8


"You didn't tell him where I was did you?" Theresa asked once Paloma stepped foot into her room.

"Of course I didn't say anything to him." Paloma replied. "I should've told him where you were though. Everyone's worried about you Theresa." She thought to herself.

Theresa sighed in relief. She wiped her tear-stained cheek and gave her sister a wobbly smile. "Thank you." She said gratefully.

"I still think you should let them know where you are." Paloma said with her lips tight in disapproval.

"I agree." Maria said. Maria knew that Pilar was probably sick with worry.

Theresa rolled her eyes. "We've been through this already. I don't want anyone to know where I am."
"Theresa, how long do you expect to stay out here?" Paloma asked demandingly. Her tone shocked Theresa.

Theresa fixed her gaze upon the flowery comforter of Paloma's bed. "I don't know." She answered quietly.

"You don't know?!" Paloma asked incredulously. "Theresa- you've got a son in Harmony. He's probably wondering why his own mother left."

"He was taken away from me." Theresa replied. "I won't ever get him back."

"You won't get him back with an attitude like that." Paloma said firmly but gently. "The Lopez-Fitzgerald's keep fighting. Remember?"

"Well this Lopez-Fitzgerald has given up." Theresa said rubbing her eyes. "I'm tired of fighting."

"So you're basically saying that it's too hard to keep fighting? So you're saying that you don't want to fight for your son because it's
too hard?! Don't you love your son?"

"of course I do!" Theresa cried. "I love him with all of my heart!"

"Then why don't you keep fighting? Theresa, if you truly love your son, you would not give up."

"She's right, Theresa," Maria replied quietly. "I'll leave you two to talk. Take your sister's advice into consideration Theresa." She said before she left the room.

Theresa stood up and looked out of the window.

"Theresa," Paloma said a little more gently.

"I don't have any more strength to fight." Theresa said shakily.

"But you have a support system. Me, Mama, Tia Maria, Tio Francisco, Luis, Miguel" Paloma's voice trailed off. "You still have your family Theresa. We'll always be behind you. We'll give you the strength you need."

Theresa nodded. "You're right."

As Theresa stared sadly out of the window another thought immediately crossed her mind. "But I don't have Fox."

"Theresa~" Paloma called. "You look like you're millions of miles away."

"Maybe it's because I am." Theresa said as she joined her sister on the bed.

"What were you thinking about?" Paloma asked. Theresa looked away and avoided her sister's question by saying nothing. This time Paloma tried a different question. "Okay, who were you thinking about?"

Theresa still refused to answer, but Paloma had a hunch of who dominated Theresa's thoughts. "It's him, isn't it?" Paloma asked quietly.
"It's Fox."

Theresa looked up and nodded. "I can't help it."

Paloma watched her sister intently. "Are you in love with him?"

"What?" Theresa said with her eyes open with shock. "In love with him?" Obviously flustered, Theresa tried to embellish on her answer, but no other words left her mouth.

"That's what I said. Are you in love with him?" Paloma asked as she scrutinized her sister's reaction.

Theresa looked at her sister with disbelieving eyes. "In love with Fox?" Theresa scoffed. Theresa shook her head. "He's just a friend-or at least he used to be." Theresa replied.

"Are you sure about that?" Paloma asked.

Theresa shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah." She mumbled.

"I think you're in denial." Paloma said.

"Excuse me?" Theresa said.

Paloma sighed. "Oh Theresa." She said. To Paloma it seemed as though Theresa harbored a deeper feeling other than friendship for Fox. "I think you love him."

"Why in God's name would you think that?" Theresa asked.

"Something tells me that you have feelings for him." Paloma shrugged.

Theresa narrowed her eyes. "No." Theresa said firmly. "I don't have any feelings towards Fox except intense loathing. He hurt me. He used me to get to Whitney."

"Did he admit to that?" Paloma asked.

Theresa thought back to the painful conversation she had with Fox. "Well~" She trailed off.

"Well what?" Paloma prodded.

"I accused him of using me, but he didn't say anything. I took it as a yes."

"So he didn't actually say 'yes.' You just assumed that his silence meant it." Paloma deduced.

Theresa nodded.

"Theresa, you and Fox need to talk." Paloma said. Before Theresa started to protest, Paloma held her hands up. "I know, I know, you hate his guts, but you have to speak to him eventually."

Theresa looked away. Her mind was swimming with thoughts. "Talk to Fox?" She thought to herself. "How can I do that?"

"I understand that you need time to yourself right now to sort out everything, and Tia Maria, Tio Francisco, and I will give you that space so that you can find yourself. But Theresa, eventually you're going to have to go back to Harmony. And eventually you're going to have to face the people that have hurt you."

Theresa remained silent and avoided her sister's gaze. "Think about it, Theresa." Paloma said quietly. She got up and went to the door.

"Paloma," Theresa called softly.

"Hm?" Paloma asked turning around.

"What did Fox say?" Theresa asked.

"I knew she was going to ask." Paloma thought to herself. "Why? Does it really matter to you what he said?"

"I- I was just curious," Theresa replied quietly.

"Well, he really wants to speak to you." Paloma responded. "He wants to make things right between you two."

"Oh." Theresa responded.

"Yeah." Paloma said. "I'll be in the living room if you need me." Paloma shut the door quietly leaving Theresa alone with her conflicting emotions.

Theresa rubbed her tired eyes. She was exhausted and decided to lie down for awhile. Once Theresa's head hit the pillow, she found herself sinking into a realm of dreams.

"Theresa," She heard someone call softly. "Theresa,"

Theresa opened her eyes slowly. She jumped up quickly when she realized who was calling her name. "Fox," She said shakily. "What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"

"I wanted to find you Theresa." Fox replied moving closer.

"Don't." Theresa whispered hoarsely as Fox reached out to touch her.

"Theresa, I'm sorry." Fox said. "Please, you have to forgive me. I was such a fool."

"You betrayed me." Theresa replied. "You used me."

"No~" Fox said. "It's not like that. I love you Theresa."

"What?" Theresa said disbelievingly. "You love me?"

"It was you all along." Fox replied.

"Me?"

"Yes," Fox said moving closer. Theresa felt her heart racing nervously. "I love you Theresa," He leaned forward and kissed her gently. When they pulled apart, Theresa stared into Fox's eyes. "Oh Fox."

"It's you, Theresa, Theresa, Theresa~"

"Theresa?"

Theresa opened her eyes and found her sister staring at her with a bemused expression. "What?" Theresa asked.

"You were talking in your sleep." Paloma replied with a smug expression. "You said his name."

"What?" Theresa said appearing to be confused.

"Oh Fox," Paloma repeated exaggeratingly.

Theresa frowned. "I did not say that."

"Oh yes you did." Paloma replied laughing. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" She sang as she danced about the room.

Theresa rolled her eyes. "You're crazy."

"I may be crazy, but you know what? You're in love."