Reminiscing.
Laughs could be heard in the Lopez-Fidzgerald kitchen, all from Faith Standish, Anita Brown and the birthday girl...or woman rather, Pilar Lopez-Fidzgerald.The three over the years became very close friends, despite and in some ways because of the relationship's their children had with eachother.
The radio in the kitchen was blaring of, songs of their youth as they shared stories of themselves in their adolescense.The house was semi-full with most of all of the three's aquaintances, everyone sparsed into diffrent parts of the house, doing what they'd usually do when they visited.Marcus,Miguel, Ethan and others were in the back playing their usual spirited game of poker, as the children ran around the backyard ever so often looking on wonderously at the poker table wondering what was so interesting about passing around cards.
Theresa and others, where all over primping things in the house making sure that her mother had the best birthday ever, as she always did each year.However this year, Theresa's eyes went to the door frequently wondering if Charity would acctualy live up to her word and show up.She almost bumped into her younger sister Paloma who was walking around with the video carmera, capturing her family at their true best.Behind stood Tania, her childhood friend and Paloma's three year old niece Gia who followed the two non-stop!
Pilar got up from the kitchen table still giggling profusely, walking over to the stove.
"where do you think you're going?"Anita called out boldly.
"I was just going to check on the stove, you know how you are when you cook Anita,"she replied."if it wasn't for Faith, I and the familly you'd probably burn my house down."she continued to laugh, as she opened the stove and checked on everything.
"so what are you saying? I can't cook."Anita continued some-what offended.
"oh, honey no."Faith answered."you're just a distinguished cook."
Anita rolled her eyes, as one of her own children would do."whatever."she hissed"Pilar, you better sit yourself down and let me and Faith cook for you today, or else I will not be responsible for my actions."the full figured woman threatened raising, her wooden spoon.
"and, this is my beautiful Aunt Anita."Paloma spoke as she pointed the video camera, in Anita's direction.She made the camera go all around the room, capturing Faith and Pilar who hated the thing and wished Theressa had never got her one for her birthday."and this is my mother, she's a bit camera shy."she teased, as she foccused it more in Pilar's direction.
"c'mon, Momma"Tania called, out from behind."just give the camera a little itty-bitty smile!"she mocked, know holding little Gia, who wanted to be apart of the banter.
" Daniel, you have to promise me that you'll be a good b--man today." Charity softly ordered, as she and Daniel walked hand in hand down the sidewalks.
"I'm always good, Mommy." the little boy chirped, as he trotted along with his mother."where are we going anyway?Who are the Lopez-F---F...."he had a hard enough time pronoucing Lopez, so he wasn't even going to try his luck with Fitzgerald.
"Fitzgerald,"Charity laughed."and their Miguel's familly, you remeber him--don't you?"Charity went on as she walked looking down at her son.
Now that was a name Daniel surely wouldn't forget, that was the grown-up who was trying to tear his mother and father apart, that was the gown-up he hated."oh." he replied bitterly as an old man would.Walking a bit slower, as he realized exactlly who's house they were going to;Why would he want his Mommy anywhere near him, suddenly the same grimmace he presented when he first met Miguel re-appeared on his face.
"now what do we say, when someone gives you something?"Charity quizzed Daniel, as she knelt to fix him up infront of the Lopez-Fitzgerald residence.
"thank you."the boy huffed, as he wished his mother wouldn't baby over him in public as she was doing.
"even if sometimes we really don't..."
"want it."
"that's my boy."she smiled proudly, as she rang the doorbell.
Theresa waited until the second ring, to get the door.As she slowly opened it a smile crossed her face as she met Charity on the other end.Their was a silence between the two as Theresa looked down at Daniel, quietly tighting his grip to his mother's hand.Her eyes met with Charity's once more, as if she had so much to say but no way of ever saying them.Simply, she only hugged her while whispering."welcome home."
Charity remained closedmouthed at her welcome home, what was she to say?Or do?Smile foolishly and pretend this was a happy homecomming, or pretend she was even happy to be back.
"who is this?"Theresa smiled, as she knelt to Daniel.
For the most part, Daniel was shy around alomst everyone his mother introduced in the past couple of days.Yet, with this woman he was less apprehensive maybe it was the innocence like his own in her doe eyes."Daniel."he responded quietly still closely gripped towards his mother.Now, all of a sudden something small came whizzing by stopping at the dark eyed woman's side.
Daniel observed the creature, it looked like it was his age...but a little wierder looking than he was.
"Daniel, this is Gia...Theresa's daughter."his mother informed him.
So, this is what a girl looks like? Daniel inquired in his thoughts, as he looked at the little girl awkwardly.He'd never seen one of them before.
"why don't,"Charity started kneeling down to her son."you and Gia go play?"
"I don't want to, Mommy she's a girl!"Daniel pouted, as he faced his mother.He knew that some point in his mother's life, she was a girl too! but that was different, his mom knew stuff, like how to play baseball for instense.He bet that 'Gia' didn't even know what baseball was!
"c'mon sweetie it'll be fun, do you really want to spend the whole day with me.Listening to boring grown-up stuff, do you?" she propositioned.
"...no."he replied.
"well why don't you play with Gia for a few minutes, and if you don't like it you can come straight back."
Daniel gave a slight glance over at Gia, who seemed not too big on the idea of them playing together either.He contimplated what his mother had just said...he could come back if he hated this girl, so it seemed quite fair."okay."he replied crisply, as he detached himself from his mother and walked towards Gia.
Charity and Theresa watched on at their children, as they examined eachother for a few moments before walking away towards the backyard together.As the two were out of sight, Theresa insisted Charity go in the kitchen to say 'hello' to Pilar and Anita with no confrontations they did.Sooner or later, Anita's bold voice rang through the house, informing everyone it was time to come in and all knowing, very well what Anita's great wrath felt like if she was ignored, they all did exactlly what she said.Time passed, the birthday party went on and Charity kept on running into familiar faces that took part in her past.She'd smile gratefully maintaing the facade, that things weren't as bad as they were.
Somewhere in that room, there he stood.Catching quick glimpses of her as she past stopping to talk to yet another.He cursed himself, for standing around watching her every move.She looked almost the same, just as the day she'd left...she seemed happy to be without him, and somewhere behind his jelousy and anger towards her knew foud joys he was glad she found her own beatitude .
"I'll go get the cake."Charity told her mother, as she dissapeared into the kitchen desperately trying to escape from his stares, everytime she'd trun around he'd catch his glimpses towarsd her.She couldn't stand them, but she'd just have to ignore Miguel's silent regrets of their past together and focus on what she'd came to do.
She searched the lightly coloured kitchen, as her eyes met with the ivory coloured cake with small white accents.There were few candels, keeping Pilar's true age a secret .as she observed the room her mind tried to remeber how everything was placed, or if things were even in the same place after all these years as a song echoed in.
Love letters straight, from your heart.
Keep us so near, while apart.
I'm not alone in the night...
It was like fate, was playing a creul joke for both parts as the song began to play out throughout the house.Miguel paused as it began to play itself, before asking his mother to dance.Omiting that the damn thing had any effect on him.
When I can have, all the love you write.
I'll memorize every line...
And I'll kiss the name, that you sign.
brings back memories. she thought to herself, as a small smile came upon her.Things weren't always this bad between them, she hadn't forgotten.Shamefull as it was, whenever things were going wrong between her and Jackson...her mind would play back to that day.When she sat and closed her eyes, forgetting all else that happened around her Charity could still see that old sooty garage with it's tattered surroundings, it looked dispicable...but she didn't care, it was her very first dance.
And darlin' then, I'll read again...
Right from the start...
Love letters, straight from your heart.
Charity would sit and remeber, when life was simple and hapiness was in her reach.Sometimes she'd pray for that moment back, maybe she could of done things differently then so things wouldn't have to end up the way they have...and then sometimes, she'd wish she never stayed and that she left Harmony that day and they would've never seen eachother ever again...maybe it would have saved her the pain.
She stood in the silence of the kitchen only hearing the cheerful noises from the other room, as she took a deep breath and got ready to head out.She put on her best smile, as she past threw the doors presenting the cake.
Outside Ethan and Marcus, were back outside finishing their poker game that everyone seemed to bail out on.Gia and Daniel who seemed on the road of becoming friends, decided to see what was so big about 'Poker' and ask as many questions as the two could concieve.
"just face it man, you're going to loose!"Marcus snickered childishly, as he eyed his cards.
"you're funny!" Daniel giggled out, as he observed Marcus' actions.
"see even, Daniel knows you're going to loose!"he continued.
"he said you were funny,"Ethan smirked concentrated in the game none the less, as he placed his cards on the table."now this royal flush, says you loose!"
Marcus rose his brow, as he set down his cards."what does that say then." he smiled"because I think this says...I won."
"Daddy, what's a royal flush...is that like when you flush the toillette?" Gia inquired, as she looked onto her father.
"kind of,"Ethan explianed."honey, why don't you and Danny go inside and visit Grand-ma."
"we've already visited,"the little girl pouted.
"well, honey why don't you visit again."Marcus continued, looking onto the two children who seemed very un-impressed"how's about if uncle Marcus give you a five." he suggested taking two fives out of the pile of money, in the middle of the poker table."do you know all the stuff you can get with that?"
"yes."the two nodded, giddilly.
"then go get it!" with their uncle Marcus' words in heart, they left.
Charity stood outside watching her son marvell over the money he'd gotten, this time trying her hardest to actually have a good time.
"why isn't your husband here?" Miguel blatantly asked, standing silently beside her a moment before.
"I don't think that's really any of your business."Charity coldly replied as she continued to watch her son.
"I know, it isn't"he replied sagely"but I'm having a real time believing that you came here alone just for the hell of it."
Charity laughed wryly, as she turned to Miguel folding her arms."and what do you expect me to answer, Miguel ?"she searched his eyes with anger in hers."that I ditched a marriage, and dragged my three year old son over here, to a place he hardly knows; just so I could come back and pine over you."she stated sarcasticlly.
"no."he replied."but to be honest, it does kind of make you think."
She couldn't believe his nerve, but yet again pulling something like this wasn't too far away from the Miguel she'd left years ago, she decided why keep this a secret in a few months when her divorce was finalized, the whole town would know anyways."I'm getting a divorce."she finally admitted.
Maybe he should of been happy, this might of been his second chance but he couldn't rejoice over the matter when he knew she wasn't as happy as she lead on."why?"
She turned to him once more, quietly searching him wondering why he acctually gave a damn about her failed marriage."I guess, I'm a victim of making the same mistake twice."Charity galred over to him, as Daniel walked up to her.
"I want to go home, Mommy."he saw her talking to him from a far, she spoke to him like his father never even exhisted.Daniel couldn't just let his mom forget about his father and ruin his familly, so he did the best thing he could think of.
"what's wrong baby, I thought you were having fun?"Charity asked, as she knelt down to the boy.
"I want, to go home."he simply repeated, as he walked past her heading towards the door.
Charity eyed, Faith telling her she was going home while giving one last glare at Miguel as he watched her leave his sight.She sped out the door trying to keep up with her son, who was not too far ahead of her.
"Daniel, what's the matter with you!?" she called out to him, as she got him by the arm.
He scowled his mother as he glowered."I DON'T WANT A NEW DADDY." he scremt with all the anger inside him as a tears formed in his eyes.That very moment, Charity felt like the worst mother in the world.
Laughs could be heard in the Lopez-Fidzgerald kitchen, all from Faith Standish, Anita Brown and the birthday girl...or woman rather, Pilar Lopez-Fidzgerald.The three over the years became very close friends, despite and in some ways because of the relationship's their children had with eachother.
The radio in the kitchen was blaring of, songs of their youth as they shared stories of themselves in their adolescense.The house was semi-full with most of all of the three's aquaintances, everyone sparsed into diffrent parts of the house, doing what they'd usually do when they visited.Marcus,Miguel, Ethan and others were in the back playing their usual spirited game of poker, as the children ran around the backyard ever so often looking on wonderously at the poker table wondering what was so interesting about passing around cards.
Theresa and others, where all over primping things in the house making sure that her mother had the best birthday ever, as she always did each year.However this year, Theresa's eyes went to the door frequently wondering if Charity would acctualy live up to her word and show up.She almost bumped into her younger sister Paloma who was walking around with the video carmera, capturing her family at their true best.Behind stood Tania, her childhood friend and Paloma's three year old niece Gia who followed the two non-stop!
Pilar got up from the kitchen table still giggling profusely, walking over to the stove.
"where do you think you're going?"Anita called out boldly.
"I was just going to check on the stove, you know how you are when you cook Anita,"she replied."if it wasn't for Faith, I and the familly you'd probably burn my house down."she continued to laugh, as she opened the stove and checked on everything.
"so what are you saying? I can't cook."Anita continued some-what offended.
"oh, honey no."Faith answered."you're just a distinguished cook."
Anita rolled her eyes, as one of her own children would do."whatever."she hissed"Pilar, you better sit yourself down and let me and Faith cook for you today, or else I will not be responsible for my actions."the full figured woman threatened raising, her wooden spoon.
"and, this is my beautiful Aunt Anita."Paloma spoke as she pointed the video camera, in Anita's direction.She made the camera go all around the room, capturing Faith and Pilar who hated the thing and wished Theressa had never got her one for her birthday."and this is my mother, she's a bit camera shy."she teased, as she foccused it more in Pilar's direction.
"c'mon, Momma"Tania called, out from behind."just give the camera a little itty-bitty smile!"she mocked, know holding little Gia, who wanted to be apart of the banter.
" Daniel, you have to promise me that you'll be a good b--man today." Charity softly ordered, as she and Daniel walked hand in hand down the sidewalks.
"I'm always good, Mommy." the little boy chirped, as he trotted along with his mother."where are we going anyway?Who are the Lopez-F---F...."he had a hard enough time pronoucing Lopez, so he wasn't even going to try his luck with Fitzgerald.
"Fitzgerald,"Charity laughed."and their Miguel's familly, you remeber him--don't you?"Charity went on as she walked looking down at her son.
Now that was a name Daniel surely wouldn't forget, that was the grown-up who was trying to tear his mother and father apart, that was the gown-up he hated."oh." he replied bitterly as an old man would.Walking a bit slower, as he realized exactlly who's house they were going to;Why would he want his Mommy anywhere near him, suddenly the same grimmace he presented when he first met Miguel re-appeared on his face.
"now what do we say, when someone gives you something?"Charity quizzed Daniel, as she knelt to fix him up infront of the Lopez-Fitzgerald residence.
"thank you."the boy huffed, as he wished his mother wouldn't baby over him in public as she was doing.
"even if sometimes we really don't..."
"want it."
"that's my boy."she smiled proudly, as she rang the doorbell.
Theresa waited until the second ring, to get the door.As she slowly opened it a smile crossed her face as she met Charity on the other end.Their was a silence between the two as Theresa looked down at Daniel, quietly tighting his grip to his mother's hand.Her eyes met with Charity's once more, as if she had so much to say but no way of ever saying them.Simply, she only hugged her while whispering."welcome home."
Charity remained closedmouthed at her welcome home, what was she to say?Or do?Smile foolishly and pretend this was a happy homecomming, or pretend she was even happy to be back.
"who is this?"Theresa smiled, as she knelt to Daniel.
For the most part, Daniel was shy around alomst everyone his mother introduced in the past couple of days.Yet, with this woman he was less apprehensive maybe it was the innocence like his own in her doe eyes."Daniel."he responded quietly still closely gripped towards his mother.Now, all of a sudden something small came whizzing by stopping at the dark eyed woman's side.
Daniel observed the creature, it looked like it was his age...but a little wierder looking than he was.
"Daniel, this is Gia...Theresa's daughter."his mother informed him.
So, this is what a girl looks like? Daniel inquired in his thoughts, as he looked at the little girl awkwardly.He'd never seen one of them before.
"why don't,"Charity started kneeling down to her son."you and Gia go play?"
"I don't want to, Mommy she's a girl!"Daniel pouted, as he faced his mother.He knew that some point in his mother's life, she was a girl too! but that was different, his mom knew stuff, like how to play baseball for instense.He bet that 'Gia' didn't even know what baseball was!
"c'mon sweetie it'll be fun, do you really want to spend the whole day with me.Listening to boring grown-up stuff, do you?" she propositioned.
"...no."he replied.
"well why don't you play with Gia for a few minutes, and if you don't like it you can come straight back."
Daniel gave a slight glance over at Gia, who seemed not too big on the idea of them playing together either.He contimplated what his mother had just said...he could come back if he hated this girl, so it seemed quite fair."okay."he replied crisply, as he detached himself from his mother and walked towards Gia.
Charity and Theresa watched on at their children, as they examined eachother for a few moments before walking away towards the backyard together.As the two were out of sight, Theresa insisted Charity go in the kitchen to say 'hello' to Pilar and Anita with no confrontations they did.Sooner or later, Anita's bold voice rang through the house, informing everyone it was time to come in and all knowing, very well what Anita's great wrath felt like if she was ignored, they all did exactlly what she said.Time passed, the birthday party went on and Charity kept on running into familiar faces that took part in her past.She'd smile gratefully maintaing the facade, that things weren't as bad as they were.
Somewhere in that room, there he stood.Catching quick glimpses of her as she past stopping to talk to yet another.He cursed himself, for standing around watching her every move.She looked almost the same, just as the day she'd left...she seemed happy to be without him, and somewhere behind his jelousy and anger towards her knew foud joys he was glad she found her own beatitude .
"I'll go get the cake."Charity told her mother, as she dissapeared into the kitchen desperately trying to escape from his stares, everytime she'd trun around he'd catch his glimpses towarsd her.She couldn't stand them, but she'd just have to ignore Miguel's silent regrets of their past together and focus on what she'd came to do.
She searched the lightly coloured kitchen, as her eyes met with the ivory coloured cake with small white accents.There were few candels, keeping Pilar's true age a secret .as she observed the room her mind tried to remeber how everything was placed, or if things were even in the same place after all these years as a song echoed in.
Love letters straight, from your heart.
Keep us so near, while apart.
I'm not alone in the night...
It was like fate, was playing a creul joke for both parts as the song began to play out throughout the house.Miguel paused as it began to play itself, before asking his mother to dance.Omiting that the damn thing had any effect on him.
When I can have, all the love you write.
I'll memorize every line...
And I'll kiss the name, that you sign.
brings back memories. she thought to herself, as a small smile came upon her.Things weren't always this bad between them, she hadn't forgotten.Shamefull as it was, whenever things were going wrong between her and Jackson...her mind would play back to that day.When she sat and closed her eyes, forgetting all else that happened around her Charity could still see that old sooty garage with it's tattered surroundings, it looked dispicable...but she didn't care, it was her very first dance.
And darlin' then, I'll read again...
Right from the start...
Love letters, straight from your heart.
Charity would sit and remeber, when life was simple and hapiness was in her reach.Sometimes she'd pray for that moment back, maybe she could of done things differently then so things wouldn't have to end up the way they have...and then sometimes, she'd wish she never stayed and that she left Harmony that day and they would've never seen eachother ever again...maybe it would have saved her the pain.
She stood in the silence of the kitchen only hearing the cheerful noises from the other room, as she took a deep breath and got ready to head out.She put on her best smile, as she past threw the doors presenting the cake.
Outside Ethan and Marcus, were back outside finishing their poker game that everyone seemed to bail out on.Gia and Daniel who seemed on the road of becoming friends, decided to see what was so big about 'Poker' and ask as many questions as the two could concieve.
"just face it man, you're going to loose!"Marcus snickered childishly, as he eyed his cards.
"you're funny!" Daniel giggled out, as he observed Marcus' actions.
"see even, Daniel knows you're going to loose!"he continued.
"he said you were funny,"Ethan smirked concentrated in the game none the less, as he placed his cards on the table."now this royal flush, says you loose!"
Marcus rose his brow, as he set down his cards."what does that say then." he smiled"because I think this says...I won."
"Daddy, what's a royal flush...is that like when you flush the toillette?" Gia inquired, as she looked onto her father.
"kind of,"Ethan explianed."honey, why don't you and Danny go inside and visit Grand-ma."
"we've already visited,"the little girl pouted.
"well, honey why don't you visit again."Marcus continued, looking onto the two children who seemed very un-impressed"how's about if uncle Marcus give you a five." he suggested taking two fives out of the pile of money, in the middle of the poker table."do you know all the stuff you can get with that?"
"yes."the two nodded, giddilly.
"then go get it!" with their uncle Marcus' words in heart, they left.
Charity stood outside watching her son marvell over the money he'd gotten, this time trying her hardest to actually have a good time.
"why isn't your husband here?" Miguel blatantly asked, standing silently beside her a moment before.
"I don't think that's really any of your business."Charity coldly replied as she continued to watch her son.
"I know, it isn't"he replied sagely"but I'm having a real time believing that you came here alone just for the hell of it."
Charity laughed wryly, as she turned to Miguel folding her arms."and what do you expect me to answer, Miguel ?"she searched his eyes with anger in hers."that I ditched a marriage, and dragged my three year old son over here, to a place he hardly knows; just so I could come back and pine over you."she stated sarcasticlly.
"no."he replied."but to be honest, it does kind of make you think."
She couldn't believe his nerve, but yet again pulling something like this wasn't too far away from the Miguel she'd left years ago, she decided why keep this a secret in a few months when her divorce was finalized, the whole town would know anyways."I'm getting a divorce."she finally admitted.
Maybe he should of been happy, this might of been his second chance but he couldn't rejoice over the matter when he knew she wasn't as happy as she lead on."why?"
She turned to him once more, quietly searching him wondering why he acctually gave a damn about her failed marriage."I guess, I'm a victim of making the same mistake twice."Charity galred over to him, as Daniel walked up to her.
"I want to go home, Mommy."he saw her talking to him from a far, she spoke to him like his father never even exhisted.Daniel couldn't just let his mom forget about his father and ruin his familly, so he did the best thing he could think of.
"what's wrong baby, I thought you were having fun?"Charity asked, as she knelt down to the boy.
"I want, to go home."he simply repeated, as he walked past her heading towards the door.
Charity eyed, Faith telling her she was going home while giving one last glare at Miguel as he watched her leave his sight.She sped out the door trying to keep up with her son, who was not too far ahead of her.
"Daniel, what's the matter with you!?" she called out to him, as she got him by the arm.
He scowled his mother as he glowered."I DON'T WANT A NEW DADDY." he scremt with all the anger inside him as a tears formed in his eyes.That very moment, Charity felt like the worst mother in the world.