Chapter Ten
The Men, Lopez-Fitzgerald Kitchen
Max walked back into the kitchen of the Lopez-Fitzgerald house, a little concerned about what he just saw. As he closed the back door, he turned he saw the expressions on the other men faces. "Okay, let me just ask, is it that bad?" He asked to no one in general.
"Man, it's even worst than you think. After what those two idiots said to their wives, we're lucky that Liz and Maria are even talking to us. What took you so long to get in here anyway?" Michael said standing in his spot by the counter.
"Well, I didn't expect you guys to screw things up so badly so I took my time. Would one of you mind telling me what happened, when I went out to the cars, I saw your wives crying." Max said as he pointed to the other men.
"She's still crying?" Miguel asked.
"What did you expect after what you said to her. Hell, I would be surprised if she was showing any emotion at all." Philip to the dense man. "You know at least when I accused my wife of something I didn't make her cry."
"Obviously, you didn't here what I said. Either that or you totally ignored me. I said the BOTH of your wives were crying. Now, before we get off subject again, can one of you please tell me what exactly you said, so that I at least know what happened." When both Philip and Miguel remained silent Michael decided to speak.
"Well, I don't know exactly what Philip said but, I gather from the way she slapped him that it had something to do with the fact that he accused her of being an adulteress," Max shot a look of disbelief over to Philip. Michael saw the look. "Oh, Max, it gets better, what he said was nothing to what Miguel said to his wife. Miguel mistook Kay's genuine apology for the tactic. Although, how anyone can be that stupid I'll never know. But, anyway he basically ripped out her heart and stomped all over it." An irate Miguel interrupted him.
"Hey, you can't blame that on me. I thought she was pulling the maneuver. Obviously, you guys didn't explain it well enough. Right Philip?" Miguel looked at Philip for agreement but he didn't get it.
"Don't put me in the same category with you. It seemed to me that she was completely sincere. Honestly, I can't think why you would think that it was the tactic. I'm can't believe you are that stupid. You make me ashamed to be called a man after what you did." Philip said.
"Oh, I can't believe that you are acting like what I did was worse than what you did. Honestly, we're both on the same boat. We were both idiots." Miguel reasoned.
"Don't put me in the same way with you. I admit what I said was stupid. But, come on what you did was worse-," Philip said before Max cut in.
"As amusing it is to listen to you two bicker about who did the worst thing I'd really like to get to the part where, my wife got involved and is now mad at me."
"Okay, so after the idiots got threw making total asses of themselves, Maria started to question them on why they acted the way they did. And Einstein," he pointed to Miguel. "Over there told her about the tactic. Well, actually, he didn't mention the details specifically, but it was enough to catch both our wives attention. And Maria started to reel into them after their pitiful excuses. Liz didn't say anything. I thought she was more annoyed with the situation more than anything."
"Well, after what just happened outside, I'm sure, it wasn't annoyance that she was angry about. There had to have been something else."
"There was, I was just going to get to that when you interrupted me," Max shrugged. "So, than Einstein said that we offered advice and the rest as they say is history." Michael said and watched Max's eyes bulge wide.
"But, I didn't offer you guys any advice. This is not going to be good." Max said as he slammed his hands against the counter.
"Okay, maybe I'm missing something. But, what so bad about you giving advice?" Philip asked innocently.
"My wife doesn't like to have her private life made public, I think that's what she was the most mad about. Anyway, now all this means is that it depends on how mad she is at me. And frankly from what you have told me it could go either way."
"Again maybe I'm not following you, but what does Liz have to do with our wives?" Philip asked.
"Liz is always the neutral person. She sees things from both sides, and can RATIONALLY make the women see the error of the ways, if that's the case. Or she can help you so that she takes some of the heat off. You would be lucky if you have Liz in your corner. And from what I've seen, she was already in yours before you came in here and ruined things." Michael explained to the poor unknowing man.
"Okay, so when are you going to go make things right, Max?" Philip asked excitedly.
"Whoa, hold on man, you forget that my wife is mad at me too. I need to give her some time, and then I can go talk to her and make her feel better. So for right now I suggest that we clean up Kay's house, that will make her more willing to talk to you," he said as he spoke to the moronic man. Then he turned to Michael and nodded at him, "and later on tonight, Michael and I will go see what we can do."
Max and Michael turned and walked into the messy living room and started to pick up. Philip and Miguel followed them in a few minutes later and followed their routine. "Wait a minute, Michael isn't Maria going to be mad at you. Do you really think that it is best for you to go?" Philip asked the question so seriously that Michael, Max, and Miguel looked up at each other and fell out laughing. "Okay, what did I say that was so funny this time?" Philip asked the room filled with laughter. When no one answered him he huffed, "Fine, don't tell me."
The Women, Barnet Park Bench
After going threw the drive-through window at McDonald's and picking up some lunch, that decided to take the children to the park where they could play after they finished eating. That way when it was time for them to go home, they would be tired enough to take their nape later. The ladies were sitting at a bench that faced the playground watching the children.
"You know, I still can't believe that Miguel said what he did to you. I thought, he would realize that you've changed from the person you used to be." Liz said as she looked past Kay to watch her son in playing with Azarian's toy cars. "I even told him, how disappointed I was in him. He really should have acted better."
"Liz, he was right. I was wrong. I never should have lied to him about Chloe. I'm the one who should be sorry." Kay replied.
"No, Kay, you wouldn't be in this mess, if I hadn't asked you not to tell him about my not telling Philip that I was pregnant. I should have known that this would have caused a strain on your marriage. It seems as if I have messed up everyone's life. I didn't even tell my own husband that I was pregnant. I let him find out from a proverbial stranger. I wonder if he'll ever forget me." Chloe said sadly.
"No, Chloe don't put my problems on you, I could have told Miguel the truth but, I didn't so anything that happened between me and him is my own fault." Kay said soothingly to Chloe.
"Okay, you guys are going to have to stop your self-pity party, you're making me feel bad. You two are not the blame for what happened. Just because, Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum can't seem to use the smarts God gave them, is no reason for you two to feel bad. What happened is not your fault. And I don't want to hear you guys take the blame anymore. Even though, they are your husbands what they said to you is wrong. No one has the right to make you feel that bad. And besides that, they are grown men, if someone hasn't ever told them a little lie before than they obviously led a very sheltered life." Maria said as she shook her head at the two women.
"You don't understand, Maria, I didn't tell Philip that I was going to have our child. That is something big for the both of us. We don't keep secrets from each other. And even if we did it would never be something as serious as a child. I was wrong."
"Yeah, the same for me. Except that in my case, I said that I wouldn't lie to him again especially after what happened when I used tell all those lies years ago. I promised him when we got married that I would never lie to him again." Kay said.
"Now, you two guys listen to me. I don't normally agree with Maria about this but she is right this time. No matter what happened or what you did the things that were said to you in the kitchen today were completely inappropriate. They never should have been said at all. I can understand that your husbands are mad at you. Well, honestly, I can understand Philip being mad because, that was a big thing for you not to tell," Liz said looking pointedly at Chloe. "However, I'm not really sure that I even know what my cousin was mad about. In any case, I'm not saying that they didn't have a right to be mad. I'm just saying that they should have handled the situations in a less blaming, confrontational way."
"Exactly, my point, Liz. That's what I was trying to tell you guys. They were in the wrong for what they did to you because they didn't take the time to even listen to what you had to say. You are not the blame for what happened so you just stop thinking that you are. Now, are you two guys going to be okay?" Maria asked the two women. They both nodded yes, in response. "Good, because, now we can get on with more interesting topics. Such as what happened with you and Brady Black? Why did Philip accuse you of sleeping with him?" Maria asked as she looked towards Chloe. Liz tapped her shoulder.
"Maria, how can you ask that question?" Liz looked apologetically Chloe. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to. Maria's nose for news just gets the better of her sometime." Liz explained.
"No, it's okay. I don't mind telling you guys, but it a rather long and sorted story. It's basically about the first time me and Philip first really broke up. We had been seeing each other for almost two years. It was just a couple of days before the prom. I had gone over to Belle's house." She paused as Maria asked her a question.
"Do you mean Belle Brady?"
"Yeah, how did you know?" Chloe responded a little astonished that Maria knew Belle.
"I worked with Belle when I was working in New York. We worked on a play together. She was doing the costume designing and I was doing PR (public relations) for the actress that requested her. She and Shawn used to watch the twins all the time before she got pregnant. I haven't seen her since I went back to New Mexico. How is she doing with the pregnancy? I remember how she told me she was so happy about the baby." Maria responded quickly glancing at her son and daughter on the slide.
"Oh she's doing fine. But, she moved back to Salem until the baby was born. Shawn decided that if they were closer to family when the baby was born, she wouldn't stress herself out. I actually remember her telling me about you when we talked. If you've met Belle than you would have had to had met Brady." Chloe said then thought about it. "Wait a minute. I thought you and Michael lived in New Mexico because he works at the University."
"We do live in New Mexico. But, my sister-in-law and I co-own Twilight Public Relations, and sometimes that requires us to travel. But, since she was busy at that time, I made the trip to New York. Michael came with me to look at some art studios to sell his work at. He wasn't there with me the whole time. But, when he isn't with me my mom travels with me until he's free. I have met Brady before; he tried to hit on me the first time we met. But, then my munchkins came up and he backed off. But, anyway back to your story." Maria diverted the attention back to Chloe's story.
"Okay, then you'll understand the story more. Anyway, whenever Brady and me came into contact with one another, we basically fought. So that day was no different. I was trying on my dress at Belle's house and Brady was home. So I had just out on the dress and Brady came into Belle's room. He was just staring at me. I thought he was going to make some sort of snide comment. So imaged how surprised I was when he said I was beautiful. Now, at this time he had never said anything like that to me. He asked me to turn around. So I did, but I didn't notice him come into the room so that he was standing in front of me. When I finished turning, he was right in front of me. He didn't say anything and neither did I. So we were standing there for a while when he leaned in and so did I," She was interrupted by Kay's gasp.
"You kissed him." Kay said.
"No, but I was going to when Philip walked in. We both jumped apart. And I went to change, and then I left with Philip. He didn't say in thing to me about what he saw. So I thought he wasn't going to say anything. So we went to the prom together, that is Philip and I. It was later that night when I knew something was wrong." She paused for a moment as if she was reliving the moment. "We drove to this secluded space that overlooked the whole town. At first, I was excited. We had a great time at prom together, but I could tell that Philip's mind wasn't there. So I asked him what was wrong. He didn't say anything for the longest time. But, when he finally spoke. He said that we should break up. When I asked him why, he told me: ' I don't want to get hurt. And I don't want to hurt you either. Chloe, you know what I went through with my mother. And even though we speak now, it took a lot of time for us to even get to that point. And I don't want that to happen with us.' I tried to interrupt him but he wouldn't let me. 'No, Chloe don't say anything. I've thought about this a lot; I saw how you and Brady were looking at each the other day. I don't know what would've happened if I hadn't of walked in. But, in any case, I don't want to find out. I do know that we have to stop now before something happens. So, I'm doing it for you.' That was all he said. I tried to tell him that there was nothing going on between us, but he wouldn't listen. So we got in the car and left. And that was why Philip thought that I'd sleep with Brady." Chloe explained to the girls.
"That was so sad. But, in my experience, it better to breakup before you are put into a situation that is harder to get out of. Philip did the right thing. Trust me I know." Liz told her.
"I know that now. But, at the time, it didn't feel that way." Chloe said as she pushed her hair off her shoulders. "But, I think that it has been enough about my past. Why don't we get ready to go?" Chloe asked.
"We'll stay just a few minutes more so that out little ones will tried out to take a nap. Besides, if they don't take a nap today, they won't go to sleep tonight when their daddies come." Maria said as she looked out at her twins and tapped her watch.
"Wait a minute, Max and Michael are coming by tonight?" Kay asked hesitantly.
"Yes, but it will only be them. Because, they would never bring Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum with them if they expect to talk to us." Maria assured her.
"Talk, Maria, yeah right." Kay said laughingly and Liz joined her.
"What are they laughing about?" Chloe asked.
"Okay, Chloe dear, I realize that you haven't known me that long so I'll explain. With Michael and I, fighting is kind of our foreplay. Even though, he totally pisses me off sometime, usually if he gives me a few hours to myself, and that varies, we make up. That's just the way we are." Maria shrugged her shoulders, as Chloe nodded understanding completely. "But, enough about me and Michael let get ready to go. Because, I want to change before he comes over." Maria said as the other women continued to laugh, as they got ready to leave.
