CH 25-Hurtful Actions
"Ahhh, this is the life! Relaxing, eating junk food, and chilling with one of my buddies watching the game!" Fox grinned over at Luis.
"You got that right, and best of all, NO WOMEN!! Mama isn't here and Paloma went out with her friends, so it's just us boys tonight!!" He laughed, taking a sip of his coke.
"Shhhh," Fox chuckled, glancing up at the stairs. "Your sister will hear us. Plus if she smells any of this food, she'll definitely ask me to get her some."
Luis laughed, remembering how crazy his mother's cravings were when she was pregnant with Miguel.
"How is Theresa by the way?" He looked over at Fox.
"She's ok. Besides the morning sickness, the sudden mood swings, and these recent crazy cravings of hers, I'd say she's doing just great!" He smiled tiredly.
"I hear you buddy!" Luis grinned. "You've definitely been helping her out a lot. I gotta hand it to you though. After our last talk, I didn't think you were going to stick around."
"Yeah well, I didn't want her to have to go through this alone. With Ethan in the hospital, she needed someone to be there for her. Although I was upset with her, apart of me still cared about her and I couldn't let her suffer like that."
"You're a good man, Fox." Luis smiled over at him. "Are you sure you're a Crane?"
"Yeah, I surprise myself sometimes." He smiled, turning his attention to the game.
"You and your aunt are probably the only good ones left of that rotten family." He cursed underneath his breath. "The Cranes, specifically Alistair, have done nothing but cause my family pain. There's no doubt in my mind that he had something to do with my father's disappearance. He's even tried countless times to destroy me and Sheridan's relationship."
"Yeah, Theresa told me that you think Alistair tried to kill her on more than one occasion." Fox looked over at him.
"You're damn right I do." Luis looked at him sternly. "Alistair feels threatened by our relationship, because he knows that I have a good chance of finding out all his dirty secrets. But I don't care what he does; I'm never going to let him take Sheridan away from me. She's my world and I will fight for her with all that I have."
"Love is definitely worth fighting for." Fox admitted. "It's just not easy sometimes."
"No it's not, but if you truly love someone you will never let anything come between the love that you two share." Luis looked over Fox, hoping that he realized he was referring to his relationship with Theresa.
Fox just nodded in response and kept his gaze on the television screen.
Luis looked at his watch and sighed.
"Sorry man, it looks like we may have to end this bonding moment shortly." He stood up from the couch. "I have to go over to Sheridan's to go pick up mama. She went over there to try and show my cooking-challenged wife how to make some Spanish dishes. Sheridan insists on cooking for me one of these days, so I have to go over there to make sure that she hasn't burnt down the cottage."
"Ok man, good luck!" Fox called, as Luis headed out the door. "Knowing my aunt's cooking skills, you're going to need it!"
He heard Luis laugh as he closed the door behind him.
"I guess I should go check on Sleeping Beauty." He smiled to himself, glancing at the stairwell.
He got up from the couch and made his way up the stairs. When he got to Theresa's room, he gently pushed the door open and peaked in. She was supposed to be sound asleep but instead she was fussily tossing and turning.
"Theresa, what's the matter?" He asked, approaching her bed. "I was expecting you to be fast asleep by now."
"Well I would be if I could only get into a comfortable position!" She whined, close to tears. "I don't know what is wrong with them, but the twins keep kicking and it's preventing me from falling asleep! I'm so tired, and these stupid pillows aren't doing their job because my back is killing me! I swear to god Fox, if I don't get some sleep soon, I am going to explode!"
"Alright honey, calm down." He tried to soothe her. "Let Dr. Fox take care of everything."
He carefully lifted her to a sitting position and got behind her. Letting her lean back on his chest, he gently massaged her lower back.
"How does that feel?" He softly asked her.
"That feels nice." She smiled, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."
"It's ok," He grinned, kissing her temple. "I know you didn't mean it." "It's just that this whole pregnancy thing is hard, and I'm so scared that it isn't going to get any easier." She sighed.
"What do you mean?" He looked down at her.
"Well, I've never been a mother before and I guess I'm just scared that I won't be good at it. What if I can't calm the babies down when they start crying? Or what if they get sick? How will I know what to do to make them feel better? I mean, the twins aren't even born yet, and I can't get a decent night's sleep. What's going to happen when they are born? I'll never get any sleep then!" Theresa began to panic.
"Oh my gosh, Theresa are you serious?" Fox looked at her in disbelief. "I can't believe that you are worrying about this. Honey, you are going to do fine! I've never met a more caring and compassionate person than you. Those twins are going to be lucky to have you as their mother. As for not being able to calm them down when they start crying, I know that you will have no problem with that. With your smile, those twins will calm down in an instant. And as for when they get sick, you know you have Dr. Russell nearby. She is an amazing doctor and you can bet that she will give the twins the proper care when they aren't feeling well. Plus, you have me. Whenever you feel like taking a break from the twins, you can always drop them off with me and I'll be happy to do the baby-sitting thing! So don't worry that pretty little head of yours. Everything will be fine."
Fox stopped rubbing her back and slipped from under her. He fluffed the pillows and laid Theresa back down.
"Now I'm not sure about when the twins are born, but for now I think I can take care of your sleeping problem." He winked, grabbing a nearby chair.
He placed a hand on her tummy and smiled.
"Hey guys, it's your uncle Fox. How are you two doing in there?" He paused a moment, as if the twins had responded. "Well now that I have your attention, I have a question for you. Why won't you two let your mommy get some sleep? She's really tired, and you guys are having way too much fun in there. So unfortunately, I have to crash your little party. So put down your baby refreshments and rest your little heads because it's bed time."
Theresa giggled as she admiringly watched him continue.
"So here's the deal. I'm going to tell you a bedtime story. That way, you guys can rest and your mommy can finally get her beauty sleep, not that she needs it." He smiled, winking at her.
He cleared his throat, and began telling his story.
"There once was a happy couple, and they were absolutely in love with each other. No matter what they did or where they were, they always had a good time because they were together. They had even dreamed about one day getting married and having children. But until then, they decided to just enjoy each other's company. Things were going so well between them that they couldn't imagine ever parting. However, one day a dark cloud rested above their heads and refused to go away. This cloud was filled with pain and suffering and it brought destruction to those under it. Soon, the happy couple wasn't so happy anymore and they had to part. But they found that even though they were apart, their love kept bringing them back together. It was as if an invisible force was preventing them from being separate. Soon they realized that their love was stronger than they knew and that no matter what problems came their way, they would always find their way back to each other."
Fox smiled and looked up at a teary-eyed Theresa. She just stared at him as he gently rubbed a finger over her tummy.
"I think they're asleep now." He looked up at her.
"Yeah, I think you're right." She whispered, filled with emotion.
"Why don't you try and go back to sleep." He rose from the chair. "I'll go downstairs and get you some warm milk. That should actually help you a little more."
"Ok, thank you." She smiled, still stunned by his story.
He returned her grin and quietly left the room. As soon as he closed the door, Theresa grabbed the phone next to her and dialed Whitney's number.
"Hi Whit?" She excitedly said, when she heard her friend's voice. "Oh my gosh, you'll never guess what Fox just did!"
"What Theresa? What did he do?" Whitney giggled at her friend's eagerness.
"I couldn't fall asleep so he decided to read the twins a bedtime story, only the story was a reflection of our relationship." She explained. "I swear to you Whit, if I wasn't sure then I am definitely sure now. Fox has definitely forgiven me for sleeping with Ethan! That story said it all! He loves me again!"
"Theresa," Whitney sighed.
"What's the matter? Aren't you happy for me?" She frowned.
"Of course I am honey. But even if Fox has forgiven you, things have not changed. You are still pregnant with Ethan's children. You and Fox may have a good relationship now but once Ethan wakes up things are gong to be different." Whitney reminded her.
"I'll deal with that when it happens Whit." She simply responded. "Right now, I just want to concentrate on getting Fox back."
"Theresa the way you're talking, it's as if you don't even want Ethan to come out of his coma."
"Whitney, how can you say that?" She frowned. "Of course I want Ethan to come out of his coma. What kind of monster do you think I am?"
"Well honey, all your talking about is getting back together with Fox and the only way that that can happen is if Ethan is out of the picture. Is that what you really want? For Ethan to stay in his coma, just so you and Fox can be together?"
Theresa just held the phone to her ear dumbfounded, as her friend's words struck a nerve. Could Whitney be right? Was she really that horrible?
Meanwhile, downstairs Fox was getting her milk ready in the kitchen. He poured the milk into a glass and placed it in the microwave to warm up. As he waited, he thought about how close him and Theresa were becoming. After everything that happened, he was glad that they could still be as close as they were with each other. He couldn't hide it any longer. The love was still there and he constantly felt it from her too. Sometimes it was as if nothing bad had happened between them and everything was the way it was before. He longed to hold her in his arms again, just like he used to before this whole mess happened.
"But that can't happen Fox. It's impossible." He reminded himself. "Theresa is still pregnant with Ethan's children. Nothing is going to change that."
He smiled as he imagined them together again. If only that day could actually come. He grabbed the milk from the microwave and left the kitchen. As he made his way up the stairs, he softly blew across the glass in attempts to cool the milk. When he placed his hand on the doorknob, he heard Theresa voice.
"She's probably talking to Whitney." He smiled.
He was just about to walk in and jokingly scold her, when something that she said caught his attention. He stood quietly at the door and listened as she continued.
"Whitney, I'm glad that Ethan is the father of the twins. I've loved him since I was a little girl. Of course I don't regret getting pregnant by him. Honestly, I couldn't ask for a better father for the twins. Ethan is an amazing person..."
Fox immediately felt as though he had been punched in the stomach. He tightened his fists together so hard, that he almost shattered the glass. Cursing underneath his breath, he placed the glass near the door and went back downstairs. He could feel his legs shaking beneath him as he rushed down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Grabbing his jacket he stormed through the front door and got into his car.
He was so angry that he didn't even stay to hear Theresa finish her conversation with Whitney.
"...But you're right Whit, sometimes I wish that Fox was the father of the twins. He has been so supportive lately and I love him for it. He acts like the twins are his own by the way that he talks to them and touches my stomach. Just a couple days ago, he was saying how the twins are going to have the coolest uncle ever. And although he seemed happy to say that, I know that in his heart he wishes that he was their father and so do I. But as you said, I have to accept that it can't happen that way. Ethan is the father and once he wakes up, I have to come to terms with that. But until then, I want to spend as much time with Fox as possible. He has become such an important part of my life and I could never repay him for all the kindness that he has shown me."
Suddenly Theresa realized that Fox had been down in the kitchen for quite a while.
"Whitney, I'll call you back. I'm going to go see what's taking Fox so long." She hung up the phone and carefully got out of bed.
She was just about to go downstairs when she noticed the glass of milk by her door.
"What is that doing there?" She asked herself puzzled.
She went downstairs and yelled Fox's name but got no response. Just when she was about to go crazy, she peered out the window and realized that there was no car in the driveway.
"His car's gone." She said out loud. "I wonder where he went?"
----------------------------------------------
Fox tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he felt his pulse rate increase. He glanced down at the speed meter as the needle climbed to a dangerous level. Pounding his fists hard on the wheel, he cursed underneath his breath.
"Damn it Fox, why did you have to fall for it again?" He yelled at himself through clenched teeth. "You always think that she loves you, when it's so obvious she's still wrapped up with Ethan!"
Snow suddenly dropped down fiercely on his windshield, as he glanced once more at the increasing meter.
"Ok Fox, just because you're pissed doesn't mean you have to go kill yourself." He said out loud, slowing down the car.
He wiped the window with his hand and peered outside to see where he was. A few blocks away he made out what looked like a bar. Swerving the car into the driveway, he got out and went inside. As soon as he got comfortable he began to indulge in drink after drink.
"Having a rough night son?" The bartender came over to him.
"Yeah, you could say that." He grumpily mumbled. "But how about you concentrate on keeping the refreshments coming and less on trying to find out my business?"
The bartender offensively left him alone and attended to other customers, while Fox indulged in another drink. He was so distracted, that he didn't even notice that Paloma was in the same bar sitting at a table with friends, not too far away. As soon as she saw him, she immediately came over.
"Fox? Is that you?" She asked. "I thought I recognized you?"
He glanced up from his drink and looked over his shoulder to see who was talking to him. When he realized that it was Paloma, he annoyingly rolled his eyes.
"Oh, well if it isn't Theresa's baby sister!" He smirked.
"I'm not a baby Fox," She smiled.
"Well, you're definitely not old enough to be in place like this!" He yelled, as the bartender shot him a look.
"Fox, what are you doing?" She exclaimed. "Do you want to get me and my friends kicked out of here?"
"I don't care." He mumbled, finishing the last bit of his beer. "Hey garcon! Would you care to do me the honors?"
He motioned for the bartender to give him another drink, as Paloma watched on.
"Fox, are you ok?" She concernedly asked. "You don't look so good."
"What are you my doctor now?" He rudely responded.
"No, I'm just worried about you." She offensively looked at him.
"Well, thanks but no thanks! Why don't you just go back to your little friends and leave me alone!" He barked.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" She yelled, close to tears. "I was just trying to help!"
"Well I don't need your help!" He shot back.
"Fine!" She screamed, and headed in the opposite direction.
He quickly grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back in front of him.
"Paloma, I'm sorry." He sincerely apologized. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. I'm just having a rough night."
For a moment she just looked at him.
"Well do you want to talk about it?" She asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, I'd like that." He smiled, getting up from the stool.
After paying for his drinks, he took Paloma for a nice long walk. Eventually he found himself at a spot that he used to go to when he was young. He had never been there with anyone, until now.
Paloma followed him through a woodsy path surrounded by many trees and rocks. Eventually the path ended and Fox stopped.
"What is this place?" She asked, coming up behind him.
When she stood beside him, she finally saw the beauty of his secret hiding place. She didn't even realize that they were up so high, but as she stood there looking over the beautiful landscape a smile appeared across her face.
"Oh my gosh, this is beautiful!" She grinned, amazed.
"Yeah, I used to come here when I was a little boy." He told her, sitting on a nearby rock. "It used to soothe my thoughts. Whenever I came here, I felt completely free and peaceful. Nobody ever knew about it, until now."
"You mean, you've never taken anyone up here?" She looked at him shocked. "Not even my sister?"
"Nope," he smiled. "You're the first one."
"Wow," she giggled. "I feel so honored."
He laughed and invited her to sit down next to him. The snow had stopped, and a foggy mist filled the air. Although it was a little chilly, they barely felt the cool breeze. They spent the next few hours talking about different things. It was as if they had been friends forever.
"Fox, have you ever thought about finding that one special someone?" She turned to him.
He took a moment before he answered, as he thought about Theresa.
"Yeah," he smiled. "In fact, I actually thought I found her... but I was mistaken."
"Oh really? How come?"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
"It must be nice though." She smiled, staring of into the distance. "To find that one person that was meant for you. I hope there's someone one out there for me."
"Of course there is Paloma." He looked over at her. "You're sweet, caring and beautiful. There's not a guy in this world that wouldn't fall head over heels for you."
"Thanks Fox." She smiled, once again turning her attention to the sparkling lights below.
He took the time to look at her and grinned. With the cool wind blowing through her hair, she looked absolutely beautiful. For a split second, he even thought he say a little bit of Theresa in her face.
"Do you know you look a lot like your sister?" He moved closer to her.
"I do?" She asked surprised.
"Yeah. You have the same gorgeous brown eyes...and hair...and beautiful smile..." He whispered, lightly brushing a finger over her lips.
He gently ran a hand through her hair and pulled her close to him, as their lips met into a sweet and blissful kiss.
"Ahhh, this is the life! Relaxing, eating junk food, and chilling with one of my buddies watching the game!" Fox grinned over at Luis.
"You got that right, and best of all, NO WOMEN!! Mama isn't here and Paloma went out with her friends, so it's just us boys tonight!!" He laughed, taking a sip of his coke.
"Shhhh," Fox chuckled, glancing up at the stairs. "Your sister will hear us. Plus if she smells any of this food, she'll definitely ask me to get her some."
Luis laughed, remembering how crazy his mother's cravings were when she was pregnant with Miguel.
"How is Theresa by the way?" He looked over at Fox.
"She's ok. Besides the morning sickness, the sudden mood swings, and these recent crazy cravings of hers, I'd say she's doing just great!" He smiled tiredly.
"I hear you buddy!" Luis grinned. "You've definitely been helping her out a lot. I gotta hand it to you though. After our last talk, I didn't think you were going to stick around."
"Yeah well, I didn't want her to have to go through this alone. With Ethan in the hospital, she needed someone to be there for her. Although I was upset with her, apart of me still cared about her and I couldn't let her suffer like that."
"You're a good man, Fox." Luis smiled over at him. "Are you sure you're a Crane?"
"Yeah, I surprise myself sometimes." He smiled, turning his attention to the game.
"You and your aunt are probably the only good ones left of that rotten family." He cursed underneath his breath. "The Cranes, specifically Alistair, have done nothing but cause my family pain. There's no doubt in my mind that he had something to do with my father's disappearance. He's even tried countless times to destroy me and Sheridan's relationship."
"Yeah, Theresa told me that you think Alistair tried to kill her on more than one occasion." Fox looked over at him.
"You're damn right I do." Luis looked at him sternly. "Alistair feels threatened by our relationship, because he knows that I have a good chance of finding out all his dirty secrets. But I don't care what he does; I'm never going to let him take Sheridan away from me. She's my world and I will fight for her with all that I have."
"Love is definitely worth fighting for." Fox admitted. "It's just not easy sometimes."
"No it's not, but if you truly love someone you will never let anything come between the love that you two share." Luis looked over Fox, hoping that he realized he was referring to his relationship with Theresa.
Fox just nodded in response and kept his gaze on the television screen.
Luis looked at his watch and sighed.
"Sorry man, it looks like we may have to end this bonding moment shortly." He stood up from the couch. "I have to go over to Sheridan's to go pick up mama. She went over there to try and show my cooking-challenged wife how to make some Spanish dishes. Sheridan insists on cooking for me one of these days, so I have to go over there to make sure that she hasn't burnt down the cottage."
"Ok man, good luck!" Fox called, as Luis headed out the door. "Knowing my aunt's cooking skills, you're going to need it!"
He heard Luis laugh as he closed the door behind him.
"I guess I should go check on Sleeping Beauty." He smiled to himself, glancing at the stairwell.
He got up from the couch and made his way up the stairs. When he got to Theresa's room, he gently pushed the door open and peaked in. She was supposed to be sound asleep but instead she was fussily tossing and turning.
"Theresa, what's the matter?" He asked, approaching her bed. "I was expecting you to be fast asleep by now."
"Well I would be if I could only get into a comfortable position!" She whined, close to tears. "I don't know what is wrong with them, but the twins keep kicking and it's preventing me from falling asleep! I'm so tired, and these stupid pillows aren't doing their job because my back is killing me! I swear to god Fox, if I don't get some sleep soon, I am going to explode!"
"Alright honey, calm down." He tried to soothe her. "Let Dr. Fox take care of everything."
He carefully lifted her to a sitting position and got behind her. Letting her lean back on his chest, he gently massaged her lower back.
"How does that feel?" He softly asked her.
"That feels nice." She smiled, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."
"It's ok," He grinned, kissing her temple. "I know you didn't mean it." "It's just that this whole pregnancy thing is hard, and I'm so scared that it isn't going to get any easier." She sighed.
"What do you mean?" He looked down at her.
"Well, I've never been a mother before and I guess I'm just scared that I won't be good at it. What if I can't calm the babies down when they start crying? Or what if they get sick? How will I know what to do to make them feel better? I mean, the twins aren't even born yet, and I can't get a decent night's sleep. What's going to happen when they are born? I'll never get any sleep then!" Theresa began to panic.
"Oh my gosh, Theresa are you serious?" Fox looked at her in disbelief. "I can't believe that you are worrying about this. Honey, you are going to do fine! I've never met a more caring and compassionate person than you. Those twins are going to be lucky to have you as their mother. As for not being able to calm them down when they start crying, I know that you will have no problem with that. With your smile, those twins will calm down in an instant. And as for when they get sick, you know you have Dr. Russell nearby. She is an amazing doctor and you can bet that she will give the twins the proper care when they aren't feeling well. Plus, you have me. Whenever you feel like taking a break from the twins, you can always drop them off with me and I'll be happy to do the baby-sitting thing! So don't worry that pretty little head of yours. Everything will be fine."
Fox stopped rubbing her back and slipped from under her. He fluffed the pillows and laid Theresa back down.
"Now I'm not sure about when the twins are born, but for now I think I can take care of your sleeping problem." He winked, grabbing a nearby chair.
He placed a hand on her tummy and smiled.
"Hey guys, it's your uncle Fox. How are you two doing in there?" He paused a moment, as if the twins had responded. "Well now that I have your attention, I have a question for you. Why won't you two let your mommy get some sleep? She's really tired, and you guys are having way too much fun in there. So unfortunately, I have to crash your little party. So put down your baby refreshments and rest your little heads because it's bed time."
Theresa giggled as she admiringly watched him continue.
"So here's the deal. I'm going to tell you a bedtime story. That way, you guys can rest and your mommy can finally get her beauty sleep, not that she needs it." He smiled, winking at her.
He cleared his throat, and began telling his story.
"There once was a happy couple, and they were absolutely in love with each other. No matter what they did or where they were, they always had a good time because they were together. They had even dreamed about one day getting married and having children. But until then, they decided to just enjoy each other's company. Things were going so well between them that they couldn't imagine ever parting. However, one day a dark cloud rested above their heads and refused to go away. This cloud was filled with pain and suffering and it brought destruction to those under it. Soon, the happy couple wasn't so happy anymore and they had to part. But they found that even though they were apart, their love kept bringing them back together. It was as if an invisible force was preventing them from being separate. Soon they realized that their love was stronger than they knew and that no matter what problems came their way, they would always find their way back to each other."
Fox smiled and looked up at a teary-eyed Theresa. She just stared at him as he gently rubbed a finger over her tummy.
"I think they're asleep now." He looked up at her.
"Yeah, I think you're right." She whispered, filled with emotion.
"Why don't you try and go back to sleep." He rose from the chair. "I'll go downstairs and get you some warm milk. That should actually help you a little more."
"Ok, thank you." She smiled, still stunned by his story.
He returned her grin and quietly left the room. As soon as he closed the door, Theresa grabbed the phone next to her and dialed Whitney's number.
"Hi Whit?" She excitedly said, when she heard her friend's voice. "Oh my gosh, you'll never guess what Fox just did!"
"What Theresa? What did he do?" Whitney giggled at her friend's eagerness.
"I couldn't fall asleep so he decided to read the twins a bedtime story, only the story was a reflection of our relationship." She explained. "I swear to you Whit, if I wasn't sure then I am definitely sure now. Fox has definitely forgiven me for sleeping with Ethan! That story said it all! He loves me again!"
"Theresa," Whitney sighed.
"What's the matter? Aren't you happy for me?" She frowned.
"Of course I am honey. But even if Fox has forgiven you, things have not changed. You are still pregnant with Ethan's children. You and Fox may have a good relationship now but once Ethan wakes up things are gong to be different." Whitney reminded her.
"I'll deal with that when it happens Whit." She simply responded. "Right now, I just want to concentrate on getting Fox back."
"Theresa the way you're talking, it's as if you don't even want Ethan to come out of his coma."
"Whitney, how can you say that?" She frowned. "Of course I want Ethan to come out of his coma. What kind of monster do you think I am?"
"Well honey, all your talking about is getting back together with Fox and the only way that that can happen is if Ethan is out of the picture. Is that what you really want? For Ethan to stay in his coma, just so you and Fox can be together?"
Theresa just held the phone to her ear dumbfounded, as her friend's words struck a nerve. Could Whitney be right? Was she really that horrible?
Meanwhile, downstairs Fox was getting her milk ready in the kitchen. He poured the milk into a glass and placed it in the microwave to warm up. As he waited, he thought about how close him and Theresa were becoming. After everything that happened, he was glad that they could still be as close as they were with each other. He couldn't hide it any longer. The love was still there and he constantly felt it from her too. Sometimes it was as if nothing bad had happened between them and everything was the way it was before. He longed to hold her in his arms again, just like he used to before this whole mess happened.
"But that can't happen Fox. It's impossible." He reminded himself. "Theresa is still pregnant with Ethan's children. Nothing is going to change that."
He smiled as he imagined them together again. If only that day could actually come. He grabbed the milk from the microwave and left the kitchen. As he made his way up the stairs, he softly blew across the glass in attempts to cool the milk. When he placed his hand on the doorknob, he heard Theresa voice.
"She's probably talking to Whitney." He smiled.
He was just about to walk in and jokingly scold her, when something that she said caught his attention. He stood quietly at the door and listened as she continued.
"Whitney, I'm glad that Ethan is the father of the twins. I've loved him since I was a little girl. Of course I don't regret getting pregnant by him. Honestly, I couldn't ask for a better father for the twins. Ethan is an amazing person..."
Fox immediately felt as though he had been punched in the stomach. He tightened his fists together so hard, that he almost shattered the glass. Cursing underneath his breath, he placed the glass near the door and went back downstairs. He could feel his legs shaking beneath him as he rushed down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Grabbing his jacket he stormed through the front door and got into his car.
He was so angry that he didn't even stay to hear Theresa finish her conversation with Whitney.
"...But you're right Whit, sometimes I wish that Fox was the father of the twins. He has been so supportive lately and I love him for it. He acts like the twins are his own by the way that he talks to them and touches my stomach. Just a couple days ago, he was saying how the twins are going to have the coolest uncle ever. And although he seemed happy to say that, I know that in his heart he wishes that he was their father and so do I. But as you said, I have to accept that it can't happen that way. Ethan is the father and once he wakes up, I have to come to terms with that. But until then, I want to spend as much time with Fox as possible. He has become such an important part of my life and I could never repay him for all the kindness that he has shown me."
Suddenly Theresa realized that Fox had been down in the kitchen for quite a while.
"Whitney, I'll call you back. I'm going to go see what's taking Fox so long." She hung up the phone and carefully got out of bed.
She was just about to go downstairs when she noticed the glass of milk by her door.
"What is that doing there?" She asked herself puzzled.
She went downstairs and yelled Fox's name but got no response. Just when she was about to go crazy, she peered out the window and realized that there was no car in the driveway.
"His car's gone." She said out loud. "I wonder where he went?"
----------------------------------------------
Fox tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he felt his pulse rate increase. He glanced down at the speed meter as the needle climbed to a dangerous level. Pounding his fists hard on the wheel, he cursed underneath his breath.
"Damn it Fox, why did you have to fall for it again?" He yelled at himself through clenched teeth. "You always think that she loves you, when it's so obvious she's still wrapped up with Ethan!"
Snow suddenly dropped down fiercely on his windshield, as he glanced once more at the increasing meter.
"Ok Fox, just because you're pissed doesn't mean you have to go kill yourself." He said out loud, slowing down the car.
He wiped the window with his hand and peered outside to see where he was. A few blocks away he made out what looked like a bar. Swerving the car into the driveway, he got out and went inside. As soon as he got comfortable he began to indulge in drink after drink.
"Having a rough night son?" The bartender came over to him.
"Yeah, you could say that." He grumpily mumbled. "But how about you concentrate on keeping the refreshments coming and less on trying to find out my business?"
The bartender offensively left him alone and attended to other customers, while Fox indulged in another drink. He was so distracted, that he didn't even notice that Paloma was in the same bar sitting at a table with friends, not too far away. As soon as she saw him, she immediately came over.
"Fox? Is that you?" She asked. "I thought I recognized you?"
He glanced up from his drink and looked over his shoulder to see who was talking to him. When he realized that it was Paloma, he annoyingly rolled his eyes.
"Oh, well if it isn't Theresa's baby sister!" He smirked.
"I'm not a baby Fox," She smiled.
"Well, you're definitely not old enough to be in place like this!" He yelled, as the bartender shot him a look.
"Fox, what are you doing?" She exclaimed. "Do you want to get me and my friends kicked out of here?"
"I don't care." He mumbled, finishing the last bit of his beer. "Hey garcon! Would you care to do me the honors?"
He motioned for the bartender to give him another drink, as Paloma watched on.
"Fox, are you ok?" She concernedly asked. "You don't look so good."
"What are you my doctor now?" He rudely responded.
"No, I'm just worried about you." She offensively looked at him.
"Well, thanks but no thanks! Why don't you just go back to your little friends and leave me alone!" He barked.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" She yelled, close to tears. "I was just trying to help!"
"Well I don't need your help!" He shot back.
"Fine!" She screamed, and headed in the opposite direction.
He quickly grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back in front of him.
"Paloma, I'm sorry." He sincerely apologized. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. I'm just having a rough night."
For a moment she just looked at him.
"Well do you want to talk about it?" She asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, I'd like that." He smiled, getting up from the stool.
After paying for his drinks, he took Paloma for a nice long walk. Eventually he found himself at a spot that he used to go to when he was young. He had never been there with anyone, until now.
Paloma followed him through a woodsy path surrounded by many trees and rocks. Eventually the path ended and Fox stopped.
"What is this place?" She asked, coming up behind him.
When she stood beside him, she finally saw the beauty of his secret hiding place. She didn't even realize that they were up so high, but as she stood there looking over the beautiful landscape a smile appeared across her face.
"Oh my gosh, this is beautiful!" She grinned, amazed.
"Yeah, I used to come here when I was a little boy." He told her, sitting on a nearby rock. "It used to soothe my thoughts. Whenever I came here, I felt completely free and peaceful. Nobody ever knew about it, until now."
"You mean, you've never taken anyone up here?" She looked at him shocked. "Not even my sister?"
"Nope," he smiled. "You're the first one."
"Wow," she giggled. "I feel so honored."
He laughed and invited her to sit down next to him. The snow had stopped, and a foggy mist filled the air. Although it was a little chilly, they barely felt the cool breeze. They spent the next few hours talking about different things. It was as if they had been friends forever.
"Fox, have you ever thought about finding that one special someone?" She turned to him.
He took a moment before he answered, as he thought about Theresa.
"Yeah," he smiled. "In fact, I actually thought I found her... but I was mistaken."
"Oh really? How come?"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
"It must be nice though." She smiled, staring of into the distance. "To find that one person that was meant for you. I hope there's someone one out there for me."
"Of course there is Paloma." He looked over at her. "You're sweet, caring and beautiful. There's not a guy in this world that wouldn't fall head over heels for you."
"Thanks Fox." She smiled, once again turning her attention to the sparkling lights below.
He took the time to look at her and grinned. With the cool wind blowing through her hair, she looked absolutely beautiful. For a split second, he even thought he say a little bit of Theresa in her face.
"Do you know you look a lot like your sister?" He moved closer to her.
"I do?" She asked surprised.
"Yeah. You have the same gorgeous brown eyes...and hair...and beautiful smile..." He whispered, lightly brushing a finger over her lips.
He gently ran a hand through her hair and pulled her close to him, as their lips met into a sweet and blissful kiss.