Stay or leave
By: Laurie-Lee
Summary:
Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald thought she would be free of her worst enemy Gwen Hotchkiss when she would be Mrs. Ethan Crane. Oh almighty God was she wrong! Gwen brought hell to her over and over again as she tried to split up the happy couple the past two years. Theresa endured everything, hanging to the hope she was receiving from her loving and devoted husband. But after receiving one final blow, she comes to a realization that might change everything…Chapter 1: At the doctor's office
Theresa Crane and her best friend and cousin Tamara Shandon entered cubicle two and sat down in two comfortable chairs.
"I hope it doesn't bother Mama to wait outside."
"I don't think so. She proposed it herself." answered Tamara, looking at the door where an elder man had just walked in.
"Good afternoon Mrs. Crane, Miss Shandon. What is bringing you here?" said Dr. Culvert, sitting down and crossing his hands on the desk.
"Well, I called your secretary earlier to inform you that the specialist I saw for my pregnancy while I was away had sent my file and that I had just received it. Here it is." Theresa said, getting a big light brown envelope and handing it over. "And I also wanted to have a pregnancy test done. I might already be carrying another baby after all." Tamara looked at her friend patting her tummy with sparks in her eyes.
"Very well." He dialed three numbers and waited for the other side to answer.
"Yes?"
"Diane, it's Dr. Culvert. I want a nurse in cubicle 2 immediately with all the material to take a sample of blood."
"Alright doctor. I'm sending Jasmine."
"Thank you." He dialed another number.
"Clinic laboratory, Courtney speaking."
"Miss Campbell, Nurse Parker is going to send you a blood sample with a blue sticker. I want it to be analyzed as soon as possible. It's for a pregnancy test. How much time do you think it'll take?"
"If you establish it as a priority, it'll take around 10 to 20 minutes to have the results sent. If not, I would say around an hour and a half."
"Then make it your priority."
"Alright."
"Thank you very much." He hang up and looked at the two women in front of him. "Nurse Parker is going to be here in a few. As for myself, I'm going to my office to check the results of the tests Dr. Valdez ran on you in Bermuda. When the nurse will be done with you, return in..." as the doctor talked, Theresa's cellphone rang.
"If you'll excuse me for a second…" she whispered to the doctor before getting up and exiting the cubicle.
"Hello, Theresa Crane."
"How is the lovely wife of my brother doing by this sunny afternoon?" A smile spread on her face as she recognized the voice of her brother-in-law.
"Fox…I'm doing fine. I'm at Dr. Culvert's office with Tamara."
"Dr. Culvert? Is everything alright?"
"Yes. I received my file from Dr. Valdez in Bermuda and I just called this morning so I would know if I am already pregnant again."
"It would be great for both you and Ethan."
"I agree 100% with that. It's time for us to have a little sunlight in our lives after the hell we've been through these past two years." Silence filled the phone as neither of them spoke for a moment, lost in their thoughts.
"Well, I should hang up. Ethan and I are coming over in a few minutes. We finished our report for today."
"Alright. Then, I'll see you. Bye!"
"Bye!" She hung up and walked back inside the cubicle unaware that a blonde figure stood in the shadows, listening to every word.
"Who was it?" asked Tamara, a little curious.
"It was Fox. He was calling to warn me that he and Ethan are going to be here in a few minutes."
"Well, as I was saying before we were interrupted, you'll return to the waiting room after Nurse Parker is done and I'll call you as soon as I have finished reading and received the results of the test."
"Ok." As soon as the doctor left the cubicle, Theresa turned to her best friend. "I'm so nervous!"
"Nervous? Why in the world would you be nervous? I mean, you've already experienced the joy of receiving the confirmation of a pregnancy. It won't be like it's the first time."
"I know but still… This time, it's hope…Hope of a bright future with my loving husband since a very long time."
"I know what you mean." Tamara replied, her head against the wall. Theresa smiled. Memories of events of the two last years came back to them.
Theresa's flashback 1
"I love you, Theresa, and I know that God has ordained this love. Because of this I desire to be your husband. Together we will be vessels for His service in accordance with His plan, so that in all areas of our life Christ will have the pre-eminence. Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to you. I promise to love, guide, and protect you as Christ does His Church, and as long as we both are alive. According to Ephesians 5 and with His enabling power, I promise to endeavor to show to you the same kind of love as Christ showed the Church when He died for her, and to love you as a part of myself because in His sight we shall be one."
"I love you, Ethan, and I know that you love me. Because of this, I desire to be your wife. For all my life, I have prayed that God would lead me to His choice and I am confident that His will is being fulfilled tonight. Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future I promise to be faithful to you. I will love, serve, and obey you as long as we both are alive. Christ told us that the wife must submit herself unto her own husband as unto the Lord. For as Christ is Head of His Church so is the husband head of his wife. Ethan, I submit myself to you.
"Now, the best man and maid-of-honor shall come to the bride and the groom to give the rings." Tamara and Fox walked to the altar gave the rings their were holding to the priest. "These rings are a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken. Now, Ethan, repeat after me. I, Ethan Samuel Crane, take you, Theresa Chelsea Lopez-Fitzgerald, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquillity, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us."
"I, Ethan Samuel Crane, take you, Theresa Chelsea Lopez-Fitzgerald, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquillity, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us." Ethan gently slipped the ring in Theresa's finger.
"Theresa, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of God.""Theresa, repeat after me. I, Theresa Chelsea Lopez-Fitzgerald, take you, Ethan Samuel Crane, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquillity, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us."
"I, Theresa Chelsea Lopez-Fitzgerald, take you, Ethan Samuel Crane, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquillity, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us." Theresa put the ring on Ethan's finger, looking at him in the eyes all along."Ethan, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of God.""With this statement made of love and trust, which we have just heard, I declare you husband and wife." Father Lonigan turned to the guests with content. "I now wish you to greet Mr. and Mrs. Ethan Crane."End of Theresa's flashback 1, Tamara's flashback 1
"I'm so happy for them Fox." she said, looking at the newlyweds walking down the aisle.
"So am I. They really deserve each other." He redirected his gaze where Rebecca and Gwen Hotchkiss were standing. "I just hope that a certain blond bitch and her snake-of-a-mother will leave them alone."
"Me too. Little Miss Hotchkiss should understand that Ethan loves Theresa and is devoted to her now."
"Yeah well, the bleached blond doesn't have a brain so how do you want her to understand that?"
"Fox! It's low, even from you to call her this way. You should watch your language!" she exclaimed, mimicking Ivy when she reprimanded Fox in their childhood.
"Hey, come here little witch! You think it's funny do you?" said Fox, grabbing her by the waist.
How I love this woman!"Yes, I do." He hugged her, smelling her enchanting perfume. "Come on big boy! Let's catch with them before the reception begins."
End of Tamara's flashback 1, Theresa's flashback 2
"Ethan, Theresa, I'm sure this will add to your already universe-big happiness." stated Dr. Russell with a smile.
"What is it?" asked Ethan, completely in the dark. Seeing the spark in Eve's eyes, she, however, guessed immediately.
"Oh my God! Don't tell me that…"
"Yes Theresa, you are."
"Oh Ethan! I'm so happy! We're going to have a child!" she exclaimed, jumping into her lover's arms. He stood frozen for a few minutes, the information making its way to his brain.
"A child…a baby…a little boy or a little girl…" he mumbled, unable to assimilate the reality. He was beyond surprised but happy. "We're going to have a child together! Oh Resa, I love you!" He took his wife by her waist and started to spin her around.
"Honey! Please, stop or I am going to be sick!" He put her down as Eve took her pen.
"Well, I suppose you would like to have your first appointment in a week am I right?"
"Yes."
"Ok then. Theresa, I'm going to schedule you for next Tuesday. We're going to have the kit of tests. After, I'm going to speak to Dr. Culvert, the pregnancy specialist in Harmony, so he will take over your file."
End of Theresa's flashback 2, Tamara's flashback 2
"Hey Tamara, Fox!" exclaimed Theresa, interrupting the little making out session of her friend.
"Hey Resa. What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be in Egypt?"
"Geez, thanks Fox! That's a good welcome!"
"I'm sorry! It is the surprise. So what can possibly have cancelled or delayed your honeymoon?"
"Well, actually, Theresa fainted this morning and I brought her to the hospital."
"OMG! Are you ok?" she asked, getting up and walking to her friend.
"Yes Tamara. It's just that our baby decided to let us know that he or she was here," replied Theresa, putting her hand on her tummy.
"Did you just say baby?"
"Yes Fox. Theresa and I are going to have a child."
"Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you!" she exclaimed, hugging Resa.
"Same here. I'm sure you'll be a terrific father Ethan." said Fox, shaking his brother's hand with energy.
End of Tamara's flashback 2, Theresa's flashback 3
"I swear on my mother's life Theresa, you're going to pay for ever taking Ethan away from me!" yelled the blonde, her cheeks red. Seeing her rival approaching her menacingly, she took a few steps back.
"Please Gwen! I know how angry you are that Ethan chose me over you and married me but please, don't redirect your anger on his unborn child…"
"His child?! A baby!?! You are pregnant?"
"Yes. I learned it a while back, just before going on my honeymoon." she replied, putting a hand on her belly as if to protect the life growing inside of her.
"Not only do you marry him but you manage to conceive a child with him!!! Very brilliant! So you thought that if you were having his baby, Ethan would not leave you for me right? You thought that I would leave you alone for good right?" Anger was flashing into Gwen's eyes, scaring the hell out of her.
"No. I knew that you would never stop chasing after him, yet leave us alone. I know you too well. But I have to admit that I thought you would be clever enough to think twice about confronting me. You very well know that it can harm my innocent child, Ethan's child!"
"Don't you even try to pity me Theresa! I don't care about what happens to your baby or you for that matter. All I care about is to have Ethan back and far, far, far away from you."
"Well, you know what? He loves me. I'm the woman in his heart. He will never leave me for anyone, much less you. So if you'll excuse me, I will return to my lovely husband and finish my plate." She started to walk away but Gwen caught up with her near some stairs and grabbed her arms roughly.
"Not so fast Theresa! I'm not finished…"
"Get your damn hands off of me!"
"Not before you listen to what I have to say."
"I don't want to listen to what you have to say. Let go of me!" she yelled, trying to escape her enemy's grasp on her.
"Theresa, I'm coming…" she heard Tamara say from behind but she was too concentrated into getting away from Gwen to really pay attention.
"Fine! You want me to let go, then so be it! You're free now!" said Gwen, jerking her backwards so hard that she found herself at the very edge of the stairs, trying to keep her balance. But she was unable and lost it.
"Arhhhhhhh!" she screamed before falling.
End of Theresa's flashback 3, Tamara's flashback 3
"I'll be right back. I have to go to the bathroom." she said, getting up. She was worrying about her cousin not being back.
I wonder what she can possibly be doing."Alright. Be quick. You know I can't get enough of you for so long…" whispered Fox in her ear, making her smile. Once Fox had let go of her, she walked to the bathroom.
"Theresa? Are you in here?" She had gotten no response. "Theresa?" She opened the cubicles one by one. Panic slowly filled her heart as she realized her friend wasn't in the bathroom.
"Are you looking for someone?" asked an elder woman, washing her hands.
"Yes. She's around my height and she is wearing a cream dress. Have you seen her?"
"Does she have brown hair?"
"Exactly, that's her."
"I've seen her ten minutes ago. She was heading for the terrace on the second floor. When I walked by her, she was saying something about needing fresh air."
"Thank you." She exited the bathroom and froze at the sound of a cold voice.
"Not before you listen to what I have to say."
Oh my God! It sounds like Gwen."I don't want to listen to what you have to say. Let go of me!" yelled Theresa, trying to escape her enemy's grasp on her.
Oh no! And Theresa… She took two steps and saw the blonde and her friend arguing at the top of the stairs."Theresa, I'm coming…" she exclaimed but she only had the time to heard Gwen yell something.
"Fine! You want me to let go, then so be it! You're free now!" Looking up, all she saw was Theresa trying to keep her balance, fear in her eyes. But unfortunately, she lost her footing and fell down the stairs with a scream of horror.
"Arhhhhhhh!"
"No!!!!!!!!!!"
End of Tamara's flashback 3, Theresa's flashback 4
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around her.
Where the hell am I? OMG, I'm at the hospital. A soft voice broke the silence from her left."Hey Theresa. How are you feeling?" Turning to the voice's owner, she recognized Tamara in the next bed with an IV in her arm.
"Tired and groggy. What are we doing here?"
"I don't know. I awoke this morning." At that moment, Ethan and Fox entered in the room. "Fox!"
"Hey sweetie. How are you feeling?" he asked, bringing a chair near the bed and sitting down.
"Dizzy and my head hurts. But otherwise, I'm fine."
"Good." While Fox and Tamara talked, Ethan had walked to his wife's bed.
"Hey." he whispered as he kissed her forehead.
"Ethan…what happened? Why am I here?"
"You don't remember?" he asked, quite surprised.
"No and neither does Tamara."
"You fell down the Seascape terrace's stairs and you collided with Tamara half-way to the bottom."
"Oh, that's why she's lying on that bed…" Unconsciously, her hands found the way of her stomach. "Our baby…is our baby safe?"
"Honey…" Ethan began only to be interrupted by Dr. Russell who had just walked in.
"Theresa, I see that you are awake. How are you feeling?"
"Tired and groggy a bit but fine."
"Let me check your blood pressure." Eve walked to the machine next to her and noted the numbers appearing on the monitor.
"Dr. Russell, is my baby alright?" she asked, worried. Her mother's friend looked at her sadly.
"I wish I could say yes but I'm sorry. You suffered a miscarriage because of your fall." Tears immediately gathered in her eyes as the new made its way to her heart.
"No!!!!!!!" she cried as Ethan enveloped her with his arms. "Not my baby…not our child…"
"Shttttttt Resa. Don't worry. We're going to create another life soon I promise."
End of Theresa's flashback
"Good afternoon Mrs. Crane." The nurse's voice brought Theresa back to reality.
"Hello Jasmine. How are you doing?" she asked politely.
"As fine as before. The only difference is that I'm trying to stop smoking for my little boy's sake now." replied the young woman, preparing the syringe.
"Oh that's right! You were having a baby. So it's a little boy huh? Well, congratulations! I'm happy for you."
"Thank you. Now, take a deep breath. It's gonna hurt a little." The nurse approached her and inserted the syringe in her arm. As soon as she felt the needle pierce her soft skin, Theresa made a funny face. "It is too painful?"
"A little but I will survive." Jasmine smiled at the comment.
"Well, you've been through much worse Mrs. Crane and you're still standing so I don't see why you would die for a simple blood withdraw."
"You're right. I've been through much worse than that." Sadness flashed in Theresa's eyes as she said that comment.
"I heard about what happened in Bermuda. You know, the accident and the loss. I'm sorry for you and your husband."
"It's ok. Thank you anyway." As she was saying that, Nurse Parker retired the syringe and applied a small cloth on her arm.
"You just need to hold this for 5 minutes so the hole will heal then you'll be able to throw it in a trash. The withdrawal is over. I'll go and send it to the laboratory. As for you and your friend, I'll ask you to go in the waiting room. Dr. Culvert should receive the results soon. Have a nice end of afternoon." As soon as the nurse exited the cubicle, Tamara got up and walked to her friend.
"Come on, we better do as she said."
A/N: text means the person is thinking. Text means flashbacks.
Hope you're liking this story so far. REVIEWS would be much appreciated. Laurie-Lee