Chapter 7:
I knew that I very well couldn't go home. I knew Dad was supportive of me but
Mother, Jessica and Charity sure weren't. Since they outnumbered us three to two, we
decided to just get our stuff and crash somewhere else. We went to a local hotel in
Harmony. Once we got there, Dad called up Miguel and ordered him to come over.
They hadn't had their talk yet. Overall and looking at the past, Dad had always
thought of Miguel as being another one of his sons. But his demeanor towards him did
change a bit when he found out that Miguel made his oldest daughter pregnant. Who
could blame him?!
But hey it's not like I minded. If I had to win Miguel over just by having him
make love to me through "Charity's Essence" and therefore causing me to be
pregnant, then so be it! The hell with HOW. As long as I did it, nothing else mattered.
Miguel came over, quickly. He knew a confrontation was most likely waiting for
him, but he was no coward. He would own up to his doings. Just like he'd own up to this
baby of his that I was carrying.
From the minute he walked into the hotel room door I knew that he cared. Sure,
he was upset that I had spoiled his big wedding day, but he knew how I felt. I could feel
it deep within me: he'd be the best father ever to this unborn baby! And hopefully, the
greatest husband to me! But I was just dreaming.
In short, here's what happened the last 7 months of my pregnancy: Miguel
visited me every day. He told me from the very beginning that he wanted to be
involved and thankfully he kept his word. He seemed just as excited about this baby as
me! That made me hopeful about the two of US tying the knot one day. Daddy divorced
Mother. He said he couldn't be married to someone who didn't care at all about his
child. Daddy and I moved back home and we kicked out Mother and Charity. We
welcomed Jessica to stay with us but she refused, and moved in to the B & B with
Mother and Charity. So what was once considered the Bennett family home now
consisted of me, Daddy, Noah, Hank, and of course, Ivy Winthrop-Crane living
together. Ivy was Daddy's first love. His heart eventually found its way back to her,
and I was happy for both of them. Noah and Gwen began dating and they have been
getting closer and closer lately. Uncle Hank and Sheridan Crane's friend Liz
Sanbourne have gotten to know one another very well and have been going out for
about six months.
In the beginning, when Charity first got word of my pregnancy, she wanted
nothing to do with Miguel. She was barely civil to him. Much less me. I couldn't blame
her; in fact I was happy that she was leaving Miguel. It gave him more chance to be
mine. But he wasn't. And even though I was soon going to have his child, things still
weren't completely going the way I wanted them to.
My baby was due sometime around early June. That was just a few weeks
away. Ivy, who was supportive as an unofficial "mom", threw me a baby shower. Not
many people came. It hurt not to have Jessica, Charity, and Mother there but it was no
surprise. Liz, Beth, Gwen, Simone, Dr. Russell, Whitney, Theresa, Pilar, Ivy, and
Sheridan showed up. I had fun. Here I was, age 19, getting ready to give birth soon. I
had definitely grown up too fast the past few years. Nothing I could do to change that
now. Not like I would if I could. I was going to have Miguel's baby!
"So is it a boy or a girl?" Beth, who just a few days ago had returned from a
two-month vacation with Luis, asked me as she gave me a hug.
"It's a boy," I said happily. "I just found out last week."
"That's great. Same here," said Beth.
I didn't digest the information quickly. Did she just say same here? I thought to
myself. Is she pregnant also?
"You're...." I paused, looking at her tummy.
She laughed, giving me another hug. "Don't tell anyone yet. Today is Your
Day. But I am four and a half months along."
"That's great!" I said, rejoicing. I was so happy for her. Beth's dreams were
finally all coming true. The girl was heartbroken the first time when Luis had to break
up his engagement to her because of his duty to his family. But not again. Beth finally
married the man she had been in love with for ages. And soon she was going to have
his child! I wished right then and there that Miguel's and my story would end up as
happily as hers obviously had been. I felt it deep within me, that just by looking at Beth
smile, that I was going to be alright. That Miguel and I would eventually marry and live
a happy life. Just like Beth's life with Luis. And even though that dream life has yet to
take place, even now, almost 20 years later, I still cling to it. I still believe in it. Loving
is believing, and I still believe in Miguel's and my love.
*****
I knew that I very well couldn't go home. I knew Dad was supportive of me but
Mother, Jessica and Charity sure weren't. Since they outnumbered us three to two, we
decided to just get our stuff and crash somewhere else. We went to a local hotel in
Harmony. Once we got there, Dad called up Miguel and ordered him to come over.
They hadn't had their talk yet. Overall and looking at the past, Dad had always
thought of Miguel as being another one of his sons. But his demeanor towards him did
change a bit when he found out that Miguel made his oldest daughter pregnant. Who
could blame him?!
But hey it's not like I minded. If I had to win Miguel over just by having him
make love to me through "Charity's Essence" and therefore causing me to be
pregnant, then so be it! The hell with HOW. As long as I did it, nothing else mattered.
Miguel came over, quickly. He knew a confrontation was most likely waiting for
him, but he was no coward. He would own up to his doings. Just like he'd own up to this
baby of his that I was carrying.
From the minute he walked into the hotel room door I knew that he cared. Sure,
he was upset that I had spoiled his big wedding day, but he knew how I felt. I could feel
it deep within me: he'd be the best father ever to this unborn baby! And hopefully, the
greatest husband to me! But I was just dreaming.
In short, here's what happened the last 7 months of my pregnancy: Miguel
visited me every day. He told me from the very beginning that he wanted to be
involved and thankfully he kept his word. He seemed just as excited about this baby as
me! That made me hopeful about the two of US tying the knot one day. Daddy divorced
Mother. He said he couldn't be married to someone who didn't care at all about his
child. Daddy and I moved back home and we kicked out Mother and Charity. We
welcomed Jessica to stay with us but she refused, and moved in to the B & B with
Mother and Charity. So what was once considered the Bennett family home now
consisted of me, Daddy, Noah, Hank, and of course, Ivy Winthrop-Crane living
together. Ivy was Daddy's first love. His heart eventually found its way back to her,
and I was happy for both of them. Noah and Gwen began dating and they have been
getting closer and closer lately. Uncle Hank and Sheridan Crane's friend Liz
Sanbourne have gotten to know one another very well and have been going out for
about six months.
In the beginning, when Charity first got word of my pregnancy, she wanted
nothing to do with Miguel. She was barely civil to him. Much less me. I couldn't blame
her; in fact I was happy that she was leaving Miguel. It gave him more chance to be
mine. But he wasn't. And even though I was soon going to have his child, things still
weren't completely going the way I wanted them to.
My baby was due sometime around early June. That was just a few weeks
away. Ivy, who was supportive as an unofficial "mom", threw me a baby shower. Not
many people came. It hurt not to have Jessica, Charity, and Mother there but it was no
surprise. Liz, Beth, Gwen, Simone, Dr. Russell, Whitney, Theresa, Pilar, Ivy, and
Sheridan showed up. I had fun. Here I was, age 19, getting ready to give birth soon. I
had definitely grown up too fast the past few years. Nothing I could do to change that
now. Not like I would if I could. I was going to have Miguel's baby!
"So is it a boy or a girl?" Beth, who just a few days ago had returned from a
two-month vacation with Luis, asked me as she gave me a hug.
"It's a boy," I said happily. "I just found out last week."
"That's great. Same here," said Beth.
I didn't digest the information quickly. Did she just say same here? I thought to
myself. Is she pregnant also?
"You're...." I paused, looking at her tummy.
She laughed, giving me another hug. "Don't tell anyone yet. Today is Your
Day. But I am four and a half months along."
"That's great!" I said, rejoicing. I was so happy for her. Beth's dreams were
finally all coming true. The girl was heartbroken the first time when Luis had to break
up his engagement to her because of his duty to his family. But not again. Beth finally
married the man she had been in love with for ages. And soon she was going to have
his child! I wished right then and there that Miguel's and my story would end up as
happily as hers obviously had been. I felt it deep within me, that just by looking at Beth
smile, that I was going to be alright. That Miguel and I would eventually marry and live
a happy life. Just like Beth's life with Luis. And even though that dream life has yet to
take place, even now, almost 20 years later, I still cling to it. I still believe in it. Loving
is believing, and I still believe in Miguel's and my love.
*****