| Whisper |
| Thanks to UAgirl from the Coffeerooms board! |
| Chapter 3 �Bye, Whit!� Theresa waved. She shusssst the door behind her and leaned back against it, eyes closed wearily. �Theresita�� �Mama! You scared me.� Pilar smiled slightly. �Mija�Matthew has already had his bath. I told him you would tell him a bedtime story. I must be going.� �Stay,� she pleaded, her face falling when Pilar shook her head �no.� �I love you, Mija,� she uttered softly. �But it�s your place to work things out with Ethan. Not mine.� Theresa�s dark hair hung loosely about her shoulders, and her chin quivered. �Fate�s not going to help me out this time, is it Mama?� Sympathy shone in Pilar�s brown eyes as she kissed her daughter�s temple. �I�m afraid not, Theresita.� @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Simone scanned the confines of the Lobster Shack for him, with no luck. Did she have the time wrong? �Simone? Simone Russell? Is that you?� Her mouth hung open in shock, and she piddled with the strap of her purse self-consciously. �Oh my god! Reese?!?! That cannot be you.� His bright smile dimmed somewhat. Showing only a hint of perfect white teeth. �Things change.� Simone was fixated on the well-defined muscles clearly visible beneath his casual tee. �Tell me about it,� she muttered under her breath. Gone were the glasses. The nerdy clothes. Had Reese been switched with an alien clone? Hey�it was Harmony. Stranger things had happened. �I�m sorry,� Reese smiled, pulling out a chair for her. �Did you say something?� �No! Um�yeah. I like what you�ve done with your hair.� �Thanks,� he said. His cheeks pink. And Simone realized�the more things change, the more they stay the same. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Lauren wrinkled her nose, tucking a flyaway strand of her ash-blond hair behind her ear as she sipped her lemonade. �Who is that?� Ethan smiled. Tabitha. She had spotted Tabitha. Ivy�s laughter rang out so loud several of the Book Caf�s patrons turned to stare. �THAT is Tabitha. Truly an original.� �You better believe it, Dearie,� Tabitha said sarcastically, groaning as she hefted Timmy onto her hip. �Up you go, Lad. I do believe my ears are burning,� she said with a benevolent smile. �Did I hear my name mentioned?� �Yes,� Ivy replied, quite flustered. �I was just telling my daughter all about you. She hasn�t been in Harmony long.� Tabitha shifted Timmy to her other hip. �Good things, I hope.� �Good things,� Ethan grinned. �Oh. I�m so sorry,� Ivy apologized. �So rude of me. Tabitha Lennox�my daughter Lauren. Lauren�Tabitha Lennox.� �Ahem�� �And her doll Timmy,� Ivy rushed. �Nice to meet you, Dear,� Tabitha said, staring at her strangely. �Hubba, hubba.� Lauren�s hazel eyes blinked twice, and she went slack-jawed. �E-E-x-cuse me,� she stammered. �Yes, Dear?� �Nothing,� Lauren said. Shaking her head to clear the cobwebs. �Jet lag. It�s just jet lag. Please forgive me.� Tabitha patted Lauren�s shoulder. �All is forgiven. I�m afraid I have to leave now. Nice meeting you.� Lauren watched the odd pair until they disappeared from sight. �Did�did you hear it, too?� �What?� Ethan chuckled. �The doll. It talked. It said�oh god. You�re going to think I�m completely crazy.� Ivy struggled to keep a straight face. �No, I won�t, Darling. Tell me. Tell me what Timmy said.� Lauren was afraid she�d die from embarrassment when she put it like that. Her mother and brother were howling with laughter. At her expense. �The suspense is killing me,� Ethan smirked. �Go ahead, Lauren. Tell us.� �Wild horses couldn�t drag it out of me,� she said stubbornly. Hubba, hubba? Lauren�get a grip, she told herself, cracking a smile. �Never.� @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ �Can you believe it? Can you believe this is really happening? Mom is alive. She�s alive, Kay,� he repeated, hugging her close. His excitement was contagious. Kay gave in to the uncontrollable urge. And smiled. �We have her back,� she whispered, propping her chin on her brother�s shoulder and staring out at the waterfront. A mother and young daughter walked by, and it hit her full force. �I have my mom back,� she said to herself. Dark eyes shining with unshed tears. Noah grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. �Let�s go.� �Go where?� Kay giggled lightheartedly. �Deliver the news to Dad�s fiancee. Tell her she�s yesterday�s news.� �Ooo. Ooo. Count me in. I want to do the honors.� @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ �Yeah, Sam. I�ll get to work on it. First thing tomorrow morning. Sheridan�� �Luis. You don�t owe me any explanations. Tomorrow will be fine.� �Tell Sheridan and Danielle I said hello,� Hank waved. �So�� �What happens now, Hank? I don�t know. I truly don�t know. But that woman in there�she needs me right now. Telling Ivy can wait a few more hours.� Hank looked skeptical. �Your decision, Bro. I�m here for you. Whatever you decide.� Sam grabbed his little brother in a fierce bear hug. �Thank you.� �Anytime. Say goodbye for me.� �Will do. Will do.� The door clicked shut behind him, and he took in the starkness of the room. �Dad,� Jessica smiled, laying her mother�s hand down and rising form the mattress�s edge. �She�s asleep.� �Did she�?� �No,� Charity answered. �She can�t give us any details. Either she doesn�t remember�� �Or she doesn�t want to tell us,� Sam finished. �That�s okay. What she needs now is rest,� he said quietly. Brushing her auburn hair from her forehead tenderly. �Then�then we�ll get our answers.� �Charity. I think it�s time we went home. Tessa can hardly keep her eyes open,� Miguel said, lifting his daughter easily in his arms. �Okay,� Charity smiled. �Tell Aunt Grace I�ll see her tomorrow.� Sam nodded his head and leaned back into Jessica�s embrace. Tessa�s head rested on her father�s shoulder, her yellow hair loose and wild and her blue eyes drooping with fatigue. �Tessa. Goodbye, Tessa.� Sam didn�t notice Grace smiling in her sleep. But Tessa did. And it frightened her. She buried her face in the father�s neck and clung to his shoulders with pale fingers. The smell of her fear permeated the small, sparse room. And the motionless figure on the bed smiled wider. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sheridan flung the whitewashed gate back and stepped into paradise. Her paradise anyway. A seagull cried, and a tiny crab scrambled for shelter. The waves lapped against the shore gently. Their sound always brought her a feeling of peace. Well-being. Made her believe everything would be alright. Someday. But not today. For they couldn�t disguise another sound. A sound that tore at her heart and left it in tatters. A child was whimpering. It�s pitiful cries making her heart fill with dread. Her palms sweaty. �Who�s there? Danielle? Is that you, Baby?� The cries were soft. But they sounded magnified. Deafening to her ears. �Mama. Mama.� She scanned her surroundings frantically. Where? Where was the crying coming from? Her heart stuck in her throat when she saw it. Golden hair. And a tiny brown body. Cowering in the shadows along the craggy shore. �Don�t cry,� she pleaded. �Please don�t cry.� The rocks were slippery, and she couldn�t get a good foothold in her sandals. So she threw her shoes to the wet sand below. �Mama. Mama,� the little voice cried out in sorrow. �Mom! Mom! What are you doing?� A bothersome strand of blond hair fell over her forehead. In her eyes. And she blew at it impatiently. Annoyed. �Danielle! Go get help!� She could hear the squishing noise of Danielle�s sandals as she came closer. �Danielle,� she cried. �I told you�� Danielle�s blue eyes had tears in them. �Mommy�mommy, please. You�re scaring me.� �Sweetie, don�t be afraid. I just have to help him. Help the baby. He�s frightened.� Her daughter�s next words struck fear in her heart. �What are you talking about?� she cried. �There is NO baby.� �There is�� Her words died in her throat. Danielle was right. The realization made her dizzy, and she lay her head against the sun-warmed rock and cried. Gut wrenching sobs. �Daddy! Help her. Please help her.� The concern and love in Luis�s voice made her weak. The last thing she remembered was the comforting thud of his heartbeat and the warmth of his arms. |
| Chapter 4 �Hi Kay. No�Noah. Wow! Such a change. Tell me. What�s got you in such a good mood?� Beth smiled. Tossing the checkered rag aside. Propping her chin on her clasped hands. Noah grinned at her. �Wouldn�t you like to know?� Kay scanned the sea of faces in the Book Caf�. Searching for one in particular. �Well�I know your beloved future stepmother didn�t kick the bucket,� Beth teased. �She�s been here all afternoon.� �Ivy? Where?� Kay asked. �In the back. Why? O-O-kay,� she said to herself. �Really Noah�what�s going on?� �You�ll know soon enough,� he said distractedly. �Listen�Beth�I got to�� She waved him off. Looked like the Book Caf� was getting ready for Kay Bennett vs. Ivy Winthrop. Round 313. �Go ahead. Just don�t let things get too out of hand. Okay? This is not WWF Smackdown.� @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ �Well, well. If it isn�t Poison Ivy.� Lauren�s hazel eyes narrowed, and her napkin fell to her lap forgotten. �Lauren�there�s someone I�d like you to meet.� �Really, Ivy. There�s no need for introductions. You�re not now nor will you ever be family of mine.� �Kay,� Ethan chastised. �This is Kay?� Lauren asked quizzically. �I�ve heard so much about you,� she said sarcastically. Kay smirked in response. �Lauren, is it? Funny. I�ve heard NOTHING about you. Some mother you have. You know what? You can keep her. She�ll never be my mother.� Ivy�s blue green eyes connected with Noah�s over Kay�s shoulder. And she spoke. �No one�s trying to replace your mother. Least of all me.� For an instant, Noah fell guilty about the bomb they were about to drop. But only an instant. They had their mother back. �Good. You�re a poor substitution for the real thing.� Lauren�s hazel eyes flashed angrily. How dare they talk to her mother in such a way? She jerked her arm away from Ethan�s hold and stood up. �How dare you?� she spat. Noah�s blue eyes glittered. �How dare I?� he scoffed. �Please!� Ivy yelled in exasperation. �You don�t have to like me. That�s fine. But the fact is�I am going to be your father�s wife. Mrs. Sam Bennett. Things will be a much easier if you�d just accept it.� �I don�t do easy,� Kay barked. �And you�ll never be Mrs. Sam Bennett.� �Kay�you�re being unreasonable,� Ivy sputtered. �Your father and I will be married. And there�s nothing you can do to stop it. The only thing�the only person�� �Who, Ivy? My mother? Is that who you�re talking about? Dad would drop you like that, wouldn�t he?� Ivy winced at the snap of Kay�s fingers. �You�re forgetting one thing, aren�t you?� �Your mother�s dead,� Lauren glared. �Let�s go, Mother. You don�t have to put up with anymore of this harassment. Ethan�are you coming?� Ethan nodded his head and rose from his seat. Studying Kay and Noah suspiciously. Kay watched them go. �I thought you were going to deliver the fatal blow.� �No. Surprises are wonderful, don�t you think? Ivy is in for the surprise of her life.� @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ She clutched his pillow desperately. Breathing in his scent. She missed him. So much. She tried to read the clock on the bedside table. But her vision was obscured by tears. It was late. That much she could guess. The curtains flapped in the breeze coming in from the open window. Wolf barked in the distance. Probably chasing some imaginary squirrel as he was prone to do. Her ears perked at the sound of movement. She heard the rustle of keys, and the creak of the front door on its hinges. The light from the hallway made her blink. �Ethan? Is that you?� �Go back to sleep,� he ordered. �Ethan�� It was hard to speak over the lump in her throat. �Ethan�I�m so glad you came home.� He froze. Motionless. Unyielding. �Matthew. I�m doing this for him,� he whispered. Her dark hair spilled over her shoulders as she braced herself on her elbows and studied him. �Matthew�of course. He�ll be happy.� She felt tears sting her eyes again as she watched him gather his things in his arms. And hold out his hand. �W-W-hat? Oh.� He took the pillow from her hands. It was damp with her tears. �I�m sleeping in the guest room tonight.� �Don�t forget to give Matthew a kiss goodnight.� �I won�t,� he said softly. Before pulling the door shut behind him. The cold space where he used to lie next to her brought on a fresh wave of tears. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ �Tessa�Tessa.� Tessa shut her pale blue eyes against the sound. �Tessa. I know you can hear me. Stop pretending.� She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to focus on her mother�s even breathing beside her. Anything but that voice. That voice that left her cold. Her fairy night light cast an eerie glow in the corner. She took a deep breath and threw back the floral comforter. Her tiny feet padding on the hardwood floor. �That�s it, Tessa. Come to me. Come.� The television remote clattered to the floor. Startling her and sending her heart racing. Her father�s face was lax in sleep. Peaceful. The images of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd flitted across his face. The doorknob felt cold to her touch. Clammy. And the salt from the sea made her nostrils flare. It was almost as if�the sea was here. Now. But that was impossible. �Yes. That�s it. Come, Tessa. Come.� A shadow fell over her. And she screamed in recognition. |
| Chapter 5 �Really, Dear�I�m so sorry I frightened the little girl last night. Timmy and I were just enjoying a moonlit stroll.� Charity smiled sweetly at the old woman. �Tabitha�Tessa�s fine. Aren�t you?� Tessa didn�t answer. Tabitha averted her eyes from her cool blue gaze. The child unnerved her. �I should be going on my way now.� �Don�t leave. Stay for breakfast. We would love to have you.� Miguel set a glass of orange juice in front of Tessa. �Stay.� �Timmy�s hungry.� �I don�t care if you�re hungry, Lad,� Tabitha hissed. Charity�s blond head peeked around the refrigerator door. �I�m sorry. Did you say something, Tabitha?� �That sounds lovely! I think I will,� she beamed. Taking a seat in the chair Miguel offered. �Mmm. Mmm. Timmy loves blueberry pancakes.� Miguel�s brows shot upward, and his forehead crinkled as Tabitha stuffed a napkin in the collar of the doll�s shirt. Odd didn�t even begin to describe the old woman. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ She gripped the steering wheel tightly. Her fingers bloodless and white as she maneuvered the car up the winding coastal road. She didn�t dare look down. She had a deep-seeded fear of heights. An image of her own broken, battered body surging against the craggy shoreline with the breaking waves assailed her. �Not now, Gwen. Don�t do this now. You�re almost there,� she told herself. She took a shaky breath. The arching wrought-iron gates loomed ahead. �Good morning, Ms. Hotchkiss.� �Hi, David,� she said pleasantly. Showing him her i.d. The buzzer sounded, and the great gate heaved open. Slowly. �Have a nice visit.� �Nice visit,� Gwen muttered sarcastically as she slammed her car door shut. �A nice visit at this place. What a concept.� She wobbled on her expensive Italian heels. �Damn,� she swore. Kicking the loose stone in irritation. The sign on the front door read The Anderson Cooper Facility. Her heels clicked against the tile floor as she followed the nurse. Streaks of gray in her strawberry hair betrayed her age. Her blue eyes stared forward blankly. Gwen�s heart felt heavy. �Hello, Mother.� @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Ivy pulled the jade satin sash tighter around her waist and crept down the stairs. Silence. It was too quiet. A note tacked on the refrigerator caught her eye. A tiny smile played at the corner of her lips as she read Sam�s familiar scrawl. He wanted her to meet him at Lighthouse Park at noon. She stood on tiptoe. Reaching into the cabinet. Manicured fingers searching. Coffee dripped steadily in the pot. �Finally,� she breathed. Gripping the porcelain handle. �Sugar�sugar�where did Jessica move it this time?� She straightened up when she heard someone rapping on the door. Pilar�s worried face in the window startled her. �You�re early, Pilar.� �I can�t stay, Ivy. Luis called. He wants me to keep an eye on Sheridan and Danielle today.� Ivy�s blue green eyes softened. �Another episode? Poor Sheridan. I feel so badly for her.� Pilar wrung her hands unconsciously. �Things have been difficult for her. I only hope Julian�s release�� �Julian wouldn�t dare,� Ivy said haughtily. �Anyway�we�re all here for her. Hurry along, Pilar. Sheridan needs you more.� The door clicked shut. Ivy ran a hand across its smooth surface. Yes. Sheridan DID need Pilar more. She gasped when she heard a crash in the kitchen. The orange tabby�s tail whisked back and forth, and green orbs watched her boredly. �Ginger,� Ivy scolded. Wincing as she cut her finger on one of the mug�s jagged edges. �See what you made me do? Oh no. Ginger,� she whispered as a realization left her paralyzed. Her blood stained Grace�s disjointed image. The words �We love you, Mom� jumped out at her and made her cold. She sank to the floor beneath her. Would it never cease? @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ He rested his chin on her bare shoulder. Holding her as close as humanly possible. Sunlight streamed in through the curtains, and a bird chirped happily outside the window. �Oh, Baby,� he uttered. Tears in his golden brown eyes. �I wish I could make you happy�whole�again.� He kissed the freckles on her tanned shoulder. Then her cheek. Only to find it wet with new tears. He felt her small hands link with his own, and his throat grew tight. He could barely breathe. �Don�t. Please don�t. I can�t bear it when you cry. Come on, Angel. Sheridan�tell me what I can do.� �Just hold me,� she whispered. �Until the ache fades.� He buried his nose in her soft golden curls and closed his eyes. And held on tight. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ �Good morning Harmony on this beautiful day! The temp is a pleasant 75. But look out folks! Today�s going to be another scorcher with highs in the upper 80�s. Get out! Have some fun! This is Chad Harris, and you�re listening to Harmony�s best music station.� Eve smiled. More like Harmony�s ONLY music station. But Chad was good at his job. Excellent, in fact. Sheridan knew exactly what she was doing when she handed the reins over to him. She twisted the knob on the small radio. Lowering the volume. �Dr. Johnson? Mr. Bennett would like to have a word with you.� �Thank you, Alice.� Sam met her outside Room 13. �Eve.� �Sorry to keep you waiting, Sam. How is she?� she asked. Peeking through the small window. Grace looked somewhat bewildered. But happy. Surrounded by her children. Sam rubbed his palms against his denim pants. �Great. Perfect. Except for one thing. It�s like she�s never been gone these last nine years, Eve. She doesn�t remember anything.� Eve frowned. �What? Do you think it�s permanent?� �I don�t know. She�ll need more tests, of course. But Sam�the clinic�s ill-equipped for those sorts of tests. Or Grace remaining here.� �What are you saying, Eve?� �I�m saying you should take Grace home.� @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ His head throbbed. And the day was only beginning. �Come in,� he called. When he heard a gentle, hesitant tap on the door. �Whitney,� he sighed. Pushing his chair back from his desk and standing up. �I wasn�t expecting you.� Whitney cleared her throat nervously. �What do you wish to see me about? The Masters� case? Is Bloodsworth harrassing you again?� �No,� she said quickly. �This is not about work.� He locked the door and turned around to face her once more. �Then what is it about?� he asked curiously. Dropping the case file in his hands on top of the mountain of paperwork and perching on the edge of his desk. �I think you know,� she whispered. Her head lowered. Her nails picked at imaginary lint on her conservative gray skirt. �Theresa. It�s about Theresa. And your marriage to her.� |
| Chapter 6 �What about my marriage to Theresa, Whitney? It�s a lie. A damn lie,� Ethan spat. �Stop saying that, Ethan. Stop deluding yourself. It�s not ALL a lie. The love between you two is not a lie. Matthew is not a lie.� Her chest was hurting. There was a terrible pain in her heart as she delivered the words. �What we did was wrong, Ethan. For so many reasons. But the biggest one�the biggest reason�we both betrayed her. Theresa is my best friend, Ethan.� Ethan rubbed his hand over his eyes wearily. �I know,� he whispered. �Don�t you think I know? I didn�t mean for this to happen. I swear, Whitney. I�I�wanted to�I wanted to hurt her the way she hurt me,� he stammered. A single tear seeped from beneath her lashes. And she clutched the arms of the chair desperately. She felt like she was falling. �Hurt her?� she squeaked. �Leaving her hurt her. This�this will kill her. I have to go,� she cried. Fleeing his office. Drawing the stares of curious colleagues. He swept his hand across his desk in a blind fury. The picture of his family shattered on the ground. A thousand tiny pieces that used to be his life. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Auburn wisps escaped the elegant French twist. Black sunglasses hid her blue eyes. Gwen Hotchkiss was a broken woman. �Hi,� Hank said softly. She didn�t look up. Only studied her feet. Counted the cracks in the aging sidewalk. Hank tipped her chin up with gentle fingers. His heart clenched in his chest when he saw the tear tracks on her cheeks. Rebecca Hotchkiss didn�t deserve this. But you couldn�t help who your parents were. Or your feelings for them. �Go away,� she spat half-heartedly. Jerking her chin from his grasp. He sat down beside her on the park bench with a sigh. �Still no change, huh?� Her jaw was set in determination. �Don�t you see? There�ll NEVER be a change. Never,� she whispered defeatedly. Crumpling before him. Years, he thought. Years without a word. Everything the Cranes touched turned to poison. She didn�t resist him when he pulled her into his embrace. The clock chimed the noon hour. Cheerful children skated by. And Gwen�s walls finally tumbled to the ground. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ �Grandma,� Danielle asked thoughtfully. �Will Mom ever be the same?� Pilar put the glass back in the cupboard and turned to face her granddaughter. �I don�t know,� she said honestly. �But she won�t always be this sad, Mija. I promise,� she whispered. Cupping Danielle�s silky cheek in the palm of her hand. Danielle closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were shimmering with unshed tears. �It�s all my fault,� she said brokenly. �All my fault, Grandma. If I hadn�t�she wouldn�t�� �Mija! Don�t you ever say that again,� Pilar said more harshly than she intended. Grabbing Danielle by the shoulders. Hard. Her voice softened. �It�s not your fault. It�s God�s will.� Anger flashed across Danielle�s blue eyes. From the time she was a tiny baby Pilar could always read Danielle with one look in her expressive blue eyes. Eyes so like her mother�s. �Why would God let this happen? Why would he make my mommy so sad?� Her own throat was tight with tears when she gave the only answer she could. �I don�t know, Mija. I don�t know.� |