Thanks for the great comments. Here's chapter sixteen. It's another short one, but I had to end it where I did. Enjoy!

"No Strings"

Chapter Sixteen

June nineteenth came quickly for Theresa. She had been so busy getting ready for the latest issue of the magazine that she barely had time for much else. Her and Fox had talked only once since she had sent the email to her friends. He told her that he was going out of town for about a week starting this weekend and that he'd call her when he got back. She had been happy to hear from him, but it had been a pretty short conversation since they were both headed to meetings at the time.

She decided that when he called her after his trip she was going to call things off with them. It was just getting too heartbreaking for her and she felt it was time for her to at least try and move on. Although she knew there was no way she would be dating anytime soon. She was going to miss talking to him, but without knowing for sure when they would see each other again; it was just too much for her to handle.

The morning of the reaffirmation ceremony Theresa picked up her dress from the dry cleaners. After days of deliberation she had decided to wear the dress she had worn to the party in L.A., the dress that Fox had bought for her. Two hours before she was to leave she took a shower and got dressed afterwards. As she slid the dress over her body, the only thing she could think of was the way it had felt when Fox had slid it off her body after the party. She quickly shook the thought out of her head before she ruined her makeup with more tears.

--- --- ---

Theresa walked into St. Margaret Mary's church forty-five minutes before the ceremony was to begin. As she looked around for her family she thought she saw Fox standing at the front of the church.

"Come on Theresa. You haven't seen someone who resembles Fox in days and now you think you see him in church for Gwen and Ethan's wedding? Give me a break," she said to herself. But she just couldn't shake the feeling that the man she saw was Fox, even though she knew it was impossible. She decided to check for herself and was just about to walk up front when someone grabbed her arm and she jumped.

"Theresa, Gwen wants to see you," Sheridan Crane Lopez-Fitzgerald said when she turned around.

"Sheridan, you nearly gave me a heart attack," she said holding her hand to her chest to calm herself down.

"Sorry, I just didn't want to holler your name in church," she said with an apologetic smile.

Theresa followed her sister-in-law to a large room in the back of the church where Gwen was getting ready. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Gwen inside.

"Gwen, you look absolutely breathtaking," she said taking in the long ivory dress Gwen was wearing.

"Thanks Theresa. You look stunning yourself. I hope you don't plan on showing me up," she said with a laugh.

"I don't think I could. You are such a beautiful bride."

They hugged each other and then Theresa asked what Gwen needed her for.

"Well, Ethan's half-brother Nicholas came to town for the wedding, but he doesn't have a date. So Ethan and I were wondering if you'd mind accompanying him to the reception. I noticed that you put on your RSVP that it would just be you, so I thought…"

"Yeah, sure Gwen. I mean, he's a Crane. Gotta be a good-looking guy, right?" Theresa said with a laugh. "Besides, how could I turn down a request from the bride on her big day?"

"Oh thank you so much Theresa. Ethan and I really appreciate you doing this."

"It's not a problem. Now, I better go find myself a seat before the place fills up."

They shared another hug and then Theresa went out the door, shutting it behind her so Ethan wouldn't walk by and catch a peek of Gwen before the ceremony.

--- --- ---

Fox watched the short, but beautiful ceremony for Ethan and Gwen. He may not have gotten along with his half-brother when they were younger, but both had changed so much in the last couple years that things had gotten better between them. When Ethan had found out that he wasn't a Crane, Fox had felt really bad for him. He knew how much Ethan had loved being a part of the family, and it wasn't just because of the money and other perks that came with being a Crane.

As the ceremony came to an end Fox stood up with the others and applauded the happy couple as they walked down the aisle to the back of the church. Once they were outside and headed off to spend a little time alone before the reception; he followed the rest of the crowd as they too went outside.

He lagged behind a bit so he wouldn't be trampled in the horde of people. And just as he reached the back row he bumped into someone. He reached out to grab a hold of their arm so they wouldn't fall and realized it was a woman.

"I'm so sorry Miss. I wasn't paying attention."

"It's alright, I wasn't…" she trailed off as she lifted her head and caught his gaze. "Fox," she said softly.

"Theresa."

--- --- ---

Theresa couldn't believe it when she looked up into the eyes of the man she had bumped into. They were the same warm brown eyes she had seen in L.A. at the bistro and throughout the week she had been there.

"Fox," she said softly. She was sure her mind was playing tricks on her and was just about to talk herself into that possibility when he spoke.

"Theresa."

She was about to ask him what he was doing in Harmony and especially at Ethan and Gwen's wedding when she felt dizzy and her legs gave out.


Please review. I love hearing feedback.