The Fine Print - Chapter 19
by yhh




"How are you doing?" Ethan asked Sam as they watched Maria and Nate play in the sandbox.

"We're doing okay. Adjusting. Jess and Grace are getting used to living in a house where the men outnumber the women," his former father replied.

"John moved in?"

"Yes. David apologized to Grace, John, and myself, then took off to parts unknown. You should talk to him."

Ethan rolled his eyes at the suggestion.

"I'm serious. I think you two could help each other out. The family John once thought he was a part of no longer exists. The father he loved and adored allowed him to believe a total stranger was his mother when she wasn't. He's hurt, confused, not sure whom he can trust, but trying to move on with the family he's got."

"You?"

Sam nodded. "Grace, Jess, Charity, Kay, Maria, Noah, and Hank." They were the boy's family. When he wasn't looking John had found his way into his heart. His wife's son hadn't thundered into his heart the way Ethan had, but slowly and quietly he had crept in there. The love he felt for John and Ethan was the same as the love he had for Noah. They were his boys and he was a proud father.

Maybe John could understand some of what he was going through, but Ethan knew he wasn't in any position to talk to anyone else about his problems. He wasn't ready to confide his confusion and the fact that he was scared that he would never adjust to the new family he had been given.

Wisely, Harmony's top cop decided to let his suggestion soak in and changed the subject. "How are the twins? How's Gwen adjusting to three babies under five?"

"They are good. Doing better than the doctors expected."

The older man was glad to see the slight smile and pep in the younger man's voice. He had been and still was worried that Ethan was drowning under everything.

"And Gwen is handling motherhood of multiples like she does everything else with ease and aplomb."

He had always thought the world of his daughter-in-law. He was glad his son had someone in his life who loved him as much and as fiercely as Gwen did. But he was concerned Ethan had pushed Gwen to the breaking point with Theresa. Shaking his head, he knew couldn’t let his thoughts dwell on the funny, cunning girl who came to his home on a regular basis with Whitney to play with Noah. What happened to the little girl with the dazzling smile? How did she take the wrong path? He had to distract himself. "Have you spoken to Ivy?"

Ethan shook his head. "Have you spoken to her?"

"Yes."

Ethan looked at Sam in shock.

"Grace encouraged me to- -"

"Really?!"

"I know. I was taken aback, too. But Grace reminded me, regardless of my feelings towards Ivy, we did lose a child together all those years ago. Plus, Ivy has no one. You still aren't talking to her, she's alienated your siblings over the years, she has no true friends- -she was happy to see me."

"Did she try to explain it all away?"

"Of course, but underneath the lies I saw the loneliness. She misses you."

"Misses me? Then maybe she shouldn't say things to me like it was my fault that Theresa drugged me and had sex with me."

He had been wondering if Ethan would be bringing this
subject up. In the past his attempts to discuss Theresa had been cast aside, but now was a golden opportunity.

"I take your silence to mean you agree with her," Ethan uttered with frustration and disgust.

"No one has the right to drug or take advantage of another person. NO ONE."

"But what?"

"How do you think you've treated Theresa over the years?"

Running his fingers through his hair, Ethan sighed. "I know I led her on. I let her think at times that we were going to be husband and wife. A family. But it wasn't my fault, I did love her. I felt something for her. I wanted- - the lies. The manipulation. I couldn't trust her. As much as I tried, as much I wanted to, I could never completely trust her."

Sam wished he could ease his son's pain and confusion. "Theresa is and has always been a force to be reckoned with. When Martin 'disappeared', she fervently believed he was in the witness protection program. We never did figure out how she came up with that idea. But nothing anyone said could convince her otherwise. She's tenacious and when she believes something, there's no changing her mind. Theresa can smell the weakness on you, and every time you were with Gwen and Theresa sighed, you ran to her side and she took that as a sign that you weren't completely committed to Gwen. And she was right, you weren't. Theresa has three brothers, me, and TC, all men who love her and who would do anything for her if she needed help or was in trouble. But she turned to you and you forgot about all of us, disregarded Gwen's feelings, and ran to her rescue. With each lie, with each bending of the truth, you forgave her; you let her back into your life. The lies, the tricks, the subterfuge escalated, yet you continued to forgive and pretend like she hadn't done anything. Even when you found out that she was carrying the twins, you never made one mention of prosecuting her- -"

"She was carrying our children- -"

"What was Gwen saying? How did Gwen feel about it?"

Ethan stared at his former father blankly. "She was understandably upset- -"

"And what? Did you once again ignore her feelings? Did you once again put Theresa above your wife? Did you once again give Theresa a free pass while your wife suffered?" Sam wanted Ethan to realize the hurt he caused both women, but most importantly the woman he had pledged to love and be faithful to forever. "You married Gwen Hotchkiss, your first and last thoughts and concerns should always be about her. About Gwen. About your wife. She was the one you chose to marry. When your mother left me for Julian, I was crushed. I was heartbroken. I can't count how many nights TC had to pick me up off of the floor, sloppy drunk. There were so many nights I was tempted to go see her, but I refrained. She was married and I respected the vows she took. I mourned the loss of our relationship and slowly but surely I moved on. And when I least expected it, I met and fell in love with a woman who couldn’t remember a thing. When Grace came into my life, I was ready for a new relationship. Yes, we've had our problems. And yes, when David and John arrived in town, it was my worst nightmare come to life. Yes, I was tempted by your mother. I was on the verge of betraying my vows until TC pulled me aside and asked me if I was going to let nostalgia ruin the best thing that had ever happened to me. He was right. I was caught up in the web your mom weaved with nostalgia and what might have been. My time with Ivy was over. She wasn't the one who had been by my side for over twenty years. She wasn't the one who watched me walk out the door every day never knowing if I would return. She wasn't the one who listened to my corny jokes or my complaints about the judicial system. She wasn't the one I created a family with. In short, she wasn't my wife. The woman I love with all my heart. Theresa never heard those words, that sentiment from you about Gwen. And if you ever want her to stop all of this madness, you need to tell her. And even if she doesn't stop, at least you'll know and more importantly, Gwen will know how you feel about her."

The two men sat deep in thought with the innocent laughter and joy of the children as background chatter.


Chapter 20
Chapter 18
Site Index