could do was cry. “Thank you for giving her a chance at real love.”
“We wanted to give you this.” Shannen said reaching into her bag and handing a multicolored teddy bear to Belle. “On our farm in Colorado the nicest time of the year was the fall when the leaves turn. We found this bear called Autumn and immediately knew we had to give it to you. I know it’s nothing huge, but we hope you’ll always think of us when you look at it.”
“Thank you.” Belle said tucking the teddy under her arm and smiling. “You’re going to be late getting in if we keep you too much longer. Have a safe flight and please, love her.”
Shawn led Belle back towards the building so the plane could start it’s taxi out. He tucked her under his arm and kissed her forehead. “This is for the best you know.” He said trying to convince himself of his own words. “This way she’ll never have to think of you and say I’m Gonna Make You Love Me.”
Everybody's got something they had to leave behind
One regret from yesterday that just seems to grow with time
There's no use looking back or wondering (or wondering)
How it could be now or might have been (or might have been)
All this I know but still I can't find ways to let you go
I never had a dream come true
Till the day that I found you
Even though I pretend that I've moved on
A part of me will always be
Belle signed as she looked out over the water. It was time for her to let go of the past, and she knew that she had to be close to the water to do it. “Shawn, I’m sorry.” She said closing her eyes and grasping her engagement ring between two fingers. “It’s been a long time since you left and I have to do this. I need the strength to move on. I need to give the girls someone who can be a father to them. You will always be daddy, but they need more males. I’m sorry.”
She opened her eyes and slowly pulled the ring off. Quickly she stuffed it in her pocket and allowed her sobbing body to slide down to the sand. “Please know that I loved you. You made me complete, but then there is my dreams to think. I’ve Never Had a Dream Come True.”
Belle fought the urge to leave the room when she heard Aimee’s name announced. As the contest favorite she was singing last. Her Shawn like features were prominent as she placed herself in the center of the stage with a microphone and stand. She locked eyes with her and Belle shivered with the cold that she felt.
I really wanna hear you say that you just how it feels
To have it all and let it slip away, can't you see
Even though the moments gone i'm still holding on somehow
Wishing i could change the way the world goes round!
Tell me,
Have you ever loved and lost somebody?
Wished there was a chance to say i'm sorry?
Can't you see?
That's the way i feel, about you me, baby!
Have you ever felt that your heart was breaking
Looking down the road you should be taking?
I should know, 'cause i loved and lost the day i let you go!
“Shawn!” Belle screamed as she scanned the water around her for signs of life. The silence she received was deafening and she sobbed harder. “Shawn!” Leaning back into the bottom of the raft she curled herself into the fetal position. This couldn’t be happening to her, Shawn couldn’t have gone down with the plane. They were going to have a baby soon, and he had to be there for it.
Pulling herself up to lean over the side again she watched the water around the raft. A grey shadow swam past and she bolted upright knowing it was a shark. “Damn you!” She screamed looking up at the sky. “You let us down again. You’ve always done this to our families. I always said I’d believe in you because you’ll look after us. But Have You Ever?”
Belle lost all control over her emotions as she watched Aimee’s smirk as she went into the next song. Her daughter was lost to her now, lost in a world where her father would come home someday, a world that didn’t exist.
Lying beside you
Here in the dark
Feeling your heartbeat with mine
Softly you whisper
You're so sincere
How could our love be so blind?
We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side
So now I come to you
With open arms
Nothing to hide
Believe what I say
So here I am
With open arms
Hoping you'll see
What your love means to me
Open arms
Living without you
Living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you
Wanting you near
How much I wanted you home
But now that you've come back
Turned night into day
I need you to stay
So now I come to you
With open arms
Nothing to hide
Believe what I say
So here I am
With open arms
Hoping you'll see
What your love means to me
Open arms
***
BONUS SONG! (just to throw Belle over the edge)
Aimee: I've been waiting
Such a long time
Just trying to get through
Lacey: And it's taking
All of my strength
To keep me here, away from you
Guys: It doesn't matter just how long it takes
Nothing changes when we're apart
Everyone: It's just a little bit longer we've come this far
One step closer to heaven, baby
Means one step closer to you
There'll be no more living without you, baby
I'm counting each minute till I'm back to you
One step closer to heaven, baby
Hold on, hold on, hold on to my lovin'
Abi: I've been saving
Every little bit of my love for you
Autumn: I've been dreaming
Just to get by
Together: So exciting, Fantasizing
Guys: It doesn't matter just how long it takes
Just to know we'll be back together
Everyone: And this time it's forever
One step closer to heaven, baby
Means one step closer to you
There'll be no more living without you, baby
I'm counting each minute till I'm back to you
One step closer to heaven, baby
Hold on, hold on, hold on to my lovin'
Guys: It doesn't matter just how long it takes
Nothing changes when we're apart
Everyone: It's just a little bit longer we've come this far
One step closer to heaven, baby
Means one step closer to you
There'll be no more living without you, baby
I'm counting each minute till I'm back to you
One step closer to heaven, baby
Means one step closer to you
There'll be no more living without you, baby
I' m counting each minute till I'm back to you
One step closer to heaven, baby
Hold on, hold on, hold on to my lovin'
Chapter 51 - Rated PG13
Aimee wasn’t sure what to make of the situation. First her mother decides to marry James, with out even considering how she and Abi felt about it, and then she breaks down live on national television. Knowing she was the reason for the breakdown didn’t bother her, but the fact that James had carted her mother off before they could say goodnight did. Now, three weeks and three shows later, they’d seen their mother perhaps ten times and she’d missed the shows where both she and Abi had been put in the group. Tonight, the final five had been chosen, and again she was missing because James had offered to take her out and she didn’t feel like sitting there for an hour. “That son of a …”
“Aimee!” Abi scolded as she lay on her bed. They’d immediately run into their room to talk, but all she’d felt like doing was crying. This only proved to her that she’d lost her mother forever. “Watch it!”
“Sorry.” Aimee said moving to flop down on her bed. She always seemed to forget that Abi was only 7 years old, and that she had to watch her mouth. She liked being around Lacey because neither of them ever said something other than what it was they really wanted to say. She lay for a long minute, staring up at the white ceiling. What did this mean for them now? Did they have any chance at the happy lives that they had now? The ringing of her phone drew her out of the funk she was in and she jumped to answer it. “Hello?”
“Hi sweetie it’s grandma.” Marlena said happily. “I just wanted to call and tell you that I’m going to be arriving in two days to arrange all the things that need to be done before you and Abi can head out on the tour.”
“Hi grandma.” Aimee said flopping back down on the bed. Because of her line of work their grandma Marlena wasn’t able to make it to Hollywood to see them perform, but that was ok with them, she watched every night on TV and called to tell them all about it. “Why are you coming? I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“You mother asked me to travel with you and your sister.” Marlena said proudly. “Of course I told her I would, I’ve been wanting to come and see you two perform for a long time.”
“Mom asked you to tour with us?” Aimee asked perking up. Something sounded off to her, she’d heard nothing from her mother about it. “You mean she just wants you to come along with the three of us so she’ll have someone other than Mimi and Brady to talk to right?”
“No sweetie, I’m acting as your legal guardian.” Marlena said with a chuckle. “But your mother’s told you all this.”
Aimee slammed the phone down on it’s cradle and stormed out of the room, leaving a bewildered Abigail staring after her. Without knocking she flew into her mothers bedroom, ignoring the cries from her little sister. “You’re not coming on tour with us?” She asked glaring at the blonde who sat in a lounge chair near the door. “You’re not coming with us?”
“Who told you that?” Belle asked looking at James in alarm. She’d felt unwell in the past few weeks and had opted not to tell the girls about her decision to return to Salem and have a grandparent go with them until she felt better. That time was supposed to be in the morning over breakfast.
“Are you or aren’t you?” Aimee asked ignoring her mothers questions. She was tired of being on the back burner when it came to her mothers life and it was time she took a stand.
“Don’t speak to your mother like that.” James said standing up to speak to the child.
“Stay out of this!” Aimee yelled glaring at him. “I wasn’t talking to you. And by the way if you want me to treat you with respect, or so you call it, then dammit give some to me!”
“Aimee Isabella Brady, if you don’t watch your mouth I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Aimee asked realizing that it was a now or never kind of moment for her. Her mother had to realize that inside her 11 year old body there was a teenager with a Brady temper. “Hand me off to the other grandparent? I’m sick of this! You are my mother, why aren’t you coming with us.”
“Because I’m not.” Belle said standing a firm ground with the child. “I am going home to Salem where I can start to plan for our future. If music doesn’t work out for you two we need a home and money to keep us going.”
“Bullshit!” Aimee said shooting another glare at James. “You’re going home to be with him. If he wasn’t in the picture you’d be with us. But no, your happiness is more important than us!”
“Thanks not true!” Belle protested glancing at James again. She hadn’t expected Aimee to react in quite this way. “And you know it.”
“If it’s not true then why aren’t you coming with us?” Aimee asked toning her voice down a little bit. “Why?”
“I already told you.”
“Fine then.” Aimee said turning to leave the room, she felt her temper flare and she knew that she was about to lose it. “But don’t ask me to come to your wedding, because I’ll die before I’ll attend, and so will Abi.”
“Then die you will.” James whispered under his breath.
Aimee barely heard James’s words, and she turned quickly, slamming the door before fleeing into Lacey’s empty bedroom. Grabbing the phone she dialed an all too familiar number.
“Hello?” A sleep voice asked on the other line.
“Jason, it’s Aimee.” Aimee sobbed into the phone. “You have to help us. Please, you have to help.”
“Aimee, what’s wrong?” Jason asked sitting upright in bed and shaking his head. “Aimee, tell me what’s happening, why are you crying?”
“Jason you have to come now.” Aimee said moving to lock Lacey’s door before anyone could get in to stop her. “Please, please you have to come and help us!”
“Aimee, you have to explain things to me a little better.” Jason said shaking Carrie awake. He had a feeling that they were going to have to go wake the Brady family and head off to California. “Aimee, come on, calm down and tell me what’s happening.”
“It’s mom.” Aimee said with a sob. “Please, I need you and Carrie to come and help us before he gets her all to himself. He’s convinced her to have Grandma M come and tour with us! She’s not coming with us! You have to help. Please, before he takes her life from her, or mine from me.”
“Aimee, Aimee!” Jason called out springing from the warm bed as the dial tone rang in his ear. “Come on Carrie, get dressed. We’ve got to go help Aimee. I think that James is going to hurt one of them.”
***
“Aimee be reasonable.” Belle pleaded as she watched her daughter place all her clothing into the open suitcase on the bed. She’d been devastated to learn that Shawn’s parents had been granted temporary custody of the girls, pending a hearing. She’d never expected the agreement she and Shawn had signed before his death giving his and her parents a say in the life the girls had to be used. “Aimee….”
“No you be reasonable.” Aimee snapped as she spun around to look her mother in the eye. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen to her and Abi, all she knew was from now until the end of the first leg of the tour they would be in the custody of her grandparents. “The jerk that you plan to marry hates, I repeat hates Abi and I with a passion. He’s too old fashioned to like us, and he’s cruel! I will not sit by and let you ruin our lives because he asked you to marry him.”
“Aimee Isabella Brady…”
“That’s right mom, I am a Brady.” Aimee exclaimed s tears welled up in her eyes. “And I always will be a Brady. No matter who you are or where dad is, I will always be a Brady. Never will I be a Cooke, no matter if you might be one.”
“You don’t have to change your name Aimee, I’m the one getting married.” Belle said feeling the hate that poured from Aimee’s gaze. She looked so much like Shawn that it hurt to even look at her. “Don’t let them do this Aimee, you’re all that I’ve got.”
“We were all you had, until you decided not to give a fuck.” Aimee spat back. She didn’t understand how her mother saw her marriage to James as a good thing. All she could see was boarding school and arranged marriages. “Grandma’s waiting for me, she’s already got Abi’s things ready.”
“You can’t go.” Belle cried as she watched her eleven year old daughter prepare to walk out of her life, for what could be ever. “Aimee, no.”
“Don’t cry mom.” Aimee said gently. No matter the anger she felt, in her heart this was still her mother. “I will always love you, I hope you know that. Come see us when you can, you know the schedule we have.” She moved to grab her bags again but stopped short. “You know, you can still come on tour with us, I know we both want you to.”
“I can’t Aim, James and I have so many things to do.” Belle said softly. “We’re looking at houses.”
“Uncle Mickey will see you about the house. Or at least that’s what Grandma said.” Aimee said finally grabbing her bags. “Please come see our Salem show. It’ll be the premiere of my video choice.”
“I will.” Belle whispered as she struggled not to cry harder. She and James had already had their first fight involving the girls careers. The “home town” show in Salem was on the night before their wedding and she had no plans on missing it for the world. James on the other hand thought she should be spending that day and night relaxing so she was in perfect spirits the next day. Needless to day, Belle had won, letting James know that her children were her world. “Please Aimee don’t go.”
“Bye mom.” Aimee said moving to kiss her mothers cheek lightly before she quickly exited the room. Her heart broke in two as she left the only parent she had left standing in the middle of an empty bedroom. The anguished cry that came from the empty bedroom did nothing to help her pain and she hurried into the waiting arms of her grandfather. “Oh gumpa!”
“Come on Aimee Bear, let’s go.” Bo said as Zac took the bulky bags from the small girl. “She’ll come around some day sweetie. Let’s get you settled into the new place and ready for the tour. You will be a star Aimee Brady, and your father would be so proud of you. More than you’ll ever know.”
Chapter 52
Aimee grinned widely as the helicopter approached the island chosen for their very first video shoot. As the first member sent into the group the first video would be hers, and she’d been allowed to choose the location. The Florida keys was the perfect local for what she wanted to achieve in the video and was glad that she’d been allowed to choose a destination anywhere in the world. She gripped the seat as the helicopter began to descend towards the ground, praying that they’d get down ok.
“We’re here guys.” Zac Brady said as he approached the open doors of the helicopter. “Welcome to your first video shoot!”
“So you’re the surprise they were telling us about!” Aimee exclaimed as she rocketed into the arms of her uncle. There were only six years separating them, so they were actually quite close if you figured it in the way that there were two school grades between them. “Are you the only one here?”
“Well they figured that since you did need a chaperone that perhaps someone not so grown up would be nice.” Zac replied giving her a big hug. “And since you asked them to cast someone who looked like Shawn, I volunteered. I mean, other than dad you don’t get any closer than me.”
“Thank you for coming.” Aimee said as she watched the others assemble a few yards away. “I’m going to go check on the rest of them, Abi doesn’t do well with flying and she was looking sick on the way over.”
“I’ll be around if you need me.” Zac said as he watched her skip away. It amazed him that his twelve year old cousin was really his own age inside. It made it awkward to think of her dating, but it allowed them to maintain a close relationship without having to treat her like the little girl she was.
“Aimee why on Gods earth did you fly us way the heck out here for a video shoot?” Autumn asked as she looked at the vast expanses of water that surrounded them. It seemed to stretch forever and it gave the creeps to realize that no one could reach them. “I know they told you that you could go wherever you wanted to, but this is a little crazy don’t you think?”
“My dad died in a plane crash out here.” Aimee explained as she scanned the water with her eyes. The seas were relatively clam and she smiled at the peacefulness of the scene. “The plane went down between this island and one a little further to the south. They never found the plane or the body’s of those lost.”
“I’m sorry.” Autumn said blushing a deep crimson color. She hadn’t even thought of the connection between the story Aimee had told her and the reason that they were here.” “I didn’t know.”
“It’s ok.” Aimee said with a smile. She felt so at peace here and already knew that it would be hard to leave in four days time. “With the song I chose I knew I needed to be close to my dad. This was as close as I could get, or so I figured. I mean, this is his grave.”
“I agree.” Lacey said placing a comforting arm around Abi’s shoulders. The small girl looked like she was about to cry and didn’t want to spend the next twenty minutes calming her down. “I think that this will be the perfect location. Just think of the shots they can do!”
“All I can think about is all the creepy bugs that can get me.” Autumn exclaimed as she watched a large bug crawl past her sandal clad foot. She was terribly afraid of all things that crawled and wasn’t sure how she’d manage here for four days. “The bugs are huge!”
“Oh get over it.” Lacey grumbled rolling her green eyes. She found Autumn to be quite the drama queen. At first it had been funny, but now it was just plain annoying. “By the way you carry on I’d assume you grew up in some city instead of in the country.”
“I never liked bugs.” Autumn replied tossing her long brown ponytail over her shoulder for dramatics. She hated how the people in the group seemed to talk down on her, as if they were better. “And just because I grew up in the country doesn’t make me a bumpkin.”
“No one said it did.” Abi interrupted. She knew how Lacey and Autumn could fight if they got going, and she didn’t feel well enough to listen to it. The trip over had made her feel terrible and she knew her fuse would be shorter than usually. “You two need to shut up before we get yelled at again.”
“Oh the baby’s telling me what to do!” Autumn exclaimed in a mocking tone. Something about Abi in particular got to her, something personal. “Get a life Abi, you can’t tell me what to do..”
“But I can.” Zac said coming up to the group. Autumn’s attitude was proving to be the only real problem that existed between the five kids and he was unsure of how to handle it. “Autumn, do yourself a favor and take the advice of your band mates. You guys are all in this together and I don’t quite understand why you refuse to get along?”
“They all act like they’re better than me!” Autumn complained crossing her arms over her chest and pouting. “They treat me bad.”
“No, you treat them bad.” Zac said clamping his hands over Aimee and Lacey’s mouths. “You’re telling me that they do these things to you, but it’s what you’re doing to them. And don’t give me the orphan crap either. None of that makes a difference to us, and you have to learn that.”
“Fine.”
“Good.” Zac said removing his hands from the other girls mouths. “Now, Abi, Autumn and Damian, you have rehearsal right now. Lace and Aim you two should start looking for spots to film. Take this with you and be back in an hour.”
“Gotcha.” Aimee said taking the walkie talkie and flipping it on. “Come on Lace, I need to find the perfect place for that part we were talking about earlier. This video will be absolutely perfect!”
Chapter 53
The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the sand as Aimee slowly sauntered down the beach. The words flowed from her mouth as she fondly remembered her father and what it was like the last time she had spoken to him. Stuffing her hands into the waist of her white sarong skirt she kicked lightly at the sand, glancing up at the sky in perfect time with the music.
It has been so long
Since we have talked
I hope that things are still the same
Hoping they will never change
She smiled slightly as she sat on a rock letting the water lap at her feet watching the sun rise over the horizon. Though it was cool it did nothing to douse the fire in her heart. She slowly pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around it, resting her cheek against one knee, her eyes fixed over the water.
Cause what we had
Can’t be replaced
Don’t let our memories fade away
Keep me in your heart for always
Abi stepped out of the trees behind Aimee. She let her arms dangle by her side as she allowed her voice to join with her sisters. She closed her eyes as she felt a sense of warmth spread over her body, feeling close to the man that was her father. She opened her baby blue eyes and the tears that clung to her eye lashes were visible to all.
You made me believe
I can do almost anything
Stood right by me
Through the tears through everything
Aimee stood a little ways away from her fiends as she clutched a daisy in her hand. She slowly allowed he flower to fall, down until it reached the ocean below her feet. Her father had loved the flower and she’d taken after him, decorating everything with the white and yellow flower. At this moment she had a delicate wreath of them strung over her wind blown hair.
I’ll remember you
And baby that’s for always true
You’re the one that I’ll always miss
Never thought it would feel like this
I’ll be there fro you
No matter what you’re going through
In my heart you’ll always be
Forever baby I’ll remember you
Aimee slowly picked her way along the rocky cliff with Lacey. Her mind was on anything but the walk, but that didn’t slow her down. The going was tough and she called out when she slipped and started to fall. If she fell down the side she’d land on sharp rocks or slide into the shark infested deep water. She smiled as Lacey reached out to grab her, steadying her on her feet. They were always there for each other, just like her dad had always been there.
I promise you I won’t forget
The times we shared
The tears we cried
You’ll always be the sun in my sky
It may be fate that brings us back
To meet again someday
Even though we go separate ways
Lacey wrapped her arm around Aimee shoulder as they sat in the still warm sand looking out over the water. The surf lapped against their legs, causing the sand to stick to them, but neither cared. Their heads were filled with memories and stories of a very special man, one who always put others before himself. She smiled at her cousin, before resting her blonde hair against the contrasting dark hair and they continued to look over the sea.
You made me believe
I can do almost anything
Stood right by me
Through the tears through everything thing
Aimee ran down the beach, her long brown hair flying behind her. Her bare feet kicked up the sand as her small legs moved as fast as they could. She launched herself into the arms of a brown headed man and allowed herself to be spun around. Flashes of her sister, and her friends passed by as she held on for dear life.
I’ll remember you
And baby that’s for always true
You’re the one that I’ll always miss
Never thought it would feel like this
I’ll be there fro you
No matter what you’re going through
In my heart you’ll always be
Forever baby I’ll remember you
Shaking her head to clear the image of her father Aimee looked over her shoulder to see Zac and the others carrying on in the sand. He looked so much like her father with his brown hair in need of a cut and a pair of black shorts and tank top. Stood up from her spot and hurried over throwing herself into his arms with tears I her eyes. Zac’s smile faded as he held his crying niece in his arms. Pulling back he looked into her eyes and gave her a huge smile, letting her know that everything would be ok.
If the day should come when you need someone
You know that I follow
I will be there
Don’t ever let there be a doubt in your mind
Cause I’ll remember you
Aimee slowly climbed up the cliff side to the rock ledge that jutted out over the water. She’d been looking for Abi for a little while and had a feeling that this was where hers sister had taken refuge from their pain. Pulling herself to her feet she dusted off her jeans and looked towards the edge of the cliff. Sure enough sitting there with her knees pulled up to her chest was Abi, looking intently over the water. Aimee shrugged her shoulders and started to walk over to where her sister sat.
I’ll remember you
And baby that’s for always true
You’re the one that I’ll always miss
Never thought it would feel like this
I’ll be there for you
Aimee carefully squatted down behind Abi, wrapping her arms around her sisters shoulders and resting them on Abi’s raised knees. Leaning forward she placed her cheek against her sisters and they looked out over the ocean where they’d lost their father for the last time
No matter what you’re going through
In my heart you’ll always be
Forever baby I’ll remember you
as the final words slid from her lips.
Forever baby I’ll remember you
***
Aimee smiled widely as she watched the video play back of their video. It wasn’t finished yet, it lacked any fancy effects or real quality sound, but she loved what she saw. “It’s perfect.” She whispered as tear welled up in her eyes. “Thank you guys, it’s exactly what I wanted.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Aimee turned away from the TV to look at her uncle who was standing a few yards away leaning against a trailer. “Hey Zac, can I go up to the rocks we finished at?” She asked drying her eyes with her hand. “I just need a few minutes for myself up there. You know, to say good bye.”
“I’ll walk you to the base and wait for you.” Zac said smiling father. The trip had been hard on the two of them as they both had very vivid memories of Shawn. It made him feel better to know that she was finally ready to say goodbye to her father. “It’s been nice hasn’t it? I mean, it kinda feels like he’s here with us.”
“Yeah it does.” Aimee said softly. “Hey Zac, I’m supposed to choose a person to perform at the Salem show, just a little side act. Do you think that maybe you could do a few of my songs?”
“I’d love to.” Zac said smiling down at her. He’d been amazed when Aimee had approached him the year before armed with piano music and lyrics to songs she’d written herself. “As long as you’ll play with me. No more hiding behind that pretty face of yours. I want to see those fingers of yours fly over those keys again.”
“Ok.” Aimee said blushing. Zac was definitely a Brady, with his charm and good looks. His resemblance to his older brother was probably the reason she was so close to him. “Zac, do you think mom still misses him?”
“I know she does.” Zac said slipping his arm around her shoulders. “Aimee, you know that Shawn wanted your mom to move on if anything ever happened to him. I know he didn’t have James in mind, but this is what he wanted.”
“Zac, can I tell you something I’ve never told anyone?” Aimee asked again. She knew that she could share everything with Zac, but she had a habit of asking him first. “I came here hoping that we’d find something. I hired a team of people to search all the islands looking for things. I don’t know if I wanted bones or a piece of jewelry, I just need something… hey look.”
Zac watched in horror as Aimee’s small fingers clasped around the object she’d seen and pulled it off the sand. Dangling from her shaky fingers was a gold chain and cross. “It’s just like Shawn’s.”
“It is his.” Aimee said reading the inscription on the back of the cross. She stared at it in awe for a few seconds before lowering it to her side. “But how did it get here? We’ve passed this spot like 100 times!”
“I have no idea.” Zac said searching the immediate area for clues but the land was too trampled from the filming to see anything useful. “But look, the chain’s not broken, it came undone.”
“ It’s like someone just dropped it here and left.” Aimee said slipping the chain around her neck. The cross settled over her heart and she looked up at Zac with tears in her eyes. “He loves me.”
“Of course he does.” Zac said trying to keep his emotions in check. He knew that if he started to cry then she’d get upset too. It was strange to think of her as a child. She was only two grade levels behind her and was more interesting to be with than most of his friends. But the reality of it was, she was six years younger than he was, and very emotional. “Why don’t you head up to the rock, I’m going to look around down here to see if there’s anything else we missed.”
“Ok.” Aimee replied with a nod. Turning, she made the climb up the side of the cliff. It wasn’t a hard trip, but she knew to take her time or she could stop on loose rock and end up sliding to the bottom of the gully.
Slightly out of breath by the time she reached the top Aimee hauled herself onto the flat top of the rock and smiled. She could see for miles from up here. Blue ocean stretched for ever occasionally broken by some form of animal or object. Grinning she turned to sit on the edge that jutted out over the water and gasped. A man sat there, one of the crew she assumed. “Oh I’m sorry.” She said feeling like she was intruding.
The man turned to face the child, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. He had been so absorbed in the beauty around him that he hadn’t even heard her coming.
Aimee’s brown eyes met with the eyes of the man and she uttered four words that would forever change he life.
“Oh my god… Dad.”
Chapter 54
Shawn couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in the pit of his stomach when they had taken off. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it had kept him from sitting down the entire time. He glanced over at Belle when he heard her groan and noticed that she looked sick again.
“Ugh, Shawn, can you find my gravol?” Belle asked as her stomach continued to fight with her.
“Sure.” Shawn said moving to search for the box of pills. He figured it was the stress of their situation that was causing her to be sick. An early morning phone call from his mother had turned her into a bundle of nerves. Seems Aimee had had a slight accident at school and was in the emergency room, asking for her parents. “Honey, you need to calm down, it’s nothing to worry about mom said. You’re getting upset over nothing.” He rubbed at his temples to relive the pressure that had been building. He didn’t understand why Belle felt ill only on the plane and why he had a headache, flying had never bothered him before.
“I’m fine Shawn, and I can’t help up worry about my little girl.” Belle said taking the pill and a glass of water from Shawn before she leaned back in her seat and stared out of the window. They had to make a landing in Florida to pick up Victor and Nicole and then it would be off to Vancouver where Victor would seen his Great Grand daughter for the first time in four years. She noted the water and then the Islands. “Shawn, should I be able to see the Keys from here?”
“As in the islands?” Shawn asked wondering if she was seeing things. “No, we’re too high up and they’re too small. Unless were landing in South Florida, we’re too high up.”
“Shawn, I see islands and they’re a lot closer than they should be.” Belle said looking at him with worried eyes.
“Maybe we’re flying under cloud cover.” Shawn said kissing her lightly, not even bothering to look out the window. He knew that Belle was probably over reacting because she was already scared for their daughter and didn’t’ want to fuel it by reacting to her question. “Honey, can you tell me why you feel so awful, I’m worried about you.”
“Funny you should ask.” Belle said moving to grab a small box off the seat across from her. She handed it to him as lights began to flash and alarms sounded. “Shawn!”
“We’re losing altitude!” Shawn said reaching for lifejackets for them. He kicked himself for ignoring her and for pushing his worry aside, looked as though it had been a warning to them. “Here, take this.” He said looping it over her head. Don’t inflate it as long as you’re in the fuselage of the plane.”
“Shawn what’s happening?” Belle asked reaching out for him. “Shawn.”
“Stay here !” Shawn yelled over the alarms. He pushed his way into the cockpit and gasped. Both pilots were slumped over, and a strange smell lingered in the air. He looked out the window and was shocked to see water rushing at the nose of the plane. “Belle, Belle!” He hurried back to her, grabbing an inflatable raft capsule at the same time. “We’re going down. I want you to take this and get out and into it as soon as you can. We’re going to hit the water and there are sharks out here. What ever you do get out of the water. Belle listen to me, please, don’t inflate your life vest unless you’re in open water and when you get to the surface you need to get into the raft.”
“Shawn I’m scared.”
“Don’t worry Belle.” Shawn said giving her a reassuring kiss. His lips lingered on hers and he wondered why he’d taken so long to pull back. He smiled at her to hide his worry. “What was it you wanted to tell me earlier?”
Shawn didn’t hear her reply as the plane crashed full force into the water. Almost immediately he felt himself smash up against the wall of the cockpit knocking what little air he’d be holding in his lungs, out. Choking on the salty water he pushed himself into the cockpit and out the broken window of the plane. His vision started to go black as he tried to surface, his lungs screamed for air. The light of the moon was the last thing he remembered before his body kicked in, and everything went black, including the water that surrounded his body.
Chapter 55
Shawn didn’t know what had hit him, but he was positive it must have been a Mack truck by the way his ribs felt. Slowly he rolled his head to the front and was instantly choked up. “What the?” He asked in a hoarse voice as he spit out a mouthful of sand. Opening his eyes he groaned at the bright sunlight that hit them. Puzzled Shawn carefully rolled over onto his back and looked up at the clear blue sky above him.
Trees rustled in the warm breeze that drifted by, sounding like rain drops during a summer storm. Still finding it hard to get in a deep breath Shawn carefully and slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position so he could look at his surroundings. Waves crashed against the sand a few feet away sending spray onto his face. White sand stretched out on both sides of where he sat and a thick line of trees stood a dozen of so yards behind him.
A shiny piece of metal caught his eye and the reality of what happened came rushing back to him. The Titan jet had gone down, crashed into the ocean and he didn’t’ see anything around to say that anyone else was alive.
Gaining the courage, Shawn pulled himself to his feet, gritting his teeth against the pain that seared through out his entire body. He wobbled slightly but he managed to stay upright. He knew that the first thing he had to do was find out if anyone had made it out. “Belle?” He called out as he took a few staggering steps forward. His eyes scanned the sand as he looked for any remains of the plane or the other three passengers. He wandered around the shore line for what felt like days until he’d gone almost the entire way around it.
Feeling defeated and tired Shawn slumped down in the shade of a large tree and watched the water again. The sun was high so assumed it was past noon and his stomach rumbled telling him that he was probably right. Glancing at his arm he was pleased to see he still had his watch on and was happier to notice that it was still working. “Remind me to send a letter of appreciation to Timex.” He said checking the date, it was three days later than the last time he’d checked it, meaning he’d been lying on that sand for three days. Looking down Shawn say blood dried onto his legs and he decided to go into the shallows and clean up.
Stripping down Shawn walked out into the cool water watching for dangerous fish as he moved. Quickly he cleaned his pants off, rinsing the dirt from them before laying them on a rock to dry. Turning his head quickly he noticed that there was something floating in amongst the rocks and he moved to grab it. He smiled when he realized that it was his suitcase. “Yes.” He said hauling it ashore he went to work hanging it all to dry before pulling on a pair of swim shorts, a long sleeved shirt and a hat. Reaching for his sandals he began his trek around the island again.
Later that night
Shawn felt defeated as he slumped down inside his shelter. He was positive that there had been no survivors other than himself on this island. He’d combed every inch if it that after noon before deciding that shelter and water would be a good idea, and he’d found both. A freshwater lagoon lay in the center of the island and in the rocks surrounding it he had found a medium sized cave.
But neither of those things prepared him for what he would find on his last trip to the beach that night. Belles suitcase had washed up on shore. Inside, nestled among her clothes was a tiny baby sleeper. He’d been confused for a few moments on it’s meaning until he thought back to Belle’s larger figure in recent weeks. Then it clicked in his mind exactly what Belle had been trying to tell him on the plane, why she was so sick. She was pregnant, and now she, and their baby, are dead.
Chapter 56
The months seemed to creep by for Shawn. He was now almost one hundred percent certain that he’d broken more than a few ribs in the crash. Moving around was hell and the prospect of hard labor was out of the question. Taking a deep breath knocked the wind out of him and many times he’d scream in pain in order to fill his lungs with oxygen. Yet, despite his pain he still walked the entire way around the island every day. He’d determined that it was a small island, about two and a half miles around. Giving up his search for survivors, he scavenged the beach for pieces of the wreckage and drug each and every scrap back to his cave. With time the pain of his ribs had healed, but the pain his heart for Belle had not. But if he spent too much time thinking of Belle, he took away from his plight for survival.
Years of camping with his father was proving to be very useful to him. He had fire, water, food and shelter, and that gave him a sense of peace. He had all the essentials for survival. He’d carefully inventoried all the clothing he had found in the suitcases that had washed up on the beach. He’d been pleased to know that Belle had packed for every possible climate. Her sweaters had created a nice soft and warm cover for his grass bed, and the pajama pants she’d picked up while on vacations were large enough that he could wear them if he had to, and he assumed that he would.
The duffel bag that had brought him to tears had been a plain one from the get. Blankets and pillows, more than enough to keep him warm had been stuffed in the bag and he’d quickly set to work drying them so he wouldn’t have to repeat his first night shivering in the cave. A piece of metal from the plane protected him from the cool night air while holding the heat from the fire he ran all day, keeping the cave warm at night. His tools lay near the door where they were always within reach and he chuckled to look at them. Consisting mostly of things from Belle’s make up bag, he’d found a spear like object, a pair of scissors and a bottle of flammable oil. A hammer and saw completed the set along with his Swiss Army knife that never left his side. He’d concluded that wild animals weren’t going to be a problem as there seemed to be nothing more than birds and bugs with the occasional reptile.
Shawn groaned as he lowered himself on to his bed. He’d spent hours running around the island, trying to keep himself in shape. He never knew when he would be found, or when he would have a confrontation with someone else who would stumble across his little home. The dying fire cast eerie shadows around the small cave and he moved to pull the metal across the door. It was this time of day he hated the most. He was fine when he was doing things, building something or gathering wood and food. But when he stopped and began to settle down for the night, he found him self starting to think.
More often than not he would reduce himself to tears thinking of the things he was missing out on at home. He felt the separation from Belle more deeply than he had the broken ribs, and he cursed what ever caused the plane to crash for taking her from him. But it was not Belle who truly broke his heart. The thought of a little girl, now eight years old haunted him. Her blonde hair so much like her mothers and her dark blue eyes plagued his dreams. Aimee was an orphan, and that nearly killed him.
He knew that she was being well taken care of, because he knew his parents or Marlena were raising her. Belle had been annoyed at the living will he’d insisted on making, but now he was glad he had won the battle. He’d gotten her to give her parents and his parents a custodial right over their daughter incase anything ever happened to him or her. Now, Aimee was being raised by someone in their families, and the documents were in disputable in court. But even with the reassurance of her well being her being alone, without him or Belle was more than he could bear. She was so sweet and innocent, she did not deserve to have her young life start like this.
Shawn bowed his head in a silent prayer for his daughter. He prayed that she was strong enough to over come this loss. He smiled as he remembered what Aimee had told him years ago.
<><><>
“Be careful Aimee.” Shawn called out as he watched the tiny blonde child dart around the playground. He chuckled at her endless supply of energy and remembered how his mother had told him that he was exactly the same way when he was younger.
The park was jam packed with kids and their parents as everyone took advantage of the late autumn weather. Shawn had always been told that British Columbia was very wet, but in the year and a half that they had been there, his experience was nothing but beautiful weather. Children laughed and cried as they tried to play with each other. He jumped to his feet as he watched as Aimee tumbled down the slide. He was by her side in seconds. “Oh sweetie are you ok?”
“Yes.’ Aimee replied rubbing the dust off her hands. She looked up at the boy who had shoved her down the slide and frowned. “I’m a Brady, it takes a lot more to bring me down.”
Shawn grinned at her words. “When did you get so smart?” He asked pushing a curl out of her eyes. She was so much like Belle that it made him think of the things they had done together as children.
“Always have been.” Aimee replied quickly. “Hey daddy, can you turn around?” She asked as she began to climb back up the ladder. “I don’t want you to see what I’m going to do.”
Shawn watched in amazement as his tiny daughter approached the much older boys. He couldn’t quite hear what was being said, but the way her little hands were placed on her hips he knew it must be serious. His jaw dropped as he watched how in one swift movement Aimee knocked the boy down onto the wooden platform. Before he had a chance to speak to her he watched her turn to leave them, her blonde curls flying with attitude while saying, “Don’t push a girl around, we might just push back. And we wouldn’t want to have to tell your friends what you got your butt kicked by a girl, would we?”
<><><>
“You’re right Aim, you are a Brady.” Shawn said sitting up slowly, resting his hands on his raised knees. “And that gives me the peace to get through the night. You will be alright sweetie, and never forget daddy loves you.”
Chapter 57
Shawn sighed as he watched the sun begin to set over the island. The people who had been on the island for a week now were gone, he’d watched the helicopters take off and he’d missed his last ride off the island. Closing his eyes he cursed his stupidity. He knew that the people who had been filming the video would have helped him, they were good people, he could tell by all the watching he had done.
Tears welled in his eyes as his thoughts drifted to the daughter he had abandoned yet again and he pulled his knees up to his chest and dropped his head down to rest on them. Silent sobs wracked his body as his heart cried out for Aimee, he’s missed his second chance to be with her. Looking up, he stared out over the vast expanse of water, cursing it for trapping him there. More than once he had thought about building a raft and trying to make it to shore. ‘Sure Shawn, copy
Cast Away why don’t you. You are no Tom Hanks.’
Completely lost in thought and self pity, Shawn did not hear the sounds of someone coming up the side of the cliff. Sighing he wondered if anyone would ever come back to the island, wondered if he would ever get a chance to go home to his daughter, before she was too grown up to open her heart to him. Images of a preteen blonde, with striking blue eyes flooded his mind and he frowned realizing that he would never get to interrogate her first date, or give her away at her wedding. He had lost everything to look forward to.
Cursing again his eyes narrowed in anger. The time he’d been able to spend thinking had been beneficial in some aspects. When he had entered the cockpit of the plane that fateful night, something had been wrong. Both pilots had been slumped over, and there was a foul smell, the smell of human excrement, in the air. But it was something lingering over that smell that had made him think. A chemical scent was in the air, some sort of gas it seemed. It had immediately gone to his head and caused a headache. Someone had sabotaged their plane, someone had meant for them both to die that night. ‘Dimera and Black no doubt.’ He thought to himself as he clenched his hands together tightly in front of him.
Defeat spread over him and he groaned at the prospect of being trapped on the island any longer. A quick though spread over him and he pondered taking a leap off the rocks. He knew that being alone for too much longer would cause him to lose his mind and he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life as a crazy fool. He’d caught himself talking to Belle more than once, stopping himself each time. ‘I’d rather die than stay here forever. Maybe that is a good idea, at least I can be with Belle.’ He made to stand when a sound behind him caused him to jump.
“Oh I’m sorry.” A small voice said in a whisper.
Shawn slowly turned around, feeling like he had been caught doing something wrong, sort of like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. The brown haired child he had been watching for a week stood there, with her face flushed in embarrassment. She covered her mouth with her hand and Shawn wondered if she was going to scream because of the hard way in which he had been grooming himself over the years. He had chanced an extra shave and hair cut so that way he would look somewhat presentable when he approached the adults to ask for help back to the mainland. But there was only so much he could do with a compact sized mirror, a pair of blunt scissors and a razor that had been nearly ruined by the salt water.
Shawn brought his eyes up to meet with the girls and watched as her opened wide in wonder at him. Her eyes matched his in color and size perfectly, matching the color of her hair which was the exact shade of his. ‘It’s like looking in a mirror.’ He thought watching her closely. She gasped and took a small step forward. “Oh my God … Dad?”
Shawn held his breath and looked at the little girl in confusion. She had called him dad, but there was no way she could be his daughter, ‘Unless that one night stand produced something.’ But he knew she was not Aimee. Aimee was a blonde and had all Belle’s features. There was another little girl among the children in the group who could have been her, but not this little girl. ‘I’m sorry, I’m not your father.”
“Yes you are.” Aimee said taking a few steps forward, her heart rate quickening at the same time. There were a few differences in this man and the father she remembered, mainly in the harsh appearance and coloring of his skin, but there was no doubt in her mind that it was in fact him.
“Sweetie, I only have one daughter.” Shawn said wondering what had happened to this girls father to make her mistake them. He thought of how Aimee would react to seeing someone close in resemblance to him, ‘probably the very same way. Oh Aimee I’m so sorry’. “My daughter is a little blonde with deep blue eyes. You look nothing like her.”
“I used to have blonde hair.” Aimee said wishing she’d brought the photo that was securely tucked into her suitcase. It had been taking during the trip to whistler and her air had still been the honey blonde of her childhood. “You are my dad. You look just like him. I mean, you are Shawn Brady aren’t you?”
Shawn’s eyes opened wide at the mention of his name. “I am him.” He said in a low voice, clogged with emotion. He looked deep into the chocolate colored eyes and nearly fell over at what he saw. “Aimee?”
“Yes.” Aimee said nodding her head. Tears welled in her eyes and she launched herself into his arms. “I can’t believe it’s really you. I knew you weren’t dead. I knew she was wrong, they were all wrong.”
Shawn cried openly as the girl launched herself into his arms. His daughter had come to him, though accidentally, and she was in his arms. “Oh Aimee Bear,” He whispered as he smoothed his rough hand over her soft hair. “Oh Aimee, I love you. I love you.”
“I knew that I would find something here.” Aimee said pulling back and smiling up at him. Never in her life had she been so happy, or at least not since he’d been taken away from her. “I knew that this was the right island.”
“What do you mean?” Shawn asked looking at her with a curious expression.
“I chose to come here.” Aimee explained as she dried her eyes on her shirt. “Daddy, I’m one of the five most talented kids in America. I’m here because I was put into the group first, so I got to choose the first video the group was going to do. They let me choose the song and location, and this was as close as I could get to you.”
“I heard the song.” Shawn said with a smile. “You have an amazing voice. I have been listening to you all since you got here. It was nice to hear music again.”
“I’m so glad I found you.” Aimee said giving him another hug. She felt safe in hi arms, and realized why her parents had hugged each other so much. “I’ve really missed you.”
“I’m so sorry you had to grow up alone.” Shawn said kissing the top of her head. “I’m sorry you lost your parents. I’m sorry I never came back to you.”
“What are you talking about?” Aimee asked looking up at him with a strange look on her face. “I didn’t grow up with out my parents. Until recently, I lived with Mom.”
Chapter 58
“Until recently I lived with mom.”
Shawn paled at her words. “Your mother is alive?” He asked releasing her. His heart pounded in his chest and he staggered to a nearby rock to sit down. This was unreal, Aimee had said that Belle was alive, yet there had never been a search crew like he had assumed. “I though she’d gone down with the plane.”
“No, she got in a raft and drifted to shore.” Aimee explained realizing he had most likely assumed he was the only survivor from the crash. By the time her mother had made it home, the search teams had been called off the case. “They insisted that if you were alive then they’d have already found you by the time she contacted them about her survival. She tried for a couple of weeks to get a new crew together, but they refused saying it was a waste of resources and man power. After that, she couldn’t take anymore stress. It took her 4 days to get back to shore, she landed in Spanish Florida.”
Panic welled in Shawn’s chest as he remembered sorting through Belle’s suitcase and finding the tiny sleeper tucked in amongst all her belongings, carefully hidden from his eyes. Four days with out water was enough to kill her, how was an unborn baby supposed to withstand the dehydration. “Aimee.” He choked coughing to clear his throat. “Aimee, your mother had a sleeper in her suitcase. She was pregnant, did she lose the baby?” He squeezed his eyes closed, not really wanting to know the answer she was going to give him.
“She didn’t lose her baby Dad, she came close a few times though.” Aimee said moving closer to him and sitting down next to him on the rock. A cool breeze brushed against her bare shoulders and she hoped there wasn’t a storm on the way, she wanted to get home. “You said you were spying on us, well the smallest of the group is my sister; your daughter if that makes more sense.”
“A daughter?” Shawn asked as more tears sprung to his eyes. Until five minutes ago be believed the love of his life was gone, lost to him forever. Now, he finds out from his own daughter that not only is she alive, but that they share a second daughter. “I have a daughter who never met me, who doesn’t know me.”
“She knows more than you think.” Aimee said checking her watching. The helicopters were set to leave in fifteen minutes, Zac would soon be coming up to get her ready to go. “But we can talk about it later. We’re leaving for Florida in fifteen and you have to come with us. I can’t leave you here after losing you for half my life, do you have anything you want to bring back with you?”
“Yes I do.” Shawn said not wanting to part with the items he had grown to depend on over the past few years. “They’re in a cave by the lagoon, do you want to come with me? I’d love to show you where I’ve been for the past few years.”
“I’d love to come.” Aimee said standing and reaching out for his hand. She smiled as his calloused fingers wrapped around her smooth ones and she giggled at how the rough skin tickled her. “But there is someone down at the bottom of the cliff stair way, he’s going to recognize…”
“Aimee are you ready to go?” Zac asked as he pulled himself up onto the top of the cliff. He’d begun to worry about her after she didn’t come back after a few minutes and had thought that maybe she’d fallen and hurt her self. “I just got a radio call and the choppers are eleven minutes out, so we have to get back to the beach soon so we can…Shawn?”
Shawn looked at the young man and then back at Aimee. She’d been trying to warn him that this person who know who he was, but for the life of him he couldn’t place the face. The similarities between him and this person were unreal, sort of like the uncanny resemblance he had to his father as a young man. He glanced back over at Aimee and noticed that she shared the same features. “I’m sorry, I can’t place who you are.”
Zac shook from head to toe as he looked into his brother eyes. He’d been ten the last time he’d seen Shawn, and the only differences he could see were the sloppy haircut and tanned skin. “It’s me Zac.”
Shawn’s eyes bulged wide as he realized that the face he was looking into belonged to his baby brother. With out thinking he pulled the young man into his arms and sobbed for joy. He felt Aimee press against his side and the three of them stood wrapped in the moment for a few minutes. “Come on you two, I don’t know about you, but I am anxious to get home.”
***
Shawn smiled happily as he exited the bathroom after his first real shower in almost six years. Aimee had immediately turned into his keeper as soon as they arrived in Florida. A hairdresser had visited him to give him a proper cut, an errand boy had gone to buy all his favorite bath and personal products, and Zac had made a trip to get him some clothes.
“You look better.” Aimee commented from her seat by the window. Zac had suggested that she go and give her mother a call letting her know she was back, but she knew she had some things to tell her father before she could do that. She smiled at the neat cut and clean shave that had been so characteristic of her father in the mornings, and was looking forward to the stubbly kiss she’d get at night, just like when she was younger. “Did you leave any hot water in the hotel?”
Shawn smiled over at her chuckling at her humor. He could see that she was very much like him, yet totally different from what he remembered. “I don’t care if I didn’t.” He replied with a wink. “Most people in here either had a shower this morning or one yesterday, they could do without one more. I on the other hand have had nothing but baths in an open lagoon for six years! I’m just glad that your mother packed me normal razors when we went away. I had four shaves a year and I kept wondering what I would have looked like if I wouldn’t of have them.”
“I’ll admit that you didn’t look that bad, I mean I recognized you right off.” Aimee said causally pulling her knees up so she could rest her arms on them. It was like no time had passed between them, despite the more adult conversation she was able to carry on with now. “I was expecting a gnarled beard and long hair. I probably wouldn’t have known you then, I’m not that good at remembering people when they look totally different.”
“You’re right, it would have been quite scary.” Shawn replied as he pulled on one of the T-shirts Zac had picked up for him. “But enough about me, I want to know about you.”
“Well I’ll start with the very obvious.” Aimee said with a grin. “I’ll be twelve next week and I’m working grade ten work. I’m being tutored by a series of people as we travel and I hope to graduate at fourteen. That’s the earliest that I can so I have to make my work last me until then.”
“I always knew you’d be a smart one.” Shawn commented as he searched for a sign of Belle in their daughter. It shocked him to notice that Aimee had done a complete change in looks and attitude since he left, and he became curious as to why it all happened.
“School isn’t my favorite subject though, I love music.” Aimee said with a huge grin. “I play a ton of instruments, piano mostly, I’ve taken dance lessons and I’ve dabbed in writing my own stuff.”
“I’m impressed.” Shawn said joining her in one of the rooms four armchairs, enjoying the softness of the seat. “Why don’t you sing something for me?”
“I don’t sing my own songs.” Aimee said shaking her head. “Zac does. If I can find the demo CD he did for me I’ll play it for you. But I don’t sing them, they’re written for a male voice.”
“I didn’t see Zac as ever being musical.” Shawn commented as he watched her rummage through her suitcase until she found a CD case. “Me was more of a sports fan when he was younger.”
“He started guitar after you died and is amazing at it!” Aimee explained as she crossed to the rooms stereo system. “He taught Abi to play, tried to teach me, but I’m hopeless at it. But he did the demo to shut me up. I came to him one day with music and lyrics and thought he could help me out. He did, and we recorded 14 songs between us, and I still have more that we never got to fit on the demo. But no one knows about it, I just wanted to have someone’s voice on my songs.”
Shawn closed his eyes and listened as the melody drifted through the room. The piano began simple but soon blended with the deep voice of Isaac Brady.
You feel the world is rushing by you
While you’re waiting for someone to understand
You tend to see love as an island
Where hopes like words are written in the sand
When the only door send you back
Nothing you live for, ever lasts
Every second so slow
Every hour so long
You wanna put your arms around someone
Who doesn’t wanna let you go
When the love your in
Baby just can’t win
It doesn’t man you’re meant to be alone
Because the grass will grow
And the river will flow
And your heart will know
You feel you’re watching through a window
Oh what you want is just beyond your touch
Your heart flies anyway the wind blows
While every body else is finding love
You one sweet thing
Your light of day
It was all you live for
Turned away
Yeah
Every second so slow
Every hour so long
You wanna put your arms around someone
Who doesn’t wanna let you go
What you’re feeling now
Has broken you down
It doesn’t man you’re meant to be alone
‘Cause the grass will grow
And the river will flow
And your heart will know
One day everything will change
The sun will shine
They day will come to greet you
All the pain will go away
When at last you find some one
Who needs you needs you
Gotta trust the things you feel
When you do you know your heat will guide you
Yeah yeah yeah oh
Now you wait for the sun
And the morning to come
When you can put your arms around some one
Who’s never gonna let you go
When the love you’re in
Baby just can’t win
Baby doesn’t mean you’re meant to be alone
Cause the grass will grow
And the river will flow
And your heart will know
Cause the grass will grow
And the river will flow
And your heart will know
“Aimee, did you write that for your mother?” Shawn asked as the song ended and he cleared his emotion clogged throat. There was no doubt about it, eleven year old Aimee Brady had some definite talent. “That was amazing. Why have you never told her about it?”
“I did write it for mom, this was one of the first one’s I wrote.” Aimee said shutting off the CD and carefully tucking it back in with her clothes. “Mom and I don’t exactly get along any more Dad. There are some obstacles interfering with our relationship. In fact, Grandma has custody of us at the moment.”
Shawn sat up straight as he heard the words. “What do you mean your grandmother has custody of you?” He asked quickly remembering the legal agreement that he’d forced Belle to sign so the girls would never have a step father that his family didn’t agree with.
“Dad, mom isn’t the same person you remember.” Aimee said wishing she didn’t have to tell this to her father. He’d been separated from the love of his life for years only to have his eldest daughter tell him that she’d moved on. “Dad, she’s getting married. She’s getting married after the Salem show, to Dr. James Cooke.”
Chapter 59
“Dad!” Aimee yelled as she watched her fathers body go limp and slide from the chair; His head hit the floor with a low crack. “Dad!” She jumped to her feel just as the suite door opened.
“Aimee what happened?” Zac asked as he quickly crossed the room, careful to shut the door behind him first. He reached for his brother and hauled him back up onto the chair. “Has he eaten yet?”
“Room service has been ordered, and he had a huge lunch.” Aimee said moving to get a glass of water for her father. She had seen her mother faint plenty of times for one reason or another and knew that when he woke up he’d be wanting water. “He was fine until I told him…”
“Told him what?” Zac asked slapping Shawn’s cheeks lightly in attempts of rousing him. “Told him what Aimee?”
“I told him that Mom was getting married.” Aimee said handing Zac the glass of water. “He seemed to react to James’s name.”
“Bastard.” Shawn said jumping slightly. He looked at his brother and then at his daughter and realized that he had fainted. “Sorry, I’m ok. I was a little over surprised at hearing who Belle is marrying. How could you guys let her marry him?”
“There was no stopping her Shawn, we tried everything.” Zac said setting the water down on a nearby table and sitting down in the chair next to his brothers. “She was dead set on getting what she wanted, despite our warnings against it. It was like someone possessed her or something.”
“More like a part of her died.” Shawn said grabbing the water and quickly gulping it down. He felt like the room was on fire, but knew it was a reaction to his passing out briefly. “And stop looking at me like that, I’m fine. Well, not completely but you know what I mean. What I need to know now is how on earth this all happened.”
“She approached me just before auditions and told me all about it.” Aimee explained gently. “We were shopping for my dress for prom, and she just came out and told me. I was appalled that she did it in public, but I think she hoped I’d be calmer. Well I wasn’t and let’s just say I made quite a scene at the coffee shop. I ran then, and things have been bad ever since between us.”
“You shouldn’t have turned your back on your mother because she decided to date.” Shawn said softly. He knew he didn’t mean what he said, it made him happy to know that she cherished his memory so much that she would do anything she could to keep it as it was. “But thank you for loving me so much.”
“It wasn’t just my love for you that had me turned against him dad.” Aimee said turning to pace the length of the room. “I have my reasons for hating him, but don’t ask me about it because I won’t say anything.”
Shawn sent a questioning look at Zac to see if he knew anything, but all he received was a blank expression and a shrug. “Then we won’t ask.” He said watching her pace with growing concern. “So your grandparents stepped in and took you did they? What about your tour?”
“They take turns.” Aimee explained turning to face her father again. “But something happened in California that didn’t sit well with Brady and Mimi and she called Carrie, who told Brady that if mom decided to marry the jerk that Grandma and Grandpa, both sets, were going to sue for custody. And since they had a good chance of getting it, that they wouldn’t hesitate to do it.”
“Hold on a sec, back it up little lady.” Shawn said as the slew of names came at him faster than he could comprehend. “Brady and Mimi, both sets of grandparents, Carrie? I’m a little lost here sweetie. You only have one complete set of Grandparents, your mother and Brady don’t talk, and is this Carrie your mom’s friend from school?”
“Yes, Carrie is from British Columbia, she moved back to help take care of Abi after she was born so mom could go back to school.” Aimee said shaking her head at her stupidity. Her father didn’t know about the relationships that had been formed since he’d gone. “Dad, Grandpa John found mom at a clinic in Florida. He went to see if there had been any bodies found, because he didn’t want Grandma to have to do it. He brought her back and they’ve been close ever since. Brady and Mimi’s daughter is Lacey, the one I introduced you to this afternoon so mom and Brady didn’t have a choice but to get over their differences. Does that make you feel any better now?”
“Aimee, did your grandfather have anything to do with the plane going down?” Shawn asked wondering if he’d been totally wrong in his assumptions. “I have been thinking for the past six years that he was the one who caused the plane to crash by rigging it. You have no idea the things he did to your mother before and after you were born, it would make you sick to know.”
“I know it all.” Aimee said crossing her arms over her chest and taking a secure stance, ready to fight for the rest of her family. “I was told all of it as soon as I was old enough to understand. I know that grandpa forced mom to marry someone else, and I know that he hurt her, hit her and threatened to make sure she was never happy. I know that he stood by Rex during the trial. But I also know that he worked hard at getting back mom’s trust, and he and grandma have had a great relationship since mom was found. Don’t ever forget that inside this little body is a sixteen year old girl. I know more than you think I do.”
“I keep forgetting that you’re not really twelve.” Shawn said wondering how such a small girl packed so much knowledge. “And I can’t believe that your mother forgave them all so fast.”
“It has only been in the past six months that she and Brady have talked, but they’re arguing again because he doesn’t like James.” Aimee said walking back to her seat. “Dad, all I know is we have to stop this wedding. And we have to think up a plan before we leave here.”
“And do you have any ideas?” Shawn asked leaning back and propping his feet up on the coffee table and looking at her with a curious expression.
“Not right now,” Aimee said shaking her head as someone knocked on the door. “But I will in the morning.”
***
“I’m so glad you have a day to shop with me before you head out again.” Carrie said as she and Aimee slowly made their way through the mall in Orlando. She’d flown down especially to see her, so they could do some planning for her upcoming wedding. “Have you thought about what color dress you want to wear?”
“Well you said you wanted different shades if either purple or blue, so I was thinking finding two shades that come close together between the two colors, a dark and a light.” Aimee said as they approached the bridal shop that had been recommended to her by a woman in their crew. “And since it’s a summer wedding any color will go.”
“I hope you’re right.” Carrie said feeling nervous about going in the store. Jason and she had finally decided on a mid summer’s wedding, but he had left all the planning up to her, saying that it wasn’t really his thing. “I wish Jason would have at least given me an input on something so I didn’t plan something he won’t like.”
“You’re just a nervous bride.” Aimee said with a giggle. She’d been happy to help Carrie plan her wedding, since the Maid of Honor hadn’t even been invited to the wedding as of yet. “Don’t worry about it. Jason and I had a good talk a little while back, and he said he’s leaving it up to you because he knows that you will know what is best.”
“He really said that?” Carrie asked as the sales lady approached them. “And Aimee, do your really think I can afford to shop in here?”
“No but I can.” Aimee said with a smile. “As repayment for all you’ve done for Abi and I over the years Granddad is paying for your wedding. No fuss, no muss, just charge it to him.” She carefully removed her shoes and took the gloves the lady offered her. “So shall we shop?”
