CHAPTER 20:
I countinued to cry, sitting there on the front porch, hugging my knees. Just
then I heard the front door open and close.
"Kay!" I heard a voice boom.
I turned to see Daddy staring down at me. He looked very angry.
"What's the matter, Daddy?" I asked, standing up, wiping my tears away.
"Hank just told me why you did not communicate with any of us while you were
away in college. Is that true, young lady? Did Charity threaten you and Ricky?"
I inhaled as I thought about admitting it or not. What did I have to lose now? He
already knew. Charity didn't live here anymore so she couldn't harm any of us.
Besides Daddy was Harmony's Chief of Police. He would know what to do. He might
even help me with my plan to get Miguel back for myself.
"Well....yes," I said uncomfortably.
I could hear Daddy muttering obscenities under his breath.
"Oh I knew she was no good," he said half to himself and half to me, "she
SEEMED good but I knew that somewhere under that syrupy sweet skin there was a
manipulative bitch waiting to get out. Your late mother couldn't see it, she didn't....."
"Wait, Daddy!" I exclaimed. "What did you just say?!"
Did he just say late? Mother was DEAD?! How?! What happened? Not like I
was going to mourn her death or anything, but what I felt was more like shock. I mean
I had loved her as any child loves their mother for the first 15 years of my life. I
despised her now, but still ... she was dead?!
"I'm sorry honey that we didn't tell you earlier, but your Mother, or Grace as
you, Jess and Noah used to call her, died about a year ago."
"From what?" I asked curiously, still not believing it.
"She was killed in a car accident. The other driver was drunk."
I leaned back on the wall as this information set in.
"After that," Daddy continued, "Charity was a basket case. I'm sorry honey
but Miguel was there for her and eventually he found his way back to her. They got
married about six months ago."
"I, I know, Daddy," I told him, shivering because of that fact.
"How?" he asked confused.
"I was just over at Pilar's house and she told me everything."
I began to get teary eyed again. Daddy came by me, enveloping me in a big hug
the way he did almost five years ago when we all found out that Miguel was going to
marry Charity. But this was worse. He HAD married her this time around.
"I wish I could solve your problems honey," he told me comfortingly.
"Thank you, Daddy," I answered. "But I can't discuss this anymore. I need to
relax, besides I'm tired."
He nodded as I went inside the house and upstairs to my bedroom.
After about ten minutes of crying, I was able to control my emotions. I needed
to think. I decided to come up with a plan to ruin Miguel and Charity's marriage but no
real format to base it on.
I began thinking. Well.... let's see .... it WAS going to be Ricky's fifth birthday
in about a week. Maybe I could get Pilar to tell Miguel that I returned to Harmony and
I would really like it if he would be present to celebrate his son's birthday.
Yes YES! that WAS a good idea. And I would make sure to frame Charity in the
process. Quietly of course - after all I didn't want to ruin Ricky's birthday. Daddy
would be there and he could help me in making sure that Charity got what she
deserved. Uncle Hank, Noah and Jessica could help, too. After all, Jessica knew of
Charity's plan from the very beginning.
Ooooh this was exciting me more and more. The pieces of my plan were taking
shape. I just prayed that it would work.
I was thrilled that I had a reliable plan to use but ... well.... I couldn't help
feeling just a bit ashamed that even at the age of 24 I was still scheming to get Miguel
the same way I had been doing nine years ago. I knew that to some people that
behavior of mine would be considered childish and immature but I also knew that
others would perceive it as determination. I knew deep in my heart that I would always
love Miguel, therefore I would keep fighting for this cause, as long as it didn't end up
being a lost one. Cause you see, I know Miguel loves me. And I am going to scheme,
beg, lie, cheat and do anything I can to get him back. Because I love him, too.
I countinued to cry, sitting there on the front porch, hugging my knees. Just
then I heard the front door open and close.
"Kay!" I heard a voice boom.
I turned to see Daddy staring down at me. He looked very angry.
"What's the matter, Daddy?" I asked, standing up, wiping my tears away.
"Hank just told me why you did not communicate with any of us while you were
away in college. Is that true, young lady? Did Charity threaten you and Ricky?"
I inhaled as I thought about admitting it or not. What did I have to lose now? He
already knew. Charity didn't live here anymore so she couldn't harm any of us.
Besides Daddy was Harmony's Chief of Police. He would know what to do. He might
even help me with my plan to get Miguel back for myself.
"Well....yes," I said uncomfortably.
I could hear Daddy muttering obscenities under his breath.
"Oh I knew she was no good," he said half to himself and half to me, "she
SEEMED good but I knew that somewhere under that syrupy sweet skin there was a
manipulative bitch waiting to get out. Your late mother couldn't see it, she didn't....."
"Wait, Daddy!" I exclaimed. "What did you just say?!"
Did he just say late? Mother was DEAD?! How?! What happened? Not like I
was going to mourn her death or anything, but what I felt was more like shock. I mean
I had loved her as any child loves their mother for the first 15 years of my life. I
despised her now, but still ... she was dead?!
"I'm sorry honey that we didn't tell you earlier, but your Mother, or Grace as
you, Jess and Noah used to call her, died about a year ago."
"From what?" I asked curiously, still not believing it.
"She was killed in a car accident. The other driver was drunk."
I leaned back on the wall as this information set in.
"After that," Daddy continued, "Charity was a basket case. I'm sorry honey
but Miguel was there for her and eventually he found his way back to her. They got
married about six months ago."
"I, I know, Daddy," I told him, shivering because of that fact.
"How?" he asked confused.
"I was just over at Pilar's house and she told me everything."
I began to get teary eyed again. Daddy came by me, enveloping me in a big hug
the way he did almost five years ago when we all found out that Miguel was going to
marry Charity. But this was worse. He HAD married her this time around.
"I wish I could solve your problems honey," he told me comfortingly.
"Thank you, Daddy," I answered. "But I can't discuss this anymore. I need to
relax, besides I'm tired."
He nodded as I went inside the house and upstairs to my bedroom.
After about ten minutes of crying, I was able to control my emotions. I needed
to think. I decided to come up with a plan to ruin Miguel and Charity's marriage but no
real format to base it on.
I began thinking. Well.... let's see .... it WAS going to be Ricky's fifth birthday
in about a week. Maybe I could get Pilar to tell Miguel that I returned to Harmony and
I would really like it if he would be present to celebrate his son's birthday.
Yes YES! that WAS a good idea. And I would make sure to frame Charity in the
process. Quietly of course - after all I didn't want to ruin Ricky's birthday. Daddy
would be there and he could help me in making sure that Charity got what she
deserved. Uncle Hank, Noah and Jessica could help, too. After all, Jessica knew of
Charity's plan from the very beginning.
Ooooh this was exciting me more and more. The pieces of my plan were taking
shape. I just prayed that it would work.
I was thrilled that I had a reliable plan to use but ... well.... I couldn't help
feeling just a bit ashamed that even at the age of 24 I was still scheming to get Miguel
the same way I had been doing nine years ago. I knew that to some people that
behavior of mine would be considered childish and immature but I also knew that
others would perceive it as determination. I knew deep in my heart that I would always
love Miguel, therefore I would keep fighting for this cause, as long as it didn't end up
being a lost one. Cause you see, I know Miguel loves me. And I am going to scheme,
beg, lie, cheat and do anything I can to get him back. Because I love him, too.