Gwen was walking along the wharf, when she heard someone call out to her.

” Gwen?”

Gwen turned around. “ Oh, it’s you, Fox.”, she said with disdain.

” A how-dee-do to you too. What, my half-brother stand you up for Theresa again?”

Gwen was about to snap to a defense, but stopped herself. “ Probably.”

Fox looked at Gwen with surprise. “ Excuse me?”

” It’s going to get around town soon enough, so I better just tell you. I moved out of the Crane Mansion. I moved back in with my father. I’ve left Ethan.”

” Oh, trying to keep him line, eh? Might work.”

” Nothing to ‘work’. Ethan and I are through.”

Fox looked at Gwen. “ You’re serious.”

” Absolutely.”

” Why?”

” You were right. It’s all about Theresa, and I guess my child deserves better. Heck, maybe even ‘I’ deserve better.”

” Don’t kid yourself, Gwen, You ALWAYS deserved better than Ethan. If you really have gotten over your Ethan wonder, then I congratulate you. It’s about time.”

Gwen laughed. “ Don’t be shy about your feelings, Fox.”

” I mean it. I never did understand how someone like Ethan could fool you and Theresa so completely.”

“ Theresa…ugh. Don’t mention her to me. I’m getting strong, but hearing that bitch’s name still brings the bile to my throat.”

” Does Prince Ethan know that you’ve kicked him to the curb?”

” Yes. But, I’m sure he’s being consoled by Theresa. After all, she’s getting everything she ever wanted.”

” I wonder.”

” She’s been stalking Ethan since day one, Fox. She’s happy.”

“ What about you? How are you?”

“ Sad and relieved. I feel free, in a way. Like an albatross has been lifted from me.”

” It has.”

“ Nearly fifteen years with Ethan, and all I have is this baby. “

” You’ll be a great mother.”

” How do you know?”

” We both had the best examples of what NOT to do. We have to do better since we’re conscious of it.”

Gwen laughed. “ My mother tries.”

” Yeah, she’s about two steps above my mother. “

“ Ouch.”

Fox leans over to give Gwen a kiss on the cheek.

” You and your baby are better off, Gwen. You’re a terrific lady who deserves far better than the likes of Ethan.”

“ Fox, on THAT, we can definitely agree.”

They both laugh.

” May I interest the pregnant lady in some ice cream?”

” Absolutely.”
 

Sam Bennett was  playing checkers with Grace when the doorbell rang. He opened the door.

“ Ethan.”

” Dad, I need to talk to you.”

“ Come on in, Ethan.”

Ethan and Sam came into the living room, and Grace locked eyes with Sam, silently communicating with her.

” Hey, Ethan. You guys look like you need some privacy. I’m going to the kitchen to get some tea.”

Once Grace was out of the room, Sam spoke up.

” What’s wrong, Ethan?”

” Gwen has left me.”

” Left you?”

” Yes. I can’t believe it.”

” What happened?”

” Well, I went to help Theresa with little Ethan, and when I got back home, she had moved her clothes back to her father’s house. I went over there, and she said that she wasn’t going to be returning to the mansion, and that our marriage was over. She accused me of putting Theresa and little Ethan above her and our child.”

” Well, did you?”

” Did I what?”

” Put Theresa and Little Ethan in front of your family with Gwen?”

” No…I mean, I helped Theresa out, but that’s all.”

” Helped Theresa with what?”

” Julian found out that he was never married to Theresa. When he got that information, he threw Theresa out and had a judge give him temporary custody of Little Ethan. I told Theresa that I would help her with the case.”

” And Gwen didn’t like it.”

” No. I mean, Julian told me he’d fire me if I took the case, but still.”

” But, still!? Ethan, you put your livelihood, and the welfare of your family behind Theresa’s custody case? No wonder Gwen doesn’t think you respect your family.”

“ I did what was right.”

” For whom, Ethan? For your family? I don’t think so. From where I sit, you did put Theresa ahead of your family.”

” I love Gwen.”

” Yes, but your actions maybe reveal something else. That Theresa is your true love.”

” I…don’t know….”

” You think about it. You only married Gwen because she was pregnant. I told you that wasn’t fair to her, and maybe she decided she deserved better. She deserves better than a man who loves another woman. Everybody deserves to have someone in their lives that ONLY loves them. You aren’t that man for Gwen. “

“ I…I didn’t want to hurt her.”

” You did. She’s stopping her hurt.”

” I won’t be a full-time father.”

” I’m sorry for you about that, but it happens that way sometimes.”

“ I just wanted to do the right thing.”

“ I know. I’m sorry.”