CH 28- Surprises
Just around the corner of the doctor's office, Fox continued his conversation on the phone.
"Yeah baby, I'm really excited about later on too." He smiled into the receiver. "You're going to love what I got you."
He grinned, as heard Paloma get really excited.
"No way, I'm not telling you. You'll just have to wait until I get there."
He slowly glanced up and noticed that Theresa was heading his way.
"Uh Paloma I gotta go, Theresa's here." He quickly responded. "I miss you too. See you soon."
He buried the phone into his pocket and made his way over to her.
"Hey, how did everything go?" He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It was good!" Theresa smiled. "Dr. Anderson said that the twins were doing great and I was doing everything right!"
"See I told you!" He grinned, pulling her in for a hug. "I'm really sorry that I couldn't be there, but I really had to take that call."
Fox closed his eyes as he felt a small twinge of guilt inside. Although he felt bad for lying to her, he knew that taking Paloma's call was the best thing for him to do. Lately he was finding it extremely difficult to forget about his feelings for Theresa. Whenever he tried, something would constantly remind him of the love that they once shared. At least by talking to Paloma, it helped to keep his mind of it. Fox was tired of being hurt by Theresa over and over again. This time he was determined to forget about her and finally move on with his life.
"It's ok," she sadly smiled. "Besides I have the greatest news about the twins!"
"Oh really, what is it?" He excitedly asked.
"Well, Dr Anderson said that—"
Suddenly the ringing of Fox's phone interrupted her.
"I'm so sorry." He mouthed as he put the phone to his ear.
Theresa annoyingly sighed as he once again answered the phone call.
"Fox Crane," He said into the receiver. "Yes sir, I did—uh yes the purchase is going to be in my name but it is to be delivered to a Miss Paloma Lopez- Fitzgerald at the youth centre. Thank you very much, good bye."
"Who was that?" Theresa asked as he hung up the phone.
"Oh, it was just a gentleman confirming a gift I had planned to give Paloma tonight."
"A gift?" Theresa looked at him confused. "You sure are putting a lot of effort into planning Paloma's birthday. Why is that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's just that you two just met a couple of months ago. I don't understand why you're going out of your way for someone that you hardly know." She explained, noticing a bit of anger in his voice.
"Ok first of all, during these past couple of months Paloma and I have actually gotten a lot closer. Secondly, it's just a gift. Why are you acting like it's so wrong?"
Theresa just looked at him speechless. In the back of her mind, she knew exactly why she seemed so suspicious. Ever since she had first seen her sister and Fox kissing in the kitchen, she couldn't help but think that there was something going on between the two of them. However, she forced herself to think otherwise for the sake of the twins, knowing that any type of stress could bring them harm. But the truth was Theresa couldn't bare it if her suspicions were right. The shock alone could do more damage to her than she could ever imagine. Not only could it hurt the babies, but it would also shatter any dreams of her and Fox ever getting back together and Theresa could just not live with that.
"I'm sorry Fox." She heavily sighed. "I don't know why I just acted like that. Of course there's nothing wrong with you giving a gift to my sister. I mean, it IS her birthday!"
"It's ok." He smiled and glanced down at his watch. "But we should probably hurry if we want to make it to the youth centre in time."
"Good idea!" She lightly giggled.
As she followed him out the door, she realized that she didn't even get a chance to tell him the good news about one of the twins being a girl.
"Oh well," she whispered to herself. "I can just tell everyone when we get to the party. It'll be perfect. First Paloma will share her surprise with the family and then I'll share mine. It looks like today is going to be just filled with surprises!"
-----------------------------------------------------------
At the youth centre, Miguel and Luis had just finished hanging up the "Happy Birthday" banner across the doorway.
"Alright girls how does that look?" Luis yelled down to beautifully dressed Sheridan and Charity.
"It looks great!" Charity smiled.
"In fact this whole place looks amazing!" Sheridan added, admiring the perfectly decorated room. "It doesn't even look at all the youth centre."
"Thank you ladies," Miguel bowed. "We did do a good job didn't we?"
"Well only the best for our baby sister." Luis lowered his voice, afraid that Paloma might hear him.
"I heard that!" She giggled coming into the room. "How many times do I have to tell you Luis, I am not a baby anymore!"
"Well you certainly don't look like a baby!" Miguel whistled as he admired his sister.
"Paloma you look beautiful!" Whitney smiled, with Chad close by.
"Thank you." She grinned as she spun around graciously.
The cute spaghetti-strapped dress lightly flowed around her slender calves and she playfully twirled around.
"My daughter is growing up so fast!" Pilar hugged Paloma. "It seems like only yesterday I was rocking you in my arms and now you're celebrating your nineteenth birthday! Where does the time go?"
"And not only is she getting older, but it seems like every time I see you, you just keep getting more and more beautiful too!" Luis laughed, giving his sister a kiss on the cheek.
"No arguments there!" Fox bellowed from the door.
"Fox! Theresa! There you guys are!" Paloma turned around and grinned. "I was afraid you weren't coming!"
"And miss my sister's birthday? No way!" Theresa laughed, giving Paloma a hug.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and a young man poked his head through carrying an enormous bouquet of flowers in hands.
"I have a delivery for a Miss Paloma Lopez-Fitzgerald." He announced.
"That would be me." Paloma grinned astonished, taking the flowers from him. "These are amazing! But who could they be from?"
She curiously reached inside and took out a small card. Carefully reading the message, she slowly smiled and gratefully looked up at Fox.
"Awww Fox, you're so sweet!" She smiled as he approached her. "Thank you."
For a while they just stared into each other's eyes, as a concerned Theresa looked on. Then as though on key, Paloma took a hold of Fox's hand and guided him to the rest of the group.
"Everyone, before we start the party I have an announcement to make!" She yelled.
"Is this the surprise that you've been waiting to tell us Mija?" Pilar inquired.
"Yes mama," Paloma smiled. "I wanted to wait until my birthday to share this with all of you because it's such a special time for me. With Christmas only a couple days away, I'm just so happy that I finally get to celebrate all the important days of my life with everyone that I love. Since I came to Harmony, everyone has been so nice and welcoming that it's made my time here amazing! And now that I've fallen in love it has made it that much more wonderful."
"In love? My little Mija?" Pilar smiled through teary eyes. "But with who?"
"Someone kind, honest, and everything you could ask for in a best friend." Paloma responded.
"Awww that is so sweet!" Gwen grinned. "Well don't keep us in suspense any longer. Tell us who this wonderful man is!"
"It's Fox!" She beamed, looking up at him. "We're finally a couple!"
A sudden hush grew over the crowd as everyone looked at each other in confusion.
"No way, that can't be!" Gwen whispered to Whitney.
"How can Paloma be in love with Fox if he's supposed to be in love with..." Whitney paused and worriedly glanced over at her best friend.
Standing against the wall, Theresa looked dangerously close to passing out.
"We're a couple..."
The strange words still rang in her ears as she continued to breathe heavily. Suddenly all sound drained from the room and all she could hear was the rapid beating of her own heart.
N-no I must have heard wrong. She thought to herself. There's no way that I heard what I think I just heard...
Refusing to believe her ears, Theresa struggled to control her breathing. She was so dazed that she didn't even feel a hand on her shoulder.
"Theresa?" Whiney softly called. "Honey, are you alright?"
As though she were in a trance, Theresa shook her head and bafflingly looked up at her friend.
"Um...hey Whit, what's going on?" She asked bewildered.
"Theresa, didn't you just hear what Paloma said?" Whitney looked at her concerned.
"About what?" She unemotionally stared at them.
Gwen and Whitney exchanged worried glances as Theresa continued with her oblivious act.
Just then, Paloma and Fox approached them excitedly.
"Theresa, aren't you happy for me?" Paloma ecstatically shrieked, throwing her arms around her sister's neck. "Can you believe that Fox and I are finally a couple?"
Theresa drew in a sharp breath as she finally realized that she had not been imagining things.
"A-a couple?" She stammered. "A couple of what?"
"Theresa!" Paloma giggled. "Don't be silly! Fox and I are boyfriend and girlfriend!"
Whitney and Gwen watched as the blood drained from Theresa's face.
"W-what?" She softly said, slowly staring up at Fox.
Feeling extremely guilty he refused to look her in the eyes.
"I-I suddenly don't feel so good," She whispered. "I think I need some air, excuse me!"
Theresa quickly rushed passed them and exited through the back door.
Filled with remorse, Fox excused himself from the group and ran after her.
"Theresa!" He called. "Theresa wait!"
Catching up to her, he grabbed her by her shoulders and turned her around.
"Don't touch me!" She angrily yelled, slapping him across the face. "How could you do this!"
"Theresa please calm down! Remember what Dr Russell said," He reminded her.
"Oh don't give me that!" She spat. "If you gave a damn about these babies you would not have done what you did! If anything has caused me stress tonight, it's you. So if you DO care about the twins you will leave me the hell alone!"
With that she ran off and left him standing in the cold. Fox ran a hand through his hair and cursed underneath his breath.
"Please God, don't let anything bad happen to her and those babies." He whispered in the air. "It seemed right at the time but now I don't think getting together with Paloma was such a good idea."
He regrettably turned around and walked back to the youth centre, feeling like he had made one of the biggest mistakes of his entire life.
Just around the corner of the doctor's office, Fox continued his conversation on the phone.
"Yeah baby, I'm really excited about later on too." He smiled into the receiver. "You're going to love what I got you."
He grinned, as heard Paloma get really excited.
"No way, I'm not telling you. You'll just have to wait until I get there."
He slowly glanced up and noticed that Theresa was heading his way.
"Uh Paloma I gotta go, Theresa's here." He quickly responded. "I miss you too. See you soon."
He buried the phone into his pocket and made his way over to her.
"Hey, how did everything go?" He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It was good!" Theresa smiled. "Dr. Anderson said that the twins were doing great and I was doing everything right!"
"See I told you!" He grinned, pulling her in for a hug. "I'm really sorry that I couldn't be there, but I really had to take that call."
Fox closed his eyes as he felt a small twinge of guilt inside. Although he felt bad for lying to her, he knew that taking Paloma's call was the best thing for him to do. Lately he was finding it extremely difficult to forget about his feelings for Theresa. Whenever he tried, something would constantly remind him of the love that they once shared. At least by talking to Paloma, it helped to keep his mind of it. Fox was tired of being hurt by Theresa over and over again. This time he was determined to forget about her and finally move on with his life.
"It's ok," she sadly smiled. "Besides I have the greatest news about the twins!"
"Oh really, what is it?" He excitedly asked.
"Well, Dr Anderson said that—"
Suddenly the ringing of Fox's phone interrupted her.
"I'm so sorry." He mouthed as he put the phone to his ear.
Theresa annoyingly sighed as he once again answered the phone call.
"Fox Crane," He said into the receiver. "Yes sir, I did—uh yes the purchase is going to be in my name but it is to be delivered to a Miss Paloma Lopez- Fitzgerald at the youth centre. Thank you very much, good bye."
"Who was that?" Theresa asked as he hung up the phone.
"Oh, it was just a gentleman confirming a gift I had planned to give Paloma tonight."
"A gift?" Theresa looked at him confused. "You sure are putting a lot of effort into planning Paloma's birthday. Why is that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's just that you two just met a couple of months ago. I don't understand why you're going out of your way for someone that you hardly know." She explained, noticing a bit of anger in his voice.
"Ok first of all, during these past couple of months Paloma and I have actually gotten a lot closer. Secondly, it's just a gift. Why are you acting like it's so wrong?"
Theresa just looked at him speechless. In the back of her mind, she knew exactly why she seemed so suspicious. Ever since she had first seen her sister and Fox kissing in the kitchen, she couldn't help but think that there was something going on between the two of them. However, she forced herself to think otherwise for the sake of the twins, knowing that any type of stress could bring them harm. But the truth was Theresa couldn't bare it if her suspicions were right. The shock alone could do more damage to her than she could ever imagine. Not only could it hurt the babies, but it would also shatter any dreams of her and Fox ever getting back together and Theresa could just not live with that.
"I'm sorry Fox." She heavily sighed. "I don't know why I just acted like that. Of course there's nothing wrong with you giving a gift to my sister. I mean, it IS her birthday!"
"It's ok." He smiled and glanced down at his watch. "But we should probably hurry if we want to make it to the youth centre in time."
"Good idea!" She lightly giggled.
As she followed him out the door, she realized that she didn't even get a chance to tell him the good news about one of the twins being a girl.
"Oh well," she whispered to herself. "I can just tell everyone when we get to the party. It'll be perfect. First Paloma will share her surprise with the family and then I'll share mine. It looks like today is going to be just filled with surprises!"
-----------------------------------------------------------
At the youth centre, Miguel and Luis had just finished hanging up the "Happy Birthday" banner across the doorway.
"Alright girls how does that look?" Luis yelled down to beautifully dressed Sheridan and Charity.
"It looks great!" Charity smiled.
"In fact this whole place looks amazing!" Sheridan added, admiring the perfectly decorated room. "It doesn't even look at all the youth centre."
"Thank you ladies," Miguel bowed. "We did do a good job didn't we?"
"Well only the best for our baby sister." Luis lowered his voice, afraid that Paloma might hear him.
"I heard that!" She giggled coming into the room. "How many times do I have to tell you Luis, I am not a baby anymore!"
"Well you certainly don't look like a baby!" Miguel whistled as he admired his sister.
"Paloma you look beautiful!" Whitney smiled, with Chad close by.
"Thank you." She grinned as she spun around graciously.
The cute spaghetti-strapped dress lightly flowed around her slender calves and she playfully twirled around.
"My daughter is growing up so fast!" Pilar hugged Paloma. "It seems like only yesterday I was rocking you in my arms and now you're celebrating your nineteenth birthday! Where does the time go?"
"And not only is she getting older, but it seems like every time I see you, you just keep getting more and more beautiful too!" Luis laughed, giving his sister a kiss on the cheek.
"No arguments there!" Fox bellowed from the door.
"Fox! Theresa! There you guys are!" Paloma turned around and grinned. "I was afraid you weren't coming!"
"And miss my sister's birthday? No way!" Theresa laughed, giving Paloma a hug.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and a young man poked his head through carrying an enormous bouquet of flowers in hands.
"I have a delivery for a Miss Paloma Lopez-Fitzgerald." He announced.
"That would be me." Paloma grinned astonished, taking the flowers from him. "These are amazing! But who could they be from?"
She curiously reached inside and took out a small card. Carefully reading the message, she slowly smiled and gratefully looked up at Fox.
"Awww Fox, you're so sweet!" She smiled as he approached her. "Thank you."
For a while they just stared into each other's eyes, as a concerned Theresa looked on. Then as though on key, Paloma took a hold of Fox's hand and guided him to the rest of the group.
"Everyone, before we start the party I have an announcement to make!" She yelled.
"Is this the surprise that you've been waiting to tell us Mija?" Pilar inquired.
"Yes mama," Paloma smiled. "I wanted to wait until my birthday to share this with all of you because it's such a special time for me. With Christmas only a couple days away, I'm just so happy that I finally get to celebrate all the important days of my life with everyone that I love. Since I came to Harmony, everyone has been so nice and welcoming that it's made my time here amazing! And now that I've fallen in love it has made it that much more wonderful."
"In love? My little Mija?" Pilar smiled through teary eyes. "But with who?"
"Someone kind, honest, and everything you could ask for in a best friend." Paloma responded.
"Awww that is so sweet!" Gwen grinned. "Well don't keep us in suspense any longer. Tell us who this wonderful man is!"
"It's Fox!" She beamed, looking up at him. "We're finally a couple!"
A sudden hush grew over the crowd as everyone looked at each other in confusion.
"No way, that can't be!" Gwen whispered to Whitney.
"How can Paloma be in love with Fox if he's supposed to be in love with..." Whitney paused and worriedly glanced over at her best friend.
Standing against the wall, Theresa looked dangerously close to passing out.
"We're a couple..."
The strange words still rang in her ears as she continued to breathe heavily. Suddenly all sound drained from the room and all she could hear was the rapid beating of her own heart.
N-no I must have heard wrong. She thought to herself. There's no way that I heard what I think I just heard...
Refusing to believe her ears, Theresa struggled to control her breathing. She was so dazed that she didn't even feel a hand on her shoulder.
"Theresa?" Whiney softly called. "Honey, are you alright?"
As though she were in a trance, Theresa shook her head and bafflingly looked up at her friend.
"Um...hey Whit, what's going on?" She asked bewildered.
"Theresa, didn't you just hear what Paloma said?" Whitney looked at her concerned.
"About what?" She unemotionally stared at them.
Gwen and Whitney exchanged worried glances as Theresa continued with her oblivious act.
Just then, Paloma and Fox approached them excitedly.
"Theresa, aren't you happy for me?" Paloma ecstatically shrieked, throwing her arms around her sister's neck. "Can you believe that Fox and I are finally a couple?"
Theresa drew in a sharp breath as she finally realized that she had not been imagining things.
"A-a couple?" She stammered. "A couple of what?"
"Theresa!" Paloma giggled. "Don't be silly! Fox and I are boyfriend and girlfriend!"
Whitney and Gwen watched as the blood drained from Theresa's face.
"W-what?" She softly said, slowly staring up at Fox.
Feeling extremely guilty he refused to look her in the eyes.
"I-I suddenly don't feel so good," She whispered. "I think I need some air, excuse me!"
Theresa quickly rushed passed them and exited through the back door.
Filled with remorse, Fox excused himself from the group and ran after her.
"Theresa!" He called. "Theresa wait!"
Catching up to her, he grabbed her by her shoulders and turned her around.
"Don't touch me!" She angrily yelled, slapping him across the face. "How could you do this!"
"Theresa please calm down! Remember what Dr Russell said," He reminded her.
"Oh don't give me that!" She spat. "If you gave a damn about these babies you would not have done what you did! If anything has caused me stress tonight, it's you. So if you DO care about the twins you will leave me the hell alone!"
With that she ran off and left him standing in the cold. Fox ran a hand through his hair and cursed underneath his breath.
"Please God, don't let anything bad happen to her and those babies." He whispered in the air. "It seemed right at the time but now I don't think getting together with Paloma was such a good idea."
He regrettably turned around and walked back to the youth centre, feeling like he had made one of the biggest mistakes of his entire life.