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FAMILY REUNION

Chapter Eight

"Molly, I can't tell you how much I love you. I've been wanting to say it for so long now but couldn't quite convince myself to."

Trent gazed right into Molly's eyes, his hand clasped around her neck as he smiled, secured a gentle grip, and drew her lips to his. And then she awoke.

Molly rolled over, punching her blaring clock to silence before she planted her feet on the floor and made a line straight for the bathroom. She had hit the snooze button one too many times for comfort and knew she'd pay for it if she laid in bed mulling over her ridiculous dream process any more than she had to.

In thirty minutes flat, Molly was out the apartment door in route for the H.O.P.E. Center to help Josie stock donations and give the porch a good washing. They had planned it as a surprise for Alex when she and Walker returned from their weekend getaway at the lake.

As Molly rolled to a stop on the street in front of the center, she saw Trent waiting for her on the porch. He began walking down the steps to meet her as she left her car.

"Trent? What are you doing here?" she questioned him with a subtle grin.

"What?" Trent's mouth twisted upward. "I can't just drop in and say hello to the most beautiful woman in Dallas?"

Molly chuckled. "Okay, I suppose so. But I happen to know a certain PI who had a load of paper work to catch up on. At least that's what he told me after dinner the other night. Or was that just a ploy to keep me from inviting you for coffee and a movie at my place?" She winked, eagerly waiting for a reply.

Trent simply smiled, letting his gaze drift back and again. "Well, you got me. I came to ask if you might have a second to talk."

"What about exactly?"

"Will."

"Oh, I see. Have you found anything else out besides what Ranger Hunt told you yesterday?"

Trent shook his head. "I was actually wondering if maybe you've spoken to him or his guardian again. You did know he lives in your apartment building, right?"

Molly's eyes shot wide open. "No, I—I had no idea. You mean he's been right near me all this time and I had no idea?"

Trent nodded.

"I can't believe this! We could have helped him, Trent! William could be involved in something terrible, and here I could have been there for him! How could I have not known?!"

"Hey," Trent swooped in and took Molly by her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "It's not your fault, Molly. Whatever he chooses to do is no reflection on you. He's just lucky he's got someone like you in his life that cares enough."

"But he doesn't know that, Trent. I haven't even seen him at the center in days. He could be anywhere." Molly's eyes found the ground, her soul dejected at the prospect of having let a needy kid slip right through her fingers. She took a deep breath, a slight sob forming in her throat as she lifted her face back up to look at Trent. "You know, when I first started working here for Alex I was so happy to help people with Kath and Josie. But I never knew it could affect me like it has. Some of these kids that come through here need a family. I wish I could be that family for them."

"You are," Trent reassured her. "All the kids whose lives you influence can count you as family. Trust me."

"But they still go back to their broken homes and lives. I wish I could be there too. Be their mother when they don't have one."

"Molly, you can't be everything to everyone. You just have to do what you can and trust the rest to God."

"I know," Molly sighed, wiping away her tears. "It's just hard to let some of them go sometimes you know."

"Yeah, I know," Trent whispered in Molly's ear as he wrapped his arms around her. Silently, he thought how lucky he was to know this woman whose heart was so big. For a moment he didn't want to let her go but finally released her and found her eyes again. "Now what do you say we get started cleaning this porch?"

"How did you…"

"Josie told me," Trent grinned.

"But don't you…"

Trent lifted a hand to quiet her. "Not to worry. I finished the paperwork last night, and anything else will be waiting for Carlos and Kath when they get back."

Molly was finally able to laugh this time and was just beginning to feel light again when Trent's cell phone rang. Molly motioned she'd be just inside the center while Trent reached for the device and answered it. Ranger Hunt was on the other end.

"Hey, Bobbie. What's up?"

"Trent, something's come up I think you may be interested in."

"Oh?"

"William Brent. I just brought him into custody."

"I see." Trent paused to see Molly through the window. She had the biggest smile on her face as she spoke with Josie. Trent didn't want her to lose that joy he loved so much about her. "What did he do?"

"Nothing yet," Bobbie revealed, allowing Trent to relax. "But we're still sorting this out. We found him at Amy Ochoa's house. It's still considered a crime scene right now so William is a suspect. He hasn't said a word to anyone since we brought him to Ranger Headquarters. I figured you'd want to know about it."

"Yeah, thanks for letting me know. I'll let Molly know. Maybe she can talk to him."

"You think that's a good idea?"

Trent stole another glance at Molly. "I don't know. But I think Will deserves the chance."

With help from Katheryn, Theresa quickly achieved her goal of spreading word throughout the family that she wanted to speak with them all first thing in the morning. Kath was of course on her guard, questioning why Theresa was being so secretive. But she trusted her like a sister and was quick to tell Carlos before he fell asleep. After she had gone to bed, Carlos informed the guys and Theresa told Carmen and Ma Catalina.

The silence that plagued the hacienda almost drove Katheryn mad as she pushed herself fully awake and dodged to the bathroom for her chance at a shower before the others were up. Maybe it was selfish and maybe she was just lucky. Either way, she couldn't stand not knowing what Theresa called the meeting for. It scared her. Was Catalina sick? Did someone die? Was she being expelled from the clan after just two days?

As the scorching water rained down on her bare body, Katheryn let all the worries flow down the drain with the drops that cleansed her. Worry never helped anyone, she reminded herself and quickly finished up and dressed before the others would need to use the bathroom. She was immensely surprised however to find Carlos awake and active in the kitchen, just about putting the finishing touches on some sort of breakfast casserole.

Carlos put the dish in the oven and set the timer on the counter before he moved to give Kath a good morning kiss. "Did you sleep well?"

Katheryn shook her head. "No, I didn't. I only got about four hours of sleep. The rest of the time I spent wondering what Theresa called a family meeting for. You don't think I'm intruding do you?"

"Hardly," Carlos smiled. "You're part of this family now. She told you about the meeting. So she clearly wants you here."

"You're right. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. You seem to have a knack for that."

Carlos responded by wrapping his arms around her and planting a kiss on her forehead. He was about to move the kiss to her lips, making the moment rather intimate when someone rounded the corner, clearing his throat. It was Jesse, and he had big smile on his face that told them he knew he had interrupted their moment yet again.

But Katheryn was light-hearted about it and laughed it off. Carlos on the other hand wanted to reprimand the lad. But Kath would not hear of it. Instead, she told Carlos to be on hand when Jesse found himself a girl. It seemed like the perfect plan for revenge although neither of them was willing to go through with the plan…that is, unless the opportunity presented itself.

Meanwhile, Jesse took a peek inside of the oven and turned to Carlos suspiciously. "Since when did you suddenly become a chef?"

"Hey, I can cook!" Carlos defended himself. "Granted, that's the only thing I know how to cook. But I can cook!"

Jesse simply laughed and proceeded into the living room where Hector was just now waking up.

"Now where were we?" Carlos cupped Kath's face in has hand, returning to their intimate moment just in time for Theresa to appear in the kitchen and interrupt their privacy once more. At least this time Carlos hoped it was unintentional.

"Mm, something sure smells good!" Theresa commented as she filled a glass with water and took a sip.

Suddenly the kitchen started to fill with other members of the family and Carlos and Katheryn's moment was officially gone.

About an hour later, Theresa rounded up the clan in the living room insisting they'd handle the dishes in a moment after they had tended to the more important business at hand.

Theresa settled onto the sofa's edge next to Kath and waited for everyone to be seated before she spoke. She could see concern in her mother's eyes, curiosity in Hector and Carmen's eyes, and intrigue in her little brother's eyes. But what pained her the most was the fear in her older sister's eyes. She had to do this for her family.

"First of all, I want to put everyone's mind at ease. No one here is sick or about to die. So you can just put that out of your minds right away."

"Well, I am glad to hear that," Catalina smiled. "Is it some other happy news?!" She winked over at her son to which Carlos chuckled and assured her he had no idea why the meeting had been called for in the first place.

"I called this meeting for Rosa," Theresa explained waving a hand towards her sister who stood arms crossed against the kitchen doorway with her husband Miguel standing behind her. "No matter what differences she and I have had over the years, we are still sisters. We will always be sisters. And when something is wrong in a sister's life, we have to help her…as a family."

"Mama?!" Carmen turned, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "What have you not told us?"

"In time, child," Rosa assured. "In good time. Your Aunt Theresa will explain everything."

Theresa paused, clearing her throat to prepare to speak. "Rosa and Miguel have been threatened by locals who are far from morally sound. Drug dealers. Killers. They have threatened them to sell this house that has belonged to the Sandoval family for years in exchange for their safety. Miguel won't give in though."

"Rosa!" Catalina's voice had turned to fire as she stood abruptly and pointed her finger in her eldest daughter's face. "I trust you to take care of this place! You told Theresa and myself that it was safe to come here. And instead you put small children and the rest of this family in jeopardy?!"

"Mama!" Rosa defended herself. "It's a family home! Should I have deprived the family from coming?! It's as much their home as it is ours!"

"But you should have warned us!"

"How could I?" Rosa was on the brink of sobbing. "How could I tell my mother that I had failed?! That I had lost the legacy? I thought at least if I was to lose it, the family would be together here one last time."

Catalina calmed herself, giving her eldest a nod of understanding. "I see. I understand. What do you and Miguel plan to do about it then?"

"We don't know," she confessed, lowering her gaze. "That is why Miguel was out last night. What you heard was not a car backfiring. It was a gunshot. Miguel is fine. They just want to scare us. They don't want to hurt us."

"That's bull!" Hector chimed in. "They'll kill you. They'll kill us all if we don't give in. That's how these gangs work." He looked to Carlos for a source of confirmation.

Carlos took advantage of the silence that followed to gather his thoughts. It was brand new information to him that he and Kath had been in serious jeopardy last night unlike they had originally thought. He gave Kath a knowing look before standing to his feet and pacing over to where Rosa stood on the brink of crying. "Rosa? Have you told the authorities?"

Rosa shook her head. "That would be the end of us for sure."

"No, it won't. Look, I know a few people that can help. You know that. Why didn't you come to me?"

"I was afraid, Carlos!" She looked into his eyes, fear penetrating through them. "I was afraid."

At that Carlos let her cry it out on his shoulder, silently devising a plan. He would need to speak with Katheryn alone if the plan was to work in any way. She was clearly an outsider in the city. Maybe that fact would come in handy after all.

The drive from the H.O.P.E. Center to Ranger Headquarters was a fairly quiet one. Molly kept her eyes fastened on the passing scenery still unable to come to terms with the fact that she not been able to help Will avoid trouble. Trent's comforting words had only held her for a short time. As soon as he had said Will was in Ranger custody, her whole world crumbled again. At the same time, she questioned herself, wondering why this young man meant so much to her. He wasn't a relative or close friend who she would typically care about.

Meanwhile, Trent couldn't forgive himself for letting Molly down. He should have come alone and let Molly stay where she was happiest. At the center. He couldn't stand seeing the sorrow in her eyes as he drove.

"Hey," Trent broke the silence while still keeping his eyes on the road. Molly turned lethargically to acknowledge him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dashed your hopes like that."

"No," Molly insisted. "It's not your fault. You needed to tell me. I don't blame you, Trent."

But Trent persisted. "I still wish I could have spared you somehow. I know how much he means to you."

"Trent," Molly tried smiling to relieve Trent of some worry. "Stop beating yourself up. I'm fine. Really. In fact, I'm just thankful to have you here with me. I don't know how I could help William without you. I need you."

Trent smiled, still not removing his steady gaze as he came to a stop a traffic light. He took the opportunity to reach for Molly's hand and give it a gentle squeeze. He looked her in the eyes to let her know he loved her, and she heard him loud and clear.

Trent and Molly arrived at the Company B office moments later to find Ranger Hunt speaking with Detective Ochoa and his sister Amy.

Molly immediately gave Amy a hug. Despite her worries about William, she still tried to keep a pulse on Amy and Leon's grave situation. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"

Amy nodded. "Yes, everything is fine. My brother Sal thinks they have the young man that burned our house."

"Hold on just a minute," Ranger Hunt raised a hand. "We don't know that for sure. All we really know is that William Brent was wandering around the rubble left over. So far we don't see any ties to gang activity with him. And he's not saying a word."

"William?!" Molly uttered in shock. "Will wouldn't burn someone's home to ashes. He may be troubled in areas of his life, but he's no arsonist!"

Trent laid a hand on Molly's shoulder to calm her down. "Molly, they're just doing their job."

Molly spun on her heel to face Trent behind her. "If they wanted to do their job they would have arrested someone else."

"Molly," Ranger Hunt raised her voice to get her attention. "I assure you I have every intention of proving Mr. Brent's innocence."

"You believe he's innocent?" Molly asked, somewhat surprised at Ranger Hunt's quick assessment.

Bobbie nodded firmly, casting a glare over to Sal. "And I expect everyone involved to treat the young man with the decency he deserves. That kid was scared out of his mind. You can't honestly believe he would get in a car at night and commit a felony like that."

Sal let out a rather exasperated sigh having to agree with his colleague. "Amy, she's right. The evidence isn't very supportive of the kid's guilt. We have to keep searching."

Sal could tell by the look on Amy's face that she didn't want to believe that they had to keep searching. But she nodded anyway and complied.

Bobbie turned back to Molly and Trent. "Molly, would you mind talking to him? Maybe you can get through to him unlike we could."

"I'd love to," Molly replied quickly and moved to follow Bobbie from the room much to Sal's dismay and apprehensive glare. He couldn't believe and inexperienced outsider could do much good. But he gave in anyway.

They arrived across the hall to the first interrogation room where William was seated at the far end of the table near the window. The dark, overshadowing room seemed to match the look on the young man's face. Molly quickly saw his dejection and fear and wished she could take him home that instant. But she had to know for sure he was innocent. She had to prove it to herself and to Bobbie and Detective Ochoa. She couldn't give up on him. Not now. Not ever.

Finally back! My inspiration had waned some. But I'm excited to finish this story. This update would have been posted a day earlier had it not been for the terrible website glitch that wouldn't even allow me onto the website. But that seems to be resolved! Excited to start bringing this story to a very climatic close. Thanks as always for reading and reviewing! God Bless, 'Kath'