Chapter Eight

Strange Similarities

Puzzlement stirred within Theresa's eyes as she stared at the stranger who recently entered the room. "How did you know my name?" She repeated again demandingly. Crossing her arms and straightening her posture, Theresa appeared to be on the defensive. Although the stranger seemed a bit withdrawn, he was audacious enough to leave his unfaltering gaze centered on only Theresa. Despite the uneasy feelings concealed within her, Theresa would not allow herself to appear vulnerable to the total stranger.

Noticing Theresa's tense stance, Dylan cleared his throat loudly in a feeble attempt to slice through the uncomfortable silence settling around the trio. "Uh, there's no need to get so worked up Theresa. Frankly, I wouldn't be so surprised that he knows your name. After all, your name and face always seem to find themselves in all the tabloids." Dylan placed his hands in his pockets while chuckling nervously and warily watching Theresa.

Slightly embarrassed for her rash reaction, Theresa relaxed and sighed. "I'm sorry." She said apologetically. "I've just been so tense with all that's happened," Theresa's voice trailed off as she averted her gaze to the covered window. An overpowering silence settled in the room as Theresa, Dylan, and the stranger all stared at each other uneasily.

Although it made Theresa feel uncomfortable, she could not help but stare at the stranger's piercing gaze. "Why does he seem so familiar?" Theresa wondered to herself. "Those eyes of his"

"Maybe I should do the introducing." Dylan spoke so abruptly that it made Theresa jump slightly. "It seems that my brother here is a little tongue- tied."

'Brother?' Theresa thought to herself. Theresa would have never guessed that the stranger and Dylan were related. There was no resemblance whatsoever that suggested such a thing.

"Theresa, this is my older brother Aaron Banning. Aaron, you of course know Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald."

"Theresa," Aaron said in a deep whispery voice as he extended his hand. Something about Aaron's tone of voice made chills run up and down her spine. "Aaron," Theresa gulped nervously as she tried to decipher the emotions clouding Aaron's gaze.

"Now that the introductions are over, do you think we could go ahead and um" Dylan shifted nervously.

"Visit Fox's grave?" Aaron finished quietly still holding Theresa's hand. Theresa froze in place as the words floated in her ears and sank into her heart. Theresa immediately let go of Aaron's hand as if it were a hot surface that instantly burned once touched. "O-okay." She mumbled softly as she grabbed her purse and stiffly waited for Dylan or Aaron to lead the way. Theresa wanted to believe whole-heartedly that Fox was still alive, but there was no concrete evidence to support her theory. Impatiently, Theresa waited and hoped that her faith would not falter. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult to even attempt to have any faith whatsoever.

"Shall I drive?" Dylan asked Aaron quietly. Aaron gave his brother a nod of agreement as he led the way through the hallway and down the Crane mansion steps. "Oh my," Theresa heard Rebecca squeal as she bumped into Aaron. "Now who is this handsome stranger?"

Instantly sickened with the sight of Rebecca flirting with Aaron, Theresa rolled her eyes and fought the urge to hurl. "Does she always act this ridiculous?" Dylan whispered in Theresa's ear.

"Rebecca always takes every opportune moment to flirt with any man." Theresa said loudly as she eyed Rebecca with a disgusted gaze.

"Ugh." Rebecca huffed. "You're just jealous."

"Theresa doesn't have anything to be jealous of," Aaron said pushing Rebecca out of the way. Grinning, Dylan gave Rebecca a wave and ushered Theresa out of the house. "That woman is a trip." Dylan laughed.

"She's a disgrace to all women." Theresa mumbled as she watched Aaron walking a few steps ahead of her. An aura of odd familiarity surrounded Aaron. Simple things like his stride reminded Theresa of Fox. 'I'm being ridiculous." Theresa reprimanded herself. "The only reason why he reminds me of Fox is because I've been thinking about Fox twenty-four seven." Even though Theresa told herself the same thing repeatedly, it still did not extinguish the thought and hope that somehow Aaron was the embodiment of the man she loved.

The sound of Dylan's jingling car keys distracted Theresa momentarily. Politely declining Aaron's signaled invitation to sit in the front; Theresa instead sat behind Dylan who already positioned himself in the driver's seat. A dumbfounded expression crossed Theresa's features as she watched Aaron pass up the front seat to sit with her in the back.

"You just had to sit by the beautiful woman didn't you?" Dylan teased Aaron as he winked at Theresa through the rearview mirror. Theresa blushed slightly and twiddled her thumbs nervously. During the car ride, neither Theresa, or Dylan, or Aaron said a word. Instead they silently listened to the acoustic music streaming from Dylan's car radio. Out of the corner of her eye, Theresa caught glimpses of Aaron trying to casually look her way. Once Theresa mustered enough courage to call Aaron on his attempts to stare at her, Dylan drove slowly through the entrance of the cemetery. Theresa was instantly rendered to complete silence as she stared past the rows of solid gravestones that covered the ground.

After parking the car, Theresa got out and hugged herself tightly. Fox's funeral replayed in her mind as she walked mechanically towards the gravesite. Solemnly Dylan and Aaron followed. Once Theresa reached the stone marker bearing Fox's name, she stopped and wiped the tear that slid out of the corner of her eye. It still felt so surreal. Theresa could not accept the fact that Fox was buried on the ground beneath her feet. She repetitively told herself that it was simply not possible.

"He can't be gone." Theresa said quietly. "He needs to know how I felt."

Dylan placed his hand comfortingly on Theresa's shoulder. "I'm sure he understands."

"Understands what?" Aaron questioned with his eyes bearing a confused look.

"That I love him." Theresa said sighing deeply.

"He knows, Theresa." Aaron said softly. "Trust me, he knows." Theresa closed her eyes and felt a pair of strong hands place themselves comfortingly on her shoulders. Once again familiarity settled within Theresa. Opening her eyes and spinning around, Theresa looked at Aaron curiously. "Who are you really?" She asked.