XVIII



The pregnancy further exacerbated the instability of Angela's life. When she found out the news, she was angry. Most of all she was fearful. She was so unsure of what she should do that she sank into a deep depression. Angela was holding a part-time job that barely paid for her expenses. How would she be able to handle the additional expense of a child? Costs of diapers, bottles, clothes, and other baby necessities swam through Angela's mind. She knew she wouldn't be able to afford it. Angela also knew that she wouldn't be able to afford an abortion either.

Angela supposed that Joshua would take no claim upon the child. He already had three kids of his own to look after. Besides, Angela had concluded, by acknowledging the child, Joshua would be brining his affair with Angela out in the open. Angela knew Joshua didn't want that. Exposing the affair would cost him too much.

The baby served as proof that their relationship existed, but Joshua would pretend that nothing happened. He would act as if his relationship with Angela never existed. Deep down Angela already knew it. She knew that he would go on living his life with his wife and three kids. Angela knew that Joshua Wright would forget about her. If she was going to have the child, she would be raising the child on her own. Angela eventually and unwillingly came to the conclusion that Mr. Joshua Wright turned out to be Mr. Wrong.

Angela tried to hold on to the small glimmer of hope that somehow Joshua would claim the child. She held a belief no matter how ridiculous it may have seemed that Joshua loved her. She believed he wouldn't abandon her. But to her dismay, her suspicions that Joshua would take no claim of the child were true.

Angela closed her eyes. She recalled the look of disgust and resentment that clouded Joshua's features when she told him that she was pregnant.

"Pregnant?" He said pacing around as he stroked his chin nervously.

"That's what I said." Angela answered quietly.

"Are you sure it's mine?" Joshua asked anxiously.

"Of course it's yours!" Angela said raising her voice. "I haven't slept with anyone but you."

"Damnit," Joshua cursed under his breath. He looked up with wariness clouding his gaze. "You set me up, didn't you?" He asked suspiciously.

"Excuse me?" Angela said in disbelief and anger. "Set you up? No!"

Joshua should his head unbelieving. "You're lying."

"You bastard!" Angela yelled. "I can't believe you would even think that!"

"Why weren't you more careful?" Joshua asked.

"What?" Angela cried in disbelief. "Why wasn't [i]I
more careful? Why are you trying to put blame on me? It took two to make this baby. We both have to take responsibility for our actions."

Anger and resentment flashed in Joshua's eyes. "No we don't. You can take care of that baby by yourself for all I care. I never want to see you again."

"I can't take care of a baby on my own!" Angela cried as tears filled her eyes. "I can't do this on my own."

"Oh well." Joshua said shrugging and appearing indifferent. "Have a nice life."[/i]

Joshua Wright walked out of Angela's life and left her pregnant. Angela fought her emotions. She wasn't ready or prepared to be a mother, but every time she thought of aborting the baby, she felt nauseous. It was a baby, and Angela didn't have the courage to end its life. Angela even thought of the possibility of adoption, but that all changed when she gave birth.

~*~



"We haven't had any juicy gossip lately," complained one of the writers of the Harmony Herald. "I need an article to write, and I can't find anything interesting enough to put in the paper." The writer who's name was Paul Grissom complained. Paul was one of the prominent writers of the local paper. He was young, but everyone was impressed with his ability.

"We might have something," The editor, Gerald Price, replied with a smirk on his face. "Remember the infamous Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald?"

"How could I forget?" Paul answered.

"Well, sources say that shes is supposedly having an affair with her professor. And, she's already married to Nicholas Foxworth Crane." Gerald said mischievously.

"Do we have any pictures?" Paul asked.

"No, but we'll get some." Gerald replied. "And, you're going to be writing the story. I want an article to put in tomorrow's edition." Gerald said.

"Yes sir." Paul replied as Gerald thought. "This will be the juiciest gossip this town has seen in a long time."

~*~



Justin stared sadly at the small family embracing outside of the window. "Why can't I have that?" He thought. "It isn't fair. Why did my Lindsay have to be taken away from me?"

He walked away from the window and sat down on the couch. "Are you all right?" Whitney asked coming to sit beside him.

"Fine." Justin replied. "Oh by the way, Lindsay wanted to know if you would stay for lunch."

"Lindsay?" Whitney asked confused. "Uh- who's Lindsay?"

"Oh." Justin said embarrassed. "I meant Theresa."

Whitney looked at Justin curiously. She wondered who Lindsay was, but she dared not press any further. Whitney resolved to talk to Theresa privately about Justin. "Okay," Whitney replied slowly. "Hey Chad, Theresa invited us to stay for lunch."

"Okay," Chad answered. "Sounds great."

Justin shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He couldn't believe that he called Theresa Lindsay. "What if I accidentally do that again?" He wondered. While Justin was deep in thought, Theresa, Fox, and Little Ethan returned to the house.

"Who's hungry?" Theresa asked cheerfully. After Fox placed Little Ethan in the playpen he went over to Theresa and placed his arms around her waist. "You know I'm famished." He said smiling.

"You're always hungry." Theresa teased.

Fox smirked. "I'm not always hungry for food." He whispered in her ear.

Theresa nudged him playfully. "We have company," She murmured. "Behave yourself."

"Yes ma'm." Fox said while saluting. Whitney laughed. "You two are so cute together."

Fox and Theresa smiled. "Whit, you want to help me in the kitchen?" Theresa asked.

"Sure," Whitney replied.

"You boys have fun," Theresa said as she and Whitney went into the kitchen. Fox cut on the television and him, Chad, and Justin sat down to watch one of the football games that was being broadcasted.

Fifteen minutes into the game, Justin's cell rang. He looked at the caller ID and frowned. It was the police department.

"Hello?" Justin answered.

"Mr. Hammond, this is Frank Smith. I am a part of the investigation team on your wife's disappearance."

"Yes," Justin replied. "I remember."

"Mr. Hammond," Smith said slowly.

"Yes?" Justin asked. The tone of Smith's voice unnerved him.

"Uh- I think we should talk in private. I have some news about your wife."

"What kind of news?" Justin asked anxiously.

"I think we've found her."

~*~



"Theresa," Whitney said as they began making sandwiches for everyone. "Who's Lindsay?"

"Uh- Lindsay?" Theresa repeated. "That's Justin's wife."

"His wife? I had no idea that he was married."

"Yeah, me either." Theresa said. She wondered if she should tell Whitney Justin' story, but she held her tongue. Justin entrusted her with information that was difficult for him to share. Theresa dared not violate his trust. After all, Justin was just beginning to open up to her. She didn't want to do anything to jeopardize their friendship. "Friend," It felt funny to think of Professor Hammond as a friend. He irritated Theresa so much, yet she still could not help but like him. Justin already admitted that he had not been so sarcastic or pessimistic before his wife disappeared. Theresa wondered what would happen if somehow Lindsay returned. "What would Justin do then?"

~*~



Ethan sped towards Theresa and Fox's home. "She won't turn me away like my mother and Gwen have." He thought to himself. Once he arrived, Ethan sat in his car to collect his thoughts. He breathed in deeply and got out of the car. Slowly and steadily, he walked up to the house. Ethan paused before ringing the doorbell. Doubt began to weaken his confidence. "What if she does turn me away?" He thought worriedly. "She won't turn me away," Ethan mumbled. He reached over and rang the doorbell.

When the door opened, Ethan was met with an annoyed half-brother. "What do you want?" Fox asked.

~*~