Part XXI

Gwen sat with Rebecca and Ivy in the Crane mansion.

"We cannot let her get away with what she's done to our grandchild. Teresa has to suffer through the same agony that my Gwennie has gone through since she lost her baby."

"Well, Rebecca, at the rate things are going right now, the custody battle will go on for years."

"I cannot believe your snake of a son married her. I cannot believe he would do this to his won family."

"He loves her Mother, you should have seen them when we were in Los Angeles. At least, she loves him to which means that she is never going back to Ethan."

"I cannot believe she would get involved with my other son. The nerve of that tramp. She is unbelievable. And to top it off, her brat calls him 'daddy', and neither one of them seems to be bothered by it. I cannot believe that Fox would let that happen, this is his brother we are talking about."

"Why do you care now, Ivy? It's not like you ever cared or loved Fox in the first place. So what's the big deal?"

"Yes, Mother, what's the big deal, why do you care so much all of a sudden?"

Fox went to the table and poured himself a cup of coffee, then sat down on one of the vacant chairs, facing his mother and waited for her answer.

"Where is Teresa?"

"Upstairs, dressing her son and I'm still waiting for your answer, Mother."

"You are my son, Fox. Of course I care about you."

"Well that'll be a first. You never cared about anyone but your precious Ethan."

"That's not true, Fox. What I don't understand is why you would even consider marrying Teresa in the first place."

"Well, if you care so much about me like you seem to be claiming right now, then all you need to know is that she makes me very happy and that I love her."

"And the only man she'll ever love is Ethan."

"Oh, Mother! Why are you still singing the same tune? This is getting old. Teresa and I have been married for over 6 months and the only thing that can make our life together better is to get full custody of her son and for us to move out of this house."

"We're all waiting for Teresa to get the hell out of this house."

Fox got up, went to Gwen and sat beside her.

"Why don't you get the hell out of this house, Gwen? You are not a Crane and therefore have no right to be here. If you're so unhappy, the door is right there and trust me, it won't hit you on your way out."

He put his cup of coffee on the table that was beside him, stood up and put his hands in his pockets as he looked down on Gwen.

"Word to the wise, Gwen. Leave my wife alone. Don't think I don't know what you did with those custody papers that were sent to L.A for Teresa."

Gwen's back stiffened and she looked at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He bent down before her and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I'm a Crane, Gwen. I take after Alistair in more ways than one, don't ever forget that. I know what you did, Gwen."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No, I don't threaten, Gwen. I warn, and I'm warning you. I know that you took those papers, I know that you hid them, I know that you tore them. So Gwen stay clear of Teresa and her son. And if you're not happy, you can pack your husband and yourself and leave."

Fox got up and looked at both his mother and Rebecca.

"And if I were the two of you, I would behave. Neither one of you wants to find herself out in the cold and trust me, I'll do it."

"How can you speak to your own mother like that?"

"Please, Mother.enough with the sentiment. Like I said, behave yourselves, you don't want to cross me."

He walked out of the living room and headed upstairs leaving the three women livid.

"Where the hell does he get off speaking to me and to my daughter like that?"

"If I were you, Rebecca, I would listen to what he just said. He is serious and when he gets like this, he is dangerous and he reminds me too much of Alistair."

"Fox is nothing like Alistair."

"No, but he feels that Teresa is threatened which means he will do whatever it takes to protect her."