Chapter Eleven
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 Sam Bennett watched as his youngest daughter sat silently on the sofa, just staring at the wall.
"Jess is everything Ok?" He questioned walking in the room with two mugs of hot chocolate.
"Daddy." She sighed taking the warm mug. "Its snowing so hard out there."
"I’m surprised your not out there, you’ve always loved the snow."
"Yeah." Jessica nodded. "But we always went out in a group. Simone called to see if I wanted to go ice skating, but I didn’t really feel like it."
"Jess you need to get out and have fun." Sam frowned sitting down beside her. "I want you to enjoy your life."
Jessica forced a smile. "Daddy, can I ask you something?"
"Jess, you know you can ask me anything." Sam spoke taking a sip of hot chocolate.
"Do you think Miguel and Kay actually stand a chance at making it?" Jessica questioned her eyes searching those of her father.
Sam let out a heavy sigh. "I think that they are on the right track." Sam began. "I remember when they were kids, and they got along so well then. I honestly thought they would be together when they got older. When Charity came along though, I figured I had just been wrong."
Jessica nodded her head. "But Miguel loves Charity so much, how can he just fall for Kay now?"
"Miguel has always cared deeply about your sister. They’ve always had a connection Jess. I know you and Charity are close, but I really think if Kay and Miguel work hard they can make it. Miguel does love Kay sweetheart, and he loves their child as well."
"I just never thought they would actually get together." Jessica shrugged. "Miguel seemed so devoted to Charity."
"Miguel also seemed like a different person around Charity. Jess, do you remember Miguel before Charity came along? It’s easy to forget how close Kay and Miguel were before Charity, but sweetheart they were very close. Miguel doted on Kay back then, and they shared secrets no one else knew about."
"Yeah." Jessica nodded. "I guess so."
Sam laughed lightly. "I even remember you getting mad at them when you were younger. You would get upset because you said they always left you out."
"That would make me so mad." Jessica smiled. "They would just be talking and start laughing for no reason. They always had these inside jokes, and I felt like a third wheel. I haven’t thought about that in awhile."
Sam wrapped his arm around his daughter. "So much has happened to this family Jess. I’m still very upset that Kay got pregnant, but I do love her. I want her and Miguel to try to make it together, and I really think they want to make it. I know you’ve had problems with your sister, but she really needs you right now, we need each other."
Jessica lowered her head. "I have been pretty hard on her." She admitted. "I just thought Miguel and Charity belonged together."
"Maybe its time for you to have a heart to heart with your sister." Sam suggested. "Its not too late for you two to fix things."
"You think so?"
Sam smiled. "I know so."
~*~*~*~*~

Kay laughed loudly as Miguel chased her into his house. He grabbed her from behind, twirling her around with a smirk. "Nice move out there Bennett, smearing me with a snow ball from behind."
"I thought it was a good shot, right in the back of the head." She giggled.
"You think its funny?" He asked arching a eyebrow. "That could have injured me."
"Awww Miggs, I’m sorry." She laughed. "I forgot what a baby you can be about these things."
"Baby?" He asked with a smirk. "Did you just call me a baby?"
Kay smiled. "I only speak the truth."
"Well you only hit me with that snow ball because I made the bigger snowman." Miguel laughed.
"But mine was better." Kay spoke with a gleam in her eyes. "Yours was slanted and uneven."
"You got the good snow." Miguel pouted.
"And the baby strikes again." Kay laughed touching his face with her icy hands.
"Geez your freezing." He spoke.
"No." Smile smiled wrapping her arms around Miguel’s neck. "I’m actually warm."
Pulling her closer Miguel nodded. "So am I." Lowering his head, Miguel moved to kiss Kay.
"Miguel, what on earth?" Pilar’s voice suddenly called out from behind them. Moving away from each other Miguel and Kay turned to see Pilar standing with her arms crossed.
"Mama, I didn’t know you were there." He frowned.
"The floor is soaking wet Miguel." Pilar sighed. "And look at Kay, she’s drenched from the snow. Let the girl go, so she can get some dry clothes on." Pilar spoke with a small grin. "You two have plenty time to for that other stuff later."
Miguel’s face turned red, "Mama, we weren’t doing anything. Honest, it was just a, a kiss. Just a little one too."
Pilar shook her head. "Miguel, you’re marrying the girl, I have no problem with you kissing her. You two are having a child after all." Looking over at Kay she sighed. "I just don’t want her catching cold in those wet clothes."
"You’re right Pilar." Kay frowned. "I do need to change out of these clothes. Would you like me to clean this wet floor up first?"
"No Kay, Miguel will mop this floor." Pilar spoke. "You go take a nice warm shower, and I’ll fix you something to eat."
"Something healthy, she’s been eating too much junk food." Miguel spoke from behind Kay.
"I believe I’ve had enough children to know what to feed a pregnant woman, Miguel." Shaking her head she smiled. "But its nice to see you concerned."
"And I haven’t been eating a lot of junk food." Kay told him rolling her eyes. "Your just mad because I ate the last pint of ice cream last night." She smirked.
"It was my favorite." He frowned.
"Are you sure you can handle this Kay?" Pilar smiled. "Marrying Miguel means raising two children, him and this baby."
Kay laughed lightly. "I think I can put up with him." She teased. "He’s not that bad once you train him."
"Oh excuse me?" Miguel questioned with a smirk. "Train me? We’ll just have to see about that Bennett."
Pilar crossed her arms satisfied with what she was seeing. Her son was smiling, laughing with his childhood friend. She knew he didn’t realize it yet, but he was falling in love with the mother of his child. One of her children was happy, she could only pray the others would smile again as well.
"Kay, I saw a few photo’s in your room when I was cleaning. Three very beautiful wedding gowns, have you decided which on you want?"
Kay sighed, "Actually, Miguel picked his favorite, as did Theresa, and I chose one I like as well. I’m still undecided though."
"Did my Miguel happen to pick that very revealing gown?" Pilar smirked. "And Theresa the fancy expensive dress?"
"Of course." Kay laughed lightly. "And I liked the simple gown."
"I prefer simple as well." Pilar nodded.
Shivering Kay frowned. "I think I’ll go get that shower now." Looking back at Miguel she smiled. "Maybe we can look at that baby book later?"
"Of course." He nodded moving to kiss her cheek. "But we’re having a girl."
Kay rolled her eyes as she headed toward the bathroom, a smile planted on her face as she passed Pilar.
"She seems happy." Pilar spoke looking toward the shut bathroom door. "Very happy."
Miguel blushed lightly, "I missed her mama."
"Missed her?" Pilar questioned a confused look on her face.
Miguel nodded his head. "My Kay, I missed her, but she’s back now."
"And I see that you’ve returned to who you once were as well." Pilar laughed. "You seem more free Miguel, less concerned about what people think of you."
"Mama, did I really change that much when I dated Charity?"
There was a frown on Pilar’s face. "We often change to make other’s happy Miguel. You cared deeply for Charity, and she was very different from you."
"Different how?" There was so much he needed to understand. Watching as his mother walked over to the sofa and sat down he frowned.
"Miguel, do you remember when you were fifteen? You were this boy with so much spirit. Luis would often tell me you were more of a ladies man that he had been. You had fun, and spend time with Kay and your male friends. Then Charity came along and you changed. Everything became about her, and you modeled yourself to be the man she wanted. It wasn’t her fault, but you didn’t see it. You lost friends Miguel, lost yourself."
"And now?" Miguel asked. "Do you see me changing?"
"I see my son again Miguel, that free spirit who loved to have fun. I see the smile I loved dearly return to your face and it feels good."
Miguel ran his fingers through his hair. "Why didn’t you say something to me?"
"You were never home." Pilar chuckled, "And when you were there was so many things going on."
"Mama, what happened to our family?" Miguel frowned. "How did we get so off track?"
"Come, sit next to your mama." Pilar instructed watching as her son obeyed and walked over to sit beside her. "Now you listen to me, this family may have had some hard times, but we are still here for each other. My children are adults now, and you have all changed."
"Not for the better." He frowned.
"Not true." Pilar sighed. "Theresa is slowly maturing, and I can see that you will make a very good husband and father. Luis and Antonio, I worry about, but I pray that we are finally getting somewhere."
"Mama." Miguel whispered. "I’m scared."
Taking her son’s hands in her own Pilar smiled. "Life is scary."
"I’m not sure I am ready for this, marriage and a child? I can’t afford the things Kay and my child deserve mama. I want to give them so much, and I know I can’t do that."
"Give them love Miguel, that’s what Kay is searching for. The girl needs love and a promise that she is important to someone."
"But what about money?" Miguel frowned. "We don’t have any."
"It will all come together in time." Pilar promised. "Now you go change clothes and I will fix us all something to eat. I believe you can be very happy with Kay, if only you let her in." Pilar smiled standing up.
"Mama." Miguel whispered as Pilar turned back to look at him. "Thank you."
~*~*~*~

Shopping bags surrounded Theresa as she looked around her room. She smiled brightly as she took out a few tiny outfits and placed them on her bed. "Oh Martin will look so adorable in these." She squealed to herself.
Chad stood at the door watching as his wife slowly emptied the many bags in the room. He had hoped that she wouldn’t spend the Crane money, like she was doing, but it didn’t surprise him. With a sigh he entered the room as she turned around, a grin on her face.
"I didn’t realize you were going to buy the mall out." He spoke crossing his arms.
"Its not as bad as it looks Chad, I found a few sales." Shrugging it off she smiled. "I bought you a few things too."
"Me?" He questioned. "Why me?"
"I thought they’d look nice on you." She laughed. "But if you don’t want them."
"T, how much did you spend?" He asked peeking in one of the larger bags.
Lowering her head she lost the smile. "Do you really want to know?"
"Oh T, you know what people are going to say."
"Why should I care what people say? Its not like we can’t afford it." She spoke her eyes meeting his.
"You should care because you want to prove them all wrong. Gwen and Rebecca, Ivy? Don’t you wanta show them that your not a big time spender?"
"Chad relax, I was in a good mood, so I went shopping. Its not a crime."
"No, but its like some obsession with you girl. You need the money, the name, everything that comes with being a Crane."
Theresa dropped the small shirt that she held in her hand’s as her brown eyes glared up at Chad. "Excuse me? I told you when we got married that I was going to enjoy the Crane money and you never said a word about it. This isn’t some obsession, and you and I both know I lived for many years without the ‘Crane money’."
"Theresa calm down." Chad frowned. "Your overreacting."
"No, your the one overreacting. I bought a few things for you, my son and myself and you act like I went out and spent millions. Your acting like Ivy and Rebecca. I’m not all about money Chad, and you know that."
He saw the hurt in her eyes and he frowned. "T, look I’m sorry."
"Whatever." She frowned. "I think you should just go for now."
"No." He spoke firmly. "We’re going to talk about this, about us."
"Us?" She questioned. "Chad, I’m in no mood to discuss anything right now." She huffed.
"Ok, now your acting like a child." He frowned. "Stop it T, your not like that anymore."
"Anymore?" She fumed. "What does that mean?"
"Just forget it." He spoke throwing his hands in the air. "I came in here to figure out what happens next and look what happens? Looks like I have my answer."
"Answer?" Theresa whispered her tone softening as she stepped closer to him. "What answer?"
"About us, this marriage, I was trying to figure out what happens once we get our revenge." Shaking his head he frowned. "I don’t know what I was thinking, we’re friends just friends."
"Chad." Her voice was a whisper. "Were you thinking of trying to make this marriage work?" She questioned just as the phone rang. Putting a finger up to silence him she grabbed the phone. "Hello? Oh hi Mrs. Willis." Smiling she turned from Chad. "Oh that’s wonderful, I’m so glad to hear the kids enjoyed the clothes and toys." Laughing lightly she paused. "Yes, you can tell them that not all Cranes are bad people. Ok, I’ll talk to you later Mrs.Willis." Hanging up she turned back to Chad. "Sorry about that."
"Who was that on the phone?" He questioned.
"Oh, that was Martha Willis, she helps run the orphanage. I ran by there today and donated a few things." She shrugged. "Now can we get back to what you were talking about?"
"Orphanage?" Chad asked. "How many things?"
"A few bags of clothes, some toys I thought the children would like. I found a great sale and I just wanted to help, its no big deal Chad."
"It is a big deal." He smiled. "It was a wonderful thing." Hesitating he put his hand out. "Look T, I’m sorry about what I said. You have changed, and I know that. I shouldn’t have jumped you like I did, I don’t know what I was thinking."
She smiled and took his hand. "Your forgiven."
Reaching out he pulled her in for a hug, his hand smoothing down her hair as she rested against him. "I really am sorry T." He whispered to her taking in her sweet smell.
She looked up at him with huge brown eyes, and moved her hand to touch his face. "Your one of few good guys left Chad, your one of the few people who get me."
He moved closer to her, his eyes focused on only her. Taking a deep breath he questioned what was happening as he leaned closer, his lips almost touching hers.
"Theresa!" A voice suddenly yelled breaking them apart right before they kissed.
Chad glared at the man in front of them, and then back at Theresa.
"Ethan what on earth?" Theresa fumed her eyes shooting him daggers.
"My life is falling apart Theresa, and I need to talk to you. Gwen left me, she just packed up and left."
~*~*~*~*~

Jessica Bennett wrapped her jacket around her as she peeked inside the Lopez-Fitzgerald home. She could see Miguel sitting on the sofa flipping through some sort of book. She blinked, thinking she was mistaken, but she realized she wasn’t. Miguel was looking at a baby book, a smile on his face. Taking a deep breath she walked over to the door.
"Your going to give me the answers to my questions Miguel." She whispered to herself. "You’ll help me decide tonight if I should give my sister a second chance."