CHAPTER 4
A Walk to Remember
"I need to sit."
"Why? I haven't shown you half of Harmony yet."
"When did this village grow into a town?"
"I don't know, but 10 years away is a long time."
She sat beside him.
"10 years away from my family is not long enough."
"What happened to you? I mean I know it's none of my business, but you seem to be bitter about it."
"Ivy and Julian are a poor excuse for parents. They are cold and unfeeling. As far as I know, Mother has only one child and it's Ethan. The rest of us don't really matter. Then there's Father who is too busy sleeping with the maids and now Rebecca of all people. Sometimes, I wish I wasn't a Crane. I wish I grew up in a normal environment."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Don't feel sorry for me. At least I was never taken advantage of the way you have. What horrible things did they do to you, Teresa?"
She looked down and tears filled her eyes.
"It's not something I enjoy talking about."
"My family is not something I enjoy talking about either."
She looked at him.
"I thought the treatment they gave you was for non-Cranes."
"I might as well not be."
"I was wondering, I have a function tomorrow would you like to escort me?"
"Only if you tell me what happened to you."
"It's a long story."
"We have all day."
She looked at him and smiled. For the first time, she noticed his features. Deep brown eyes and blond hair, full and luscious lips.
'Wait a minute Teresa, get your mind out of the gutter.'
"To make a long story short, I was going to marry Ethan then the tabloid story came out. I went to Bermuda to convince Julian to take him back into the family, but he got me drunk, we got married and slept together. I woke and I was Mrs Julian Crane pregnant with a son."
"A drunken wedding? Can't say I'm surprised with Father. How do you feel about Ethan been married to Gwen?"
"Can't say I like it, but I'm trying to let go. It gets easier every day. I think he is having a harder time of it."
"How so?" "Whenever we're alone, he hints that he still loves me. This morning when he asked to speak to me, he acted more like a jealous boyfriend than a friend."
"Why would you think that?"
"He told me to stay away from you, that you were bad news."
"Maybe he's right, maybe you should stay away from me."
"I think he's wrong. I think there is more to Fox Crane than you're letting on."
"Let's get back."
They got up and started walking slowly. Could this be his lucky day? Not only do I get to befriend and sleep with her, but I will also snatch away something really important from Ethan. He smiled at himself. 'I can't wait to put the knife right through Ethan's heart.'
"I need to sit."
"Why? I haven't shown you half of Harmony yet."
"When did this village grow into a town?"
"I don't know, but 10 years away is a long time."
She sat beside him.
"10 years away from my family is not long enough."
"What happened to you? I mean I know it's none of my business, but you seem to be bitter about it."
"Ivy and Julian are a poor excuse for parents. They are cold and unfeeling. As far as I know, Mother has only one child and it's Ethan. The rest of us don't really matter. Then there's Father who is too busy sleeping with the maids and now Rebecca of all people. Sometimes, I wish I wasn't a Crane. I wish I grew up in a normal environment."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Don't feel sorry for me. At least I was never taken advantage of the way you have. What horrible things did they do to you, Teresa?"
She looked down and tears filled her eyes.
"It's not something I enjoy talking about."
"My family is not something I enjoy talking about either."
She looked at him.
"I thought the treatment they gave you was for non-Cranes."
"I might as well not be."
"I was wondering, I have a function tomorrow would you like to escort me?"
"Only if you tell me what happened to you."
"It's a long story."
"We have all day."
She looked at him and smiled. For the first time, she noticed his features. Deep brown eyes and blond hair, full and luscious lips.
'Wait a minute Teresa, get your mind out of the gutter.'
"To make a long story short, I was going to marry Ethan then the tabloid story came out. I went to Bermuda to convince Julian to take him back into the family, but he got me drunk, we got married and slept together. I woke and I was Mrs Julian Crane pregnant with a son."
"A drunken wedding? Can't say I'm surprised with Father. How do you feel about Ethan been married to Gwen?"
"Can't say I like it, but I'm trying to let go. It gets easier every day. I think he is having a harder time of it."
"How so?" "Whenever we're alone, he hints that he still loves me. This morning when he asked to speak to me, he acted more like a jealous boyfriend than a friend."
"Why would you think that?"
"He told me to stay away from you, that you were bad news."
"Maybe he's right, maybe you should stay away from me."
"I think he's wrong. I think there is more to Fox Crane than you're letting on."
"Let's get back."
They got up and started walking slowly. Could this be his lucky day? Not only do I get to befriend and sleep with her, but I will also snatch away something really important from Ethan. He smiled at himself. 'I can't wait to put the knife right through Ethan's heart.'