mARIA IS aLEX’S SISTER (ALL THE GIRLS ARE three YEARS YOUNGER THAN THE GUYS), ALEX IS MARRIED TO ISABEL, lIZ IS MARIA’S BESTFRIEND AND IS MARRIED TO MAX, ISABEL’S BROTHER. LIZ AND MAX HAVE A BABY BOY NAMED RAFE. MICHAEL IS A COLLEGE BUDDY OF MAX’S BUT NO ONE KNOWS HIM EXCEPT MAX. KYLE IS MARIA’S FIANCEE.

OK FEEDBACK PLEASE! LET ME KNOW:

“Maria the park isn’t safe. You shouldn’t be there all by yourself.” Kyle Valenti told his fiancée, Maria Deluca.

“Kyle I write there best. You know that. I won’t stop going. Plus where I sit is safe and I always try to keep a police officer near by.” Maria was sitting on the bed putting her silk stockings on. She was getting dressed to go to a dinner party at her best friend’s house, Liz Evans. And Liz’s dinners were always fancy. She sighed and looked at Kyle, “OK Kyle how about you tell me when you’re leaving?” Kyle worked for a commercial airline and traveled all the time, Maria only saw him one week out of four every month. Liz always told her that her and Kyle weren’t made for each other and tried to set her up with other guys but Maria didn’t break things off with Kyle. Even if they had been engaged for more than a year. Maria liked her situation with Kyle just fine. She wasn’t ready to marry Kyle, but Liz always asked if the reason that she didn’t push Kyle to get married was because she didn’t really love him.

Maria and Kyle had grown up close friends, as had Liz, Max (Liz’s husband), Alex (Maria’s older half brother), and Isabel (Alex’s wife and Max’s sister). Alex and Isabel had been the first to get married but Liz and Max had been close to follow. Liz and Max even had a year old baby, Rafe, short for Raphael.

“Maria you know that even if you sit in a safe zone Central Park isn’t always safe, plus you tend to lose sight of things going on around you when you start writing in that lab top of yours.”

“When are you leaving Kyle?” Maria pulled on her red strapless dress and gave him her back so he could zip it up. He always started this argument when he was leaving; it made him less guilty if they were fighting.

“I leave tonight, I won’t be able to go to Liz’s party. I’m sorry Maria.”

Maria stared at Kyle’s handsome face. He hadn’t changed so much since when they were kids. He had grown taller and more muscular sure, his brown hair was real short, like the company ordered it and his brown eyes were more intelligent due to his education at New York University but other than that he looked exactly the same as he always had. Good old reliable Kyle, only now he wasn’t so reliable.

“It’s been only four days! Well don’t worry, I’m sure Liz will understand. It’s your job.” She spoke sarcastically and bent down to fasten her shoes. “When you come back we have to talk Kyle.”

“OK Maria I promise we’ll talk. Hey I’ll be back a few days before Christmas we could go ice-skating! You love to ice skate.”

“Look Kyle don’t try to bribe me into feeling better. I’m not a little kid.”

“You were always to smart for me. OK we’ll talk I promise. But now I have to go. So I’ll call you tomorrow. I love you baby!” With that he walked out of the room and Maria heard the front door of the apartment slam shut.

Part 2

“Ms. Maria! How are you? Where is Mr. Kyle?” Rosy, Liz’s housekeeper, opened the door to the penthouse.

“I’m fine Rosy but Kyle couldn’t come. How are you?” Maria hugged the woman and was ushered in the door.

“I’m good too, but you and Mr. Kyle should be together, missy! You two going to ever get married or what? It’s been over a year Ms. Maria.” Rosy had been Liz’s housekeeper forever and now that Liz’s parents had gone off on a cruise with Max and Isabel’s parents and Maria and Alex’s mother, she took care of Liz’s family.

“I know Rosy but he’s working. You know that he flies for American.”

“I know but too much work is bad for the soul. Bueno me voy, besos!” With that Rosy hugged Maria again, walked out of the house and shut the door behind her.

Maria walked into the Evans’ living room calling Liz’s name.

“She’s with Rafe.” A husky voice in a dark corner of the room stated.

“Oh thanks, who are you?” she couldn’t see his face but she could imagine a beautiful man to go along with the voice and when he stepped into the light she wasn’t disappointed. The room seemed to shrink as he approached her. He was tall, taller than Kyle and Max maybe six feet two. His hair was dark brown and a little long that it curled on his neck. His lips were sensual and curved into a slight smirk. His eyes were a deep hazel, not quite green or brown. He wore his suit as if he were born in it. And when he extended his hand towards her to shake she could see his fingers were long and tan. “Michael Guerin, I’m Max and Isabel’s new partner.” Isabel and Max were both partners in a family firm that their parents had started years ago, but the Evans’ had retired about a year ago and had left Max and Isabel in control. Now they were adding a new partner to Evans and Evans, their firm. “And you would be?”

“Maria Deluca, I’m Liz’s best friend and Isabel’s sister in law.”

Michael looked her up and down, she was beautiful. Her eyes were jade green and her skin was alabaster white. Her legs were long and her body was curved and her dress showed them off great. The red dress was strapless and showed off her white shoulders and came up only to mid thigh. She didn’t wear any jewels except for some diamond earrings.

Maria was blushing when he finally met her eyes.

“Oh so you’re the famous Maria Deluca? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“And if I were you I wouldn’t believe a word of it.” She smiled at him and he couldn’t help responding. “If I know Max he only told you his side of things.”

“Naturally!” Max’s responded from the doorway. He had been watching the two for a while and had come to the conclusion that Kyle had some competition. “Liz is with Little Rafe if you’re wondering.”

“Thanks Max,” she kissed him on the cheek and walked out of the room.

“Beautiful,” Michael said after Maria had gone out of the room.

“Yeah and taken, so get over her.”

*Taken but not for long. *

Part 3

“Liz babe, let me hold Rafe.” Maria held her arms out and Liz gave the baby to her. He looked like a miniature Max. “Hi sweetheart how are you!”

“SO did you meet our hunk?” Liz asked Maria while she watched her best friend talk baby talk.

“Oh yeah, gorgeous!” Maria smiled over Rafe at Liz. “Kyle couldn’t come. Sorry.”

“I thought he wouldn’t come. Kyle isn’t good for you Maria. You should be with someone who cares more for you than for their own job.”

“Liz lets not get into it right now please.” The doorbell rang and Maria walked out of the room with Rafe. “Come on sweetheart lets go open the door for Aunt Izzy and Uncle Alex!” when she got there Max had already opened the door and was taking Isabel’s jacket and Alex was shaking hands with Michael.

“Hey sis, what’s up? Where’s Kyle?” Alex hugged Maria and gave Rafe a kiss that made the baby giggle. “Come here little man, to Uncle Alex.”

“Kyle couldn’t come. He had to fly tonight.”

“God does that man ever take a vacation?” Isabel said and walked over to Maria to give her a hug. “I’m sorry Mare.”

“Yeah well so am I but he has to work. OK lets go eat Rosy’s great food.”

And they all headed to the dinning room to sit down.

---------“So Alex what is it that you do?” Michael asked as the maid took his plate. “Thanks,” he murmured glancing at the maid and giving her a smile that had her melting inside.

“Well I own a Jazz club, it’s called The Blue Note. You might have heard of it.”

“Oh yeah, that place is great. You guys have great talent. And the food is excellent, spicy. I love it.”

“Thanks, actually Maria sings there some times.”

“Really?” Michael shifted his attention to Maria and she felt as if everyone in the whole room had disappeared. “And what do you do Maria when you aren’t singing?”

“I’m a writer.”

“Oh and have you published anything?”

“A few.”

“Don’t be modest Maria,” Alex was watching the two and didn’t like the way Michael had been eyeing his baby sister. “She’s written 5 books and all have been on the New York Times number one bestseller, plus her last book is on Oprah’s book club and she is going to be on Oprah to endorse it in a few weeks.” His pride shone through his voice.

“Thanks Alex.” Maria smiled at her brother.

“So what do you write?” Michael asked.

“Romance.”

“Oh…”

“OK, Alex and I have an announcement.” Isabel spoke up; she was getting tired of watching Maria and Michael’s staring contest.

“What is it?” Max said looking over at his sister and his best friend.

“We’re having a baby!” Isabel squealed.

“Oh my god! For real! That’s great! I’m an aunt again! I’m so happy for you!” Maria got up and ran to her brother and his wife to hug them. Liz had tears in her eyes, and Max got up to hug his sister and shake Alex’s hand. Alex’s eyes shone pride and he kissed his wife on the lips.

“Congratulations!” Michael said. “This deserves some champagne. I brought some to celebrate the merger but this is more important.” He got up and went to the kitchen to get the champagne that he had put in the freezer earlier. Maria got up to get some glasses.

“Lets all go to the living room its more comfortable.” Liz got up and the rest followed.

---------“What a great night,” Maria mused as Michael drove her home. He had insisted on taking her home, as had Liz. Maria had gotten there in a cab, because she didn’t own a car, but who in Manhattan actually owned a car. Except Michael, he had a black Mercedes Benz.

“It was, how wonderful that your brother and your sister in law are having a child. I’ve always loved kids.”

“Yeah I could tell, you were playing with Rafe for a long time. He loved it.”

“He’s a cute kid, actually he’s my godson.”

“He is? I didn’t know that, then you must know Max for a while.”

“We went to Harvard together. So Maria tell me something.”

“What?”

“Are you and your fiancée going to have kids?”

“Well, I want to have kids, but we haven’t even set a date for the wedding so having kids is a long way away.”

“I want to have kids too.” he smiled at her and continued driving.

When he got to her apartment building he insisted on accompanying her up to her door. “You never know what could happen to you around here.”

“Well thanks Michael. It was a pleasure meeting you.” She turned to open the door but he took her keys from her hand and opened the door for her.

“The pleasure is all mine.” He took her hand and kissed the palm. Then he turned to go. She sighed and shut the door. *Too bad I’m taken. *

As she was stepping into her apartment the phone rang. She ran to get it. “Hello?”

“Maria?”

“Liz what’s up?”

“I just wanted to know if you got home safely.”

“OK, Well I am home safely.”

“Oh good, so how was the trip with Michael?”

“Ah ha, that’s why you’re calling. To see if I got a goodbye kiss.”

“Well did you?”

“That’s for me to know and for you to wonder about! Now goodnight Liz, and give Max and Rafe a kiss for me.”

Part 4

“Maria you shouldn’t be at the park, I don’t care if you do write best there. It’s dangerous and cold. You’re going to get sick.” Isabel said into the phone.

“Izzy I know you worry but I can take care of myself and you know I don’t get sick often. Don’t worry, plus in your condition you shouldn’t worry. I’ll be fine, now I have to get some work done and I can’t write while I’m on the phone. Ciao!” Maria hung up and sighed. *Why is everyone getting on my case about this. *

“Isabel is something wrong?” Michael had come into her office and had caught her staring at the phone. “Is it Alex? The baby?” he was worried.

“What, Michael? No it isn’t Alex or the baby but he is going to be mad at me. Alex I mean. I told him that I would get Maria to stop going to Central Park alone but she doesn’t listen to me. I’m worried about her. But she won’t listen to anyone, she says that she writes best there and she won’t leave.”

“Well if it’ll make you feel any better I’ll go find her and I’ll invite her to lunch. Which part of the park is she in?”

Isabel told him and he walked out. *I hope he finds her and can change her mind. *

---------“Imagine my luck to find a beautiful woman alone looking hungry.” Michael’s voice registered through Maria’s brain as she was finishing a page. He had been watching her for a while now and didn’t know whether to kiss her or to talk to her. He figured talking was safer.

“Michael?” Maria’s eyes weren’t focused as she looked up at him. “I’m sorry did you say something?”

“I wanted to know if you were hungry. I know this great little place in the village. But only if you’re finished here, plus its getting dark and colder, I don’t see how you can stand it out here. Do you stay out here all winter?”

“Not all winter, actually its colder than most years I think this may be my last day out here. I’ll have to find a replacement. And about being hungry,” her stomach rumbled right after saying that and she looked up at him and laughed. “I am hungry.”

“Great, let’s go.” He offered his arm as she stood up and closed her lab top. “I hope you don’t mind taking the subway, I didn’t bring my car.”

“No prob. I’m used to taking it. But let me put this away in my apartment, its right around the corner.”

--------“Mr. Guerin! Come in please we didn’t know you were in the city! And with such beautiful company!” The host at a little Italian restaurant greeted Michael with enthusiasm. He looked at Maria and smiled. “Would you like your usual?”

“I moved here a little while ago, Sergio and yes please could I have my regular?”

“But of course Mr. Guerin, come this way.” The host led the way to a small table at the end of the little restaurant and turned on the candle that was o the table. “Would you like some wine?”

“Please, make it your best.” The host left and Maria looked at Michael.

“Michael we don’t have to have wine, I don’t mind. Its probably expensive.” She protested but Michael took her hand.

“Good company deserves good wine. And don’t worry about the money, I have plenty, I like to share.” He winked at her and Maria blushed. But she also pulled her hand free. *You are engaged to a wonderful man who loves you very much! Remember that Maria! *

They ordered and talked, about everything. Michael’s family was Italian and his father had died a few years back. He had been a cop and had been disappointed when Michael didn't join the force, but his sister had.

“I’m sure your father was proud of you for doing your best Michael.” Maria took his hand and smiled at him. Then she realized what she had done and released his hand.

His mother still lived in their old neighborhood and no matter how much Michael pleaded with her to move to a safer place she didn’t listen.

“She claims that the neighborhood would collapse without her.” Michael laughed and Maria did too. “She worries about me constantly, she’s always calling to see how I’m doing. Now that I live in New York though she visits me without telling.”

“She sounds so nice, I wish my mother would visit me. Tell me about your sister.”

“Well Tess is a little pain in the butt! But then again most little sisters are!” he laughed and Maria pouted.

“Hey I’m the little sister!” but she laughed too.

“Tell me you weren’t always hanging around Alex and Max. All three of you, I’ve heard stories of Isabel, you, and Liz all following them getting into trouble.”

“Of course we did they had much more exciting lives than we did.” She laughed. “OK so your sister is a pain in the butt. But tell me more.”

“Well she’s a cop now, she works for NYPD. And we used to fight a lot and when I went to law school she got really mad at me and stopped speaking to me, for like a day but after that we went back to being the same. She’s always backed me up. When I was in school she always helped me out. I remember that school was tough and being a scholarship kid was even tougher. She would help me with my anger when I would come home from a fight with some rich kid. Sorry,” he looked at her sheepishly.

“Hey I don’t blame you for fighting with rich kids. As far as I’m concerned money isn’t important, family and friends are what make us rich. My mother taught me that.” Michael heard a little bitterness in her voice but didn’t want to push her, so he didn’t say anything. He would save it for later.

“So I guess both of us are real lucky we both have great siblings. Alex is the greatest, when my dad died he was there for me. I had been really close to my dad.”

“How are you and Alex siblings exactly?” he asked, he had seen the sorrow in her eyes when she mentioned her dad and had stored away that little piece of information too.

“Well we have the same mother, she married Alex’s dad and they got divorced two years later when Alex was one, then when Alex was two she married my dad and they had me a year later.”

“Oh and when did your dad die? But if you don’t want to talk about it its OK.”

“Oh that’s OK, my dad died when I was 12, Alex was 15. Then Alex went away to college a few years later and I was left alone. Well with Lizzy and Izzy, but I missed him tremendously.”

“I’ll bet. I missed my sister too when I went away to college.”

“How did you meet Max?” Maria asked she wasn’t too comfortable telling everything about herself. She felt as if Michael were the sort of person who she could tell anything too, but she didn’t like revealing too much about herself. As it was he knew more about how close she and Alex were, than Kyle did.

-----------They walked around the city and talked some more. Maria heard stories about Michael’s college days and about how Max was crazy about Liz even then.

“I remember that he would come to complain about how Liz would call him to tell him about her new boyfriend.”

“I remember that! Liz and Max were like best friends and she wanted more but she said he treated her like a puppy, always patting her on the head so she would call him at school and would make up these guys. I would help her some times. Isabel was in love with Alex too, even at that age she already knew. And Alex was also away at school so we would call him too. We always had so much fun bugging them. I always knew that the four of them were meant for each other even before they showed signs of puppy love. Alex and Isabel got married right after she finished college and Max and Liz got married about a year after that. Ahh, it’s a tale of true love.” Maria sighed and leaned over a bridge to look at the water below.

“What about you and Kyle? Did you know you two would be getting married?”

“No, Kyle was the bully in school, always pulling my hair and doing what little boys do when they like you. But I never liked him that way. It wasn’t till I came back from college in Los Angeles, that I noticed him. He grew up to be a great guy. And we started dating right away, but he proposed a year and a half ago. We had been dating like 2 years almost 3.” She took a deep breath and added, “but lately he’s changed. He isn’t the same; it’s as if his career means more to him than anything. He put our lives on hold.” She paused. “I’m sorry I should be telling you this.” She turned around to look at him.

He was staring at her looking so serious. It was as if he could see through her. “Don’t worry Maria I’ll always be here for you.” He whispered.

His tone of voice made her nervous and she looked back at the water. “Hey Michael shouldn’t you have gone back to work? It’s late.”

“I’m one of the bosses remember? Don’t worry about me. Hey are you cold?” He had seen her pull her thin coat around her tighter a while ago. Her teeth were chattering and her cheeks were red. “Here take my jacket.” He shrugged out of his long coat and put it around her shoulders. Then he pulled his suit around him tighter.

“No Michael you’re going to freeze! Take your coat back!” she gave it back to him but he pulled her close.

“How about we share it?” he wrapped his arms around her and formed a little cocoon around them with his coat.

Maria closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Michael and her were face to face and she could smell him everywhere. She instinctively leaned towards the warmth and he bent his lips towards hers. She was shocked back to reality when she felt his warm breath on her lips. She pushed him away getting out of the cocoon. His jacket fell on the ground.

“I’m engaged Michael. I can’t do anything thing with you, you have to respect that.” then she walked away.

Michael picked up his coat and ran after her. *I respect alright. You feel attracted to me but you still are faithful to Kyle. He doesn’t know what he’s taking for granted. If I were engaged to you I wouldn’t let you out of my sight. *

“Maria wait up! I’m sorry!” he grabbed her hand and stopped her from taking another step. “I’m sorry. Please take my coat, I’ll walk you back to your apartment and if you want I’ll never talk to you again.” He said looking all downcast that she had to laugh.

“OK Michael, I’ll wear your coat and you can freeze. And I won’t stop speaking to you. We can still be friends. Agreed?” She asked him.

“Agreed.” What she didn’t know was that Michael had his fingers crossed behind his back.

Part 5

“OK are you ready?” Michael was pulling out a blindfold from his pocket as Maria buckled up. They had been friends for almost a week and Michael was getting frustrated with it. But he had told Maria that he would respect her relationship with Kyle and he didn’t want her to hate him. Not when she was on the verge of falling in love with him. *Too bad I’m already head over heels with you Maria. *

“Yeah but why don’t you just tell me where you’re taking me!” Maria pouted as Michael tied the blindfold over her eyes.

“I want you to be surprised. It’s a great place and the food is to die for!”

--------“Michael you brought me to your mom’s house! Oh my gosh you could have told me I would have dressed nicer, been more prepared!” she looked down at her jeans and sweater.

“She’ll love you! Don’t worry you look beautiful!” Michael knocked on the door and a blond haired woman opened the door. Her blue eyes warmed up at the sight of them and she threw herself into Michael’s arms. “Micky! Hey it’s about time you got here Mama’s been worried! You know her! And who have you brought with you?”

“Tess, little sis, this is Maria, my good friend, be nice. I’m going to go see mama. Is she in the kitchen?” Michael pulled Maria in the door of the quaint little house. It was blue on the out side and Maria could see where the garden would be if it is summer time. The inside of the house smelled wonderful and Maria inhaled deeply closing her eyes.

“Mama’s gonna like this one.” Tess laughed as she took Maria’s hand from Michael’s grip and led her to the loving room. “So you’re Maria, are you Latin?”

“My dad was Latino, he was Guatemalan.”

“Was? I’m sorry to hear that.” Tess’ police instincts turned on.

“That’s OK, it was a while ago.” Maria smiled at Tess and decided she really liked Michael’s sister.

“You know I like you Maria, do you speak Spanish?” Tess asked and sat down. Then pointed to a chair that Maria could sit in.

“Yes actually I do, but not very well. I can read it a bit and write it too.”

“So you’re bilingual? Wow that’s good, Michael’s never brought home a smart girl.” *Michael’s never brought home any girl. You must be special Maria. *

“Oh we’re just friends.” Maria blushed but smiled.

“Maria!” Michael yelled from the kitchen, “Come here Mama wants to meet you!”

“Coming!” she stood up and smiled shaking at Tess, “Will you come with me?”

“Sure sweety, I’ll be right behind you.” *Oh yeah I like you Maria. *

--------“So you Maria, My little Micky’s friend? Beautiful, but are you smart too?” Mrs. Guerin was a tall woman with gray hair but her eyes were a vivid green. She looked Maria up and down and finally smiled.

“Well I guess I’m smart.” Maria looked at Mrs. Guerin shyly.

“What do you do?”

“I write books, romance.”

“You do! How wonderful! I love romance books. Oh my, you’re the Maria Deluca, the author of the Rosebud books!” She looked Michael and spoke to him in Italian, “I like her already Michael. She is my favorite author!” then she hugged Maria and said something to her in Italian, translated loosely it meant, “Welcome to the family” then in English, “Well Maria can you set a table?”

Maria looked over to Michael and he was smiling, she knew she had been accepted. She just didn’t know why it was so important to her that she make a good impression on Michael’s mother and sister. “Yes I can Mrs. Guerin.”

-------“Michael thank you for taking me to your house. I loved it! Your mother is a wonderful woman and Tess is great. She made me laugh at everything.”

“I’m glad you liked them, they liked you too.” Michael looked over at Maria and smiled. *They loved you Maria and I love you even more for showing me what a wonderful person you are. * He looked over at Maria and she had dozed off. “I love you Maria,” he whispered.

Part 6

“Kyle I want you to come back. It isn’t fair that you weren’t here for Liz’s last dinner party but this is Christmas! You should be here with your family. Damn it Kyle! You said that you would be here a few weeks before Christmas.”

“Maria, babes you know I can’t get up and leave just because you want me too. There was no one else to fly this weekend and I volunteered. And about Liz’s dinner, we’ll have another one when I get back.”

“Don’t be so sure of that Kyle!” Maria slammed down the phone and stared at it. *How could Kyle just give up his family for work! He volunteered? What the heck! Does he not give a damn? Who the hell is he? *

The phone rang again but Maria ignored it. She didn’t want to talk to Kyle at that moment. The answering machine came on and her voice filled her room, “You have reached Maria D. if you have a message than you know the drill. Beep!” Maria held her breath waiting to hear Kyle’s voice, but instead a sexy voice came on the machine: “Maria? It’s Michael, well I guess I just missed you…”

“Hello? Michael?”

“Maria, hey why didn’t you answer the phone?”

“I’ve decided to screen my calls, what’s up?”

“Well aside from being glad it wasn’t me you didn’t want to talk to, I wanted to know if you wanted a ride to Liz’s house. Unless Kyle is taking you, you did tell me he was coming back tonight?”

“Yeah I told you that but apparently I was wrong. You don’t mind giving me a ride cause I would take a cab, but…”

“You will not take a cab! I’ll be there in half an hour. OK?”

“Hey aren’t you having dinner at your mom’s tonight?”

“No we always have dinner on Christmas Eve, so we did our thing last night.”

“Great, Michael, thanks. I owe you big time.”

“And I intend to collect.” He laughed. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

------The doorbell rang and Maria was racing around the room. She had been so angry from Kyle’s phone call everything had gone wrong. She had cut herself shaving in the shower, so she couldn’t wear the new dress that she had just bought. Her black slacks were at the dry cleaners and she hadn’t dried her hair, so when she heard the bell ring announcing Michael’s arrival she almost burst into tears.

She raced to the door with a towel on her head and her eyes still puffy from her hot shower. Her shirt was untucked and her feet were bare, but she had found her black slacks.

She opened the door and began talking in a hurry. “Hey Michael come on in, Merry Christmas!” she leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek and he gave her one too. “I’m sorry I’m a mess and that the apartment is a mess.” Then she looked at him and her mouth fell open. “Wow, Michael you look great.” She gulped and blinked. He was dressed in all black, his hair was slicked back and his smile made her catch her breath.

“Well thanks Maria, I bought this tie just for tonight.” He laughed and pulled her towel off her head. “I’ve always wanted to see your hair wet. And I can see that my dreams were not exaggerated. You look like an angel, granted a messy angel, but one none the less.” He tilted her face up towards him and looked into her eyes. “Why Maria I do believe you’re blushing.”

“Don’t tease Michael, I look a mess. OK let me finish getting dressed and we can go. Feel free to look around, mi casa es tu casa.” She rushed back into her room and shut the door.

Michael glanced around the apartment, it wasn’t big but it fit Maria’s style, not too flashy but with plenty of color. She had paintings on the walls that he knew must have cost plenty of money but the space didn’t show off the fact that she had money. He glanced towards a wall and looked at the pictures of Maria, Liz and Isabel in her wedding gown. Then some of Liz in her wedding gown and the other two in their bride’s maid dresses. There were some pictures of Maria and Alex; some of Maria alone posed next to a statue that he knew was located some where in Europe. And there were some of her with a man that Michael guessed to be Kyle. *They look to be a good couple. Sorry Kyle but she’s mine now, she just doesn’t know it. But she will after tonight. *

Maria had tucked in her shirt, put her shoes on, and blow-dried her hair. Then she put a little powder on her face and some lipgloss. *OK all ready. *

She walked out of her room and saw Michael looking at her pictures on her wall. The ones that Kyle and her came out in seemed to have caught his eye; he was looking at them all concentrated. “Hey? Did you get something to drink? I’m sorry you must think I’m a lousy hostess. Please don’t tell Liz! She’s been trying to instill manners in me but I don’t seem to learn.” She smiled but her face froze when he turned around. His face was so serious that she felt like she had that time on the bridge: like he could see through her.

Then his face broke into a grin and he pointed to the pictures on her wall. “Is this Kyle?”

She nodded.

“He’s good-looking. Ready to go?” He took her coat and helped her into it then he handed her her purse. Michael gave her his elbow and she took it.

“Yeah.” As she was leaving the phone rang and she heard her recording then she heard Kyle’s voice but she shut the door and smiled at Michael. “Let’s go.”

Part 7

“So you want to tell me why you’re mad at Kyle? Or does it have something to do with the fact that he isn’t here tonight?” Michael asked her as he started his car and put the heater on.

“He calls me today and tell me that he volunteered to work Christmas night. Can you believe him! I hung up on him I was angry.”

“So that’s who you were screening your calls for?” he glanced over at her and she sighed.

“Yup. I mean God Michael would you ever leave your family to work?”

“I would never leave you Maria,” he whispered but Maria didn’t seem to hear the emotion behind his voice.

“See, no man would rather work than be with his family on a holiday. The day of Christ was born no less!”

The drive to Liz’s house was full of laughter as Michael filled Maria in on what was going down at Evans and Evans.

“And she actually asked him that! Can you believe it? I was pinching myself so I wouldn’t laugh in court; Judge Stevenson would have killed me.” He laughed and Maria joined him.

“I can imagine your face! Classic!” she calmed down but burst into laugher again as she glanced at him.

They were still laughing as they walked into Liz’ and Max’s penthouse 10 minutes later.

“Merry Christmas guys! What’s so funny?” Liz came out to greet them as they walked in the door. Michael was helping Maria out of her coat and Liz gave Maria a little smile that said, “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Oh hey Liz, Feliz Navidad!” Maria gave Liz a kiss and whispered to her, “Yeah I caught that look I’ll meet you in the baby’s room in five.”

“Hey Liz, Merry Christmas! How’s everything? The turkey ready?” Michael leaned over and kissed her cheek too.

“Yup Rosy made it just before she left today and we have stuffing and some other good stuff. Now tell me what’s so funny?” She demanded.

“Oh Michael was telling me about the story about how the new assistant DA asked his client if they had ever succeeded in committing suicide. Can you believe that? The guy must have been so embarrassed.”

“Oh my gosh Max told me that today!” Liz laughed and then while she was still chuckling she told Michael that Max was in the living room with Alex and that Isabel was looking at Rafe. Then she pulled Maria away to the baby’s room.

“Let’s talk.” She said after Michael was out of earshot.

“Oh boy…” Maria murmured but followed Liz into the baby’s room, she knew that Isabel and Liz were going to interrogate her about her relationship with Kyle and if she had a relationship with Michael. But the truth was that she didn’t know what she and Michael had and she wasn’t in the mood to dissect it.

Part 8

“So care to tell us, your very best friends in the whole world, what the hell you have going on with Michael?” Isabel asked as soon as Maria had entered the room.

“Merry Christmas to you to Iz. It’s been so long, and how is the baby?” Maria spoke sarcastically.

“Cut the crap Maria, I want to know. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. And I’ve seen the way you look at him. Is Kyle out of the picture? Speaking of Kyle where the hell is he its Christmas! I was looking forward to the fireworks that were going to fly tonight.” Isabel kissed the baby and gave him to Liz. She put her hands on her hips and stared at Maria. “Well?”

“Kyle is in Chicago. Apparently the airline couldn’t get anyone to fly tonight so he volunteered. I have a great fiancée, don’t I?”

“He’s an asshole, I’ve always known that, ever since we were little kids. I can’t believe you didn’t see it till now.” Isabel said and glanced at Liz who nodded.

“I agree with Izzy, Maria. Kyle is an asshole. He doesn’t care about you or anyone except himself and you are one of the most caring people I’ve ever met. When someone said opposites attract they weren’t kidding, except they forgot to add that when they open their eyes they see how bad they are for each other. You and Kyle are total opposites, plus you are way to good for him. Michael is a great guy and it’s obvious that he loves you. Why don’t you dump Kyle the ‘loser’ and get with Michael. Plus you love Michael too but you’re too scared to see it.”

“Look guys I’m so glad that you’ve decided to prove how great friends you are by insulting my fiancee but I don’t want to hear it. And I do not love Michael; we are good friends is all. I tell him everything, he listens to me and he makes me laugh.”

“Maria he cares. That’s the important thing. Even if you don’t want to admit that you love him, then admit, at least to yourself, that he cares about you and worries. He loves you.” Isabel said this and then walked out. Liz looked at Maria one last time and followed Isabel out the door carrying a smiling Rafe with her.

Maria walked to the bathroom and locked herself in. *OK Liz and Izzy are right, Kyle is an asshole and he doesn’t care. If he did he would be here right now. Obviously his work means more to him than I do. It hurts to admit it but it’s true. Well at least that’s settled I’m going to break up with him when he comes home, if he ever does. If not then I’ll mail him his damn ring. I’ve never worn it anyway; it was way too flashy. I will not be ignored or forgotten. But I don’t believe that Michael loves me. We’re good friends; he is my best friend. I don’t want anything to ruin that. *

“Maria?” Michael knocked on the bathroom door and Maria was brought out of her meditation. “Maria are you OK?” he sounded worried.

She opened the door and smiled. He was carrying Rafe and something in her heart gave a lurch. *Ignore that feeling. Michael does not love you. * “I’m great. Were you worried? I’m sorry.”

“I always worry about you Maria. Come on, Liz said to tell you that dinner is ready.” He held Rafe in one hand and took hers in the other.

When they walked into the dinning room Alex looked from his sister to his friend. The looked good together, carrying Rafe they even looked as if they were meant to be together with a baby. Michael and he had become good friends in the past few weeks. Michael had come over often to the club to eat and talk. And Alex truly enjoyed his company, but he didn’t know if he liked Michael and his sister together. *Hey any guy is better than Kyle is. At least Michael shows how much he cares about Maria. I hope my little sister knows what she wants because right now she looks a little confused. I guess I’m going to have a little talk to her later. *

Part 9

Everyone was sitting in the living room, the fire was the only light that was on in the room and everyone was cuddling up. Maria sat in an armchair and Michael sat on the floor between her legs, she was running her hands through his hair with out knowing what she was doing. Alex was lying on a love seat and Isabel was on his lap. His arms were around her and their hands were entwined over her stomach. Max and Liz were sitting on the couch with little Rafe in between them. They were all watching the fire.

“So we should open gifts.” Liz said, “before Rafe falls asleep.”

“Yeah!” Maria agreed enthusiastically. She got up form her chair and bent down to pick up a gift from under the enormous tree. She looked at all the ornaments; Liz had kept all of the ornaments that they had made throughout the years. “You kept them all Liz,” she whispered. Liz got up from her seat and stood next to Maria.

“Of course, you’re my sister Maria, my family. Everyone in this room is.”

Maria turned to look at her with tears in her eyes, “I love you to sis.” She smiled and handed Liz the gift, “And this is for you.”

Everyone had a gift to open and Michael watched with fascination as the whole family tore into their wrapping paper. Rafe was playing with the paper that was discarded on the floor and Max was helping him open his gifts, Alex was laughing at Max. Liz, Maria and Isabel were sharing old Christmas stories. *Do I really belong here? *

“Michael you haven’t opened any of your gifts.” Maria looked over at him and smiled pointing to all the gifts behind the tree. “Open mine first!” she came to sit next to him on the floor and grabbed the gift from behind the tree. Michael noticed that everyone in the room was looking at him, he knew that they all knew how much he loved Maria.

“OK, yours is first.” He smiled as he opened a beautiful gray sweater. “Maria, it’s beautiful. Did you make it?”

“Yup, it took me a while but it came out perfect.” She smiled at him and the room seemed to disappear. Michael was looking at her ‘that’ way. The spell was broken and she blushed then grabbed another gift to give to him. “Here this is from Alex and Izzy.”

The night was ending and Alex wanted to talk to his sister so he cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “Uh, Maria?”

“Yeah Alex?” she had been talking to Isabel about baby names and looked over at him.

“I have to tell you something.” Isabel looked over at Alex and shook her head “no.” but Alex kept going, “Its about mom.”

“When did you talk to her? Is she coming back soon?” Maria was curious to know when her mother and the other parents were coming back.

“She said that she would be here for the 31 of December.”

“Alex that’s a week away. Why are you telling me till now?” Maria was getting suspicious, she knew something was up.

“She’s got a surprise for us.”

Maria got up and looked at him, “What! Is she finding another father for us? I’m gonna kill her!”

“Maria calm down, the baby is sleeping.” Liz knew how much Maria got upset when her mother married. Amy Deluca, Maria and Alex’s mom, had been married four times since Maria’s dad had died. She had also divorced each husband within a year of the marriage.

“When did she call Alex?” Maria glared at her brother she knew he had known for too long and hadn’t told her.

“She called me on Thanksgiving.”

“Great Alex, just great!” Maria stormed out of the room. Michael got up to go after her but Alex stopped him.

“I handle her. Don’t worry.”

Part 10

“Maria…” Alex whispered as he got to Liz and Max’s bedroom. Maria was lying on the bed her arm covering her face.

“She promised Alex! Why does she have to go out and get married with every Tom, Dick, and Harry that she meets? God, she’s out of control! The last guy was younger than you!”

“I know Maria but this time she said that he is different. His name is Jim Forester. And that he loves her, not for her money, but for her. She just wants to be happy Maria. Just like you and me.”

“I know Alex but it hurts me when she finally realizes that the man she has married doesn’t love her. After we’ve been telling her from the start that. After daddy died she just went out everywhere looking for someone to love.”

Alex hugged her. “I know Maria, but mom, just misses dad. That’s it. She sees how happy we both are. Isabel and I starting our family, you and Kyle. Speaking of Kyle.”

“Not you too Alex! I thought you were on my side. Isabel and Liz already cornered me.” She looked up at him and saw his face was serious. “OK give me a lecture.”

“Not a lecture Maria, I want to know something. Are you happy?”

“Not with Kyle.”

“Then?”

“I’m going to break up with him Alex, I already decided. But I have to do it face to face, I think he deserves that much. We have been together for a while.”

“I don’t think he deserves anything from you! The bastard is always away; he is never around Maria. You should just tell him on the phone, or better yet leave it on his machine. That would be great.”

“I’m not cruel Alex! Although it does have a certain appeal. Hehehe” she smiled at her brother. “I love you Alex.”

“I love you too little sis. But we have one more thing to discuss.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

“What about you and Michael?”

Part 11

“There is no: Michael and me. We’re friends that’s it.” Maria separated herself from Alex as she said this and stood up. She looked out the window. “Leave it alone Alex.”

“I know how confused you are Maria, but he loves you. And you love him. You don’t have to do anything just admit it. Once you do you’ll stop being scared.”

Alex stood up and left the room. A few minutes later Michael walked in. He saw her standing by the window. And walked up behind her.

“Wishing on a star?” He asked and wrapped his arms around her.

“Something like that.” she said and let him hold her. *I think I do love him, but he deserves someone who isn’t taken. I’ll have to tell him when Kyle is out of the picture. And hopefully that’s soon. *

“I’m sorry about your mom, I got the picture it bothers you that she’s gonna get married again.”

“It does, but only because she finds these guys that don’t love her as much as her money. After my dad died she locked herself in her room for a week. It was hard; my dad had been the glue in our family and with him gone my mother lost it. Alex helped me deal with it. We had both lost a father; my dad was his too. So we dealt with it together. But mom,” she sighed and turned around he hugged her tighter. And she wrapped her arms around him. “She came out and it was as if she was a different person. All she cared about was money and looking good. I didn’t realize it at the time but she was trying to compensate her loss with money. She let Alex and me run wild. When Alex went off to college though she decided it was time for me to ‘become a woman’ so she tried to change me. I got mad and I left to the West Coast for school, just to hurt her. Now I see that it hurt me as much as it hurt her. We’re so alienated from each other. I refused to attend her other weddings. But Alex says that this one is different that he loves her as much as she loves him. I hope so Michael; my mother deserves to be happy. And I love her so much.” She cried silently as Michael held her. He kissed her on the forehead and whispered in her ear, “She loves you too Maria, I don’t see how anyone can’t.”

Part 12

Michael drove her home but the trip was quiet. Maria was mulling over what he had said in the room and he was wondering if he hadn’t have said anything. *Well that wasn’t how I planed to tell her but I did tell her. * He walked her up to her door and was going to leave when Maria stopped him.

“Michael could you come in I want to talk to you.” She opened the door and looked at him pleading.

“Sure…”

“Maria! Baby! Hey Merry Christmas!”

“Kyle?” Maria looked in shock at her fiancée sitting on the living room couch.

Part 13

“I’m gonna go Maria but call me and we can talk.”

“Michael wait!” but Michael turned around and walked away.

Maria turned around and walked into her apartment. “You always had bad timing Kyle.”

“So you were cheating on me Maria?” he posed it was a question but Maria heard the statement.

“Don’t be a bigger ass than you already are Kyle. No I wasn’t cheating on you. In fact I’m glad you’re here Kyle we have to talk.”

-------*God I’m a fool, I knew that the second Kyle came back she would go running to him. I need to get away. *

-------“Kyle we shouldn’t get married.” She paced the room waiting for the explosion that was sure to follow. What she heard next came as a surprise.

“Maria, I totally agree with you.” Kyle said calmly.

“Huh? I don’t get it?” Maria stared at him her eyes blinking occasionally.

“Its not you, it me…” Kyle began.

“Look buddy don’t give me that ‘its not you its me’ speech. I invented it for Pete’s sake. Care to tell me why you don’t want to get married? You haven’t cheated on me have you cause I’ll kill you, and Alex will too.” she said as she sat down next to him on the couch.

“God Maria! I thought you knew me well enough to know I would never cheat on a woman in my life!” now it was Kyle’s turn to stand and pace.

“I know Kyle, I’m sorry. You’re right I do know you and I know that you would never cheat on me, or anyone for that matter.”

“My dad did enough cheating for me. ‘Sow your oats Kyle’ he would say, bastard.”

“Kyle stop pacing and tell me why you don’t want to get married.” She spoke softly and held out her hand.

“Maria, I’m sorry but I’ve come to realize that I don’t love you. I can’t marry someone I don’t love. Please don’t hate me.” He put his hands on his face. Maria finally noticed how haggard he looked, as if he had been fighting a demon and had lost. “I tried Maria, I tried to fall in love. But it wouldn’t happen. So I just took as many flights as I could and prayed that you would call off the wedding.”

“Kyle if you didn’t love me why did you ask me in the first place?”

“I felt like it was what we had to do, you know, our families have known each other for ever and all that. So I figured we had to get married. But I can’t deal with it now. I know I took the coward’s way out, but I can’t stand to hurt someone much less you. You’ve been my best friend, but I don’t love you like a lover.”

“Kyle look at me.” He looked up and saw her smiling.

“I don’t want to marry you either.”

“Huh?”

“Hehehe well it’s a long story, but I met someone else. He’s great, we laugh and talk and everything. And I love him. I didn’t cheat on you. I didn’t kiss him or sleep with him or anything, we were just friends but today I realized that I do love him and the best thing is that he loves me too. So I was going to break up with you, Michael deserves someone who isn’t taken.” P>“Oh Maria you don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that!” he gave her a hug. And laughed, “So we both dumped each other.”

She laughed too, “Looks that way.”

“Maria, you’ve been a great friend to me, and I’m sorry for how I treated you. Can we still be friends?”

“Of course Kyle. But let me tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“You work to damn much boy!”

Kyle laughed and Maria joined him.

-----*Michael you should go back down to your car and go, she’s with Kyle now. I just want to see if she’s happy with him. * Michael stepped up to Maria’s door and heard the laughter. *Looks like she is happy. * He turned around and walked away.

Part 14

“Maria I want to ask you something, as a friend.” Kyle was cooking dinner for them the next night.

“Huh? I didn’t hear you.”

“He still isn’t answering your calls?” Kyle looked over at her as she held the phone. Her face looked blank.

“No. I don’t know where he can be. I’m worried Kyle. I don’t want him to think the wrong way about us.”

“Don’t worry Maria, he loves you. He won’t let you get away. Trust me, if I ever find the woman right for me, I’ll fight tooth and nail for her.”

“You’re great Kyle. OK so what was it that you wanted to ask me?” she put the phone down and walked up to the pot of spaghetti sauce on the stove. “It needs more pepper.”

“Don’t touch!” he swatted her hand away. “I want to ask you if I should start my own business.”

“What would you do?”

“Well I was thinking about having my own chartering business. You know people pay me to fly them from place to place, but only in the continental US and Central America. I already have my own plane, this way I’m my own boss and I make my own hours. So what do you think?”

“I think that’s a great idea Kyle. Wow, it’s an awesome idea. Isn’t it dangerous?”

“It’s as safe as flying commercial airlines.”

“Do it. You can get Evans and Evans to be your lawyers.”

“Of course. Who else would I go to?”

The phone rang and Maria ran for it, Kyle just watched laughing at her.

“Hello?”

“Maria? Sweetheart is that you?”

“Mother? Yes its me.”

“Maria dear I have a surprise for you I’m getting married!”

“I know mom, Alex told me.”

“Oh, well Maria I want you to know that this Jim is great. You’re gonna meet him in an hour, we’re coming over for dinner.”

“What! Why?”

“I want you to meet him, and I want to ask something of you. You’ll understand when I get there and explain.” With that Amy hung up and Maria was left looking at the phone dumbfounded, again.

“What did your mom say?” Kyle asked.

“She says she’s coming over and she wants to ask me something.”

“Well we have enough food. Do you know what she wants to ask you?”

“No but I know its going to be trouble. It always is with my mom.”

Part 15

Maria had been fidgeting ever since her mother hung up with her. Kyle had tried to calm her down but he had gotten annoyed so he threatened to lock her up in her room and not give her any of his special flan, that he had made for dessert.

“I’m nervous Kyle! What could she what from me. We don’t get along well. I’m freaked out!”

“You are? Wow, I didn’t even notice.” She burst into laughter when he said this and looked at him.

“Thanks Kyle I needed that.”

“Hey Alex taught me that a little comic relief goes a long way. Besides what are friends for?” right then the bell rang. “I’ll get it, you can get the champagne from the icebox and bring out the glasses so we can toast your mom and this mysterious Jim.” He winked at her and left her in the kitchen.

*Kyle is a great friend. But where the hell is Michael? I need him right now. Oh well I might as well get this over with. * She took a deep breath and walked out of the kitchen holding the glasses and the champagne.

“Mother.” She smiled at Amy. He mother looked radiant. Her hair was shorter than it had been before she left on the cruise and she was tan. She was as tall as Maria was and they shared the same lively green eyes but her hair was a light brown. The man next to her had blue eyes and his hair was sprinkled with gray. He was taller than her mother was but not as tall as Michael. He looked lean and tan. “Hello Mr. Forester, nice to meet you.”

“Please call me Jim.” He said. Maria instantly took a liking to him, his voice was soothing and his smile said that he knew she was a little uncomfortable.

“Jim.” She smiled at him and relaxed. *Well it looks as if my mom picked good this time. * She went to her mother and hugged her. “Please won’t you sit. We have champagne to celebrate your engagement.”

“Thank you dear.” Amy smiled at her daughter. She was relieved that Maria seemed to like Jim. Her daughter had been mad at her for too long and Amy wanted to make amends. “Jim, this is Maria’s fiancée, Kyle.”

“Uhh, Mom, actually Kyle and I aren’t getting married. We decided to just be friends.” She smiled at Kyle and he chuckled.

“Really? Well that’s good. I’m sure you guys will each find your own partner in time.” Amy smiled at the both of them. She had never expected her daughter to marry Kyle. They had never been in love.

“So lets sit and talk and Kyle cooked us some great spaghetti so we can eat. We also have flan, I hope you like it Jim.”

“That sounds wonderful Maria. Thank you for having us on such short notice but we need to ask you a favor.” Jim looked from Amy to Maria. And Maria saw the look of pure love pass between them. *That’s how Michael looks at me. * Her heart swelled, *My mother is finally in love. *

“What’s the favor?” she asked knowing full well that she would do it.

“We want you to plan our wedding for us.” Amy said.

“We want to get married on New Years day.”

“What? You do realize that it’s a week away, right?” Maria asked getting a little scared.

“Yes but please Maria. I know that you just finished your last book and that you’re in between books. So you have time. And I really want you to do this with me; I would be helping you. You didn’t even attend my other weddings, not that I blame you, but I want you to be my maid of honor. Please say you’ll do it sweetheart it would mean so much to me, to us.” Amy’s eyes were filed with tears and she looked at Jim.

“Of course I’ll do it mom. Don’t worry.”

Part 16

“Michael this is Maria, this is also the 50th message I leave on your machine! Where the hell are you! Why aren’t you answering my calls? Why aren’t you at work? Even Isabel and Max are worried please Michael call me!” Maria hung up the phone. She had been having conversations with Michael’s answering machine for the past week. It was December 31st and she hadn’t seen him since Christmas night when he dropped her off at her apartment and Kyle had been waiting. She had even called his mother and sister but they hadn’t heard from him. *OK one more time. * She dialed his phone number again and waited to her his message. This was the only way she could hear his voice. “Michael, this is the last time I call you. I can take a hint. But please come to the wedding tonight. It’s at St. Bernadette’s chapel. It’s important that you be there. If you don’t come I won’t ever bother you again, and you can go on with your life.” She hung up.

Michael was listening to her message and was about to answer the phone when she hung up. *She’s going to marry Kyle. *

--------“Liz do the flowers look good? I almost killed the florist, I told him mini roses and he brought normal ones! God incompetence pisses me off!”

“The flowers look great Maria don’t worry, you did a great job. But take it from me, don’t quit your day job.”

Maria looked to the door of the chapel again as it opened and another guest walked in. She sighed, *He isn’t coming. *

“I’m sorry Maria. I thought he would come. I sent Max and Alex looking for him but they haven’t come back.” Liz hugged Maria and Isabel walked up to them.

“Can I join in?” and the three of them had a group hug.

“I’m going to go fix my make up and see if mom’s OK. I’ll be back.” Maria walked off.

“What the heck could be wrong with Michael? I don’t understand why he disappeared. He just called in and told us that he was going out of town, personal problems. I always figured he had told Maria. But she’s been suffering this whole week. And no word from the low life.” Isabel said as she glanced at the chapel doors opening again only to reveal Kyle in his tuxedo. “But I sure as hell am glad that her and Kyle broke things off. They were so not for each other.”

“Tell me about it.” Liz agreed with her as Kyle walked up to them.

“Ladies, you’re both looking beautiful today.” They were both dressed in matching cream bride’s maids’ dresses with evergreen colored sashes on their waists. Kyle was wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt and a green vest the same color of the sashes. “Where’s Maria?”

“You look good too Kyle and Maria went to see her Mom.”

“Is she still upset over Michael not being here?”

“Yeah, but I set Max and Alex looking for him and they should be back soon. Hopefully they drag Michael with them. I want to kick his butt.” Liz said and looked at the chapel doors again.

“I know what you mean. If it wasn’t for the wedding preparations, Maria would have been more miserable than she is.” Kyle said.

------“Michael? Michael open up! Its Max and Alex!” Max pounded on Michael’s apartment door.

“What the hell do you want?” Michael yelled as he threw open the door. He was wearing paint covered sweat pants and no shirt. His hair stood up on ends. He wasn’t drunk but he wasn’t sober either.

“Where the hell have you been?” Alex yelled back and pushed himself into the apartment. It was a mess, glass shattered, paint on the floor, and papers thrown everywhere. “What the hell went on here?”

“I’ve been creating!” Michael said sarcastically. “It’s a hobby. Ask Max.”

Alex looked at Max who nodded his head.

“OK, so care to tell me why you’ve decided to break my sister’s heart.” Alex asked.

“She broke mine.” Michael said bitterly.

“What?” Alex and Max both asked.

“She’s marrying Kyle,” he spit the name out, “and she had the audacity to call me up and invite me.”

“What? Maria isn’t marrying Kyle! She broke up with him! My mother is getting married today. Maria was helping her organize the ceremony.”

“She broke up with him?” Michael whispered, “Oh god, what have I done?”

“Aside from tearing her heart out you’ve managed to piss me off. Now get dressed we’re going to the chapel.” Alex shoved Michael toward what looked like the bedroom and looked at Max. “Creating a mess!”

-------“Maria sweetheart why don’t you tell me why you’re so miserable.” Amy asked her daughter. Maria had walked in a few minutes before with tears in her eyes but had tried to hide them.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Maria’s answer was muffled as she hid her face.

“Why are you crying?” Amy stepped closer to Maria.

“I always cry at weddings.”

“Maria tell me I want to help you.”

“I’m in love.” Maria said and turned around her tears fell freely now. And Amy brushed them away.

“Tell me,” Amy whispered.

“His name is Michael. He’s wonderful. He makes me laugh and he listens to me. He tells me about his job. He took me to meet his family and they liked me and I liked them. But now he won’t talk to him. Oh mom, why does being in love hurt so much?” Amy took her daughter’s hand and sat down.

“It sounds to me that he loves you too.”

“He said he did, well actually he didn’t say the words. But he implied them. And just before I told him that I loved him too, Kyle came into the picture. And I didn’t get to tell him. He walked away and I haven’t seen him since.”

“Well honey it sounds to me that he is giving you your space to decide what you want.” Maria stood up and paced the room. She didn’t hear the door open.

“But I want him! Doesn’t he know that!” She yelled.

“He does now.” Maria turned toward the door so fast she almost fell.

“Michael!”

Part 17

“I’ll just leave you two alone,” Amy got up and walked to the door, Jim was already waiting for her. “Don’t take too long Maria dear, we’re on in 5.” Then she walked out.

“Michael did you hear what I said.”

“Part of it, you want to tell me all of it.” Michael hung back by the door, he didn’t want to approach her too fast. *She looks beautiful. * Maria’s hair was in a French braid with baby’s breath stuck in some parts of the braid. Her dress was cream and had an evergreen sash like the other girls but her’s was a tube top, and showed off her white shoulders. He wanted to touch her so much he ached but he still held back.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls? Why did you disappear? I was scared, worried. I didn’t know what had happened to you. I even called Tess and your mother. They were just as worried.” Maria fought to speak through the lump in her throat. She noticed he didn’t walk any closer to her and her heart sank deeper. * He doesn’t love me anymore. *

“Maria, I…I thought you and Kyle were getting back together.” He had seen her eyes fill with tears and he knew he was the cause. *She should be happy today is a day to celebrate. All I’m doing is hurting her more. *

“”What? Why?” she asked him and sat down. The past week’s stress was getting to her.

“I walked back up to your apartment after you went back inside and I heard you two laughing, I assumed.” He sighed. “Then you called me inviting me to a wedding, I thought it was yours. So I hid, like a coward. I was willing to let you go to be happy.”

“But I was miserable, I called you this past week so many times I thought you were sick of me. I broke up with Kyle; we’re just friends. We never should have gotten engaged in the first place.” She lowered her head and admitted defeat.

“Alex told me. Maria, I… I love you.” He head snapped up and she looked at him through tear filled eyes.

“You do?” she whispered. He finally walked up to her chair and kneeled in front of her.

“I love you.”

“I love you too Michael.” Michael finally breathed a sigh of relief and pulled her into his arms.

“Thank God.” He whispered. And he lowered his head to kiss her.

The door opened and Alex poked his head in to the room, “Uhh, I hate to interrupt this reunion, but Maria, the ceremony is starting and Mom needs you.” He closed the door behind him and smiled. *It’s about time. *

------“The wedding was beautiful Maria, thank you so much for doing this for us.” Jim said but Maria was too busy watching Michael dance with her mother to hear him. “Don’t worry your mom won’t scare him away. Although I don’t doubt she isn’t trying.” Jim laughed. Maria glanced at him and smiled.

------“So Michael, what are your intentions towards my daughter?” Amy asked Michael while he twirled her around.

“I intend to marry her as fast as I can.” Michael responded. “And love her till the day I die.”

“I knew there was a reason I liked you on sight.” Amy laughed.

The song ended and Jim walked to them he touched Michael on the shoulder and asked, “I hope you don’t mind my cutting in?”

“Not at all Jim, take your bride.” Michael said and handed Amy to Jim.

“She’s outside.” Jim said as he pulled Amy close.

------Michael walked to the balcony and wrapped his arms around Maria. “You’re shivering, we should go inside.”

“Michael I can’t marry you.” Maria said, but didn’t turn around.

“What? I haven’t even asked you that and already you’re refusing me?” he said with good humor but inside he was panicking. Maria sounded so serious. *Something must be wrong. *

“I can’t marry you,” she repeated. “Please don’t ask me to.”

“Maria!” he turned her around but she wouldn’t look her in the face. “Maria look at me!” Michael demanded. “Why the hell not?” he was angry but mostly he was scared.

“You deserve better than me Michael.” She shivered again but Michael ignored it. He grabbed her and forced her to look him in the eye. What he saw floored him. The raw pain in Maria’s eyes had him hugging her close.

“I’m not letting you go.” He whispered.

“Please Michael its better that you do.” She whispered.

“Just tell me what’s wrong. I’ll help you.”

“I can’t have children Michael. I know that you want them, I’ve seen you with Rafe. I’ve seen how you tease Isabel about her stomach, but I know that you want kids. I can’t give them to you.”

“What happened?” he was surprised and angry but not at her. *Something must have happened to her. *

“I have diabetes, Alex does too but I’m the one that carries the child. The doctors advised me against having children because of the risks of deformed births. When Kyle and I first started dating I told him and he didn’t care. That’s one of the reasons I said yes when he asked me to marry him. Kyle didn’t want kids. He had a lousy childhood and he told me that he didn’t wish that on any child so he was OK with us not having children.”

“Maria I don’t care. Look at me!” he brought her face up so they would be eye to eye. “We can adopt. I just want you. I’ve wanted you since I first saw you. I knew the second you came in that room that you were special. The weeks that followed were pure hell because I was falling more in love with you and you were engaged. Nothing and no one is going to stand in my way now. I love you more than anything in life! We can adopt kids; we can have tons of animals; we can do whatever you want. But I want you!”

“Do you mean that?” Maria smiled. Her face brightly lit and her eyes shining with tears.

“Hell yes!” he pulled her close and kissed her with all his love. She kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck.