Chapter 3
Ethan had been standing in the background watching each day as Theresa and Fox grew closer together. He couldn't deny that he had feelings for Theresa. That he still loved her, but obligation kept him with Gwen. She was pregnant, about to have his baby, his first child. He couldn't abandon her even if it meant loosing Theresa for good. He had to do what was right.
*Besides I know that she loves me* Ethan thought *we'll be together again one day, when my child is old enough to understand. But will she still be around? *
Theresa sat across the table from Ethan. He looked deep in thought. Theresa pondered over thoughts of her own, about Ethan mostly. She had noticed that ever since he and Gwen had come back he had been eyeing her weirdly. He looked disturbed about something, like he desperately needed to talk to her but she wasn't sure. It seemed strange to Theresa that every time she would look at him he would be deep in thought about something. Something that tormented him. It hurt her to see him that way. She wanted to reach over and kiss his pain away.
*But he's not mine anymore* she thought to herself *He married Gwen I have no right to touch him, he made his choice, he wanted it this way. *
Theresa was surprised to find that she didn't force herself to think Ethan still loved her. She was starting to face reality.
Both were pulled out of their thoughts when they heard a chair scrapping against the floor.
"Good morning step-mommy."
It was fox and this didn't please Ethan one bit. Theresa leaned over and gave a quick kiss to Fox on the cheek.
*She's just doing this to make me jealous, besides she still loves me. I know she does! * Ethan thought to himself.
As breakfast progressed the other occupants of the mansion made their way downstairs. Gwen excused herself from the table along with Ethan.
"Come on we'll be late Ethan.," she said.
"Of course." he replied.
"Gwenie dear, where are you going?" Rebecca's voice was heard for the first time this morning since she had come downstairs.
"Oh, mother, didn't I tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Ethan and I have our first sonogram appointment! Isn't it exciting! I'm going to see my baby for the first time inside of me!" Gwen said looking icily at Theresa.
Everyone at the table congratulated Ethan and Gwen except for Fox and Theresa.
"Aren't you two going to congratulate us?" Gwen asked looking their direction.
"Why don't you stop rubbing this in Theresa's face Gwen! As far as I'm concerned about you baby let's hope he turns out looking like Ethan, as much as I hate Ethan we can all say that you have no good looks and we wouldn't want the baby looking like you." Fox said.
Theresa held back her laughter.
"How dare you talk to my Gwenie like that!!" Rebecca shrieked reaching over to slap Fox.
"Please Rebecca don't ever attempt that again. Besides you know it's true."
"Gwen let's go before were late." Ethan said trying to break the tension in the room.
"Fine." Gwen said before giving Theresa and Fox disgusted looks.
So Ethan and Gwen went on their way. A while later after they had left Theresa excused herself from the table saying that she had to go spend time with her family. As she got up Theresa gave Fox another quick kiss on the cheek.
"Oh please don't tell me you're now running after Fox!" Rebecca said. "What a tramp you are!"
"Theresa we don't need to see you drool over Fox like you did with Ethan." Julian bellowed.
"Please both of you should be the last ones to talk. First of all I'm not drooling over Fox. Second of all you two are the ones that should be ashamed. Especially you Julian. Running around with that whore Rebecca! I can't believe you sleep with your mistress right under my nose, in my house!" Theresa yelled at them.
When she turned once more toward Fox to say goodbye she could see the amusement on his face and she winked at him.
"See ya later.," she said and she was off.
As Theresa drove on her way to her house she found herself thinking of the joy Ethan and Gwen would be feeling at this time. She couldn't help but feel her heart break.
*Soon the baby will be born and Ethan will forget all about me. * Theresa thought as the tears streamed down her face. Theresa opened the window and let the air calm her down. When she arrived at home Theresa wiped her face from any remaining tears and opened the door.
"Mama, I'm home!" she yelled.
"Theresita, how are you?" Pilar said as she came down the stairs.
"I'm great mama, how are you?"
"I'm ok. I just wish that my family would all be under the same roof again and that this secret that Luis and Sheridan are keeping from Antonio would just come out. I'm afraid that the longer they keep it secret the worse it will be when Antonio finds out. It could destroy him, he could die. Then I wouldn't be able to forgive your brother or Sheridan for that. For taking my son away so soon after he came home."
"Mama, please don't say that. Everything will turn out fine. I promise." Theresa tried to comfort her mother.
After everyone had gathered around the table they said prayer and began to eat. It wasn't like old times. There was so much more difference. Theresa could see it. The tension between Luis and her mother, the sadness in Miguel's eyes and Antonio was completely oblivious to all that was going on around him. Theresa felt sad that her family had come to this. When supper was over Theresa went to Whitney house. It was 9:45 pm and they had just finished watching a movie when Whitney noticed that Theresa had been distant for the whole time that she had been there.
"Theresa, honey, what's wrong?" Whitney asked with concern.
"Whit, I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I'm stuck. You know? I can't move on because what if I do and the Ethan is ready to come back to me? How am I supposed to drop everything I have, just to be with him? But then what if I don't move on and I miss out on my life? Most of all what if I don't move on and he never comes back to me?" Theresa voiced her thoughts to Whitney.
"Theresa, honey, there's nothing I can say that will make any decision easier on you but just know that following your heart just the best way."
After a while longer of talking to Whitney Theresa headed home.
It was 10:15 when Theresa entered her room to find Ethan sitting on her bed.
"E-Ethan, what are you doing here?" Theresa asked clearly confused and shocked.
" I need to talk to you Theresa."
"About what?"
"About us."
"Us, there is no us." Theresa couldn't believe she was saying this. As soon as she saw the hurt on Ethan's face she added, "You said it yourself."
"I know and I regret it now."
"Ethan, please what do you want?"
"I want to be with you, Theresa."
Theresa couldn't believe it, this is what she had always wanted, Ethan, standing right in front of her,
"Really?"
"Yes" Theresa felt overjoyed but it was quickly overcast with doubt.
"Wait, Ethan you're married. What about Gwen? And your baby?"
"Well that's the hard part. We could keep it secret until my baby's old enough to understand."
It took a while to sink in but when it did Theresa knew what this all meant.
"You want me to be your mistress??!!"
"No, see, it wouldn't be like that, because I love you."
" I can't believe you, Ethan you disgust me. I can't believe you would lower me to the status of a mistress.
Theresa felt tears streaming down her face.
"Theresa, I love you. Besides isn't this what you always wanted."
Theresa felt a momentary temptation to give in but the stood strong.
"NO not like this. Please get out Ethan."
"Theresa, please" Ethan said as he pulled her into a kiss.
"No."
As Ethan walked out the door Theresa felt her dreams and her world shatter around her once more. She threw herself on her bed a cried herself to sleep.