Over the next four years Kay kept in close touch with Ethan and Theresa. Kay spent the first 
two summers at home, but after that decided to go to summer school so she could graduate 
on time with a double major in Business Administration and Photography. Math was simple for 
her and she was an extremely talented photographer. Her first show was her Sophomore year. 
Ethan had invited a couple friends from his boarding school days to the showing. As a result, 
within days of the opening all her prints were sold at several hundred dollars each. Each 
showing after that had a similar result and allowed Kay to put herself through school. The fire 
inside of Kay had finally found an outlet and her passion for life showed in her work.

Kay smiled as she snapped yet another photo of her brothers as they played game of 
volleyball on the beach. As wonderful as it was to go away to school, it felt great to be home.
“You should consider doing a show here in Harmony sweetheart.” Sam was proud of his 
daughter and what she had accomplished while away at school.
“Ivy said she be willing to lease me space on Main Street if I wanted it.” Kay had been toying 
with opening a gallery of her own for a couple years.
“Do you have enough money for it?” Sam asked hoping his daughter would now have a 
reason to stay, but not wanting it to come from Ivy.
“She said I could pay her after my first show.” Kay laughed as Chuck completely missed the 
ball in an attempt to serve overhand. “To bad I don’t shoot with color film Chuck.” She called 
to him. “You’re turning a wonderful shade of pink.”
 “Better quiet down before Mike and I decide to give you another swim lesson.” Chuck yelled 
back. Knowing Sam was still uncomfortable discussing Ivy, Ethan traded spots with him. Once 
the game resumed Ethan and Kay started chatting about various things. Eventually Theresa 
came up.
“When does Theresa get home?” He asked hoping that it came off as casual. Kay arched her 
eyebrow at her brother.
“Tonight. Pilar and I are meeting her at the airport at eight.”
“Is she home for good?”
“Why?”
“Because I know if she stays then it’s likely you’ll stay too.”
“That all?” Kay knew her brother well enough to know he was hiding something.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that for a guy with a girlfriend, you keep awfully close tabs on my best friend.”
Knowing she was right, Ethan made no reply. He and Kate had been dating for six months, 
and she deserved more than technical loyalty. 
“Here comes Jessica.” Ethan said, spotting her over Kay’s shoulder.
Jessica looked beautiful with the sun at her back. She had on a long summer dress and 
carried a large picnic basket in one hand. Kay quickly switched on her flash and took a picture 
of her just as Jessica was tucking her hair behind one ear. The two smiled at each other. They 
had finally called a truce two years ago, and since then had gotten along pretty well.
“Do you ever put that thing down?” Jessica teased. Kay just smiled at her.
“Where’s Eric?” Ethan asked. Eric and Jessica had become inseparable upon meeting two 
years ago.
“He went to buy firewood. Ivy finally ran out.” Jessica explained. “Charity and Miguel are 
bringing the drinks. They should be here any minute.” Ivy had divorced Julian during Kay’s 
freshman year. That same year she had bought a beach house with two miles of private beach 
attached. The Bennetts, and any guests they invited along, were allowed exclusive use of it.
“Well I’d love to wait around for them, but I have to leave now if I want to change before 
heading to the airport.” Kay stood up and began gathering her things.
“You have two hours Kay.” Jessica told her pointedly.
“I still have some stuff to unpack and I need to iron whatever I’m going to wear. Besides, you 
know how long it takes me to do anything with my hair.” Kay could tell her sister wasn’t buying 
it, but she wasn’t ready to see Miguel just yet. After all this time, her stomach still knotted up at 
the thought of seeing him and Charity together.
“Do you know what time you’ll be home?” Jessica asked.
“You know what Fitz and I are like when we get together. Most likely it will be late so don’t wait 
up.” Kay glanced over at Mike and noticed he was frowning at the sand. He felt her gaze on 
him and looked up. Kay smiled and wondered if anything would ever happen between them.
“See you tomorrow.” She told Ethan and Jessica, then called out a farewell to the guys and 
headed for her jeep.

~

 “I can’t believe how many clothes you have Fitz.” Kay said looking at the mountain of clothes 
pilled on Theresa’s bed.
“That’s what happens when you major in design.” Theresa grabbed the closest blouse and 
hung it up.
“Have you decided if you are going to stay in Harmony yet?” Kay asked.
“Not really. Why?”
“Ivy has offered me a lease on a gallery on Main Street. I was also hoping to get an apartment 
and if you’re going to be staying…”
“We could get one together?” Theresa grinned at the thought of it. “Sharing clothes would 
definitely be easier.”
“So what do you say? Shall we both launch our careers from Harmony?”
“Why not?” Theresa laughed. “We are going to put this sleepy town on the map!”

A week later the two had dipped into savings and put down first and last month’s rent on a two 
bedroom apartment. They were within walking distance of the beach and minutes away from 
Kay’s new gallery ‘Untitled’. A month after that Theresa was receiving enough business to 
open shop down the street from Kay.

~

Kay cleaned up the last of her chemicals and wiped down the counters just after seven. The 
sun was beginning to set and she wanted some night shots of the beach for her first showing 
next week. She took one last look around, grabbed her equipment, and headed out, locking 
the door behind her. The salty sea air was refreshing after being cooped up in her darkroom 
most of the day. She had talked Jessica into working as her assistant and it was working out 
perfectly. The best part was that her sister was slowly becoming a friend. Something that Kay 
thought would never happen.

In high school Miguel had loved protecting the blonde angel that had walked into his life out of 
the blue. That first year had been rough on her and it felt great being the protector for once, 
but recently it was wearing thin. Everyone had assumed that he and Charity would marry once 
they finished college. Here it was the end of summer and Miguel still hadn’t proposed. He told 
himself he would eventually, she was his high school sweetheart after all. 

Miguel had drove to the beach in hopes of relaxing and clearing his mind. It was only after 
parking his car in the deserted lot that he noticed Kay. This kind of encounter seemed to 
happen every time she came home for a visit. Once it did, memories of her would haunt him at 
night -and through most of the day. Over the last four years he had talked himself into 
believing that he only missed Kay’s friendship. After all, they had been best friends for years. 
Sooner or later he would also convince himself that he loved Charity and that his life was 
perfect.

Lost in her thoughts of her sister and her work, Kay didn’t notice Miguel watching her. She 
looked stunningly beautiful to him walking alone on the beach. Finally he got out of his car 
and headed down to join her. 

“Hey.” Kay’s heart stopped at the sound of Miguel’s voice.
“Hi.” Kay made a final adjustment to her camera and began exposing the film. Then she stood 
and faced him. “What’s up?”
“Saw you down here and thought I’d join you. Almost ready for your opening?”
“Yes and no. I’m always making last minute changes to my shows.” Kay smiled, “It’s driving 
Jessica nuts.”
“Yeah I know. She pretends to exasperated but I can tell how proud she is of you.”
“I was beginning to get worried that she’d quit.” Kay broke their gaze to adjust her camera.
“I saw your San Francisco show.” Miguel said softly causing Kay’s head to jerk up in surprise.
“What?! Why didn’t you come talk to me?”
“I wasn’t sure you wanted me to.”
“Did you see anything you liked?” Kay picked up her camera and tripod and started down the 
beach. Miguel fell into step next to her and fought the urge to say ‘you’.
“My favorite was the one of your parents. The one with him handing her two roses and kissing 
her cheek.”
“I know the one your talking about. It’s called ‘White and Yellow’. White for love, yellow for 
friendship.”
“How much did it sell for?”
“It’s not for sale.”
“Why?”
“It’s too personal. Besides, I’ve decided to give it to my parents when they renew their vows 
next month.” Realizing she wasn’t going to get anymore work done Kay put her camera in its 
case and set her equipment down. Country music from the nearby club floated down as they 
sat and talked on the beach.
“Do you miss California?” Miguel asked.
“I miss the friends I made. I know I’m going to miss the snow free winters.”
“This from the girl who loved watching the leaves change?” The mock horror in Miguel’s voice 
made Kay smile.
“I remember how we would rake together as many leaves as we could into one huge pile-“
“And play king of the mountain-“
“And end up spreading all the leaves back out again in the process.” Miguel’s grin matched 
the one spread across Kay’s face.
“I remember,” Miguel said slyly, “getting caught toilet-papering the Russell’s house on 
Halloween in eight grade.”
“That was your fault.” Kay accused, punching him in the arm. “You’re the one who just HAD to 
get the car.”
“Hey, how was I supposed to know it had an alarm on it? Besides, it was your idea in the first 
place.” They both laughed at the memory.
“Are you glad you came back?” Miguel asked.
“Yeah. Harmony is where I belong.” Miguel watched as the sea breeze toyed with Kay’s hair. 
She had let it grow and it was now down to her waist.
“I’m glad you came back.”
“Me too. Miguel can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Have you ever considered leaving Harmony?”
“A number of times. The thing is, I’ve always dreamed of a building a life here.”
“You could have gone away to college.”
“Harmony offered the largest scholarship. I didn’t really have a choice.”
“Do you regret that you didn’t go away for school?”
“I’ve done internships in other cities and I spent my junior year in England. I did go away, just 
not as long as you did.”
“Is that why you were in San Francisco?”
“Yeah.” Miguel felt more relaxed with Kay than he had in a long time. Just being near her 
eased something in his soul that had ached for so long now. Needing to break the spell Kay 
jumped to her feet.
“Still remember how to line dance?” She asked.
“Yeah.”
“Want to?” Soon she and Miguel were discovering the difficulties of two-stepping in the sand. 
Tripping in the sand and missing steps, Kay and Miguel laughed at each other through three 
different songs before a familiar duet played *. As though it were the most natural thing in the 
world to do, they moved into each others arms.


Looking back over the years
Of all the things I’ve always meant to say
But the words didn’t come easily
So many times through empty fears
Of all the nights I tried to pick up the phone
So scared of who might be answering

Miguel gently pulled her closer to him. As he did Kay laid her head on his shoulder and 
wrapped her arms around his shoulders. 

You try to live your life from day to day
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away

Cause the heart won’t lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there’s one thing that won’t change
I know I’ve tried
The heart won’t lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you’re lost inside a foolish disguise
The heart won’t lie

Resting his head on hers Miguel wondered whose heart was beating faster. He began to 
gently caress her back, as she let one hand toy with the hair at the nape of his neck.

Long after tonight
Will you still hear my voice through the radio
Old desires make us act carelessly
Long after tonight, after the fire
After the scattered ashes fly
Through the four winds blown and gone
Will you come back to me

A cool breeze brushed Kay’s bare legs. Feeling her shudder, Miguel reflexively pulled her 
closer, offering the warmth and security of his arms. 

You try to live your life from day to day
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away

Cause the heart won’t lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there’s one thing that won’t change
I know I’ve tried
The heart won’t lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you’re lost inside a foolish disguise
The heart won’t lie

Alone in the dark the magic of the music wove its spell around them. As the song ended Kay 
tried to pull away, but his arms were locked around her waist.
“Miguel please…” She whispered, knowing her heart was in danger. Miguel raised his hand to 
her face and caressed her cheek.
“Please what?”
 “Let me go.”
“I tried that already.” Miguel’s face was inches from hers. “I ended up spending the next four 
years without you.”

-
* ‘The Heart Won’t Lie’ Vince Gill and Reba McEntire