Everyone stood around the gravesight of little Sarah Winthrop.

Ethan stood with his parents, while Gwen stood with hers.

Their family and friends were there, listening to Father Lonigan give his sermon. The tears slowly fell down Gwen’s face. All she could see was the casket. Father Lonigan gave his  final prayers and, in their last act together as Sarah’s parents, Ethan and Gwen placed white roses on the coffin and kissed it, saying goodbye.

Gwen just stood there, staring at the coffin, not really believing this was happening.

Pilar went over to Luis. “ It was good of you to come.”

” I know that if Sheridan had been able to, she would have been here for Gwen.”

“ Of course, she would.”

“ I’m not surprised that my lowlife brother isn’t here. After all, if it’s not about him, he won’t be bothered.”

” Luis, I don’t like to hear you talk like this.”

” Too bad, because it’s the truth. But, don’t you worry, I know how to handle Antonio.”

” What do you mean, handle him?”

” He’s not going to keep me and Sheridan apart. The moment he went into league with Alistair was the day he became my enemy.”

” Luis, he is your brother.”

” Mama, the son you lit candles for; the brother I knew; THAT Antonio is gone. Get used to it. This is a war, Mama. You don’t want to hear it,  but it is. And, I WILL win. If Antonio has to be destroyed, so be it.”

Luis didn’t let Pilar get in another word and walked away.
 

Fox came over to Whitney.

“ That was a sad service.”

” I know, Fox. Funerals are sad, but this one was just awful. I can’t think of a worst thing.”

Something caught the edge of Fox’s eye, and he replied, “ I can. And, it’s happening now.”
 

Before Fox could say anything; before anyone could say something, they heard a voice yell,

“ YOU PATHETIC BITCH? WHAT THE FUCK MADE YOU THINK YOU COULD COME TO MY BABY’S FUNERAL? HAVE YOU NO DECENCY?”

The rest of the scene was almost in slow motion. Part of it was that people didn’t think Gwen could move that fast. Part of it was the deer in the headlights look that Theresa had on  her face when Gwen’s fist hit it. Then, there was the matter of Gwen throwing both Sam and Ethan off of her as they tried to pull her off of Theresa.

By the time Sam, Ethan, Hank, and Julian managed to pull Gwen off of Theresa, she was a mess. Theresa was on the ground, with her clothes half torn, and blood running from several places.

Gwen was yelling, “ Let me go, so I can finish the BITCH!” Gwen was so out of control that she kicked Hank and Ethan in their ‘family jewels’.

“ You had your BITCH come to OUR daughter’s funeral? You scumbag!”, Gwen said, slapping Ethan.

TC and Fox had lifted Theresa to a bench, and Eve was caring for her.

“ Mom, is Theresa going to be alright?”, Whitney asked.

” I’m still looking. TC, go get the car and bring it around. We’ll take Theresa to the hospital.”

“ Sure, Honey.” TC left and Eve tended to Theresa.

Fox went over to Whitney. “ I thought something like this could happen.”

” Me too, which is why I told Theresa to not come. She always gets into these predicaments. “

By this time, TC had driven the car, and he and Fox moved Theresa into the back seat, with Whitney holding her head. Eve got in front, and Fox went to get his own car. They drove off.

” You could have killed my Theresa!”, Pilar yelled at Gwen.

Gwen looked up at Pilar, with darkness in her eyes. “ If I did, who would blame me? Outside of you and my pathetic husband, who’d actually miss her?”

Gwen looked at Sam and lifted up her arms. “ Go on and cuff me, Sam. Arrest me.”

Sam shook his head. “ Don’t leave town, Gwen. “

Jonathan hugged his daughter. “ Let me take you home.” Jonathan took Gwen to the limo, and let her get in. Rebecca tried to get in, but Jonathan blocked her.

” Jonathan, what are you doing?”

” What I should have done ages ago – protect my daughter.”

” From me?”

” Yes, Rebecca. From you. Our daughter wouldn’t even be in this predicament if you had been a REAL mother. Encouraging Gwen to take back that asshole after he INITIALLY dumped her for that slut!”

” But…but Gwen loved him!”

” When did you ever give a rat’s ass about love? Stay away from our daughter. She’s finally talking sense, and keeping you away from her is what’s best.”

” She’s my daughter too!”

” Go chase after Julian. After all, his money is YOUR true love.”

Jonathan got into the limo, locked the door and told the driver to move on, which he did.

Rebecca was left standing there. She went over to Julian, who was talking to Father Lonigan.

” Julian, take me home!”

” You’re not going to be with Gwen?”

” No. Jonathan says I shouldn’t be. Hmph. What does he know?”

Julian shook his head and went with Rebecca to the limo.
 

TC, Fox, Whitney and Pilar all stood outside of Theresa’s cubicle.  Eve came out.

Pilar went over to her. “ Eve, how is she?”

” She’ll be fine, Pilar. She has two black eyes and a couple of broken ribs and bruises. But, nothing life threatening. I’m going to keep her for observation for at least overnight. You can go in to see her.”

“ Thank you.”

Whitney went to Eve. “ Mom, is she really going to be ok?”

” Yes. “ Eve shook her head. “ Why, in God’s name, would Theresa think that she should be at Sarah’s funeral?”

“ She thought she could be of comfort to Ethan, Dr. Russell.”

” Fox, it was an insane idea. Totally insane.”

” Nobody said Theresa was rational when it came to Ethan.”, Whitney replied.

“ Well, you can see her after Pilar leaves, but only for a few minutes.” Whitney and Fox nodded and Eve went to see TC.

” TC, you know I can’t leave now.”

” Baby, I know. But, you can get a cup of coffee and take a walk, can’t you?”

“ I’d love that.”

Eve and TC left, and Fox and Whitney were waiting when they saw Ethan arrive. Pilar came out of Theresa’s room.

” Ethan! Theresa was just asking about you.”

” Good. I have to see her.”

Ethan went into the room and Theresa’s eyes lit up.

” Ethan! I knew you’d come.”

” They say that you’re going to be ok.”

” I suppose. I’m lucky, considering how insane Gwen was.”

” GWEN was insane? Don’t you have that wrong, Theresa?”

” Ethan, wh…what are you talking about?”

” In what universe did you think it was ok for you to come to Sarah’s funeral?”

” You said that you didn’t blame me.”

“ But, you knew that Gwen, SARAH’S MOTHER DID!”

” Ethan..”

” SHUT UP! I can’t believe you! Or, maybe I should have known. After all, you showed no respect to Gwen while she was in the hospital, no matter WHO told you to go away. “

” I…I’m sorry, Ethan.”

” No, you’re not. You’re not at all. No one who was truly sorry would have even shown their face at the funeral. You disgust me, Theresa. And, we are finished.”

” But…but we can be together! I know Gwen said it was over between you.”

” Yes, she did. And, it’s over between us. Never again will I let you have any influence in my life. I finally realized that Gwen was right. Seeing you at the funeral made me realize just WHY she’ll never forgive me. It’s because I let a crazy woman run roughshod over our lives for years.”

Theresa was bawling. “ E..Ethan, you don’t mean that.”

” The hell I don’t. We’re finished, Theresa. Finished. I realize now that I lost everything. I’m leaving town, Theresa.”

” Leaving? You can’t!”

” I am. I’ll be gone in the morning. I hope you find something to do with your life, Theresa. But, it will NEVER include me.”

Ethan left Theresa’s room and Fox and Whitney went in.

” He’s gone..he’s gone…he’s gone.”, Theresa cried over and over as Whitney held her.
 

Gwen was soaking her hand in ice when she saw Ethan in the doorway.

“ Ethan, please spare me. I want no more whining on Theresa’s behalf.”

“ I’m not here to plead Theresa’s case.”

” You’re not?”, Gwen asked, surprised.

“ No. I’m here to say I’m sorry.”

” What?”

” I’m sorry, Gwen. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry that I failed you, and that this time, it hurt more than you. It cost us our daughter. I know that my words are hollow to you, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I never intended any of this to happen, but that doesn’t really matter, does it?”

” No, it doesn’t.”

” I understand why you can’t take me back. I understand why our marriage is over. I hope one day you will be able to forgive me. “ Ethan takes out a card and gives it to her.

“ What’s this?”

” The name of my attorney. Just send the papers to him, and we’ll get everything settled. I’m leaving town.”

” Why?”

” I think it’s best for everyone. We all need a new start.”

” Where will you go?”

“ I asked Julian for a transfer to the Crane Industries’ Tokyo Office and he agreed. I leave tomorrow morning.”

Gwen nodded. “ We all need a new start. I hope you find one, Ethan.”

Ethan leans in and kisses Gwen on the cheek. “ You too, Gwen. I hope you find a man who treats you far better than I did. Bye.”

Once Ethan left, Gwen cried for a long time. It was finally over.