A Fanfic Challenge for New Salem's First Anniversary Celebration - October 24, 2005.
Clouds had begun to gather in the darkness outside, blocking the bright full moon from the gaze of the people below. The twinkling stars had long since faded from view, making the cool fall evening feel colder than it really was. Parents had pulled their children inside early, fearing for rain or thunder, keeping them warm and dry as they prepared them for an early night.
One small house on the corner of Oak and Green Street was dark except for a light coming from the smallest room in the house. Blonde curls spread over the large pillow, framing the small doll like face as it lay back watching the other, older person move around the room. She loved nights at Granny’s, even if they were stormy and scary. It wasn’t every night that she got to stay in the small little house that her Daddy grew up in, and she made sure to enjoy every minute of it.
“Are you warm enough darling? I don’t want you catching cold when I turn off the stove for the night.” She tucked the blanket around her small granddaughter a little tighter, checking to make sure she’d added the extra quilt like planned. “Your father wouldn’t let you come back if you got sick.”
“I’m nice and toasty Granny, you always make sure I’m warm and you know that.” She giggled as she broke free of the tight blankets and tucked snuggled down into the softness. Granny always had the softest blankets, even if they were really old. She knew some of them were almost fifty years old, and had been given to her by her big friends. “Are you going to tell me a story tonight. What about one about Shawn and Belle and Mimi? Can you put Phillip in it too?”
Kewpie smiled at her young granddaughter’s enthusiasm. She’d always loved telling her children the stories about Shawn and Belle Brady, and she knew that they enjoyed each tale. It made her feel very warm and happy to know that she could still recall the smallest details after nearly fifty years. “I guess I could tell you one story tonight because it’s going to be messy before morning.” She settled herself down next to the child before deciding to just climb in with her. “This way I can stay here with you all night long.”
“Yeah! I love it when you sleep with me Granny. Your hair is so soft and it touches my cheek like a feather. It used to be just like mine didn’t it? All white and long?”
“Yes Kiko, my hair used to look just like yours. In fact I looked just the same as you did, when I wasn’t playing with different styles and silly things like that.” She grinned thinking of the evening gown that she’d made for a photo and how she’d curled her honey colored hair into long ringlets straight out of the eighteen hundreds. “In fact, I can still remember the time that Mimi tried to color it for me and it turned out to be green. Well, that’s a good story to tell! I think it’s on the proper line from the last one I told you.”
“You had green hair Granny? That’s silly, no one has green hair except those people at Nanny’s house. They’re strange, I don’t think I like them very much.”
“Kiko, that’s not very nice to say you know. You have no reason not to like them at all. Just because they look different doesn’t mean you can’t be friends.” Kewpie frowned, wondering if her son had been the cause of that outburst. He’d never accepted people who had been different from him, and hadn’t even approved of her big friends. She just hadn’t spent enough time with Kiko in her twelve years to make sure she knew about how different people were just as nice as the rest.” On to the story. I left off with Belle finding out that she was going to have a baby, but that it wasn’t Phillip’s…”
***
“Are you a hundred percent sure that its not Phillip’s Belle.” Her green eyes were wide as she watched her friend pace the room, her large belly making her waddle slightly. “You can’t say anything if you’re not sure.”
“Dr. Bader said that I’ll go into labor any day now. Phillip and I weren’t together in that time Meems, he was overseas! And the times that we were together before he left we were really careful with using protection because we wanted to wait until he got home to try for a baby.” She frowned, rubbing her lower back with her hand, trying to relieve the tension that was plaguing her daily. “The only thing I can think of is that when Shawn and I made love that night in the barn I must have gotten pregnant. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“You’ve got to tell Phillip then Belle.”
“And just what do you propose I tell him? ‘Gee Phillip honey, I’m sorry but our baby isn’t really yours. I spelt with Shawn before we got married and its probably his.’ Yeah that’d go over well.” Belle paced the room, absently rubbing her bulging stomach as she walked. “I’d kill him Meems.”
“Phillip will be devastated either way Belle. He’ll either think that you go into premature labor and freak, or freak when you give birth to a full term baby during that premature labor.” She’d known that Belle would object to having to tell Phillip the truth, but from experience, she knew she was unable to let her lie. “And Belle, Shawn has to know.”
“I know that Mimi! But Phillip is my husband! How do you tell your husband that although you haven’t cheated on him during your marriage you’re not having his baby?” A pain crept along her side and she eased herself down onto the couch. “And if I keep getting worked up like this I’m going to have this baby today.”
“Getting worked up can’t be helped right now Belle. The guys will be home soon and you’ll have to tell them. Dr Bader said any day you could have the baby, you really can’t put it off any longer.” She crossed her jean clad legs and watched her friend closely. “Unless you think the trauma would put into immediate water breaking labor, then maybe we could wait two days or something.”
“I want to tell them Meems I really do, I just don’t want to hurt Phillip any more than I’ve got to. He’s been through enough this year.” A breeze ruffled the hair at the back of her next and she glanced over her shoulder at the door. Shawn and Philip slowly entered, grins on their faces. Tears misted her eyes when she realized that Phillip was walking. “Oh Phillip.”
“It’s only for today darling, as a treat for you.” Leaning heavily on Shawn he made his way over to his beautiful wife. Each step sent immense pain up what was left of his leg, but the smile on her face made it worth it. “Come ad let me give you a proper kiss.”
Her blue eyes caught Mimi’s as she pushed herself to her feet. He reached for her immediately and she held her breath as his face drew closer to hers. She closed her eyes and an image of Shawn filled her mind, making her recoil away from her husband.
“Belle, what’s the matter darling?”
Her heart shattered when she saw the look of confusion in his eyes. He didn’t deserve this, none of them did. But then again, she and Shawn hadn’t deserved what Jan had done to them either. “I’m sorry Phillip, I’m so sorry.”
“What’s wrong darling? He reached out to cup her cheek, wondering if there had been some bad news about their baby. Belle usually called to give good news as soon as she had it.
“I’m so sorry Phillip.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she held onto her baby, preparing herself for his anger. “This isn’t your baby, it’s Shawn’s.”
***
Whoa Granny! You mean Belle’s baby wasn’t Phillips? Yikes, wow. I’d be awful mad if I were Phillip. She should have told him before now, she must have know just a little.”
Oh he was baby, he was. And Belle really didn’t know, because the doctors couldn’t tell her she was that far along. The baby was very tiny the whole time, but tests proved that she was almost all the way done. And Phillip was real mad, he was. You see, Phillip has wanted Belle for a very long time and by marrying her he felt like he’d gotten his way. The baby meant that she would stay with him forever.”
“Does she?”
“We’ll see, we’ll see.”
***
She may have been ready for anger, but the palm against her cheek was something she hadn’t expected. Her hand flew to her stinging cheek, her eyes wide with surprise. Mimi’s hands were on her then, pulling her away from Phillip. “I’m sorry.”
“You slut! When did it happen?” His eyes danced between Belle and Shawn, unsure of who he should talk to. “How soon after I left?”
“It’s not like that Phillip. It wasn’t something we planned. It was before the wedding not after. I’ve never been unfaithful since the wedding.” Her heart beat wildly as she watched Phillip’s anger increase. “I wouldn’t have done it at all if we wouldn’t have crashed my car.”
“Crashed your car? You mean you slept with him that night in that barn? You asshole, you took advantage of her!”
Shawn risked a blow to steady Phillip before he fell onto the floor, injuring his leg. “Cool it man before you bang up that leg!” He dodged a fist and left him leaning against the sofa. “Don’t freak out at me! I didn’t take advantage of her, it just happened” He looked over his shoulder at Belle, wondering how long she’d suspected the baby could be his. “I didn’t even know about this.”
“Dr. Bader told Belle that the pains she’s having are labor pains, but not premature labor ones.” She settled Belle down on the couch, taking over so things didn’t get too tough for her. “She’s one week short of having this kid. We all thought she was just eating too much and getting fat, but she’s not.”
“We made love around then Belle.” Phillip eased himself down off his unsteady leg, raking his fingers through his hair. “This is our baby.”
“There’s a chance Phillip yes, but it’s slim.” Mimi smoothed a hand over Belle’s only tail, praying that this wouldn’t put her into full labor. The baby was full term, but still small.
“This is our baby belle, no matter what. You are my wife and this will be our baby.” His gaze bored into Shawn, hoping he was making his message clear. Nothing would come between him and Belle, nothing. “Our Baby.”
***
“Phillip’s not very nice is he? If that’s Shawn’s baby then he needs to be there for them both. That’s what a daddy does isn’t it?”
“Yes Kiko, that’s technically what a daddy does I guess. But remember, you don’t have to be really a baby’s father to be a good daddy. But you’re right, Shawn would be a good daddy for it, and that’s what he thought too. But Phillip’s message was clear, he wasn’t going to let Shawn come between them.” Kewpie pushed a strand of hair out of her face, wondering how much longer the little girl would stay awake.
“But won’t Shawn want to know if the babies are his?”
“Well Kiko, we’ll just have to see. We’ll just have to see.”
***
His feet pounded on the stairs as he rushed to find his cell phone. He’d barely heard the ring over the shower, but he could recognize the tone that was unique to Belle’s number. Tossing aside a set of pillows he flipped it open hastily. “Hello?”
Thundered echoed overhead, nearly obliterating Shawn’s voice. “Shawn? It’s me, Belle. I…” Another clap deafened her momentarily and she cowered behind the wheel of her car. “Shawn? I’m an hour out of twin and I have a flat. I can’t really get out of the car and my two truck can’t get here for three hours. Can you help me?”
Shawn looked out of the window, nearly groaning at the weather that greeted his gaze. “Are you sure that it will take the tow truck three hours? It’s going to take me most of that just to reach you in this weather.”
“They said it could be longer than that and I really don’t think I can sit here this long.” She winced as a sharp pain moved across her stomach. “I don’t think I’ll make it for four hours Shawn, I’m in labor.”
***
“Belle’s going to have her baby in her car all alone? Well I don’t think that’s a very nice thing to happen to her. She should at least have a friend or someone with her.”
“I agree Kiko, not very nice at all. But Shawn did go out and get her, but the rain was falling really hard so it took a while.”
“Pool ol’ Belle must have been scared of the storm. Even I don’t like being all alone during them while I’m in the house, let alone in the car.”
“Oh Belle was very frightened alright, but it wasn’t all because of the storm. See it was Halloween, and her car had gotten the flat right beside a very old cemetery.”
***
Belle’s knuckles were white from the grip she had on the steering wheel. Shawn had left Salem over an hour ago, and since then her labor had progressed to the point where her water had begun leaking. A tear rolled down her cheek as she checked the light fluid leaking onto the blanket and noticed that it was still bloody. Dr. Bader had told her that she shouldn’t bleed a whole lot, and now she was frightened.
“I’m sorry if you’re hurting in there, I don’t know what’s wrong. You’re allowed to come out today, but I don’t know why I’m bleeding. I just wish that you’d move so I could know you are ok.”
Another contraction tore through her body and she screamed in agony. She’d known that she’d feel pain, but this wasn’t what she’d been led to expect. The storm rated outside and she felt as if the electricity was pulsing through her body as well. “Everything will be ok little on. Shawn will help us.”
“Who are you talking too?”
Belle jumped at the sound of a young voice. A child had somehow gotten into the front seat of her car, with out her realizing it, and was sitting there looking at her. “Who are you? Why are you in my car, how did you get in?”
“My name’s Maddy and my daddy said you needed someone to sit with you while you wait. So I came. Who were you talking to?”
“My baby. I’m in labor, but I can’t get to a doctor because my tire is flat.” She looked curiously at the little girl. Her long honey colored hair was pulled into two long braids, her dress was very old fashioned with a high buttoned collar, and she wore old, black lace up boots instead of sneakers. “I’m waiting for a friend to come and get me.”
“Does he have to travel far? When my little sister was born, mama’s friend took a real long time to come, by the time she and Daddy got here Katie was almost here!”
Belle couldn’t help but grin at the child’s excitement. “Didn’t your mom go to her doctor to have your sister? She rubbed her hands across her stomach, relieved to feel the contractions letting up a little bit.
“Oh goodness no, the doctor’s all the way into Salem, it would have taken him all day to get here.” Maddy was shocked that anyone would think that the doctor from town would help anyone from the country, that just didn’t happen. “The middle wife came over to do it. All of us were born that way. But Katie was different, she made Mama sick and since there was so much blood she couldn’t have anymore babies.”
Belle’s throat constricted and she fought the urge to panic. She was bleeding, did this mean that she wouldn’t be able to have any more babies? “I’m sorry to hear that. How many babies did she get to have?”
“Well there was Katie, then there’s Emily.” She slowly counted on her fingers like she’d been shown in school. “And then me and Matthew, plus Jacob, then Allison and Adam. So that makes seven. That’s not a very big number so my mama was very sad.”
“Sad about seven babies?” Confusion hit her and she wondered if the family was of a large family religion. She’d gone to school with a girl who’s family consisted of thirteen children, of which she’d been the middle child. “My mom has three children, and that’s considered a lot. Why would she think that 7 isn’t enough?”
“Well President Green said that the Illinois families should do their part at making it bigger by having a whole bunch of kids! They give Mama money for each of us. I’m gonna have ten at least as long as my husband wants that too.” Her little eyes beamed with pleasure. “Mama says I will be a good wife and that I’m good because I want to help my country so much. She said maybe someday I can own a store of my own with my husband and that we’ll be helping out even more.”
Belle sat speechless. Two hundred years ago when Salem had been settled the government had paid families for having a bunch of kids, the more kids you had the more money you received. But that practice had long been forgotten. “Maddy, what year is it? Where do you live?”
“It’s 1781 and I live right there in that small room with my brother Matthew. My Mama says our names are perfect, Matthew and Madison, we’re twins. But he’s got brown hair and eyes, just the opposite of me.” Lights filled the car and she smiled. “Your friend is here.”
Belle smiled at the child, noticing how pale she seemed suddenly. “His name is Shawn and he’s going to take me to the doctor to have my baby.” She turned her head to make sure it was his car and not the tow truck. “You’re right Maddy, I guess you can go on home now.” She gasped when she looked back to say goodbye and the front seat of her car was empty. Cold rain poured through the door as Shawn pulled it open and peered in at her.
“I got here as fast as I could, how are you?” he grabbed her keys out of the ignition and quickly placed them in the space next to the fuel tank door. He reached into the car for her hand, draping his leather jacket over her head to keep her dry. “How’s the baby?”
“I’m ok, but I’m bleeding and my water broke forty minutes ago.” The cool rain hit her face hard, and she began to shiver instantly. “There’s a lot of blood and the baby stopped moving a big ago. I was so scared, but then a little girl kept me company.”
“What little girl?” He grabbed her purse and began to lead her towards his mom’s SUV. She’d insisted that it would be more comfortable than his Mini, and it was also a whole lot faster. “There aren’t any houses for about 10 miles.”
“Her name’s Madison.” Belle peered through the darkness in the direction the child had pointed out. “But…”
Lightening lit up the area showing the graveyard in detail. Each stone lit up, revealing the names inscribed on then. The closest one, small and white was covered in large black letters.
”Greenfield”
Madison and Matthew
October 31 1771 - October 31 1781
“They came together,
They left together,
Gods little angels”
“Belle, are you ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
She blinked, not sure if she believed what she’d just seen. Was it possible that Maddy had been nothing but a figment of her imagination, or had she really been a ghost sent to comfort her. “Shawn, I think I have.”
***
Maddy was a ghost? Wow, why wasn’t Belle scared of her?” Kiko shuddered, her curls bouncing. “I know I would have been!”
“I think she probably was a little scared once she saw that stone, but she was also worried about her little baby. So was Shawn, especially when they got in his car…”
***
“Here Belle, get on this blanket.” Shawn carefully laid a thick blanket under her body and climbed in next to her. “Shit Belle, you’re bleeding is really heavy. I called an ambulance before I left and they’re on their way too.” He helped her lean against a pillow and tried not to show his panic at the steady trickle of blood running onto the towel.
“Shawn, I think the baby’s ready to come soon. I don’t know if the ambulance will make it.” Panic seized her and she gripped the seat with her hand. “And it hurts.”
“Belle can I look at you? I want to see just now much you’re bleeding.” He snapped a latex glove onto his hand and looked at her with sad eyes. He never thought it would come down to this, him saving Phillip’s wife and babies. It should be his babies he was saving. “Ok?”
“I’m scared Shawn, it has to be ok.” Tears slid slowly down her cheeks and she hastily wiped them away. She didn’t need to lose control now, it wouldn’t help anyone. “You can check.”
Shawn gingerly lifted her skirt and helped her out of her underwear. They were soaked in blood, but also very heavy wet, probably from her water breaking. “I’m just gonna…” He easily slid two fingers inside of her, gently probing at what could only be her baby’s head. “I think you’re gonna have to push Belle, I can feel a head here.”
“But how can I do it here? I need Dr. Bader.” A sob welled in her throat and she closed her eyes. “Shawn, what if it’s in trouble because of all this? What if this is punishment of giving into what my heart wanted that night in the barn?”
“No one’s punishing you Belle, this is just science taking over. But right now all we can do is have you push out that baby and hope to God that everything is ok and that bleeding stops.” He frantically opened the bag his mother had packed for him, pulling out different items they’d need. “I need you to trust me. Hey, your dad delivered you.”
“And now you deliver your baby.” Her voice was soft as she looked into his eyes. They were gentle, but rimmed in fear. “I guess this was meant to be.”
Shawn tried to let her words just slide off him. Phillip had made it very clear that there wasn’t any hope of the baby being his, even if a DNA test could prove otherwise. “Belle, I want you to start pushing with your next contraction.” He busied his hands, getting clean towels ready and making sure the suction thingy his mother had given him was near by. “Hopefully the ambulance will be here before we get anywhere.”
Belle clenched her teeth together and pushed as hard as she could. She’d only managed to make it to one prenatal class since they’d only figured her to be six months pregnant, luckily they’d pretty much started at the end. “Argh! Shawn I don’t think I can do this. I can’t.”
“You can Belle, you can.” He smiled as the dark hair of her baby came into view and he gingerly touched it. “Here give me your hand, feel.” He touched her fingers to the hair. “You’re doing it already.”
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him gratefully. “How do you know what to do?”
“Lexie talked my ear off on the way over, she told me everything that should happen, and everything that could.” He squeezed her hand gently before resting it back against the baby’s hair. “Let’s do it.”
She bared down again, screaming as she felt her body stretch with the movement of the baby. It was moving down, pushing her open. “Get it out!”
“Give me a sec Belle, they said to clear the airway. Don’t push for a sec, but you can look down if you want to.” He cradled the perfect little head with his left hand and began to suction it’s mouth and nose. “Ok Belle, push again, only one more and he’ll be out.”
A sigh of relief followed her final push as the pain subsided. Opening her eyes she gazed at the tiny baby in Shawn’s hands. “Oh my God.”
Shawn gently placed the baby in Belle’s arms and went to work on tying off the cord so he could cut it. A perfect little boy wailed unhappily as he took his first breath and he fought the urge to cry with him. “A boy at 8:55.”
Belle’s eyes widened as pre pain ripped through her body, as if it wasn’t finished giving birth. “Shawn, it still hurts. Something’s not right.”
He gently wrapped the baby in a blanket before moving to check her again. He knew that placenta would come out, but Lexie said that she wouldn’t have too much pain during that. His fingers probed a hard surface and he realized that it wasn’t over. “Belle, I need you to push. Now!”
“Why, the baby’s out?”
“Now!” He watched in amazement as a second head, this one much smaller, emerged from her body. “Wait.” He tried to clear the baby’s airway, but it slid into his palms. A tiny, perfectly formed little girl lay there, shaking in the sudden cold. He rushed to clear her mouth and noise, and smiled when the severing of her cord caused her to scream in protest. “A girl at 8:57.”
Belle looked at the second child with shock. “I didn’t know, she never showed up on the sonograms.” Never in her life had she seen such a small child. “Is she ok?”
Shawn nodded, unable to speak as he wiped off the tiny girl and wrapped her tightly in a clean blanket. Her little face was perfect, from her pursed lips to her tiny button of a nose. He gently gave her to he mother and gathered the boy to clean him.
When both children were snuggly in their mothers arms he turned his attention back to finishing up his job. Grabbing a plastic bag he carefully aided the placenta into it, making sure both were intact. The second slid easily into the bag, followed by a gush of blood. “Shit.” He wadded a towel and pressed it between her legs. He hadn’t noticed how pale she’d become and he began to worry.
Belle groaned as her vision swam and she moved her baby so it couldn’t fall out of her arms. “Shawn, I don’t feel very good. I think I’m going to black out.”
“You’ll be fine Belle, you’re just bleeding a little bit.” He grabbed his cell phone and called for help. “Yes my name is Shawn Brady, I’m waiting for an ambulance out on the old road into town. Yes, I’m by the cemetery. Medivac? I’ll set a flare.”
“Are you leaving me?” Fear crept into Belle’s voice and she realized that there might be a not so good reason why she was bleeding other than having just given birth.
“I need to light one of mom’s flares in the field over there, I’ll only be gone a minute.” He grabbed the emergency kit and removed a flare from the case they were stored in. He looked at her scared face, and pressed his lips into her in a quick hard kiss. “I’ll even leave the door open. I’ll be right back, I promise.”
***
“Wow, Belle had twins? That’s too cool. I think it would be really great to have two babies at once.”
Kewpie grinned at the way her granddaughter’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I think so too. I know it was a really big shock for everyone. Especially Shawn…”
***
He dashed through the pounding rain, trying to light the fare as he moved. The lightening had finally stopped, but the road was filled with water. The flare glowed as he tossed it onto the grassy area and he quickly made his way back to the car. He could hear the helicopter above, and he was nearly thrown into the car by the wind. “They’re here Belle.”
He froze, staring at her still body. The towel was crimson and her skin was white. The babies had been tucked between her and the seat, as if she had know she wasn’t well. “Belle, Belle wake up.” He slid in next to her, checking for a pulse; it was slow and weak. “Belle?”
A flurry of activity surrounded him, questions coming from all angles. He did his best to keep up with them.
“23 of last week. Yes, penicillin. No, no others.”
“Today, minutes ago. No, they’re not premature they’re right on time.”
“A lot, her car’s full of it too. It gushed out when the placenta came.”
“In the last two minutes, she was alert when I ran to the field.”
“Yes I’m coming with.”
In a matter of moments they were all bundled into the helicopter the two tiny children in his arms while the medics worked on stabilizing Belle. They’d intubated her, but she stilled looked like she was dying. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She’s bleeding internally. This is an unfortunate side of effect with some deliveries. One that could have been prevented and fixed with a cesarean.”
Shawn settled back into his seat, his eyes going between Belle’s face and her babies. They were so perfectly tiny, but they looked nothing like her; or Phillip for that matter. In a way, they looked like his parents. The little girl opened her tiny eyes and he gasped.
They were brown.
***
“Brown eyes? What’s so big about her having brown eyes?”
“Well Kiko it’s like this. Belle and Phillip have blue eyes. That means that all their babies would have blue or green eyes.” Kewpie chuckled, wondering if the child would understand the science involved.
“But Shawn’s brown eyes would mean his babies could have brown ones right?”
“Very good Kiko, you’re so smart. Anyway things got really interesting at the hospital.”
***
“You did a good job Shawn.” John Black wasn’t sure how to say what he felt at the moment. Shawn Brady had been a thorn in Belle’s side for the last year, but he’d been responsible for the safe delivery of his grandchildren, he owed him something for that. “They all might have died if you hadn’t driven out in that storm to help her.”
“Make sure you thank Mom and Lexie for that too. They talked my ear off on the way over so I’d know what to do when I got here.” He leaned heavily against the glass of the nursery window. Mimi and Sami were inside holding Belle’s babies while she underwent surgery for the bleeding that had refused to stop in the helicopter. “It was the least I could do after what I’ve done.”
“Belle told us about the two of you in the barn Shawn. While we can’t condone or condemn what happened, we’re aware that the babies could be yours.” Marlena placed her hands on the young mans shoulders, looking him straight in the eye. “We want to know Shawn, we want to know if they’re yours or Phillips. Phillip’s on the base for a few days, finishing up the paperwork involved with his medical release. While he’s there we have power of attorney over Belle and her babies. Do you want to know? We can make it happen.”
“I do, but Phillip will put a stop to it when he gets here tonight or tomorrow. He made it very clear when Belle told him about the night in the barn that the babies would be theirs regardless. Meems said he’s on his way down from Chicago already.” He gazed at the tiny pink bundle that Mimi held up for him to see, not sure if he wanted to scream or cry. They could be his, those little angles could be his flesh and blood, and he couldn’t go to them. “He’s already had me banned from the nursery.”
“We actually don’ need his permission at all Shawn, he’ll have no say when he gets here.” Lexie’s voice startled them all, and she smiled reassuringly. “Belle came to just before we took her to surgery. She requested a DNA test if you’d consent to it.”
“What? No way!” Kate’s voice was shrill as she advanced towards the group gathered outside the nursery. “This little punk is not going to run my son’s marriage! I won’t let it happen.”
“You can’t stop it Kate, we have a signed requisition to get the samples from both babies.” She waved the form in front of Kate’s face, keeping it out of reach in case the woman attempted to destroy it. “Signed by the mother, the only person who matters in a paternity dispute. “And we’re sealing down the lab area too. No one but me gets in or out until the results are back, and Tek is going to unlock it, no disguises will work. Don’t even try.”
“You only want to ruin Belle’s marriage. You can’t stand the fact that they now have a family!” Her eyes blazed as she stared at Shawn. “You’re only doing this to cause problems.”
“I didn’t know they could be mine!” His control disappeared and he gripped the window frame to keep from attacking Phillip’s mother. “I didn’t know. I’d moved on, no matter how much I didn’t want to I’d moved on with Mimi. Then she told us last week that she was full term and it might be mine! I wouldn’t have known if she wouldn’t have said!”
“She did not tell you that! You asked her, I know you did. Phillip explained it all to me that afternoon. You didn’t believe that it was their baby so you asked her when she was due!”
“I’d have wondered when she gives birth nine months after we made love! I’d have wondered why those babies look like me, right down to their brown eyes! She knew and she told us Kate. Whether you like it or not, those are my babies.”
***
”Wow, Belle sure was smart to sign that paper. But Phillip is going to be real angry with her when he gets there and hears about that.”
“I’ll be he was real mad. After all Belle was his wife and they’d decided to have a baby together. But sometimes certain things don’t work out for a reason.”
***
The noise that erupted outside her hospital room caused her to wake with a start. The room was dark, the shades blocking out the sun’s rays. A crash rattled her door and she slipped from the bed and slowly made her way to the door, her IV trailing behind her. Thank god her surgery hadn’t involved any incision and she felt remarkably well.
Shawn ducked, avoiding Phillip’s fist, nearly crashing into Belle’s door again. So far he’d kept his temper and not hit back. But his patience was wearing extremely thin. “Would you back off man before I break that damn nose of yours?”
“Not until you disappear out of our lives. Those are our babies, not yours. But they won’t let me in to see them. My babies are twelve hours old and I haven’t gotten to hold them.” Phillip turned away briefly, rubbing his hand over his face. “you won’t rest until you ruin my marriage. I worked so hard to convince her that you were wrong for her, I never thought she’d come around. But she did, and they’re all mine.”
“I’m not a couch Phillip, you don’t own me, or those babies for that matter.” She grabbed Shawn’s arm for support, never taking her eyes from Phillip. “If they’re your blood then that’s fine, but if they’re not then you need to accept that. Both of you are banned from the nursery because you’ll fight over them. You can’t even come into my room if I have them in here. The test will be back today, and we’ll know. Cool it until then would you?”
“Belle you shouldn’t be out of bed, come on, get back in there.” He was gentle as he scooped her into his arms and headed back to her bed. “Lexie said bathroom only, you don’t want to undo what they fixed do you?”
“Get your hands off my wife Brady.”
“Are you going to carry her in here? No, didn’t think so.” Shawn gently deposited her onto the bed, placing the IV off to one side. “Will you ever accept that I’m not after your wife?”
“No, because it’s al lie and we all know it.” He pushed his way to Belle’s side getting between the two of them. “But you’ll never get her Brady, she’s mine.”
Belle bit down on her tongue to keep from snapping at him. The last thing she needed to do was aggravate either of them, she didn’t need to be the receiving end of anyone’s anger. “I’m the one who makes that decision not you Phillip. And keep up the owning attitude and you won’t have me. I’m not yours in any sense other than by marriage.”
Shawn tried not to laugh at Phillip’s expression of horror at Belle’s threat. “I’m gong to go get an update from Mimi on the babies, get me when the results are back.”
Phillip kept his back to the door, feeling even angrier when it clicked shut. “Why are you doing this to our family Belle? Why are you even testing Katelyn and Victor? They’re our babies.”
“Who? Did you suddenly give my babies names? Who gave you that right?”
Phillip blushed, wishing he’d discussed names with her before now. “I wanted to name the baby after one of my parents, so now I have one of each to do both.”
“No way Phillip, I have parents too you know. And there’s no way I’m naming my daughter after your mother, I’ll call her Gretel first.” She crossed her arms over her chest, making sure that he could see how upset she was. “You may not like it Phillip, but the fact is there is no disputable issue over their mother. I have every right in the world to make any decision I want concerning their well being.”
“They are our babies, you need to get that into your head.” He moved to pace the room, his leg aching from the prosthetic leg strapped on. “I have all the rights in the world to them as well, do you forget that?”
“No Phillip. The mother until proven unfit has the right to make any decision for her children. Why do you think women don’t need male consent to have an abortion? If those are our babies, then we will make the decision concerning them. If they are no your babies, you will have no say because Shawn will be signing the birth certificate. If he wants to let you adopt them then that’s fine, but he’ll kill you before that happens.”
“Do you expect me to stand there and let you speak to me like that? Honestly Belle, you’re turning out to be a terrible wife. You don’t respect me, you don’t honor me, and you certainly don’t obey anything I say.” He turned his back to her, wondering why he even bothered trying to make their marriage work. It definitely wasn’t worth the time. “I wouldn’t have any trouble proving you to be an unfit mother in any court system, you’d better keep that in mind when threatening me.”
“They removed the obey from the marriage vows Phillip, if you’d been paying attention at the wedding you’d have realized that I say ‘Love, honor and cherish you’.” She slipped from her bed again, and moved to stand in front of him. It had been apparent for a while that their marriage was floundering, but it was even more obvious that they were on their way to a separation. “And don’t you threaten me about my children. Get the hell out of my hospital room. Don’t come back until the results are in. I’ll know what I want to do with you by then.”
***
”Yikes, Belle is sure mad at Phillip. He’s not a really nice guy in this story is he Granny? He’s like those guys on TV who think that they can control everything in the world.”
“Yes Kiko, Phillip wants to control his life to the max. See, his father is a very powerful man, and Phillip learned it all from him. But, Victor had a soft side for his one true love, something Phillip had never seen or learned.”
“Does Phillip make Belle stay with him?”
“Let’s move on to the next part of our story and we’ll see.”
***
“They’re beautiful Belle, look at the cute nose she’s got.” Mimi couldn’t help but gush over the two tiny bundles that were nestled in Belle’s arms for the first time since her surgery. “Who does she get that nose from?”
“Shawn’s nose was small like that when he was born, it’s got to be from him then.” Marlena reached out for her granddaughter, cuddling her against her cheek. She was so unbelievably tiny, over a pound smaller than her bigger brother. “Neither you or Phillip had a nose like that.”
“Phillip’s baby pictures give him a really big nose, I think it’s horrible.” Belle cuddled her son close to her chest, smiling at his sleepy expression. “I still can’t believe there are two of them, they’re a miracle.”
“I think I’ve figured out the date problem.” Mimi eased herself down onto the foot of the bed, moving the blanket so Belle could still move her feet. “Your second ultrasound was right on for about 6 months right? Well I’ll be that the doctor saw her, and not him. Lexie said the bleeding was caused by the placenta’s position being in the center. He was on one side, she was on the other blocked by the placenta’s. You had one done from one side, the other from the other.”
“You’re probably right Mimi, that happens a lot you know.” Marlena smiled at her daughter, wishing that the paternity issue wasn’t hanging over them. “I was almost six months along before I knew I was pregnant with Sami and Eric, I’d only known about one of them.”
“Lexie said the results were done, why is it taking so long for them to bring them up to me?” She was tired of pretending things were fine. It had been five hours since she’d thrown Phillip out of the room, and she was no closer to feeling content. “Mom, who’s babies are they?”
“My money’s on Shawn sweet girl. Just look at them, they look like pure Brady’s to me. Are you worried that they might be his?”
“Actually, I think I’m worried that they might be Phillip’s. Mom, I don’t think marrying Phillip was the right decision. He’s treating me like I’m an object that he owns, and he pretty much threatened me when I told him that the babies were mine, and that he wasn’t going to make any decisions with out me.” She reached out for her daughter, settling her next to her brother. “He said he’d prove I was unfit and take them if I left him.”
“No one is going to take those babies from you Belle, no judge or jury would ever think you could be an unfit parent.” Mimi wadded her skirt in her fists thinking of all the horrible things that Phillip could think up to tell a lawyer. “We won’t let him do anything to you, they are your babies, you carried them for nine months.”
“Has that been proven yet?” Shawn poked his head into the door, being careful not to look at Belle and the babies. He knew he was breaking the law checking in on them because of the DNA test order, but he hadn’t heard from anyone in hours.
“Nothing yet Shawn, Mimi will come get you as soon as the results are in, we promised that to you.” Marlena crossed to the door and patted the young man on the cheek. “I know you want to be in here, but your father said that you both have to stay away until the results. If there’s no one in the hall you can peek in. Ok?”
“Thanks Marlena.” Shawn checked for a clear hallway and opened the door enough to smile at Belle. She looked relaxed, but anxious as she reclined on the bed holding her babies to her chest. She smiled back at him, and his heart fluttered. “It’ll all work on for what’s right Belle. I’ll see you in a few.”
“Shawn Douglas Brady what the hell are you doing up here?”
Shawn jumped away from the door, sure he’d not only broken law, but he’d be thrown out of the hospital before he’d gotten the results. “I couldn’t find Lexie and so I wanted to just poke my head in and ask Marlena if they’d gotten an word yet. She said…”
“I told him that he could peek in and see Belle from the door Bo, no harm done. He’s not in the room, he’s not breaking orders.” Marlena pushed open the door and squared her shoulders. In her mind it didn’t matter if Shawn got to see the babies, because there was no risk of him trying to cause any trouble, only Phillip. “Are the test results back yet?”
“Lexie sent me to find Shawn and Phillip and send them up, but I didn’t expect to see him in the door way.” Bo’s face softened as he looked into the room and saw Belle and her babies. “I don’t want him to get into any more trouble than he’s been in over the last year Marlena. I want this to go smoothly.”
“Nothing your son does ever goes smoothly, he brings only trouble and pain for those around him.” Kate brushed her hair out of her eyes as she and Phillip advanced down the hallway towards the hospital room. “And he’s not supposed to be anywhere near those babies and you know it.”
“What’s the difference between him standing outside an unguarded nursery and standing here with Mimi and I here?” Marlena’s defenses shot up as Phillip tried to peer around her to see Belle. Something didn’t seem right with this situation, and she could only pray at the best outcome would happen. “He’s not violating anything Kate, and you know it.”
“You nearly shot Phillip when he tried to see Belle for two seconds because she had the babies in here.” She placed a gentle hand on her sons arm, staring down the blonde mother. “But of course Shawn Brady is a different story.”
“Phillip has been considered a flight risk because he said some not so nice things to Belle about the babies.” Lexie and Tek appeared behind Bo, a sealed envelope in her hands. “Shawn didn’t ask for the test and he’s not upset that it was performed. Phillip was, so he was banned from seeing the babies. Technically, Shawn didn’t even have to adhere to the bann, because he’s not going to take off with the babies.”
“Yes he would because he thinks that they are his. But they’re my babies and that test is going to prove it.”
***
“Wow, Phillip is so sure that the babies are his, what would he do if the weren’t?”
“The thing is Kiko, Phillip doesn’t believe that there is even a possibility that those babies aren’t his because that would mean that he can no longer have Belle. He keeps saying that even if they’re not his he’ll raise them as his own, but in truth he’d always hate Belle for cheating on him.” Kewpie smoothed her granddaughters hair, and smiled down at her. “Are you ready for another part of the story?”
“Yup, I wanna know who’s babies they are!”
***
Belle sat quietly as Shawn and Phillip took seats at the end of her bed, at opposite corners. They were on the verge of attacking each other, she could see it in her eyes, and she only prayed that the police could keep them from killing each other. She swallowed hard, and handed one of the babies to Mimi for safekeeping. “What do the results say Lexie?”
“Just to let you know, I ran four separate test, from four separate samples we collected. Each was watched over by a different doctor and analyzed by yet another doctor.” She opened the top of the envelope, watching the spectators. Bo had moved to stand between the two young men, and to her pleasure Tek had moved closer to Kate. “They are 100% accurate and final. The outcome cannot be disputed.”
“Stop with all the rambling and tell us the results before I come over there and take them for myself.” Phillip absently rubbed the top of his prosthetic leg, forgetting that the plastic couldn’t feel the contact. “I want you to prove to these people that those are my babies so Belle and I can go on with our marriage.”
“Lexie wait.” Belle reached out a hand to signal for the doctor to stop her movement. “Phillip I need to say something to you. Today you’ve threatened to take my babies from me, you’ve claimed me as your property like a sofa and you’ve nearly obliterated me from any choices concerning my children. That’s going to stop right now.” She looked at her mother for guidance, and took a deep breath. “I’ve called Mickey and filed for divorce. If they are your babies that’s well and good, you will have access to your children. But I can’t live like this anymore, I am my own person and I’m not about to let you tell me how to live my life.”
“You can’t do that Belle, we have to be a family for our children. If we can’t set a positive example for them who’s going to?” Phillip got to his feet, trying to stay as calm as he could. If Belle divorced him then he could never take over Basic Black, and since Brady had all but taken over Titan, he needed financial security from somewhere. “I will not let you ruin our family.”
“What if it’s not your family you’d be ruining Phillip?” Shawn’s voice was small and weak, as if it had enough of the bickering that had taken place. “What if it’s my family you’re threatening to destroy? Do you think you have the right to push me out of my children life just because you stole the only woman I’ve ever loved right out from under my nose? I don’t think so. If Belle wants a divorce from you that’s what she’ll do, and I’ll make sure it’ll happen smoothly.”
“Belle don’t do this to your family, don’t do this.” Kate pleaded for her son’s marriage as she glared out of the corner of her eye at Hope who had just snuck into the room. “Phillip loves you and those children. You can have a wonderful marriage and family, don’t destroy it on a whim.”
“The results will change your mind Belle, when that test says they are my babies too then you’ll want to be with me.” He raked his fingers through his hair, grasping at straws for hope. “You will want to be with me. Read the results Lexie.”
Lexie gently pulled the papers out of the envelope and glanced over the information. Smiling, confident that nothing was out of the ordinary with the results, she looked at Belle. “I have here in my hands the test results from Baby Black and Baby Black. This test proves with out a doubt that these two babies both share the same mother and father. This test was required as fraternal twins can have separate fathers.” She changed pages and swallowed hard. Someone was about to get their heart broken. “This test proves with out a shadow of a doubt that the biological father of these two babies is… Shawn Douglas Brady.”
Belle exhaled deeply as Shawn wrapped his arms around her. She hadn’t even see him move from his seat, but she was glad to have him there with her. She’d known since she’d seen her babies for the first time that they were his, and now she had the proof. Now she couldn’t be free of Phillip for ever. “Oh Shawn.”
“It’s alright Belle, everything’s alright.” Tears streamed down his cheeks as Mimi settled his daughter into his arms. He was a father, he had two beautiful babies, and maybe with work he could once again have their mother.
“Get your hands off my wife Brady!” Rage filled him as he moved to pull Shawn away from Belle. “She’s still my wife until the papers are finished Brady. You can’t have her so get the hell away!”
“Phillip you lay a hand on him and we’ll have you put away for harming a child.” Bo stepped between the two men, noting how protectively Shawn moved the baby away into Belle’s arms for safe keeping. “Get out of the room, now.”
“This isn’t over Brady, it’s far from over!”
***
“Wow, so the babies really weren’t Phillips. Does he hurt Shawn Granny? Does he steal the babies from Belle and Shawn?”
“We’ll have to finish up the story for that won’t we? How’s this, Belle doesn’t exactly make things easy for Phillip to steal the babies. She divorced him right away, and moved on with her babies…”
***
Belle smiled as she watched Madison climb into the tree and jump down into her father’s arms. She was such an energetic child, it wasn’t a surprise that she’d already broken her arm before she even turned three and spent half of the first grade on crutches. “Careful Maddy, you’re going to hurt yourself again.”
“Mommy’s such a worry wart Maddy, good thing she’s too fat to come over here and chase us.” Shawn winked at his daughter before tossing her high up into the air and gracefully catching he again. Her blonde hair flew behind her, her brown eyes sparkling. She looked so much like her mother, but it was very easy to see that she was his daughter. “Don’t you think so Matt?”
“Mommy’s not fat Daddy, she’s having a baby silly.” Matthew rolled his eyes at his father as he sat next to his mother working on a project from school. “You’re just trying to make her waddle across the lawn again.”
“I do not waddle Matthew John Brady.” Belle tried to frown down at her son, but she couldn’t help but smile at his cute face. He looked like his father, with brown hair and eyes, but his temperament was very much like hers. “And don’t accuse your father of trying to make me get up, since you know very well I can’t get of this chair by myself. But I am fat.”
“You’re beautiful.” Shawn crossed to her chair and gently kissed her lips. It had been almost seven years to the day since they had gotten married, and they had been the most wonderful days of his life. “That’s our baby in there, and that makes you the most beautiful person in the world to me.”
“Mommy, can you tell us how we got our names again?” Madison skipped across the deck, scattering her brother’s papers across the ground. “It’s almost our birthdays and I love hearing how you named us. You did it cause you saw a ghost right?”
“That’s right Maddy, when I was in the car I saw the ghost of a little girl. She came to sit with me because I was afraid of where I was. Her name was Madison Grace Greenfield and she was an ancestor of your dads. She told me all about how many babies she wanted to have, and that her mother had a whole lot.” Belle tucked her daughter under her arm, loving how both wanted to hear this story so many times. “She had a twin brother who’s name was Matthew John, and when I realized that she was a ghost, but that she’d taken away some of my pain that night, I knew I had to name you after them. It just happened that John and Grace were names I would have chosen, and your daddy didn’t mind them.”
“I love your names, they suit you very well. And since they made your mother so happy I just had to go along with her.”
“Your father is a suck up kids, watch and learn Matthew.” Belle grinned at her husband as his hand lazily trailed along her bulging stomach lovingly. “But when I did some research after I brought you home, I knew they were perfect. I Madison kept me calm so I could bring you two into the world, and I had to honor that.”
“What are you going to call these babies Mommy?”
“We haven’t decided yet Maddy, we think we’ll wait until they are born before we name them. But don’t worry we’ll ask you what you think first.” Belle sighed as a slight pain crossed her back. She’d been having contractions for the past couple of hours, but nothing severe enough for her to worry about it. “Do you have any ideas?”
“Mommy, why is the chair all wet?” Madison leapt from the chair, wiping her hands on the bum of her pants. “Did you pee yourself.”
“Uh-oh Shawn, I think we should take the kids to your mothers.”
“Time again?” Shawn nodded, reaching out to help her up from the chair. “Come on kids, Mommy’s in labor, time to go see grandma.”
***
“It was a dark and stormy night as Belle Brady gave birth to not only two girls, but three. Janice, Jamye and Pat came screaming into the world at a little after midnight on Halloween, the same day as their sister and brother.”
“Mommy, why did Granny call you Jamye with a y and not an I?”
“Oh Ashlin, Granny like to do things differently.” Jamye Brady smiled down at her daughter, thanking God yet again for giving her the little bundle of joy. “That’s why I named you Ashlin and not Aselin. I like to make sure you’re different. Granny’s the same way.”
“I like my name, no one else in my class has it.” Ashlin Brady smiled up at her mother, wondering why her mother was the only one in the family to have blue eyes. Everyone else had dark brown ones like Grampy. “Did Granny really see a ghost that night? What about Kewpie, did she really tell that story to her granddaughter while you guys listened?”
“Yes she did Ashlin, Kewpie was a special friend to all of us for a very long time. She was always good for a story. She loved to tell that story to us.” Jamye stood from her daughters bed, smoothing her hair over the jet black hair. Her life hadn’t been easy, compared to the rest of her siblings. She’d fought with fertility for years, and after a bitter divorce she’d adopted a little girl from Korea, making her her own in no time. “Good night little one, get some sleep, we’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Good night Mommy.” Ashlin turned away and snuggled into her bed, clutching her dolly tightly to her chest. “Good night Kewpie doll, maybe someday you can tell me stories.”
The room was quiet as everyone slipped into sleep. A storm raged outside, drenching the yard with rain, lighting up the sky with flashes of electricity. Something stirred on the bed, stretching her little arms.
“Don’t you worry Ashlin.” Kewpie unruffled her hair, pulling her fingers through the knots. “I’ll tell you stories, you can bet on it.”<br />
