Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald waited nervously as the plane began to board passangers. It had been about 5 years since she had left Harmony. She vowed that she would never return, but things like that are quickly forgotten when someone you love dearly passes on. It all came as a shock to her. Whitney Russell, her best friend since childhood, had become very sick; and before Theresa knew how bad things really were Whitney died.
After Theresa boarded the plane, she gazed out the window and drifted away into another land...perhaps a land where everything was [i]perfect.[/i] But nothing was ever going to be perfect again. Whitney was gone and Theresa never got the chance to tell her what she had wanted to say since the day she left Harmony. Theresa and Whitney hadn't spoke to each other since the day Theresa left town. The distance between them had nothing to do with their fading friendship, in matter of fact it all was because of that day in April. The day that Theresa referred to as[i]Black Monday.[/i]
"This seat isn't taken, right dear?" A kind, gentle faced, old woman asked Theresa.
"No, it isn't." Theresa smiled weakly and turned back to gaze outside the window.
"Good, then I believe that this is my right seat." The lady smiled and took her seat.
"The pilot has requested that all passangers buckle their seatbelts for take off." The stewardess said as she came on the speaker.
Theresa did what she was asked to do absently. Since the news of Whitney's death came, Theresa hadn't been her normal old self. Life just didn't seem to be what she had thought it to be.
"Is something troubling you, dear?" The old woman asked very kindly.
"Oh it's nothing," Theresa lied and smiled weakly again.
"Oh I think it's more than nothing. I can see plainly that something is on your mind, darling."
"Well, there is I suppose."
"See, I thought so. Why don't you tell me all about it. I've got time to listen."
"Well, just last night I recieved the most devestating news since I learned my father was missing and may never return." She began. "I learned that my best friend, who I knew since we were little girls, died the previous night."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Lossing someone so close can be very tough." She told her.
"I remember that awful phone call still. It plays over and over in my mind. It seems like it won't ever stop. Last night, it's all I could think of. I remember answering the phone at about 6 p.m. I had just returned from the office."
Theresa walked into her apartment with two, large paper bags full of groceries in her hands. She struggled just to open the door without dropping anything. She somehow managed to unlock the door and open it. As she placed the grocery bags on the marble kitchen counter, she played her messages.
"You have 3 new messages." Her answering machine informed her. "Message number 1. Beep! Theresa, hi it's Mark from A.F. Industries. I'm calling to know when it would be a good day to reschedule our meeting. Mr. Montgomery is very interested in your new clothing line for teenagers, men, and women, as you very well know. So please give us a call as soon as you can at 1-847-693-0798. Thank you. Beep! Message 1, to save press 1, to delete press 6." Paused "Message saved. Message number 2. Beep! Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald, I hate to inform you of your son's distructive and rather disturbing behavior, but it has come to my attention from more than one of his teachers that he has been uncontrolable as of late. Please come to our scheduled parents meeting on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. We hope you'll be attending so we can straight this little problem out. Beep! Message 2, to save press 1, to delete press 6." Paused, "Message deleted. Message number 3. Beep! Theresita, it's Mama. I have some bad news. Whitney died last night. She's been really sick lately and just last night she died. Her funeral is set in a few days. I hope you'll be there. Beep! Message 3 , to save press 1, to delete press 6."
Theresa frooze. She couldn't believe what her mother had just told her.
[i]Whitney's dead.[/i]
"Oh you poor thing!" The little,old lady exclaimed. "It must have been so awful to hear about your friend like that."
"It was. You have no idea what a shock it was to hear that she had passed away."
"I can imagine that it must have felt so unreal."
Theresa nodded her head as tears formed in her chocolate, brown eyes.
"Don't cry, dear. I'm sure your friend is now with God. She's much better off with the Lord."
"I suppose so, but I just can't believe it. She was so young, and she had so much to still experience." Theresa said rather angry with God.
"Dear, God has a purpose for everyone. You may not know exactly what is was, but your friend has a purpose herself. It may be in the after life that she will discover it, but no one knows that for sure. You just have to have faith."
"Thank you," Theresa smiled. "You've helped me here somewhat." She said honestly.
"Well, I'm just glad I could help you."
"What's your name?"
"Marie."
"Marie, I'm Theresa." She said as she shook her hand.
"It's a pleasure to have this ride with you and your son."
"Thank you."
"Excuse me for a moment."
"Oh of course."
Ethan was taking a nap, and since Marie left for a moment, Theresa was all alone, something she now hated. Since the news, Theresa had felt a small void in her heart. She wasn't sure if it would ever be filled. It felt to her as though it was growing bigger each and every day. Theresa closed her eyes to try and forget about everything that was going on around her, and in a few minutes she drifted off to sleep.
"Ms, wake up," the stewardess said as she tapped Theresa on her shoulder.
"Huh?" Theresa asked as she began to wak up.
"Mom, we're here," Ethan said as he looked outside the window.
"Oh I'm sorry," Theresa apoligized.
"It's alright, Ms."
Theresa gathered her things inside the airport and got into a cab with Ethan.
"Where are we going?" Ethan asked.
"To see your grandmother." She told him.
"Is she nice?" He asked like any curious 10 year old.
"I should think so. She was treated you very well whenever she looked after you for me." She informed him.
"So we were close?" He asked.
"Yes," Theresa laughed and sighed.
Ethan had grown up so much already. She just wished that he had a good, solid male figure in his life that he could look up to. Theresa couldn't have everything though. She had the most important things in her life afterall...her career and Ethan. Sometimes she wished that she could turn back the time and change how she lost both of the men that she ever loved, but at times she didn't want to change a thing.
[i]I have more than some people. I should be happy with what I have.[/i]
She often thought like that. Who could blame her though? She was a well known cloth designer in New York and she had the best son in the world. Money was never low, so she could afford things that she only ever dreamed of. So if everything was so great, why did she feel so miserable?
Theresa wasn't exactly sure where to go first. Should she go home? By Whitney's family? Or should she just go find a room somewhere so she could be alone and un noticed? A million things were running through her head and the all seemed to overwhelm her.
[i]I'll just drop Ethan off by Mama and then I'll go for a walk or something so I could think.[/i]
As the cab drove up to Theresa's old home, a million memories can flooding back to her. But nothing stood out more than [i]Black Monday.[/i]
[i]It still all feels like a dream. Did that day really happen?[/i]
She asked herself that a lot. Did she really pick up and move her life just because of that [I]one[/i] day? Theresa grabbed her bags from the trunk of the cab and paid the man. Ethan held her hand tightly as the approached the door.
"Don't be afraid, honey," she told Ethan. "No one is gonna hurt you. Everyone here loves you."
"I'm not afraid of that," he told her honestly. "I'm just afraid that we are never gonna go back home."
Theresa put her bags down and bent down so she could be face to face with her [i]little man.[/i]
"Why would you think that?" She asked.
"Because you'll want to stay her with everyone you know. And well....everyone I know is back home. I don't want to leave them."
"Honey, there's no reason to be scared of that. We are going to go back home as soon as I do what I need to do. Do you remember Aunt Whitney?"
He shook his head up and down.
"She was your best friend. I remember Fox too!" He said getting excited. "Is Fox gonna be around, Mama?"
Theresa lowered her face a little and smiled weakly, "I'm not sure. And even if he is, I'm sure he won't have much time to hang out with us."
Ethan was disappointed. Fox and he were good friends back when Julian tried to gain custody of him. Fox was his first real friend.
"Smile, honey. Who knows what will happen."
Ethan smiled for his mother. He knew that Aunt Whitney had died so he tried to smiled for his mother as much as he could since she didn't really smile much anymore.
"Now," she said getting up and taking his hand, "what do you say we go in?"
"Okay, Mama."
Theresa took out her old key and opened the door.
[i]They haven't changed the locks.[/i]
She tried to make her entrance as quiet as possible. She didn't want a big to do over her and Ethan visiting. She placed her things down and quietly made her way to the kitchen, where a delicious meal was being made. As she got closer to the kitchen, she saw her mother with her back faced to them. She was mixing something in a big bowel as she sang along to some spanish song that played on the radio. Theresa smiled as did Ethan. It was good to see people that she knew once more. It brought her, in a way, a comfort that could only be found with the people that you love.
Ethan ran towards Pilar, and attached himself to her leg. It nearly gave her a heart attack. Pilar dropped her bowel and turned to see who was there.
"Little Ethan?" She asked as she smiled.
"Hi grandma!" He said as he hugged her.
"I don't believe this," Pilar said in pure amazment.
"Hi Mama," Theresa said as she came up and hugged her mother.
"Oh Mihija! I'm so glad that you're back!" She said with tears falling down her cheeks.
Theresa only smiled as she embraced her mother's hugs.
"I have to tell your brothers that you've come home," Pilar said excitedly.
"Mama, I'm only home for a visit. Not for good." She said making her intentions clear.
"Mihija, don't you want to come back for good?"
"No, I have a life of my own back in New York and so does Ethan."
"Ethan, wouldn't you like to be near your family?" Pilar asked him.
He shook his head no, "I like living at home with just Mama."
Pilar frowned a little, "I see. Well, I'm just glad to see you both." Pilar paused to look at how much Ethan grew. "My how you've grown!" She exclaimed. "Let me see, you're 10 now, right?"
"Yep! I'll be 11 for my next birthday." He said proudly.
"Well, I'll have to get you something nice for then."
He smiled cheerfully.
"Mama, would you mind watching Ethan for a little bit. I want to go for a walk."
"Oh course, Mihijia. Just be careful."
"I will, and thank you," she said as she kissed her mother on her cheek and left.
Theresa walked along the warf by herself for a while just thinking about the all the reasons why she left. As she sat down on a bench, she recalled [i]Black Monday.[/i]
Theresa and Fox had only been dating for about 2 months, but Theresa honestly believed that she loved Fox more than she ever did love Ethan. It was something about Fox that made her feel this way. He bailed her out of jail using his trust fund and he always stood by her side whenever she needed someone. In her mind, Fox was everything she ever wanted in a man. he was [i]perfect[/i].
Theresa called Fox before she leaving the Book Cafe one Monday evening in April. For some reason his phone was turned off. Theresa didn't think it meant anything, so she made her way to Sheridan's cottage, where Fox promised to meet her with Little Ethan once she got off work. Fox was always doing great things like that for her, always showing how much he really cared for her and her son. Theresa parked her car outside of the estate and walked the rest of the way. Antonio had made Theresa a copy of the key so she could go there any time that she needed to. So she placed her key in the door, totally ignoring what was going on inside. She turned the door knobe slowly, expecting to see Fox sitting with Little Ethan on the couch reading him a book or something. She was in for the surprise of her life though when she walked in.
Theresa stood in the doorway totally silent. She tried to speak, but she couldn't. She could hardly breath. She tried to gasp for air, but it was no use. The tears were comsuming her. There he was with her best friend, doing something that she never though she would ever witness.
Theresa finally regained her voice and shouted, "You son of a bitch!"
Fox and Whitney stopped immeadately. They covered themseleves up and turned shamefully to Theresa.
"I thought you loved me, Fox. What am I a game to every man? Do they think that I am some [i]whore[/i] that they can use over and over again and not give a damn about? Huh? Tell me Fox! Tell me!"
With that Theresa ran out of the cottage and into her car.
[i]My best friend...
My Lover...
Were they all conspirering against me?[/i]
"How could he!?" She screamed as loud as she could once inside her car. "Ethan used me, Julian took advantage of me, and now....now Fox." She broke into tears. "I thought he loved me."
Theresa drove home, she couldn't stay in Harmony for another night. She had to escape, it was her only outlet. At least that's what she thought at the time. She ran inside and started to pack her and Little Ethan's things. She wasn't about to leave her son wth those bastards. She called Julian and made a deal with Rebecca.
"Yes, Rebecca. I'll leave Harmony for good as long as I can have my son back. No, I won't tell anyone where I'm going."
Just like that she had her son back. Julian offered to let Theresa and Little Ethan use the Crane jet to get where they were going. Since the next plane out of Harmony was in the morning, she took him up on his offer. Within a half an hour of finding Whitney and Fox in bed, Theresa was out of Harmony. She left her family a note. And told them and only them where she was going. She made them promise her that they wouldn't tell anyone where she was also. She didn't want to be bothered with anyone from Harmony, except her family. Everyone else only tried to bring her down and cause her pain. She had had enough of that in her life. She refused to let all of those people bring her down once more, but it happened. And the people she cared about most did it to her.
After Theresa boarded the plane, she gazed out the window and drifted away into another land...perhaps a land where everything was [i]perfect.[/i] But nothing was ever going to be perfect again. Whitney was gone and Theresa never got the chance to tell her what she had wanted to say since the day she left Harmony. Theresa and Whitney hadn't spoke to each other since the day Theresa left town. The distance between them had nothing to do with their fading friendship, in matter of fact it all was because of that day in April. The day that Theresa referred to as[i]Black Monday.[/i]
"This seat isn't taken, right dear?" A kind, gentle faced, old woman asked Theresa.
"No, it isn't." Theresa smiled weakly and turned back to gaze outside the window.
"Good, then I believe that this is my right seat." The lady smiled and took her seat.
"The pilot has requested that all passangers buckle their seatbelts for take off." The stewardess said as she came on the speaker.
Theresa did what she was asked to do absently. Since the news of Whitney's death came, Theresa hadn't been her normal old self. Life just didn't seem to be what she had thought it to be.
"Is something troubling you, dear?" The old woman asked very kindly.
"Oh it's nothing," Theresa lied and smiled weakly again.
"Oh I think it's more than nothing. I can see plainly that something is on your mind, darling."
"Well, there is I suppose."
"See, I thought so. Why don't you tell me all about it. I've got time to listen."
"Well, just last night I recieved the most devestating news since I learned my father was missing and may never return." She began. "I learned that my best friend, who I knew since we were little girls, died the previous night."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Lossing someone so close can be very tough." She told her.
"I remember that awful phone call still. It plays over and over in my mind. It seems like it won't ever stop. Last night, it's all I could think of. I remember answering the phone at about 6 p.m. I had just returned from the office."
Theresa walked into her apartment with two, large paper bags full of groceries in her hands. She struggled just to open the door without dropping anything. She somehow managed to unlock the door and open it. As she placed the grocery bags on the marble kitchen counter, she played her messages.
"You have 3 new messages." Her answering machine informed her. "Message number 1. Beep! Theresa, hi it's Mark from A.F. Industries. I'm calling to know when it would be a good day to reschedule our meeting. Mr. Montgomery is very interested in your new clothing line for teenagers, men, and women, as you very well know. So please give us a call as soon as you can at 1-847-693-0798. Thank you. Beep! Message 1, to save press 1, to delete press 6." Paused "Message saved. Message number 2. Beep! Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald, I hate to inform you of your son's distructive and rather disturbing behavior, but it has come to my attention from more than one of his teachers that he has been uncontrolable as of late. Please come to our scheduled parents meeting on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. We hope you'll be attending so we can straight this little problem out. Beep! Message 2, to save press 1, to delete press 6." Paused, "Message deleted. Message number 3. Beep! Theresita, it's Mama. I have some bad news. Whitney died last night. She's been really sick lately and just last night she died. Her funeral is set in a few days. I hope you'll be there. Beep! Message 3 , to save press 1, to delete press 6."
Theresa frooze. She couldn't believe what her mother had just told her.
[i]Whitney's dead.[/i]
"Oh you poor thing!" The little,old lady exclaimed. "It must have been so awful to hear about your friend like that."
"It was. You have no idea what a shock it was to hear that she had passed away."
"I can imagine that it must have felt so unreal."
Theresa nodded her head as tears formed in her chocolate, brown eyes.
"Don't cry, dear. I'm sure your friend is now with God. She's much better off with the Lord."
"I suppose so, but I just can't believe it. She was so young, and she had so much to still experience." Theresa said rather angry with God.
"Dear, God has a purpose for everyone. You may not know exactly what is was, but your friend has a purpose herself. It may be in the after life that she will discover it, but no one knows that for sure. You just have to have faith."
"Thank you," Theresa smiled. "You've helped me here somewhat." She said honestly.
"Well, I'm just glad I could help you."
"What's your name?"
"Marie."
"Marie, I'm Theresa." She said as she shook her hand.
"It's a pleasure to have this ride with you and your son."
"Thank you."
"Excuse me for a moment."
"Oh of course."
Ethan was taking a nap, and since Marie left for a moment, Theresa was all alone, something she now hated. Since the news, Theresa had felt a small void in her heart. She wasn't sure if it would ever be filled. It felt to her as though it was growing bigger each and every day. Theresa closed her eyes to try and forget about everything that was going on around her, and in a few minutes she drifted off to sleep.
"Ms, wake up," the stewardess said as she tapped Theresa on her shoulder.
"Huh?" Theresa asked as she began to wak up.
"Mom, we're here," Ethan said as he looked outside the window.
"Oh I'm sorry," Theresa apoligized.
"It's alright, Ms."
Theresa gathered her things inside the airport and got into a cab with Ethan.
"Where are we going?" Ethan asked.
"To see your grandmother." She told him.
"Is she nice?" He asked like any curious 10 year old.
"I should think so. She was treated you very well whenever she looked after you for me." She informed him.
"So we were close?" He asked.
"Yes," Theresa laughed and sighed.
Ethan had grown up so much already. She just wished that he had a good, solid male figure in his life that he could look up to. Theresa couldn't have everything though. She had the most important things in her life afterall...her career and Ethan. Sometimes she wished that she could turn back the time and change how she lost both of the men that she ever loved, but at times she didn't want to change a thing.
[i]I have more than some people. I should be happy with what I have.[/i]
She often thought like that. Who could blame her though? She was a well known cloth designer in New York and she had the best son in the world. Money was never low, so she could afford things that she only ever dreamed of. So if everything was so great, why did she feel so miserable?
Theresa wasn't exactly sure where to go first. Should she go home? By Whitney's family? Or should she just go find a room somewhere so she could be alone and un noticed? A million things were running through her head and the all seemed to overwhelm her.
[i]I'll just drop Ethan off by Mama and then I'll go for a walk or something so I could think.[/i]
As the cab drove up to Theresa's old home, a million memories can flooding back to her. But nothing stood out more than [i]Black Monday.[/i]
[i]It still all feels like a dream. Did that day really happen?[/i]
She asked herself that a lot. Did she really pick up and move her life just because of that [I]one[/i] day? Theresa grabbed her bags from the trunk of the cab and paid the man. Ethan held her hand tightly as the approached the door.
"Don't be afraid, honey," she told Ethan. "No one is gonna hurt you. Everyone here loves you."
"I'm not afraid of that," he told her honestly. "I'm just afraid that we are never gonna go back home."
Theresa put her bags down and bent down so she could be face to face with her [i]little man.[/i]
"Why would you think that?" She asked.
"Because you'll want to stay her with everyone you know. And well....everyone I know is back home. I don't want to leave them."
"Honey, there's no reason to be scared of that. We are going to go back home as soon as I do what I need to do. Do you remember Aunt Whitney?"
He shook his head up and down.
"She was your best friend. I remember Fox too!" He said getting excited. "Is Fox gonna be around, Mama?"
Theresa lowered her face a little and smiled weakly, "I'm not sure. And even if he is, I'm sure he won't have much time to hang out with us."
Ethan was disappointed. Fox and he were good friends back when Julian tried to gain custody of him. Fox was his first real friend.
"Smile, honey. Who knows what will happen."
Ethan smiled for his mother. He knew that Aunt Whitney had died so he tried to smiled for his mother as much as he could since she didn't really smile much anymore.
"Now," she said getting up and taking his hand, "what do you say we go in?"
"Okay, Mama."
Theresa took out her old key and opened the door.
[i]They haven't changed the locks.[/i]
She tried to make her entrance as quiet as possible. She didn't want a big to do over her and Ethan visiting. She placed her things down and quietly made her way to the kitchen, where a delicious meal was being made. As she got closer to the kitchen, she saw her mother with her back faced to them. She was mixing something in a big bowel as she sang along to some spanish song that played on the radio. Theresa smiled as did Ethan. It was good to see people that she knew once more. It brought her, in a way, a comfort that could only be found with the people that you love.
Ethan ran towards Pilar, and attached himself to her leg. It nearly gave her a heart attack. Pilar dropped her bowel and turned to see who was there.
"Little Ethan?" She asked as she smiled.
"Hi grandma!" He said as he hugged her.
"I don't believe this," Pilar said in pure amazment.
"Hi Mama," Theresa said as she came up and hugged her mother.
"Oh Mihija! I'm so glad that you're back!" She said with tears falling down her cheeks.
Theresa only smiled as she embraced her mother's hugs.
"I have to tell your brothers that you've come home," Pilar said excitedly.
"Mama, I'm only home for a visit. Not for good." She said making her intentions clear.
"Mihija, don't you want to come back for good?"
"No, I have a life of my own back in New York and so does Ethan."
"Ethan, wouldn't you like to be near your family?" Pilar asked him.
He shook his head no, "I like living at home with just Mama."
Pilar frowned a little, "I see. Well, I'm just glad to see you both." Pilar paused to look at how much Ethan grew. "My how you've grown!" She exclaimed. "Let me see, you're 10 now, right?"
"Yep! I'll be 11 for my next birthday." He said proudly.
"Well, I'll have to get you something nice for then."
He smiled cheerfully.
"Mama, would you mind watching Ethan for a little bit. I want to go for a walk."
"Oh course, Mihijia. Just be careful."
"I will, and thank you," she said as she kissed her mother on her cheek and left.
Theresa walked along the warf by herself for a while just thinking about the all the reasons why she left. As she sat down on a bench, she recalled [i]Black Monday.[/i]
Theresa and Fox had only been dating for about 2 months, but Theresa honestly believed that she loved Fox more than she ever did love Ethan. It was something about Fox that made her feel this way. He bailed her out of jail using his trust fund and he always stood by her side whenever she needed someone. In her mind, Fox was everything she ever wanted in a man. he was [i]perfect[/i].
Theresa called Fox before she leaving the Book Cafe one Monday evening in April. For some reason his phone was turned off. Theresa didn't think it meant anything, so she made her way to Sheridan's cottage, where Fox promised to meet her with Little Ethan once she got off work. Fox was always doing great things like that for her, always showing how much he really cared for her and her son. Theresa parked her car outside of the estate and walked the rest of the way. Antonio had made Theresa a copy of the key so she could go there any time that she needed to. So she placed her key in the door, totally ignoring what was going on inside. She turned the door knobe slowly, expecting to see Fox sitting with Little Ethan on the couch reading him a book or something. She was in for the surprise of her life though when she walked in.
Theresa stood in the doorway totally silent. She tried to speak, but she couldn't. She could hardly breath. She tried to gasp for air, but it was no use. The tears were comsuming her. There he was with her best friend, doing something that she never though she would ever witness.
Theresa finally regained her voice and shouted, "You son of a bitch!"
Fox and Whitney stopped immeadately. They covered themseleves up and turned shamefully to Theresa.
"I thought you loved me, Fox. What am I a game to every man? Do they think that I am some [i]whore[/i] that they can use over and over again and not give a damn about? Huh? Tell me Fox! Tell me!"
With that Theresa ran out of the cottage and into her car.
[i]My best friend...
My Lover...
Were they all conspirering against me?[/i]
"How could he!?" She screamed as loud as she could once inside her car. "Ethan used me, Julian took advantage of me, and now....now Fox." She broke into tears. "I thought he loved me."
Theresa drove home, she couldn't stay in Harmony for another night. She had to escape, it was her only outlet. At least that's what she thought at the time. She ran inside and started to pack her and Little Ethan's things. She wasn't about to leave her son wth those bastards. She called Julian and made a deal with Rebecca.
"Yes, Rebecca. I'll leave Harmony for good as long as I can have my son back. No, I won't tell anyone where I'm going."
Just like that she had her son back. Julian offered to let Theresa and Little Ethan use the Crane jet to get where they were going. Since the next plane out of Harmony was in the morning, she took him up on his offer. Within a half an hour of finding Whitney and Fox in bed, Theresa was out of Harmony. She left her family a note. And told them and only them where she was going. She made them promise her that they wouldn't tell anyone where she was also. She didn't want to be bothered with anyone from Harmony, except her family. Everyone else only tried to bring her down and cause her pain. She had had enough of that in her life. She refused to let all of those people bring her down once more, but it happened. And the people she cared about most did it to her.
