Chapter 13
Who was that woman? Theresa thought jealously. Why the hell was she in his arms? Why was she in his bedroom?
She went into her room and locked the door. Breathing heavily she sat on her bed and tried to collect her thoughts. Little Ethan's fussing caught her attention.
"Oh baby, Shhh." She said soothingly. "It's okay. Mama's here now." Little Ethan quieted. He sighed in her arms.
Theresa felt thankful for the distraction. She rocked her baby son to sleep while singing softly. "Hush little baby don't you cry."She walked over to the baby's crib. Humming, she slowly laid her sleeping son down. She watched him and stroked his blond hair out of his eyes.
Theresa turned and looked about the room. "Better get back to packing," she said softly. Theresa quietly put her things in boxes and suitcases. She tried hard not to think of the beautiful woman that was with Fox. It deeply troubled her. "Just concentrate on packing" she told herself. However, Theresa couldn't concentrate. Damn that woman whoever she is, she thought spitefully. Then Theresa stopped. "Why am I acting like this?" she said aloud. "Why am I so jealous?" She laughed at herself softly. "Why should I make a big deal? Besides, Fox is just one guy. I can always find another if I wanted to." But you don't want to find another one. Something inside said to Theresa. You want Fox.
Ethan made his way up the stairs to find his wife. She's probably pissed at me again, he thought miserably. "Better think of a new way to apologize." He mumbled.
He walked slowly dreading the fury that his wife would throw at him. As he walked down the hallway of the Crane mansion, he passed Fox's room. He glanced in out of curiosity. What he saw immediately made his anger start to boil again.
Ethan cleared his throat loudly. "Hi, Fox. Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" He said icily.
Just great. Fox thought to himself. "Ethan, this is Audrey. An old friend of mine."
Ethan shook hands stiffly. Audrey tried to be amiable and gave him a big smile. "It's nice to meet you."
"Same here." Ethan mumbled. "Fox, I thought you had plans." Ethan hinted. He was trying to subtly point out the date his step-brother had asked Theresa on.
"Oh you had plans?" asked a disappointed Audrey. "I was hoping that we could spend the rest of the day together. You know- catch up."
"Um, well- I kind of made plans already. I had no idea that you were coming."
"You just arrived? From where? " Ethan asked Audrey.
"Paris. I thought it would be a nice surprise for Fox to see me again." She smiled at Fox and linked her arm through his.
Fox shifted uncomfortably. He knew Ethan wanted to say something about Theresa.
"Oh how nice." Ethan feigned interest.
"Fox, couldn't you cancel your plans for tonight and spend some time with me? Besides, I wouldn't have anywhere else to go. I'm not from around here. I just wanted to see you."
"Didn't you book a hotel room?" Ethan asked.
Fox glared at his brother.
"No- not yet. I assumed that I could do that later since I expected that Fox would spend the day with me. Ya know- showing me around town and stuff."
"Well, I'll I leave you two to figure that out. There's someone I need to talk to right now." Ethan walked away.
"I'll be right back," Fox told Audrey.
"All right." Audrey said. She sat down on Fox's bed.
"Ethan wait!" Fox called.
Ethan turned around. "What the hell do you want?"
"Who exactly are you going to talk to?" Fox asked suspiciously.
"Why Fox?"
"I just want to know."
"Well that's none of your damn business. Now if you'll excuse me" Ethan began to walk away.
"Wait-" Fox said.
"What?" Ethan asked irritably.
"I-" Fox was interrupted by the sound of Julian's laughter.
"What the hell?" They asked in unison. The two men stood and watched as Julian made his appearance in the hall. He was laughing hysterically. Tears welled in his eyes. Another man was with him laughing as well.
"Is that you Bruce? Julian? What is wrong with you?" asked Ethan.
"Yeah- what's so funny?" added Fox.
"You'll find out." Julian managed to gasp between laughs. "If you want to know, follow us."
"Who's that Bruce fellow?" Fox asked Ethan.
"You'll see." Ethan answered.
Julian bounded down the hall followed by Bruce, Ethan, and Fox. Julian stopped in front of Theresa's door still laughing.
Theresa opened her door angrily. "Julian, what the hell is wrong with you?" She hissed. "Little Ethan was sleeping until you rudely woke him up with your inane laughter."
"Theresa dear- I have something funny to tell you."
"What?" Theresa said impatiently crossing her arms.
"You're not my wife?" Julian whispered gleefully.
"Julian are you drunk? Of course I'm not your wife anymore. We're divorced."
"No, I'm afraid you misunderstand. You see, we were never married." Julian began to laugh again. "It was all a damn joke. The marriage was a fraud. YOU WERE NEVER MY WIFE!" He doubled over in laughter.
"Julian- you've finally reached insanity." Theresa said. "How could it be a joke?"
"Bruce." Julian gasped. "The old chump played the both of us. He got us good."
"Bruce?" Theresa asked.
"Yes. He is my old chum who was my best man at our faux wedding." Julian giggled.
"I don't believe you." Theresa said.
"Well, believe it." Bruce said.
"Explain please." Ethan said.
"Gladly. You see Theresa dear, when you were down in Bermuda talking to Julian, me and some other fellas thought it would be funny if you two"
"If we what?" Theresa asked dreading the answer.
"If you two happened to get married." Bruce finished. "So, while you two were downing the wine, me and the guys decided to make it look like you two got married." He chuckled nervously.
"That isn't a funny joke. How could you let it go on for so long?" Theresa was full of anger.
"I dunno- things just kind of spun out of control." Bruce shrugged.
"So you see Theresa- we were never married, and guess what?" Julian giggled.
"I don't want to guess." Theresa said irately.
"Well fine then. Anyhow, two things- number one- you're fired from Crane industries. By the way, don't bother telling father. He already knows the whole story and has agreed that you must be removed from your position immediately. And number two- Little Ethan stays with me while you move out."
"No way in hell" Theresa seethed. "You are NOT taking MY child."
"He's MY child too. It takes two to make a baby, dear."
"No- I REFUSE to let you take my child."
"Oh well- whatever. I've already gotten a writ of custody, so legally- he's mine for now."
"NO!" Theresa screamed.
"Oh I'm afraid so dear."
"Julian please. Don't do this to me! Please don't take my baby away. Look- I am not going to give him up until I have solid proof that he is yours."
"Theresa- don't be silly. He is mine." Julian said.
"No- I want SOLID proof. I'll have a DNA test performed to make sure you are really the father."
Julian pondered Theresa's statement. Try as she might, I am the father of the child. What the hell, the DNA test will just prove I'm the daddy. It will provide solid evidence for my custody case. Julian smiled wickedly. "Fine, Theresa. Let's go to the hospital shall we?"
"It'll probably be a week before the results come in." Theresa said. "You know that right?"
"Yes, well I kind of figured that." Julian scoffed. "What do you take me for? Anyhow, here's a deal. I'll let you take little Ethan with you when you leave the mansion. When the results come in and prove I am the father, I will expect for you to give him up immediately. Understood?"
"Whatever, Julian. Let's go to the hospital."
As Theresa hurriedly got her son dressed she silently prayed. Please don't let Julian be the father.