CHAPTER 51 Sacrifice

Teresa stood on the balcony of her hotel room. The view was breath taking. Hawaii was like a dream. She remembered how often she and Fox talked about it. She went back in her room and looked for her planner. She picked it up and a couple of pictures fell from it.

"Fox..."

She looked at the picture as tears fell from her eyes. She remembered the day she had gone back to Harmony a long time ago, hoping that they could talk. She was told that he had left and no one knew his whereabouts.

I never asked for this feeling,
I never thought I would fall,
I never knew how I felt,
Till the day you were gone,
I was lost,
I never asked for red roses,
I wasn't looking for love,
Somehow I let my emotions take hold,
And guess what all at once,
I'm in love,

"My God, I have to stop doing this to myself."

She put the pictures back in her planner and opened the news paper sitting on her table. On the second page was an announcement that she read out loud.

"The Crane family is proud to announce the wedding of Nicholas Crane to Jennifer Robinson..."

She dropped the paper and went to her bed where she sat. She heard knocking on the adjoining door. It was probably Dylan. She didn't answer and he came in. He saw the tears, her distorted face.

"What's wrong Teresa?"

"Nothing."

He looked at raising his eyebrows.

"Come on, Teresa. You know you can tell me."

"I...I."

She burst in tears.

"There was a time when I thought Fox really loved me, even if he didn't say it."

Oh I miss you so much,
I long for your love,
It scares me,
Cuz my heart gets so weak,
That I can't even breathe,
How can you take things so easily,
Baby why aren't you missing me?

"Go to him."

"No, Dylan. I can't."

"Why not?"

"He is getting married tomorrow."

He looked at her feeling sorry for her.

"Fox never wanted to end up alone. His family screwed him up so much that he doesn't know what he wants. One thing I know though is that there was never the shred of a doubt in his mind that you're the one he loved and still loves."

She cried even harder at his words.

"It's too late for us."

"No, it's never too late. But if it is, at least go to Harmony and have some closure."

She saw something in his eyes, sadness.

"Dylan...I am so sorry for what I've put you through."

"What do you mean?"

"I know that you have feelings for me and I am so sorry for hurting you."

He had a little smile.

"Don't worry about me. That night in Harmony when I asked you to go to New York with me, I wasn't expecting anything. I just wanted to help you."

"I know but still....."

"Seriously, Teresa. I don't want you to feel bad. I always knew it was Fox you wanted. I know that he is the one in your heart. Does it hurt? Yes, a little. But the bottom line is that I want you to be happy. I really do."

She went to him and hugged him. He hugged her back.

"That's very unselfish of you."

"No, I'm selfish. Deep down I do hope that things will not work out between you and Fox, but I also know that I can't make you love me. I think Fox is a broken man."

He picked up the paper from the table and turned the pages. He showed her the picture of Fox and Jennifer.

"See? This is not the guy I know."

She looked at the photograph and understood what Dylan was saying. Fox looked like he was dead.

She didn't say anything.

"What do you say we pack and leave this hotel. If we want to be in time for the ceremony, then we should go now."

"Ok...Dylan, thank you!"

He smiled and left from where he had some from. In his room, he leaned against his wall and let his body slide along it.

"I guess this is what heart break feels like."

He felt a single tear roll down his cheek.

**************************************

Fox woke up and looked at his clock. Once he married Jennifer tomorrow, his life would be over for good. But he wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction to fall apart.

"I have to be strong. If anything, I'm the one who will make her life miserable. She wants to marry a Crane, then she'll get what's coming to her.

He got up and passed the picture that was sitting on the chimney mantle. He picked it up and looked at it for a few minutes. It was a picture of Teresa that was taken shortly after they met. He put it back down and sighed.

"Life has no meaning for me. If it feels this way to be dead, then I've died a long time ago."

He poured himself some brandy and chugged it down. He knew it was too early to be drinking, but he couldn't help it.

"If only things were different."