“ You sure you’re ready for this?”, the man said, as he picked up her hand and kissed it.

“ I can’t hide anymore. It’s not right. I don’t have anything to be ashamed of.”

” No, you don’t. I love you, and you love me, right?”

The woman smiled. “ I do love you. I couldn’t believe it, when I saw your face.”

He laughed. “ Last person in the world you expected, huh?”

“ When I left, I didn’t know if I was coming back. I have nothing back there.”

” Not true. You have a life. A different life now.”

” You helping out in a refugee camp. You know, you could have gotten a lot of PR for that.”

” It wasn’t about PR. It was about being with you.”

” People are going to talk.”

” Like they haven’t already? I’m used to it.” They both laughed, and she leaned in to give him a long, passionate kiss.

“ I feel so free. It’s been years since I’ve felt this free.”

” Me too.”

” What about your family?”

” What family? Nobody will care.”

” Oh, I can think of SOMEONE that will care.”

” Me? To her I’m yesterday’s news.”

The man checked his watch.

“ We’ll be landing soon. I think they’re going to get the shock of their lives….don’t you?”

“ All I know is that we look fabulous! Now help me decide between these two dresses.”

” What – me decide between Sexy A and Sexy B? I win either way.”

” I’m being serious!”

” So am I….Ok…Ok…..I’ll just say this…red is your color.”

“ Red it will be. I’ll go change.”

“ Awe….we could have a ‘little’ fun before the flight ends.”

” You’ve had enough fun. It’ll be better later.”

“ Eh. Who wants later?”

She laughed and kicked him out of the room while she got dressed. She looked at herself in the mirror.

” Ready or not, it’s about to happen.”
 

“ TC, hurry up. We can’t be late for the party.”, Liz yelled up the stairs.

” Well, my my….bought yourself ANOTHER dress, Liz?”, said a sarcastic Simone.

” Simone. You look lovely.”

“ Yeah. Whatever.”

” Simone…I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I think we should try and make the best of it. After all, I am your stepmother.”

“ You might have my father fooled, but I know something’s majorly SKANKY about you, ‘Honey’. You’re a liar and a whore, and I knew something was wrong with you the moment I saw in you in MY mother’s house.”

” Your mother’s gone, Dear. And, why are you wasting your time defending her. It’s not like she’s fighting to see you.”

Before Simone knew it her hand was connecting with Liz’s face. “ You bitch!”

Liz didn’t do anything, in fact her face changed from the bitter shrew to something Simone couldn’t quite understand until she heard the voice.

” Simone, how could you? Liz, are you ok?”, Whitney said, running to Liz.

” Whitney, I’m ok. I…just wish Simone could get a handle on some of her anger issues.” Simone rolled her eyes.

” Simone, you have no right hitting Liz.”

” Why am I not surprised that you’re defending this skank? After all, skanks stick together. She helped you lie and run around with Chad behind my back.”

” Simone, Chad was NEVER yours.”

” No thanks to you, bitch. “

“ You have some nerve…”, but Simone was gone from the house. Whitney turned to Liz. “ I just don’t understand…it’s not our fault that Chad and I love one another.”

” Of course not, Whitney. Simone is just bitter, that’s all. She’ll come around.”

Whitney looked pensive, “ When is that? You’ve said Simone would come around. That she would accept Chad and I being together. Yet, I can feel her hatred grow for me everytime we meet.”

” You just have to be patient.”

” I don’t know. I can’t help but think that my relationship with her is over. But, she’s my sister. How can that be over?”

” Well, so what if Simone doesn’t come around.”

” SO WHAT? She’s my SISTER! We’re always supposed to be there for one another.”

” Sometimes Whitney, life doesn’t work out that way.”

” Maybe, but I’ve got to hope. “

“ Well, if it isn’t two of my three favorite ladies.”, TC said, walking into the room. “ Where’s Simone?”

” She left.”, Whitney replied.

” She said for us to go on.”, Liz added.

” Ok. Ladies, shall we go?”, TC said, linking arms with Whitney and Liz.
 

“ Hey, sleepyhead….wake up….we have to be at our party soon.”, Sheridan trailed kisses on Luis’ back.

” Why do we have to get out of bed.”, Luis moaned.

“ Because, the entire town is going to be there. All our friends and family.”

” Can you believe that they’re coming to celebrate our marriage?”

“ It’s about time.”

“ Tell me about it.”

” Luis…do you think Antonio will be there tonight?”

” I don’t know, Sheridan. He felt pretty betrayed when we told him the truth. I sent him an invitation and wrote him a letter.”

” I’m glad he got the experimental treatment. I pray every night that it works.”

” I do too.” Luis kissed her. “ Sheridan, he had to know the truth. It was only right.”

“ I know.”

“ So, no more sad thoughts. We’re going to celebrate our marriage. That’s the only thing worth thinking about.”

” Ok, but before I do…did the doctors say anything about a change in Beth?”

” No. She’s still catatonic. She’ll be locked up for a long time, Sheridan. I can’t believe how close I came to  losing you.”

Even though Luis pulled her close, she shivered, remembering the confrontation that she had with Beth. When Beth tried to kill her. Those hours when Beth tortured her and threatened her were among the most harrowing of her life. But, Luis and Antonio had worked together to save her. Mrs. Wallace wasn’t so fortunate. Beth had shot her dead. The state had determined that Beth was criminally insane, and would be locked away, under psychiatric care for the remainder of her life.

Sheridan kissed Luis.

“ I love you, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald.”

” I love you more, Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald.”
 

“ Ugh! I hate this stupid town!”, Simone said, kicking over a trash can.

“ You know, you’re looking much too beautiful to bothered with trash.”

Simone turned around and ran to the gentleman. “ Oh Nicholas.”

Fox held Simone. “ Baby, what’s wrong?”

” How did you know where I was?”

” We were going to meet here, remember? We decided that a couple of days ago.”

” I’m sorry.”, Simone said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “ I had forgot. I…I came here because..”

” It was our special place.”

” Yeah.”

Nicholas led Simone over to the bench and put his coat down on it so that she wouldn’t mess up her dress. “ What’s got you so upset?”

” Guess.”

” Well, it’s usually one of two people: Whitney or Liz.”

” It’s the Skankho.”

” Oh.”

” I hate her. I totally hate her. I KNOW she had something to do with my parents splitting up. I can smell the evil on her, Nicholas. I hate her.”

” Well, that’s a given…but, what did she do to rile you up like this?”

” Made a crack about my mother. So, I slapped her, and of course, my heifer of a sister defends her.”

” Of course.”

” Yep. I used to have a happy home, Nicholas. Now, it’s hell. Literally.”

” Simone, I think you need a break.”

” No kidding.”

” Well, I was going to talk to you later about this, but why not now?” Fox pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Simone. She opened it.

” What is it?”

” I think you and I both need a break. You especially.”

” This…this looks like a cruise ship.”

” Actually, it’s a program…you’ve heard of Semester at Sea? Well, this is for the whole year.”

” What?”

” You and me, Simone. Traveling together, studying. Nobody glaring at us. Away from the family hell. Maybe you can heal on the trip.”

” Nothing’s hurt, Nicholas.”

” Puleeze, Simone. Your heart has been broken so many times. You’re always hurt. You tell me it’s not about Chad..”

” It’s NOT about Chad! I don’t care anything for that loser! It’s the principle!”

” Ok. Maybe it’s the principle! But watching Chad with Whitney, and your father with Liz is turning you into a bitter young woman. I want to take you away from all of that. We could be together…in love..unless you don’t love me.”

Simone held Fox’s hand. “ Of course I love you.It’s just that things are complicated.”

” You’re afraid to tell your father about me because you think he’d kick you out of the house. Well, you can get out of the house now, Simone. Give him time to accept our relationship. And, it would give you time to make peace with Whitney. I’ve hated a sibling all my life. I resented the hell out of him.”

” Ethan.”

” Yes, Ethan. And now, I wouldn’t be in Ethan’s shoes for anything.”

“ Nick..”

” Simone, do you love me?”

” With all my heart.”

” Then, let’s do this. Travel the world together. There’s so much I want to show you.”

” I would like to travel.”

“ So, you’re in?”

” I’m in.”

Fox pulled Simone into a long and passionate kiss.