Life Is Full of Surprises - Chapter 2
 
 

“ Babe, we have to get a move on. Sheridan and Luis will kill us if we’re late.”

“ Darling, please help me get into this dress.”

The man looked at the woman, “ You look so hot. If we don’t get out of here now, I’m going to help you get out of this dress.”

” Oh Silly. Come on. I’m so happy about celebrating Luis and Sheridan’s marriage.”

” You….you aren’t nervous about being back in Harmony?”

She kissed him. “ No. The time away has helped me settle my demons.”

” I would have come with you today, if..”

” Hank, I had to do it on my own. “

“ Gwen, you shouldn’t have to done it alone. “

” She was my little girl, Hank. It was right.”

” You’ll see Ethan tonight.”

” You know, I don’t care anymore. Ethan Winthrop means nothing to me. He ceased mattering the day he let our daughter die.” Gwen kissed Hank. “ No more talk of Ethan. This night is about celebration. Luis and Sheridan.”

” You’re right.”
 
 

Please note- in this fan fiction, Josh Duhamel plays the part of Hank Bennett.
 



 

“ Ethan darling, we really should get ready to go.” Ivy said,looking over at her son.

Ethan finished off another scotch. “ I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

Ethan left the room and Ivy shook her head. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Ethan was supposed to be happy. Instead, he spent most of his day in a bottle of booze. She had told him that she would pay for any kind of therapy, but he ignored her. Ivy looked around her expensively decorated penthouse. It was decorated with money from her settlement with Julian. She had a lot of pretty things, but was still alone.

Sam and Grace had left town together once her role in bringing David to town was revealed. Sam wouldn’t even talk to her about Ethan. She knew he had written to Ethan, and that Ethan had accepted a plane ticket from Sam to California. She was going to miss Ethan, but it really was for the best. He needed to be away from Harmony. She never thought her son would be in this kind of pain. Yet, she knew she couldn’t help him.

Ethan came into the room and just looked at his mother. Silently, they boarded the elevator and went to the waiting limo.
 



 

Miguel knocked on the door. He didn’t hear a reply but went in anyway.

” Theresa, you ready?”

Theresa was sitting at her dressing table, putting on her makeup.

Miguel went over and put his hand on Theresa’s shoulder. “ We have to be happy for Luis and Sheridan.”

“ I will be, Miguel. Did you hear from Kay?”

Miguel shook his head. He knew that Kay had runaway with their daughter the night they had a huge fight and he told her that he wished their child was dead. He regretted it the moment he said it, but the look on Kay’s face was one he’ll never forget.
 
 
 

“ You hate our child? Because it took you away from your precious Charity? You know what? I’ve had it with you. I’ve loved you all my life. Gave you my virginity. Am having your child. And, you tell me you hate our baby? Well, FUCK YOU, Miguel. You won’t have to worry about me. Or this baby – because you are NEVER going to get the chance to take it out on our child. Pardon me. MY child. Goodbye, Miguel. I won’t bother you ever again.”

 

Miguel never saw Kay after that night. She had kept her word. There had been no contact from her.

The irony of Kay leaving was that Charity didn’t want him. They tried after Kay left, but something had been broken. Charity wondered why Kay - who had been very insistent about her feelings for Miguel - would suddenly up and leave. It wasn’t like Kay at all. Charity pressed Miguel for a reason, and he tried to evade it, and when he finally told her, it was like Charity had been slapped.

“ How could you say you hate a baby? The Miguel I thought I loved would never have said it.”

Charity accepted a scholarship from a college out-of-state and never returned to Harmony.

But at least Miguel knew that his child was alive. He looked at his sister. The light and fight had gone out of her eyes. But, they had to support one another. Family had never been more important. He hugged Theresa.

“ We’ll get through tonight. I promise.” Theresa smiled slightly at her brother. She put her coat on and they left.
 



 

Luis and Sheridan stood at the door receiving their guests. Sheridan broke out into a full smile.

“ Gwen! Hank! I’m so glad to see you!” Sheridan hugged Gwen while Luis pulled Hank into a big bear hug.

“ Man, I’ve missed you.” Luis said to Hank.

” Same here, buddy.”

” You look terrific.”, Sheridan whispered to Gwen.

” I feel terrific.”

” You look like you enjoy the ball and chain.”, Luis joked to Hank.

” Well, it hasn’t done bad for you either.” Both men laugh.

” Ethan’s here.”, Sheridan whispered to Gwen, pulling her aside.

” I thought he might be here. Sheridan, I don’t wish him ill. I just have nothing to say to him.”

” Gwen..”

” Sheridan, the bitterness is gone. There are no more tears. Ethan is a bad chapter in my life that I won’t ever revisit. I don’t want a bus to hit him, but if one did, he shouldn’t expect a card from me. I can’t believe all the time I wasted in my life over him. Especially when I see now how I should have felt with a man’s love.” Gwen looks over at Hank.

“ Luis tells me how ‘goofy’ Hank gets when he talks about you. When’s the wedding?”

” It’s soon. It’s going to be private. Just us, my parents – did I tell you that my mother’s found her peace with Hank – Sam and Grace, and you and Luis standing up for us? We want to go someplace tropical and romantic.”

” Just name the time and place and we’ll be there. I love you, Gwen. I’m so happy to see you happy.” Sheridan has tears in her eyes. Gwen hugs her.

“ Sweetheart, stop it. You’re going to ruin BOTH our makeups!” The friends hug and wipe their eyes.

Luis and Hank shake their heads in disgust. “ Women.”
 



 
 

The party was in full swing. The guests had arrived. Theresa didn’t like crowds too much these days, and went out of the room. She found herself in the Library. She went and got herself  a glass of water.

” I’d go for something stronger myself.”

Theresa turned around to look at who was sitting at the desk.

“ Ethan.”

” Hello, Theresa.”

She had heard he was drinking, but now looking at him, she could see it. He looked a lot older.

” Great party. I’m so happy for Luis and Sheridan.”

” Me too.”

“ Well, I’ll leave you alone.” Theresa went to the door, but before she got there,

” I’m leaving Harmony, Theresa.”

Theresa turned to look at him. “ You are?”

” Sam and Grace invited me to come live with them in California. I thought about it, and I think it would be good for me. See new sights. Harmony is full or memories.”

” I see. When are you leaving?”

” Tomorrow morning.”

“ Oh. Well, I have news too. I’ve been accepted into design school. “

” You have?”

” Yes. It’s an apprentice/co-op program. I’ll be working and going to school. Sheridan has been generous enough to pay for it.”

” Here in Harmony?”

” No. Milan.”

” Italy.”

“ Yep. I leave in two weeks.”

Ethan got up from the desk and went over to Theresa. He reached out his hand to touch her cheek.

“ I do wish you the best, Theresa. I’m going to give you some advice that Father Lonigan tried to give me the other day. ‘ Take this new beginning as a chance to forgive yourself. Leave your guilt in Harmony. ‘ I’m going to try and do that.”

” Can you, Ethan? Can you forgive me?”

” Theresa, I forgave you. I haven’t forgiven myself.”

” Neither can I.” Theresa leaned in and kissed Ethan on the cheek.  “ I hope we both find a new beginning, Ethan. I think Little Ethan would have wanted it.”

“ Maybe.”

” I’m going back to the party. Help celebrate with Luis and Sheridan.”

Theresa left out of the library, and Ethan took another gulp of his brandy.
 



 
 

“ Hello, Simone.”, Chad said, holding Whitney’s hand.

Simone rolled her eyes and just walked away. Whitney looked sad.

“ Baby, she’ll get over it. One day, she’ll realize how wonderful our love is.”

” Chad, are you stupid? This isn’t about some feelings Simone has for you. I don’t even think she cares about you anymore. It’s the level of betrayal she feels. I used to delude myself that she’d get over it. That we’d have our sister relationship back, but now…I don’t know.”

“ Whitney…”

“ Chad, I need to get some air. I’ll see you later.”

Whitney walked away from him.

Chad went over to Simone.

” You know…you’re upsetting your sister.”

” EXCUSE ME?”

” You’re upsetting Whitney. You need to grow up, Simone.”

Simone put her hand up in front of Chad’s face. “ You know what? You need to shut the fuck up. I can’t believe that I actually thought I loved you. I can’t believe I actually defended your stupid ass to ANYONE. I wasted my friendship and my time on an asshole like you. You and that lying bitch called my sister. Whitney’s upset? Who gives a shit, Chad? I’m not the one who turned her back on our relationship. She did, with all her lies. I KNOW you never gave a shit about me. Your disrespect of me proved that. But, you weren’t my sister. She was. She made our relationship what it is. So, spare me if I don’t care. And just in case you were under some delusion – don’t talk to me ever again. I don’t have shit to say to you. “

Simone walked away.
 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 3
Chapter 1
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