Chapter 7
"Theresa? Is that you?" Ethan asked surprise evident in his voice.
"Yes, it is. Is my mother there, I really want to talk to her" Theresa said wanting to get off the phone with Ethan as quickly as possible.
"Oh my God, Theresa where are you? Are you okay, how could you just take off without even saying goodbye? Do you realize-"
"Excuse me Ethan!" Theresa angrily said cutting him off. "Now I called my mom's cell phone to speak to HER. I did not call to speak to you or hear anything that you have to say; where I am is absolutely none of your concern. Now if you don't mind, would you kindly give my mother her cell phone so that I may speak with her?"
Theresa's words cut through Ethan like a knife. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. 'How did things get so bad between us Theresa?' Before Ethan could end his conversation with Theresa, he had to know one thing.
"I'll give the phone to your mother, but I have to know something. Wherever you are, is Fox with you?" Ethan asked, dreading what her answer might be.
"Give my mother the phone Ethan," Theresa said refusing to answer his question. 'He deserves to suffer the same way that I have' she thought.
Seeing that Theresa wasn't going to answer him, Ethan went in search of Pilar in the mansion. He found her in Theresa's room packing up the rest of her clothing.
"Pilar," Ethan started, not sure how Pilar would react to seeing him again. "I know you don't want to see me, but Theresa's on the phone," he said handing her the cell phone. Pilar was about to yell at Ethan again, but at the sound of Theresa's name, she quickly grabbed the phone.
"Hello? Theresita?"
"Yes mama, it's me. I've missed you so much," Theresa said.
"Oh, Theresita, I've missed you too. How could you just leave without allowing me to say goodbye? Do you have any idea how worried I've been about you?"
"I'm sorry mama, but I knew that if I told you that I was leaving, you would try to talk me out of it. But I'm okay mama, I'm at a hotel now and I'll be going back on the road soon."
"Good, that good," Pilar said relieved that Theresa was safe. "Theresita, Phyllis noticed that most of Fox's belongings were missing. Is he with you by any chance?" Ethan's ears perk at Pilar's question, knowing that Theresa wouldn't lie to her mother. 'Maybe now I'll find out about Theresa and her whereabouts' he thought.
"Yes mama, Fox is with me, so is Charity."
"Charity? What is she doing with you, and where are you exactly?"
"Why Charity is here is a very long story, but bottom line is that she's basically running from Miguel like I am from Ethan, except she seems to be doing better than me," Theresa said sadly. "But that doesn't matter. Now about where we are and where we're going, I'd tell you but I'd bet anything that Ethan is right there eavesdropping on our conversation," she added.
Pilar turned her head and sure enough, Ethan was by the door, pretending not to care about their conversation. She turned back around and responded to Theresa.
"You're right. All right then, as long as you're safe, I'll let it drop. You better tell Fox that if anything happens to you, I'll come after him and I'll show no mercy."
Theresa laughed at her mother's threat before replying. "Okay mama, I'll tell him. I've got to go though. He'll be back with breakfast soon and then we'll be going back on the road."
"Okay," Pilar replied sadly, not wanting to get off the phone with her daughter. "Promise me you'll call again soon," she said.
"I'll try. Tell Luis, Antonio, and Miguel that I said 'hi' okay? I love you mama, Bye."
"I love you too Theresita. I'll talk to you later. Bye." Pilar said before clicking off her cell phone. She turned back around and saw that Ethan was standing there obviously trying to say something, but not knowing how to say it.
"So Theresa's with Fox," he said.
"Yes, and Charity, not that it's any of your business," Pilar said harshly. She turned back around and picked up the suitcases that she had just finished packing. "Goodbye Ethan," she said as she walked past him out of Theresa's room and the Crane mansion.
Ethan stood there looking around the room that had once belonged to the love of his life but was now empty and bare. 'Just like my life' he thought. With one last look, he left Theresa's room and headed to his room where Gwen was laying down reading a magazine.
"Oh, Ethan," Gwen said as she saw him walk into their room. "I thought you had already left for work, what are you doing here?"
"I was about to leave when Theresa called on Pilar's phone," Ethan answered.
'Of course, It's always Theresa, even when she's not here, she still manages to control Ethan' Putting on a fake smile, Gwen replied to Ethan.
"Well I'm sure Pilar was really happy to hear from Theresa. I personally don't know why anyone would be happy to even associate themselves with her, let alone talk to her," Gwen added with malice in her voice.
"Please don't start Gwen. Theresa isn't the complete monster that you make her out to be, so please stop insulting her like that," Ethan said coming to Theresa's defense.
"And there you go again!" Gwen yelled getting out of bed and coming to stand in front of Ethan. "Why are you always so quick to defend her, especially after how much she's tried to tear us apart? I'm your wife, not Theresa! I am the one carrying your child, not her and as far as I'm concerned, Theresa deserves to be called every bad name known to mankind!"
"That may be your opinion Gwen, but it's not mine!" Ethan yelled getting in Gwen's face. He had just found out that his half-brother, the one person he hated more than anything in the world, was on some road trip with the love of his life, never to return again, the last thing he wanted was to deal with was Gwen when she was in one of her moods. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go to work," he said as he walked around Gwen and stormed out of the room.
Gwen turned around and stared at the door that Ethan had just slammed. 'Congratulations Theresa, you won again' she thought as she went back to bed.
Meanwhile.
"So, how'd it go?" Charity asked after Theresa had hung up the phone.
"Not too good, Ethan answered the phone," Theresa said. Charity noticed the pain in Theresa's eye and quickly walked over to Theresa and put her arms around her.
"What did he say? Did he insult you again, because if he did I swear I'll get Fox and make him drive me back there so I can-"
"Charity, relax," Theresa said seeing Charity getting riled up and coming to her defense. "I swear you and Fox are so much alike when it comes to Ethan and I, and you don't even know Ethan," she added.
Charity laughed at Theresa's comment and said, "Well I may not know Ethan, but I know you and I know how much he's hurt you, and that's all that matters. Now, back to the phone call what happened?"
Theresa sighed as she remember he brief conversation with Ethan. "Oh, you know, same old, same old," Theresa said as got up and started pacing. "God Charity, when I heard his voice earlier, it just brought back all my feelings for him. I tried to be strong and make him believe that I was extremely angry with him, which I think I did, but I didn't feel as strong as I sounded. Just hearing his voice made me long to be in his arms again. I just don't know what to do! I'm still mad at him for what he said to me, but I'm also hurt and I can't decide if I should stay mad or hurt. It's just so confusing! Not to mention that he's married to a woman who wouldn't give me water if I were on fire.then again, I would probably do the same thing to her. " At the sound of Charity's chuckle at her last statement, Theresa stopped pacing and turned to Charity. "How did you do it Charity? We've haven't even been gone for a week and you're already getting yourself back on track. You've barely mentioned Miguel, and it doesn't even look like you've spent more than five minutes thinking about him. But look at me! It seems like I can't go ten minutes without thinking about Ethan, and every time I do, all I do is cry and long for him, even after what he did to me. I just don't know what to do or how to feel!" Theresa finally ended before falling to the floor and breaking down in tears.
Charity ran over to Theresa and grabbed her in a hug. She continued to let Theresa cry, hoping that this would take away her pain. After a few minutes of crying, Theresa finally calmed down enough to speak again.
"God, I'm so sorry. You probably think I'm such a love sick fool," Theresa said wiping her eyes.
"No, of course I don't. You just needed to let out all of the feelings that were bottled up inside of you. I did the same thing, and after I did, I felt much better."
"Thanks, all that crying did help," Theresa said as she rose from the floor with Charity.
"So do know what you want to do now?" Charity asked.
"Yes," Theresa said with a sigh. She walked over to the window and looked outside as she responded to Charity. "I can't be with Ethan, Charity. He's married and not only that, but he's confused. I've told myself that Ethan loves me and that he wants to be with me, but I was so wrong. How could I know what Ethan wants, when he doesn't even know what he wants? As long as I hold on to Ethan, I'll never be able to live my life and then this entire trip will be pointless. So I'm letting go now and I'm moving on with my life. Who knows, maybe I'll find a better love in the future."
"Yeah, maybe sooner than you think," Charity hinted.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Theresa asked wondering what Charity was trying to suggest.
"It means that you have a perfect guy right next to you ready to be with you at any given second. These things don't happen all the time, go for it."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Fox and I are just friends, that's all we'll ever be," Theresa said.
"Fine, prolong the inevitable. It's going to happen eventually, but hey, if you want to waste valuable time living in denial, be my guest. Just know that I'm not a very patient person and if you and Fox don't get together soon, I'll be forced to take matters into my own hands," Charity said as hugged Theresa and walked back into the living room after hearing Fox open the front door.
'Could Fox actually have feelings for me?' Theresa pondered. 'Maybe Charity's right, maybe Fox and I could be together. But what if she's wrong? What if I put myself out there again and he rejects me like Ethan did. No, no I won't go through that again. I'll just wait for Fox to make the first move, and if he doesn't then that just means that Charity was wrong and we'll just continue to be friends. Yeah, that's what I'll do' Theresa decided as she fixed herself up and walked back into the living room where Fox and Charity were already eating breakfast.
TBC
Next Chapter - Theresa, Fox, and Charity arrive in California, who do they meet?
"Theresa? Is that you?" Ethan asked surprise evident in his voice.
"Yes, it is. Is my mother there, I really want to talk to her" Theresa said wanting to get off the phone with Ethan as quickly as possible.
"Oh my God, Theresa where are you? Are you okay, how could you just take off without even saying goodbye? Do you realize-"
"Excuse me Ethan!" Theresa angrily said cutting him off. "Now I called my mom's cell phone to speak to HER. I did not call to speak to you or hear anything that you have to say; where I am is absolutely none of your concern. Now if you don't mind, would you kindly give my mother her cell phone so that I may speak with her?"
Theresa's words cut through Ethan like a knife. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. 'How did things get so bad between us Theresa?' Before Ethan could end his conversation with Theresa, he had to know one thing.
"I'll give the phone to your mother, but I have to know something. Wherever you are, is Fox with you?" Ethan asked, dreading what her answer might be.
"Give my mother the phone Ethan," Theresa said refusing to answer his question. 'He deserves to suffer the same way that I have' she thought.
Seeing that Theresa wasn't going to answer him, Ethan went in search of Pilar in the mansion. He found her in Theresa's room packing up the rest of her clothing.
"Pilar," Ethan started, not sure how Pilar would react to seeing him again. "I know you don't want to see me, but Theresa's on the phone," he said handing her the cell phone. Pilar was about to yell at Ethan again, but at the sound of Theresa's name, she quickly grabbed the phone.
"Hello? Theresita?"
"Yes mama, it's me. I've missed you so much," Theresa said.
"Oh, Theresita, I've missed you too. How could you just leave without allowing me to say goodbye? Do you have any idea how worried I've been about you?"
"I'm sorry mama, but I knew that if I told you that I was leaving, you would try to talk me out of it. But I'm okay mama, I'm at a hotel now and I'll be going back on the road soon."
"Good, that good," Pilar said relieved that Theresa was safe. "Theresita, Phyllis noticed that most of Fox's belongings were missing. Is he with you by any chance?" Ethan's ears perk at Pilar's question, knowing that Theresa wouldn't lie to her mother. 'Maybe now I'll find out about Theresa and her whereabouts' he thought.
"Yes mama, Fox is with me, so is Charity."
"Charity? What is she doing with you, and where are you exactly?"
"Why Charity is here is a very long story, but bottom line is that she's basically running from Miguel like I am from Ethan, except she seems to be doing better than me," Theresa said sadly. "But that doesn't matter. Now about where we are and where we're going, I'd tell you but I'd bet anything that Ethan is right there eavesdropping on our conversation," she added.
Pilar turned her head and sure enough, Ethan was by the door, pretending not to care about their conversation. She turned back around and responded to Theresa.
"You're right. All right then, as long as you're safe, I'll let it drop. You better tell Fox that if anything happens to you, I'll come after him and I'll show no mercy."
Theresa laughed at her mother's threat before replying. "Okay mama, I'll tell him. I've got to go though. He'll be back with breakfast soon and then we'll be going back on the road."
"Okay," Pilar replied sadly, not wanting to get off the phone with her daughter. "Promise me you'll call again soon," she said.
"I'll try. Tell Luis, Antonio, and Miguel that I said 'hi' okay? I love you mama, Bye."
"I love you too Theresita. I'll talk to you later. Bye." Pilar said before clicking off her cell phone. She turned back around and saw that Ethan was standing there obviously trying to say something, but not knowing how to say it.
"So Theresa's with Fox," he said.
"Yes, and Charity, not that it's any of your business," Pilar said harshly. She turned back around and picked up the suitcases that she had just finished packing. "Goodbye Ethan," she said as she walked past him out of Theresa's room and the Crane mansion.
Ethan stood there looking around the room that had once belonged to the love of his life but was now empty and bare. 'Just like my life' he thought. With one last look, he left Theresa's room and headed to his room where Gwen was laying down reading a magazine.
"Oh, Ethan," Gwen said as she saw him walk into their room. "I thought you had already left for work, what are you doing here?"
"I was about to leave when Theresa called on Pilar's phone," Ethan answered.
'Of course, It's always Theresa, even when she's not here, she still manages to control Ethan' Putting on a fake smile, Gwen replied to Ethan.
"Well I'm sure Pilar was really happy to hear from Theresa. I personally don't know why anyone would be happy to even associate themselves with her, let alone talk to her," Gwen added with malice in her voice.
"Please don't start Gwen. Theresa isn't the complete monster that you make her out to be, so please stop insulting her like that," Ethan said coming to Theresa's defense.
"And there you go again!" Gwen yelled getting out of bed and coming to stand in front of Ethan. "Why are you always so quick to defend her, especially after how much she's tried to tear us apart? I'm your wife, not Theresa! I am the one carrying your child, not her and as far as I'm concerned, Theresa deserves to be called every bad name known to mankind!"
"That may be your opinion Gwen, but it's not mine!" Ethan yelled getting in Gwen's face. He had just found out that his half-brother, the one person he hated more than anything in the world, was on some road trip with the love of his life, never to return again, the last thing he wanted was to deal with was Gwen when she was in one of her moods. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go to work," he said as he walked around Gwen and stormed out of the room.
Gwen turned around and stared at the door that Ethan had just slammed. 'Congratulations Theresa, you won again' she thought as she went back to bed.
Meanwhile.
"So, how'd it go?" Charity asked after Theresa had hung up the phone.
"Not too good, Ethan answered the phone," Theresa said. Charity noticed the pain in Theresa's eye and quickly walked over to Theresa and put her arms around her.
"What did he say? Did he insult you again, because if he did I swear I'll get Fox and make him drive me back there so I can-"
"Charity, relax," Theresa said seeing Charity getting riled up and coming to her defense. "I swear you and Fox are so much alike when it comes to Ethan and I, and you don't even know Ethan," she added.
Charity laughed at Theresa's comment and said, "Well I may not know Ethan, but I know you and I know how much he's hurt you, and that's all that matters. Now, back to the phone call what happened?"
Theresa sighed as she remember he brief conversation with Ethan. "Oh, you know, same old, same old," Theresa said as got up and started pacing. "God Charity, when I heard his voice earlier, it just brought back all my feelings for him. I tried to be strong and make him believe that I was extremely angry with him, which I think I did, but I didn't feel as strong as I sounded. Just hearing his voice made me long to be in his arms again. I just don't know what to do! I'm still mad at him for what he said to me, but I'm also hurt and I can't decide if I should stay mad or hurt. It's just so confusing! Not to mention that he's married to a woman who wouldn't give me water if I were on fire.then again, I would probably do the same thing to her. " At the sound of Charity's chuckle at her last statement, Theresa stopped pacing and turned to Charity. "How did you do it Charity? We've haven't even been gone for a week and you're already getting yourself back on track. You've barely mentioned Miguel, and it doesn't even look like you've spent more than five minutes thinking about him. But look at me! It seems like I can't go ten minutes without thinking about Ethan, and every time I do, all I do is cry and long for him, even after what he did to me. I just don't know what to do or how to feel!" Theresa finally ended before falling to the floor and breaking down in tears.
Charity ran over to Theresa and grabbed her in a hug. She continued to let Theresa cry, hoping that this would take away her pain. After a few minutes of crying, Theresa finally calmed down enough to speak again.
"God, I'm so sorry. You probably think I'm such a love sick fool," Theresa said wiping her eyes.
"No, of course I don't. You just needed to let out all of the feelings that were bottled up inside of you. I did the same thing, and after I did, I felt much better."
"Thanks, all that crying did help," Theresa said as she rose from the floor with Charity.
"So do know what you want to do now?" Charity asked.
"Yes," Theresa said with a sigh. She walked over to the window and looked outside as she responded to Charity. "I can't be with Ethan, Charity. He's married and not only that, but he's confused. I've told myself that Ethan loves me and that he wants to be with me, but I was so wrong. How could I know what Ethan wants, when he doesn't even know what he wants? As long as I hold on to Ethan, I'll never be able to live my life and then this entire trip will be pointless. So I'm letting go now and I'm moving on with my life. Who knows, maybe I'll find a better love in the future."
"Yeah, maybe sooner than you think," Charity hinted.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Theresa asked wondering what Charity was trying to suggest.
"It means that you have a perfect guy right next to you ready to be with you at any given second. These things don't happen all the time, go for it."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Fox and I are just friends, that's all we'll ever be," Theresa said.
"Fine, prolong the inevitable. It's going to happen eventually, but hey, if you want to waste valuable time living in denial, be my guest. Just know that I'm not a very patient person and if you and Fox don't get together soon, I'll be forced to take matters into my own hands," Charity said as hugged Theresa and walked back into the living room after hearing Fox open the front door.
'Could Fox actually have feelings for me?' Theresa pondered. 'Maybe Charity's right, maybe Fox and I could be together. But what if she's wrong? What if I put myself out there again and he rejects me like Ethan did. No, no I won't go through that again. I'll just wait for Fox to make the first move, and if he doesn't then that just means that Charity was wrong and we'll just continue to be friends. Yeah, that's what I'll do' Theresa decided as she fixed herself up and walked back into the living room where Fox and Charity were already eating breakfast.
TBC
Next Chapter - Theresa, Fox, and Charity arrive in California, who do they meet?