Adulthood: Chapter 3

          "W-what?" Chief Bennett turned pale. The rest of us all had confused looks on our faces, especially Gwen, Marie, Jasmine, Richard and Sheridan.
          "Sam, I'm so sorry I kept this from you all this time, but Ethan is our son."
Chief Bennett sat down. "Why didn't you tell me, Ivy?"
          "Not now, Sam. I just need you to donate blood for Ethan, or else he'll die," Mrs. Crane pleaded.
          "Okay, okay, Ivy, for Ethan. But I need an explanation."
          "Yes, I promise, just go in there and save our son." Chief Bennett followed Dr. Russell into the donation room while all of us turned our attention to Mrs. Crane. "I guess I owe you all an explanation, don't I?" she said.

          Gwen nodded. She looked angry.
          "Well, way, way back, before some of you were born, Sam and I were seeing each other. No one knew about it, because my father wanted me to marry Julian, for business venture reasons. So I was forced to break up with Sam, but on my wedding night to Julian, I went back to him, and Ethan was conceived on that night."           Sheridan and Gwen stared in shock.
          "So… I'm not really related to Ethan??" Sheridan exclaimed.
          "No… I'm sorry, dear," Mrs. Crane said. She and Luis comforted a very distraught Sheridan. Gwen, Richard, Marie and Jasmine were in shock too. "So Ethan is only our half-brother," Richard said. He shook his head. Gwen just stared. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I knew she was upset.

          Just then Chief Bennett walked out. He pulled Mrs. Crane out of the whole jumble and they started to talk. Sheridan was just standing there, so sad, so Mama and I went to comfort her.
          "I'm so sorry, Sheridan," I said.
          "Huh?" She looked up. "Oh, Theresa, it's not your fault."
          "I know, but I don't want to see you in so much pain. And neither does Luis."
          "That's right," Luis cut in. He gave her a kiss on the forehead. Sheridan smiled, but then a look of panic crossed her face. "The wedding!"
          She looked at me, and I looked back. What was going to happen with the wedding?

*2 hours later*
          Dr. Russell walked into the waiting area. "Ethan's awake," she announced. "He's still a little weak, but other than that, he's going to be fine."
          "Can I go and see him?" Mrs. Crane asked.
          "Of course you may. But only one person at a time, two at the most."

          Mrs. Crane and Chief Bennett walked into Ethan's room. They seemed to be a little closer now that Ethan's true paternity was revealed. I looked around the waiting room. Luis was gently nudging Sheridan awake, because she had fallen asleep. Richard, Marie and Jasmine were just sitting there, talking amongst each other. Poe and Gwen were talking, and I watched Ethan from the window. I guess they were going to break the news of his real father to him. Just then someone's cell phone went off. It was Gwen's, so she went outside to take her call.

          Mrs. Crane and Chief Bennett walked out of the room, and told Sheridan that Ethan wanted to see her. So she went inside and I went up to Dr. Russell. "Excuse me, but is Ethan going to be okay by tomorrow?"
          "We don't know about that, Theresa… it all depends."
          "Oh… okay," I said. "Thanks."
          "No problem." I started to walk towards Poe when Gwen came rushing in, sobbing. "Gwen? What's wrong?" I wanted to know.
          "It's… it's… my parents…" she said, in between sobs.
          "What? What did they do to you?" Poe asked.
          "They found out about Ethan's paternity… and they don't want me to associate with him at all, because he's not a Crane… they want me to marry his brother--excuse me, half brother--just so that this whole business venture will work. Theresa, Paloma, I don't know what I'm going to do," she said, sobbing.

          "Shh… it's okay…we just have to see what Ethan has to say," I reassured Gwen. As soon as I had said that, Sheridan came out, looking better and more at peace, and she said that Ethan wanted to see Gwen--and me. So we walked into his room.
          "Ethan, honey, how are you doing?" Gwen asked, stroking his cheek. I turned away.
          "I'm okay, Gwen, just a few aches here and there, but otherwise I'm fine." Ethan smiled. "Listen, I want to talk to the both of you about something."
          "What is it?" I asked, turning back.
          "It's about… it's about the wedding."
          "Oh, Ethan, I have to tell you something too. My parents… they won't let me marry you… because of your paternity."
          "Well, what about you? Do you really care about my paternity?" Ethan asked.
          "Actually, yes, I do… what if we don't have enough money to support our family?"
          "Gwen, if you really loved me, you wouldn't care about whose child I was. You know I could raise money well on my own. Well… I guess this makes what I have to say a lot easier." Ethan sighed. "What I wanted to say is that… I don't love you, Gwen. Not anymore."

          Gwen looked taken aback. I was surprised myself. "Well… well I don't love you either! All you are is the product of an affair and… and you're not a Crane!" she yelled. With that, she ran out of the door and we never saw her again.
          "Ethan… I'm surprised…I thought you loved her," I said quietly.
          "I thought I did too… but the woman that I truly love is sitting right here with me." He smiled.
          What? Does he mean…? "Me?" I asked, surprised.
          "Yes, you, Theresa. You're special, one of a kind. And I know you don't care that we come from two different worlds… actually, now, from the same one… and I've come to realize that you're the one that I've been looking for all this time." He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "So… what do you have to say to all this? You don't hate me… do you?"
          "Of course not, Ethan. In fact… I love you. I've loved you ever since I can remember. You were the man I've always dreamed of, the 'boyfriend' I was devastated to lose, and just the man I've always admired. And now… my dreams are coming true. But… what about the wedding? It's tomorrow, and we don't have a bride."
          "Sure we do."
          "Huh?" I didn't get it at all.
          "Theresa, I've always loved you, I just never realized it until now. So I'm asking you to be my wife. Marry me, Theresa." He took the promise ring off of my finger, turned it around, and held it. "I want you to be my bride."

I beamed. "Of course I will! That's the one dream I thought would never come true." I smiled as Ethan slipped the ring on my finger and kissed my hand. "Thank you, Ethan."
          "For what?"
          "For making my dreams come true. Oh and for giving me the best birthday present anyone could."
          "My pleasure." He smiled. "Now… could you go and get Dr. Russell? I want to get out of here as soon as I can."
          I giggled. "All right," I obliged, and walked out of the room. Then I went to find Dr. Russell. "Dr., Ethan says he's feeling fine and that he wants to be released… if it's possible."
          "Well, I'll go do some tests on him and we'll see."

          "Thank you, Dr. Russell." She walked into Ethan's room and I walked back into the waiting area, smiling. Luis, Sheridan, Mama, Poe, and Jasmine picked up on it right away.
          "What is it, mija?" Mama asked me.
          "I'm getting married tomorrow, Mama."
          "WHAT???" You could hear Luis from California, he was so loud. "Theresa… you're way too young to get married! Who are you getting married to?"
          "Ethan!"
          "But he's getting married to Gwen… isn't he?" Sheridan asked.
          "No, he's not. He doesn't love her anymore."
          "Ay, Theresa, what did you do to them?" Mama asked me.
          "Nothing, I swear! You can go and ask him yourself!" I was almost in tears, because no one believed what I said. Sheridan and Mama walked in to confirm it, while Luis proceeded to lecture me. "Now, Theresa, you are NOT getting married to Ethan. At least, not tomorrow."

          "But Luis, he asked me to!"
          "I don't care, you're my little sister and you're way too young to be getting married."
          "Luis, please, understand me. I've loved Ethan ever since… ever since I can remember. I've had to live with the fact that he was in love with another woman for so long, but now she doesn't love him anymore. It's FATE, Luis. Don't step in her way. And besides, I'm eighteen now… I'm legal." I smiled.
          "I understand, but Theresa, eighteen? You have your whole life. At least wait until you're twenty-one," he pleaded.
          "I have an idea. What if… I get married now, and Ethan's family can pay for my college?"
          "The Cranes? They're not his family anymore," Luis pointed out.
          "Oh. Yeah. But Ivy is his mother."
          "That's true…"
          "That sounds like a wonderful idea," someone said from behind me. I turned around. "Mrs. Crane?"
          "Theresa, I knew you and Ethan were going to end up together someday. I always suspected that you had feelings for my son. And I really didn't like Gwen, to be honest. I would love to have you in the family, but if Luis insists, we will pay for your college education." She smiled.
          I turned to Luis. "Luis… please?" I looked up at him, my eyes pleading.
          "Come on, Luis," Sheridan prompted. "It would be a blessing to have Theresa in the family. She's a special girl. And you know you want to make her happy."
          "Aw, Sher, come on, you know I can't say no to you," Luis protested.
          "Well, then, don't. Let Theresa and Ethan get married. She's legal."
          "Oh… all right. But Theresa, if you get into any trouble--"
          "I won't, Luis. Promise."
          "Well… okay, I guess. You can marry Ethan."

          "Oh, thank you so much!" I hugged my brother. "You don't know how much this means to me, Luis."
          "You know what? I think I do." Luis smiled. "I think I finally understand."