CHAPTER 16:
The next two years and a half years went by very slowly. But I finally made it to
my senior year. Ricky was 4 years old by then and the most adorable thing in the
world. But he was missing something very important in his life. Miguel. His father. I
tried not to think about it too much and focus on other things. Here I was getting ready
to graduate soon with a degree in Business Finance. I was almost 24 years old. But I
felt older. I had been through so much these past 9 years. It started with my innocent
crush on Miguel, which then turned into an unbelievable obsession, consisting of
"Charity's Essence" and the like. Then came my pregnancy and Ricky. Not to forget
preventing Charity from marrying Miguel. Then getting romantically involved with
Miguel. Then Charity's plan to get me away from Miguel. Living four years of my life
without the man I love. Ricky not being able to see his daddy, or even know who he
was. And, just about two years ago, Tony graduating and moving out. I missed him. He
was the only one who actually cared about me here in Connecticut. We still kept in
touch but it wasn't the same.
I wish I knew what was happening in Harmony. Ivy had stopped writing letters
after the end of my sophomore year. It had been almost two years since I got any word
from Harmony. I wanted to know what was happening with Miguel? And with Charity.
It killed me every night as I imagined the possibilities. Charity luring Miguel away
from me. "Comforting" him since he was missing me. And what not.
Thankfully, my days at UConn were being numbered. Three weeks to
graduation. I couldn't wait. I had already booked a flight back to Harmony on the day
of my graduation. I wasn't going to waste anytime getting back home. I was planning
on leaving right after I got my diploma.
* * * * *
The day finally came. My college graduation. It wasn't the way I had pictured it
to be growing up. As a child, both my parents would talk about how they couldn't wait
to see all of their three kids graduate from high school and college one day.
As I got ready to go to the hall where the ceremony was being held, tears came
to my eyes as I remembered my parents' words as me, Jessica and Noah were growing
up: "We can't wait for your graduations, both from high school and college. We're both
going to be there, with flowers, big smiles and lots of gifts."
So much had changed since those days. Mom was no longer part of the family.
Not that I cared, though. I wish Daddy was able to witness me getting my college
diploma. But there was nothing I could do about it. The only support cast I had that day
for my graduation were Tony and my son. Two years ago Tony had promised me that
he'd be present to my graduation - just like I had been there for his. I was glad that he
and Ricky were there for me that day.
* * * * *
Finally, one by one, the dean began to call the names of the graduating class.
Since it was in alphabetical order, I was one of the first few to be called up.
When I heard the words, "Kathleen Elizabeth Bennett" a lot of emotions
passed through me as I stood up and walked over to where I would be receiving my
diploma. I felt joy and anxiety about returning to Harmony soon. Regret for these past
four years. But despite all that, I still felt proud of myself. I had been threatened into
this situation (about going to college) but had made the most of it. I was graduating
with a degree in Business Finance! And, more importantly, I had matured
tremendously.
Tony and Ricky clapped the hardest from their seats. I looked over at them and
smiled through my tears.
I walked down the small steps and went by Ricky and Tony.
"Congratulations, mommy," four year old Ricky said.
I leaned down and gave him a hug and a kiss. "Thanks, Ricky," I said, tears in
my eyes.
I stood up to see Tony staring me.
"Well it's over, Kay," he told me, wiping away a tear from my eye, "You've
finally graduated."
He enveloped me in a big hug.
I began to cry more. Not because of having gotten my diploma but because I
had to say goodbye to Tony. I was going back to Harmony while he was staying here in
Connecticut.
"Don't cry, Kay," he told me. "I'm gonna miss you as much as you'll miss me.
We'll keep in touch, though."
I grinned. "I hope so, Tony."
He nodded knowingly.
"You've been the greatest friend I've had these past four years," I told him.
"Thank you for everything."
"Hey," he said, "I'm still planning on being the greatest friend. This isn't
goodbye."
I smiled as I picked up Ricky.
"So when's your flight?" Tony asked.
"In three hours," I answered.
"So you're probably going to get ready to head back to Harmony huh?" he
asked me.
"Actually," I told him matter of factly, "everything's in the car. I just have to
drive to the airport."
"Oh," Tony said, looking disappointed. "Well let me come with you anyways.
I'll just follow you in my car."
"Ok, great," I answered.
* * * * *
Half an hour later, Ricky, Tony and I were in the airport.
We were all hungry so we sat down to eat. It was a nice way to waste time until
my flight was called for departure.
"So tell me," Tony said, as he picked at his lunch, "what are you planning on
doing once you return to Harmony?"
I thought about that for a minute before answering.
"Well," I began, "I'm probably going to go back to my Daddy's house. See
what's up with Jessica, Noah, Uncle Hank."
"I meant what are you going to do about Miguel," Tony informed me.
I looked away for a few moments before I answered his question. I really didn't
know what I was gonna do. I just had to see what Miguel had been doing these past
four years. Had Charity's plan worked? Did she win Miguel back?
"Well, it depends," I said. "For sure, Ricky has to meet his father. It all
depends on Miguel. If he went back to Charity, then all I can do is try to make him
mine again. But if he still loves me, and wants to be with me, then all is well."
Tony nodded.
Pretty soon, my flight was being called. Time to put Connecticut behind me.
I stood up, holding Ricky's arm.
"I guess you have to go now," Tony said, looking as upset as me.
"Yeah," I answered sadly. I sure was going to miss him.
He gave me a hug.
"Keep in touch ok?" he told me.
"I will," I replied. "You too."
He nodded.
"Say bye to Uncle Tony," I told Ricky. Uncle Tony was what Ricky called Tony
nowadays.
"Bye Uncle Tony," Ricky said.
"Bye, Rickster," Tony responded, slapping him a high-five.
Tony looked up at me.
He gave me another hug.
"I'm gonna miss you and your son," he told me.
"And we're gonna miss you," I told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
He gave a small smile. We said our goodbyes.
And then, me and Ricky were off. We boarded the plane. Goodbye Tony, I
whispered to myself. Thanks for befriending us when we were in desperate need of
moral support. Goodbye Connecticut. You've been home to me and Ricky for the past
four years, but now it's time to return to Harmony.
* * * * *
***** What do u all think of this story so far? Kay's returning to Harmony!
How will the Harmonians react? lol. What do u expect or think should or could
happen? Let me know!*****
The next two years and a half years went by very slowly. But I finally made it to
my senior year. Ricky was 4 years old by then and the most adorable thing in the
world. But he was missing something very important in his life. Miguel. His father. I
tried not to think about it too much and focus on other things. Here I was getting ready
to graduate soon with a degree in Business Finance. I was almost 24 years old. But I
felt older. I had been through so much these past 9 years. It started with my innocent
crush on Miguel, which then turned into an unbelievable obsession, consisting of
"Charity's Essence" and the like. Then came my pregnancy and Ricky. Not to forget
preventing Charity from marrying Miguel. Then getting romantically involved with
Miguel. Then Charity's plan to get me away from Miguel. Living four years of my life
without the man I love. Ricky not being able to see his daddy, or even know who he
was. And, just about two years ago, Tony graduating and moving out. I missed him. He
was the only one who actually cared about me here in Connecticut. We still kept in
touch but it wasn't the same.
I wish I knew what was happening in Harmony. Ivy had stopped writing letters
after the end of my sophomore year. It had been almost two years since I got any word
from Harmony. I wanted to know what was happening with Miguel? And with Charity.
It killed me every night as I imagined the possibilities. Charity luring Miguel away
from me. "Comforting" him since he was missing me. And what not.
Thankfully, my days at UConn were being numbered. Three weeks to
graduation. I couldn't wait. I had already booked a flight back to Harmony on the day
of my graduation. I wasn't going to waste anytime getting back home. I was planning
on leaving right after I got my diploma.
* * * * *
The day finally came. My college graduation. It wasn't the way I had pictured it
to be growing up. As a child, both my parents would talk about how they couldn't wait
to see all of their three kids graduate from high school and college one day.
As I got ready to go to the hall where the ceremony was being held, tears came
to my eyes as I remembered my parents' words as me, Jessica and Noah were growing
up: "We can't wait for your graduations, both from high school and college. We're both
going to be there, with flowers, big smiles and lots of gifts."
So much had changed since those days. Mom was no longer part of the family.
Not that I cared, though. I wish Daddy was able to witness me getting my college
diploma. But there was nothing I could do about it. The only support cast I had that day
for my graduation were Tony and my son. Two years ago Tony had promised me that
he'd be present to my graduation - just like I had been there for his. I was glad that he
and Ricky were there for me that day.
* * * * *
Finally, one by one, the dean began to call the names of the graduating class.
Since it was in alphabetical order, I was one of the first few to be called up.
When I heard the words, "Kathleen Elizabeth Bennett" a lot of emotions
passed through me as I stood up and walked over to where I would be receiving my
diploma. I felt joy and anxiety about returning to Harmony soon. Regret for these past
four years. But despite all that, I still felt proud of myself. I had been threatened into
this situation (about going to college) but had made the most of it. I was graduating
with a degree in Business Finance! And, more importantly, I had matured
tremendously.
Tony and Ricky clapped the hardest from their seats. I looked over at them and
smiled through my tears.
I walked down the small steps and went by Ricky and Tony.
"Congratulations, mommy," four year old Ricky said.
I leaned down and gave him a hug and a kiss. "Thanks, Ricky," I said, tears in
my eyes.
I stood up to see Tony staring me.
"Well it's over, Kay," he told me, wiping away a tear from my eye, "You've
finally graduated."
He enveloped me in a big hug.
I began to cry more. Not because of having gotten my diploma but because I
had to say goodbye to Tony. I was going back to Harmony while he was staying here in
Connecticut.
"Don't cry, Kay," he told me. "I'm gonna miss you as much as you'll miss me.
We'll keep in touch, though."
I grinned. "I hope so, Tony."
He nodded knowingly.
"You've been the greatest friend I've had these past four years," I told him.
"Thank you for everything."
"Hey," he said, "I'm still planning on being the greatest friend. This isn't
goodbye."
I smiled as I picked up Ricky.
"So when's your flight?" Tony asked.
"In three hours," I answered.
"So you're probably going to get ready to head back to Harmony huh?" he
asked me.
"Actually," I told him matter of factly, "everything's in the car. I just have to
drive to the airport."
"Oh," Tony said, looking disappointed. "Well let me come with you anyways.
I'll just follow you in my car."
"Ok, great," I answered.
* * * * *
Half an hour later, Ricky, Tony and I were in the airport.
We were all hungry so we sat down to eat. It was a nice way to waste time until
my flight was called for departure.
"So tell me," Tony said, as he picked at his lunch, "what are you planning on
doing once you return to Harmony?"
I thought about that for a minute before answering.
"Well," I began, "I'm probably going to go back to my Daddy's house. See
what's up with Jessica, Noah, Uncle Hank."
"I meant what are you going to do about Miguel," Tony informed me.
I looked away for a few moments before I answered his question. I really didn't
know what I was gonna do. I just had to see what Miguel had been doing these past
four years. Had Charity's plan worked? Did she win Miguel back?
"Well, it depends," I said. "For sure, Ricky has to meet his father. It all
depends on Miguel. If he went back to Charity, then all I can do is try to make him
mine again. But if he still loves me, and wants to be with me, then all is well."
Tony nodded.
Pretty soon, my flight was being called. Time to put Connecticut behind me.
I stood up, holding Ricky's arm.
"I guess you have to go now," Tony said, looking as upset as me.
"Yeah," I answered sadly. I sure was going to miss him.
He gave me a hug.
"Keep in touch ok?" he told me.
"I will," I replied. "You too."
He nodded.
"Say bye to Uncle Tony," I told Ricky. Uncle Tony was what Ricky called Tony
nowadays.
"Bye Uncle Tony," Ricky said.
"Bye, Rickster," Tony responded, slapping him a high-five.
Tony looked up at me.
He gave me another hug.
"I'm gonna miss you and your son," he told me.
"And we're gonna miss you," I told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
He gave a small smile. We said our goodbyes.
And then, me and Ricky were off. We boarded the plane. Goodbye Tony, I
whispered to myself. Thanks for befriending us when we were in desperate need of
moral support. Goodbye Connecticut. You've been home to me and Ricky for the past
four years, but now it's time to return to Harmony.
* * * * *
***** What do u all think of this story so far? Kay's returning to Harmony!
How will the Harmonians react? lol. What do u expect or think should or could
happen? Let me know!*****