"Hey Ethan!" Noah made his way down the stairs, freshly showered and
dressed, to greet his older brother, "I'm sorry about all the commotion
this morning."
"It's not a problem, Noah." Ethan shrugged, "I guess a little unexpected."
"Yeah," Noah nodded, "Hey, you'll have to help me get that Theresa back. I'm sure you'd know how to get her back good!"
"Um," Ethan grew uneasy.
"Oh," Noah sighed, "That wasn't what I meant, sorry man."
"No, don't worry about it, Noah." Ethan shook his head, "things have been tough lately for me and Theresa. I'm not sure where we stand with each other right now."
"Well, you did marry Gwen and not her." Noah frowned, though this man was his brother, he couldn't help but disapprove of how he broke Theresa's heart the way he did.
"I know Noah, and it's complicated."
"You gotta understand, E." Noah took a seat on the living room sofa, "Theresa and I have known each other our whole lives. She's one of my best friends, probably the best female friend I've ever had, and I look out for her."
"I get it." Ethan felt his heart start to beat faster as Noah spoke of Theresa, the past week he'd been struggling to get rid of the envy he felt every time he saw the two together. He'd tried to brush it off when he saw them walking down the pier. He'd attempted to not pay attention when he noticed them engrossed in a serious conversation at the Book Café. And, he wanted to not think about Theresa's smile when he witnessed the practical joke she played on him that morning, but it was taking a lot of Ethan's energy to try and remain calm.
"I care about that girl a lot, Ethan." Noah continued as his older brother took a seat on the recliner beside him, "I can't say that I am 100% behind your decision to marry Gwen. I know that you have good intentions and you feel loyal to the woman since you are about to have a child with her, but leaving Theresa out there in the cold."
"Noah,"
"She thought you were going to propose to her, Ethan. You told her that you were, and she was ready to give up her entire life in that, that 'family'. She was willing to give up a safe life for her child to be with you."
"It's so complicated, Noah. You have to try and understand that she did so much in the past to make me question her intentions. Time and time again she'd lied to me, to my face, and I still find it hard to forgive her for it."
"Love forgives man." Noah sighed and realized that his older brother was not going to understand anytime soon, "She loved you. And I can tell that she still does. But you have a choice to make. You have to either love her back and forgive her OR you have to let her go."
"Let her go?"
"She still hung up on your relationship, and every time you are there to come to her aid and rescue, she has false hopes. She needs to know that you are only going to be there for her as a friend, nothing more."
"That's what I've been trying to do lately, Noah." Ethan folded his arms and looked up at the ceiling, "But, she still doesn't get it."
"It's because she still sees that love you have for her in your eyes." Noah leaned forward and asked the question that had been on his mind, "You still love her, don't you?"
Ethan remained silent for moment, letting the question sink into his heart. He never thought that his relationship with Theresa would turn out this way. Too much had happened in the past for him to just brush it aside and chalk it up to just 'love', but he had to admit that Theresa still had a hold on his heart, and it wasn't easy to love and live with another woman when much of his heart still belonged to Theresa.
"Yeah, I do." Ethan gave in, "But, Noah. I'm a married man now, and I'm not someone who can just push aside that fact. I'm married and I'm going to be a father."
"Then you know what you got to do."
"Let her go?"
"It's the only way that Theresa can find happiness, Ethan."
"Let her go?" Ethan asked himself this time.
"Don't break her heart again, Ethan." Noah's voice turned serious, "I mean it. Don't do that to her again."
"I don't know if I can let her go."
"You'll have to."
"I know, Noah."
"For her sake, you have to."
************************************************************************
"Hello?"
Paloma smiled at her mother as she stood from the table and walked into the living room with her cellular phone in hand.
"Good morning sunshine!"
Paloma's smile grew into light laughter as the voice on the other end greeted her.
"Good morning Nicky," She walked to the front window and watched as her mother's next-door-neighbor jogged past on the snow-plowed street, "it's early, I'm surprised you're awake."
"Yes," Fox sat behind the wheel of his sports car and looked forward toward the road as he made a left turn onto a familiar street, "I've learned that waking up earlier only 'lengthens' your day. More time to do the important things in life."
"Important?" Paloma bit her lip to help hide the smile that wanted to show itself, "what sort of important things are you talking about Nicky?"
"Well, like this, now." He pulled into a driveway and shut off the engine, remaining in the warmth of the car as his conversation proceeded, "If I wake up earlier in the day, I'll have much more time to talk to you."
"Nicholas Crane!" Paloma laughed into her phone, "are you trying to flatter me?"
"Maybe," Fox couldn't help but laugh, "that all depends on whether or not it's working."
"Oh," Paloma wished she could see his face at that moment, "trust me, it's working."
"So, Lo?" Fox stepped out of his car and onto the driveway beneath him, with each step the smile of his face grew wider.
"Yeah?"
"What do you say about a day of unbridled fun at the Harmony Shopping Center?" Fox laughed, "I got to go pick something up for my sister, it's her seventeenth birthday next week, and I need to send something to her now so it'll get to her in time."
"You want me to come along and help you spend you daddy's money?" Paloma laughed and made her way to the sofa to sit.
"Actually," Fox stopped in front of a large, maple doorway and smiled, "I need your expertise, I'm horrible when it comes to presents, especially for chicks."
"Chicks?"
"Sorry," He laughed, "women."
"Well, if you put it that way," Paloma sighed, jokingly, "I'd love to come."
"How soon can you be ready?" Fox asked.
"I'm already dressed," Paloma laughed, "how soon can you be here?"
"I'm right outside."
Paloma jumped from her seat and ran to the door, as she reached for the handle to her front door, she bit her lip with a smile and pulled it open to reveal Nicky Crane's handsome face. Paloma felt a blush rush to her cheek as her eyes greeted his own and a smile graced his countenance.
"Morning, Lo."
************************************************************************
"So," Paloma walked along side Fox with him pulling her into every shop that sold bath supplies and scented candles, "what about this one?"
"Um," Fox took the candle from her hand and sniffed, "what is it?"
"It's honeysuckle with a dash of lavender." Paloma smiled when Fox shook his head, "what?"
"They all smell the same to me." He shrugged , "So, girls dig this kind of stuff?"
"Well, here's a crash course in shopping for women." Paloma smiled and walked around the shop while she explained.
"Please," Fox smiled and followed her, "enlighten me."
"Gladly," Paloma picked up another candle and smelled it as she continued, "Don't buy her clothes."
"No clothes?"
"You wouldn't want to make the mistake of buying the wrong size," Paloma grinned, "too small or too big, trust me it won't make her day."
"Check."
"No gift certificates."
"Why not?" Fox questioned, "aren't those your safest bet? I mean, you let her choose the gift?"
"Well, it may seem that way, but" Paloma stopped and in front of Fox and looked up at him, "when your give a girl a gift certificate it's like you didn't put any thought into the gift, and it'll make her feel like you don't appreciate her."
"It's for my sister though," Fox shrugged.
"Still the same, Nicky." Paloma put a finger to his chest and winked.
"So, what DO I buy?"
"Well, the list of things that are 'acceptable'," Paloma turned and walked on, occasionally stopping to smell another scented candle, "Jewelry, of course."
"Okay, what else?"
"Well," Paloma motioned her hand around them, "Candles, most all women love scented candles."
"You do?"
"I LOVE them!" Paloma smiled, "stay with the floral scents and the ones that smell like baked goods."
"Alright," Fox smiled at his friend and sighed as she took his arm and brought him to another section of the store. He laughed when she picked up another candle and shoved it in his face to smell.
"See?" Paloma laughed, "Warm Vanilla Sugar."
"Wow." Fox took the candle and read the label, "that does smell good!"
"You have to smell the cinnamon roll," She took his hand and led him in another direction.
"So, what else?"
"Well, all women love things that come from the heart."
"Like what?"
"Little things," She sighed, "things that remind you of her, a boquet of her favorite flowers, a CD of her favorite songs, a scrapbook of your pictures together, some pottery that you painted for her, homemade coupons for things like a 'picnic in the park', or 'a back massage', or 'a candlelit dinner'."
"I have a feeling we're not talking about things to get my sister anymore."
"No," Paloma shook her head, "maybe not, but I'm just giving you the heads up on what to get for your future sweetie."
"Really?"
"Well, when you find her that is."
Fox took the candle from Paloma's hand and set it back on the table beneath him. His eyes followed each step she took as she walked around the store. Fox could hear the loud drumming of his heart as he slipped further and further into his thoughts of Paloma, until the only thing he heard was the sound of his ever beating heart and the only thing his eyes saw was every movement that Paloma made. Fox couldn't help but smile and shut his eyes to savor this very moment. The moment, that in his entire life, he had never thought would become a reality. In that moment, as he stood there relishing in the revelation that his mind, soul, and heart shared, there was one thought that rang clear and true.
'I already found her.'
************************************************************************
*A/N* SORRY for the long wait, but it's nearing the end of the semester and I'm swamped with assignment after assignment. Not to mention the writer's block I've been experiencing these past few weeks. Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying the story. The next few chapters will focus a little more on some of the other members of the Lopez-Fitzgerald family, but MORE Fox and Paloma to come. See what happens next now that Fox realizes he's taken by Paloma! =) Stay tuned!!
"It's not a problem, Noah." Ethan shrugged, "I guess a little unexpected."
"Yeah," Noah nodded, "Hey, you'll have to help me get that Theresa back. I'm sure you'd know how to get her back good!"
"Um," Ethan grew uneasy.
"Oh," Noah sighed, "That wasn't what I meant, sorry man."
"No, don't worry about it, Noah." Ethan shook his head, "things have been tough lately for me and Theresa. I'm not sure where we stand with each other right now."
"Well, you did marry Gwen and not her." Noah frowned, though this man was his brother, he couldn't help but disapprove of how he broke Theresa's heart the way he did.
"I know Noah, and it's complicated."
"You gotta understand, E." Noah took a seat on the living room sofa, "Theresa and I have known each other our whole lives. She's one of my best friends, probably the best female friend I've ever had, and I look out for her."
"I get it." Ethan felt his heart start to beat faster as Noah spoke of Theresa, the past week he'd been struggling to get rid of the envy he felt every time he saw the two together. He'd tried to brush it off when he saw them walking down the pier. He'd attempted to not pay attention when he noticed them engrossed in a serious conversation at the Book Café. And, he wanted to not think about Theresa's smile when he witnessed the practical joke she played on him that morning, but it was taking a lot of Ethan's energy to try and remain calm.
"I care about that girl a lot, Ethan." Noah continued as his older brother took a seat on the recliner beside him, "I can't say that I am 100% behind your decision to marry Gwen. I know that you have good intentions and you feel loyal to the woman since you are about to have a child with her, but leaving Theresa out there in the cold."
"Noah,"
"She thought you were going to propose to her, Ethan. You told her that you were, and she was ready to give up her entire life in that, that 'family'. She was willing to give up a safe life for her child to be with you."
"It's so complicated, Noah. You have to try and understand that she did so much in the past to make me question her intentions. Time and time again she'd lied to me, to my face, and I still find it hard to forgive her for it."
"Love forgives man." Noah sighed and realized that his older brother was not going to understand anytime soon, "She loved you. And I can tell that she still does. But you have a choice to make. You have to either love her back and forgive her OR you have to let her go."
"Let her go?"
"She still hung up on your relationship, and every time you are there to come to her aid and rescue, she has false hopes. She needs to know that you are only going to be there for her as a friend, nothing more."
"That's what I've been trying to do lately, Noah." Ethan folded his arms and looked up at the ceiling, "But, she still doesn't get it."
"It's because she still sees that love you have for her in your eyes." Noah leaned forward and asked the question that had been on his mind, "You still love her, don't you?"
Ethan remained silent for moment, letting the question sink into his heart. He never thought that his relationship with Theresa would turn out this way. Too much had happened in the past for him to just brush it aside and chalk it up to just 'love', but he had to admit that Theresa still had a hold on his heart, and it wasn't easy to love and live with another woman when much of his heart still belonged to Theresa.
"Yeah, I do." Ethan gave in, "But, Noah. I'm a married man now, and I'm not someone who can just push aside that fact. I'm married and I'm going to be a father."
"Then you know what you got to do."
"Let her go?"
"It's the only way that Theresa can find happiness, Ethan."
"Let her go?" Ethan asked himself this time.
"Don't break her heart again, Ethan." Noah's voice turned serious, "I mean it. Don't do that to her again."
"I don't know if I can let her go."
"You'll have to."
"I know, Noah."
"For her sake, you have to."
************************************************************************
"Hello?"
Paloma smiled at her mother as she stood from the table and walked into the living room with her cellular phone in hand.
"Good morning sunshine!"
Paloma's smile grew into light laughter as the voice on the other end greeted her.
"Good morning Nicky," She walked to the front window and watched as her mother's next-door-neighbor jogged past on the snow-plowed street, "it's early, I'm surprised you're awake."
"Yes," Fox sat behind the wheel of his sports car and looked forward toward the road as he made a left turn onto a familiar street, "I've learned that waking up earlier only 'lengthens' your day. More time to do the important things in life."
"Important?" Paloma bit her lip to help hide the smile that wanted to show itself, "what sort of important things are you talking about Nicky?"
"Well, like this, now." He pulled into a driveway and shut off the engine, remaining in the warmth of the car as his conversation proceeded, "If I wake up earlier in the day, I'll have much more time to talk to you."
"Nicholas Crane!" Paloma laughed into her phone, "are you trying to flatter me?"
"Maybe," Fox couldn't help but laugh, "that all depends on whether or not it's working."
"Oh," Paloma wished she could see his face at that moment, "trust me, it's working."
"So, Lo?" Fox stepped out of his car and onto the driveway beneath him, with each step the smile of his face grew wider.
"Yeah?"
"What do you say about a day of unbridled fun at the Harmony Shopping Center?" Fox laughed, "I got to go pick something up for my sister, it's her seventeenth birthday next week, and I need to send something to her now so it'll get to her in time."
"You want me to come along and help you spend you daddy's money?" Paloma laughed and made her way to the sofa to sit.
"Actually," Fox stopped in front of a large, maple doorway and smiled, "I need your expertise, I'm horrible when it comes to presents, especially for chicks."
"Chicks?"
"Sorry," He laughed, "women."
"Well, if you put it that way," Paloma sighed, jokingly, "I'd love to come."
"How soon can you be ready?" Fox asked.
"I'm already dressed," Paloma laughed, "how soon can you be here?"
"I'm right outside."
Paloma jumped from her seat and ran to the door, as she reached for the handle to her front door, she bit her lip with a smile and pulled it open to reveal Nicky Crane's handsome face. Paloma felt a blush rush to her cheek as her eyes greeted his own and a smile graced his countenance.
"Morning, Lo."
************************************************************************
"So," Paloma walked along side Fox with him pulling her into every shop that sold bath supplies and scented candles, "what about this one?"
"Um," Fox took the candle from her hand and sniffed, "what is it?"
"It's honeysuckle with a dash of lavender." Paloma smiled when Fox shook his head, "what?"
"They all smell the same to me." He shrugged , "So, girls dig this kind of stuff?"
"Well, here's a crash course in shopping for women." Paloma smiled and walked around the shop while she explained.
"Please," Fox smiled and followed her, "enlighten me."
"Gladly," Paloma picked up another candle and smelled it as she continued, "Don't buy her clothes."
"No clothes?"
"You wouldn't want to make the mistake of buying the wrong size," Paloma grinned, "too small or too big, trust me it won't make her day."
"Check."
"No gift certificates."
"Why not?" Fox questioned, "aren't those your safest bet? I mean, you let her choose the gift?"
"Well, it may seem that way, but" Paloma stopped and in front of Fox and looked up at him, "when your give a girl a gift certificate it's like you didn't put any thought into the gift, and it'll make her feel like you don't appreciate her."
"It's for my sister though," Fox shrugged.
"Still the same, Nicky." Paloma put a finger to his chest and winked.
"So, what DO I buy?"
"Well, the list of things that are 'acceptable'," Paloma turned and walked on, occasionally stopping to smell another scented candle, "Jewelry, of course."
"Okay, what else?"
"Well," Paloma motioned her hand around them, "Candles, most all women love scented candles."
"You do?"
"I LOVE them!" Paloma smiled, "stay with the floral scents and the ones that smell like baked goods."
"Alright," Fox smiled at his friend and sighed as she took his arm and brought him to another section of the store. He laughed when she picked up another candle and shoved it in his face to smell.
"See?" Paloma laughed, "Warm Vanilla Sugar."
"Wow." Fox took the candle and read the label, "that does smell good!"
"You have to smell the cinnamon roll," She took his hand and led him in another direction.
"So, what else?"
"Well, all women love things that come from the heart."
"Like what?"
"Little things," She sighed, "things that remind you of her, a boquet of her favorite flowers, a CD of her favorite songs, a scrapbook of your pictures together, some pottery that you painted for her, homemade coupons for things like a 'picnic in the park', or 'a back massage', or 'a candlelit dinner'."
"I have a feeling we're not talking about things to get my sister anymore."
"No," Paloma shook her head, "maybe not, but I'm just giving you the heads up on what to get for your future sweetie."
"Really?"
"Well, when you find her that is."
Fox took the candle from Paloma's hand and set it back on the table beneath him. His eyes followed each step she took as she walked around the store. Fox could hear the loud drumming of his heart as he slipped further and further into his thoughts of Paloma, until the only thing he heard was the sound of his ever beating heart and the only thing his eyes saw was every movement that Paloma made. Fox couldn't help but smile and shut his eyes to savor this very moment. The moment, that in his entire life, he had never thought would become a reality. In that moment, as he stood there relishing in the revelation that his mind, soul, and heart shared, there was one thought that rang clear and true.
'I already found her.'
************************************************************************
*A/N* SORRY for the long wait, but it's nearing the end of the semester and I'm swamped with assignment after assignment. Not to mention the writer's block I've been experiencing these past few weeks. Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying the story. The next few chapters will focus a little more on some of the other members of the Lopez-Fitzgerald family, but MORE Fox and Paloma to come. See what happens next now that Fox realizes he's taken by Paloma! =) Stay tuned!!