Chapter 12
"Anything else, Mrs. Winthrop?"
Theresa clasped her hands in her lap and sighed. "No thank you." Where was he?
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Theresa's lips curved upward. "I knew you'd come."
Ethan fussed with his napkin, and his blue eyes searched for the waiter. "Have you ordered yet?"
"I waited for you," Theresa said softly. "Ethan.I'm so happy you came."
"Well.I keep my promises." Most of them anyway, he thought to himself.
"I know," Theresa murmured.
"Good evening, Mr. Winthrop. May I take your order?"
Theresa studied her husband's profile as he ordered for them both. He was still as handsome as the day she married him. There were more lines around his eyes, of course. And if she looked closely, she could see just a hint of gray. She fought the insane urge to giggle. She thought it made him look very distinguished.
"What?" Ethan asked.
Theresa's laughter spilled forth. "Nothing," she said. Sobering immediately when she realized Ethan didn't think anything was funny at all. Things were not getting off on the right track here. "Ethan.we need to."
"Talk," he finished for her. Setting his glass of wine down carefully.
The band starting playing. And she recognized the words. The voice. It was their song. All at once she felt terrible. Hopeless. She had lied for so long. So many times she could have told him the truth. But she hadn't. "Ethan," she choked. "I'm so sorry. I know this is all my fault. I don't blame you. Trust is everything in a marriage, and I've broken yours by lying to you since the day I met you. I'm not the person you thought I was."
Ethan reached across the table to grasp her hand. Maybe she wasn't the person he thought she was. But he loved her anyway. "Theresa.Theresa, look at me."
Brown eyes filled with tears could barely meet his gaze.
He brushed the tears that spilled down her silky cheeks away with the pads of his thumbs. "Shh," he soothed. "I'm not saying everything is okay. It isn't. But I believe.I believe that we love each other enough to work through anything. Don't you?"
Hope filled her heart, and she smiled at him. "Yes. Yes, I do. Our love can survive anything," she said confidently.
Can it survive this, Ethan thought as he took a breath. Would she still look at him the same? Still love him? "I hope so," he whispered.
"Ethan? Ethan.you can tell me anything. We can tell each other anything. From now on we'll be nothing but honest with each other. I know it won't be easy. But I'm willing if you are."
His blue eyes lingered on the small golden band she wore, and he took a deep breath. "Theresa.this isn't easy. I guess the best thing is just to say it. Theresa.I broke our marriage vows."
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He could hear the soft sounds of a woman weeping.
Why? Why now? When I finally have all my dreams within my reach? This can't be happening to me.
"This isn't happening." She gasped at his touch. "Father Lonagin! You frightened me."
"I apologize for the intrusion. I couldn't help but overhear."
"How much did you hear?" Ivy asked with downcast eyes. She raised her gaze. What a foolish thing to do? The man cannot see you.
"Only enough to know you are in pain. Ivy? Is it? Tell me.what is it that."
Ivy clutched her purse in her hand and prepared to leave.
"He listens to all things. All people. Maybe you should try talking to Him sometime," Father Lonagin said solemnly.
Ivy's mouth hung open. She couldn't think of a suitable response. She couldn't exactly tell the old priest what was running through her mind at this moment. God didn't listen to her. Her prayers often went unanswered. "I'm sorry, Father Lonagin. I must be leaving now."
Father Lonagin smiled sadly after her and raised his eyes to the heavens. Unanswered prayers or not.He listened.
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"And this is your room," Jessica smiled.
Grace ran a gentle hand over the comforting quilt thrown over the bed. Studied the pictures that adorned the walls. Smiling, happy faces. Faces of her family. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
Kay's smile lit up the room. Yes.it was. All traces of Ivy wiped clean. Wouldn't she be surprised by the bags waiting for her at the front door when she deigned to return? It was like Mom never left.
Grace eased herself down onto the mattress with a sigh. "Home. I'm home."
Jessica picked up the quilt from the foot of the bed and tucked it around her mother's shoulders lovingly. "You should rest now."
Grace stopped her with a hand on hers. "Thank you. For everything."
Kay laughed softly. "What are good daughters for?"
"You ARE good daughters. Both of you."
Jessica kissed her mother's cool cheek and moved to the door. Reluctantly. "If you need anything."
"I know who to ask," Grace smiled.
"Come on, Jess," Kay said. Taking her sister's arm. Her hand on the light switch. "We'll be downstairs if you need us."
The door latched shut. The glow from the hallway seeping under and painting the floor with a strange yellow glow.
Her blue eyes scanned the room. Landing on the jade satin robe forgotten in their haste. Home, she thought with a laugh. She was home at last.
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Her mind was a whirl of questions as she paid Beth for her purchase at the Book Café. How was Grace? First and foremost. What happened now with Sam and Ivy? Would Ivy back down gracefully? Or would it start all over again?
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
"I'm.I'm sorry. I just have a lot.T.C.!"
T.C.'s dark eyes narrowed imperceptably.
Eve felt herself growing smaller and smaller. "You're back."
"Yeah," he said. "Great to see you."
The nervous smile on Eve's face faltered as she realized he was just being polite. And why should he be anything else? The last time he laid eyes on her...finding your wife in the arms of your worst enemy would make ANY man lose it. "I saw Simone. Our little girl's so beautiful."
"Like she always was," he said gruffly. "Look.I don't mean to run out on you. But I really have to be going. I have a meeting with the big guns at Harmony High."
"A meeting? Are you moving back permanently?" she asked hopefully.
He looked at her strangely. All pretenses were gone. "For Simone. For Whitney. For our daughters, Eve. I do it all for them."
The bells chimed his departure. And she felt like the tiniest being on the planet.
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"Oh, Man. Did you see that?" Noah whistled under his breath. "Russell was colder than cold."
Beth put the money in her hand in the register. "Well," she muttered. "I think he had a right. I mean.finding out your wife had a child with the man you hate most in the world. And that that child is involved with your daughter. Talk about screwed up. Whitney has been a mess ever since."
"The good doctor didn't help herself any by admitting she loved the creep. I'm telling you, Beth. Those Cranes.they've really done a number on this town and all its people. Harmony'd be much better off without them. Blood or no."
Beth perched herself on the stool beside him and swatted him with the rag in her hands. "Come on, Noah. Don't you think you're being a little harsh? Sheridan's a Crane by blood. I didn't like her much in the beginning, but I was bitten by the green-eyed monster," she laughed in embarrassment.
"Sheridan's okay," Noah admitted grudgingly. "A little unstable. But okay, I guess. I wouldn't have a problem, though, if the rest of her family disappeared off the face of the earth." One spitfire in particular, he thought to himself.
"Yeah," Beth smirked. "I bet you wouldn't miss any of them. Not even the little blond that's got you smiling to yourself right now. You are so transparent, Noah. Don't even try to deny it," she laughed.
Noah's jaw clenched, and his coffee mug clattered against the bar. "Like hell," he spat. What was Beth smoking?
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"Mija!" Pilar cried. Clutching Danielle to her bosom desperately.
"I thought I warned you not to get too close," Lauren gasped. Stroking Danielle's dark hair back from her forehead. "What happened?"
"Danielle! Oh my god! Are you alright?"
Danielle swallowed the lump of fear in her throat and blinked back her own tears. "I'm okay, Mommy. I promise."
Pilar leaned back on her heels and released her granddaughter.
Luis pulled Danielle and Sheridan close to his heart. "What were you thinking? You scared us all to death."
Danielle's blue eyes softened when she saw the frantic look on her cousins' faces.
"Yeah, Kid," Chad laughed nervously. Veering away from the cliff's edge.
Amanda pulled her cell phone from her pocket and dialed a number. Her voice much calmer than her shaking hands. "Adam.everything's fine. They're here. Tell them she's fine and apologize. No.I'm not sorry I told you to call 9-1- 1. What if something had happened?" she snapped.
Danielle's eyes widened. "9-1-1?"
"You're hurt," Sheridan whispered. Touching the angry gashes on her daughter's forehead gingerly.
"Stings a little. That's all. Won't the 9-1-1 people be disappointed?" she joked half-heartedly. She hated seeing her mom so worried.
Luis grasped her shoulders firmly. "What happened? Why weren't you more careful?"
"I'm sorry, Dad," she said guiltily. "I lost my bracelet, and when I came back to get it.I tripped and fell. But I'm okay. Really. See?"
"A few nasty scrapes you got there," Chad whistled. "Where's the bracelet?"
Danielle's forehead wrinkled in thought, and she winced in pain. "I thought I saw it near the edge. But it's not there now."
"Is this it?" Lauren queried. Holding the tiny gold charm bracelet out to her cousin.
"Yes! Thank you so much!" Danielle smiled. "I couldn't lose my bracelet."
The sun's rays bounced off the jewelry.
Amanda's throat grew tight at the sight of one of the charms. She recognized it. She was there when she got it for her birthday.
"Women and their jewelry," Chad kidded. Holding out a hand to help Sheridan to her feet.
Danielle giggled and buried her face in her mother's warmth. "Stop teasing."
Luis slipped an arm around his mother's waist and led the way. "I think it's time we left this place. Just a little too much excitement for one day."
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"Charity? Will she be okay?" Paloma asked worriedly.
Charity took the cool cloth from her sister-in-law's outstretched hand and dabbed Tessa's sweaty brow without an answer.
"Does she do this often?"
Matthew held his uncle Miguel's hand tightly. And stared at a picture on the wall. Of him, his mommy, daddy, all his aunts and uncles. Their happy smiles made him feel better.
Tessa moaned and thrashed around on the sofa. Her yellow hair damp. Flattened to her skull. "No! No! Don't!"
Charity tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "She'll be okay," she finally answered. "She won't remember anything after it's over. And I don't want you to say anything to her either."
Paloma bit her lip and nodded her head. No problem, she thought.
Tessa's blue eyes shot open.
Everything in the cozy living room jumped in surprise.
Charity grew cold as she held her daughter's hand, and a tear fell from her cornflower blue eyes.
The golden chain glittered against the weathered rocks, and the waves pounded furiously.
They had to strain their ears to hear Tessa's pained whisper.
"Martin."
"Anything else, Mrs. Winthrop?"
Theresa clasped her hands in her lap and sighed. "No thank you." Where was he?
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Theresa's lips curved upward. "I knew you'd come."
Ethan fussed with his napkin, and his blue eyes searched for the waiter. "Have you ordered yet?"
"I waited for you," Theresa said softly. "Ethan.I'm so happy you came."
"Well.I keep my promises." Most of them anyway, he thought to himself.
"I know," Theresa murmured.
"Good evening, Mr. Winthrop. May I take your order?"
Theresa studied her husband's profile as he ordered for them both. He was still as handsome as the day she married him. There were more lines around his eyes, of course. And if she looked closely, she could see just a hint of gray. She fought the insane urge to giggle. She thought it made him look very distinguished.
"What?" Ethan asked.
Theresa's laughter spilled forth. "Nothing," she said. Sobering immediately when she realized Ethan didn't think anything was funny at all. Things were not getting off on the right track here. "Ethan.we need to."
"Talk," he finished for her. Setting his glass of wine down carefully.
The band starting playing. And she recognized the words. The voice. It was their song. All at once she felt terrible. Hopeless. She had lied for so long. So many times she could have told him the truth. But she hadn't. "Ethan," she choked. "I'm so sorry. I know this is all my fault. I don't blame you. Trust is everything in a marriage, and I've broken yours by lying to you since the day I met you. I'm not the person you thought I was."
Ethan reached across the table to grasp her hand. Maybe she wasn't the person he thought she was. But he loved her anyway. "Theresa.Theresa, look at me."
Brown eyes filled with tears could barely meet his gaze.
He brushed the tears that spilled down her silky cheeks away with the pads of his thumbs. "Shh," he soothed. "I'm not saying everything is okay. It isn't. But I believe.I believe that we love each other enough to work through anything. Don't you?"
Hope filled her heart, and she smiled at him. "Yes. Yes, I do. Our love can survive anything," she said confidently.
Can it survive this, Ethan thought as he took a breath. Would she still look at him the same? Still love him? "I hope so," he whispered.
"Ethan? Ethan.you can tell me anything. We can tell each other anything. From now on we'll be nothing but honest with each other. I know it won't be easy. But I'm willing if you are."
His blue eyes lingered on the small golden band she wore, and he took a deep breath. "Theresa.this isn't easy. I guess the best thing is just to say it. Theresa.I broke our marriage vows."
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He could hear the soft sounds of a woman weeping.
Why? Why now? When I finally have all my dreams within my reach? This can't be happening to me.
"This isn't happening." She gasped at his touch. "Father Lonagin! You frightened me."
"I apologize for the intrusion. I couldn't help but overhear."
"How much did you hear?" Ivy asked with downcast eyes. She raised her gaze. What a foolish thing to do? The man cannot see you.
"Only enough to know you are in pain. Ivy? Is it? Tell me.what is it that."
Ivy clutched her purse in her hand and prepared to leave.
"He listens to all things. All people. Maybe you should try talking to Him sometime," Father Lonagin said solemnly.
Ivy's mouth hung open. She couldn't think of a suitable response. She couldn't exactly tell the old priest what was running through her mind at this moment. God didn't listen to her. Her prayers often went unanswered. "I'm sorry, Father Lonagin. I must be leaving now."
Father Lonagin smiled sadly after her and raised his eyes to the heavens. Unanswered prayers or not.He listened.
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"And this is your room," Jessica smiled.
Grace ran a gentle hand over the comforting quilt thrown over the bed. Studied the pictures that adorned the walls. Smiling, happy faces. Faces of her family. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
Kay's smile lit up the room. Yes.it was. All traces of Ivy wiped clean. Wouldn't she be surprised by the bags waiting for her at the front door when she deigned to return? It was like Mom never left.
Grace eased herself down onto the mattress with a sigh. "Home. I'm home."
Jessica picked up the quilt from the foot of the bed and tucked it around her mother's shoulders lovingly. "You should rest now."
Grace stopped her with a hand on hers. "Thank you. For everything."
Kay laughed softly. "What are good daughters for?"
"You ARE good daughters. Both of you."
Jessica kissed her mother's cool cheek and moved to the door. Reluctantly. "If you need anything."
"I know who to ask," Grace smiled.
"Come on, Jess," Kay said. Taking her sister's arm. Her hand on the light switch. "We'll be downstairs if you need us."
The door latched shut. The glow from the hallway seeping under and painting the floor with a strange yellow glow.
Her blue eyes scanned the room. Landing on the jade satin robe forgotten in their haste. Home, she thought with a laugh. She was home at last.
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Her mind was a whirl of questions as she paid Beth for her purchase at the Book Café. How was Grace? First and foremost. What happened now with Sam and Ivy? Would Ivy back down gracefully? Or would it start all over again?
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
"I'm.I'm sorry. I just have a lot.T.C.!"
T.C.'s dark eyes narrowed imperceptably.
Eve felt herself growing smaller and smaller. "You're back."
"Yeah," he said. "Great to see you."
The nervous smile on Eve's face faltered as she realized he was just being polite. And why should he be anything else? The last time he laid eyes on her...finding your wife in the arms of your worst enemy would make ANY man lose it. "I saw Simone. Our little girl's so beautiful."
"Like she always was," he said gruffly. "Look.I don't mean to run out on you. But I really have to be going. I have a meeting with the big guns at Harmony High."
"A meeting? Are you moving back permanently?" she asked hopefully.
He looked at her strangely. All pretenses were gone. "For Simone. For Whitney. For our daughters, Eve. I do it all for them."
The bells chimed his departure. And she felt like the tiniest being on the planet.
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"Oh, Man. Did you see that?" Noah whistled under his breath. "Russell was colder than cold."
Beth put the money in her hand in the register. "Well," she muttered. "I think he had a right. I mean.finding out your wife had a child with the man you hate most in the world. And that that child is involved with your daughter. Talk about screwed up. Whitney has been a mess ever since."
"The good doctor didn't help herself any by admitting she loved the creep. I'm telling you, Beth. Those Cranes.they've really done a number on this town and all its people. Harmony'd be much better off without them. Blood or no."
Beth perched herself on the stool beside him and swatted him with the rag in her hands. "Come on, Noah. Don't you think you're being a little harsh? Sheridan's a Crane by blood. I didn't like her much in the beginning, but I was bitten by the green-eyed monster," she laughed in embarrassment.
"Sheridan's okay," Noah admitted grudgingly. "A little unstable. But okay, I guess. I wouldn't have a problem, though, if the rest of her family disappeared off the face of the earth." One spitfire in particular, he thought to himself.
"Yeah," Beth smirked. "I bet you wouldn't miss any of them. Not even the little blond that's got you smiling to yourself right now. You are so transparent, Noah. Don't even try to deny it," she laughed.
Noah's jaw clenched, and his coffee mug clattered against the bar. "Like hell," he spat. What was Beth smoking?
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"Mija!" Pilar cried. Clutching Danielle to her bosom desperately.
"I thought I warned you not to get too close," Lauren gasped. Stroking Danielle's dark hair back from her forehead. "What happened?"
"Danielle! Oh my god! Are you alright?"
Danielle swallowed the lump of fear in her throat and blinked back her own tears. "I'm okay, Mommy. I promise."
Pilar leaned back on her heels and released her granddaughter.
Luis pulled Danielle and Sheridan close to his heart. "What were you thinking? You scared us all to death."
Danielle's blue eyes softened when she saw the frantic look on her cousins' faces.
"Yeah, Kid," Chad laughed nervously. Veering away from the cliff's edge.
Amanda pulled her cell phone from her pocket and dialed a number. Her voice much calmer than her shaking hands. "Adam.everything's fine. They're here. Tell them she's fine and apologize. No.I'm not sorry I told you to call 9-1- 1. What if something had happened?" she snapped.
Danielle's eyes widened. "9-1-1?"
"You're hurt," Sheridan whispered. Touching the angry gashes on her daughter's forehead gingerly.
"Stings a little. That's all. Won't the 9-1-1 people be disappointed?" she joked half-heartedly. She hated seeing her mom so worried.
Luis grasped her shoulders firmly. "What happened? Why weren't you more careful?"
"I'm sorry, Dad," she said guiltily. "I lost my bracelet, and when I came back to get it.I tripped and fell. But I'm okay. Really. See?"
"A few nasty scrapes you got there," Chad whistled. "Where's the bracelet?"
Danielle's forehead wrinkled in thought, and she winced in pain. "I thought I saw it near the edge. But it's not there now."
"Is this it?" Lauren queried. Holding the tiny gold charm bracelet out to her cousin.
"Yes! Thank you so much!" Danielle smiled. "I couldn't lose my bracelet."
The sun's rays bounced off the jewelry.
Amanda's throat grew tight at the sight of one of the charms. She recognized it. She was there when she got it for her birthday.
"Women and their jewelry," Chad kidded. Holding out a hand to help Sheridan to her feet.
Danielle giggled and buried her face in her mother's warmth. "Stop teasing."
Luis slipped an arm around his mother's waist and led the way. "I think it's time we left this place. Just a little too much excitement for one day."
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"Charity? Will she be okay?" Paloma asked worriedly.
Charity took the cool cloth from her sister-in-law's outstretched hand and dabbed Tessa's sweaty brow without an answer.
"Does she do this often?"
Matthew held his uncle Miguel's hand tightly. And stared at a picture on the wall. Of him, his mommy, daddy, all his aunts and uncles. Their happy smiles made him feel better.
Tessa moaned and thrashed around on the sofa. Her yellow hair damp. Flattened to her skull. "No! No! Don't!"
Charity tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "She'll be okay," she finally answered. "She won't remember anything after it's over. And I don't want you to say anything to her either."
Paloma bit her lip and nodded her head. No problem, she thought.
Tessa's blue eyes shot open.
Everything in the cozy living room jumped in surprise.
Charity grew cold as she held her daughter's hand, and a tear fell from her cornflower blue eyes.
The golden chain glittered against the weathered rocks, and the waves pounded furiously.
They had to strain their ears to hear Tessa's pained whisper.
"Martin."