CHAPTER 6
Tomorrow
He had fallen asleep in the gazebo when she showed up. She picked up some grass weed in her hand and sat beside him making sure she didn't wake him. She took a strand in her other hand and moved it on his face slowly. She traced his mouth, nose and jaw with it. He started moving his hand on his face. She was giggling silently, her face turning red and her eyes starting to tear up. She kept going, she was moving the grass back and forth on his neck and near his ear. He grabbed her hand without opening his eyes.
"You seriously thought that I didn't know you were here?"
"I thought you were asleep."
"I was, but you're not the most discrete person I know Teresa."
She started laughing and got up. He pulled her back down then he started tickling her.
"No, don't. Stop it. You know how ticklish I am."
"That's the purpose of this."
She managed to free herself and started running, he went after her.
"You'll never catch me, Nicholas. I am faster than the wind."
"No, you're not. If I catch you, you'll lose your title."
He ran even faster and caught her by the waist. They both tripped and rolled on the grass. He was on top of her. They stopped laughing and gazed in each other's eyes. He ran his fingers in her hair, caressed her face, then kissed her. She held her breath.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Fox got up and helped Teresa to her feet.
"It's none of your business, Ethan."
"It is my business. When Father hears about this, he will freak out. I can imagine Grandfather's reaction as well. Good luck getting yourself out of this one, Fox."
Ethan looked at Teresa. Her face was flushed and she seemed embarrassed.
"As for you Teresa, when Luis finds out he will tear you apart, but not before killing him."
Ethan walked away knowing how worried he left Teresa and Fox. He knew Fox could care less about what Julian and Alistair would do to him. After all, the only thing they could threaten him with was his inheritance. But Luis was another matter and Fox knew it very well. He walked back to where his brother and Teresa were standing.
"Fox, don't forget about tonight. You're taking Sarah to that party."
"How can I forget, Grandfather has been on my case for the past two weeks."
This time Ethan walked away and didn't come back.
"So, who is Sarah?"
"Some Senator's daughter." "And you have to take her tonight to that party?"
He nodded.
"This is the last thing I want to do, but you know how Julian and Alistair are."
"Is she pretty?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure she is nothing compared to you."
She smiled at him, but he could see that there was some worry in her eyes.
"What about I see you after this party, would you like that?"
"I think I would."
"I'll knock on your bedroom window as usual."
She nodded and he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. He got up and she watched him leave.
*********************************
He was in his room getting ready when his door flew open.
"Never heard of knocking?"
"We need to talk Fox."
Fox turned surprised.
"What do you want, Father? You never wanted to talk to me. What's the sudden change of heart?"
"You know exactly what I want to talk to you about."
"Really, I don't. I'm not Miss Cleo, you know."
"I want to talk to you about Teresa. Ethan told me what he witnessed at the gazebo."
"Can't say I'm surprised at him."
"Fox, we talked about this before. Now I can understand that she is your friend..."
"Best friend, Father. Only person who gave my life a certain normalcy. She's the only person I know who doesn't care about what my last name is...."
"She is also the housekeeper's daughter and you cannot go around kissing her." "Father, I'm a man and I can do whatever I want, so please butt out of my personal life."
Julian got angry and raised his voice.
"You are also a Crane and you will do as I say."
"I don't have to listen to this. I'm taking Sarah out tonight and it will be the first and last time."
"Fox, you do realize that I can cut you off completely."
"I know, and I don't think I care about it one bit. I have Teresa, she's more than my best friend. She is the only one I care about and she is the reason I'm in Harmony."
"You are exasperating Foxworth. Your Grandfather and I will never allow you to have any kind of relationship with that girl. You will marry Sarah."
"And end up like you and Mother? No, thanks. I think I had enough of that when I was growing up. I don't need anymore."
"Consider yourself warned Fox."
Julian left the room but not without giving his son a last glance.
"Father, I will never marry Sarah. My heart is elsewhere and always will be."
He finished getting ready and left for the Country Club. All the way there, he kept thinking about Teresa and how their relationship had evolved. He wished she was the one he was going with tonight. He wished he could blow off the entire evening. The car pulled over and he got out.
"Fox, this way."
He looked up and there was Julian standing with a young woman. She was blond with blue eyes.
"Fox, this is Sarah Michaels. Miss Michaels, this is my son Fox."
Sarah gave him her hand and he took it.
"Pleased to meet you Miss Michaels."
"Please, call me Sarah. I was looking forward to this evening and meeting you."
He smiled at her politely.
"Fox, take the young lady inside. Offer her a drink."
Fox started walking away when Julian grabbed his arm.
"Don't screw this up."
The evening was long. Sarah was a beautiful woman, but she was nothing compared to Teresa. He found himself thinking a lot about her.
"What's on you mind, Nicholas?"
"Can we please stick to you calling me Fox?"
"Why is that? You don't like your birth name?"
"There is only one person who calls me that and I would like it if she remained the only one."
"Who is she?"
"It's none of your concern."
"If you want to keep her a secret, that's fine. But I have a lot of ways to make you forget about her."
"I doubt any of them will make forget about her."
He got up.
"Look, the only reason I'm here is because my father and grandfather made me. I have no interest in you whatsoever."
"I'm not beautiful enough for you? Not good enough? What's so special about that girl anyway?"
"She is different. She has everything I want and I've known her forever."
He looked at Sarah and he felt bad for her.
"Look, you are a beautiful woman but I just can't do this. I'm really sorry."
"Can we at least be friends?"
"Sure we can. I was going to the wharf. Care to join me?"
"I would love to."
They walked together there and stood there for a while, then they stopped. She faced him.
"I'm very attracted to you Fox. You must know that."
"But I'm not attracted to you."
She pushed him on the railing and kissed him. He put his hands on her to push her away.
**************************
Teresa saw them. She was standing at the wharf, hoping that Fox would be back from his evening soon. She left him a message to join her there. She wanted to spend time with him. She wanted him to kiss like he did. She looked at the her charm bracelet and smiled.
"Nicholas, if you only knew."
She watched as two people walked to the railing and stopped. She recognized Fox. He was standing there with another woman. She was blond and tall and she was wearing a dark evening dress. She started walking towards them, then stopped. The woman kissed him and Fox put his hands on her shoulders.
"Sarah.."she heard him whisper before his lips were on hers again.
"No, no. I thought, I thought..no, this can't be happening."
She turned her heels and walked as fast as she could. She wasn't walking anymore, she was running, as fast as she could. Running away from him.
She finally arrived at the cottage.
"I can't go in. Mama will ask me questions. I need to calm down and..."
She walked to the lake and sat under a tree. She cried and cried.
**********************************
"What do you think you're doing, Sarah?"
"Trying to see if there's something there, satisfying my curiosity. You know trying to get you turned on so that this evening doesn't have to end so soon."
"I already made it clear that I wasn't interested. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a beautiful lady."
"And how am I supposed to get to my hotel?"
"You have a cell phone, call a cab."
She followed him and spoke to him angrily.
"Your father will know about this."
He looked at her and smiled.
"Am I supposed to care?"
He walked away. He couldn't wait to see Teresa.
***********************************
As usual, he went to her window and looked inside the room but she wasn't there.
"Where could she be?"
He started walking toward the lake and he saw someone sitting under the tree. He recognized the dark hair.
"Teresa?"
She looked up and he saw that she was crying.
"What's wrong?"
He was concerned about her. He had never seen her cry, not even when they were children and she scrapped her knee.
"What do you care, Fox?"
"Are you mad at me?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Because you call me Fox only when you're upset with me."
She looked at him.
"I guess you know me very well. But then, I don't think you know me at all."
"You lost me, Resa. I don't know what you're talking about."
"You don't?"
"No, I don't know what you're talking about."
Tears were pouring down her face. He put his hand on her face but she pulled away from him and got up. She started to walk away.
"Teresa, don't walk away from me, please..let me help you."
"You can't help me because you're the one who caused this."
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
"The wharf. I was on the wharf tonight and I saw you with her, kissing her."
"No, you misunderstood. I never kissed her."
"That's right, you tripped and your lips landed on hers."
"Don't be sarcastic about this."
"And you, take your hands off of me."
She started walking away.
"Teresa, don't do this to me. Don't do this to us."
She started laughing.
"The thing is I believed that there might be something between us. But it was one sided."
"No, don't think that."
"It's a bit too late for this, Fox."
"No, no...you can't put an end to this."
"Don't you see Fox, you can't put an end to something that never took off. You and me never existed."
"No, I don't believe this. Teresa, it was always you and me. I came back to Harmony because of you and no one else. You give meaning to my life."
"No, you lied to me once today, don't do it again."
"I'm not lying to you. I love you. Please, look at me when I talk to you."
"No, I don't want to look at you right now and I wish I could believe you, but I don't."
"I wanted you to marry me."
"Why, so that you can go and kiss other women. Go back to Sarah, she's probably waiting for you in her bed."
"Teresa, I have no reason to stay in Harmony. You are the only thing I have here and if I can't have you then I don't want to stay."
"Go to hell, Fox."
She went inside the cottage and walked to her room. She sat on her bed and turned the music on.
And I wanna believe you, When you tell me that it'll be ok, Ya I try to believe you, But I don't.
When you say that it's gonna be, It always turns out to be a different way, I try to believe you, Not today, today, today, today, today.
She laid in her bed crying and he looked at her from outside her window.
I don't know how I feel, Tomorrow, tomorrow, I don't know what to say, Tomorrow, tomorrow Is a different day
It's always been up to you, It's turning around, It's up to me, I'm gonna do what I have to do, Just do.
Gimme a little time, Leave me alone a little while, Maybe it's not too late, Not today, today, today, today, today
"How could he do this? I thought we were more than that, so much more than that."
I don't know how to feel, Tomorrow, tomorrow, I don't know what to say, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Is a different day.
And I know I'm not ready, Maybe tomorrow
And I wanna believe you, When you tell me that it'll be ok Ya I try to believe you, Not today, today, today, today, today Tomorrow it may change. (Avril Lavigne, Tomorrow)
He kept watching Teresa through her bedroom window. She had fallen asleep, but he knew that tears were still running down her cheeks.
"I am so sorry that for hurting you Teresa. That was the last thing I ever wanted to do to you."
He let his body slide on the wall and sat on the grass and sat there until the sunrise. He got up and looked through the window again, Teresa was still asleep. He walked to the mansion.
He had fallen asleep in the gazebo when she showed up. She picked up some grass weed in her hand and sat beside him making sure she didn't wake him. She took a strand in her other hand and moved it on his face slowly. She traced his mouth, nose and jaw with it. He started moving his hand on his face. She was giggling silently, her face turning red and her eyes starting to tear up. She kept going, she was moving the grass back and forth on his neck and near his ear. He grabbed her hand without opening his eyes.
"You seriously thought that I didn't know you were here?"
"I thought you were asleep."
"I was, but you're not the most discrete person I know Teresa."
She started laughing and got up. He pulled her back down then he started tickling her.
"No, don't. Stop it. You know how ticklish I am."
"That's the purpose of this."
She managed to free herself and started running, he went after her.
"You'll never catch me, Nicholas. I am faster than the wind."
"No, you're not. If I catch you, you'll lose your title."
He ran even faster and caught her by the waist. They both tripped and rolled on the grass. He was on top of her. They stopped laughing and gazed in each other's eyes. He ran his fingers in her hair, caressed her face, then kissed her. She held her breath.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Fox got up and helped Teresa to her feet.
"It's none of your business, Ethan."
"It is my business. When Father hears about this, he will freak out. I can imagine Grandfather's reaction as well. Good luck getting yourself out of this one, Fox."
Ethan looked at Teresa. Her face was flushed and she seemed embarrassed.
"As for you Teresa, when Luis finds out he will tear you apart, but not before killing him."
Ethan walked away knowing how worried he left Teresa and Fox. He knew Fox could care less about what Julian and Alistair would do to him. After all, the only thing they could threaten him with was his inheritance. But Luis was another matter and Fox knew it very well. He walked back to where his brother and Teresa were standing.
"Fox, don't forget about tonight. You're taking Sarah to that party."
"How can I forget, Grandfather has been on my case for the past two weeks."
This time Ethan walked away and didn't come back.
"So, who is Sarah?"
"Some Senator's daughter." "And you have to take her tonight to that party?"
He nodded.
"This is the last thing I want to do, but you know how Julian and Alistair are."
"Is she pretty?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure she is nothing compared to you."
She smiled at him, but he could see that there was some worry in her eyes.
"What about I see you after this party, would you like that?"
"I think I would."
"I'll knock on your bedroom window as usual."
She nodded and he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. He got up and she watched him leave.
*********************************
He was in his room getting ready when his door flew open.
"Never heard of knocking?"
"We need to talk Fox."
Fox turned surprised.
"What do you want, Father? You never wanted to talk to me. What's the sudden change of heart?"
"You know exactly what I want to talk to you about."
"Really, I don't. I'm not Miss Cleo, you know."
"I want to talk to you about Teresa. Ethan told me what he witnessed at the gazebo."
"Can't say I'm surprised at him."
"Fox, we talked about this before. Now I can understand that she is your friend..."
"Best friend, Father. Only person who gave my life a certain normalcy. She's the only person I know who doesn't care about what my last name is...."
"She is also the housekeeper's daughter and you cannot go around kissing her." "Father, I'm a man and I can do whatever I want, so please butt out of my personal life."
Julian got angry and raised his voice.
"You are also a Crane and you will do as I say."
"I don't have to listen to this. I'm taking Sarah out tonight and it will be the first and last time."
"Fox, you do realize that I can cut you off completely."
"I know, and I don't think I care about it one bit. I have Teresa, she's more than my best friend. She is the only one I care about and she is the reason I'm in Harmony."
"You are exasperating Foxworth. Your Grandfather and I will never allow you to have any kind of relationship with that girl. You will marry Sarah."
"And end up like you and Mother? No, thanks. I think I had enough of that when I was growing up. I don't need anymore."
"Consider yourself warned Fox."
Julian left the room but not without giving his son a last glance.
"Father, I will never marry Sarah. My heart is elsewhere and always will be."
He finished getting ready and left for the Country Club. All the way there, he kept thinking about Teresa and how their relationship had evolved. He wished she was the one he was going with tonight. He wished he could blow off the entire evening. The car pulled over and he got out.
"Fox, this way."
He looked up and there was Julian standing with a young woman. She was blond with blue eyes.
"Fox, this is Sarah Michaels. Miss Michaels, this is my son Fox."
Sarah gave him her hand and he took it.
"Pleased to meet you Miss Michaels."
"Please, call me Sarah. I was looking forward to this evening and meeting you."
He smiled at her politely.
"Fox, take the young lady inside. Offer her a drink."
Fox started walking away when Julian grabbed his arm.
"Don't screw this up."
The evening was long. Sarah was a beautiful woman, but she was nothing compared to Teresa. He found himself thinking a lot about her.
"What's on you mind, Nicholas?"
"Can we please stick to you calling me Fox?"
"Why is that? You don't like your birth name?"
"There is only one person who calls me that and I would like it if she remained the only one."
"Who is she?"
"It's none of your concern."
"If you want to keep her a secret, that's fine. But I have a lot of ways to make you forget about her."
"I doubt any of them will make forget about her."
He got up.
"Look, the only reason I'm here is because my father and grandfather made me. I have no interest in you whatsoever."
"I'm not beautiful enough for you? Not good enough? What's so special about that girl anyway?"
"She is different. She has everything I want and I've known her forever."
He looked at Sarah and he felt bad for her.
"Look, you are a beautiful woman but I just can't do this. I'm really sorry."
"Can we at least be friends?"
"Sure we can. I was going to the wharf. Care to join me?"
"I would love to."
They walked together there and stood there for a while, then they stopped. She faced him.
"I'm very attracted to you Fox. You must know that."
"But I'm not attracted to you."
She pushed him on the railing and kissed him. He put his hands on her to push her away.
**************************
Teresa saw them. She was standing at the wharf, hoping that Fox would be back from his evening soon. She left him a message to join her there. She wanted to spend time with him. She wanted him to kiss like he did. She looked at the her charm bracelet and smiled.
"Nicholas, if you only knew."
She watched as two people walked to the railing and stopped. She recognized Fox. He was standing there with another woman. She was blond and tall and she was wearing a dark evening dress. She started walking towards them, then stopped. The woman kissed him and Fox put his hands on her shoulders.
"Sarah.."she heard him whisper before his lips were on hers again.
"No, no. I thought, I thought..no, this can't be happening."
She turned her heels and walked as fast as she could. She wasn't walking anymore, she was running, as fast as she could. Running away from him.
She finally arrived at the cottage.
"I can't go in. Mama will ask me questions. I need to calm down and..."
She walked to the lake and sat under a tree. She cried and cried.
**********************************
"What do you think you're doing, Sarah?"
"Trying to see if there's something there, satisfying my curiosity. You know trying to get you turned on so that this evening doesn't have to end so soon."
"I already made it clear that I wasn't interested. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a beautiful lady."
"And how am I supposed to get to my hotel?"
"You have a cell phone, call a cab."
She followed him and spoke to him angrily.
"Your father will know about this."
He looked at her and smiled.
"Am I supposed to care?"
He walked away. He couldn't wait to see Teresa.
***********************************
As usual, he went to her window and looked inside the room but she wasn't there.
"Where could she be?"
He started walking toward the lake and he saw someone sitting under the tree. He recognized the dark hair.
"Teresa?"
She looked up and he saw that she was crying.
"What's wrong?"
He was concerned about her. He had never seen her cry, not even when they were children and she scrapped her knee.
"What do you care, Fox?"
"Are you mad at me?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Because you call me Fox only when you're upset with me."
She looked at him.
"I guess you know me very well. But then, I don't think you know me at all."
"You lost me, Resa. I don't know what you're talking about."
"You don't?"
"No, I don't know what you're talking about."
Tears were pouring down her face. He put his hand on her face but she pulled away from him and got up. She started to walk away.
"Teresa, don't walk away from me, please..let me help you."
"You can't help me because you're the one who caused this."
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
"The wharf. I was on the wharf tonight and I saw you with her, kissing her."
"No, you misunderstood. I never kissed her."
"That's right, you tripped and your lips landed on hers."
"Don't be sarcastic about this."
"And you, take your hands off of me."
She started walking away.
"Teresa, don't do this to me. Don't do this to us."
She started laughing.
"The thing is I believed that there might be something between us. But it was one sided."
"No, don't think that."
"It's a bit too late for this, Fox."
"No, no...you can't put an end to this."
"Don't you see Fox, you can't put an end to something that never took off. You and me never existed."
"No, I don't believe this. Teresa, it was always you and me. I came back to Harmony because of you and no one else. You give meaning to my life."
"No, you lied to me once today, don't do it again."
"I'm not lying to you. I love you. Please, look at me when I talk to you."
"No, I don't want to look at you right now and I wish I could believe you, but I don't."
"I wanted you to marry me."
"Why, so that you can go and kiss other women. Go back to Sarah, she's probably waiting for you in her bed."
"Teresa, I have no reason to stay in Harmony. You are the only thing I have here and if I can't have you then I don't want to stay."
"Go to hell, Fox."
She went inside the cottage and walked to her room. She sat on her bed and turned the music on.
And I wanna believe you, When you tell me that it'll be ok, Ya I try to believe you, But I don't.
When you say that it's gonna be, It always turns out to be a different way, I try to believe you, Not today, today, today, today, today.
She laid in her bed crying and he looked at her from outside her window.
I don't know how I feel, Tomorrow, tomorrow, I don't know what to say, Tomorrow, tomorrow Is a different day
It's always been up to you, It's turning around, It's up to me, I'm gonna do what I have to do, Just do.
Gimme a little time, Leave me alone a little while, Maybe it's not too late, Not today, today, today, today, today
"How could he do this? I thought we were more than that, so much more than that."
I don't know how to feel, Tomorrow, tomorrow, I don't know what to say, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Is a different day.
And I know I'm not ready, Maybe tomorrow
And I wanna believe you, When you tell me that it'll be ok Ya I try to believe you, Not today, today, today, today, today Tomorrow it may change. (Avril Lavigne, Tomorrow)
He kept watching Teresa through her bedroom window. She had fallen asleep, but he knew that tears were still running down her cheeks.
"I am so sorry that for hurting you Teresa. That was the last thing I ever wanted to do to you."
He let his body slide on the wall and sat on the grass and sat there until the sunrise. He got up and looked through the window again, Teresa was still asleep. He walked to the mansion.