22
Both Theresa and Fox were rendered into silence, but words were not necessary to convey their feelings. The looks etched upon their features accurately reflected the emotions stirring within them both and replaced the void of silence that resulted from the absence of the exchange of words. Fox gently embraced Theresa, holding her tightly and protectively against him. Theresa immediately sank into his arms and sighed contentedly as she gladly wrapped her arms around Fox. The pair's senses and thoughts were only conscious of each other. They did not notice the loudness of the scores of jumbled conversations or feel the chilled temperature of the overly cold airport. The oblivious pair's attention was focused solely on the connection they held. The fact that they were together managed to erase the world around them.
Theresa reluctantly pulled away to gaze into Fox's wonderful brown eyes. Her heart fluttered nervously in her chest as she felt Fox's eyes penetrate her body to reach the depths of her mended soul. Fox's radiating comfort warmed Theresa in ways no one had ever before. Although Theresa found it difficult to discern what she was feeling, she knew that she was no longer being plagued with pessimism. Everything she was feeling was a plethora of glorious emotions that lifted her out of the despair that she had long ago surrendered to. Theresa no longer felt the burden of pain that had been embedded within her heart. The pain had made her stronger. It fueled her with determination to fight the forces that had brought her through a period of misery.
While Theresa was off on her soul-searching journey, Fox went on a thinking expedition of his own. Since the day he had left Mexico, Theresa dominated his every thought. Not a day had gone past that he did not dream of her, for she consumed him in every possible way. Buried within the innermost depths of Fox's heart were his suppressed feelings for Theresa. No longer did he feel the need to mask them with strictly congenial feelings. Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald was more than just a friend. She was his soul-mate.
Fox's index finger tenderly caressed Theresa's cheek leaving her skin tingling at the sensation. With his eyes focused on her lips, Fox traced them slowly. Theresa reached for his hand to stop him knowing exactly what she wanted to do. Staring at her intently, Fox watched Theresa knowing full well what she was about to do. Closing her eyes and tilting her head upwards, Theresa's lips beckoned to be kissed. Silently complying with her request, Fox lowered his lips to softly join with Theresa's.
Theresa was filled with elation as she kissed Fox. Heightened emotions continued to flow freely through them long after the kiss ended. With a smile tugging at Fox's lips, he pulled Theresa into another embrace. Fox treasured the feeling of Theresa in his arms. Like pieces of a puzzle, they perfectly fit into each others arms. Theresa's long silky hair tickled Fox's chin. It did not matter if a thousand other girls wore the same perfume, the mesmerizing scent of Theresa's perfume was an aroma distinctly her own.
Theresa and Fox stood holding each other both unmoving- afraid to let each other go. Pilar watched her daughter with a look of awe on her face. She could not help but think of her own husband, Martin, and how he would hold her the same way Fox held his beloved Theresa. Pilar silently hoped that her daughter finally found the happiness she was desperately searching for.
After greeting everyone, Paloma turned to glance at her sister. With a huge grin plastered on her face she nudged her brothers Miguel and Luis and pointed in Theresa's direction. Those who had come to welcome the Lopez- Fitzgerald sisters also focused their gazes of admiration towards the couple. A loud "Aw" from the small crowd watching Theresa and Fox prompted them to pull away slightly. They looked in the direction of their audience who all had wide grins on their faces. Fox, in a good natured mood, bowed before his audience jokingly. Theresa laughed heartily as she took his hand in her own and walked over to her family.
After returning to the Lopez-Fitzgerald home, family and friends gathered for a celebration for Theresa and Paloma's return to Harmony. Laughter, music, and the wonderful aroma of Pilar's cooking wafted throughout the house. Theresa stepped back observing and contemplating the scene before her. Everything seemed perfect, and Theresa was thankful that she finally returned home. Although she was happy, Theresa still felt a pang of sadness because she could not share the moment with her son. A sad smile overcame her features as she thought about Ethan Martin. Feeling a familiar touch of hands upon her shoulders, Theresa leaned back onto Fox. "Enjoying yourself?" Fox whispered into her ear as his arms wrapped themselves around Theresa's slender body. Theresa placed her hands over Fox's and sighed. "Yeah, but I wish Ethan Martin were here to share it with me." Fox pulled away and turned Theresa to face him. "Is that's what's been bugging you?" He asked tilting Theresa's head so that her eyes looked into his. "I noticed that something was wrong by that look on your face." Theresa nodded as a single tear slid slowly down her cheek. After wiping it away quickly, Fox wrapped his arms around Theresa and held her firmly against him. "I think I have something to make you feel better." He said softly.
Reaching for Theresa's hand, Fox motioned for Theresa to follow him outside. The sun was already casting the last of its orange glow across the already darkening sky. The serene atmosphere enveloped the couple as they walked down the back steps to the swing positioned directly by the tiny garden. Crickets were already serenading Theresa and Fox as the couple sat down. Theresa leaned her head on Fox's shoulder as they silently took in their surroundings. "Thank you, Fox." Theresa said quietly. "This is perfect." "I'm glad you like it," Fox said kissing before kissing Theresa on the forehead. "However, this wasn't all that I had planned." Slowly sitting up, Theresa glanced at Fox with a surprised expression.
With a questioning look in her eyes, Theresa wondered what Fox was concealing. "What else could there possibly be?" She asked. Instead of responding verbally to her question, Fox offered a wide Cheshire grin which only provoked Theresa's curiosity. "Fox?" Theresa asked tilting her head. "Just close your eyes." Fox said. "And don't peek." He playfully added. Theresa did as she was told and ached to know what Fox was up to. Theresa felt the swing shift as Fox stood up. Hearing his footsteps walk in the opposite direction, Theresa was tempted to open her eyes to find out where Fox had walked off to.
The stray hairs that escaped from Theresa's ponytail danced in the gentle wind and tickled her face while the sound of excited whispers drifted to her ears. "What's going on?" She wondered aloud. As Theresa impatiently waited for Fox to return, she heard the distinct shuffling of small feet against the grass. A pair of tiny hands placed themselves on Theresa's eyes. "Guess who?" A little boy giggled.
"My little boy!" Theresa squealed with delight as she turned to face her son. Grinning, Ethan Martin offered the small bouquet of flowers handpicked from the Lopez-Fitzgerald garden. "These are for you Mommy," He said. Tears of joy pooled in Theresa's eyes as she gratefully accepted the gift. She invitingly extended her arms to embrace her young son. "Thank you, sweetheart. I love them." Ethan Martin clutched his mother tightly. "I missed you," He said, his voice slightly muffled against Theresa's hair. "I missed you too." Theresa replied holding her son even more tightly. Fox stood off in the distance admiring the moment between Theresa and her son. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched the pair begin to talk excitedly. While Ethan Martin talked about his newest toy that he received, Theresa quickly glanced in Fox's direction. "Thank you," She mouthed- offering Fox a smile.
"Anything for you, Theresa," Fox whispered as he blew a kiss before walking back up to the house.
Both Theresa and Fox were rendered into silence, but words were not necessary to convey their feelings. The looks etched upon their features accurately reflected the emotions stirring within them both and replaced the void of silence that resulted from the absence of the exchange of words. Fox gently embraced Theresa, holding her tightly and protectively against him. Theresa immediately sank into his arms and sighed contentedly as she gladly wrapped her arms around Fox. The pair's senses and thoughts were only conscious of each other. They did not notice the loudness of the scores of jumbled conversations or feel the chilled temperature of the overly cold airport. The oblivious pair's attention was focused solely on the connection they held. The fact that they were together managed to erase the world around them.
Theresa reluctantly pulled away to gaze into Fox's wonderful brown eyes. Her heart fluttered nervously in her chest as she felt Fox's eyes penetrate her body to reach the depths of her mended soul. Fox's radiating comfort warmed Theresa in ways no one had ever before. Although Theresa found it difficult to discern what she was feeling, she knew that she was no longer being plagued with pessimism. Everything she was feeling was a plethora of glorious emotions that lifted her out of the despair that she had long ago surrendered to. Theresa no longer felt the burden of pain that had been embedded within her heart. The pain had made her stronger. It fueled her with determination to fight the forces that had brought her through a period of misery.
While Theresa was off on her soul-searching journey, Fox went on a thinking expedition of his own. Since the day he had left Mexico, Theresa dominated his every thought. Not a day had gone past that he did not dream of her, for she consumed him in every possible way. Buried within the innermost depths of Fox's heart were his suppressed feelings for Theresa. No longer did he feel the need to mask them with strictly congenial feelings. Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald was more than just a friend. She was his soul-mate.
Fox's index finger tenderly caressed Theresa's cheek leaving her skin tingling at the sensation. With his eyes focused on her lips, Fox traced them slowly. Theresa reached for his hand to stop him knowing exactly what she wanted to do. Staring at her intently, Fox watched Theresa knowing full well what she was about to do. Closing her eyes and tilting her head upwards, Theresa's lips beckoned to be kissed. Silently complying with her request, Fox lowered his lips to softly join with Theresa's.
Theresa was filled with elation as she kissed Fox. Heightened emotions continued to flow freely through them long after the kiss ended. With a smile tugging at Fox's lips, he pulled Theresa into another embrace. Fox treasured the feeling of Theresa in his arms. Like pieces of a puzzle, they perfectly fit into each others arms. Theresa's long silky hair tickled Fox's chin. It did not matter if a thousand other girls wore the same perfume, the mesmerizing scent of Theresa's perfume was an aroma distinctly her own.
Theresa and Fox stood holding each other both unmoving- afraid to let each other go. Pilar watched her daughter with a look of awe on her face. She could not help but think of her own husband, Martin, and how he would hold her the same way Fox held his beloved Theresa. Pilar silently hoped that her daughter finally found the happiness she was desperately searching for.
After greeting everyone, Paloma turned to glance at her sister. With a huge grin plastered on her face she nudged her brothers Miguel and Luis and pointed in Theresa's direction. Those who had come to welcome the Lopez- Fitzgerald sisters also focused their gazes of admiration towards the couple. A loud "Aw" from the small crowd watching Theresa and Fox prompted them to pull away slightly. They looked in the direction of their audience who all had wide grins on their faces. Fox, in a good natured mood, bowed before his audience jokingly. Theresa laughed heartily as she took his hand in her own and walked over to her family.
After returning to the Lopez-Fitzgerald home, family and friends gathered for a celebration for Theresa and Paloma's return to Harmony. Laughter, music, and the wonderful aroma of Pilar's cooking wafted throughout the house. Theresa stepped back observing and contemplating the scene before her. Everything seemed perfect, and Theresa was thankful that she finally returned home. Although she was happy, Theresa still felt a pang of sadness because she could not share the moment with her son. A sad smile overcame her features as she thought about Ethan Martin. Feeling a familiar touch of hands upon her shoulders, Theresa leaned back onto Fox. "Enjoying yourself?" Fox whispered into her ear as his arms wrapped themselves around Theresa's slender body. Theresa placed her hands over Fox's and sighed. "Yeah, but I wish Ethan Martin were here to share it with me." Fox pulled away and turned Theresa to face him. "Is that's what's been bugging you?" He asked tilting Theresa's head so that her eyes looked into his. "I noticed that something was wrong by that look on your face." Theresa nodded as a single tear slid slowly down her cheek. After wiping it away quickly, Fox wrapped his arms around Theresa and held her firmly against him. "I think I have something to make you feel better." He said softly.
Reaching for Theresa's hand, Fox motioned for Theresa to follow him outside. The sun was already casting the last of its orange glow across the already darkening sky. The serene atmosphere enveloped the couple as they walked down the back steps to the swing positioned directly by the tiny garden. Crickets were already serenading Theresa and Fox as the couple sat down. Theresa leaned her head on Fox's shoulder as they silently took in their surroundings. "Thank you, Fox." Theresa said quietly. "This is perfect." "I'm glad you like it," Fox said kissing before kissing Theresa on the forehead. "However, this wasn't all that I had planned." Slowly sitting up, Theresa glanced at Fox with a surprised expression.
With a questioning look in her eyes, Theresa wondered what Fox was concealing. "What else could there possibly be?" She asked. Instead of responding verbally to her question, Fox offered a wide Cheshire grin which only provoked Theresa's curiosity. "Fox?" Theresa asked tilting her head. "Just close your eyes." Fox said. "And don't peek." He playfully added. Theresa did as she was told and ached to know what Fox was up to. Theresa felt the swing shift as Fox stood up. Hearing his footsteps walk in the opposite direction, Theresa was tempted to open her eyes to find out where Fox had walked off to.
The stray hairs that escaped from Theresa's ponytail danced in the gentle wind and tickled her face while the sound of excited whispers drifted to her ears. "What's going on?" She wondered aloud. As Theresa impatiently waited for Fox to return, she heard the distinct shuffling of small feet against the grass. A pair of tiny hands placed themselves on Theresa's eyes. "Guess who?" A little boy giggled.
"My little boy!" Theresa squealed with delight as she turned to face her son. Grinning, Ethan Martin offered the small bouquet of flowers handpicked from the Lopez-Fitzgerald garden. "These are for you Mommy," He said. Tears of joy pooled in Theresa's eyes as she gratefully accepted the gift. She invitingly extended her arms to embrace her young son. "Thank you, sweetheart. I love them." Ethan Martin clutched his mother tightly. "I missed you," He said, his voice slightly muffled against Theresa's hair. "I missed you too." Theresa replied holding her son even more tightly. Fox stood off in the distance admiring the moment between Theresa and her son. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched the pair begin to talk excitedly. While Ethan Martin talked about his newest toy that he received, Theresa quickly glanced in Fox's direction. "Thank you," She mouthed- offering Fox a smile.
"Anything for you, Theresa," Fox whispered as he blew a kiss before walking back up to the house.