Chapter 4—Learning all the Facts
(Author's Note: Ok, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry this chapter is so long, let's just say once I started typing, I couldn't stop LOL (. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter).
Once the early morning sun hits through the cabin window, Ethan and Theresa slowly wake up together in each other's arms.
"MM.. Morning, baby." Ethan says as he kisses Theresa softly.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Theresa says with a dreamy smile on her face.
"No way, baby. I'm yours and yours alone, and together, we can overcome anything."
They share a nice long kiss as they begin their day.
"So, what's on the agenda for today, Ethan?" Theresa asks over breakfast.
He takes a deep breath. "Well, as much as I hate to admit it, we have to go back to Harmony. There are some people, namely my mother, who I need to talk to."
"Baby, are you sure you're ready for this?"
"I have no other choice, Theresa. I mean, I'm not a Crane anymore. It's almost a calming thing to say that, you know? I mean, I used to think that being a Crane was everything. But, boy was I wrong. Look at me, Theresa, I'm truly a Bennett and regardless of that fact, I have to use my talk today with my mother as a means of understanding why she did the things she did."
"Just remember what I told you, I truly believe her motivation was out of love for you." Theresa says encouragingly.
"Well, hopefully today will give me all the answers I need."
Theresa slowly gets up from the table and goes to sit on Ethan's lap. "You do know that whether your name is Crane, Bennett, or Smith for all I care, that I love you for who you are, not for the name you carry."
Ethan smiles as he brushes Theresa's hair away from her shoulder. "Yeah, baby, I know. Which is one of the reasons why I love you so much." He kisses her neck softly.
"One of the reasons? You mean, there's more?!?" Theresa says as they share a laugh together. "Yeah, baby, there are many reasons why I love you. And I swear to you from this day onward, I'm going to do everything I can to show you how much I love you."
"Baby, just having you in my life is proof enough to me that you love me."
Ethan pulls Theresa into a kiss, putting his entire love for her into his kiss.
(Later on in the day)
Ethan and Theresa have come back to Harmony. He dropped her off at her house, and promised he'd come back after his talk with Ivy.
"Please, hear her out before you judge, Ethan. Just make the conversation as smooth as possible." Theresa hugs Ethan close and hopes that all will go well for him and his mother.
"I'll try my best, baby. I'll be here later, okay?"
"I'll be here." She kisses him one last time as she then watches him leave to the Crane mansion.
Once at the mansion, Ethan sits in his car for a moment and looks around him. "You know, it's funny how I thought being a Crane was everything I ever wanted. Boy, how wrong I was. It's not about the money, or the power that can make me happy. It's knowing that I'm a trained lawyer, that I have the heart of the most beautiful girl in Harmony, and that I have true friends to rely on forever." Ethan sighs as he knows he has to start confronting his mother, "well, here goes nothing!"
Ethan makes his way into the mansion, noting that Rebecca, Gwen and Julian are no where to be found, to which he heaves a huge sigh of relief. He asks one of the maids where he could find his mother, and is directed to the library.
"Ethan, darling, what a surprise!" Ivy states as she begins to come toward him.
Ethan puts his hand out to stop her. "I'm not here for hugs and kisses, Mother, I'm here for answers.
Ivy suddenly turns pale, as she realizes her whole world may be coming crashing down on her. "Okay, Ethan, I'm listening." She sits back down at the desk, and watches her son intently.
"First off, I want you to know that I'm staying with Theresa." Ethan begins his talk, staring intently at his mother.
"But, Ethan.." Ivy begins, only to be silenced again by Ethan's hand.
"No interruptions, mother. NONE!" Ethan raises his voice slightly, beginning to feel the weight of all he's learned slowly tear him apart. "Now, you listen, and you listen to me well. You have lied to me for the last 25 years of my life! You KNOW how much I hate when people lie and deceive me, and yet, here you were doing it for all of my life!" Ethan takes a deep breath before continuing, "you know, driving here, I was thinking about what I knew, and I was wondering the whole what-if situations: What if Theresa never found your letter, what if you never told me what my true identity was. You know, it's amazing how one lie can turn your entire life around. Deep in my heart, I know Theresa did not send that letter to the tabloid, and once this is over with, I'm getting to the bottom of all this and finding out who sent the letter to the tabloid after all. But, Mother, you of all people, the woman I trusted with my entire life, hurt me more than words can cure, more than kisses and hugs can make all better. Whether you like it, or not, I'm staying with Theresa. I am going to marry her, have babies with her, and as God is my witness, I am going to be the best damn husband I can be to her, because she deserves that much for all the hurt the Crane family has put her through. You know, it's amazing, I told her this morning how I used to think being a Crane was everything, but you know what, Mother? It's not! Being a Crane is nothing more than some title, and I am far from what the characteristics of a Crane should be. Whether I like it or not, I am Sam Bennett's son. It's going to take some time for me to accept that, but I will. I have no choice. I refuse to live the rest of my life in some cubby hole trying to block the world out. I have too much to live for, and if Theresa will have me for the rest of her life, I have my happiness with her to think of. The only thing I want from you is one answer. Why did you do it? Why did you pass me off as a Crane for the last 25 years of my life?" Ethan takes a big deep breath, as he waits for his mother to answer him.
"God, please help me make my son stop hurting. I know what I did was wrong, but I was only doing it to protect him." Ivy thinks to herself as she slowly faces her son again. "Oh, Ethan. How can I begin to tell you what I did?" Ivy asks.
"Start at the beginning, mother, just give me something to go with." Ethan responds.
"Ethan, when Sam and I first met, I just looked at him and knew. Knew instinctively that I was going to be with him forever. We spent an amazing summer together getting to know each other's thoughts, feelings, dreams and hopes for the future. We realized we were falling in love with each other, and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Unfortunately, that all came to a crashing halt when I was forced by my father, your grandfather, who was Governor at the time, to marry into a rich family all for the sake of society. He tried so many times to break up Sam and I, and I stupidly went along with his plan because I didn't want anything to happen to Sam. The night you were conceived..." Ivy slowly takes a deep breath as she continues, "was the most magical night of my life. I was already married to Julian, but as I came down the stairs that night, I heard him and Alistair talking about how this marriage was nothing but a sham, and that I was always going to be "Ice Princess Ivy" because they bought thought I was so cold. I was mortified. I quickly packed a bag, and called Sam, telling him I needed his help. I was so desperate, I didn't think. I just knew I had to be with him. When we were together at the cabin my father owned, one thing led to another. We both recognized that our love was still as strong as ever. It was that night that you were conceived, Ethan. You were conceived from a great love your father and I shared. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew immediately it was Sam's baby. But, due to the situation I was in, I was forced to pass you off as Julian's child. The heir to the Crane Empire. I knew that what I was doing was wrong, but at the time, I felt that you would gain so much more experience and knowledge from being in the best schools, and having the best jobs."
"Do you realize how prejudice that sounds right now? You're sounding as though at the time, you couldn't accept Sam's job as a police officer because he was from the middle class." Ethan interrupts his mother, as she stared intently at him.
"You're right. I was so selfish at the time. I couldn't give out my secret, because you were the only thing left that I had from my relationship with Sam. I couldn't give up everything. I just couldn't."
"Mother, do you understand what your lie has cost me?" Ethan asks.
"Yes, Ethan, I do. If I could do it all over again, I would have done things so differently. You have been my entire world, Ethan. All I ask of you now is that you be happy with your life choices, and that you someday find it in your heart to forgive me."
Ethan slowly gets up from the couch, as does Ivy. He gives her a hug, and sighs softly. "I love you, Mother. I'm still very hurt, and confused, but I still love you."
He hears Ivy sniff, and then, "Oh, my darling Ethan, I love you to the depths of my soul and back."
Once Ethan is out of the mansion, he sits in his car, as he feels the dam begin to break inside him. He cries for the things he's lost, for his lost sense of self, and most of all for all the hurt and betrayal he's faced. As he slowly calms back down, he comes across a picture of Theresa taped to his dashboard, and smiles, as he realizes that there is one bright spot in his life. He picks up his cell phone to call her, to reassure himself that she loves him."
"Are you okay, baby?" Theresa asks suddenly into the phone.
"How did you know it was me?" Ethan says as a smile begins to cross his face.
"Instincts. Are you okay? Do you need to be alone? I won't mind." Theresa says, trying to help Ethan along the way.
"Baby, I want to see you. I NEED to see you. Just tell me something, please?"
"Anything, baby, anything."
"Do you love me, and I mean me as in the Ethan you know, not the Crane image, or anything like that?" It was silly of him to ask, he knew, but he was at such a low from his talk with his mother, that he needed the reassurance from the one woman in his life he would give his heart for.
"Ethan, My life would not be complete without you in it. You bring me so much happiness, so much joy, and so much love. I love you from the depths of my soul, to the tips of my cute toes." She stops as she hears Ethan laugh, laughs along with him, and then continues, "But in all seriousness, Ethan, I love that you are the most gentle, caring, compassionate, honest and trusting man. You are the love of my life, the joy of my world, and I promise that I will always love you forever."
Ethan smiles as he states, "Just you wait until I get back to your house, and then I'm going to take you in my arms and hold you, kiss you, and show you just how much I love you."
"Promise?"
"I promise. I love you, Theresa."
"And I love you, Ethan. Always and forever."
Coming Up:
Ethan and Theresa reflect on Ivy's talk with Ethan
An investigation for the truth happens
Discoveries and convictions are made
And the wedding of the year takes place.
Please R/R
(Author's Note: Ok, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry this chapter is so long, let's just say once I started typing, I couldn't stop LOL (. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter).
Once the early morning sun hits through the cabin window, Ethan and Theresa slowly wake up together in each other's arms.
"MM.. Morning, baby." Ethan says as he kisses Theresa softly.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Theresa says with a dreamy smile on her face.
"No way, baby. I'm yours and yours alone, and together, we can overcome anything."
They share a nice long kiss as they begin their day.
"So, what's on the agenda for today, Ethan?" Theresa asks over breakfast.
He takes a deep breath. "Well, as much as I hate to admit it, we have to go back to Harmony. There are some people, namely my mother, who I need to talk to."
"Baby, are you sure you're ready for this?"
"I have no other choice, Theresa. I mean, I'm not a Crane anymore. It's almost a calming thing to say that, you know? I mean, I used to think that being a Crane was everything. But, boy was I wrong. Look at me, Theresa, I'm truly a Bennett and regardless of that fact, I have to use my talk today with my mother as a means of understanding why she did the things she did."
"Just remember what I told you, I truly believe her motivation was out of love for you." Theresa says encouragingly.
"Well, hopefully today will give me all the answers I need."
Theresa slowly gets up from the table and goes to sit on Ethan's lap. "You do know that whether your name is Crane, Bennett, or Smith for all I care, that I love you for who you are, not for the name you carry."
Ethan smiles as he brushes Theresa's hair away from her shoulder. "Yeah, baby, I know. Which is one of the reasons why I love you so much." He kisses her neck softly.
"One of the reasons? You mean, there's more?!?" Theresa says as they share a laugh together. "Yeah, baby, there are many reasons why I love you. And I swear to you from this day onward, I'm going to do everything I can to show you how much I love you."
"Baby, just having you in my life is proof enough to me that you love me."
Ethan pulls Theresa into a kiss, putting his entire love for her into his kiss.
(Later on in the day)
Ethan and Theresa have come back to Harmony. He dropped her off at her house, and promised he'd come back after his talk with Ivy.
"Please, hear her out before you judge, Ethan. Just make the conversation as smooth as possible." Theresa hugs Ethan close and hopes that all will go well for him and his mother.
"I'll try my best, baby. I'll be here later, okay?"
"I'll be here." She kisses him one last time as she then watches him leave to the Crane mansion.
Once at the mansion, Ethan sits in his car for a moment and looks around him. "You know, it's funny how I thought being a Crane was everything I ever wanted. Boy, how wrong I was. It's not about the money, or the power that can make me happy. It's knowing that I'm a trained lawyer, that I have the heart of the most beautiful girl in Harmony, and that I have true friends to rely on forever." Ethan sighs as he knows he has to start confronting his mother, "well, here goes nothing!"
Ethan makes his way into the mansion, noting that Rebecca, Gwen and Julian are no where to be found, to which he heaves a huge sigh of relief. He asks one of the maids where he could find his mother, and is directed to the library.
"Ethan, darling, what a surprise!" Ivy states as she begins to come toward him.
Ethan puts his hand out to stop her. "I'm not here for hugs and kisses, Mother, I'm here for answers.
Ivy suddenly turns pale, as she realizes her whole world may be coming crashing down on her. "Okay, Ethan, I'm listening." She sits back down at the desk, and watches her son intently.
"First off, I want you to know that I'm staying with Theresa." Ethan begins his talk, staring intently at his mother.
"But, Ethan.." Ivy begins, only to be silenced again by Ethan's hand.
"No interruptions, mother. NONE!" Ethan raises his voice slightly, beginning to feel the weight of all he's learned slowly tear him apart. "Now, you listen, and you listen to me well. You have lied to me for the last 25 years of my life! You KNOW how much I hate when people lie and deceive me, and yet, here you were doing it for all of my life!" Ethan takes a deep breath before continuing, "you know, driving here, I was thinking about what I knew, and I was wondering the whole what-if situations: What if Theresa never found your letter, what if you never told me what my true identity was. You know, it's amazing how one lie can turn your entire life around. Deep in my heart, I know Theresa did not send that letter to the tabloid, and once this is over with, I'm getting to the bottom of all this and finding out who sent the letter to the tabloid after all. But, Mother, you of all people, the woman I trusted with my entire life, hurt me more than words can cure, more than kisses and hugs can make all better. Whether you like it, or not, I'm staying with Theresa. I am going to marry her, have babies with her, and as God is my witness, I am going to be the best damn husband I can be to her, because she deserves that much for all the hurt the Crane family has put her through. You know, it's amazing, I told her this morning how I used to think being a Crane was everything, but you know what, Mother? It's not! Being a Crane is nothing more than some title, and I am far from what the characteristics of a Crane should be. Whether I like it or not, I am Sam Bennett's son. It's going to take some time for me to accept that, but I will. I have no choice. I refuse to live the rest of my life in some cubby hole trying to block the world out. I have too much to live for, and if Theresa will have me for the rest of her life, I have my happiness with her to think of. The only thing I want from you is one answer. Why did you do it? Why did you pass me off as a Crane for the last 25 years of my life?" Ethan takes a big deep breath, as he waits for his mother to answer him.
"God, please help me make my son stop hurting. I know what I did was wrong, but I was only doing it to protect him." Ivy thinks to herself as she slowly faces her son again. "Oh, Ethan. How can I begin to tell you what I did?" Ivy asks.
"Start at the beginning, mother, just give me something to go with." Ethan responds.
"Ethan, when Sam and I first met, I just looked at him and knew. Knew instinctively that I was going to be with him forever. We spent an amazing summer together getting to know each other's thoughts, feelings, dreams and hopes for the future. We realized we were falling in love with each other, and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Unfortunately, that all came to a crashing halt when I was forced by my father, your grandfather, who was Governor at the time, to marry into a rich family all for the sake of society. He tried so many times to break up Sam and I, and I stupidly went along with his plan because I didn't want anything to happen to Sam. The night you were conceived..." Ivy slowly takes a deep breath as she continues, "was the most magical night of my life. I was already married to Julian, but as I came down the stairs that night, I heard him and Alistair talking about how this marriage was nothing but a sham, and that I was always going to be "Ice Princess Ivy" because they bought thought I was so cold. I was mortified. I quickly packed a bag, and called Sam, telling him I needed his help. I was so desperate, I didn't think. I just knew I had to be with him. When we were together at the cabin my father owned, one thing led to another. We both recognized that our love was still as strong as ever. It was that night that you were conceived, Ethan. You were conceived from a great love your father and I shared. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew immediately it was Sam's baby. But, due to the situation I was in, I was forced to pass you off as Julian's child. The heir to the Crane Empire. I knew that what I was doing was wrong, but at the time, I felt that you would gain so much more experience and knowledge from being in the best schools, and having the best jobs."
"Do you realize how prejudice that sounds right now? You're sounding as though at the time, you couldn't accept Sam's job as a police officer because he was from the middle class." Ethan interrupts his mother, as she stared intently at him.
"You're right. I was so selfish at the time. I couldn't give out my secret, because you were the only thing left that I had from my relationship with Sam. I couldn't give up everything. I just couldn't."
"Mother, do you understand what your lie has cost me?" Ethan asks.
"Yes, Ethan, I do. If I could do it all over again, I would have done things so differently. You have been my entire world, Ethan. All I ask of you now is that you be happy with your life choices, and that you someday find it in your heart to forgive me."
Ethan slowly gets up from the couch, as does Ivy. He gives her a hug, and sighs softly. "I love you, Mother. I'm still very hurt, and confused, but I still love you."
He hears Ivy sniff, and then, "Oh, my darling Ethan, I love you to the depths of my soul and back."
Once Ethan is out of the mansion, he sits in his car, as he feels the dam begin to break inside him. He cries for the things he's lost, for his lost sense of self, and most of all for all the hurt and betrayal he's faced. As he slowly calms back down, he comes across a picture of Theresa taped to his dashboard, and smiles, as he realizes that there is one bright spot in his life. He picks up his cell phone to call her, to reassure himself that she loves him."
"Are you okay, baby?" Theresa asks suddenly into the phone.
"How did you know it was me?" Ethan says as a smile begins to cross his face.
"Instincts. Are you okay? Do you need to be alone? I won't mind." Theresa says, trying to help Ethan along the way.
"Baby, I want to see you. I NEED to see you. Just tell me something, please?"
"Anything, baby, anything."
"Do you love me, and I mean me as in the Ethan you know, not the Crane image, or anything like that?" It was silly of him to ask, he knew, but he was at such a low from his talk with his mother, that he needed the reassurance from the one woman in his life he would give his heart for.
"Ethan, My life would not be complete without you in it. You bring me so much happiness, so much joy, and so much love. I love you from the depths of my soul, to the tips of my cute toes." She stops as she hears Ethan laugh, laughs along with him, and then continues, "But in all seriousness, Ethan, I love that you are the most gentle, caring, compassionate, honest and trusting man. You are the love of my life, the joy of my world, and I promise that I will always love you forever."
Ethan smiles as he states, "Just you wait until I get back to your house, and then I'm going to take you in my arms and hold you, kiss you, and show you just how much I love you."
"Promise?"
"I promise. I love you, Theresa."
"And I love you, Ethan. Always and forever."
Coming Up:
Ethan and Theresa reflect on Ivy's talk with Ethan
An investigation for the truth happens
Discoveries and convictions are made
And the wedding of the year takes place.
Please R/R