Somehow I Will Ch. 55
by Faith81
 
 

"Baby?" Ethan almost yelled. "Mother there is no baby! Beth isn’t pregnant!" Ethan frowned looking over at his wife. Beth was trying to hide her smirk but as she looked up at Ethan they both began to laugh. Ivy and Julian stared at them, then up at each other as Ethan’s laughing increased.
"Julian, I’m worried." Ivy whispered to her husband. "My son, look at him."
Julian frowned. "This is very odd." He agreed.
"Ethan, would you like to tell me what’s so funny?" Ivy finally asked crossing her arms.
Ethan looked at his mother as he attempted to end his laughter. "I’m sorry mother." He said with a chuckle. "Its just that Beth said you’d assume she was pregnant."
"I see." Ivy sighed.
"Ethan, if you don’t mind me asking, this marriage, did it take place while you two were, well, drunk?" Julian asked stepping forward.
"No, it most certainly did not!" Ethan suddenly fumed. "We were totally sober. I told you, I love Beth, why can’t you just believe that we care about each other?"
"Ethan, calm down." Beth soothed touching his arm.
"Beth, I’m a grown man and they’re treating me like I’m a child!" He said turning to his wife. "Its not right!."
"Ethan." Ivy spoke. "I realize you’re a grown man, and if you say you love this woman, then I believe you. I’m just shocked son, I mean I had no idea you were anywhere near marriage."
."This woman, as you called her, has a name Mother." Ethan frowned. "And she is now part of this family. As for being ready for marriage, what would you like me to say? I’ve been engaged two other times Mother, and I couldn’t go through with it either time, even after spending years with each of those women. But with Beth, it only took a few short months to realize I had found what I had been looking for. She’s witty, and smart, she’s such a beautiful and loving woman, and I know what I’m doing, I only ask that you accept it." He finished taking a deep breath, as his eyes went to his mother’s sad face. "Please accept it." He whispered to her.
Ivy stepped toward Beth, looking at the woman for a moment. "Do you love my son with everything in you? Are you prepared to be there for him for the rest of his life?" She questioned. "And do you understand that I am his Mother, and I will always be in his life? "
Beth smiled." Yes, I love your son, more than anything, and do I plan to be with him forever? Of course. " Looking over at Ethan she turned back to Ivy once more. "And I know how important you are to Ethan, and I can see you love him very much, so yes, I understand."
Slowly Ivy moved her arm toward Beth, extending her hand. "In that case, welcome to the family, dear."
Beth took Ivy’s hand as the women shook, leaving Ethan to watch, hoping one day soon, instead of a simple hand shake, he would see a hug between the two women in his life.
~*~*~*~*~
 

The Next Day

Theresa smiled as she looked in the mirror, dabbing on her lipstick she heard a voice call her name.
"Aunt Resa are you coming downstairs" Kendra asked. "Everybody’s here cept Uncle Julian and Aunt Ivy."
Theresa laughed. "I’ll be there in a second."
"K, cause Uncle Miguel’s letting Matt eat bunches of chocolate puddin’ and he’s gonna get wild." The little girl frowned, her brown hair falling around her face.
"We don’t want that do we?" Theresa smiled.
"Nope!" Kendra giggled shaking her head wildly.
"Why don’t you go downstairs and tell Uncle Miguel, I said to give you and Jada some of that pudding too."
Kendra’s chocolate eyes got huge. "But you don’t like me eattin’ chocolate."
Theresa let out a giggle. "Uncle Miguel is going to take you, Jada, and Matt to the park today, so its fine with me."
"Cool!" Kendra squealed fleeing from the room to rush down the stairs.
"Little Brother, you’re going to have one rough day." Theresa laughed. Turning from her mirror Theresa walked over and sat down on her bed, her eyes going to the huge diamond heart on her hand. She could see herself finally being happy, after traveling such a long road, it was time. She had wondered many times if she even deserved happiness, after Ethan broke up with her, she saw for the first time, all the things she had done to get him. The person she would see in the mirror scared her, but now, now she liked who she saw, and she knew others felt the same finally.
Her mind was filled with so many thoughts as she realized how her life was about to change, Again. "Good Change." She spoke softly a laugh escaping her lips.
Chad was the first good change that had happened to her since loosing Luis and Sheridan. The kids were a blessing, a gift of a different kind, but Chad, he was the glue that had fixed her. At times, he was blunt, forcing her to admit things she didn’t want to, that was when he reminded her of Luis. Luis would have been so proud of her, finding someone like Chad to marry, to love her. She knew he would approve, and that made saying yes so much easier.

Sixteen year old Theresa stomped into the house, her eyes fixed on her older brother. "What did you tell Tray Baker?" She questioned her hands on her hips.
Luis turned to look at her as Miguel walked in to stand next to his brother. "Excuse me?" Luis said a stern look on his face.
"Tray asked me out, and I said yes, but today he told me he couldn’t go out this weekend, and then ran off." She fumed throwing her backpack down.
"And that has what to do with me?" Luis asked.
"One of his friends told me you asked him to stay away from me!"
"Oh yeah that." Luis frowned.
"So you did?" Theresa yelled. "You told him to stay away from me?"
Luis crossed his arms. "He’s not good for you sis, I’ve heard rumors that the guy drinks, and Miguel told me he uses girls, no way was I going to let my little sister go out with someone like that."
Theresa’s fury turned on Miguel. "You stuck your nose in this too?" She screamed.
"He’s a jerk Resa, you know what he’s like!" Miguel told her. "And I told Luis all about him."
"We were looking out for you Sis." Luis explained. "Because we love you!"
Theresa let out a groan. "Its my life, my business! Besides Mama said I could go out with him! Why can’t you two just leave me alone?"
"Because you’re our sister and you need us. You don’t see that now, but one day you will!" Luis told her. "Mama doesn’t know this guy like Miguel does, and if he says he’s bad for you, then I believe him!"
"Are you ever going to let me grow up Luis? This is so unfair."
Luis shook his head. "Sis, I’m not sorry about this. You’ll thank me one day, I know you will."
Theresa turned away from her brothers. "I’m going to Whitney’s. Just stop messing with my life!" She shouted as she ran out the door. "I can take care of myself."

Theresa stood up from the bed. "Yeah, you really took care of yourself." She laughed. "Luis was always right, I was just to blind to see it." She walked out of her room, and stopped just before heading down the stairs. "I’m getting married Luis." She whispered. "And for the first time ever, you’d actually approve."

~*~*~*~*~

It was a long drive from the Crane Estate over to Theresa’s house, as Ivy and Julian rode in silence. He drove slowly, glancing over at his wife to see a frown on her face.
"You’re not happy." He spoke.
"Should I be?" She asked him. "My son got married without telling me, to a woman he barely knows."
"He says he loves her." Julian reasoned his eyes staying on the road. "Perhaps its real."
"Real? Come now Julian, do you really believe that?" Ivy huffed.
"They both looked happy darling, and he is a grown man."
Ivy looked over at Julian, shooting him a very angry glare. "I deserved to be at my son’s wedding! This is so unlike him, it takes him longer than Three months to pick out a car, how can he honestly know that Beth is the woman for him?"
"Ivy, I understand how you feel, I’m worried about this as well, but we can’t do anything about it. Ethan and Beth are married now, she is part of our family, all we can do is accept her and hope it works out."
Ivy let out a sigh. "I still want to know more about this woman."
Julian nodded. "I’m going to talk to Chad about her, they worked together for awhile. I also think Theresa could tell us something about her, Luis did date her before Sheridan. "
"Yes, we’ll talk to those two about this. I’m just so worried Julian."
"As you should be dear."
Ivy smiled. "Julian, how are you doing? Are you going to break your news today?"
Julian took a deep breath. "I think I should talk to Chad about Justin first. See how he wants to handle things, and then we’ll see."
"Julian, Justin is lucky to have you as a father." Ivy smiled.
Julian let out a laugh. "Ivy my love, those are words I thought I’d never hear anyone say."
"The man you are now, isn’t the man you were when he was born. The man I love, is a good father. "
"Thank you Ivy, knowing you feel that way means so much to me." Julian smiled patting Ivy’s hand.
With a sigh Ivy looked over at Julian. "We’ll get through all of this right?"
"Of course my dear, of course."
~*~*~*~*~*~

As Theresa walked down the stairs her eyes scanned the people in her living room. Her parents sat on the sofa together, hand in hand. Since Martin’s homecoming, Pilar rarely left his side. Watching her parents together seemed to always make her smile. On the other side of the room Miguel stood with Gwen, her arms wrapped around his waist, watching as he glared at his father. Though he was trying, he still found it hard to understand Martin, he felt as if the man he called Papa didn’t do enough to let his family know where he was. In some ways Theresa knew, that Miguel just didn’t want to be close to his father, because he felt as if it was unfair to the memory of the man that had actually raised him, his brother Luis. As Theresa’s eyes left Miguel they froze at the man walking toward her.
"Hey baby." She smiled as Chad wrapped his arms around her kissing her softly.
"Children in the room, lets keep this G rated." Justin’s voice called out playfully as Chad moved away frowning at his brother.
"I’ll really be glad when you get a girlfriend." Chad teased. "Then maybe you’ll leave me alone."
Theresa smiled at the brothers, then instinctively her head swung around Chad’s shoulder. "Miguel, catch Matt!" She yelled out as the little boy wobbled toward the coffee table, Miguel’s arms grabbed him just before he fell.
"My girl is getting very good at this." Pilar commented. "I’ve very proud."
Theresa laughed. "I think he’s gave up on walking and decided to simply run instead. He just always seems to head for that table." She sighed as she walked over at took the boy from Miguel. She moved her hand to the blonde curls on the top of his head and smiled. "Could he look anymore like Sheridan?" She asked.
"Down." He babbled squirming in her arms.
"Hey when did he learn to say that?" Gwen asked. "I thought he was still stuck on ‘no’."
Theresa smiled. "He says three words right now, Down, No, and Ken."
"He said Ken first." Kendra giggled from her place on the floor.
"He almost said Resa the other day, but he can’t get it out yet." Theresa laughed.
Miguel looked over at his sister. "So do you want to tell us why we’re all here, so early in the morning? I know its not to talk about Matt." He grinned.
"Well actually it isn’t, but I want to wait on Ivy and Julian to get here."
Gwen looked at Theresa and frowned. "Does this have to do with Ethan’s marriage to Beth?"
Theresa’s eyes got wide, Pilar gasped, and Chad smiled widely all at the same time. "What?" Theresa spoke.
"Oh, you didn’t know." Gwen muttered looking down.
"Um, you mind saying that one again?" Theresa asked her mind whirling as she looked over at her brother and Gwen.
Miguel looked at Gwen, "Beth and Ethan got married a few days ago, ran off to some little chapel, they were suppose to tell Ivy last night."
Theresa swallowed. "Ethan and Beth got married. Well that’s quite a surprise." She said her voice cracking. "Do they seem happy?"
Gwen frowned. "I think she’s pregnant."
"Gwen, stop saying that." Miguel told her. "We don’t know that for sure."
"Actually, she’s not." Ivy’s voice sounded as she and Julian entered the house. "I asked her last night."
Theresa turned to see Ivy and Julian, "So its true?"
"Oh yes, my son and Beth are husband and wife. "
Theresa felt a sudden shock then, looked up at Chad as it suddenly left, her body calming quickly just by looking in his eyes. "We’ll I hope the have a wonderful life together. Beth is a wonderful woman, and Ethan deserves to be happy;." She spoke, as relief spread all over Chad’s face.
Miguel raised his hands in the air. "Wait a second. Where’s the yelling, the freaking out? Theresa, why are you so happy for him?"
Moving her hand so the whole room could see it she laughed almost beaming. "Because, I’m getting married as well. Chad proposed to me last night, and I said yes!."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ethan walked around the counter of the Book Café, wrapping his arms around the waist of his wife. "Hello sweetheart."
Beth smiled turning around as Ethan placed a small kiss on her lips. "So, do you think everyone knows by now?" She laughed.
"Everyone? Or Everyone in my family?" He asked.
"Well I know Miguel knows." She laughed.
Ethan frowned. "Miguel? That means Gwen and Theresa know."
"Does that bother you? Ethan we can’t hide it from your ex’s forever" She frowned.
Ethan sighed. "I know, I just wanted to tell Gwen and Theresa, I mean, don’t I owe them that much?"
"Owe them? Eth, Theresa is very happy with Chad, and from what I can see Gwen and Miguel are doing great. You’ve all moved on."
He nodded his head. "Yes I know."
"Ethan do you think Gwen and Theresa will have a problem with us? Considering the way you left both of them?"
Ethan thought for a moment. "Theresa will be happy for us, she’s in love with Chad, and that’s all she ever wanted, to have someone to love her like she loves them, but Gwen, I’m afraid Gwen might not take it so well. She’s still very upset with me, for leaving her for Theresa."
"That was years ago Ethan."
"Gwen doesn’t forgive easily."
"She forgave Theresa." Beth reasoned.
Ethan laughed. "You make a very good point. I’m sure Gwen will be fine with us, but even if she isn’t it doesn’t matter. She is my past, and you my very sexy wife, are my future." He said as his lips met Beth’s.
"I love you Ethan." Beth whispered.
"Always sweetheart." Ethan smiled. "Always."
~*~*~*~*~*~