Chapter 5

Sheridan's cottage.

Sheridan- "Hello?"

Ethan- "Sheridan, it's Ethan."

Sheridan- "Ethan, hi. What's wrong? You sound upset."

Ethan- "I'm fine. I just…Can you come over? I need to talk to someone."

Sheridan- "Sure, I'll be right over."

They hung up and Sheridan made her way across the Crane grounds and up to the Crane Mansion.



Ethan was sitting in the living room, drowning the last few hours in a glass of bourbon when Sheridan found him.

Sheridan went over to him.

Sheridan- "Ethan, honey, what are you doing?"

Ethan- "Oh, nothing. Just thinking."

Sheridan- "Okay, what happened?"

Ethan- "Oh, the usual. You know, I kissed Theresa, I'm confused about what I feel for her, she found me making love to Gwen this morning, she told me she loves me, I told her that I don't love her the way she loves me, then she walked out on me in tears…"

Sheridan- "Yeah, that sounds like the norm."

Ethan- "Sheridan, doesn't my life just suck?"

Sheridan- "No, you just make it that way."

Ethan- "Then what am I supposed to do?"

Sheridan- "Well, let's go through this one by one. You still don't know what it is that you feel for Theresa?"

Ethan- "Yeah, she's my best friend."

Sheridan- "Ethan! Ethan! C'mon. You know as well as I do that you are in love with her. And she told you that she loves you! Ethan, what are you doing? Tell her how you feel."

Ethan- "No, Sheridan. I can't love Theresa. I am engaged to Gwen. I'm marrying her in three weeks. I can't love Theresa. I just can't."

Sheridan- "Ethan, you can't choose who you love and who you don't. Love isn't optional. You love whom you love. Ethan I know you. And I know that when you love someone, you do it with all of your heart. So the question is, do you love Gwen with all of your heart, or is it Theresa that has that hold?"

Ethan- "Sheridan, if you're asking me if I am going to marry Gwen, the answer is yes."

Sheridan- "Well, I guess your mind is made up. So, you don't need me here anymore. Night."

Ethan- "Sheridan…"

Sheridan turns as she was leaving.

Sheridan- "Ethan, this is something that you have to decide for yourself."

Ethan, still a drink in his hand, drunkenly, lazily made his way up the stairs and into his bedroom.

Almost spilling his drink, Ethan took off his clothes and left nothing on but his pajamas. He made his way into his bed and wrapped himself in his blankets. He sat there for what seemed like hours, contemplating a way to forget about the past couple of hours and fall asleep. When the drinks finally got the best of him, Ethan's eyes shut and let his mind drift.

Ethan dreamt of Theresa that night. It was a dream that he will never forget.

Ethan walked out of his bathroom, unbuttoning his shirt after a long, hard day. Suddenly the door opened. It was Theresa. She walked into his room and towards him.

Ethan- "Theresa?"

Theresa- "Hello, Ethan."

Ethan- "Why are you here?"

Theresa- "I came to see you."

Ethan- "Well, I wish you hadn't. I told you the other night how I felt. I am going to marry Gwen. I love her."

Theresa put her hand to his lips.

Theresa- "Shhh…"

Theresa's hand moved down from his lips to the buttons on his shirt. Forcefully, she tore them open. When the Ethan's shirt fell open, Theresa slid her hand over his bare chest up towards his neck. She grabbed his neck and pulled him towards her. Their lips came together in a kiss. A kiss that involved their lips, tongues and hands. Theresa broke the kiss only to start kissing Ethan in the bend of his shoulder.

Ethan did nothing to stop her.

Ethan- "Theresa…I can't… I can't love you."

Theresa's mouth once again found Ethan's. Ethan closed his eyes and didn't pull back. Instead, he fell back onto his bed with her in his arms.

Theresa and Ethan were still kissing passionately on his bed minutes later. Finally, Ethan realized what he was doing.

Ethan broke away and fell onto his side of the bed. He wrapped himself up and closed his eyes shut. Theresa was behind him, stroking his hair.

Ethan- "No, I can't. I can't love you. No. No. No."

Ethan woke up in a cold sweat.

Ethan- "Oh my God."

The next morning at the Crane Mansion.

Theresa knocked at the door, Phyllis let her in. She handed over her coat and went upstairs in search of Ivy and Ethan Crane.

Once upstairs, Theresa knew of only place where they could be. The library. Theresa waited outside of the library door, gathering her courage. When she was ready, she let herself in. She saw Ivy on the couch reading, Ethan was at the desk in the corner. She cleared her throat to get their attention.

Ivy looked up.

Ivy- "Theresa? Nice to see you."

Theresa- "You too, Mrs. Crane."

Ivy- "Well, I'm glad to have you here. I have things I want you to set up for the wedding. I have some papers in my-"

Theresa- "Actually Mrs. Crane, I am no longer working as your assistant."

Ivy- "What? Theresa, I didn't fire you."

Ethan sat in the corner and said nothing.

Theresa- "I know, I'm leaving on my own."

She turned to Ethan. The only thing she found there was a vacant expression.

Theresa- "I'm sorry, I would have given a two week notice, but I have to leave right away. And I am very sorry about leaving on such short notice during the wedding plans."

Ivy- "Well, Theresa, I don't understand. Is everything alright?"

Theresa- "Actually, I have some personal matters to attend to. It was a pleasure to work for you Mrs. Crane." She offers Ivy her hand.

Ivy- "But, Theresa, can't you stay until after the wedding?"

Theresa- "Well, I can't work from here, but I will, however, be able to work from home. If you don't have a problem with that. If so, then I guess I'm done here."

Ethan got up from his chair. Quickly he walked over to Theresa. He grabbed her arm and pulled her outside of the room. He shut the door behind him.

Ethan- "Theresa, I know why you're doing this."

Theresa- "Good, then I don't have to explain myself. Goodbye, Ethan."

Ethan- "Theresa, you don't have to quit on account of me."

Theresa- "I'm not. I'm quitting on account of us."

Ethan- "You can't quit, Theresa."

Theresa- "And why not?"

Ethan- "Because… I'd miss you."

Theresa- "Well, I'll miss you too. But, of course my reasons would be different from yours. Right?"

Theresa's words cut like a knife. Ethan said nothing.

Theresa- "Goodbye, Ethan."

Theresa walked away and down the stairs, as she did the day before.

Ethan quickly ran after her.

Theresa was walking towards her car when Ethan called her name. He was right behind her.

Ethan- "Theresa, wait, please."

Theresa turned in tears.

Theresa- "What, Ethan?"

Ethan- "Theresa, please don't leave like this."

Theresa- "How should I go about it then?"

Ethan- "Don't leave at all."

Theresa- "Ethan, you know why I have to do this. Just, let me go."

Ethan- "I don't want to."

Theresa- "Ethan, you're marrying Gwen. She'll be your new best friend."

Ethan realized that he wasn't going to get Theresa to stay. So, he hesitantly said goodbye to his best friend.

Ethan forced a smile.

Ethan- "Goodbye, Theresa."

He leaned in and kissed her cheek. Theresa closed her eyes as he did so. When Ethan lifted his head from her cheek, he looked at Theresa in a way that he never had before. Neither could help it. Once again, they were captured into a kiss. Theresa's hands found Ethan's chest and his found Theresa's arm and waist. When they reluctantly pulled apart their foreheads touched, both savoring that moment.

Ethan- "Theresa…" 'Come on, just tell her.' "Theresa, I love you."

Theresa couldn't believe what she heard. Was he just saying this so she wouldn't quit? But, what would be the reason behind that? Was he sincere?

Then Theresa realized what he was saying. He had said it the day before. He loved her, but he wasn't in love with her.

Theresa walked away and hoped Ethan didn't notice her tears. It was then that Ethan realized his mistake.

Ethan- "Theresa, I'm in love with you."

Theresa stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to face him.

Theresa- "What did you say?"

Ethan walked up to her.

Ethan- "I'm in love with you, Theresa." Theresa stared at him. "Sorry, it took me so long to realize it."

Ethan kissed her again.

Theresa- "Well, what am I supposed to tell your mother?"

Ethan- "That you changed your mind."

Theresa- "Do you think she'll buy it?"

Ethan- "It doesn't matter."

Theresa- "So, where do we go from here?"

Ethan- "I don't know. But, I do know that I love you. And I never want to loose you."

Theresa- "Well, if you play your cards right, you never will."

Ethan- "Oh, really?"

Theresa nods before Ethan kissed her.

Theresa suddenly pulls back.

Theresa- "Wait, Ethan. What about Gwen?"

Ethan- "What about her?"

Theresa- "Ethan, you are marrying her in three weeks."

Ethan- "Not anymore."

Theresa- "What?"

Ethan- "Theresa, I love you. I want to marry you. The woman that I love. Not Gwen, so I'm not going to."

Theresa- "But, Ethan, you can't just call it off like that. Can you?"

Ethan- "Well, yeah. I have to tell Gwen though."

Theresa- "Yeah, she's going to kill me."

Ethan- "Don't worry about Gwen. I'll handle her. You just go inside and tell my mother that you changed your mind. Then get out of here. I'm going to call Gwen to tell her come over. I don't think it wise that she see you right after I tell her."

Theresa- "Okay." Therese gives Ethan one last kiss.

Ethan smiled as she walked inside. What neither of them knew was that Rebecca Hotchkiss was watching them from the balcony directly above them.