Chapter 4
AN: A few chapters left! Thanks for the follows and please leave reviews.
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"Ethan I cannot believe you are falling for her schemes again", Ivy Crane ranted as she paced the floor.
The young lawyer sighed heavily as plopped down on the couch.
"And what schemes would those be Mother?", he questioned.
"Ethan she's using her son's illness to pull you back into her web", the icy blonde exclaimed. "How can you not see it?"
"Because it's not happening", Ethan snapped. "She hasn't tried anything, she didn't even ask me that come to the hospital I went on my own."
"Well, just give her time, she'll twist it to her advantage", Ivy snapped.
"Enough", the said tightly earning a stunned look from his mother.
"Fine" Ivy said and busied herself straightened up the room. "I just don't see how you can care so much about the woman who ruined your life."
"Theresa swears that she didn't do it mother, and I really don't want to talk about this now", he replied tired of arguing.
The young lawyer had finally come down from the Crane Cabins and rather than staying at Sheridan's cottage he'd decided to get his own place. He was still working for Crane and making decent money.
"Are Gwen and the baby going to be staying here when they come into town tomorrow? Ivy asked breaking the brief silence.
"I think they're staying at the Mansion with Rebecca", Ethan said thinking about his daughter. "I video chatted them yesterday."
"Well did you even ask them to stay here?", Ivy asked exasperated. "Honestly Ethan how are you get your family back if you're not even trying.
"I am trying Mother!", the lawyer yelled. "I've been apologizing and begging Gwen to come back to Harmony for three months now and she is. What else am I supposed to do?"
You're supposed to stay away from Theresa, the blonde fussed crossing her arms. "And don't give me that look Ethan, you do not love her! She tricked you!"
Ethan ran his hands through his hair, his voice thick with frustration.
"I do love her Mother and she didn't trick me, I feel in love with her all on my own", she ground out. And Little Ethan is sick I can't just abandon them."
Ivy walked up to her son and took his hands into hers.
"I know how much you care about Little Ethan", she said. " but you've got your own wife and daughter to consider now. At least try to put them first."
Ethan nodded and gave his mother a hug.
"Now I've got to go check on your father and try not to worry about Theresa too much, she's got your brother by the nose and I doubt she'll need much comforting."
Ivy hurried out leaving an uneasy Ethan behind.
"Theresa and Fox? Not again", he sighed.
...
Gwen Winthrop sighed heavily as she entered the Crane Mansion, she was finally back in Harmony. Only this time she finally had something to show for all the pain she'd endured. Sarah had grown rapidly and now had her mother's silky blonde hair and her father's eyes. As she bounced her daughter on her hip, Gwen tried to ignore her mother's yammering. She had been going on and on since she'd picked Gwen and Sarah up from the airport
"Well?", Rebecca said staring pointedly at her daughter.
"Well what?", the blonde replied. "Do you want me to call the Nanny for Sarah", she said. "So, we can talk?"
"No thanks", Gwen replied holding the baby closer. "I already told you I'm not going to rely on a Nanny".
"Honestly Gwen" Rebecca sighed as she rang for tea. "You've hardly let her out of your sight since I met you at the airport. You barely let me hold her!"
Before the new mother could answer, a servant appeared with light refreshments for the women and another servant appeared to take the baby. Sensing her daughter tense up Rebecca intervened.
"It'll just be for a few hours Gwennie, and I've checked Elizabeth's credentials thoroughly", the redhead reassured. "She's just going to get little Sarah settled down for a nap, right Elizabeth?"
"Yes Mrs. Crane", she replied as Gwen reluctantly handed over the baby. No sooner than the Nanny had exited the room, did the redhead set her sights on her daughter.
"Did you know Ethan's back from the Crane and has an apartment now", Rebecca said getting straight to the point.
"Is this why you wanted me to hand my daughter over to a Nanny", Gwen huffed. "so you could talk about Ethan."
"Honey I'm just trying to help you save your marriage!", Rebecca said. "You know that tramp Theresa is just waiting to snatch him up"
"Maybe my marriage can't be saved! Have you thought about that?" Gwen exploded leaping from the couch. "Ethan is still in love with Theresa! Mother, he was willing to risk everything, my daughter's life, because he thought she moved on- "
"Gwen you've been harping on that for months", Rebecca interrupted. "What do you mean?"
"Mother you know how precarious my pregnancy was, seeing them fool around on live tv could've cost me to lose my baby!"
"Oh, I know that honey and we are all so thankful that that didn't happen. But You have her, you have your beautiful baby girl. You don't have to worry anymore"
In a rare show of affection Rebecca hugged her daughter disturbed to see her so rattled, she was acting as she'd actually lost Sarah?
"Anything could've happened Mother", she whispered "And I can't help but feel that something bad is going to happen to my baby. All because of what we did to Theresa"
She held onto her mother as tears rolled down her checks.
"Gwen honey you're scaring me", Rebecca whined. "You've got to pull yourself together and keep our secrets okay?"
Suddenly Gwen flashed back to the hospital room in L.A. and the words of the angel haunted her. If you fail to heed this warning you will be forever trapped in misery never knowing true love. You must always follow your conscious though your heart may disagree.
Would she have to confess everything give to herself and her daughter a truly happy life?
...
"Theresa honey please try to eat something", Whitney begged her best friend.
The two were taking a break from the hospital and having lunch at the book cafe. Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald was sitting with little Ethan while the women caught some air.
"I'm not hungry Whitney", the brunette said softly. "My little boy had been in and out of the hospital for months and we still don't know what's wrong. Food is the last thing on my mind."
"I know but you know my mom's doing the best she can", the former tennis player said. "And you need to be at your best for Little Ethan, he needs his mommy strong and healthy to get him through this right?"
"You're right as always", Theresa replied and picked up her sandwich.
The two women ate in companionable silence for a while.
"Fox has really been there for you through all this huh", Whitney said trying to lighten the mood.
"He really has", Theresa said giving her a soft smile.
She didn't have the heart to tell Whitney that she'd never love Fox the way she loved Ethan.
"Soo how are things with Chad?", she asked deftly changing the subject.
He's still begging for another chance,", Whitney rolled her eyes.
"Whitney how long are you going to make him grovel", the brunette asked. "You know you love him and he loves you."
"It's not that easy Theresa, I got to be able to trust Chad- "
Before she could finish Theresa's, phone began to ring, and Whitney could tell by the look on her best friends face that something serious was happening. Theresa spoke for a few moments and as she hung the phone up, the color drained from her face. She abruptly stood and grabbed her purse.
"Your mother wants to speak with me about Little Ethan's, we got to go now!"
"Right", Whitney nodded throwing the money for their bills on the table.
The two women flew from the restaurant out to Whitney's car.
"Everything's going to be okay Theresa" she said as headed toward the hospital. "Little Ethan is going to be just fine."
At least Whitney prayed so.
...
Theresa was almost running through the children's ward of the hospital with Whitney on her heels. With each step she took a million thoughts ran through her mind.
Why had she left the hospital? Was her little boy okay? What if...
"Theresita!", Pilar called snapped her back into reality.
"Mama", she gasped struggling to catch her breath. "Where is he?"
"He's sleeping mija", Pilar said as they stood to outside the room. "Dr Russell will be back with the results in just a minute. Please sit down."
Pilar and Whitney led Theresa to a nearby bench where she and Whitney sat down.
"I texted Chad", she said. "The guys should be here any minute."
The brunette could only nod trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
What seemed like hours later Dr. Russell appeared and took the trio into a private room.
"I'm sorry to keep you all waiting", she said. "I was going through my paperwork just to be sure I had the right diagnosis."
"Well mom what is it? What's wrong with Little Ethan", Whitney asked.
Eve stood silently and continued to flip through her chart, wishing she weren't having this conversation. Finally, she looked up at the room full whose hearts she was about to break and spoke the words that broke her own as well.
"First let me say that I'm so sorry Theresa", Dr. Russell began. "but from the test results it appears that Little Ethan has cancer".
"No!", Whitney screamed breaking the stunned silence. "Oh my god no!"
Pilar clutched her chest and began to sob as the color drained from Theresa's face.
"I'm so sorry", Dr Russell said again as she reached out to hug Whitney. "I promise to do the very best I can for him".
Whitney turned to comfort her own best friend who had yet to make a sound.
"Theresa?" She cried. "Theresa's everything's going to be okay. You heard my mom, we'll get the best doctors and treatment available okay. Theresa please say something!"
The brunette stood unmoving, unblinking as if she were made of stone.
"I think she's in shock", Dr. Russell said and paged for a nurse.
"Mija mija," Pilar yelled shaking her daughter hard.
Theresa finally blinked as if waking up from a bad dream.
"My little boy", she gasped "Oh god my little boy".
The brunette's eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed.
Next on A Twist of Fate: Surprising secrets are revealed when Little Ethan requires a blood transfusion. Gwen's guilt overwhelms her, and an unknown enemy overhears her greatest secret. Ethan struggles with his feelings. Will he give in to his Passions?