Chapter 3: Christmas Surprises!
A/N: Thanks to the 2 people who reviewed! And to Robin, I'm a Kayguel fan too, but I'm not sure I want to make this a Kayguel fic. Not yet anyway.
December came around quicker than Kay had wanted it to. It seemed like it was only yesterday that she agreed to be one of Charity's bridesmaids and made plans to spend Christmas at home. Now she was packing for Christmas. She had to bring her winter assignment and made sure to take off from work, where she was a secretary/intern to a top psychologist in the City. Her employer was very understanding and even gave her a Christmas present, a top book on psychology. "Are you almost ready Kay?" Pearl called from the kitchen. "Almost!" Kay called back and went into the kitchen. Pearl, Jeff, Vincent, and Robyn sat in the kitchen. "We wanted to give you your presents now," Pearl said. "This is from Jeff and me." Kay opened the present, only to find the purple-blue beaded bag she wanted, with her cousin's own silver beads spelling out "Kay." Kay smiled and hugged the couple. "And this," Jeff said, "is from Rob, Mike, Joey and Kevin." Kay opened up to find the baseball that Kevin had caught at the last baseball game the group went to. The guys even had Roger Clements sign it! Kay smiled even bigger, and hugged Jeff again, telling him, "Give that to the guys." Then Robyn handed Kay the present from all the girls. It was the new CD Kay wanted. "Thank you!" Kay jumped up and down and hugged Robyn. Lastly, Vincent gave her a beautiful gold necklace with Kay in diamonds on it. "Oh, you shouldn't have!" Kay squealed before kissing him. "I know. Merry Christmas, Kay. Now, off you go!" Vincent said. Kay waved good-bye to her friends before leaving the apartment.
Kay pulled up to her childhood house late that night. She stood, mentally prepping herself. Before she could knock, Jessica opened the door and hugged her older sister. Jessica had cut her hair and had grown a little bit more. "Kay, welcome back!" she said. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too, Jess," Kay said. "Kay?" came her mother's voice. "Mom?" Kay entered into the house. Grace Bennett stood there, looking the same as she did five years ago. Kay and Grace hadn't departed in a pleasant manner. "Mom, I'm sorry," Kay began to apologize. "It's okay," Grace interrupted, hugging her eldest daughter. "Kay!" her father called out, coming in. Even with all his police equipment on, Kay flung herself into his open arms. "Welcome home."
The next day, Christmas Eve, Charity and Miguel came over. Charity's blonde hair now feel in soft curls, but she still looked the same, as did Miguel. They acted the same, Miguel babying Charity, who loved it. Kay was glad she and Vincent weren't like that. Charity and Jessica went inside to help Grace with dinner, leaving Miguel and Kay some time alone. "So, how's New York Kay?" Miguel asked. "It's okay. I share the apartment with my cousin Pearl, you remember her right?"
"Of course. She was Theresa's age, right?"
"About there. Oh yes, I saw your sister on Long Island over the summer. We've kept in contact, but she hasn't told me where she is. But I have the feeling she's not here in Harmony anymore," Kay said. "No, but you've kept in touch with her?"
"Yes. We talk about everything except Harmony. But what happened? I know Ethan is engaged to Gwen and isn't talking to her. But why?" Miguel shrugged. "Something came up. Gwen found out that Theresa was dating both Ethan and someone else, a man named Christian. He just moved into Harmony. She told Ethan and Ethan found them together. Theresa swears she was called over for another reason, but we all know Theresa's track record," Miguel responded. "She said she will come back for Charity and my wedding. Little Ethan is going to be our ring bearer. I'm so glad you agreed to come back to celebrate with us." Miguel smiled. Kay answered, "Well, I wouldn't miss my best friend's wedding for the world!" Miguel smiled even broader and hugged Kay. "Dinner's ready!" Charity said.
Later, the family got ready for midnight mass at the church. Unfortunately, Charity wasn't feeling so well. "Go ahead without me. I'll go to mass tomorrow. Enjoy!" Charity said, before lying down in Jessica and Kay's old room. Charity laid down on Kay's old bed and looked around. Nothing really changed, even when both girls went to college. Kay didn't bring a lot of her stuff with her to New York City. Charity felt her foot hit something hard. Turning on the light, Charity picked up the object. It appeared to be one of Kay's old binders. She opened it up and began to shift through the papers.
Kay and family got back home. Kay had seen everyone again. Simone and she made up, Reese forgave her for the way she treated him, and it was great to see Fr. Lonigan again. Katharine Lopez-Fitzgerald was the spitting image of her mother. Miguel came back to pick up Charity, who was spending Christmas morning with his family before spending Christmas night with the Bennetts. Kay and Jessica were talking about how shocked Kay was when Fr. Lonigan asked her to place the baby Jesus in the manger, when Kay noticed the kitchen light was on. She headed in. "Charity? Are you up?" Kay was met with a hostile glance by her cousin, with a familiar binder in front of her. In her rush to get out of Harmony, Kay forgot her diary! And now, Charity had read it and knew everything. Miguel and the others followed in and quickly noticed the chill in the room. "Charity, what's wrong?" Miguel asked. "When I went upstairs to rest, I found this lying on the floor. I figured it was an old school binder of Kay's. Instead it was her diary from her teenage years. Remember all the evil that haunted Harmony? She caused it! She wanted to break us up! She's the one who dumped the fish guts on me! She's the reason her old house was sucked into the ground! She's the reason I was frozen in a block of ice! She's the reason your house burned down! She caused all the pain in Harmony!" Charity was panting now after her rant. Everyone turned to Kay. Jessica knew everything Kay did. Sam and Grace knew about Kay's obsession with Miguel, but never realized how far it went. And Miguel just realized everything.
Kay felt trapped. Now everyone knew everything awful she had done as a teenager. But that wasn't who she was now. She had changed for the better. "Can I explain?" Kay asked. "Explain what? Your diary explains everything plain as day. Kay, you are uninvited to our wedding, you are not going to be one of my bridesmaids and I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. EVER!" Charity ran out of the house. Miguel looked at Kay and Kay cringed at the hurt in his eyes. "I don't know you anymore Kay. You weren't the person I thought you were. You're just like Theresa!" Miguel ran after Charity. Jessica shook her head and went upstairs. Grace looked at her daughter with the old disappointment in her eyes. "How could you do that to sweet, innocent Charity? How could you turn to evil? How?" Grace ran upstairs. Kay was left alone with her father. She went to her old diary and closed it up. "Kay, sit down," her father said. Kay did so. "I didn't know how far you went during your teen years. I wish I did, I would've helped you," Sam began. "Dad, I know you would've helped me but I wouldn't have listened. I needed to get away, learn my lesson. I just wished everyone would've let me explain. I've changed. Mom-"
"Don't go there Kay. Your mother is a little blind when it comes to Charity. Charity is first. I started to notice that after you left."
"I did too. Charity can do no wrong in Mom's eyes. I mean, it was wrong for her to read your diary in the first place. I would never stoop that low," Jessica said from the stairs. "But you noticed Mom didn't reprimand her for reading your diary and stood up for her."
"I think I want to go home. Back to New York. I can't stay here any more. Not with Charity, Miguel and Mom mad at me. I'll spend Christmas somewhere else." Kay stood up. "No, Kay, I want you to stay. Don't let this make you go home. Please stay!" Jessica pleaded. "Please, Kay," Sam added. Kay agreed. "I'll stay. For you two. Goodnight."
The next morning was a rather tense one between the four members of the Bennett family. Grace realized that no one was on her side and was grumpier than ever. Kay knew her mother couldn't wait for the Lopez-Fitzgeralds to come over. Grace would have her main ally, her beloved niece. Kay sat in her old kitchen, reading the new book Jessica gave her when the phone rang. "Hello, Bennett residence," Kay said. "Kay?" Pearl's voice came over the receiver. "Pearl! Oh my god, merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas to you cuz! How's it going?"
"Oh just great," Kay said sarcastically. "Oh no, what happened?"
"Last night, or rather this morning, when we went to midnight mass, Charity wasn't feeling well and stayed home. When I got home, I realized I left my teenage diary in my haste to leave Harmony."
"Charity found your diary?"
"And read it."
"AND READ IT?!" Kay could hear Pearl panicking for her. "Yes. Now, I'm no longer a bridesmaid or allowed at her wedding, Miguel hates me and my mother is taking her side again."
"Are you alone? I mean I'll come up with Jeff and Vincent and we'll take your side."
"No, no. I have Daddy and Jessica. And I'll probably have Reese. We're friends again. Mom's alone right now, until Charity comes over later with Miguel's family. It's going to be horrible. I hope the Lopez-Fitzgerald's don't have to take sides. That would be tough for everyone. Oh, they just came, I've got to go. It was great to talk to you. I'll see you when I get back to New York and wish everyone a Merry Christmas for me! Love you bye!" Kay hung up the phone. She walked outside to find the entire Lopez-Fitzgerald clan in the living room, even Theresa and Ethan-Martin. Theresa gave Kay a big hug, as did Ethan-Martin. "I don't care what Miguel and Charity say. Your past is over. You are a different person now." Pilar hugged Kay too. "It's good to see you again, Kay. We missed you. And no, I won't be pressing charges about the arson of my house. It's over. We have a new house now." Pilar went over to Grace. Kay took a deep breath. She had Theresa. What about Luis and Sheridan?
Sheridan brought little Katharine over and hugged Kay. "I don't care what Miguel says. I can tell you've changed. Luis was a little upset when Miguel told him your responsible for burning down the house, but he knows you did it by accident." Luis came up. "I forgive you Kay," he said, hugging the woman. The rest of the evening was strained, and the next day Kay took a walk around Harmony