10---Open Arms to Love

As he nears the park, Ethan prays that things will work out. God, I love Theresa. I have always loved Theresa. Please, let us talk through things and let us be the family we were meant to be.

Parking his car, Ethan gets out and instinctively begins to walk to the tree where he and Theresa carved their initials.

As he gets closer, he sees a figure sitting beneath the tree, running her hands over the oak base.

"Theresa." He whispers softly, daring her in his head to look at him.

Feeling a whispered caress run over her body, Theresa sighs, knowing Ethan is in reach. Turning around slowly, she comes face to face with the only man she loves.

"Ethan."

"Hello, Theresa."

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, very much." Taking a breath, Ethan stares into Theresa's eyes, and then looks down at her leg. "How is your leg?"

"It's sore, but the doctor feels that the tourniquet you made saved my life, so I guess it's only right to thank you for that."

"I did what I had to do. I couldn't let you go."

Turning away, Theresa sighs. "Amazing you say that when you've had no problem letting me go so many times already in life."

"I know, and I regret each and every time I have pushed you away."

"And it took you now to realize that?" Theresa says skeptically.

"Theresa, what do you want me to say? I know I've been the worst kind of jerk to you. I've used you, and yet, I've loved you from afar. I don't know how else to say that I want you, that I'll always want you. You are a part of my body, you are a part of my soul, and most of all, you're the owner of my heart."

"Did you forget about Gwen? Your wife? The woman you claim to love?"

Sighing, Ethan closes his eyes to the pain enclosing around his heart at his wife's deceit, and then opens them to look at Theresa. "Sometimes, people aren't what they appear to be."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Taking her hand carefully into his, Ethan looks into Theresa's eyes, and bares his soul. "My entire….my marriage….has been based on a lie."

"What are you talking about?"

"When I went home…I heard Gwen and Rebecca…they were talking about you…and me…wondering where I was…then…" Turning away, Ethan takes a deep breath, feeling the hurt rush back into him.

Caressing his hands slowly, Theresa wills Ethan to look back at her with her touch. "Tell me." She whispers softly.

"Gwen and Rebecca sent the tabloid. Gwen said to her mother that she thought by sending the tabloid out, then that would guarantee that I would be hers forever, leaving you out in the cold."

Feeling her eyes widen Theresa leans closer to Ethan. "Ethan…I'm…so sorry…I can't believe…"

"I know. I couldn't believe it either, but then when I thought about it, it made sense. Gwen couldn't believe that I chose you first at Midnight Mass. So, in her mind, she figured she had to do whatever it took to get me back to her. Claiming you were the one that sent the tabloid was the key."

Sighing, Theresa looks at Ethan. "I knew she always wanted you back…I just didn't know to what lengths she'd go to do it."

Caressing her cheek gently, Ethan moves Theresa's face so it is staring at him. "I have no right to ask you this, but I will anyway…"

"Ask me what?"

"Theresa…."

Coming Up

Ethan asks an important question

Please R/R