Chapter Four-Hundred-Thirty
When Brandon managed to recover from his shock he reached over and slid his arms around Doctor Johnson for a hug and Doctor Johnson returned it.
“I’m sorry I ever doubted you. You were right all along…Kayline is really here…”
“How come she hid her mommy’s pretty ring under the floorboard?” Julie wanted to know, and Brandon smiled at her some, before reaching over and gently taking her from Peyton. He sat her in his lap after sitting Indian style and she looked up at him curiously.
“She didn’t mean to honey. Remember when Steve told you that she was exactly your age when she died?”
“Uh-huh. She still is too,” Julie pointed out.
“Well, she liked pretty and shiny things a lot…just like you do, and she had a knack for finding them with no trouble at all. It was like they simply just called for her attention, and she just had to have them. One day mom left her ring lying on the nightstand because she was cleaning the bathroom sink and had a history of accidentally losing it down the drain. I couldn’t even tell you how many times my dad has had to take it apart and retrieve it for her and have it cleaned and stuff. Anyway, after she finished cleaning she forgot about it and went off to do other things. Naturally…little Miss Kayline discovered it and just had to play with it. She went to put it on and it slipped out of her hands and right into the crack of this very floorboard.”
“Oh no!” Julie gasped dramatically, her little eyes going wide as she is highly enjoying this story. “What happened Brandon? What did she do? Was your mommy mad at her?”
“No, she wasn’t mad because Kayline didn’t tell her what happened. She ran off and busied herself with other things pretending it hadn’t happened. Eventually though, Kayline began to feel worse and didn’t know what to do. She just couldn’t hold it in any longer and she came crying to me about it. I told her I would get it out for her later and put it on mom’s nightstand so she could think its been there all along – no harm done. But I was young at the time…I did stupid things that got me in trouble. I told her later because I was in the process of trying to sneak out. I went to a party that I wasn’t supposed to go to with a couple of friends. We did stupid things, got caught in the act, and I ended up grounded for a week…and I put off finding the ring for Kayline. The next day the tornado struck and that was that. The ring remained in this floorboard ever since and I was the only one who knew about it. But I forgot about it over the years…” He explained before looking at Annabelle with a small smile on his face.
“You know why she came to you Brandon, right?” Doctor Johnson asked softly.
“Because I was the troublemaker and knew how to get her out of it?”
“No, because you were the brother who would understand and have her back. She knew I would’ve gotten the ring out and made her return it and confess straight away that she’d been playing with it and she’d been the one to lose it too. I wasn’t the only brother that she always turned to Brandon don’t you get it? She’s trying to get you to see that you had plenty of moments with her too. You two shared a secret that I never even knew about up until now.”
“I don’t think that’s the message she was trying to get across, Steve,” Brandon replied while still looking at Annabelle. Doctor Johnson looked at her to as she stood there quietly admiring the ring in her hands. “You were wrong you know. You told me that the ring you bought was the most exquisite ring on this planet. It was beautiful…you can’t deny that, but I believe mom’s tops it.” Doctor Johnson stood up and started toward Annabelle when Julie who had been really quiet ever since hearing Brandon’s story spoke up.
“Stevie?” She spoke softly and he looked at her and frowned slightly when he saw how upset she suddenly looks – almost close to tears even.
“Whats the matter angel?”
“I have to tell you something…”
“You took the ring?” Doctor Johnson guessed and Julie looked up at him as even more tears formed in her eyes. “I didn’t remember until now Stevie, I promise I didn’t” she insisted tearfully and Doctor Johnson knelt down in front of her neither looking mad or upset. “Kayline was in my dream last night an’ we played ‘Kayline says’…an’ she led me in Brandon’s art room an’ told me to take the ring an’ hide it.”
“I believe you sweetie,” Doctor Johnson told her gently. “I don’t blame you, I’m not mad. My little sister…like Brandon said, just has my best interest at heart. And she just needed your help to get me to see that.”
“I know where it is…do you want me to show you?” she asked softly and Doctor Johnson nodded. He stood up and he took her hand allowing her to lead him out of the room, through the hall, down the stairs, and she took him out into the backyard to the sandbox. Doctor Johnson chuckled softly.
“Of course…where Kayline kept all of her treasures.” Julie let go of his hand, grabbed up the shovel and she dug a hole until she found the ring she was looking for. She pulled it out and handed it to him and he dusted it off and was pleased that it hadn’t lost its shine from being in the sand. He turned and looked at Annabelle then who was standing behind him quietly with Brandon and Peyton. He closed the distance between them so he was standing in front of her and gazing into her eyes. Brandon picked up Julie and wrapped his arm around Peyton and he steered her over to the house until they were standing under the porch giving them their space.
“Here we go again…” He told her softly and he gently took her hand into his, kissed the back of it and then opened it up and placed the ring he held inside it with his mother’s wedding ring. “I know we’ve only been together for a short time…Brandon was worried that it might be too soon. But I know it in my heart that I love you Anna. I know it in my heart that I belong with you. So I just want to know one thing…will you spend forever with me and be my wife?” he asked softly, his loving eyes gazing into hers and a single tear slipped from them and rolled down her cheek.
“You’re right…we have been together for a short time,” She agreed and she noticed his face fall as he automatically assumed that was a rejection. Not wanting him to feel that way she reached up and cupped his face making him look into he teary eyes so he would listen. “And yet here I am already completely head over heels…set my heart on fire in love with you. I can’t imagine my life without you Steve,” She added while gently caressing his cheek with her finger. “Ever since the moment I opened my eyes from that coma it’s been all about you. And if your sister went through all of this trouble just to get you and I together…and for you to find your mother’s ring…I think it’s safe to say that we’re meant for each other. It would be pretty silly of me to ignore fate and say no. So…my answer is yes Steve…” Tears of happiness clouded his eyes and spilled out over his cheeks. “I will marry you and I will spend forever with you.” Doctor Johnson looked down at the rings in Annabelle’s hands then and he rubbed his finger lightly over them.
“What do you think?” he asked softly, knowing she won’t need an explanation to his question.
“I think that…this one would make a very beautiful engagement ring,” She answered softly while also rubbing her finger over the ring he bought. “But your mother’s ring is just too perfect for that. It needs to be what it is Steve…a wedding ring.”
“Then its settled,” Doctor Johnson replied while placing the beautiful diamond ring that she picked out as her engagement ring onto her finger. “We will save mom’s for our wedding day,” he added softly.
“Do you really think I’m worthy to have such a special ring?” she whispered doubtfully and he placed his forefinger and thumb to her chin before lifting it gently so that she was looking up at him.
“Of course I do baby. My mom loved this ring so much – it was very special to her because it symbolized dad’s love for her. And she loved him with her whole heart and soul…so much that strangers on the street could see it as they walked by. She wouldn’t want this ring to stay forever hidden underneath the floorboard…she would want her eldest son to pass it on to the love of his life. And Kayline saw that.”
“Am I really the love of your life?” Doctor Johnson gently wiped away her tears with the pad of his finger and rested his forehead against hers so that their lips are just inches apart.
“If there were words much stronger than that I would use them. You were my Annabelle long before I even realized it. Kayline thrusted you into my life…with a very loud and clear bang I must say and gift wrapped you and gave you to me for Christmas.” Annabelle couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“Yes…a loud and clear bang is right. If your sister had enough faith in your doctor skills to break me and then believe that you could fix me I think that should tell you something right there.”
“I did nothing,” Doctor Johnson insisted. “I provided the medical work that I knew – the real miracle happened inside that coma of yours.”
“The coma in which I wouldn’t be out of if it weren’t for that medical work that you performed,” Annabelle reminded. Doctor Johnson opened his mouth to argue and Annabelle placed her finger over his lips to silence him. “Stop, stop I won’t listen to anymore of your doubts. I won’t let you abuse yourself anymore especially when it’s clear that she doesn’t want that. It’s time that you move on and be happy mister.”
“Kayline performed the real miracle, I refuse to believe otherwise.”
“You were a team,” Annabelle suggested, while gently rubbing her hand over his cheek. “Will you settle for that? You saved me together side by side. I wouldn’t be here without either one of you.”
“Fair enough,” he whispered and Annabelle smiled at him some while sliding her arms around his neck and pulling him closer and she claimed his lips for her own in a deep kiss causing Julie to giggle over in the shadows on the porch. Annabelle smiled against his lips but otherwise didn’t stop.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile at the Orphanage, when Nick and Ashley went downstairs hand in hand after their passionate love making they found everybody out on the playground watching the kids play before they have to go in for the night. As they walked out there, they discovered AJ was on his way in and he narrowed his eyes at the both of them.
“Where were you two at?” he demanded suspiciously.
“Didn’t Brian tell you?” Nick asked innocently and AJ gave him a very dangerous look.
“Oh yeah, he told me…and then when I asked Scott why he has Bella, he gave me a completely different story,” he informed. “Do you want to explain to me why that is?”
“Um, no not really” Ashley replied while taking Nick’s hand and lightly tugging him around AJ before heading toward their friends. AJ whirled around and followed.
“Weren’t you on your way in there Aje?” Nick asked while not even looking back at him.
“I was on my way in to look for you two. Brian told me you went to your house to get something Nick and then when I spoke to Scott, he said you two went on a secret ice cream run.”
“Maybe we did both. Did you ever think of that?”
“Where’s the thing you went home to get then Nick?” AJ asked and then grabbed Nick’s hand forcing him to stop and he turned them around to look at him. Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag of dog treats and he showed them to AJ.
“Dog treats? You went home for dog treats?”
“We ran out of them while on the trip and Kota informed me that we needed more, so I went home to get some.” AJ stared at them for a long moment before replying.
“Oh yeah? Then why is my sister’s face flushed?”
“None of your business!” Ashley snapped, having quite enough of the third degree he was putting her boyfriend through. “I am eighteen years old Alex, you don’t need to know exactly where I am at and what I am doing every single minute of the day!”
“Like hell I do”
“No you don’t,” Ashley insisted and she stepped between him and Nick when she saw the looks he was giving him when his suspicions had been confirmed. “How’s Jaime been lately Alex huh?” she asked suddenly and AJ froze.
“Don’t even go there.”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Ashley demanded and she crossed her arms over her chest and arched her eyebrow at him. “Give my boyfriend a hard time Alex, go right on ahead. See what happens. I’ll go straight to Jaime so fast and tell him what you’ve been up to you wont even have time to blink.”
“That’s not fa—“
“—And then maybe you will fully understand just how hard it is to put up with over protective brothers,” She added, and then once again grabbed Nick’s hand and she turned around and started pulling him toward their friends again leaving AJ there. When they got there, Brooke was giving her a please no kind of look and Ashley slid her arms around her shoulders and hugged her before whispering into her ear.
“Don’t worry I’m all talk.” Brooke relaxed some at her reassuring words and Ashley continued. “But I swear if he pushes me…”
“I’ll try to make sure he behaves himself from now on. Just please don’t punish me too okay?”
“I’ll try not to,” Ashley replied. “You know I love you Brookie, you provided me with a home and have done so much for me.” Brooke returned her hug and even kissed her on the cheek before pulling away and going over to calm her boyfriend down as she can just see him trying to figure out if his sister means her threat or not.
“Where is Howie?” Ashley asked Brian curiously while taking Bella from Scott’s arms and she felt Nick slide his arms around her from behind and rest his chin on her shoulder. “He’s the only one I haven’t hugged yet tonight.”
“That’s cause he’s not here yet,” Brian answered, looking rather smug and Ashley arched his eyebrow. “Tonight is Lindsey’s night off so they took Ryan out to dinner long before you all got here – they should be here anytime now.”
“Why do you look so smug? What did I miss?”
“Ryan totally set them up the other night – he stayed at Kevin’s house so that Howie and Lindsey could have the house to themselves. Brooke went over there and got Howie all ready for a surprise dinner, Jackie, Riley, and Ann all cooked for them, and they were gone before Lindsey even got home. It was perfect – very subtly romantic and it looks like they’ve gotten pretty close in the past two days.”
“Aww…yay Howie. Ryan…I miss Ryan. I really need to spend sometime with that kid.”
“I think that would be very sweet of you,” AJ informed while joining them with Brooke and she regarded him for a moment. When she saw that he was done being a jerk she decided she would forgive him. “You should take him out for dinner and ice cream in the future – just the two of you,” he hinted. “I think that would really make him happy.”
“I think he’ll have to settle for just the two of us and Marcus at a safe distance.”
“Maybe you can do that tomorrow night baby. Spend the morning and early afternoon with me and the kids, the late afternoon with Kristin, and then come home only to get Ryan and take him out for dinner in the evening” Nick suggested.
“Come home? Wouldn’t I have to go to his house?”
“Howie and Lindsey have decided to stay here in the Orphanage for awhile,” Brian informed casually.
“Why?” Ashley wanted to know immediately - naturally and Brian and Nick exchanged careful looks.
“They just want to be closer to the family is all,” Brian shrugged. “No big deal. Lindsey really wants to get to know everybody better.” Ashley looked up at Nick then and he instantly smiled at her, gently turned her chin sideways, and he leaned forward and grazed his lips lightly over hers causing her to lean into him comfortably. She looked around the playground after pulling away from their kisses and when she spotted Kevin near by she relaxed some. No matter what kind of dark secret her lover and friend are so keen on keeping from her, Kevin is near and that’s all that matters. She watched him as he sat in the grass with his back up against the tree and Kristin sitting beside him with his arm wrapped casually around her shoulders. The two of them are sitting there talking quietly while watching Ellie run around playing a crossover type game involving both the Ninja Turtles and Batman with all of her friends.
“So, it really seemed like you were having a good conversation with her earlier. What do you think?” Brian asked quietly when he saw her looking in Kevin and Kristin’s direction.
“She seems really sweet,” Ashley answered honestly. “She seems to make him happy I can see that. I guess that’s all that matters.”
“Summer made him happy too,” Brian reminded.
“Yeah I know, but this is different. It’s not the same thing – I can see that she wants more out of him then just the sex and the way he acts around her is completely different then the way he acted around Summer.” She glanced over at the kids then. “How does Ellie feel about her? I haven’t really seen her near her all night.”
“Well that would definitely be a first,” Jerald spoke up. “We can hardly keep Ellie away from her – she adores her and if it weren’t for her, she probably wouldn’t even be in Kevin’s life this soon.”
“That’s not true,” Brian insisted. “Your mother would’ve found a way eventually, I’m sure.”
“Well, if Ellie approves…then you can’t argue there can you? Maybe now she’ll be happy and that’s all I want to see. Is her and Kevin happy,” Ashley replied.
“Has everybody been introduced to her except for me?” Nick asked while hugging Ashley closer.
“Well, if you didn’t run off with your girlfriend then maybe you would’ve had a chance” Brian chuckled.
“If you were stuck in a car next to Riley all day with her lying in your lap asleep I’m sure you would’ve done the same thing.”
“Haha – no, actually knowing him lately he probably would’ve done it in the back seat – no need to wait until they’re out of the car,” AJ replied and Brian rolled his eyes.
“So is that it then? Have I met everybody?” Kristin asked Kevin conversationally and she tried with great difficulty to ignore the fact that he had just taken her hand into his and laced their fingers together.
“Well, you haven’t exactly been formally introduced to Nick yet, but we’ll take care of that later and when Doctor Johnson comes home tomorrow I want you to meet him – he’s like part of the family too.”
“You have a huge family,” Kristin pointed out while resting her head against his shoulder and Kevin chuckled.
“I know. Feeling overwhelmed yet?” He asked while gently squeezing her hand and rubbing his finger over the back of it lightly.
“No, not yet. I’m actually learning how to get over my shyness with each family member I meet. It gets easier everytime.”
“Aww…and I was really enjoying watching you blush. It makes my day,” Kevin informed and Kristin laughed.
“I’m sure you’ll see it plenty of more times, don’t worry.”
“I look forward to it then,” Kevin grinned and she smiled up at him, and much to Kevin’s delight she even blushed. Kristin felt her face grow warm and laughed and Kevin just sat there beaming happily.
“You like my blushes and I like your smiles. I guess it’s a win win situation here.”
“Mhm,” Kevin agreed. The two of them sat there talking and laughing for a couple of hours, and then around ten thirty it was nearing time for Kristin to get home. Kevin got to his feet and helped her up and she crossed the playground with him toward Ellie, neither of them noticing Ashley’s watchful eyes. She’d been watching them for the whole two hours. When they approached the kids who were all sitting in the grass in a circle now, they all looked up at them curiously.
“Ellie sweetie, I’m going to be heading home pretty quick” she announced and Ellie got up instantly held her arms out to her and Kristin gently gathered her up and snuggled her close.
“I don’t want you to go,” Ellie whined somewhat. “I want you to stay an’ help daddy tuck me in tonight.”
“I wish I could honey,” Kristin told her while rubbing her hand over her back. “But I have a niece and nephew who really like it when I’m there to tuck them in. They get upset when I’m not. Maybe I’ll stay later tomorrow night and tuck you in then – how’s that?”
“Id like that lots.”
“Kay. I’ll ask my niece and nephew if they are willing to share me for the evening – I’m sure they won’t mind though – Jesse has taken a huge liking to you.”
“As I of her,” Ellie informed, talking into Kristin’s neck as her head was rested against her shoulder and her arms wound firmly around her neck. “You should bring her here to plays. She hasta meets my Kota.”
“You are right I should. She would really like that a lot. I think I might end up baby-sitting tomorrow. I told Ash we’d go get our nails done…perhaps if Kevin doesn’t mind…” She began while looking at Kevin.
“Of course I wouldn’t,” Kevin insisted. “Bring them both by I’m sure they both will fit right in here and I’ll be here to keep an eye on them for you.”
“Thank you that means a lot. I’m sure Brad would kill me if he had to take the kids to work with him again.”
“I thought you said the routine of yours works out perfectly for the three of you,” Kevin chuckled as the two of them began walking toward everybody else, Kristin still holding Ellie who was not willing to let her put her down until absolutely necessary.
“Well usually it does, until Aunt Kristin started messing it up by making plans,” Kristin laughed. “I didn’t have much of a life outside of work and family until you came along – not that I am complaining though. I needed one.”
“Don’t cancel your responsibilities because of me, I don’t want your brother and sister to start hating me,” Kevin insisted. “I know how much your niece and nephew mean to you. Bring them along – I’ve got a little girl called Ellie who could entertain them very easily.”
“They would never hate you, you have no idea how grateful they are to you,” Kristin insisted. “But I will start bringing them...they’d like that.”
“And if you ever run into child care issues…please know that there are plenty of people here who could help you out with that.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Kristin smiled, and when they approached everybody else, Kevin looked at them all.
“Hey everybody – Kris is planning on leaving pretty quick here, she has a niece and nephew waiting for her to tuck her in at home,” he announced.
“Okie dokie,” Brian replied, and he moved forward and wound his arms around her for a hug though being cautious of Ellie between them. “I’m really glad you came to hang out with us again today. Will you be back tomorrow?”
“Mhm. Ash and I have plans,” Kristin answered while smiling over at Ashley and Ashley smiled back.
“You don’t mind if I bring Bella with me do you?” Ashley asked while looking down at the sleeping baby in her arms. “I’ve been kind of attached to her lately…and Marcus will have to come too considering all things…”
“No I don’t mind,” Kristin shrugged and smiled. “I’m just looking forward to our day together.” Ashley smiled even more and she leaned down and kissed the top of Bella’s head softly. Kristin said her good-byes to everybody, while also being formally introduced to Nick at the same time and then after ten minutes of snuggling with Ellie for a little bit more Kevin spoke up.
“Ellie honey why don’t you say your good-byes to Kristin now and let Jerry take you for a little bit? Daddy wants to walk her out to the car alone so he can get a chance to say his own good-byes okay?” Ellie looked over at Jerald then and he gave her an encouraging smile though his mind was running a mile a minute of just exactly what kind of goodbye he is planning on giving her. She looked up at Kristin then who smiled down at her and Ellie hugged her tightly. Kristin kissed her forehead softly and hugged her in return.
“Bye Kristin, loves you.”
“I love you too sweetie. I’ll see you tomorrow okay? I promise.”
“Kay. Thank-you for coming over an’ baking cookies withs me. It was fun.”
“Anytime Ellie. I had a lot of fun too – we’ll have to do that on a regular basis.” Ellie beamed at this idea and Kristin smiled in return. She hugged her one last time making it meaningful and then she surrendered her to Jerald even though she could clearly take Ellie home with her if she were ever allowed – no problem. When her hands were free, she allowed Kevin to take one and gently squeeze it and he led her toward the building. He took her inside, let her have a chance to say goodbye to security next, and then they went outside and he walked her to her car. When they got to it she leaned against the side of it and looked at him.
“Thanks for inviting me over. I had so much fun…your family seems so nice.”
“Your welcome. I’m glad you had a good time…and I can tell that they really like you a lot too. Some of them may even think you are perfect.” Kristin laughed at this comment, blushed, and Kevin smirked at his success.
“I am far from perfect…but I can’t complain about them approving of me. I was really scared they wouldn’t.” Kevin scoffed at this little confession and gently cupped her cheek in his hand.
“Are you kidding me? What is there not to like?” he wanted to know and Kristin shrugged self consciously. He gazed at her for a couple of moments before going on. “You are sweet,” he told her while leaning forward and planting a kiss on her one cheek. “You are kind,” he added, before moving his lips over to the other one and kissing that. “You are thoughtful,” he added before kissing her forehead. He placed a trail of light feathery kisses down to her nose and kissed the tip of that before placing his forefinger and thumb to her chin, tilting it up, and resting his forehead against hers and she silently reminded herself to breathe as green eyes met with blue. He wound his arms around her waist gently as she still leaned against her car and when he spoke again it was in a soft whisper. “And you are so beautiful,” He added before grazing his lips over hers in the lightest touch – almost cautiously, like he were testing the waters to see how she would react. Kristin slid her arms around his neck and melted into him with no hesitation at all as she’d been dying to have his arms around her all day – when he did earlier for the briefest of moments while playing basketball with her it just wasn’t enough. She kissed him back with much more feeling then what he was giving her sending his mind on a whirl and his heart pounding. When he pulled away a few moments later he lightly caressed her cheek with his thumb for a few seconds and she smoothed her fingers through his hair lovingly and he opened her door for her.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she whispered and he nodded. It was all he could do at the moment. She got into her car, he shut her door for her and stepped back, and he watched her as she started up her car and drove off leaving him standing there feeling emotions he’s never felt before – ever. But he wouldn’t mind if she came back right this second and made him feel some more.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
