At the Bennett's
"Jess, have you seen my baseball cap?"
"Yes, it's down stairs on the lamp table."
"Thanks, Miguel will be here soon."
"I can't believe he asked you out for today. What was he thinking?"
"It's not a date Jessica. We're just friends. He has Charity and I have Nicholas now. No more scheming for me, It wasn't meant to be with Miguel and me and I know that now," she tried to convince herself.
"Wow, I can't believe my sister is saying these words." Jessica put her hand up to Kay's forehead. "Are you O.K.? You're not sick are you?"
Kay slapped her little sister's hand out the way. "Move Jessica. There's nothing wrong with me. I just got tired of competing with Charity. If Miguel and I were meant to be, we would've happened. I'm glad things worked out as they did. Nicholas is wonderful. I have so much fun when we're together. He makes me laugh and feel things inside of me that I have never felt before. So don't worry Jessica, I'm not trying to make Miguel jealous or anything by dating Nicholas. I'm not a monster. I wouldn't do Nicholas like that,. I like him too much."
"I wasn't insinuating anything Kay. I'm just surprise you gave up so soon."
"Whatever Jessica. When you experience life and love, you'll know. Just wait. Now, will you braid my hair going back so I can wear my cap?" Kay said sitting and handing Jessica the comb.
"I'm surprise you are dressed in jeans and T-shirt."
"Why? I'm not trying to impress anybody. My man is at home. He's the only person I'm trying to impress now days. And soon he too will see me in jeans and T-shirt if we have a jeans and T-shirt kind of day."
The two girls laughed as Kay stood up from her vanity table.
"Thanks Jess. This is beautiful."
"You're welcome Kay. Thank you for letting me do it. I like spending time with you. You're not so bad sometimes."
"Thanks, I think." She smiled at Jessica as she put her shoes on.
Downstairs
Miguel entered in the back door through the kitchen. Charity was sitting at the breakfast table munching on a muffin.
"Oh hi Miguel. I didn't know you were coming over today."
"Hi Charity. Actually Kay and I are going down to the park today."
"Ooh the park, that sound nice. I'll get my bag!"
"No Charity don't!"
Charity turned and looked at Miguel with confusion in her eyes. "Why not Miguel? What's going on?"
"Only Kay and I are going to the park."
"Why Miguel? What is this all about?"
"Nothing Charity. Kay and I are best friends. We just thought we would go do some fun things together like old times."
"I guess that was Kay's planning, right? I know she has feelings for you."
"You know it too?" Miguel said under his breath.
"What did you say?"
"I said that's crazy. Kay doesn't have feelings for me. She's with Nicholas."
"Whatever Miguel. I still think she loves you."
"Love? Where is this coming from Charity? I've never seen you act so jealous."
"Well you've never given me a reason to be jealous before."
Miguel hugged Charity tight. "And I'm not now. Kay and I are just going to the park to talk and perhaps play a little ball that's it. You are the girl I'm with. I love you. O.K.?"
Charity lightened up and smiled. "You're right Miguel, forgive me. I don't know what came over me."
"There's nothing to forgive Charity." He kissed her on the lips.
Just at that moment, Kay came through the door. "Get a room!" she said sarcastically but jokingly.
"Oh hey Kay. Are you ready to go?"
"Sure Miguel. I prepared a picnic basket for this afternoon."
"Great! I missed breakfast this morning. I sort of lost my appetite."
"Nothing to worry about Charity." Miguel said looking at her.
"Well great. I prepared all your favs. I hope you don't mind."
"Nope. This is great. Well I guess we should get going."
Miguel hugged Charity again and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you later O.K.?"
"Yes Miguel, later."
"Bye Charity, bye Jess." Kay said smiling as she walked out with Miguel.
"I don't trust her Jessica. I think she's up to something."
"At first I thought the same thing Charity, but Kay really confided with me upstairs. She swore up and down that she cares a lot for Nicholas, and doesn't want to do anything to hurt him. She recognizes that you and Miguel are together, and promises not to do anything to break you guys' up."
"I hope you're right Jessica. I hope you're right."
As Kay and Miguel walked around town, Kay couldn't help but to ask what the real reason he wanting to spend the day with her.
"So Miguel, what made you want to spend the day with me when you could be spending your time with Charity?"
"Kay we use to spend time together all the time."
"It seems a life time ago now. We've both grown up and our lives has seem to go in different directions."
"You really think so?" Miguel asking bright eyed.
"I don't know Miguel. It just seems like we don't have anything in common anymore."
Right at that point they passed by an old Harmony candy store and soda shop. Miguel and Kay looked at each other and started to laugh.
"Remember this place?" Miguel said smiling.
"How could I forget?" Kay said looking in the window as she pictured a 10- year-old Miguel sitting at a booth with his sister Theresa and his brother Luis.
Six Years Ago
"Mom, while you're next door, can I go inside and get some candy with the money daddy gave me?" A 10-year-old Kay asked.
"Sure, but don't be long. We still have your school shoes to get."
"Thanks mom. I won't."
Kay went inside noticing Miguel sitting at a booth with his siblings. "Hey Miguel." Kay said waving at her best friend.
"Hi Kay." Miguel said smiling as if his cheeks would burst.
"Miguel's got a girl friend, Miguel's got a girl friend." Theresa chanted, teasing her little brother.
"Shut up Theresa, she's not my girl friend." Miguel snapped cheeks red with embarrassment.
Kay overheard the two, trying to ignore them, for her cheeks were red as well. Kay told the guy behind the counter what she wanted. He put several pieces of candy and bubble gum on the counter and walked away to get something else Kay asked for. Right at that moment, a friend of Kay's got her attention. She turned to see the girl sitting in another booth and spoke. When Kay turned back around, the counter was minus the three pieces of bubble gum.
"What happened to the bubble gum little girl?" The guy roared at Kay.
"I don't know. It was right here a moment ago."
"You took it and put it in your pocket didn't you?"
"No mister, I didn't."
"Don't tell fibs little girl. Pay me for the gum, or I'm going to call the police."
Kay's eyes started filling up with tears.
"I promise I didn't take the gum, please don't call the police."
"You're Officer Bennett's daughter aren't you?"
"Y-e-s." Kay said sobbing now.
"Don't cry; just pay me for the gum."
Right at that moment, Miguel got up and ran out the door. Luis got up from his seat and went to the counter.
"What's the problem?" The rookie officer asked.
"This little girl took bubble gum from the counter and don't want to pay for it."
"Did you check her pockets?" Luis asked putting an arm around a hysterical Kay.
"No! I just know she did it!"
"How could you be so sure? I know Kay, and I know she wouldn't take anything that didn't belong to her."
"Well maybe I should check her pockets."
Just as soon as the man stepped behind the counter, advancing toward Kay, Miguel burst through the door with two other boys twice his size.
"Tell him!" He shouted at the boys. "Tell him what you did, or else."
One of the boys emptied out his pockets to reveal three pieces of bubble gum.
The man grabbed the two boys, apologized to Kay, and went to discipline the two boys in the back of the store. Walking away, they turned to Kay and apologized, looking frighten at Miguel.
"Well, well, well little brother. Those boys were twice your size. How did you get them to come back?"
"I don't know. I just knew Kay was in trouble and she needed my help."
"Thank you Miguel." Kay now was calming down a bit as she kissed him on the cheek and ran out the door.
"Miguel's got a girl friend, Miguel's got a girl friend." Theresa cheered as Miguel put his hand to his face and blushing as if he'll never stop smiling.
Kay turned around to find Miguel smiling at her.
"I guess you remember Huh?"
"Yes, just like if it was yesterday, but you know what I never knew? What made those guys come back? They were twice your size."
Miguel laughed. "I told them that my brother saw them take the gum and that he knew where they lived and that he was on his way to get them. Boy was my heart beating fast. I would have never thought they would fall for something so lame. But they did."
"Miguel they could've hurt you. What were you thinking."
"I was thinking of you. Standing there crying for something you didn't do. I saw the two boys take the gum and run. And I knew I had to do something."
"Thank you Miguel." Kay said smiling sweetly.
"You thanked me already. Six years ago."
Kay and Miguel turned and kept walking around town until they came to the park.
"This is a good spot Miguel. Spread the blanket right here."
Miguel spread the huge comforter in a shady area surrounded by a river of flowers and a very large duck pond.
"It sure is a nice day today, not too cool, with a touch of warmth in the air. Next month the ground should be covered with snow."
"Yeah I can't wait for ice skating season." Kay said looking at the duck pond in front of them.
"Remember the ice skating contest?" Kay asked.
"How could I forget? You literally twisted my arm to be in it with you."
"I did not twist your arm. I just punched you several times until you gave in."
"That's not how I remembered it." Miguel laughed.
Miguel and Kay at the age of eleven
"Miguel please! Please join the contest with me. I think we could win."
"No Kay! I'm not going to do it! ice-skating is for sissies! You can't make me." Kay started to cry.
"Stop it Kay. You're not going to trick me with those fake tears."
Kay cried even louder than before. Tears were drenching her little cheeks as if she were swimming in a pool.
"O.K.! I'll do it! Just stop crying, please!"
The tears stopped almost automatic as Kay put her arms around a defeated Miguel.
"Great! We have three weeks to work out a routine. We'll have to come here everyday and practice, because I want to win."
Miguel dropped his head knowing that this was something he knew he'd never get anything out of.
For three weeks, they practice their routine, and the contest was already a day away.
"How's our little ice skater." Luis teased.
"Leave me alone." Miguel snapped. "I'm not doing this. Kay is just going to have to be mad."
"Ay Mi Mijo!" Pilar said to her son. "You and Kay have worked hard for weeks. Do you think it would be fair to not show when you know Kay is counting on you?"
"I don't care! I'm tired of people teasing me! She'll have to do the routine by herself!"
"Miguel, Kay's mom worked real hard on you outfits. She'll be disappointed as well."
"That's another thing. Tights are for little girls. I'm not wearing them."
"Miguel, I'm sorry for teasing you. I think you and Kay have a good chance at winning. You two have worked real hard. Don't give up now." Luis said.
When Miguel woke up the next morning, he had butterflies in his stomach.
"This would be better if it were baseball. I know baseball, but ice-skating is not. I'm not going." Miguel said to himself.
Pilar knocked on her son's door.
"Go away, I'm not going!" Miguel yelled.
Pilar opened the door and thought how adorable her son looked in his outfit. "Miguel, I know you will decide to do the right thing. Kay is your best friend. She is counting on you to be there. But I'm not going to make you do anything you're not ready for. We'll be down stairs waiting if you change your mind."
Kay walked back and forth wondering where Miguel was. They were to go on in five minutes.
"He's not going to show is he?" Kay asked her mom.
"He'll be here darling. Just have faith."
"Where's your little sissy partner Kay?" The class bully asked as he walked up.
"Shut up Chucky before I introduce you to my fist."
"I guess you have to fight Miguel's battles now that he's turned into a little sissy ice skating boy."
"Shut up Chucky," a voice said standing behind him.
"Oh sorry Miguel, we didn't see you."
"Get out of here and leave Kay alone."
Chucky and his friends ran without looking back.
"Miguel you made it, I so glad." Kay said hugging his neck.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's get this over with."
Miguel and Kay skated perfectly for the contest. They didn't miss a beat, and everyone in Harmony cheered them on. It was no surprise when they went home with first place trophies.
Miguel and Kay sat there all afternoon reminiscing about the past while they ate the delicious lunch Kay prepared for them. At that point, they forgot all about Charity and Nicholas as they thought of times past. They really were the best of friends and no one really could ever change that. They had history. A history that was perfect just for the two of them.
Miguel stood up to stretch his legs and walked over to a very old oak tree.
"Come here Kay!" He called to her. "Look at this."
Kay stood and walked over to Miguel. "What is it Miguel?"
Miguel pointed to a carving in the tree. Miguel Kay The carving said in the middle of a crooked heart. "Oh Miguel, this is beautiful. When did you do this?"
"When I was fourteen." Miguel said wondering what she was going to say.
"Why hadn't you ever shown this to me? This is really sweet."
Miguel took Kay by the hand as they took a stroll around the park.
"When we were younger, I had always thought that we would be together someday. It's funny what you think of when you're young. Things seem to go differently in real life than it is in your dreams."
"What are you saying Miguel?"
"Kay you knew. You knew I liked you. You were my girl. You were my girl without me asking you to be. We just fit together like that. Our families knew it, I knew it."
"Me too Miguel." Kay said looking down.
"Then what happened?" Miguel said now facing her.
"Charity happened, that's what!" Miguel looked towards the ground, and found that they were back by the old oak tree. "Yeah that's right, Charity."
"I'm sorry Miguel. I was out of line. We grew up and grew apart. We're not kids anymore. I can't make a home run and have you hug me hoping that you would never let me go. Most of the boyish things I did growing up were to be with you, a little girl in little league? I think I started a trend. You and I taking on boys at the basket ball court. How crazy was that? I was happy the most when we were hanging out. I couldn't wait until the day we both turned sixteen, and you came to my house to ask my dad if we could go on our first official date, but that didn't happen. You never came over, and you never asked. I thought at that moment it would never happen. The feelings I had for you were not returned, and probably never were."
"That's not true Kay. I liked you more than words could say. You were my strength when I couldn't bear going to father and son picnics without a father. You stood by me and supported me in everything I did. You taught me to love and appreciate the finer things in life. Remember the fallen baby bird. You cried and nursed that bird back to health when I thought it was a hopeless case. You're so caring and compassionate. I don't know many people who would do the things you do just for nature. You taught me not to liter, and that I should take care of the earth God provided for us. It was you Kay and no one else."
"Oh Miguel." Kay managed with tears forming.
Miguel wiped Kay's tears with his fingertips. "Don't cry Kay. Don't cry. I want you to read something."
Miguel pulled an old piece of notebook paper from his back pocket and handed it to Kay.
"What is this Miguel?" Kay said taking the battered paper.
"I wrote this last summer on the last day of school."
Kay unfolded the paper and saw that it was a letter addressed to her.
June 14, 1999, Dear Kay,
It's the last day of school and I'm so excited about starting the summer. We have worked real hard in school this year and I'm really looking forward to summer vacation. However, most of all I'm looking forward to spending the summer with you.
I know we aren't officially dating yet, but this time next year we will be. You have been my best friend ever since I can remember, and when we turn that magic number, you will be my girlfriend.
I'm saving this letter until our first date. I will be standing with you by the old oak tree in the park, showing you our carved names within a heart. Call me a romantic if you want, but I would love to see your face when you read it. You are my soul mate Kay Bennett and no one will ever change that.
Love Forever,
Miguel Lopez Fitzgerald
Kay couldn't help crying more tears now. She has never felt this excited in her life. "Miguel I don't know what to say. I didn't know you felt this way." More sobs came from Kay. "This is the most beautiful thing I have ever received."
Miguel took Kay by the hand and led her back to their blanket by the pond. As they sat, Kay spoke first. "I would have given anything to see this months ago. I guess it wasn't meant to be. Why with you and Charity together, and Nicholas and me, I guess this is one of life's funny twists and turns. I know how happy you and Charity are, and I respect that. I couldn't be more happier with Nicholas. He's wonderful. We laugh and have so much fun together; we have so much in common. He was the captain of his high school swim team in Europe, and I told him we were looking for a co-captain. Coach thought it would be cute to make us co-captains of Harmony High's Swim Team. Anyway, I'm looking forward to experiencing many things with Nicholas. He reminds me a lot of you Miguel. He treats me with such compassion and tenderness. I was afraid at first that I wouldn't find anyone to call my own until I met Nicholas. He's really great. I guess you feel the same way about Charity. I know how much you love her. She's really lucky. You're the best, the absolute best." Kay threw her arms around Miguel and hugged him tight. This had been a wonderful day.
They packed up everything, and headed back to Kay's house. Miguel was unexpectantly quiet on the way back, so many thoughts clouded his mind. He wasn't so sure about his feelings for Charity anymore, and he knew he would have to talk to her about it. What could he say? Theresa said to be honest, but I don't want to hurt her. I guess I'll come up with something, but in the mean time, he thought of Kay and his love for her. Could fate turn this whole thing around, or will he miss out on a love that would last them a lifetime. Only time would tell.
When Kay and Miguel walked up to the house, Kay was about to turn the knob to walk in, but Miguel reached out his hand to stop her from turning the knob.
"What's wrong Miguel? Why can't we go inside?"
"I want to tell you something." Miguel's mind was doing flips. He wanted so bad to tell Kay that he still loved her. He wanted her to know that she would always be his first love; it wasn't Charity. Yes, he cared a lot for her, and they shared some good moments together, but he felt differently about Kay. She was his past, and his future. And with the way things went today, she became his present.
"What is it Miguel? What do you want to tell me?" Kay said looking lovingly in his eyes.
"I wanted to tell you that I... that I love..." Miguel was finding the words hard to say. His mind quickly turned to the conversation he and Theresa shared just a few hours earlier that day. The worse thing to do is to stop whatever her and Nicholas has going on. She needs to run the course of true love. Kay and Nicholas need to experience some things together just as you've done with Charity. I know you want to share your feelings with Kay, but you can't. Not now. Not now..."Not now..."
"Miguel? Are you O.K.?"
"Oh yes, I, Kay, I just wanted to say that I loved spending the day with you. And that I hope we could do this again sometime."
"Oh silly!" Kay said hugging him very tightly. "Of course we'll have other days like this."
Miguel didn't want to let her go. This felt so good, so right. Oh Kay. He thought to himself. Miguel looked at Kay but didn't let her go. She looked up at him unaware of his feelings. He stared into her eyes, still holding a tight grip onto her waist. They stood there for a second that seemed like hours looking in each other eyes, and then Kay quickly reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you again for today Miguel. This memory will go into the Miguel and Kay memory books." She laughed, turned around and went inside the house.