Last time, it appeared that Spike was at the hospital to harm Theresa, and Ethan decided to read the letter Theresa left for him in her will... (Rating: PG13)

Chapter 11

Settling under one of the big trees in a quiet corner of the park, Ethan looked at the envelope. He was a little afraid of opening it, but knew he had to have answers. Why would Theresa keep such an important detail like this from him? After everything they had meant to each other, the love they'd shared? Hesitating for only a moment longer, Ethan ripped open the envelope and started to read:

Dear Ethan,
If you're reading this, I'm either dead or incapacitated in some way. I assume that you've already been told that we have a daughter and a son, and no…it's not a joke. Little Ethan really is your son.
I found out by accident from JT Cornell in Rome. He told me when I was trying to convince him to tell you the truth about Gwen and Rebecca's part in your own paternity being announced in the press. You didn't believe him, remember? JT said that you didn't believe him about that, but you'd believe this and he just gave me the proof (that particular secret wasn't worth much to him at the time).
When I first found out, I couldn't believe it either. But then I was so happy because I thought that I finally had what I needed to bring you back to me. I ran to tell you, but your friend interrupted us—Gary I think his name was. He was thanking you for your advice on how to handle a custody situation. You'd told him to sue the mother for partial custody of the baby because that's what you would do. When I heard that, I knew you were never going to come back to me; you'd always stay with Gwen. And I'd already lost too much to her. I lost you because she framed me for ruining your life (I know you don't want to believe it, but I never lied to you about that). She got you to take Jane from me by convincing you I was an unfit mother. I was not going to let her take my son too. She had already manipulated you into doing it once before. Of course I can't blame you for thinking the worst of me. I've done some pretty horrible things trying to get you back. But the bottom line is my son was the last good thing in my life. I couldn't give him up.
I know you're really angry with me right now, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything I've ever done that has caused you pain and heartache, but everything I did was because I love you and had to fight for you or die. All I ever really wanted in this life was to love you, and to be loved by you, and have my happily ever after with you. Please remember that I love you with everything I have, with everything I am now and forever. Death can't take our love. It can only delay it for awhile. I will still be loving and waiting for you on the other side. Maybe we can have our happily ever after then.
Tell our children that Mommy loves them very much, and will be watching to see how they grow up. I hope all of you find your best comfort in the memory and knowledge of my undying love.
I love you Ethan—always.
Theresa

"I love you too, Theresa." Ethan whispered as one tear than another fell. "I love you too." Folding the letter back up and returning it to the envelope, Ethan thought about his and Theresa's relationship. Memory after memory flashed through his mind...her beautiful face at the alter on their wedding day; the time they went to the ballet; the beach where they first made love...the tears came faster. He thought about the time she took him in to see Jane for the first time and said, "This is our little miracle. Yours and mine..."; the time she made him have a snow ball fight in typically non Crane fashion. The fact that he was sitting on the ground under a tree, in his suit no less was something he never would've done before he met Theresa.

How could I think anything was more important than all of that? How could I believe the people that said she betrayed me? How could I think it was better to marry the woman I was having a child with, the woman I had used to make me forget, was better than being with Theresa? Ethan cried to himself. How?

He thought about what Theresa had given him over the years. A whole new world that didn't run on responsibility and power and money, but ran on love, and family, and living life to the fullest in every little thing. She'd given him joy, she'd given him hope, and most of all she'd given him love. Real, old fashioned, fairy tale love. She loved him with her whole being and wasn't afraid to tell the world. She'd loved him with a love that made him believe anything was possible. When she said that she loved him, he felt like he could do anything. And for her he would. For her, he would…

I know what I need to do now, Ethan thought. There never should've been any doubt, and I've hurt all of us by not doing it before. But I'm going to go and beg Theresa for forgiveness, and never let her go again. The thought that he might never get the chance to make up for all the years they'd lost cut him like a knife in his heart. Please God. Don't let her die! Bring her back to me, to us! To Little Ethan and Jane—we need her so much!

Slowly, Ethan began to regain control and he tried to think of what needed to be done. Obviously, telling Gwen their marriage was over was the first thing. Ethan swallowed nervously at that idea. He didn't want to hurt her. Who am I kidding, he berated himself. I've been hurting her everyday we've been married. She has to have some idea that this is coming.

Thinking about Gwen made Ethan think about what Theresa had said about her in her letter. Even in what was supposed to be her death, Theresa's story remained the same—Gwen was responsible for the paternity mess that started all their problems to begin with. Ethan frowned. Could it be true? Could Gwen really be behind all that? It doesn't matter, Ethan decided. I have to be with Theresa, period. Gwen has nothing to do with it.

"No Mother! I have absolutely no idea what was in the will." Gwen was sitting with Jane and her mother in the shade at the park. Gwen was going crazy wondering what was going on with Ethan, and thought maybe some fresh air would help. "Are you sure you haven't found anything out from Julian?" she asked Rebecca in a frustrated tone.

"No, Honey." Rebecca took a sip of the martini she'd insisted on bringing from the limo. "I told you that I never spoke to Julian while I was gone, and came straight to visit you from the airport." Rebecca thought for a moment and asked, "Have you tried talking to Pilar? The two of you always seemed to get along well."

Gwen sighed. "Yes I tried that. But she's not stupid Mother. She knows that if I'm asking her, Ethan hasn't told me, and she's not going to tell me anything. Same goes for Luis, Miguel, Paloma, Noah, and Fancy. Nobody's talking. And you know the worst part?" Gwen continued, getting more and more worked up. "The worst part is that Theresa isn't dead! Whatever is in that will could still ruin my marriage!"

Rebecca looked worried, but tried not to show it. "Well Darling, desperate times call for desperate measures. If Theresa's not already dead…then…" she trailed off with a meaningful look at her daughter.

"Oh No!" Gwen was firm. "I am not letting you talk me into anything else! It's bad enough that I let you convince me the only way to get Ethan from Theresa was to frame her for outing him to JT. Look how well that's turned out! We've had to pay an astronomical amount of money to keep his mouth shut, which is a waste because he's not only dead, the evidence is now floating out there for who knows who to do who knows what with. I can't stand lying to Ethan every time he tells me how perfect our marriage is and how he knows I couldn't do the horrible things Theresa is accusing me off…I couldn't live with murder on my conscience too!"

"Well you think about it." Rebecca warned. "You remember you do whatever you have to do to keep your man."

Suddenly, Jane looked past Gwen and started to laugh and clap her hands in delight. "Daddy!" she chortled happily, and Gwen and Rebecca turned quickly to see Ethan standing next to the bushes beside them.

"Ethan! I didn't know you were here!" Gwen tried to sound pleasantly surprised instead of like she was in the middle of having a heart attack. Where had Ethan come from? And how long had he been standing there?

"Oh yeah. Took a little break from the office. Decided to enjoy the fresh air." Ethan whipped Jane into his arms and tossed her into the air. "Well how is Daddy's precious little angle?" Dropping down on the ground with Jane still laughing, Ethan turned to Gwen. "What are you doing here?"

Well, if he heard anything, he's certainly not showing it, Gwen thought, then answered, "Oh nothing. Just enjoying the sunshine. Having some girl talk. People watching…" Gwen nudged Rebecca who was quick to agree.

"Oh yeah. Girl talk. People watching." she replied with a nervous laugh.

"Ah. People watching." Ethan settled Jane into his lap. "You know what I think is the best part of people watching?" he asked.

Gwen was puzzled. "No, actually. I don't. What?"

"Listening to conversations." The blood drained from Gwen's face as Ethan turned to look at her. His voice was pleasant, his mouth smiled, but his eyes were cold as ice, and Gwen knew her day had come. "Yes." he continued. "People do say the most interesting things when they think nobody is listening."