CHAPTER 6 I Won't Tell

Paloma was still in her bed and she could hear the commotion in the house. She thought about leaving her room but decided against it when she heard male voices coming from the hallway. She turned around and looked at the time.

"9 am. People don't understand that Saturday is made for sleeping? Damn it!"

She left the warmth and coziness of her bed.

"Stupid people can't understand that some of us JUST CAME BACK FROM EUROPE AND ARE TIRED."

She was shouting at the top of lungs. She had the feeling she knew what all the noise and commotion were all about. She walked out of her bedroom and went straight to the kitchen where people stared at her. She remembered she was still wearing her pajama.

"What? I just woke up. Give me the time to get myself together, then I'll get changed."

"We heard you shouting from your room."

"Sorry about that. It's just frustrating that I can't get any sleep in this house."

"If you're not happy, you can always take the first flight back to wherever you came from."

"Well Ethan, my head is telling me to ignore you, but my fist is telling me to punch that pretty nose of yours in."

Fox started laughing.

"Shut up, Fox."

"No, Prince Ethan. She is right. Stop throwing your weight around. This is not your house."

"Fox, you are nothing but a pain. Go back to Europe."

"If I go back to Europe, no one will make your life miserable."

"Don't worry about that Fox, I got it handled."

Paloma winked at Fox as she said that. He smiled at her.

"I think we heard enough out of you. So if you can put your differences aside and out your energy into trying to find Teresa."

"Teresa? Where is she?"

"Well she didn't come home last night. Whitney hasn't seen her or heard from her. I'm worried she might have done something to herself."

"She would never do anything Luis. She isn't like that."

"I don't know what to think Paloma."

"Fox is the one who went after her."

"I already told you what she said. She wanted to be alone. Are certain that she didn't come home last night?"

"Paloma was the first one here and she said that Teresa was a no show."

She pointed at Fox.

"She trusts him, she might have told him."

Luis was looking at him menacingly.

"If you know where she is tell me now. It's no time to protect her. Teresa does things without thinking."

Fox looked at Paloma, angry.

"You know damn well I don't know. And I'm worried about her too."

He left the kitchen slamming the door behind him.

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Paloma walked home alone when she left the Crane mansion. She was still crying from watching her sister give up her son. She never thought she would feel this heart broken, but she did. She walked inside the house and saw the light under Teresa's door. She knocked and opened it.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm leaving Harmony."

"What? You can't leave Harmony."

"I have to Paloma. I can't stay here knowing that I can never be with my son....."

"And Ethan?"

"No, it has nothing to do with him."

She was throwing things in her suitcase.

"Teresa, you're not thinking straight. What about your son?"

"I can't have him, I can't see him, I can't hold him, I can't tuck him in at night or celebrate his birthday with him. I can't stay here."

"Do you at least know where you're going."

"Yes."

"Where to?"

"I'm not saying."

"Teresa, remember when we were kids. I used to tell you everything and so did you. You trusted me then, why won't you trust me now?"

"I do, but if I tell you you're probably going to feel obligated to tell them."

"You're not planning on telling anyone?"

"Maybe Fox."

"Why Fox?"

"Because I trust him and because he promised to look after my son."

"What's going on between you two anyway?"

"Nothing. I found him in a time of my life when I was lonely and lost. He didn't judge me on anything I ever said or done. And unlike Ethan, Fox knows me and accepts me the way I am. I don't have to be perfect when I'm around him."

Teresa closed her suitcase.

"It's time for me to go, before anyone else comes back."

"Teresa, I know you're upset right now, but you have to think about this."

"I've already thought about it."

"Tell me where you're going at least."

"The West Coast."

"Los Angeles?"

Teresa nodded. She was crying. Paloma got up and hugged her sister.

"Your secret is safe with me, Teresa."

"I will send an e-mail or a letter to let everyone know I'm fine."

Paloma stood at the door and watched Teresa get in a taxi.

"Teresa, I hope you know what you're doing."

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Paloma was looking for bread in the refrigerator. She was feeling that all eyes were on her. She tried to put on a straight face. This one is for you Teresa, she thought.

"What part of I don't know don't you people get? You seriously think that if I had a clue where she was I wouldn't tell you."

"No, we didn't say that..."

"Ethan, if I were you I wouldn't open my mouth at all. You've caused enough trouble for Teresa. Stop trying to suck her in again. She isn't your problem anymore."

"Paloma, what's wrong with you?"

"Leave me the hell alone Luis. I cannot believe you still talk to him after all the horrible things he did to our sister."

"Paloma!"

"Oh, shut up Antonio. You were never part of my life, so back off."

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You're unbelievable Luis. You're the cop for Christ sake. Is this how you do your job? Ask someone 100 times if they know something?"

Luis just stood there, gawking at her.

"Oh my God, Luis. Go look for her!"

She turned to the other men standing there.

"See, you won't find her faster if you're all standing around a pot of coffee."

She pushed the kitchen door and got out. She stood there trying to catch what they were saying, but nothing. She went in her room and got changed. She walked through the kitchen to leave. To her surprise, everyone was still standing. She looked at them.

"You people are unbelievable!"