Haunted Nights, Chapter 12
 

Theresa ran into the Crane Mansion and into Phyllis.

” Phyllis! Where is Ethan?”

” He’s upstairs, but..”

Theresa didn’t wait to listen, as she was on her way up the stairs. She opened the door to Ethan’s bedroom without even knocking. Ethan was sitting on the bed.

“ Oh Ethan! It’s horrible. I need your help.”

Ethan looked up at Theresa.

“ Theresa, why are you here?”

“ Well, I came to tell you about the horrible things Julian wants to do to me. He totally wants to rip Little Ethan from me!”

” Theresa, I…I really don’t think this is the time.”

“ Why not?”

“ Because..”

Theresa lowers her voice to a whisper. “ Oh my God! Is Gwen in the bathroom? She SAID that you could help me with my custody case. Is she going to force you to turn your back on me? Ethan, you can’t turn your  back on me! You can’t!”

“ No, Gwen’s not in the bathroom. In fact, she’s not even in the house.”

For the first time, Theresa’s quick eyes scanned the bedroom, and she noticed a few things were gone. Her mind began to race in glee. “ Ethan, where is Gwen?”

” If you must know, my wife has left me. She’s moved in with her father.”

” It’s just a manipulation. She wants to get you to do something.”

“ No, she’s serious. She wants nothing to do with me.”

“ Well…she finally gets it.”

” Gets what?”

” Don’t you see, Ethan? Gwen finally has seen the truth – that we belong together. She knows that she can’t fight fate, and that you and I are destined to be together! Ethan, this is WONDEFUL news. Now, we can all begin a life together – you, me, and Little Ethan. He will finally get the father that he deserves.”

” In case you’ve forgotten, Theresa. Little Ethan HAS a father, and it’s me.”

Ethan and Theresa both look up to see Julian in the open door.

” Well, not for long, Julian. MY son is not going to have ANYTHING to do with you!”

Julian tried to keep calm, and stepped into the room, and looked directly in Ethan’s direction.

“ I told Pilar of an offer that I was willing to make. I had hoped Pilar would talk some sense into Theresa, but since she seems unable to do so, I hope YOU will do it. I only want Joint Physical and Legal Custody of my son. I will not give Theresa any alimony, as we were not married, but I will provide her with a residence, complete with help, as well as seven-figure yearly child support. ‘ I’ am the boy’s father, and I WILL be in his life. I believe I’m being reasonable. If she pushes me, Ethan, you know how hard I will push back, and it won’t be pretty. Please talk to your client. What good will it do for my son to grow up without his mother. No matter how hard she wants it to be, I have a half-dozen DNA tests attesting to that little Ethan is MY son. I am willing to have this settled in a matter of days if you get your client to agree. Be reasonable.”

Julian left the room, and Theresa pounced on Ethan once again.

” Ethan, don’t listen to him! It’s just a plot of his. He doesn’t love Little Ethan. Only YOU could be the father that Little Ethan needs. And now that Gwen is gone, we can all be together! We can be one big, happy family.”

Ethan didn’t get a chance to respond, because Rebecca was in the door.

“ You scumbag! You lowlife! My daughter isn’t gone 24 hours, and you have your WHORE in the bed you shared with HER?!”

” Rebecca..”

” Shut up, Ethan. I can’t believe I actually thought you were good enough for my daughter. You are nothing. NOTHING. You would choose this day-old Taco Queen over my Gwennie? You disgust me.”

” YOU should shut up, Rebecca!”, Theresa said, getting in her face. “ Gwen left, because she was faced with THE TRUTH – that Ethan loves ME and only ME. That he would be with me if she hadn’t tricked him and gotten pregnant.”

” No, tricking a man about pregnancy is YOUR territory, Theresa.”

” Whatever. Now, Ethan is MINE, and Gwen will be nothing more than a bad memory, and he’s going to have the life he always should have had WITH ME. Just as I always knew it would be.”

Rebecca turned away from Theresa to Ethan. “ Since the only reason you were living in this Mansion was because Gwen was my daughter, and Julian was being gracious, it’s time for you to go. “ Rebecca turned to leave.

“ Ethan doesn’t need to stay here. We’re going to get a house together, and be a HAPPY FAMILY!”, Theresa yelled as Rebecca went down the hall. Theresa ran back to Ethan. “ Ethan, finally, all our dreams will come true!”

Theresa was in such glee as she hugged Ethan for dear life that she didn’t notice the dark expression Ethan’s face.
 



 

Fox Crane entered his office and saw that there were muffins and coffee already on his desk, as well as a typed itinerary for the day. He had barely sat down when the door to his office opened.

“ Hello, Boss.”

” Kay, did you do all this?”

” Yes.”

” What time did you get here?”

” An hour ago.”

” I’m impressed.”

” I wanted you to be.”

Fox looked around his desk. He opened his briefcase and handed Kay two file folders.

” These are the two important meetings I’m going to have today. I want you to make sure you are well read on the companies. I want you to sit, listen and observe. Take yourself a notepad and write down all your observations. Anything that you like, or dislike about the people we’re involved with. Try and read them. I get the feeling that you’re a good judge of character – you can spot trouble a mile away.”

Fox let that hang in the air and gave Kay a look. She turned up her nose. “ I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Crane. I’ll be ready for your first meeting in an hour.”

Kay left his office, and Fox laughed. This might actually be fun.
 



 

Julian is rushing through the hallways of Harmony Hospital to meet with the Chief –of –Staff. Everytime he thought about Theresa, he got madder and madder. He didn’t see her when he bumped into her, knocking them both to the ground.

“ WHY DON’T YOU….” Julian stopped when he saw it was Eve. “ Oh, Eve.”

Eve was upset for a second until she looked at Julian. They helped one another up off the floor. “ Julian, what’s wrong?” She led him into an empty conference room, and sat him down.

Julian took a deep breath. “ Theresa was over in MY house, telling me that I was never going to see MY son again. That Ethan would be a far better father. Now, I love Ethan, but he’s NOT going to be the father to MY SON!!”

Eve rubbed Julian’s arm. “ Did you withdraw your offer to her?”

He shook his head. “ No, I told Ethan about it. He has to talk some sense into her. She’s trying my nerves, Eve.”

” I know. She’s young. Don’t lose focus. It’s all about your son. He needs both of you.”

Julian felt his blood pressure go down. “ Why is that you always say the right thing?”

“ I don’t know.” Eve looks away.

“ Eve, is there something wrong?”

” I was thinking about your Simone information.”

” Did I do something wrong?”

“ No. I was so relieved to hear about her. It’s just that I can’t tell TC about it, well..”

” Without revealing where you got the information.”

” Exactly.”

” He’s so worried about her. She’s his baby.”

“ Eve, you’ll help ease his fears. And, I’m sure that Simone will contact you. She loves you, but just needs time.”

Eve touched Julian’s face. The intensity between them filled the room. Eve withdrew her hand gently, and stood up and left the room. She turned back to look at Julian, and there it was again in their eyes. Their connection. It excited and terrified her.
 
 
 

Chapter 13
Chapter 11
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