I Disclaim
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The Loser's Club Ch.37
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" Well, this is just going to be uncomfortable." Jessica said as she set the picnic table. John shook his head and keeping setting up the cooler. "You think I'm kidding, but this isn't going to any fun."
"Think positively, Jess."
"Positively, shomesitively." Jessica sat down at the table. " Miguel and Charity, Brian and Kay, Ethan and Theresa three couples mean trouble." "Think about it John even if Miguel and Charity were still together, which there not, Miguel and Brian don't like each other, add to it that Ivy Crane is coming and still hates Theresa, and you got what looks to be the most uncomfortable social gathering of the year."
"This will be like one of those Damn Crane parties where some shocking secret comes out that rocks us to our very core."
John laughs at her." You are making way too much of this, it's just a family barbecue."
" You can laugh, you're weren't at the last two engagement parties they threw, and this isn't a family barbecue, this is a Larry Winger episode waiting to happen."
"Positive Jess, think Positive."
" You think positively, I'll make a escape plan." John chuckles as he goes back into the house to continue to setting up, and Jessica shakes her head again. " This is so going to suck."
~~
"For the final time mother, I don't care." Ethan ran a hand through his hair as he looks at his mother, livid wasn't a strong enough word for it." Theresa and I will be married, and that's the end of it."
" Ethan, what about Gwen?"
" Gwen knows and gave her approval." His ex-fiancée had taken it better then his expected, but Gwen had understood that their time together had passed, and that moving on was the only thing they could do." I am not asking for your approval, I'm a grown man, and I don't need it." "I'm merely asking that you remember that she is the woman I'm going to marry, and as of right now the mother of my son."
" ETHAN." This was ridiculous, he could seriously be willing to accept Julian's child as his own much less marry that lying tramp. " You cannot claim that child."
"That child, is now my son, and if I have to choose between the two, you'll be left out in the cold." He feels his will bend when the tears all onto her face, but remembers her misdeeds. " Neither you nor Theresa is in the position to judge, I don't want to have to eject you from my life mother, but I love her, and this is I want, this is what will make me happy." "Now, you're invited to the barbecue at Dad's house, but only come if you're willing to accept my family." Ethan took one last look at his mother before leaving the mansion.
" I'm sorry Ethan, but that is simply unacceptable."
"Hello mother." Drew walked out from behind the door and grinned inwardly at the horror on his mother's face. " I see you're plotting early this morning."
"I'm not plotting Andrew, I'm just trying o save you brother from the biggest mistake of his life."
"Yes, I'm sure you are." Grandfather and Amanda wanted him to find out what she was up to, but it only seemed that she was meddling in Ethan's life, and he had no real problem with that." And I'm certain that Ethan will one day thank you for all your sacrifices." Drew began waking toward the steps, but his mother blocked his path. "Yes?"
" I want you to get dressed and tell Amanda the same, will be attending a barbecue at the Bennetts."
"Mother, you must be joking Crane's don't barbecue."
" They do today." Ivy left her son gaping mouth and all, and entered the chair lift, thinking up new ways to end Theresa and Ethan.
~~
"Mijo, I want your word." Pilar looked at her youngest son with her sternness face. " You will apology to Antonio, and you'll be on your best behavior."
"But Mama…"
"NO." Pilar had been trying to convince Miguel of Antonio's intentions, but nothing had worked, and now she just didn't want any more trouble. " He is your brother, and you will treat him respect from now on."
She didn't understand, but then he couldn't really explain it to her, the last time he tried to explain it to someone his girlfriend had dumped him. " How bout I just skip the Bennet barbecue."
"Miguel your sister is coming home, the Bennetts were nice enough to volunteer to throw the party, and you will be there. " "Mijo, maybe you and Charity can talk and work this thing out."
"Yeah, you're right Charity and I can talk."
"Good, let's go Luis and Sheridan are here."
~~
"Sam are you sure about this?" TC watched his oldest friend set up the barbecue. You could of knocked TC over with a feather when he said that Kay and Brian were invited to the event.
"Yeah, it's a little weird, but he's a good guy, and makes Kay happy." Sam and Brian had talked after the dinner, and he was more accepting of the relationship then he ever thought he would be. " Kay's happiness is what matters, besides he knows I'll kill him, if he hurts her."
"You're a better man then I am." "I still get angry when I think of Chad going near my girls."
"TC, you know that Chad will be here right."
"Yeah, Eve told me, and as long as he leaves my daughters alone, I'm fine."
"Hey Daddy, Hey Coach Russell." Kay walked into the backyard holding the gate open while Gabe and Brian brought in a cooler. " Where do you want this? "
"Oh right by the door is fine."
"You heard him boys." Kay waved goodbye before heading inside to help her mother.
"You know Lovely Kay has lost her mystic." Gabe said as he dropped the cooler by the door. " By the way thank you for inviting me Chief Bennet."
'Well, Kay said you'd be a hard worker. " What Kay had actually said was that Gabe Cortez was entertaining, and he had to admit the man did look the part.
"Isn't that just like Kay, to volunteer people for work, and then go off and play."
"I HEARD THAT ETHAN." Ay yelled from the opening window and stuck her tongue at her brother.
" Good." Ethan held the fence open while Theresa and Martin made their way into the yard. "Good afternoon everyone."
" Hey guys, there's the man of the hour my handsome new nephew." Brian gave Theresa a kiss before wave a finger at the little guy tucked into his sisters arms. " Hey Marty."
" Step back Mijo, I have him first." Pilar gave a general wave before stepping in front of her daughter and taking the small child." Hola Nieto."
"And the spoiling begins." Theresa watches as Sam and TC, as while as Brian and Gabe vying for turns with her son, catches Ethan's eye, and smiles. Things are beginning to look up.
~~
Miguel stands in the front of the door at the Bennetts his family went in the back yard, but he wanted to talk to Charity without the audience. He knocks on the door and tries to find the right words to get her forgiveness.
" Coming." Kay ran form the kitchen glad she found a way to avoid her mother's tomato soup cake, but her relief was short lived when she saw who was at the door." Miguel everyone is in the back." She left the door open and started walking back to the kitchen when he stopped her.
" Wait, I wanted to talk to Charity." " I think I should talk to you too."
" Look I can get Charity, but we don't need to speak, this about you and Charity, and I'm only involved because I'm concerned about my family." She stopped him when he opened his mouth." Hold on I'll get her."
" No need here I am." Charity stepped of the bottom step into the family room, and gave Kay smile as the brunette passed her to go into the kitchen. " What do you want?"
" I think we should begin again." Miguel sat down on the couch, and searched Charity's eyes for a hint of what she was feeling, but could see none. " You were right, I'm confused, and I have no clue what is going on in my head right now, but I could really use a friend." " I know that's unfair, but…."
"No Miguel it's fine, you're right we should begin again, we met and went straight to boyfriend and girlfriend not stopping to really get to know each other or question anything else." " I think we should try to just be friends for a while, and if something happens it does, and if it doesn't it doesn't." She stuck out her hand and smiled when he accepted. " It's a beginning."
~~
" Well well, if it isn't Jessica Bennet." Drew smiled at the look of shock that crossed the brunettes' face, before her usual disinterested returned.
"Of course it's me, this is my backyard." " May I ask how you ended up here?" Once again Drew looked completely out of place, which was a little strange considering he was wearing clothes similar to Ethan, but her brother managed to look at home, whole the youngest Crane looked like he was slumming.
Drew asked himself the same question. Half the town seemed to be packed inside the yard, his mother seemed to be sucking up to the woman of the house while Amanda stayed by the tree shooting her ex- fiancé not so subtle hints. " Well, my brother invited us, so here we are."
"Yes here you are, obviously you don't want to be here so why are you staying?"
" Maybe I like the company?" He raised an eyebrow and gave her a grin that woman always told him was sexy, but the grin had no affect on the women, instead she seemed to be on the verge of tears. He followed her eyes and found a nerdy looking blonde boy walk into the yard with an attractive African American girl holding his hand. " Friends of yours?"
" Yeah kinda." Watching Reese and Simone hold hands brought all the little clues together, the reason they were together so much and the secret looks, they were together. She knew she didn't have a right to be mad, she hadn't ever told Reese she was interested, and she knew that Simone wouldn't hurt her on purpose but the sight still hurt. " I think I want to take a walk."
" May I join you?"
"Sure." Jessica was heading of the back yard Drew trailing behind when Ethan voice stopped her.
" Can I have everyone's attention please."? Ethan stepped onto the bench of the picnic table. " I have an announcement to make."
The crowd quieted and Ethan continued." As you know we're all here to welcome home the newest member of our community Martin Lopez Fitzgerald Jr." The crowd clapped and cheered as Pilar held her grandson, and up proudly. " But were also here for some other reasons." "To welcome my sister Kay and Brian back from their 'island adventure'." He stopped for the cheers and claps. " And finally to celebrate my engagement to the beautiful Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald, who has graciously agreed to let me spent the rest of my life with her and our son Martin." The crowd was shocked by the announcement, but followed Sam and Pilar lead by starting to congratulate the couple.
Jessica gave her brother a smile before she lent up against the tree with Drew by her side watching her with concern. She walked out the yard with Drew still following and ended up on the pier. She was happy for Ethan, and Kay, and even Charity seemed to be happy. Everyone seemed to be finding someone and here she was alone on a pier except for Drew Crane. " Do you ever wonder if you'll end up alone?"
The question spooked him, he use to think he'd end up alone, and even told his father that in one of his darkest moments, but Julian had laughed. He said that he was sure Grandfather would find him some nice socialite, that was good for business to keep him company and continue the family name. But as he watched Jessica stare out into the water his realized that he didn't want a nice socialite, he wanted her. She was beautiful and funny, and he could tell that she was attracted to him even thought she pretended otherwise. " No, I know that somewhere out there is the woman I so suppose to spend the rest of my life with." " Maybe she's standing right next to me."
Jessica knew he was flirting with her, he had been doing since they first met, and she hadn't really thought of him like that, but then she had been wrong before." Maybe."
Drew gave her smile before he lowered his head to kiss her.
Neither knew that the plastic owl on top of the lamppost was actually a hiding place for Alistair Crane's camera, and that at this very moment the family's patriarch was clenching his fist at the sight of his heir with a commoner, thinking up ways to ruin the blossoming romance.
Or that some yards away Julian Crane watched the scene with the exact opposite ideas, he looked at the owl aware that he was standing in it's blind spot and that his father probably still thought him dead, but he would soon make his presence felt. He had a lot of wrongs to right, and God help the person that got in his way. " Welcome Home Julian."
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Coming Soon:
The sequel to the Loser's Club called Penance.
