A New Year
Ricardo can now walk, talk, and do everything for himself. He got his revenge on Antonio, be having the archbishop defrock him for his sins. Gabi moved out of the loft and back into Surf Central but legally Ricardo and her are still married since he refused to divorce her. Tim and Tess left town after being exposed for their crimes. It was discovered that Benjy has leukemia and for him to live Ben and Maria had to conceive another child. After there night of passion they reunited and renewed the vows. Later Maria and Ben found out that there are having twins. They are due around Valentine's Day. Sara has gone back to school to get her medical degree. Annie and Jude are starting to go out.
Chapter 1: Stalked
Two Weeks Before Christmas
"I feel like a beach ball." Maria complained.
Gabi laughed, "You are kinda big, but you're having twins."
The two friends were in the men's section having given up finding something in the maternity section that would fit over Maria's swollen belly.
"I mean you could be having sextuplets. Imagine that. We would never find anything that would fit you." Gabi said with a laugh.
Maria finally settled on 2 pairs of over sized jeans and 4 XXL T-shirts. She goes over to the cash register to pay for her things.
"Let's go, Maria. I still have to buy some Christmas presents for everybody, oh, and while we're here do you want to look at baby cloths?" Gabi asks.
"Sure. So Gabi, have you talked to Ricardo or Antonio lately?" Maria asks, not quite sure she wanted to broach the subject of Ricardo or Antonio to Gabi.
Gabi looked away from Maria, a look of pain on her face, "A no, no I haven't. Not since… Are you hungry we can go get something to eat now." Gabi said eager to get the subject off of Antonio and Ricardo.
"Sure, Gab. Are you sure you're okay?" Maria asks concerned.
"I'm fine. I just need time to deal with all of this change and everything."
"Well if you ever need to talk. I'm here, Gabi, always."
"Thanks Maria. I appreciate it very much. Oh it 12:45. Weren't we supposed to meet Annie at 12:30 in front of the Coffee Shop."
"Oh ya. Damn. She probably left already. You know Annie, never one to wait for anybody."
"Ya. I do know Annie, but she seems to have changed since she met Jude. Who would have thought a guy could change Annie."
"Not me. That's for sure. Have you met Jude? Annie tells me all these stories about him but I've only met him twice."
"No just what Annie's told me. This is sad everybody is happy, but me. You and Ben are back together. Meg's got Casey. Annie got Jude, Sara has her textbook and what do I have you ask. Let's see a husband that hates me. That's about it."
"Gabi, Please, I know how upset you are with Ricardo about what he did to Antonio. I am too. I talked to him the other day and he really is sorry about what he did. I think that it's time to move on from all this. Antonio has gotten over what happened. You should too." Maria said. She saw tears welling up in Gabi's eyes.
"I don't know if I can, Maria. What I'm I going to do. At least when Antonio was a priest I didn't have to chose between them because he had already chosen for me now it just seems like… I don't know, I love them both and that scares me. What if I have to choose. I don't think I'll be able to. Maybe the New Year will bring me happiness."
"I hope for your sake, Gab, that it does."
*******************************************************************************
A strange figure stood near by listening to Maria and Gabi's whole conversation.
"I sorry, Gabi, Your New Year will be anything but fun."