"Kendall," Zach said as they were driving toward the first house on their list from the realtor. "I want you to know that I would never believe anything Ethan says. I know how much he hates us. Please don't think I would ever doubt you."

"Thank you, Zach, but I see how you look at us when he's around. You're always remembering that he had me first," Kendall answered impulsively and more honestly than she had planned.

Zach was so stunned by her statement that he hit the brakes and pulled the car carefully to the side of the road. It took all of his considerable control to keep his voice calm, "What are you talking about? The only way I look at Ethan is with irritation because I know how much he annoys you. I truly didn't know that he was planning such a stunt, and I apologize for allowing it to happen… but I know that you feel exactly the same way about him as I do."

"You what?" Kendall asked in shock.

"Kendall… you can't possibly believe that I thought you had feelings for Ethan?" Zach said in shocked surprise.

"But… he's always hanging around, and I can see it in your eyes… he gets to you. I assumed it was because of me… or your doubts about me," she said.

"I have no doubts about you, Kendall… what you were reading in my eyes was only for Ethan. I am so tired of his games… he is such a child… and for a man of his years it's very unbecoming," Zach said.

"But… but… Ethan said… I mean… the baby," Kendall stammered in confusion.

"Ethan did nothing but imply something that we both know is untrue," Zach said softly. "He was a guest of the Pine Valley Police Department when our child was conceived. Besides, Kendall…"

She looked at him, her eyes still puffy from her earlier tears, "…Zach?"

I love you, were the words that almost spilled from his lips, but he stopped himself. Instead he leaned over and kissed her gently on the mouth while cupping her cheek with his hand. He pulled away and looked at her for a long moment before saying, "We're a family now… and it won't include Ethan… but not because of anything you've done."

Kendall whispered, "Oh, Zach… I was so… so afraid that you… that you… would believe… those awful… awful lies…"

"Have I been that bad? I must have been if you think that I could believe Ethan over you," Zach said with sadness. "What can I do to prove that I trust you, Kendall?"

"You just did… thank you for believing in me… and I trust you, Zach… as much as I'm capable of trusting anyone… but…" she said hesitantly, looking down and avoiding his gaze.

"But what, sweetheart? Don't you know by now that I'd do anything for you and the baby?" he asked softly, not sure if he really wanted to hear her answer.

"I'm so sorry… I don't want to hurt you, Zach," she said continuing to look at her hands as they lay clenched in her lap.

Wanting to pull her into his arms and hold her against his heart—and feeling very uncertain that she would ever allow him to do that again—Zach's voice broke a little as he answered, "You're hurting me now, Kendall… please tell me… is it already too late? Did my brother make it impossible for us to stay together? I'll understand if you want to get away from me and this damnable curse… but I hoped…"

"No!" she interrupted emphatically. "But… I thought lately that maybe you've been regretting our marriage."

"I don't regret one minute of our marriage, Kendall. But you… do you have regrets? I mean, I practically dragged you to the altar… maybe I didn't give you enough time… are you sorry you married me?" he asked her softly, placing a hand over hers.

"No, Zach… I don't regret marrying you… we're…" she answered haltingly.

Zach sat quietly waiting for her to finish her thought, gently prodding her to continue, "… go on."

"I know we thought we could make this marriage work… as friends… but Maria… she's always going to be there, isn't she?" she answered.

Zach looked at her in surprise, "Maria? Please tell me that you don't think that I…"

"You can't just turn off love, Zach. That's something I know a lot about… and just because she left you, doesn't mean you don't think of her and want her back. But I don't like sharing you with a memory… and I don't like sharing our bed with her ghost," she replied honestly.

"Oh, Kendall," Zach sighed, thinking to himself, if you only knew...

"But you don't deny that you still love her, do you?" she persisted quietly.

"Can I tell you something about Maria? Something that I've never told anyone before?" She looked at him somberly and nodded before he continued, "I realize now that I never truly loved her… and not just Maria, but Maureen, too. It was all a fantasy, two lonely people with no past and no future who found solace… and pleasure… in each other. The mistake was in trying to get it back… and hurting each other so much in the process. I can promise you that she is not a ghost in our bed… and the only woman I make love to at night is you."

Kendall's breath caught in her throat, "But my past… I can't say I've never loved… and now you're telling me that I've doomed you to a loveless marriage… it's you who should want out… so that you can find love…"

I have found love, right here with you. "You're my wife, Kendall, and I want to be your husband. I've never been able to share myself with anyone like I do with you… you make me laugh… and you want to have my child… what more could I possibly want?" he whispered softlyresting his foreheadon hers.

"Are you sure it's enough just to be good friends?" she asked in response.

"Yeah… best friends," Zach whispered, lifting her hand to his lips. He would have liked to hear her say it was more than just friendship, but it would have to do for the time being. "Is it enough for you?"

She nodded slowly, "I don't ever want to go to that crazy place again… and when I fall in love that's where I go. Friendship is much better for me."

"Then it's settled," he answered before leering at her, "and I really do like the benefits."

She laughed as he had hoped she would before answering softly, "I do too."

He kissed her once more before asking solicitously, "Are you okay to look at houses? Or would you rather go home and lie down?"

"No… I mean… I'm fine, and… I'd really like to find something so that we can move before the baby's born. The condo feels smaller every day," she said quietly.

"Okay, then house-hunting it is. Are you ready to find the house of our dreams?" he asked with a bright smile.

"I'd love to," Kendall answered with a tiny smile, trying to sound enthusiastic. Zach put the car in gear and continued driving. When they arrived at their destination, Kendall was surprised to find that it was a house that they had already looked at… and Zach had rejected.

"What are we doing here? I thought you didn't like this place," Kendall said in surprise.

"Yeah, but you loved it if I remember correctly," Zach answered. "I called the realtor while you were getting dressed this morning and she said it was still on the market—and that we were wise to wait the extra time. She thinks we'll get a much better price."

"Are you sure?" she asked him with a genuine smile this time.

He nodded his head, "Let's go inside and check it out."

He assisted Kendall from the car and they were halfway up the brick walkway when the front door opened and out stepped Erica, "There you are! I've been waiting forever… was there a delay at the doctor's office?"

Kendall looked at her mother in surprise and then glanced at Zach who was grinning broadly, "I… I didn't know you were coming, Mother."

"Well… when Zach called and asked me to drop everything to see this house he wanted to buy you… I just had to do it… you know that a man can never be trusted with a decision like this," she explained. Looking closely at her daughter, she raised a hand to her cheek, "But you've been crying…"

Kendall responded, "It's nothing, Mother, I'm just feeling very pregnant…"

"Zach?" Erica said accusingly as she looked daggers at her son-in-law.

"We just saw the baby on ultrasound… it's a very… um… emotional experience. Would you like to see a picture?" he asked pulling the photograph from his pocket and handing it to her. Erica's face softened as she realized that this was the baby's first photograph, even though she couldn't exactly identify much.

"Boy or girl?" she said after a moment.

"We don't know," Kendall said with a sigh.

"Why not? I thought they could tell when you are this far along," Erica said in confusion.

"They can," Zach said emphatically. "We don't want to know."

"You don't want to know," Kendall said with a laugh. "But that's okay… with a house this size we can make two nurseries… one for a boy and one for a girl."

Zach looked at her and said with laughter in his voice, "Very funny, Kendall. And speaking of the house… did it meet with your approval, Erica?"

Kendall and Zach both looked at her expectantly. "Oh yes. It's a lovely house. It will of course require a great deal of work, but it's a wonderful location… and the best part is…" she paused for effect.

"What?" Kendall asked with a laugh.

"It's only a few blocks from Myrtle's. You could take the baby for visits in a stroller," Erica finished as they walked up the path to the front door.

"Well… that settles it," Zach said warmly. "Where do we sign?"


Zach was clearing the dinner dishes while Kendall put away leftovers from their meal when she looked at him with a smile, "Don't do it tonight, okay?"

"Don't do what?" he asked.

"Don't go over there… please?" she said.

"Okay," he answered as he closed the dishwasher and set it to start running.

"Okay? That's all? You're not going to lecture me on all the work you need to finish? Or tell me that you don't want to disturb my sleep?" she asked in surprise.

"Nope," he answered, his eyes twinkling.

"Why you… you already decided not go over there," she said with a laugh and pushed his shoulder playfully before he pulled her into his arms and started tickling her. As she collapsed with laughter, he carried her over to the sofa and seated himself with her on his lap, his arms wrapped around her. Before she could guess what he was doing, he laid his head against her rounded tummy and said, "Hello, baby. Do you like it when your mommy laughs? I sure do!"

She stroked his hair, still giggling softly, enjoying the quiet moment together. He looked up at her with a grin of such pure happiness that her heart melted, I could love this man, she thought to herself. I do love this man, she realized with shock. Just at that moment, the baby moved strongly and Zach jumped before staring deeply into her eyes… and then he pulled her into a long, slow, deep kiss.


As usual, Zach woke a couple of hours after Kendall was asleep. He heard a sound in the courtyard and started to leave the bed to investigate… and then stopped himself. No, I'm staying here… Michael, I won't be coming back. Go haunt Ethan, he deserves you.

He turned toward Kendall, pulling her into his arms and spooning against her back so that his hands rested against their child. She let out a soft sigh in her sleep and he felt an overwhelming sense of belonging before surrendering himself to sleep.