I Disclaim

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The Loser's Club Ch.11

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"Dinner's Ready." The sound several pairs of feet heading for the dinning room followed the call from Grace Bennet. She smiled at her family took theirs seat at the table, glad that things were finally getting back to normal except for the Kay's quiet behavior, but Hank had assured her and Sam that Kay was just changing priorities and that she was fine.   Ethan had said the same when she asked; he suggested that they just give Kay time and space. "Kay, I made your favorite."

Kay took her seat and smiled at her mother, meatloaf wasn't her favorite, but it was nice that she had tried." Thank Mom, it looks great."

Ethan gave Kay and encouraging smile and started to pass the food around.  

The conversation was simple and meaning less people asked about their day and their plans for the week, the trouble hadn't begun until John had asked Ethan about his job search.

"Actually, I accepted a job just yesterday."

"That's great Son, where are you working?"

"I'm taking over the legal team for Cortez Construction."

Kay smiled as she remembered the charming boss of the company. " So you meet Gabe?" After the question was out Kay wanted to kick herself, Ethan wouldn't be happy to hear about another time she talked with Brian.

Ethan frowned when he wondered how Kay would have come to meet Gabe Cortez, until he remembered Brian and his new job. "Yeah, great guy." The happy tone was now gone from Ethan voice as he sent a warning glance in Kay's direction and began motioning with his eyebrows.

"Oh, that was the guy that Antonio introduced us to at the Book Café right?" Charity obviously didn't since the tension that was now prominent in the room.

"Yeah." Kay kept it simple because she realized that she now have several pairs of eyes glance in her direction.

"So you guys meet him together?" Sam watched the teens as they prepared to answer. He noticed that John and Jessica weren't even looking anywhere but at him, but Kay eyes hadn't left her plate.   In the end it was Charity that answered in her usual cheerful manner.

"No, Kay had already left when we saw Antonio and his boss."

Sam dropped his fork and turned to his oldest daughter but was cut off by Ethan. "Kay can I see you in the kitchen for a moment?" Ethan got up and walked out the room not bothering to see if she agreed.

"Excuse me for a moment." Kay followed him in and leaned against the door preparing for a lecture, but surprised when he merely pushed the telephone into her hand. "What's this?"

"I want you to call him and tell him you only be friends." Ethan didn't like the idea that they kept having this little run ins.

"Ethan, I can't do over the phone." Not only was it rude, but also then she couldn't see him again. "Besides, I don't know his number."

"Then set up a time to meet when I can be there." Slightly relieved that Kay didn't know the number, because it meant that their meetings where just chance run ins, but he still didn't like them. "I'll call Theresa, she'll know." Ethan checked his watch and figured he would try her cell." Theresa, it's Ethan, can I get Brian's number." "Kay needs to speak to him."  "He's there, great could you put him on." Ethan hands Kay the phone and then leans back on the counter to watch her.

Covering the mouthpiece Kay glares at him. "I think I can do this without the audience."

"Fine, just don't get distracted." That being said Ethan rejoins the family at dinner while silently praying that Kay keeps her word.

Making sure Ethan's gone; Kay uncovers the mouthpiece and wipes her hand on her pants when she realizes she sweating. "Hello, Brian."

""Well, I didn't have your number, and I think we need to talk."

"How about tomorrow, I have class from noon til four, but I could come by the boat, at five."

"Sure, I see you then, Bye Brian." Kay hung up the phone and returned to dinner avoiding Ethan's questioning gaze for the rest of the meal.

Miguel didn't feel like eating at home, for some reason Kay was made at him, and he needed to know why, he also wondered what really happened between her and Reese. He suspected it was because of her feelings for him, but then Kay hadn't seemed all that interested in spending time with him and he had been trying all weekend.

Something was going on, and not just with Kay, Reese had told him to mind his own business when he called to ask about the break up. Simone hadn't even come to the phone, and even Jessica seemed upset over something. He wished he mother would have let Charity come over to eat, but said he and Charity needed to spend time apart. Looking around the table he noticed that no on, but Mama and Sheridan seemed happy about being here. "Can we start yet?"

"No Mijo, Antonio isn't here yet." Pilar said as she walked into the small dinning room with the dinner rolls. "He should be here soon."

"He knows we eat at seven."

Just then the front door flew open and Brian came running in, out of breath. He entered the dinning room stopping to kiss the women as he went, and handed some flowers to his mother. "Sorry, a phone call ran long."

"Oh no, please we were happy to wait for you."

Brian knew Luis was being sarcastic, but he wasn't going to let him get to him. " Thanks Luis, by the way Liz says Hi." He had to smile when the cock smile fell from Luis face.

"Oh, how are they?" Sheridan missed Liz and Doc, they had been great to her, and she wanted to repay the kindness they showed her during her time as Diana. "I miss them."

"They doing fine." "How's everybody here doing?"

" Well, I'm wonderful, now that most of my children are here." Pilar patted Antonio's hand, and smiled at him. "Miguel how was your day did you and Kay have fun."

Miguel shook his head." I don't know what happened, one minute we're talking then she threw me out of her room." Miguel looked at Sheridan and Theresa with confusion." Can you explain women to me?"

"Depends, what were you talking about?" Sheridan asked trying to help.

" Her breakup with Reese, which I would also like explained."

Brain had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing, Kay was right the first night, his brother was clueless. He looked up when felt a kick in his leg and looked up to finding Theresa trying to fight a similar urge.

Luis laughed out loud. " Miguel, I doubt she wants to relive much less explain a break up."

Sheridan hits Luis in the shoulder, and turns a sympathetic eye to Miguel." Maybe you should apologize, and then just let her come to you when she ready." "I'm sure she was just a still sensitive about the break up."

"Sheridan is right Mijo, just give Kay time." Pilar smiles at her youngest and then turn to her daughter. "Theresa is your doctor's appointment still tomorrow at noon?"  

"Yes, Mama."

"Did you need someone to go with you Theresa, because meet you there?" Brian asked as he passed the rice to Luis, who practically ripped it out of his hand.

" If she needs someone I'll go." He had only been back two months but he acted like he never left, and Antonio needed to learn that they had been going on without and happily. " Don't you think you first day is little too soon, to be taking off."

"I was actually thinking about going on my lunch break." Although Brain didn't want to start anything with his brother, he wasn't going to sit there and take his garbage. "But, I think if I explained it to Gabe he'd give me the time."

"Mijo, you got a job?"

"Yeah, Mama, with the construction company that just came to town." " Gabe Cortez is letting me start tomorrow."

"Oh, that's nice." " Maybe he would like to have dinner with us, some night, he and his wife."

"Gabe's not married, but I'm sure he would love to eat with us, he probably hasn't had a home cooked meal since he left the ranch."

 Sheridan felt the tension at the table and tried to lighten it by continuing the conversation. "Oh he's also a rancher?"

"Kind of his great grandfather started the ranch just outside of New Mexico, his grandfather started the construction company when the times got tough." Brian recited the Cortez family history as it had been repeated to him years ago when he first arrived on the ranch. "Gabe runs the construction company, I'm guessing hid Dad still runs the ranch."

" You seem to know a lot about him and his family?" Luis asked the question not hiding the suspicious in his voice.

"Yeah, well I spent sometime there."  "They're good people." Brain ignores the glare, and turns to his mother. "I'll be sure to extend the invitation to Gabe."

Pilar nods and goes back to the kitchen to get the dessert. As soon as she leaves silence descends on the table, until the ring of a cell phone broke the spell everyone moved to check their phone and Theresa grinned as she found it was her.

"Hello." "Well, he's right here is she needs him." Theresa hands Antonio the phone. "Why don't you take that in the living room."

Brian looked at his sister in confusion, he didn't know who would be calling to speak to him on her phone, and he wondered why she wanted him to take in the living room, but decided that he sister was just strange as he walked into the other room. "Hello."

"Hey, I wondered who would call me on Theresa phone."

"Yeah, I agree."

" I still be at work at five, can you stop by the site, and meet me at the trailer."

"Okay, Bye Kay." Shutting off the phone Brian smiles to himself, he felt bad about lying to Kay, but he couldn't risk having her on the boat again, the temptation was too great. Knowing it was for the best he returns to the dinner table keeping silent for the rest of the ordeal.

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Coming Soon: 

Interesting happenings as a new day dawns in Harmony, bringing out memories and secrets.