From the outside looking in
I see two lovers on the boardwalk
On the first warm day of spring holding hands—
The music flowed out of the car speakers in a haunting melody and took Ethan back. He and Theresa had held hands as they walked along the boardwalk on the wharf many times. Too many times to count actually. And he'd always felt like he had the first time—he couldn't believe that he was there with her…
"Come on! Take your shoes off!"
"Why?"
"Why? Because you can't walk on the beach with your shoes on! It's a rule!"
"It is?"
"Yes! Haven't you ever walked on the beach before?"
"Of course! But I've never taken my shoes off…" Such a thing had never occurred to Ethan, and he wasn't sure the idea appealed to him now.
"What? OK. We have to fix that right now! You have not lived until you walk bare foot in the sand." Theresa practically tackled him to the ground.
"Hey what are you doing?" Ethan hit the sand and she had fallen on top of him, their arms and legs tangled together, and she promptly disolved into a fit of giggles. The giggles had done it.
"You're not going to give this up are you?" He looked up into her eyes. They were shining and she smiled mischeviously as she shook her head from side to side. It reminded him of when she took him to sit in the tree in her backyard, and he knew he'd give in now too.
"The things you make me do…" he sat up with a shake of his head and took off his shoes...
And he'd never worn shoes on the beach since. Ethan smiled slyly to himself. Theresa had gotten him to do several things on the beach that he never thought he would. The song continued and brought him out of the past…
But when I look again
There is something missing from this picture
That I don't understand.
From the outside looking in everybody sees
A couple so in love, yeah that's just you and me.
But from the inside looking out
Everything is different baby
And I can't figure out
If you can even see it maybe…
That perfect couple on the beach sure hadn't been around lately. Except for the part about one of them not being able "to see it maybe", the singer could be singer about he and Theresa. Only they knew that things weren't right between them.
You could fix that. All you have to do is tell Martin that he's not welcome in the kids lives and promise to fight Julian with everything you have and everything will go back to normal.
Ethan actually spent some time thinking about this. He could take on Julian just to make her happy even though they were probably going to lose. It wouldn't be the worst thing not working at Crane anymore, and he wondered if Theresa really cared as much as she said or if it was just the principle of the thing.
He shook his head. No. He had a principle too. As much as she hated it, Katherine's reappearance nullified Theresa's marriage to Alistair and the law was clearly on Katherine's side. They should work with it instead of fighting it.
Martin was the bigger issue. Yeah, he had a lot to answer for as far as his actions of the past were concerned. But he seemed completely sincere in his explanations, so far they seemed to be the truth, and he most definitely seemed sincere about getting to know his grandchildren. When he had dropped them off at the B&B, the look on Martin's face had been priceless. And the way he had thanked Ethan just before he left had let him know that Martin knew and appreciated what this was costing him. He couldn't take that away from him. And in truth didn't really want to.
So. There it was. Theresa wouldn't hear of it his way, and he couldn't go along with hers. Now what?
We've still got a lot worth saving
Let's find each other now
Before we throw it all away
Oh, I still believe we can go back again
Be the lovers we see
From the outside looking in.
Ethan sighed. There had to be a way to fix things. He just didn't see how. Well, he didn't have time to figure it out now. He was at his destination.
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Miguel was pacing as Ethan walked up to him and he knew that there was no doubt. It was definitely a family trait.
"I see the detectives are already here?" he asked.
Miguel nodded. "Harmony's and the private investigators as well. They can actually invade my privacy like this?"
Ethan nodded and reached for the papers in Miguel's hand. "Yep. This is a valid search warrant for your work locker. They've actually done you a curtesy by waiting until they saw me drive up. Leagally they don't have to wait for anything as long as they have this piece of paper."
Miguel scowled. "I just can't wait until this is over. They're not going to find anything anyway. I don't have a gun."
"Are you sure about that?" Sam stood before them, his face grim, one of the detectives by his side.
"What do you mean am I sure about that? I should know if I have a gun or not." Miguel answered testily.
"So this," Sam paused as the detective brought out and evidence bag containing a gun for Miguel to see. "Isn't yours?"
Ethan shook his head in disbelief as Miguel groaned. "We've got to be freakin kiddin me!" Miguel muttered under his breath.
"Where did you get this from Dad?" Ethan had to ask.
"From your client's locker. I supervised the search myself and was standing right there when this detective pulled it out."
It was the answer Ethan expected and he turned to Miguel. "Is this your gun?"
"No!" Miguel snapped. "I do not own a gun, and I have no idea where this came from!"
Sam looked at Miguel sadly. "Well, yours or not, it was found in your locker, so it's going into evidence against you. And standard procedure is that I have to take you down to the station for questioning. I'm sorry son"
Miguel looked defeated. "It's OK Chief. I know you're just doing your job."
Ethan patted Miguel on the back. "I'll follow you to the station. OK."
Back in his car Ethan's shoulders dropped. It appeared that Fox hadn't missed a thing. At this rate he had no idea how he was going to prove Miguel's innocence.
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Theresa threw aside the book she had been trying to read and started pacing around the family room.
How could he? How could he do it?
She knew that Ethan was serious about his position on her father, but she didn't think he'd actually take the kids to see him today. She thought he'd at least let it go this week!
He knows how I feel! How could he just disregard my feelings like that?
Pace. Pace. Pace.
Maybe he has a point. Maybe I should at least give my dad the benefit of the doubt. Everyone else is. Even Mama. And if anyone shouldn't it should be her.
To the window. Back to the couch. To the window. To the couch. Maybe some music would help. Theresa walked to the stereo and turned on the radio.
From the inside looking out
I'm watching our love slip away
And I can't figure out
How to reach you, what to say
Oh it's killing me
What nobody sees…
Tears filled her eyes. Ethan. Did someone write this just for them right now?
Let's find each other now
Before we throw it all away
Oh I still believe we can go…
Baby Doll… Right there in the middle of the music Theresa heard it as clearly as if Martin was standing in the room.
Baby Doll…Baby Doll…
No. He meant it as a loving nickname.
Baby Doll…
Stop. He loved you too. He didn't realize he wasn't paying as much attention to you.
Pace. Pace. Pace. Faster.
Baby Do…
No. I won't think about this! I won't!
But she couldn't stop the taunting chant, and soon she was filled only with rage.
No. I do not want him in my life. I do not want him in my children's lives. Ethan had no right to take them to him.
I will never forgive it!