Teresa was expecting a butler to answer the door, not her prince charming himself. He was beautiful. Everything she wanted in her prince. She was entranced in his eyes. She could she that he was living a lie; she wanted to help him escape that lie. But what to do? What could she do? She was their new maid's daughter. Only middle class, not upper class. She would worry about that later, now she wanted to make the most of her time here. Who knows it might be her first and last time here.
"Ah!" Ethan began. "You must be Teresa. Right?"
"Yes." She said politely.
"I'm Ethan Crane. At your service." He introduced himself.
"Teresa Lopez-Fitzgerald."
Ethan took her right hand and kissed it gently. She thought that she was going to faint and make a fool of herself. Luckily she didn't faint.
"Well, let me say on behalf of the Crane family, it's an honor to have you visit."
"You mustn't say that." She said pulling her hand back.
"Why not?" He questioned.
"Because I'm not anyone famous."
"So what? Your an honor to have here. Everyone who enters this house gives us the pleasure of your visit."
"If you say so." She told him to make him happy.
"Come." He said waving her to follow him. "I'll give you a tour of the house."
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Crane."
"Please. Call me Ethan."
"Okay, Ethan." She said smiling brightly.
"I can't believe I'm here. In the Crane mansion. I must be the happiest girl in the world. He kissed me! Well maybe just my hand, but it will be something more one day." She thought.
"Care for a drink, Teresa?" He asked her.
"I'm too young." She informed.
"Oh tisk tisk! I think you can have one drink. After all what harm is it?"
"Okay." She said taking the glass from his hand. "What is it? It smells so strong?"
"Vodka. Would you like some o.j. with it?" He offered.
"Is it any good?" She said tilting her drink.
"Have you ever drank before? Anything?"
"No." She said staring down at the floor.
"Don't be ashamed. I'll get get some."
"Ethan."
"Yes." He said turning around.
"This may sound silly, but don't you have a butler or something?" She said laughing.
"Yes, but I'm not lazy. I prefer to do things on my own."
"Oh!" She said.
As soon as he left the room, she had to fan herself.
"Boy, is it getting hot in here!" she said out loud thinking that she was alone.
"Yes, it is." Gwen said making her presence known.
"Oh. It's good to see you, Gwen." Teresa said getting up to hug her.
"Yes. So I see you have met Ethan." Gwen said.
"Oh yes! He is quite the gentleman." Teresa said thinking about him and only him.
"I know. I'm so lucky to be marrying him." Gwen just had to say.
"That's your fiancé?" Teresa asked heartbroken.
"Yes!" Gwen said enthusiastically.
Ethan entered the room.
"Gwen, darling." He said going to kiss her.
"Isn't Teresa so lovely?" She asked him.
"Yes. A real pear. But you," He said putting his index finger on her nose, "are a diamond. Nothing is compared to you."
Teresa just stood there so hurt. In the half an hour she had been there, she had managed to find her prince, fall for her prince, and have her prince break her heart. She wanted to escape. Escape? She had thought about escaping with Ethan earlier. Now she knew that he wasn't her prince. He was Gwen's. Or was he?
"So what were you two doing?" Gwen asked absently.
"Ethan was giving me a tour of the house." Teresa said trying to join the conversation.
"Oh darling, please wait till after dinner. Now, Teresa, follow me. You'll meet our family."
Teresa tried to smile and act like nothing was wrong, but it just wasn't working. Ethan noticed it.
"Are you okay?" He asked holding her back from Gwen.
"Whatever do you mean?" she said putting on an act.
"Teresa, is something bothering you. You were perfectly fine when I left to get the o.j."
"Oh it's just so much to take in." She lied. "I'm just nervous."
"Oh I'm sorry. I should have known."
"It's quite alright, Ethan." Teresa said and left to follow Gwen.
Ethan stayed back.
"That girl is hiding something. What though? I'll find out." He said then running to catch up with the ladies.
"Everyone," Gwen said to a room with three people, "This is Teresa. Remember the lady I was talking about earlier."
"Lady." Teresa thought. "No one has ever called me a lady. I now know that I must leave Ethan alone. Gwen is welcoming me here, accepting me. I must not betray her trust."
"Teresa, this is Ivy, Ethan's mother." Gwen said leading her toward Ivy.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Crane." Teresa said.
"Your such a lovely girl. And please call me Ivy."
"Teresa nodded her head and moved on to meet Mr. Crane.
"This is Julian, Ethan's father."
"You sure are a pretty little girl." He said.
"Thank you, Julian." Teresa said trying to stay away from him. He was smoking a Cuban cigar and his breath smelled just like brandy.
"Finally, this is my mother, Rebecca."
"How do you do?" Teresa asked politely.
"Fine, fine." She answered a little rudely. She didn't trust outsiders easily.
"Well now that everyone is acquainted, how about a drink?" Ethan suggested.
"Sounds nice." Ivy said. "Teresa, how old are you?"
Teresa moved her lips from her glass and said, "I'll be 18 in a week."
"So your still in high school."
"Yes. I'll be finishing school this year."
"I see. So what brings you to Harmony?"
"Ivy." Gwen said angered because she knew why Teresa moved. She thought that Teresa would feel sadden and depressed to talk about it.
"It's okay, Gwen." Teresa told her friend. "Well, my father disappeared with out a trace 6 months ago. Then not so long after that my oldest brother Antonio left. We don't know where he is. My mother knows Grace Bennett, maybe you know her, and she told us that maybe we needed a change. My mother thought so, so we moved here."
Ivy shivered when she heard the name Grace Bennett. Sam Bennett was once the love of her life. How she missed him.
"So sad." Julian said taking a sip of his brandy.
"Yes." Rebecca said absently.
Phyllis the maid then entered the room.
"Dinner is served!" She announced.
Everyone then went into the dinning room. Teresa had never seen such a dinner before. Her eyes lit up when she saw the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It was made of real crystal. There were flowers placed along the table. On each plate, a rose sat. Candles, flowers, what more could there be? She was in heaven.
"I wish this could last forever." She said to herself.
"Don't worry. You'll be here more than one time." Ethan said surprising her.
"Oh." She said taking her seat. "What makes you think so?"
"I know so." He said smiling mysteriously.
Dinner was going so smoothly. Or at least Teresa thought.
"Thisa," Rebecca started.
"Teresa." Ethan corrected her.
"Teresa, do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"Two of each."
"Really." Ivy said. "Are they older or younger?"
"Well, like I said Antonio is the oldest, 30. Luis is next. He's 28. He'll be starting as a cop on Monday. Working with Sam Bennett."
"Oh!" Ivy said. She loved hearing things about Sam.
"The there's me. Miguel is next then. He's 16. Then my youngest sister, Paloma, she lives with my aunt in Spain. When my father and brother left, Mama couldn't afford enough to help feed all of us. She's 10. A real doll."
"Sounds like you have a good, strong family." Ivy said smiling and sympathizing with Teresa.
"I do. I'm lucky to have them."
"Would you like another drink?" Julian asked her.
"Yes, please."
By now she was starting to get tipsy.
"Teresa, you don't have a job do you?" Ivy inquired.
"Not yet." She informed her.
"Well I was wondering if you would like to be an assistant to me. You could come after school. And it would help give you little extra money."
"Ivy, that's very kind of you. I would love to."
"Good. I'll call you tonight to tell you the details."
Teresa nodded her head. Dinner was done now. They all went into the living room.
"Let's all dance." Ethan said trying to find some good music. "I could sure use Chad's help right now." He said laughing. "Here we go." Smiling now that he found a good song.
"Ivy, care to dance?" Julian asked.
"Of course." She said getting up to dance.
Ethan asked Rebecca, but she refused. She said that she was tired and that she wanted to leave. She said her goodbyes to them all.
"Gwen, care to dance?" He asked his fiancé.
"Ethan, I'm going to go home myself. I'm also tired." she said out loud. But she whispered, "Dance with Teresa."
Gwen also said her goodbyes and left.
"Well, Teresa. Would you like to dance?"
"Yes."
A new song began.
It's like jumpin
It's like leapin
It's like walkin on the ceilin
It's like floatin
It's like flyin through the air
It's like soarin
It's like glidin
It's a rocket ship you're ridin
It's a feelin that can take you anywhere
So why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
I don't know
"I can't believe I'm dancing with him. Oh stop it, Teresa! He's taken. You thought he was your prince, but he's not. All you'll ever be is friends." She thought.
There was passion
There was laughter
The first mornin after
I just couldn't get my feet to touch the ground
Every time we were together
We talked about forever
I was certain it was Heaven we had found
So why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
I don't know
But you can't live your life
Walkin in the clouds
Sooner or later
You have to come down
It's like a knife
Through the heart
And it all comes apart
It's like someone takes a pin to your balloon
It's a hole
It's a cave
It's kinda like a grave
When he tells you that he's found somebody new
"This is so hard. I love him. I have to leave." She told herself.
And why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
Now I know
Ooh, why they call it falling
Why they call it falling
Now I know
"Thank you all for inviting me. It was a real pleasure meeting you all. I must be leaving though. Good night." Teresa said holding back tears.
She ran out of the mansion without looking back. She ended up at the wharf. She couldn't go home yet. She sat on the bench crying so hard. She felt someone place a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw it was him. She could tell it was him, even through all her tears.
"Hi, Teresa." He said softly.
"Ethan, what are you doing here?"
"I knew that you were upset, and I wanted to come and see if I could help you."
"That's so thoughtful of you, but I assure you, Ethan, I'll be fine."
"Listen how about a drink. It will help you relax." Ethan said pulling out a bottle of vodka and a carton of o.j.
"You think of everything." She said laughing.
They finished the bottle around midnight. Teresa was drunk by then. Ethan though wasn't even tipsy. He could stand a lot.
"Let me take you home." He said.
Trying to stand straight she said, "Mama, I wanna stay home and bake cookies with you."
Ethan just laughed. He had gotten her drunk. He then realized that she was 18 and her brother was a cop.
"I better get you home now." He told himself. But there was one problem. "Where does she live?"
"Ah!" Ethan began. "You must be Teresa. Right?"
"Yes." She said politely.
"I'm Ethan Crane. At your service." He introduced himself.
"Teresa Lopez-Fitzgerald."
Ethan took her right hand and kissed it gently. She thought that she was going to faint and make a fool of herself. Luckily she didn't faint.
"Well, let me say on behalf of the Crane family, it's an honor to have you visit."
"You mustn't say that." She said pulling her hand back.
"Why not?" He questioned.
"Because I'm not anyone famous."
"So what? Your an honor to have here. Everyone who enters this house gives us the pleasure of your visit."
"If you say so." She told him to make him happy.
"Come." He said waving her to follow him. "I'll give you a tour of the house."
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Crane."
"Please. Call me Ethan."
"Okay, Ethan." She said smiling brightly.
"I can't believe I'm here. In the Crane mansion. I must be the happiest girl in the world. He kissed me! Well maybe just my hand, but it will be something more one day." She thought.
"Care for a drink, Teresa?" He asked her.
"I'm too young." She informed.
"Oh tisk tisk! I think you can have one drink. After all what harm is it?"
"Okay." She said taking the glass from his hand. "What is it? It smells so strong?"
"Vodka. Would you like some o.j. with it?" He offered.
"Is it any good?" She said tilting her drink.
"Have you ever drank before? Anything?"
"No." She said staring down at the floor.
"Don't be ashamed. I'll get get some."
"Ethan."
"Yes." He said turning around.
"This may sound silly, but don't you have a butler or something?" She said laughing.
"Yes, but I'm not lazy. I prefer to do things on my own."
"Oh!" She said.
As soon as he left the room, she had to fan herself.
"Boy, is it getting hot in here!" she said out loud thinking that she was alone.
"Yes, it is." Gwen said making her presence known.
"Oh. It's good to see you, Gwen." Teresa said getting up to hug her.
"Yes. So I see you have met Ethan." Gwen said.
"Oh yes! He is quite the gentleman." Teresa said thinking about him and only him.
"I know. I'm so lucky to be marrying him." Gwen just had to say.
"That's your fiancé?" Teresa asked heartbroken.
"Yes!" Gwen said enthusiastically.
Ethan entered the room.
"Gwen, darling." He said going to kiss her.
"Isn't Teresa so lovely?" She asked him.
"Yes. A real pear. But you," He said putting his index finger on her nose, "are a diamond. Nothing is compared to you."
Teresa just stood there so hurt. In the half an hour she had been there, she had managed to find her prince, fall for her prince, and have her prince break her heart. She wanted to escape. Escape? She had thought about escaping with Ethan earlier. Now she knew that he wasn't her prince. He was Gwen's. Or was he?
"So what were you two doing?" Gwen asked absently.
"Ethan was giving me a tour of the house." Teresa said trying to join the conversation.
"Oh darling, please wait till after dinner. Now, Teresa, follow me. You'll meet our family."
Teresa tried to smile and act like nothing was wrong, but it just wasn't working. Ethan noticed it.
"Are you okay?" He asked holding her back from Gwen.
"Whatever do you mean?" she said putting on an act.
"Teresa, is something bothering you. You were perfectly fine when I left to get the o.j."
"Oh it's just so much to take in." She lied. "I'm just nervous."
"Oh I'm sorry. I should have known."
"It's quite alright, Ethan." Teresa said and left to follow Gwen.
Ethan stayed back.
"That girl is hiding something. What though? I'll find out." He said then running to catch up with the ladies.
"Everyone," Gwen said to a room with three people, "This is Teresa. Remember the lady I was talking about earlier."
"Lady." Teresa thought. "No one has ever called me a lady. I now know that I must leave Ethan alone. Gwen is welcoming me here, accepting me. I must not betray her trust."
"Teresa, this is Ivy, Ethan's mother." Gwen said leading her toward Ivy.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Crane." Teresa said.
"Your such a lovely girl. And please call me Ivy."
"Teresa nodded her head and moved on to meet Mr. Crane.
"This is Julian, Ethan's father."
"You sure are a pretty little girl." He said.
"Thank you, Julian." Teresa said trying to stay away from him. He was smoking a Cuban cigar and his breath smelled just like brandy.
"Finally, this is my mother, Rebecca."
"How do you do?" Teresa asked politely.
"Fine, fine." She answered a little rudely. She didn't trust outsiders easily.
"Well now that everyone is acquainted, how about a drink?" Ethan suggested.
"Sounds nice." Ivy said. "Teresa, how old are you?"
Teresa moved her lips from her glass and said, "I'll be 18 in a week."
"So your still in high school."
"Yes. I'll be finishing school this year."
"I see. So what brings you to Harmony?"
"Ivy." Gwen said angered because she knew why Teresa moved. She thought that Teresa would feel sadden and depressed to talk about it.
"It's okay, Gwen." Teresa told her friend. "Well, my father disappeared with out a trace 6 months ago. Then not so long after that my oldest brother Antonio left. We don't know where he is. My mother knows Grace Bennett, maybe you know her, and she told us that maybe we needed a change. My mother thought so, so we moved here."
Ivy shivered when she heard the name Grace Bennett. Sam Bennett was once the love of her life. How she missed him.
"So sad." Julian said taking a sip of his brandy.
"Yes." Rebecca said absently.
Phyllis the maid then entered the room.
"Dinner is served!" She announced.
Everyone then went into the dinning room. Teresa had never seen such a dinner before. Her eyes lit up when she saw the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It was made of real crystal. There were flowers placed along the table. On each plate, a rose sat. Candles, flowers, what more could there be? She was in heaven.
"I wish this could last forever." She said to herself.
"Don't worry. You'll be here more than one time." Ethan said surprising her.
"Oh." She said taking her seat. "What makes you think so?"
"I know so." He said smiling mysteriously.
Dinner was going so smoothly. Or at least Teresa thought.
"Thisa," Rebecca started.
"Teresa." Ethan corrected her.
"Teresa, do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"Two of each."
"Really." Ivy said. "Are they older or younger?"
"Well, like I said Antonio is the oldest, 30. Luis is next. He's 28. He'll be starting as a cop on Monday. Working with Sam Bennett."
"Oh!" Ivy said. She loved hearing things about Sam.
"The there's me. Miguel is next then. He's 16. Then my youngest sister, Paloma, she lives with my aunt in Spain. When my father and brother left, Mama couldn't afford enough to help feed all of us. She's 10. A real doll."
"Sounds like you have a good, strong family." Ivy said smiling and sympathizing with Teresa.
"I do. I'm lucky to have them."
"Would you like another drink?" Julian asked her.
"Yes, please."
By now she was starting to get tipsy.
"Teresa, you don't have a job do you?" Ivy inquired.
"Not yet." She informed her.
"Well I was wondering if you would like to be an assistant to me. You could come after school. And it would help give you little extra money."
"Ivy, that's very kind of you. I would love to."
"Good. I'll call you tonight to tell you the details."
Teresa nodded her head. Dinner was done now. They all went into the living room.
"Let's all dance." Ethan said trying to find some good music. "I could sure use Chad's help right now." He said laughing. "Here we go." Smiling now that he found a good song.
"Ivy, care to dance?" Julian asked.
"Of course." She said getting up to dance.
Ethan asked Rebecca, but she refused. She said that she was tired and that she wanted to leave. She said her goodbyes to them all.
"Gwen, care to dance?" He asked his fiancé.
"Ethan, I'm going to go home myself. I'm also tired." she said out loud. But she whispered, "Dance with Teresa."
Gwen also said her goodbyes and left.
"Well, Teresa. Would you like to dance?"
"Yes."
A new song began.
It's like jumpin
It's like leapin
It's like walkin on the ceilin
It's like floatin
It's like flyin through the air
It's like soarin
It's like glidin
It's a rocket ship you're ridin
It's a feelin that can take you anywhere
So why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
I don't know
"I can't believe I'm dancing with him. Oh stop it, Teresa! He's taken. You thought he was your prince, but he's not. All you'll ever be is friends." She thought.
There was passion
There was laughter
The first mornin after
I just couldn't get my feet to touch the ground
Every time we were together
We talked about forever
I was certain it was Heaven we had found
So why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
I don't know
But you can't live your life
Walkin in the clouds
Sooner or later
You have to come down
It's like a knife
Through the heart
And it all comes apart
It's like someone takes a pin to your balloon
It's a hole
It's a cave
It's kinda like a grave
When he tells you that he's found somebody new
"This is so hard. I love him. I have to leave." She told herself.
And why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
Why they call it fallin
Now I know
Ooh, why they call it falling
Why they call it falling
Now I know
"Thank you all for inviting me. It was a real pleasure meeting you all. I must be leaving though. Good night." Teresa said holding back tears.
She ran out of the mansion without looking back. She ended up at the wharf. She couldn't go home yet. She sat on the bench crying so hard. She felt someone place a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw it was him. She could tell it was him, even through all her tears.
"Hi, Teresa." He said softly.
"Ethan, what are you doing here?"
"I knew that you were upset, and I wanted to come and see if I could help you."
"That's so thoughtful of you, but I assure you, Ethan, I'll be fine."
"Listen how about a drink. It will help you relax." Ethan said pulling out a bottle of vodka and a carton of o.j.
"You think of everything." She said laughing.
They finished the bottle around midnight. Teresa was drunk by then. Ethan though wasn't even tipsy. He could stand a lot.
"Let me take you home." He said.
Trying to stand straight she said, "Mama, I wanna stay home and bake cookies with you."
Ethan just laughed. He had gotten her drunk. He then realized that she was 18 and her brother was a cop.
"I better get you home now." He told himself. But there was one problem. "Where does she live?"