CHAPTER 9 Promises

"Teresa, wait up!"

"I can't, Ethan is waiting for me. You know we are getting married!"

Fox looked at Teresa feeling sadness wash over his heart. He had lost her.

"So this is it for us Teresa?"

She smiled at him with one of those smiles that was so proper to her, one of those smiles that always set his heart on fire.

He reached for her to take her hand, but she moved away from him.

"What about our friendship, Teresa?"

Once again she looked at him and smiled. He felt her touch upon her face.

"I have Ethan now. He's all I ever wanted."

Fox looked at Teresa as she walked away from him. He went after her and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Teresa, I'm begging you. Don't turn your back on me. Don't turn your back on what we have."

"We have nothing Fox."

Fox looked at her astonished by her answer.

"That's not true. Don't tell me you never felt anything when I held you in my arms. Don't tell me that I didn't matter to you."

"I have to go, Ethan is waiting for me."

She disappeared into the night. He screamed her name into the darkness.

"Teresa, Teresa..please, don't go."

Fox woke up startled by the nightmare he just had.

"I can't let this happen. I can't let her walk out of my life like that."

He got out of bed, put his robe on and walked to Teresa's room. He pushed the door slowly. To his shock, her bed was empty. She hadn't even slept in it. He felt panic wash over him like a wave. She was gone just like in his nightmare. Her son's crib was empty as well.

He roamed the mansion's hallways looking for her, then he decided to go outside to the gazebo to relax. He was too nervous to go back to bed.

*****

Teresa had never had such a bad night in her life. She had fallen asleep in the living room when she woke up startled by a nightmare.

She was standing in the night with Fox and he had started to fade away.

*****

"Fox! Come back, please."

She was reaching out to him with her hand but he wasn't taking it. Instead, she saw a sad smile come across his face.

"You have Ethan now, you don't need me."

"But I do."

He shook his head as he faded away.

"No, you don't."

"Please, Fox. Don't abandon me. I am begging you, please come back to me.please come back. I need you."

His voice had echoed in the dark.

"No, you don't. Be happy, Teresa."

She had screamed and screamed his name over and over.

"How can I be happy if you're not a part of my life, Fox? How can I go on if I don't have you by my side."

She was on her knees crying like she had never cried before. She woke up from her sleep with a jump. Tears were running down her cheeks.

"What just happened?"

She put on her robe and went upstairs to check on her son who was spending the night at the nursery. She walked by Fox's room. She opened his door and saw that he was sleeping. He was agitated. She put her hand on his face and caressed it gently, feeling his bone structure. It seemed to calm him down a little. She got up and as she was about to leave, she looked over her shoulder again.

She made her way downstairs and her steps led her to the gazebo where she sat on the little bench. She started at the sky thinking about her dream. She wished she could remember why she felt that way. She knew that she wouldn't have much sleep tonight.

*****

Fox walked in the gardens before he arrived at the gazebo. He looked at the dark haired woman who was sitting there. She was still there. Teresa wasn't gone after all.

"Teresa?"

She turned around and looked at him. A genuine smile came upon their lips as he sat next to her.

"What's wrong?"

"I just couldn't sleep, that's all."

"What about you, Fox?"

"Same here. Nightmares."

"I think I know something about that."

They both fell silent for a moment while they stared at the clear night sky. Stars were lighting up one after the other.

"Did you ever wish upon a star, Fox?"

"No, never."

"Maybe you should, your dream might come true."

He had a smile.

"I don't know about that. I don't believe in fairy tales like you do Teresa."

"Dreams do come true you know."

"Mine don't."

She took his hand in hers.

"Close your eyes."

He was looking at her.

"Come on, Fox..close your eyes."

He closed them as she looked on.

"Now make a wish."

He kept his eyes closed for a couple of minutes then opened them and smiled as he saw her gaze upon him.

"What did you wish for?"

"Now, now Teresa. Why would you ask such a question when you know that I can't tell you."

She looked up at the sky again.

"Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?"

He turned his head toward her and smiled.

"Yes, I have and she is sitting right beside me. Every time I look at you, I see those stars in your eyes."

Teresa blushed at his remark.

"Promise me something, Teresa."

"Anything."

She let go of his hand and laid down on the cool grass. He followed her and laid next to her.

"Promise me that no matter what happens, you will always be a part of my life."

She moved closer to him and put her head on his chest.

"I always want you to be a part of my life, Fox. I never want to lose you."

He took her hand in his and their fingers intertwined.

"You turned my life upside down Teresa."

She giggled.

"I have that effect on a lot of people. Now your turn to make me a promise."

"Anything for you."

"No matter what happens, I always want you to remember all the moments we shared together. Keep me close to your heart."

"Always, Teresa.always, no matter what."

They both remained in each other's arms talking until the crack of dawn.