Tragic Love Friday: The end is near

There are fifteen pages left in lil' Frema's notebook, and the way the action breaks up, I'm pretty sure next week we'll all be crying into our hankerchiefs at the conclusion of TLF. I have mixed feelings about this; a part of me is relieved to finally scrape something off my already-overwhelming plate, while the other will miss the excitement that always came with posting a new installment, refreshing my site for comments, and trying to rationalize the batshit-crazy actions of my characters, all of whom I love, despite their flaws. Yes, even asshole Michael.

Anyway, brace yourselves, is all I'm saying.

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN - CASSIE

For the next few days, Kayla locked herself in her room, coming out only when Kyle and I weren't around, which wasn't often. When she had come back on Christmas, she didn't say anything. She'd looked devastated and defeated.

"I miss my mom," Kyle said. The two of us were cuddled up on the couch, wrapped in bundles of blankets and watching reruns of "Welcome Back, Kotter."

[Don't ask why lil' Frema settled on this particular show. She never watched an episode a day in her life.]

"I know you do, babe. So do I. But we have to let her work this out on her own. She'll come to us when she's ready."

"What do you think happened to make her like this?" he asked. I thought for a moment, deciding how much he should know. Then it hit me: everything.

[So dramatic!]

"Well, she didn't tell me, but I think Michael wasn't treating her nicely."

"He hit her?" Kyle looked angery.

[Really. Forcing a woman into sex and impregnating her with your child is one thing, but slapping one is quite another!]

"No, sweetie," I assured him quickly. "I mean I think they broke up because of your mom lying to him. She also might've gone to see Katherine. Maybe both."

"Oh."

"Kyle, what are your thoughts on all of this?" I asked gently.

He sighed. "I'm not sure yet. I mean, I know my mom went through a lot, especially to have me, and I love her for that. But she killed people. And she lied. A lot. If I had known Katherine was my SISTER..." His voice trailed off, and he looked at me with sad eyes. "Kath already hates me. Now she'll be too embarrassed to even come near me."

"How do you feel about the baby, Kyle?"

He gave me a stricken look. "I don't want to talk about the baby, OK? Not ever."

"OK." I hugged his trembling body. "I'm sorry I mentioned it. And don't worry about your mom. She'll be fine." But for some reason, I wasn't believing my own words.

[It's obvious lil' Frema narrated this chapter in Cassie's voice strictly to move the plot along and not to actually, I don't know, DEVELOP her character. If I had it to do over, I would try to give her a more significant presence in the story. Has her cherry even been popped yet? Who's to say?]

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - MICHAEL

We were able to bring Katherine home on January 9. [My birthday, thank you very much for the well wishes.] I picked her up and took her home, where Jenna and the kids were there to welcome her.

She walked slowly through the house as through she'd never set foot in it before. Lucas went to her and hugged her tight. She smiled weakly while we all did the same.

"We're all glad you're home, Kath," Jenna said softly. "We missed you like crazy."

"Thanks." Then she said something that blew us away. "I want my adoption papers, and pictures of my parents," she said flatly. Jenna went to say something, but Kath cut her off, looking at her straight in the eye and added, "you owe me at least that much."

"No!" Lucas cried. "I thought you liked being my sister." Leigh had tears running down her cheeks. "Are you gonna live with that woman now?" she asked fearfully.

[Because Jenna would LOVE that.]

Kath shook her head. "I love you both, just like I always have. But some things are different now."

I went and fetched the shoe box that contained all of Kath's adoption papers and old photos. I gave them to her wordlessly. The twins left the room crying. Jenna's face crumbled, and she started to shake. She was so weak. Not like Kayla, who carried the world on her shoulders. I mean, Kay.

[Michael, you sonofabitch. A woman forced to bear the brunt of her HORRENDOUS mistakes, at least two of them made at the expense of YOUR OWN DAMN WIFE, hardly makes her admirable.]

Kath's expression was blank as she read through the papers. It was when she got ahold of the pictures that caused her emotions to show. One of the pictures was a group shot, before Kay and David--that is, KayLA and David--had broken up. David had his arms wrapped around her neck, and she was holding his hands. Cassie was giving the finger [poor Cassie, she really is the Jo of Melrose Place], and Jenna was giving me bunny ears while I had my eyes crossed. We were all smiling. "Is that--" Kath pointed to David hesitantly. "Yes, sweetie. That's David, your father," Jenna answered, her voice trembling.

"He was very handsome," Katherine said softly. Her tone was wistful. Jenna smiled. "Yes, he was."

My daughter smiled, too. "Kyle looks so much like Kay. Look at her hair." Her smiled faded. "And me. I look like--my mom." Her chin trembled. "My momma. She loved me?"

"Very much," I replied, smoothing her hair. "Your momma's a strong woman, but she can only take so much. Kay--I mean, Kayla was...is..."

"They're the same person." I heard her whisper in my mind. And they were.

So which one did I fall in love with?

All of her.

"I do love her," I said aloud, and I knew in my heart it was true. I turned to Jenna. "I'm sorry." She nodded. "I knew that you did, in here," she replied, pointing to her skull. "But I couldn't accept it, in here." She clenched a fist over her heart. "Go to her. She needs you."

[Who's the weak one now, ass wipe?]

[Also, sob.]

"I love you," I whispered fiercely and held her tight. "Thank you a million times over."

"I know you do," she whispered back. "Don't forget me too soon."

[Dammit, there are tears in my eyes. Thank you, hormones.]

"Never," I promised. We pulled apart, and I saw my reflection in her tears, just as I know she saw hers in mine.

"Dad, can you take me, too?" Katherine asked, sobbing, clutching the group picture along with another one. It had been taken when Kayla was in jail, and Kath was almost a year. She gazed at it as if it hypmotized her.

"Yes." I offered my hand to my wife. "Come with us." Jenna shook her head. "She doesn't need me anymore." I didn't take back my hand until it was attached to hers. We got the twins and got into the car. It was a long drive to Kayla's.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - KATHERINE

As we drove my stomache churned. My head pounded, and I couldn't breathe easily. I wanted so much to apologize to my mother, to hug her and say, Yes! Let's be friends, always! And I wanted so much to see Kyle. I wanted to hold him tightly and start over. I'd always love him in that way. Blood wouldn't change my feelings, just how I handled them. Maybe one day we could talk like brother and sister, and about our Katrina.  For now, though, I just wanted us to look into each other's eyes and know that we're forgiven. I hoped it wasn't too late.

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I know what you're thinking. Yes, yes, it's all coming together way too neatly, why in the hell would Jenna want to befriend Kayla now, why is Katherine suddenly so eager to forgive her rapist brother, why is Michael willing to trade in his marriage to a woman he loved so deeply for so many years for one who betrayed so many of his loved ones?

I don't know. I'm still wondering if Cassie's lost her virginity.

Comments

[David McNelis]

Wow. That is starting (key word is Starting here) to really wrap up very neatly. Too neatly, if I know our little Frema.

Michael is a douche. Taking ALL JENNA's family to Kay..LA's house? WTF?

Given the current situation, and your alluding to the hospital being the last time you see Michael, Kay and Jenna together, alive...my money is on an elaborate suicide by Jenna while Michael and the kids are at the lying wench's house.

[Jessi]

I still think Cassie's a lesbenum - not that there's anything wrong with that. :)

[Whitney]

What the?! Why is everyone ok with everything?! And your commentary about Kyle not being ok with a woman being slapped? Had me rolling.

[Silly Hily]

I also think Cassie likes the ladies.
I think Michael's balls have somehow, miraculously, grown even bigger. I love the word ass wipe. I love that you called Michael an ass wipe. Love it. Because he so is. I hate him. I really do.
If Jenna kills herself, I'm going to be so upset. If anyone deserves some happiness, some true eternal happiness, it's her. I mean her first baby daddy and baby are killed. So she takes on the baby, of the woman who killed them, as her own. Then Michael leaves her for the woman who killed them. Now the little girl she took as her own is going to leave her, too. And she still "seems" calm about everything. Tha hell? I'm predicting Kayla dies. Either by suicide or by Jenna. Is it bad that I hope it's by Jenna? (Hell to the check it is.)
I hate Michael.
I hate Kayla.
I love Jenna.
I totally need to make me a shirt that says TEAM JENNA.
(Wow, step those emotions away from TLF girl....step slowly away. I have become really attached. And it's all going to end next week. sniff sniff)

[Kathie]

Poo, I came here with the what I thought would be highly original suggestion that Cassie is gay and has been in love with Kayla all along, and 2 of 4 posters before me said it too. Gutted. Still think it though.
I'm torn about the final chapter next week, in the same way as I was torn about the last Harry Potter book. One the hand, quick, give it here, I want to know what happens! On the other hand, nooooo, after this there will be no more original TLF, ever.

[Katie]

Michael needs to die. The end.

[Michelle]

I'm on the Cassie as lesbian train too.

This is seriously the best part of the day for me - breaks up work nicely! And even though there is no more original TLF after the ending, I think the reader submitted/written TLF is going to be AMAZING.

[Isabel]

I know we are all loving Jenna here, but come on Jenna...you don't just give up on your family that easily. Shouldn't she fight for her man?

Oh wait, Michale's an ass wipe. No need to fight for him.

And Kathrine, please don't befriend your rapist/brother so that you can discuss the bastard child that you KILLED.

I don't want TLF to end. Ever.

[Fraulein N]

Wow. I don't know who I hate the most, and yet I'll be sorry to say goodbye to them all.

Has Katherine been taken over by a pod person?

[Virginia Gal]

Me three (or four, whatever, does it really matter?) on the Cassie liking the ladies band wagon. But what if it is Cassie who decided to do Jenna in because then Kayla can be (happy?) with Michael...and Cassie is trying to be selfless even though she really is in romantic love with Kay(la) and will be forever?

Or, is there another tragic car accident which kills Michael and Jenna in the front seat but leaves the kids, all 3 in the back seat, miraculously unhurt, followed by their being taken in by Kay(la) and Cassie? Oh, the irony that would be!

Kyle: "If I had known Katherine was my SISTER..." Though I do feel better that he's sorry because Katherine was his sister, does that mean he wouldn't have been sorry if he'd done that to another girl?

[Rachel]

Did Lil' Frema mention in the side notes what kind of drugs Jenna is on that are keeping her so freakin calm? How in the world can Michael be in love with the woman that tried to take his own wife's life, killed her child and her boyfriend and then lied to him about everything??? WTF!! What kind of effin person is he???

Maybe, secretly, Cassie is in love with Jenna!! How's that for a Part 3 plot point!

[wolfbaby]

*bangs head repeatedly on the computer*

how many fricken times can you slap a woman down before she snaps? why the hell is everyone so concerned about kay?la? and the asswipe? and the rapist?

WHAT ARE WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?

ok i love it i love to hate the buttwipes and gosh poor jenna

[Angela]

Oh, all I can think is poor, poor Jenna. God, what a totally suck ass life that girl has had. I am just hoping and praying that something happens between this segment and the next that gives her some kind of vindication... Oh please, oh please, oh please!

[alyndabear]

Can we change TLF to TLS (Sat or Sun) please, so we can find out what happens next? Am intrigued!

[Molly]

I loved Isabel's comment. It's almost exactly what I was going to write. Except for even the first thought of Jenna fighting for her man. Let him go Jenna. He's a jerk.

Also, Katherine should be sainted. Or slapped into reality. I'm not sure which. Rapist still outweighs the brother part.

[TasterSpoon]

Poor Jenna. First the Folger's presentation, now this.

[Sant]

Damn! I had this long ass comment typed out and then the power went out!!! Okay, running late getting ready for work, but I have to predict-- the end: either Jenna or Katherine is going to lose their shit and take out the family.

That's the only way it can stay true to it's tragic roots. There cannot be a Full House ending. Not in these parts.

Okay, I said my piece (in under a minute, thank you).

[Audrey]

I just came back and re-read this and I'm almost afraid to click to today's (final!) installment. I'm so scared for what's going to happen to Jenna. I'm with Hily in that if anyone deserves a break after all this shit, it's Jenna.

TasterSpoon's comment is simultaneously hilarious and heart breaking. Poor, poor Jenna.