AN: I've been struggling with this chapter for a while and I'm finally comfortable with it. Look for a few surprises and storylines to wrap up as we move toward the end of Harmony Ever After.
Chapter 27
The following day.
For the 5th time that morning Gwen Hotchkiss looked back at the court room clock. It was now 10:20 and Jonathan's custody hearing was set to begin more than 15 minutes ago. Where were Ethan and Theresa? Had something happened to Jonathan?
Behind her sat Rebecca, Sheridan and Travis, all of whom had come to support her. Well, Sheridan and Travis were supportive of Gwen's decision to settle for joint custody. Rebecca on the hand had been furious at first but now seemed be coming around.
"Your Honor", Gwen's attorney, Lisa said standing up. "It's been more than 15 minutes. It's clear that the defendant is not coming. I ask that you grant immediate custody to my client Gwen Hotchkiss as she was the only parent concerned enough to appear here today".
Gwen felt her heart skip a beat as the judge shuffled through the paperwork.
"Are we sure that Mr. Winthrop received proper notification concerning today's hearing?"
"Yes, your honor", Lisa said before presenting the judge with the signed courtiers forms acknowledging that the paperwork was received.
"Very well", the judge replied glancing at the courtroom doors one last time. "This court hear-by grants the petitioner Gwendolyn Hotchkiss immediate physical and legal custody of the minor child Jonathan Allen Winthrop."
Rebecca's squeal of joy as the judge banged his gavel brought Gwen back to reality.
"Oh my God", she sighed clutching her chest. "I've got my son back!"
The blonde leaped from her seat and hugged her attorney before turning to her supporters. Rebecca and Travis took turns embracing Gwen, the latter placing a deep kiss on Gwen. When she turned to Sheridan, Gwen could see the worry in her eyes.
"I'm happy for you Gwen", Sheridan said. "But I can't imagine what kept Ethan and Theresa from being here."
"That's not your problem Gwen", Rebecca interrupted quickly. "They knew about the court date and didn't bother to show up and now you've got full custody of your son. Honey, you can finally bring Jonathan home."
Gwen leaned into her fiancé and wiped her wet eyes.
"You're right Mother", she smiled at looked up at Travis. "We can finally be a family."
Her fiancé kissed her forehead.
"How about we go grab Madison from the sitters' and plan a welcome home party for Jonathan?", Travis said".
"Sounds amazing", Sheridan smiles, although she was worried their joy was infectious. "I'll pick Marty up from the rec and meet you guys at your place later. Luis is out of town on a work assignment."
The group headed out of the courthouse and went their separate ways.
For once something has finally gone my way, Gwen thought. I'll finally have the family of my dreams.
...
Charity Standish glanced around nervously as she headed into the building. She was sure she would receive the answers to her questions here, from him. He had been responsible for the towns' spiritual well-being for decades surely, he could help her.
As she entered the church, the blonde smiled softly as she spotted Father Lonigan kneeling before the altar. She approached and sat in a nearby pew as she waited for him to finish his prayers. A few minutes later he rose and turned to where Charity was seated.
"Father Lonigan, it's me Charity Standish."
"Charity", he said as walked over and grasped her hands. "I've been waiting for you."
"You have?", she replied. But how did you know I was coming?"
Father Lonigan pointed to the angel statue near his pulpit.
"Then you know everything?"
"I know only that you come regarding a deal with nefarious forces made many years ago, a deal that has kept you from true happiness. I also know that the answers you seek cannot be found here in Harmony."
Charity looked down dejectedly.
"You must go To Rome, to the Vatican and seek Father John Paul. He will be waiting for you."
"Rome?", Charity said. "I can't leave Elijah and Miguel to go to Rome now, not when we've just been reunited"
"I cannot tell you what choice to make, Father Lonigan replied. But Father John Paul is not well, if you do not see him soon you may lose the chance."
Suddenly Father Lonigan looked toward the doors to the church.
"What is it?", Charity asked.
Father Lonigan simply shook his head.
"Thank you, Father for all your help."
Father Lonigan blessed the blonde and watched quietly as she left.
I pray you can survive your journey and find the answers you seek, he thought.
As Charity headed home, she couldn't stop the tears from falling. Once again, she was caught between doing what was right and following her heart. If she went to Rome to try and undue her deal with death, she'd be leaving Miguel and Elijah behind and she knew their relationship couldn't survive another disappearing act. But if she stayed in Harmony, with Miguel what would the consequence be? She already crossed Death several times by sleeping with Miguel. How long would it be before he came for vengeance? For Maria's life?
Parking her car in the driveway, the blonde typed an email to her school's principle advising that she would be taking a leave of absence effective immediately. Since the house came as a part of job offer, she'd probably soon be homeless as well. The only upside is that Elijah would be in good hands with Pilar and Miguel. The thought of leaving him so soon after coming out of her coma crushed her but Charity knew she had to end her nightmarish deal with Death for good.
As she opened her front door, the blonde was stunned to see Miguel inside packing.
"Miguel, what are you doing?" Packing, he replied rushing up the stairs. "and you'd better get started to if we're going to leave tomorrow" "
"Leave tomorrow?", She said following him. "What are you talking about?"
As he reached her bedroom, he stopped and turned around to face her.
"I followed you to the church this morning", he said. "I know I shouldn't have but I was afraid that you would leave again. I love you Charity, I do but every time you leave, I still wonder if you'll come back."
Hurt Charity turned away.
"But I'm glad I did follow you today because now I know for sure that you didn't leave on your own before, that something is keeping us apart. Something so powerful that you had to go to the church for help. I didn't hear everything, but I do know that we can get help in Rome, so I booked us tickets- "
"Us?", Charity asked turning to face him again.
"Of course,", he replied, his head tilted in confusion. "You couldn't think I'd let you face this alone. For whatever reason you didn't give me a chance to help you before, but this time I'm here. I don't want either of us to have to face our problems alone ever again. We'll go to Rome together."
Crying, Charity threw her arms around Miguel and kissed him passionately.
They had a lot of work to do, rebuilding their trust in each other but maybe they could do this, maybe their love was strong enough to face Death and win.
The alternative was too heartbreaking to consider.
…
At the Winthrop Household
Whitney Harris and Theresa Winthrop sat on the sofa looking over the new after school schedules being offered at the rec.
"I don't know how many other activities Jane and Chelsea will be able to fit in with tennis being their main focus.", Whitney said flipping through the pamphlet.
"I know Jane is wanting to try gymnastics this year", Theresa replied. "What about Chelsea?"
"Piano I think, it's great that the rec has all these different activities to offer since Sheridan became their benefactor".
"I know, I was wanting Little Ethan, sorry Ethan Jr to volunteer there since he and Miles aren't working at the book cafe."
"I take it there hasn't been any progress between Ethan and Ivy."
"None", Theresa sighed. "Hopefully when she and Fox get back from Paris, they can have some sort of sit down. Speaking of Fox- "
A knock at the door saved Whitney from further questioning.
As soon as Theresa opened the door, Paloma rushed into her arms sobbing.
"Paloma, what's wrong?", she asked. Unable to speak, the youngest Lopez-Fitzgerald just cling to her sister and cried.
"With Whitney's help, they were able to get Paloma to the sofa and calmed down. Is it Joseph?", Whitney asked.
"No", Paloma shook her head. "He's fine. It's N-Noah, he's gone!"
"Gone where?", Theresa asked still confused.
"To North Carolina to his uncle Hank", Paloma sniffed. "He found my journal Theresa, he knows everything!"
Whitney and Theresa exchange a looked.
"Oh honey", Whitney sighed. "I know I should've told him sooner, but I never thought he'd violate my privacy like that! He wants Joseph, says that I work too much and he always with Mama. What am I going to do?"
Another knock at the door interrupted them, Whitney volunteered to answer it but surprisingly no one was there. Stepping out onto the porch she noticed a stack of letters and a blue car speeding away. Grabbing the pile, she headed back inside and began flipping through the stack before noticing that all said urgent in red letters.
"Theresa", Whitney said worriedly. "I think you might want to take a look at these letters, they're from the courts and all of them are already opened."
"What? Let me see those"
The hair on Theresa's neck rose as she ripped through the letter after.
"No no, this can't be right", she murmured and rushed to the kitchen to call Ethan.
"Theresa what's going", Paloma asked as she and Whitney followed.
"T-These papers are saying that Johnathan's custody hearing is today but that can't be right! We haven't heard anything from the courts or Gwen"
"Well honey let's go over to the courthouse, leave Ethan a message and he can meet us there", Whitney offered.
The brunette said nothing as Ethan's voicemail picked up, she hung the phone up and redialed his number.
"Theresa", Paloma said worriedly. "What time was the hearing?"
"T-ten", Theresa cried as she slid to the floor, throwing her cell phone across the room.
Whitney and Paloma glanced at each other and then at the wall clock as they tried to comfort the distraught mother.
It was 2pm.
"Dios Mio!"
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry. We'll fix this, I promise."….
Across the Ocean
Ivy, Fox and Fancy were sitting down to their final dinner in Paris before Ivy and Fox flew back to Harmony later that night. Though thrilled to see her brother again, Fancy couldn't help but notice the changes in him. He was more serious than he'd ever been, his experience with Alistair had changed him and at first Fancy worried that she'd never have her fun-loving brother again. But subtle glimpses of the old Fox began to appear, most notably whenever Ivy brought up Whitney Harris.
The now brunette smiled in spite of herself, at least someone had a chance to be happy and Fox deserved it after all that he'd been through.
"Darling", Ivy called pulling Fancy back to reality. "Did you hear anything I said?"
"I'm sorry I wasn't listening", Fancy replied poking at her caviar.
"She was begging you to come back to Harmony", Fox interjected. "Since the subtle hints she's been dropping since we got here haven't work."
Ivy glared at him as Fancy ran a hand through her short hair.
"I've told you a million times, I'm not coming back to Harmony"
"Fancy, Ivy pleaded. "you've been working so hard here in Paris the store is a smashing success. It would be good for you to get a break, come home and be with your family. It would be so wonderful for all of my children to be close by. "
Fancy and Fox exchanges glances before staring pointedly at their mother.
"I know I know", she sighed. "I wasn't the best mother back then, but I thought I was doing better or at least trying to"
Fancy was stunned when Fox reached across the table and grasped their mother's hand.
"We know".
Ivy gave Fox a half smile before turning back to Fancy.
"We've got to head to the airport, our flight leaves in an hour", she said checking her watch. "I really wish you would consider coming with us".
The brunette simply shook her head before standing and giving her mother and brother a kiss goodbye.
10 minutes later the waiter brought the check and the evening newspaper.
Flipping through the society page, Fancy's heart slowed as she saw a picture of Sheridan and Gwen exiting a baby store. "Crane Heiress Expecting?", the headline screamed. No, it couldn't be. As she stared at the photo of the two friends arm in arm laughing, she realized it was true. Sheridan was pregnant. Even the picture she glowed, bright eyes, wide smile. The same way Fancy had felt when she was pregnant.
"Mademoiselle", the waiter said interrupted Fancy's thoughts.
"This was left for you", he said presenting her with an envelope.
Still in shock she opened the envelope and found a plane ticket to Harmony.
Next Time on Passions: Charity and Miguel face off with Kay before heading to Rome. With the news of Sheridan's pregnancy public knowledge Luis attempts to end his marriage to Fancy once and for all. Sam makes an interesting discovery. Theresa and Ethan's marriage begins to crumble as a result of their custody battle.