Shocking News

Slamming the papers down on the tray, Gwen lungs for Theresa again. "Damn you, Theresa! How did you become Ethan's power of attorney? Damn it, what did you do? Did you change his will or something?"

"Gwen, get off me!" Theresa yells, kicking her way free from Gwen's grips. Standing up, she stares at Dr. Russell. "Dr. Russell, are you SURE that I am Ethan's power of attorney?"

"Yes, Theresa. Ethan listed you as his power of attorney in the event that he was on life support, he chose you to make the decision for him. Time is of the essence, Theresa, we need your decision."

"Eve, hello! This is MY husband we're talking about!" Gwen chimes in.

"Eve, come on, you can NOT let the woman who put my son in this situation be the one to grant him life or death!" Ivy yells.

"Ladies, I'm sorry, but it is all written right here. Ethan specifically names Theresa as his power of attorney."

"Eve, may I see that please?" Sam asks, reaching for the will.

"Here you go." Turning around, Sam reads over Ethan's words carefully. God, Ethan, what have you done? He thinks to himself, remembering a conversation of the past…

Flashback

"Dad, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, son, what is it?"

"If something ever happened to you, would you want Grace or mother to make the decision of whether or not to take you off life support?"

"Why are you asking, Ethan?"

"Just humor me."

Sitting pensively, Sam thinks about his answer, and then looks at Ethan. "Well, I would have said Grace had I still been with her. I mean, she was my wife for over 20 years. But, life's changed, and now I'm with your mother. Ivy's always been the woman in my heart, you know? Had things worked out for us, we would be married right now. As much as it pains me to say it, I think I would have Ivy make that choice of whether I live or die."

"Dad, that's how I feel about Theresa. I mean, I love Gwen, I do. But what I feel for Gwen pales in comparison to the love I have for Theresa. It feels wrong of me to be married to one woman when I love the other, but I had to do the right thing."

"Son, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that if something ever happens to me, Theresa is the one to make the decision on my behalf on whether I live, or die."

Present

Stepping forward, Sam pulls the two women apart. "Stop it, both of you. Now look, this is what Ethan wanted, and we have to honor his choices. Either you both grow up and accept the facts as is, or you start this long battle in court, and in turn, make Ethan suffer, now which is it going to be?"

Staring at her enemy, Theresa thinks about Sam's words, and looks at him. "You're right, Sam. We have to put our differences aside and think of Ethan."

"Oh, sure, of course you would say that, seeing that YOU are the one that put him here!"

"I told you, I didn't mean for this to happen!"

"Right, just like you didn't mean for me to loose both my children, and the ability to have any OTHER children."

"Gwen, stop already. You need to be focusing on Ethan right now." Sam says, looking at his daughter-in-law.

"I AM! My God, Sam, I don't want Ethan to die! I love him! He's my husband! I should be the one to make his choice for him! I should be his voice!"

"Well, you're not, and we all have to accept what Ethan has written down." Sam says soothingly. Looking back at Theresa, Sam takes a deep breath.

"So, what is it going to be, Theresa. Are you going to honor Ethan's wish and take him off life support? Or, are you going to keep him on it?"

Coming Up

Theresa's decision shocks everyone