How to Deal – Chapter 9

"Liquor?" Fox asked as Dylan and Theresa entered the Crane Mansion.

"No." they both declined his offer.

She astonished him.

Who would pass up a drink at a time like this?

Fox shrugged and poured himself a glass.

"So," Theresa began, trying to break the silence "what's going to happen now?"

"I don't know." Fox sighed. "Nothing… I mean, yes, this changes everything, but I really don't know."

"Well, we can always forget that you're Alexa's father, given you have no previous parental experience." Dylan replied sharply.

"Dylan." Theresa pleaded.

"No, Theresa. It's true." Dylan said completely ignoring her.

"I don't need parental experience to know how to handle a child." Fox argued. "Ever since Theresa lost custody of Little Ethan I've been there right by his side."

Theresa smiled gratefully at Fox. "That's true Dylan. When they first took Little Ethan away from me Fox snuck him out and brought him over my house so we could spend Christmas together."

Dylan ignored the fact and continued to oppose Fox. "So you broke the rules, Fox? Not a very good role model for Little Ethan, are you?"

"Dylan, would you please stop?" Theresa asked, fed up with the way he was acting.

"Why do you keep asking me to stop? You're supposed to agree with me, you're my wife!" he yelled at her.

Fox angrily slammed his glass down on the table, not being able to take the way Dylan was treating Theresa.

"Stop treating her like she's trash! Every person's entitled to their own opinion!" Fox roared.

"Fox," Theresa said quietly, personally pleased that he was standing up for her, "you don't have to defend me."

"You're right he doesn't!" Dylan said taking a step closer to Fox. "See, there's this concept of commitment in a marriage where you stand by your partner no matter what. But I'm sure you wouldn't know what commitment was, after all you screwed Theresa over."

"I've had enough of your lip!" Fox bellowed as he pinned Dylan to the wall.

"Fox, stop!" Theresa called out. "Let him go!"

"Go ahead, tell her Fox. Tell her how you bragged to me about bedding your ex step mother. How she was just another trophy on your wall." Dylan growled.

Fox slowly let go of his grip on Dylan and straightened himself out. "At least she loved me." He mumbled.

Dylan cocked his head back and laughed. "You mean you're actually capable of being loved?"

Fox just stared at Dylan angrily.

"Tell me it's not true, Theresa." Dylan continued to laugh as he looked over at his wife.

Theresa looked at Fox and then the ground. "I can't." she whispered.

Dylan's laughing died down as his smile began to fade.

"Well, Theresa loves me too." He finally said. "Right?"

"Of course I do." Theresa said instantly.

"She said it as if it were programmed into her." Fox thought to himself.

"If anyone could love you Fox," Dylan continued focusing his attention back on the Crane, "I'm sure they could love me."

"Dylan, targeting Fox is not going to solve anything as far as Alexa is concerned." Theresa said calmly.

"She's right." Fox spoke up. "Maybe you should listen to your partner for a change."

The doorbell rang and Fox excused himself to go answer it.

"I'm sorry." Dylan apologized to Theresa.

Theresa nodded and took in a deep breath.

"Look who's here." Fox said unpleasantly.

Theresa quickly looked up, hearing the tone of his voice.

Her head began to reel from the sight of her as she stumbled on her words.

"Whitney." She finally spoke, almost the same as the night she left Fox alone.

"Theresa, its good to see you!" Whitney beamed.

Theresa let out a weak grin and turned to Fox.

"Maybe I'll have that drink after all."