CH. 15
Theresa looked at her reflection in the mirror as she combed through her long dark hair. She pulled everything back into a sleek ponytail and smiled approvingly.
"Well at least you look ready to face the world." She sighed to herself.
The truth was, she was a complete mess. After Dylan had left the night before, Theresa sat for hours trying to make a decision about her future with Fox. But whenever she thought she had it all figured out, something led her astray and she found herself right back to the beginning; in complete uncertainty. That's why she asked Whitney and Chad to take Little Ethan for the day. Tonight was the night that she had to make a final decision, and she needed all the advice she could get.
She went downstairs to the kitchen, and found her mother and Luis laughing and eating breakfast.
"What's so funny?" Theresa smiled, spooning some eggs on a plate for herself.
"Oh, good morning Mija." Pilar laughed. "Your brother was just telling me about the time he and Sheridan gave Emma her first bath."
"She completely drenched us!" Luis laughed, drinking some orange juice.
"Awww Emma is growing up so fast Luis." Theresa smiled admiringly at her brother. "She is so lucky to have such loving parents as you and Sheridan."
"Well she is our world." Luis smiled. "Every time I see that beautiful face of hers, I get such a warm feeling inside. She's like a gift from God. Just like Little Ethan is to you."
"Speaking of Little Ethan, where is he?" Pilar turned to Theresa.
"Oh, I asked Chad and Whitney to take him for the day." She let out a deep sigh. "I need some time to think about everything that's happened, since I have to make a decision tonight."
"And have you Mija?" Pilar looked at her daughter concerned.
"Not really. Every time I think I've reached a decision, something keeps leading me to think that Fox is just misleading me. I don't know what to do."
"Well he is a Crane." Luis cleared his throat loudly. "All that family is good for is hurting people."
"Por favor Luis." Pilar sternly looked at her son. "You're just confusing your sister."
"I'm not telling her anything that she doesn't already know." Luis got up from the table and went to the sink. "It is known by every resident in Harmony, that the Cranes do nothing but cause trouble. Just look at all the times Alistar tried to break up Sheridan and me? If it wasn't for how strong our love was, who knows if Emma would even have been born."
"But Luis everyone knows that Alistar is the real evil of that family. Not all the Cranes are evil. Sheridan is the perfect example of that." Theresa smiled, knowing that she had made a good point.
"She is right Mijo." Pilar looked up at Luis. "Sheridan is the farthest thing from being evil. She is kind-hearted, good-natured, and her rightful last name IS Crane."
"I know that." Luis nodded. "But I'm just warning Theresa. MOST of the Cranes are evil and up to no good. Who knows if Fox inherited some of the Crane genes from his father and grandfather? Even Ethan used to say how conniving Fox was."
"But that was before Luis." Theresa spoke up. "Fox says he's changed."
"He could just be saying that." Luis mumbled.
"That is enough Luis!" Pilar looked at her two children. "Now, I know that the Cranes are not people to be trusted, but I have known Fox since he was a little boy. Even when I was working at the Crane Mansion, I noticed how different Fox and Ethan were. But Fox never got the attention that Ethan got. And up to this day I feel that a lot of the reason why Fox was so disobedient is due to the lack of attention he received growing up as a child. But that was in the past, this is now. Don't you remember Luis, how Fox went behind his grandfather's back and cashed in his trust fund to bail Theresa out of jail? How many Cranes do you know that would do that besides Sheridan?"
"Not very many." Luis admitted. "Ok, maybe you're right. I admit Fox has done some decent things since he came to Harmony. I mean, look at the way he is with Little Ethan. You can see that he really cares for the little guy."
Luis walked over to Theresa.
"Look, all I'm saying is be careful. Fox could very well be a good-hearted person, just like Sheridan. But he could also be a cold-hearted animal like his grandfather, in disguise." Luis let out a deep breath. "I never fully trusted the Cranes, after I suspected that Alistar and Julian had something to do with Papa's disappearance."
The room suddenly got quiet. Luis always had the strong feeling that the Cranes were behind their father's disappearance. But he never could prove it. The Cranes had lots of secrets that they didn't want revealed, and they did ANYTHING to keep it that way.
"Anyways, whatever happens Theresa I know you'll do the right thing." Luis smiled at his sister. "You're a smart girl sis. Ever since you were small, you always believed in fate and true love. I think your fairy-tale attitude rubbed off on me when I couldn't give up on me and Sheridan's love. "
"Thanks Luis." Theresa smiled up at him. "I just hope I can make the right decision now."
"I know you will. You just need to trust that good heart of yours." Luis grabbed his jacket. "Thanks for breakfast mama. I gotta go home to my wife and daughter. Me and Sheridan are going to take Emma to the Zoo."
"Ok, bye Luis." Pilar smiled at her son.
When Luis left, Pilar looked at Theresa seriously.
"Mija, I know you are confused right now with what to do about Fox. But remember you are not just making this decision for yourself."
"I know mama, Little Ethan plays a big part in this too." Theresa sighed.
"That's right. Little Ethan has become so attached to Fox. To just rip him away from your son's life would be cruel." Pilar looked into her daughter's eyes. "I know you are hurt about what Fox did, but you yourself told me that a part of you believes him. That part of you is your heart talking Therasita. As long as your heart believes in Fox, then nothing else matters."
"That's easier said than done." Theresa mumbled.
"Mija, your heart is the closest thing that binds you to the Lord. Whatever your heart is telling you that is what Jesus wants too. Remember what Father Lonagon teaches us in church: 'Pon Tu confianza en el Senor'. When you trust in the Lord, everything else just falls into place."
"Thanks mama." Theresa smiled giving her mother a hug. "That really helps a lot."
"Well, it's my pleasure. I don't like seeing my children hurting." Pilar picked up her bag and coat. "I have to go over to the Bennetts. Your brother wants me to watch Maria for a few hours. Se you when I get back"
"Ok, see you later mama." Theresa closed the door behind Pilar and went up to her room.
Mama says to trust my heart, and my heart is obviously telling me to be with Fox. Theresa thought to herself. But Luis is right too. I have to remember that Fox is a Crane, and my past life is proof to how little trust you can put in the Cranes.
Theresa walked over to the window and picked up a flower that had fallen on her windowsill.
She picked off one of the petals.
"He loves me, he loves me not." Theresa laughed to herself. "I remember when me and Whitney used to play this game when we were small. Back then things were so much easier. If only I could just make my decision based on how many petals I pick from this flower." Absent-mindedly she continued picking the petals off one by one, silently alternating between the phrases 'he loves me, he loves me not'.
Why is this so difficult for me? She thought to herself. It's obvious what my heart wants, but the fact that Fox is a Crane keeps coming up as an issue. Can I ever truly love a Crane, or will they forever be in my life to only hurt me?
Theresa breathed out a sigh.
"Well, Theresa you better hurry up and make a decision. Soon it'll be minutes to eight, and you have to decide whether you are going to meet Fox or not." She said to herself.
She looked down at her hands holding the flower. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't realize she had picked all the petals off the flower except for one.
Theresa picked the last petal off and held it in her hand smiling.
"He loves me." She whispered and slowly let it fall to the ground.
Theresa looked at her reflection in the mirror as she combed through her long dark hair. She pulled everything back into a sleek ponytail and smiled approvingly.
"Well at least you look ready to face the world." She sighed to herself.
The truth was, she was a complete mess. After Dylan had left the night before, Theresa sat for hours trying to make a decision about her future with Fox. But whenever she thought she had it all figured out, something led her astray and she found herself right back to the beginning; in complete uncertainty. That's why she asked Whitney and Chad to take Little Ethan for the day. Tonight was the night that she had to make a final decision, and she needed all the advice she could get.
She went downstairs to the kitchen, and found her mother and Luis laughing and eating breakfast.
"What's so funny?" Theresa smiled, spooning some eggs on a plate for herself.
"Oh, good morning Mija." Pilar laughed. "Your brother was just telling me about the time he and Sheridan gave Emma her first bath."
"She completely drenched us!" Luis laughed, drinking some orange juice.
"Awww Emma is growing up so fast Luis." Theresa smiled admiringly at her brother. "She is so lucky to have such loving parents as you and Sheridan."
"Well she is our world." Luis smiled. "Every time I see that beautiful face of hers, I get such a warm feeling inside. She's like a gift from God. Just like Little Ethan is to you."
"Speaking of Little Ethan, where is he?" Pilar turned to Theresa.
"Oh, I asked Chad and Whitney to take him for the day." She let out a deep sigh. "I need some time to think about everything that's happened, since I have to make a decision tonight."
"And have you Mija?" Pilar looked at her daughter concerned.
"Not really. Every time I think I've reached a decision, something keeps leading me to think that Fox is just misleading me. I don't know what to do."
"Well he is a Crane." Luis cleared his throat loudly. "All that family is good for is hurting people."
"Por favor Luis." Pilar sternly looked at her son. "You're just confusing your sister."
"I'm not telling her anything that she doesn't already know." Luis got up from the table and went to the sink. "It is known by every resident in Harmony, that the Cranes do nothing but cause trouble. Just look at all the times Alistar tried to break up Sheridan and me? If it wasn't for how strong our love was, who knows if Emma would even have been born."
"But Luis everyone knows that Alistar is the real evil of that family. Not all the Cranes are evil. Sheridan is the perfect example of that." Theresa smiled, knowing that she had made a good point.
"She is right Mijo." Pilar looked up at Luis. "Sheridan is the farthest thing from being evil. She is kind-hearted, good-natured, and her rightful last name IS Crane."
"I know that." Luis nodded. "But I'm just warning Theresa. MOST of the Cranes are evil and up to no good. Who knows if Fox inherited some of the Crane genes from his father and grandfather? Even Ethan used to say how conniving Fox was."
"But that was before Luis." Theresa spoke up. "Fox says he's changed."
"He could just be saying that." Luis mumbled.
"That is enough Luis!" Pilar looked at her two children. "Now, I know that the Cranes are not people to be trusted, but I have known Fox since he was a little boy. Even when I was working at the Crane Mansion, I noticed how different Fox and Ethan were. But Fox never got the attention that Ethan got. And up to this day I feel that a lot of the reason why Fox was so disobedient is due to the lack of attention he received growing up as a child. But that was in the past, this is now. Don't you remember Luis, how Fox went behind his grandfather's back and cashed in his trust fund to bail Theresa out of jail? How many Cranes do you know that would do that besides Sheridan?"
"Not very many." Luis admitted. "Ok, maybe you're right. I admit Fox has done some decent things since he came to Harmony. I mean, look at the way he is with Little Ethan. You can see that he really cares for the little guy."
Luis walked over to Theresa.
"Look, all I'm saying is be careful. Fox could very well be a good-hearted person, just like Sheridan. But he could also be a cold-hearted animal like his grandfather, in disguise." Luis let out a deep breath. "I never fully trusted the Cranes, after I suspected that Alistar and Julian had something to do with Papa's disappearance."
The room suddenly got quiet. Luis always had the strong feeling that the Cranes were behind their father's disappearance. But he never could prove it. The Cranes had lots of secrets that they didn't want revealed, and they did ANYTHING to keep it that way.
"Anyways, whatever happens Theresa I know you'll do the right thing." Luis smiled at his sister. "You're a smart girl sis. Ever since you were small, you always believed in fate and true love. I think your fairy-tale attitude rubbed off on me when I couldn't give up on me and Sheridan's love. "
"Thanks Luis." Theresa smiled up at him. "I just hope I can make the right decision now."
"I know you will. You just need to trust that good heart of yours." Luis grabbed his jacket. "Thanks for breakfast mama. I gotta go home to my wife and daughter. Me and Sheridan are going to take Emma to the Zoo."
"Ok, bye Luis." Pilar smiled at her son.
When Luis left, Pilar looked at Theresa seriously.
"Mija, I know you are confused right now with what to do about Fox. But remember you are not just making this decision for yourself."
"I know mama, Little Ethan plays a big part in this too." Theresa sighed.
"That's right. Little Ethan has become so attached to Fox. To just rip him away from your son's life would be cruel." Pilar looked into her daughter's eyes. "I know you are hurt about what Fox did, but you yourself told me that a part of you believes him. That part of you is your heart talking Therasita. As long as your heart believes in Fox, then nothing else matters."
"That's easier said than done." Theresa mumbled.
"Mija, your heart is the closest thing that binds you to the Lord. Whatever your heart is telling you that is what Jesus wants too. Remember what Father Lonagon teaches us in church: 'Pon Tu confianza en el Senor'. When you trust in the Lord, everything else just falls into place."
"Thanks mama." Theresa smiled giving her mother a hug. "That really helps a lot."
"Well, it's my pleasure. I don't like seeing my children hurting." Pilar picked up her bag and coat. "I have to go over to the Bennetts. Your brother wants me to watch Maria for a few hours. Se you when I get back"
"Ok, see you later mama." Theresa closed the door behind Pilar and went up to her room.
Mama says to trust my heart, and my heart is obviously telling me to be with Fox. Theresa thought to herself. But Luis is right too. I have to remember that Fox is a Crane, and my past life is proof to how little trust you can put in the Cranes.
Theresa walked over to the window and picked up a flower that had fallen on her windowsill.
She picked off one of the petals.
"He loves me, he loves me not." Theresa laughed to herself. "I remember when me and Whitney used to play this game when we were small. Back then things were so much easier. If only I could just make my decision based on how many petals I pick from this flower." Absent-mindedly she continued picking the petals off one by one, silently alternating between the phrases 'he loves me, he loves me not'.
Why is this so difficult for me? She thought to herself. It's obvious what my heart wants, but the fact that Fox is a Crane keeps coming up as an issue. Can I ever truly love a Crane, or will they forever be in my life to only hurt me?
Theresa breathed out a sigh.
"Well, Theresa you better hurry up and make a decision. Soon it'll be minutes to eight, and you have to decide whether you are going to meet Fox or not." She said to herself.
She looked down at her hands holding the flower. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't realize she had picked all the petals off the flower except for one.
Theresa picked the last petal off and held it in her hand smiling.
"He loves me." She whispered and slowly let it fall to the ground.