Disclaimer: Same as before applies
Chapter 4
Kay sat up quickly and looked around her. The TV showed nothing but blue and everyone was in some moment of sleep except her parents who had obviously went upstairs.
She stood and stretched making her way to the stairs. Running her hand over the banner she found the scratch of initials that she drawn in as a child. So long ago, she thought, and so far away.
She continued her way up the stairs running her fingers light up the wood. Kay jumped and yelped as a cold hand clamped around her wrist. She gasped in a breath of air and looked to see who it was.
Miguel, only Miguel. No one here to get her and take her away. Kay calmed her breathing and then glanced back down at Miguel offering him tentative smile.
Miguel had jerked his hand back at her reaction and was sheepishly rubbing his hands together, "I'm sorry about that Kay. I guess I didn't realize that I would frighten you."
Kay shook her head slightly, "Don't worry Miguel, I've just been jumpy lately. Regarding the circumstances I guess it's not really a surprise." Kay finished bitterly.
"Listen Kay," began Miguel slowly, "It has been a long time and well..." he ran his hand through his hair and clenched his jaw nervously, "...well I was wondering if you wanted to maybe talk? Maybe we could meet at the Book Cafe and just talk?"
Kay looked in Charity's direction, "Listen Miguel as much as I would love to Charity didn't seem to happy about this morning. It probably wouldn't be such a good idea."
Miguel began to speak again, but stopped as Kay turned and began up the stairs again. She stopped short and turned, "Miguel I really want to thank you." her voice took on a innocent and sad lilt, "I really appreciate you comforting me last night. I have so many bad nightmares and well sometimes I can't handle them."
Kay walked back down the stairs towards him, "I guess I owe you. Meet me at the Book Cafe tomorrow at 12:00 sharp." Kay quickly kissed him on the cheek and whispered another thank you in his ears before going up to her bedroom.
Miguel watched as Kay made her way up the stairs and then sat down on the step. He touched the spot on his cheek quickly. He had felt chills up his spine as she had kissed him. The air of her whisper against his neck and ear had made it all the worse.
He didn't know what had happened to him. The combined jealousy with the fact that she had loved someone else and the feelings he had when she smiled or looked at him had his mind in a confusing whirl.
He glanced over towards Charity and gave his mind a mental slap. Charity, his fragile beauty, couldn't take the pain of losing him. He knew she wouldn't take it well. He stood and walked towards her. He wouldn't do it; he just wouldn't go to the Book Cafe. He knew how much it would hurt Kay, but he felt obligated to Charity.
He would stay away from Kay, he would leave her alone, he would protect Charity and he hoped he would keep his sanity.
*****
Kay sat in a booth sipping on an Italian soda and occasionally glancing at her watch. Miguel was thirty minutes late, but unlike when she was younger it didn't hurt her. She finally understood that some things in his life took precedence over her. She felt a bit miffed at being stood up like this because she had other things to do.
Kay looked down at her ring as she twirled it around her finger. It was so beautiful. It had been a cheaper diamond, but that hadn't fazed her. The love that had been presented with the ring made it all the more beautiful.
She glanced up outside remembering the promises Michael had made of a bigger and better diamond, but Kay had only smiled and given him a light slap on the arm telling him it was the best she would ever have.
As her eyes focused and she came back to reality she saw Miguel pacing on the sidewalk outside the cafe. She glanced back at her watch, this time forty-five minutes after the decided time.
Kay stood and grabbed her purse, dropping her soda in the trash as she walked out. Kay felt Miguel jump slightly as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down Miguel." she began, "Having trouble remembering how to operate the door?" she asked playfully, but the question only elicited a blush from him.
Kay frowned slightly, "Listen Miguel, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but it was your idea to meet. If you still want to talk we can, but well, I've got some stuff I need to go do."
Miguel looked at Kay and then back down, after repeating this he just shook his head. Kay gave him a small smile, "Okay then. I'll see you later." Kay waited for his response, but after getting none turned around to leave.
'What is his problem,' she thought, 'he seems so distant. I'm trying to connect with him, but it seems impossible.' Kay continued towards her car, but was stopped by pounding footsteps approaching her.
"Kay wait," Miguel said, "why don't I come with you?"
*****
Kay sat across from the real estate agent looking through binders full of homes. The night before she had lain in bed debating with herself about staying in Harmony. After thinking about it she had decided yes. She couldn't go back to Seattle and confront the death and pain that stained the walls and carpets of her home. She was selling and staying here permanently.
Miguel sat next to her silent, his body filled with tension. He had seen the way the agent had looked at him and Kay. Considering and nodding her head as if pleased with the new married couple. She had even mentioned that she herself was a newlywed. Miguel had felt the blush across his cheek while Kay had dismissed the little mistake with a flick of her hand. Miguel was surprised that she hadn't mentioned something about Michael.
Miguel looked over at Kay as he heard her sharp intake of breath. She stared down at a small cottage and on closer inspection Miguel saw that it was the same house Sheridan had lived in.
Kay stared down at the picture, tracing the picture with her fingernail. The perfect home, the home she had dreamed about with Michael. Kay looked up at the agent, "I'll take it," she said breathlessly, "this one right here."
The agent seemed surprised, "But ma'am don't you want to look at it? And it's only a rental."
Kay shook her head, "I don't care. This is the house I want."
The agent tried to comment again and began to point out something better, but Miguel stopped her. "Don't bother," he said quickly as he stood, pulling Kay up with him, "we'll just go somewhere else."
Kay tried to break free of his grasp, but he continued to pull her out. Once they exited the office Miguel let go of her arm.
"How dare you." Kay spit at him, "I wanted that home. Where else can I go in Harmony?"
Miguel just told her to be quiet and then motioned to the car, "Let's go. I'll take you to someone who can get the cottage for you."
Kay stomped to the car, opened the door, and got in. She waited for Miguel to join her and then started the car. The whole way she remained silent while Miguel gave her directions every so often. "Stop." He said quickly and then jumped out of the vehicle before it stopped moving completely.
Kay stepped out of the car, frowning. 'How would this help her?' she thought, 'Miguel had been an idiot just leaving like that.' Kay followed Miguel up to the front door and sulked against the side of the house while he knocked on the door.
"Hey little brother." Said the deep voice as the door was answered, "What brings you over this way?" Kay looked up in surprise at the person standing in the doorway. Another surprise gaze met hers as their eyes locked.
"Oh, I didn't know that you would still be here."
"She decided to stay Luis," began Miguel, "and we need to talk to Sheridan."
Luis glanced back at Kay with a questioning look on his face. Kay just shrugged and he ushered them in. "I'll go get her." Luis said as he walked to the back of the house.
Kay looked at Miguel, "Why did you bring me here?" Miguel hushed her and Kay tried to speak as Sheridan walked into the room. Drying her hands on a floury apron she smiled at Kay and Miguel.
"Sorry I'm such a mess," she began, "Luis has been trying to teach me some decent cooking." Sheridan settled herself on the couch and continued, "How can I help you two."
Kay began to say something, but Miguel cut her off, "Sheridan I want to talk too you about your cottage."
Chapter 4
Kay sat up quickly and looked around her. The TV showed nothing but blue and everyone was in some moment of sleep except her parents who had obviously went upstairs.
She stood and stretched making her way to the stairs. Running her hand over the banner she found the scratch of initials that she drawn in as a child. So long ago, she thought, and so far away.
She continued her way up the stairs running her fingers light up the wood. Kay jumped and yelped as a cold hand clamped around her wrist. She gasped in a breath of air and looked to see who it was.
Miguel, only Miguel. No one here to get her and take her away. Kay calmed her breathing and then glanced back down at Miguel offering him tentative smile.
Miguel had jerked his hand back at her reaction and was sheepishly rubbing his hands together, "I'm sorry about that Kay. I guess I didn't realize that I would frighten you."
Kay shook her head slightly, "Don't worry Miguel, I've just been jumpy lately. Regarding the circumstances I guess it's not really a surprise." Kay finished bitterly.
"Listen Kay," began Miguel slowly, "It has been a long time and well..." he ran his hand through his hair and clenched his jaw nervously, "...well I was wondering if you wanted to maybe talk? Maybe we could meet at the Book Cafe and just talk?"
Kay looked in Charity's direction, "Listen Miguel as much as I would love to Charity didn't seem to happy about this morning. It probably wouldn't be such a good idea."
Miguel began to speak again, but stopped as Kay turned and began up the stairs again. She stopped short and turned, "Miguel I really want to thank you." her voice took on a innocent and sad lilt, "I really appreciate you comforting me last night. I have so many bad nightmares and well sometimes I can't handle them."
Kay walked back down the stairs towards him, "I guess I owe you. Meet me at the Book Cafe tomorrow at 12:00 sharp." Kay quickly kissed him on the cheek and whispered another thank you in his ears before going up to her bedroom.
Miguel watched as Kay made her way up the stairs and then sat down on the step. He touched the spot on his cheek quickly. He had felt chills up his spine as she had kissed him. The air of her whisper against his neck and ear had made it all the worse.
He didn't know what had happened to him. The combined jealousy with the fact that she had loved someone else and the feelings he had when she smiled or looked at him had his mind in a confusing whirl.
He glanced over towards Charity and gave his mind a mental slap. Charity, his fragile beauty, couldn't take the pain of losing him. He knew she wouldn't take it well. He stood and walked towards her. He wouldn't do it; he just wouldn't go to the Book Cafe. He knew how much it would hurt Kay, but he felt obligated to Charity.
He would stay away from Kay, he would leave her alone, he would protect Charity and he hoped he would keep his sanity.
*****
Kay sat in a booth sipping on an Italian soda and occasionally glancing at her watch. Miguel was thirty minutes late, but unlike when she was younger it didn't hurt her. She finally understood that some things in his life took precedence over her. She felt a bit miffed at being stood up like this because she had other things to do.
Kay looked down at her ring as she twirled it around her finger. It was so beautiful. It had been a cheaper diamond, but that hadn't fazed her. The love that had been presented with the ring made it all the more beautiful.
She glanced up outside remembering the promises Michael had made of a bigger and better diamond, but Kay had only smiled and given him a light slap on the arm telling him it was the best she would ever have.
As her eyes focused and she came back to reality she saw Miguel pacing on the sidewalk outside the cafe. She glanced back at her watch, this time forty-five minutes after the decided time.
Kay stood and grabbed her purse, dropping her soda in the trash as she walked out. Kay felt Miguel jump slightly as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down Miguel." she began, "Having trouble remembering how to operate the door?" she asked playfully, but the question only elicited a blush from him.
Kay frowned slightly, "Listen Miguel, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but it was your idea to meet. If you still want to talk we can, but well, I've got some stuff I need to go do."
Miguel looked at Kay and then back down, after repeating this he just shook his head. Kay gave him a small smile, "Okay then. I'll see you later." Kay waited for his response, but after getting none turned around to leave.
'What is his problem,' she thought, 'he seems so distant. I'm trying to connect with him, but it seems impossible.' Kay continued towards her car, but was stopped by pounding footsteps approaching her.
"Kay wait," Miguel said, "why don't I come with you?"
*****
Kay sat across from the real estate agent looking through binders full of homes. The night before she had lain in bed debating with herself about staying in Harmony. After thinking about it she had decided yes. She couldn't go back to Seattle and confront the death and pain that stained the walls and carpets of her home. She was selling and staying here permanently.
Miguel sat next to her silent, his body filled with tension. He had seen the way the agent had looked at him and Kay. Considering and nodding her head as if pleased with the new married couple. She had even mentioned that she herself was a newlywed. Miguel had felt the blush across his cheek while Kay had dismissed the little mistake with a flick of her hand. Miguel was surprised that she hadn't mentioned something about Michael.
Miguel looked over at Kay as he heard her sharp intake of breath. She stared down at a small cottage and on closer inspection Miguel saw that it was the same house Sheridan had lived in.
Kay stared down at the picture, tracing the picture with her fingernail. The perfect home, the home she had dreamed about with Michael. Kay looked up at the agent, "I'll take it," she said breathlessly, "this one right here."
The agent seemed surprised, "But ma'am don't you want to look at it? And it's only a rental."
Kay shook her head, "I don't care. This is the house I want."
The agent tried to comment again and began to point out something better, but Miguel stopped her. "Don't bother," he said quickly as he stood, pulling Kay up with him, "we'll just go somewhere else."
Kay tried to break free of his grasp, but he continued to pull her out. Once they exited the office Miguel let go of her arm.
"How dare you." Kay spit at him, "I wanted that home. Where else can I go in Harmony?"
Miguel just told her to be quiet and then motioned to the car, "Let's go. I'll take you to someone who can get the cottage for you."
Kay stomped to the car, opened the door, and got in. She waited for Miguel to join her and then started the car. The whole way she remained silent while Miguel gave her directions every so often. "Stop." He said quickly and then jumped out of the vehicle before it stopped moving completely.
Kay stepped out of the car, frowning. 'How would this help her?' she thought, 'Miguel had been an idiot just leaving like that.' Kay followed Miguel up to the front door and sulked against the side of the house while he knocked on the door.
"Hey little brother." Said the deep voice as the door was answered, "What brings you over this way?" Kay looked up in surprise at the person standing in the doorway. Another surprise gaze met hers as their eyes locked.
"Oh, I didn't know that you would still be here."
"She decided to stay Luis," began Miguel, "and we need to talk to Sheridan."
Luis glanced back at Kay with a questioning look on his face. Kay just shrugged and he ushered them in. "I'll go get her." Luis said as he walked to the back of the house.
Kay looked at Miguel, "Why did you bring me here?" Miguel hushed her and Kay tried to speak as Sheridan walked into the room. Drying her hands on a floury apron she smiled at Kay and Miguel.
"Sorry I'm such a mess," she began, "Luis has been trying to teach me some decent cooking." Sheridan settled herself on the couch and continued, "How can I help you two."
Kay began to say something, but Miguel cut her off, "Sheridan I want to talk too you about your cottage."