After the snowball fight of the century, the tired and flushed Lopez-
Fitzgerald children all ran into their mother's living room. At the same
moment her children came in from the cold, Pilar walked through the kitchen
door with a tray-full of piping hot chocolate in large coffee mugs. She was
delighted to see that her children had not become the icicles she had
expected they would be after the scene she witnessed from the window.
"Well, I'd like to thank you." Pilar joked.
"For what, Mama?" Asked Miguel as he took the tray from his mother's hand and set it on the living room coffee table.
"For clearing the snow from my yard." Pilar sat on her sofa while her children picked up the mugs of hot chocolate and smelled the wonderful aroma that was steaming from them.
"Oh, mama." Luis sighed. "The girls started it."
Theresa was about to put a stop to her brother's false accusations before being interrupted by her ringing cell-phone. She took her phone from her purse and walked into the kitchen as she spoke.
"So, mija." Pilar motioned for Paloma to take a seat beside her.
"Yes, mama."
"Please tell me that you are to stay in Harmony for good." Pilar took her daughter's hands in her own and Paloma gave her mother a slight smile.
It hadn't dawned on Paloma that she would become a permanent resident of Harmony again. Her original plan was to come to town to meet up with her family to discuss the past and to hopefully bring some closure to her confused and clouded mind. But, after seeing Antonio in the state he was in, Paloma couldn't bear to let her family know that she had felt abandoned by them. It wasn't fair to bring up such petty issues when her own brother's life had almost slipped away the night before. No, Antonio needed a family. One that would stay TOGETHER and remain united for him. It was the least that they could give him. So, Paloma decided that her talk with the family could wait for some time, at least until they were positive that Antonio's health was improving.
"Mama, I wasn't positive at first." Paloma sighed and watched as her mother's hopeful face fell, "BUT, after being back, I realized I had missed so much. I want to be here now, for you for our family."
Her brothers stood from their seats and sat on either side of their youngest sister. Both of their faces were plastered with the biggest of smiles and they wrapped their arms around Paloma. Pilar was so overjoyed to hear that her daughter was going to stay, and her eyes couldn't stop from crying tears of pure joy. Theresa, finished from her call, walked in on the scene and immediately spoke.
"Hey!" She placed her hands on her hips. "You're having a family moment without me!"
She joined her brothers and sister on the sofa and wrapped her slender arms around her siblings.
"Air." Paloma coughed. "Air, please. I can't breathe!"
Luis, Miguel, and Theresa laughed as they released their hold over their sister. Paloma's hopes were somewhat renewed by the loving gesture from the three, and her face lit up.
"Mija?" Pilar asked.
"Yes, mama."
"Yes, mama."
Pilar silently cursed herself for not being a bit more careful. She had meant that inquiry for Theresa, but her brow furrowed because she had not remembered that BOTH her daughters were present. Pilar prayed that Paloma wouldn't take offense.
"I am sorry, I meant Theresita." Pilar corrected herself.
"It's okay, mama." Paloma assured her mother. She sensed her mother's worry, and hoped to calm it, even though she was a bit bruised by her mother's words. 'It wasn't anything to dwell on', she reminded herself. She understood that her mother's slip was not one of intention.
"Theresita," Pilar continued when she knew Paloma hadn't been offended, "I was just wondering who called?"
"Oh, mama. It was Phyllis." Theresa smiled. "I left Little Ethan with her last night, and she was just calling to tell me that he was doing well. Though, I think I should get back to him."
"Oh, Sita!" Paloma's voice was ecstatic at the mention of her nephew's name. "Would you mind if I went with you? I would love to meet my nephew! If he's anything as cute as the pictures you sent me, I wouldn't be shocked."
"Of course you can come along, Mana." Theresa walked to the coat rack. "I know that Little Ethan would LOVE to finally meet you in person!"
Paloma stood and went to pick up her jacket that was thrown over the arm of the sofa.
"Mijas, be back before five o'clock this afternoon. We're all going by the hospital to visit Antonio, then." Pilar waved as her daughters walked from the living room.
"We will, mama." Theresa promised.
"Guelito?" Paloma called. "Could you come and bring in my bag for me? I left it in the trunk of Theresa's car."
"Sure thing!" Miguel ran out the door and followed his sisters.
Luis and Pilar stood by the doorway with smiles on their faces. With his arms lovingly placed on his mother's shoulders, Luis was hoping that the return of his little sister was going to be more joyous than strenuous. He could sense that Paloma was a little uncomfortable and unsure of herself when she interacted with the family, it was to be expected since she had been gone for so long, but Luis made a promise to himself to not let his baby sister feel unwelcome in their home. It was as much HER home than it was of any other Lopez-Fitzgerald.
"It's so good to have her back, Mijo." Pilar sighed.
"I know, mama." Luis squeezed his mother's shoulders in response. "I know."
************************************************************************
Theresa and Paloma drove in silence for a few minutes without anything to talk about. Paloma was still trying her hardest to put on a brave face for her family, and Theresa was going through her mind trying to think of something she could say to start a conversation, but then both women's thoughts were interrupted by Theresa's cell phone.
"Hello?" Theresa reached down into her purse to answer the phone.
"Theresa? It's Jessica Bennett."
"Oh, hello Jessica." Theresa had never gotten a call from Jessica before so this had come as somewhat a surprise. "What's up?"
"Well, we were wondering if you could come over?" Jessica had a tone of hope behind her voice that made Theresa wonder what the Bennett's could want with her presence.
"Of course I can." Theresa smiled into the phone. "I was on my way home, but I'll stop by there. I'll see you in about five minutes."
"Great!" Jessica squealed.
"What was that all about?" Paloma asked as Theresa made the turn onto the Bennett's street.
"It was Jessica Bennett." Theresa shrugged. "She asked me to go over to her house. I thought it somewhat odd though. I can't think of any reason why the Bennett's would call me over."
"I guess we'll find out soon enough." Paloma laughed.
Theresa pulled her car into the Bennett's driveway and shut off the engine. As she and Paloma were exiting the car they were greeted by a very excited and very bubbly Jessica.
"Theresa!" She walked toward the older girl with her hands ready to embrace her. "Thanks so much for coming!"
"No, problem." She laughed as she hugged the younger girl.
Jessica took a moment and glanced at the young girl that accompanied Theresa. She looked so familiar, but Jessica wasn't sure where she had seen her before.
Paloma saw that Jessica Bennett had been looking at her, trying to place her face. She smiled and had to laugh a little because Jessica had always been a little forgetful, even when they were children.
As soon as Jessica realized whom she had been staring at, her eyes lit up and widened with complete shock and surprise.
"PALOMA?" Jessica's mouth hung open. "It's really YOU!"
"Hey, Jess!" Paloma was so happy that she had been reunited with her childhood friend.
"No, way!" Jessica shouted in disbelief. "Oh my gosh! It is you. Come on, I'm taking you inside to see my family! Theresa, come on, there's someone who's been dying to see YOU too!"
Jessica grabbed both of the older girls' wrists and led them inside her house.
"MOM! DAD! KAY! NOAH!" Jessica shouted as they entered her house. "You guys will NEVER guess who came back!"
Theresa stopped in her tracks when she heard HIS name. 'There's no way', she thought to herself, but then, sure enough she saw him seated on the sofa with his sister and cousin beside him.
"Resa?" He stood to his feet and was instantly shocked at the sight that just walked through his front door.
"NOAH SAMUEL BENNETT!"
************************************************************************
{*A/N* That's all for now, folks! =) Hope you are enjoying the story. I'd love feedback on how you want this story to play out. I have a lot of little ideas floating around in my head (as to which "romances" pan out), but I am most definitely open for suggestions. Anyway, thanks for the responses so far. Be on the look out for Antonio's 'welcome home' to happen in the next chapter! }
"Well, I'd like to thank you." Pilar joked.
"For what, Mama?" Asked Miguel as he took the tray from his mother's hand and set it on the living room coffee table.
"For clearing the snow from my yard." Pilar sat on her sofa while her children picked up the mugs of hot chocolate and smelled the wonderful aroma that was steaming from them.
"Oh, mama." Luis sighed. "The girls started it."
Theresa was about to put a stop to her brother's false accusations before being interrupted by her ringing cell-phone. She took her phone from her purse and walked into the kitchen as she spoke.
"So, mija." Pilar motioned for Paloma to take a seat beside her.
"Yes, mama."
"Please tell me that you are to stay in Harmony for good." Pilar took her daughter's hands in her own and Paloma gave her mother a slight smile.
It hadn't dawned on Paloma that she would become a permanent resident of Harmony again. Her original plan was to come to town to meet up with her family to discuss the past and to hopefully bring some closure to her confused and clouded mind. But, after seeing Antonio in the state he was in, Paloma couldn't bear to let her family know that she had felt abandoned by them. It wasn't fair to bring up such petty issues when her own brother's life had almost slipped away the night before. No, Antonio needed a family. One that would stay TOGETHER and remain united for him. It was the least that they could give him. So, Paloma decided that her talk with the family could wait for some time, at least until they were positive that Antonio's health was improving.
"Mama, I wasn't positive at first." Paloma sighed and watched as her mother's hopeful face fell, "BUT, after being back, I realized I had missed so much. I want to be here now, for you for our family."
Her brothers stood from their seats and sat on either side of their youngest sister. Both of their faces were plastered with the biggest of smiles and they wrapped their arms around Paloma. Pilar was so overjoyed to hear that her daughter was going to stay, and her eyes couldn't stop from crying tears of pure joy. Theresa, finished from her call, walked in on the scene and immediately spoke.
"Hey!" She placed her hands on her hips. "You're having a family moment without me!"
She joined her brothers and sister on the sofa and wrapped her slender arms around her siblings.
"Air." Paloma coughed. "Air, please. I can't breathe!"
Luis, Miguel, and Theresa laughed as they released their hold over their sister. Paloma's hopes were somewhat renewed by the loving gesture from the three, and her face lit up.
"Mija?" Pilar asked.
"Yes, mama."
"Yes, mama."
Pilar silently cursed herself for not being a bit more careful. She had meant that inquiry for Theresa, but her brow furrowed because she had not remembered that BOTH her daughters were present. Pilar prayed that Paloma wouldn't take offense.
"I am sorry, I meant Theresita." Pilar corrected herself.
"It's okay, mama." Paloma assured her mother. She sensed her mother's worry, and hoped to calm it, even though she was a bit bruised by her mother's words. 'It wasn't anything to dwell on', she reminded herself. She understood that her mother's slip was not one of intention.
"Theresita," Pilar continued when she knew Paloma hadn't been offended, "I was just wondering who called?"
"Oh, mama. It was Phyllis." Theresa smiled. "I left Little Ethan with her last night, and she was just calling to tell me that he was doing well. Though, I think I should get back to him."
"Oh, Sita!" Paloma's voice was ecstatic at the mention of her nephew's name. "Would you mind if I went with you? I would love to meet my nephew! If he's anything as cute as the pictures you sent me, I wouldn't be shocked."
"Of course you can come along, Mana." Theresa walked to the coat rack. "I know that Little Ethan would LOVE to finally meet you in person!"
Paloma stood and went to pick up her jacket that was thrown over the arm of the sofa.
"Mijas, be back before five o'clock this afternoon. We're all going by the hospital to visit Antonio, then." Pilar waved as her daughters walked from the living room.
"We will, mama." Theresa promised.
"Guelito?" Paloma called. "Could you come and bring in my bag for me? I left it in the trunk of Theresa's car."
"Sure thing!" Miguel ran out the door and followed his sisters.
Luis and Pilar stood by the doorway with smiles on their faces. With his arms lovingly placed on his mother's shoulders, Luis was hoping that the return of his little sister was going to be more joyous than strenuous. He could sense that Paloma was a little uncomfortable and unsure of herself when she interacted with the family, it was to be expected since she had been gone for so long, but Luis made a promise to himself to not let his baby sister feel unwelcome in their home. It was as much HER home than it was of any other Lopez-Fitzgerald.
"It's so good to have her back, Mijo." Pilar sighed.
"I know, mama." Luis squeezed his mother's shoulders in response. "I know."
************************************************************************
Theresa and Paloma drove in silence for a few minutes without anything to talk about. Paloma was still trying her hardest to put on a brave face for her family, and Theresa was going through her mind trying to think of something she could say to start a conversation, but then both women's thoughts were interrupted by Theresa's cell phone.
"Hello?" Theresa reached down into her purse to answer the phone.
"Theresa? It's Jessica Bennett."
"Oh, hello Jessica." Theresa had never gotten a call from Jessica before so this had come as somewhat a surprise. "What's up?"
"Well, we were wondering if you could come over?" Jessica had a tone of hope behind her voice that made Theresa wonder what the Bennett's could want with her presence.
"Of course I can." Theresa smiled into the phone. "I was on my way home, but I'll stop by there. I'll see you in about five minutes."
"Great!" Jessica squealed.
"What was that all about?" Paloma asked as Theresa made the turn onto the Bennett's street.
"It was Jessica Bennett." Theresa shrugged. "She asked me to go over to her house. I thought it somewhat odd though. I can't think of any reason why the Bennett's would call me over."
"I guess we'll find out soon enough." Paloma laughed.
Theresa pulled her car into the Bennett's driveway and shut off the engine. As she and Paloma were exiting the car they were greeted by a very excited and very bubbly Jessica.
"Theresa!" She walked toward the older girl with her hands ready to embrace her. "Thanks so much for coming!"
"No, problem." She laughed as she hugged the younger girl.
Jessica took a moment and glanced at the young girl that accompanied Theresa. She looked so familiar, but Jessica wasn't sure where she had seen her before.
Paloma saw that Jessica Bennett had been looking at her, trying to place her face. She smiled and had to laugh a little because Jessica had always been a little forgetful, even when they were children.
As soon as Jessica realized whom she had been staring at, her eyes lit up and widened with complete shock and surprise.
"PALOMA?" Jessica's mouth hung open. "It's really YOU!"
"Hey, Jess!" Paloma was so happy that she had been reunited with her childhood friend.
"No, way!" Jessica shouted in disbelief. "Oh my gosh! It is you. Come on, I'm taking you inside to see my family! Theresa, come on, there's someone who's been dying to see YOU too!"
Jessica grabbed both of the older girls' wrists and led them inside her house.
"MOM! DAD! KAY! NOAH!" Jessica shouted as they entered her house. "You guys will NEVER guess who came back!"
Theresa stopped in her tracks when she heard HIS name. 'There's no way', she thought to herself, but then, sure enough she saw him seated on the sofa with his sister and cousin beside him.
"Resa?" He stood to his feet and was instantly shocked at the sight that just walked through his front door.
"NOAH SAMUEL BENNETT!"
************************************************************************
{*A/N* That's all for now, folks! =) Hope you are enjoying the story. I'd love feedback on how you want this story to play out. I have a lot of little ideas floating around in my head (as to which "romances" pan out), but I am most definitely open for suggestions. Anyway, thanks for the responses so far. Be on the look out for Antonio's 'welcome home' to happen in the next chapter! }