Ch. 23 Party Time
 

"Ethan, hello I didn’t expect to see you here." Gwen smiled.
"Well, I knew Theresa would be here and I really need to speak with her." Ethan explained.
"She’ll be here. "Miguel began in a growl, "But she’ll be with Chad."
Gwen looked up at Miguel and smiled. "They are such a cute pair. "
"I didn’t realize they were a couple yet." Ethan said swallowing.
"Did I say that?" Gwen asked. "I’m sorry, I just mean they look so wonderful together."
Miguel wrapped both his arms around Gwen’s waist. "Yes, Chad’s a good man, I believe he would treat my sister right." Miguel said slurring his comment toward Ethan.
Ethan ignored Miguel’s usual taunting and looked at Gwen. "You look lovely tonight Gwen. But I am surprised to see you here with Miguel. I didn’t realize you had a thing for younger men."
Gwen looked up at Miguel and flashed a grin then turned back to Ethan. "Oh Ethan, I have no problem with younger men, especially when they are as mature as Miguel here." She said with slight laugh.
Ethan frowned. "You’re enjoying this aren’t you Gwen?"
Gwen shook her head, "Ethan, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Miguel and I are here together because we have fun together. "
Miguel smiled. "That’s right, Fun is something you older guys don’t know a lot about." He laughed.
"Yes well, one thing is for sure, I never heard any agreements from Gwen about me being boring." Ethan grinned.
"Of course not, you always bore her to sleep Ethan. I’m sure you spent most of your timing talking about yourself."
Gwen laughed to herself. "Now you two are both grown men. " She said looking up at Miguel, "Let’s go on in. " Looking back at Ethan she frowned, "And Ethan, here’s some friendly advice from fiancée number one about fiancée number two, she’s moved on so just let it go. Better yet let her go." Gwen said as she turned and took Miguel’s arm and walked away.
~*~*~*~*~

Ivy and Julian entered the huge room and smiled as they saw many of their friends. Ivy looked up at Julian, "You know many people here will bring up Sheridan, can you handle it?" She said as Julian clutched her hand.
"You’ll be by my side won’t you dear?" He asked.
Ivy nodded. "Of course."
"Then I’ll be just fine. Sheridan was loved by everyone. She was a wonderful person Ivy, I’m glad people will always remember my sister." He smiled sadly.
"Yes but Julian, some people can just be, well rude. And I want you to realize they might ask things that shouldn’t be asked."
Julian nodded. "Somehow I believe you will take care of those people Ivy"
"You know I will." Ivy smiled as they looked up to see Miguel and Gwen entering from a side door.
"Is that Miguel with Gwen?" Ivy gasped.
Julian smiled. "That boy is a charmer, Gwen seems to be quite happy on his arm."
"Yes well who wouldn’t be happy to be on his arm." Ivy said under her breath.
"I heard that." Julian said looking down at Ivy.
"What? I’m only human." Ivy shrugged with a wink.
"Lets go say hello to them. I want to see how Miguel’s head is after that Basketball incident." Julian told her and he thought about the day he made his first real goal.
*~*~*~*~

Pilar sat Kendra up in her arms. "Would you like me to tell you a story or read one of your books?" Pilar asked the little girl.
"Could you tell me a story?" Kendra asked her big dark eyes staring up into her grandmother’s tired face.
"How about a story about a prince and princess?" Pilar questioned.
"I guess." Kendra shrugged.
"But you would prefer something else?" Pilar sighed as the little girl nodded slowly.
"Can you tell me about mommy and daddy, a story about them?"
Pilar nodded, "Ah, your mama and daddy were a very interesting couple."
"They tangoed a lot." The little girl added.
Pilar smiled. "That was their dance."
"Daddy used to tango with me." She giggled.
"Yes, he’s hold you in his arms."
"So tell me a story." Kendra grinned.
"Well your mama and daddy didn’t always like each other Kenji." Pilar smiled.
"Really?" The girl asked getting wide eyed.
"Yes one time your mama got so mad at Luis she even threw a drink on him." Pilar laughed as she began to tell the little girl the story. Her mind rushed back to the day at the Book Cafe, right before Luis and Sheridan confessed their love.

Flashback

Sheridan took a sip of her herbal tea and flipped another page of the magizine in her hand.
"Hi Ms. Crane." A voice rang out.
Sheridan looked up and smiled as she saw Theresa and Pilar standing in front of her.
"Pilar, Theresa, how are you?" Sheridan smiled.
"Fine Sheridan. How are you today?" Pilar smiled back.
"I’m OK. Would you two like to sit down?" She asked them.
"We just came in because I needed to speak with Chad, we have to leave soon." Theresa informed her.
Sheridan nodded. "Well it was nice seeing you two."
Theresa looked at the magazine in Sheridan’s hand. "Oh I love that dress." She cooed pointing to a woman in a formal gown.
"Yes it’s lovely isn’t it?" Sheridan nodded. "I had one similar last year."
"Really? Oh it’s made so wonderfully, the layout and style. I wish I could be design like that." Theresa smiled.
"Well Theresa, maybe you will be a big fashion designer someday." Sheridan told her.
"Oh I hope so it’s my dream."
"Then don’t ever stop dreaming."
"Thank you Ms. Crane."
"Sheridan, Theresa. It’s Sheridan."
Theresa nodded. "We better go, goodbye Sheridan." Theresa said as she and Pilar walked over to Chad.
Sheridan flipped another page as a shadow loomed over her. "No need giving my sister false hope." The husky voice told her.
Looking up Sheridan rolled her eyes. "Well if it isn’t Officer Downer. Must you always think so negitive? " Sheridan questioned.
"Its just simple face. My sister will never be a huge fashion designer. With people like the Cranes around, people like my sister will never be anything."
"People like the Cranes? I am a Crane and I believe in your sister."
Luis shook his head. "I believe in her too. I just don’t want her getting her hopes up only to have them shattered in the real world. "
Sheridan let out a laugh and stood up, "At least she is brave enough to dream."
"Are you saying I’m not?"
"Well I’m saying you’re to sturborn to believe in anything but what you see in front of you."
"Stuborn? At least I’m not some pigheaded little rich girl." Luis laughed. "Big Name, Cute Face. Of course you can go far."
Sheridan gasped and picked up her tea, "Why you self-centered creep." Sheridan yelled pitching the tea onto Luis’s uniform. "I can’t stand you." She huffed as she shoved by him.
Luis looked down at his uniform. "I can’t stand those Cranes!" He said looking up to see the crowd that was staring at him. "What?" He asked as he stomped out the door.

End Flashback

Pilar held back a tear as she finished telling Kendra the simple version of the story.
Kendra giggled. "Mommy was cool."
"Yes she was." Pilar agreed.
"But I miss her." Kendra said leaning her head against Pilar’s chest.
"Yes child I miss her too. I miss both of them." Pilar sighed.
~*~*~*~

Chad stopped the car and looked at Theresa. "Sorry about passing this place." He laughed.
"Don’t worry about it." She said as a new song came blaring on the radio.

If I'm not in love with you
What is this I'm going through, tonight
And if this heart is lying then
What should I believe in
Why do I go crazy
Every time I think about you baby
Why else do I want you like I do
If I'm not in love with you

Both Theresa and Chad froze taking in the words of the song. Chad flipped of the radio quickly.
"I’ve never been much of a country music fan." He laughed weakly. "Don’t know how it got on that station." He said glancing quickly at Theresa.
"Yeah, must have hit a button or something." She answered back as she played with a strand of hair.
"I hope Jada’s all right with Justin." Chad said trying to end the tension that seemed to be forming in the car.
"I’m sure she’s fine." Theresa answered back looking out the side window.
"Yeah. " Chad agreed. "Wanta go on in?" He asked realizing it was the only way out of the nervous situation the song on the radio had caused.
"Go in. Yeah sure. That’s why we’re here right?" Theresa said with a uneasy smile. "To go in." She added wondering why she was acting so crazy. ‘He’s going to think you are a idiot Theresa’ she thought as Chad opened his door. ‘Just calm down’ She told herself.
Chad walked over to her door. "She’s Resa" he whispered to himself as he opened the door. "Well let’s go." He told her. ‘She’s going to wonder why your freaking out’ his mind kept saying.
Theresa stepped out of the car. "You ready?" She asked looking up at Chad, his face pale.
"Yeah of course." He nodded. Giving her his arm.
Theresa smiled up at him. "Then let’s get this party started." She laughed nervously. ‘It will be better once your in.’ She thought as they headed toward the door.