XXIV
"How about some coffee?" Dylan asked Fox on the phone.
"Sure," Fox said. "Let me drop little Ethan off at Pilar's. I'll meet you at
the Book Café in ten minutes."
Fox was still unaware of the rumors that were being spread about Theresa and
Justin. He drove little Ethan to Pilar's home and was surprised when Stanley
answered the door. "What are you doing here in Harmony?" Fox asked. "I thought
you had left."
"I just arrived here as a surprise." Stanley smiled. "We haven't talked in
awhile. It's good to see you again Fox."
"Same here." Fox said still surprised at Stanley's sudden appearance in town.
"Fox," Pilar said warmly as she greeted him at the door. "Come on in."
Fox carried Little Ethan into the Lopez-Fitzgerald home. "So, how long will you
be in town?" Fox asked the doctor.
"Indefintely." Stanley said as he wrapped his arm around Pilar's shoulders.
Pilar smiled as she leaned against Stanley. Fox smiled at the two. "I see." He
said. "And where are you staying?"
"Here," Pilar answered. "With me."
Fox grinned. "Wow. That's a big step in your relationship."
"There's more." Pilar said smiling.
"Don't tell me." Fox said. "You're engaged?"
"No" Pilar said laughing. "Engaged? I'm not ready for that, Fox. But Stanley
has surprised me with a trip to Paris!" She gushed. "And, he's also arranged
for you and Theresa to come along as well. You two never really had a decent
honeymoon."
"Paris?" Fox said. "That's so nice of you Stanley."
"It's the least I could do. You know, I wish Theresa were here so we could tell
her." Stanley said.
"She's going to be out of town for awhile." Fox replied. Pilar and Stanley
listened carefully as Fox told them about Justin and his situation.
"I hope it is his wife." Pilar said. "That would be heartbreaking if it turned
out to be a dead end."
"Yeah." Stanley agreed.
"Well," Fox replied. "I better get going. I'm supposed to meet a friend in a
few minutes. I'll talk to you to later."
Fox left and drove down to the Book Café. He was met with stares as he got out
of his car. "Why is everyone looking at me like that?" Fox wondered as he
stepped inside the Book Café. Fox spotted Dylan sitting in a table on the right
side of the room. He walked over and sat down. "What's up?" He asked when he
noticed the strange expression on Dylan's face.
"Apparently you haven't seen this yet." Dylan said gravely as he pushed the
newspaper towards his friend.
"What the hell?" Fox said as he read the front page article. "This is so
ridiculous!"
"And untrue, right?" Dylan asked.
"Of course it's untrue!" Fox said already feeling anger burning within him.
Everyone in the coffee shop seemed to stop what they were doing to stare at
Fox. Dylan noticed and said, "Take a picture, it lasts longer."
Fox put the paper down. "I wonder if Theresa's seen this."
"She most likely has." Dylan replied. "Where is she?"
"At the airport." Fox said.
"So it's true that she's going to Chicago with her professor?" Dylan asked in
surprise.
Fox proceeded to tell Dylan Justin's story. Dylan stroked his chin. "Wow." He
said. "There was a lot more to that guy, huh?"
"Sure was." Fox answered. "I just hope these stupid rumors don't make Theresa
upset. She's already been the center of the media's attention before."
"I know." Dylan recalled. "I remember reading about her quite frequently-
especially after that whole Julian incident."
Fox rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me."
While Fox and Dylan talked, they were both unaware that a pair of eyes had been
watching them. Paul sipped his coffee contentedly as he saw Fox's reaction to
the news. He was even happier when he watched an attractive woman walked up to
Fox and tapped him lightly on the shoulder.
Paul got his camera ready. "Perfect." He thought to himself. "More gossip to
add. This is more fun than I thought it would be. I can see it now. Double
affair: A Crane wife and husband looking for love elsewhere."
"Hello Fox," Audrey said softly.
Dylan's jaw dropped. He looked at Fox with wide eyes. Fox turned around slowly.
"Oh, Audrey." He said. "What- a- uh- surprise."
"It's nice to see you too." Audrey said smiling. "Did you get my letter?" She
asked as she slid her index finger down the side of Fox's right cheek.
Fox pushed her hand away. "Yeah, I got it all right." He replied.
"Good," Audrey smiled. "So," She said as she pulled a chair to the table and
sat down.
"Audrey, I'm married now." Fox said simply. "I love my wife dearly. I'm afraid
it's too late for us."
"I don't think so," Audrey said as she picked up the newspaper. "There's still
an opportunity for us. After all, your wife is cheating on you."
"She is not." Fox said defensively. "Thos are just rumors."
"Doesn't look like just rumors to me." Audrey said in a huff. "I mean,
look at these pictures!"
Fox snatched the paper away from Audrey. "You listen to me," He said in a low
menacing tone. "My wife loves me, and I love her dearly. So, I suggest you
dismiss the idea of a me and you, because it isn't going to happen. Have a nice
day." Fox said as he got up and walked out of the shop.
"That's my cue to follow." Paul Grissom thought as he hurriedly rushed out of
the door.
~*~
"Mommy!" Belle called.
Angela rolled over in her bed and groaned. "What is it?" She asked groggily.
"Isn't this Theresa?" Belle asked holding the newspaper up to her mother's
face.
Angela glanced at the paper. She blinked her eyes a couple of times. "That's
her." She said yawning.
"But she's Daddy's wife. Why is she with that other man?" Belle asked. When she
looked closer, she noticed it was the handsome man she had met that day Luis
took her to Theresa and Fox's home.
Angela took the paper from her daughter and read the front headline. "Well,
well, well," She said. "Isn't this interesting?"
"What?" Belle asked.
"Why don't you go watch some T.V.?" Angela suggested.
"But~" Belle protested.
"If you go and watch T.V., I'll take you to see your father." Angela said.
"Okay," Belle said as she skipped out of the room.
"Looks like I might have to pay Fox a little visit." Angela thought to herself.
~*~
