To be trusted is a greater complement than to be loved.
- George MacDonald
 

Kay Bennett sat speechless staring out at the water as the waves washed up on the beach. She could hear Fox talking to her, and she felt his hand touch her shoulder once or twice, but she didn’t speak. She just sat as numbness went through her entire body.

“Do what do you think Kay? I mean I hate to ask anything of him, but this could help you, it really could help.” Fox spoke. “Kay? Kay are you listening?”

“Hmm?” She asked finely looking his way. “Did you say something?”

Fox dropped his head, “You haven’t heard a word I said.”

“I’m sorry.” She whispered her eyes shifting away from him. “I have so much on my mind right now. Now what were you saying?”

Fox sighed, he could see something was weighing heavy on Kay, but knew not to ask until she brought it up, “Father told me last night that he would help you, he said he’d get the Crane lawyers to help Ethan. I am no fan of my family, but those guys are good.”

“I don’t even think the Crane lawyers can help me.” Kay mumbled looking out at the water.

“Kay what’s wrong?” Fox asked. “Something is going on, I can tell.”

When Kay looked back at Fox tears were forming in her eyes, “You know how sometimes a persons past will come back to haunt them?” She choked. “My past may cost me my daughter, and I have no one to blame but myself.”

Fox was confused as he saw the pain in Kay’s eyes. He could tell whatever it was she wasn’t saying was hurting her deeply, “Kay what happened?”

“Charity, Charity always happens when my life is starting to go right.” Kay spoke breaking her silence as tears fell from her cheeks. “She threatened me last night, she has something on me, something that will ruin my life.”

Fox ran his fingers through his hair, “She has something on you? What is she blackmailing you?”

Kay nodded her head, “She wants me to hand over Maria or she’ll tell anyone that’ll listen what she knows.”

“And what does she know?” Fox asked watching as Kay stood up. “Kay what did you do that was so bad you’re freaking out like this?”

Kay let out a nervous laugh, “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.” The smile quickly fade from her face, “Before I had Maria, I was willing to do certain things to try to get Miguel. Things I look back on now and wonder how I could have done them.” She explained turning away.

“And Charity knows about these things?”

“Every last one of them.” Kay nodded. “And she said she’d tell everyone what I did. They’ll believe her too, even daddy will believe her Fox.” She whispered. “And even if a judge doesn’t, I’ll loose all the support I have anyway. Ethan won’t help me, dad will hate me, either way I’m going to loose my daughter.” She cried.

Fox felt his heart break for Kay, “Can you tell me what these things were? It might not be as bad as it seems Kay. Just how bad were these things?”

“They make Theresa look like a saint Fox.” She told him quickly. “It’s that bad.” She walked toward the water, Fox behind her as she stopped at the water’s edge. “When I was a little girl I had so many plans.” She spoke staring out at the water. “I could have gotten a softball scholarship, did you know that?” She asked with a smile. “I could have left this town behind long ago, but I wanted Miguel. I almost had him too, but Charity came along and I just wanted her gone.” She spilled. “She took my mother and my sister, my clothes, my room, the money I had saved, and then she took Miguel. Not that she meant to do any of that.” Kay quipped, “No not Charity, everyone handed her those things. She didn’t ask for anything, she was just so sweet that they just handed her everything that was mine and I hated her for it. I hated her more than I’ve ever hated anything, and I wanted to make her pay.”

“Kay what did you do?” Fox whispered touching her arm.

She shrugged her shoulders through her tears, “It doesn’t matter, the list is too long anyway. Once you find out you’ll hate me too. The thing that makes it so sad is that I’m a different person now. I’ve changed so much since Maria’s birth, but no one will care. I’m going to loose everything this time, everyone I love will be gone.”

Fox took her by the shoulders and looked in her eyes. He had always been good at reading people; just by the look on their face he could see their true emotions. With Kay it was no different, he could see the pain, and he knew whatever she was hiding was huge. “Tell me one thing you did, and see if I walk away.” He challenged. “Only one of the things Charity has on you, try me Kay, I’m a Crane remember, I’ve heard just about everything.”

Kay rolled her eyes, “Yeah sure.” She muttered. Looking up at him she let out a sigh, “Alright Fox, you want to hear something I did to Charity? I made her disappear for a while, and while she was gone I got pregnant with Maria. I got her out of the picture and then I tricked Miguel into sleeping with me.”

Fox listened to her words and then took her hand, “I’m still here.” He whispered. “Haven’t move a inch.” He smiled.

“I didn’t tell you how I made her disappear.” Kay frowned.

“Doesn’t matter.” Fox shrugged. “That was then, I didn’t know you then, I know you now.” He answered honestly. “And I’m not going to let you loose Maria, or anyone else you love. I know what its like to feel alone in the world, to have parents that could care less and siblings that care more about themselves than anything else. You have a family, and you’re going to keep it.”

“But Fox what about Charity?” Kay questioned. “Her threats?”

“I’m not worried about Charity, and you shouldn’t be either.”

“She’s trying to take my daughter! She has stuff on me that can ruin my life, how can I not be worried?” Kay shrieked. “My life is my daughter and Charity wants her!”

“But she won’t get her.” Fox promised. “You have to trust me Kay, I won’t let anything happen to Maria.”

“I’ve never trusted anyone.” Kay frowned looking down at the sand.

“Well if you want to keep your daughter, you’re going to have to start with me.”