Those Who Laugh Last... Chapter Ten {E/T, Gwen}
by sadhappygirl
 
 

      Pilar and Miguel met Theresa at the airport.

"Oh mama!" She cried. "I've lost him, I've lost Ethan forever!"

"Theresa everything will be alright."Pilar said as she gave her daughter a hug. "You just have to forget about Ethan and concentrate on the rest of your life."

"I have no life without Ethan!" She cried. "I might as well be dead!"

"Theresa don't ever say that!" Pilar said sternly. "I don't ever want to hear those words coming out of your mouth!"

"Why?" Theresa cried. "It's the truth!" "I signed over my parental rights to be with Ethan!"

"Maybe you should go talk to Julian, he might reconsider and give you visitation rights."

"What good will that do?" She whined. "Without Ethan..."

"Theresa get a hold of yourself!" Pilar yelled. "You have to face facts, you lost Ethan because of all of your schemes and lies! How did you expect him to react after you told him that you lied about the paternity of the child he so dearly loves?!"

"I didn't want Gwen to have him."

"Theresa, will you listen to yourself?!" Pilar yelled incrediously. "You think of Ethan as some sort of prize you have won in a contest! He is a human being with feelings!!"

"I did win him mama, I won his heart and now I must think of a way to get him back."

Pilar shook her head in pity. "Theresa, will you stop your scheming for one minute and think of what you have done? Ethan could press charges against you."

"He wouldn't do that mama." She said confidently. "Ethan still loves me, I am still his wife."

"It will be just a matter of time before Ethan begins divorce proceedings agianst you.

"No he won't mama, Ethan believes in the sanctity of marriage."

"Theresa..."

"He'll come back to me, just you wait and see...he will forgive me and we will spend the rest of our lives together...you'll see."

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Ivy welcome Ethan home with opened arms.

"I'm sorry sweetheart." She said.

"Mother how could I have been so wrong about her!" He asked. "I thought that she had change."

"Well sweetheart that's because you see the good in people." Ivy replied. "Theresa knew that and she took full advantage of that."

"I should press charges against her but I can't, I love her."

"You are not thinking about staying married to her are you? Especially after all the nasty things she has done."

"Mother, I honesty don't know what I'm going to d." He stated truthfully. "I do know that I can't see her right now, I'm so angry that I don't trust myself around her."

"My poor Ethan." Ivy sighed. "Why don't I take you out to dinner to get your mind off things?" She suggested.

"I won't be very good company."

"I don't care, just keep your mother company that is all I ask."

"Alright, maybe it will help me get my mind off my problems."

"Good." Ivy smiled warmly. "Why don't we go to Harmony Inn tonight? It will be nice change of pace from the Seascape and you will be less likely to run into anyone you know."

"Sounds nice." He said. "Okay mother."

"Why don't you go and freshen up and I'll see about getting us a reservation."

Ivy waited until her son was out of earshot before she made her call.

"Hello Martha? Hi this is Ivy Winthrop, do I have an explosive story for the Tattler..."

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"Does this dress say hey, I'm a sexy mother-to-be?" Gwen asked as she modeled her new black dress for Sheridan. "Or does it say hey, come and get me big boy." She said doing her best Marlena Dietrich come hither voice. "Or maybe it should say hey watch out she blow chunks."

Sheridan giggled. "Gwen don't be so hard on yourself." She said gently. "The dress is hot."

"I don't know why I'm getting all worked up for." She sighed. "It's not like this is a real date. It's a business dinner, nothing more."

"Gwen, I don't believe any man would ask out a woman that spew her lunch all over him, no matter what's the circumstances are."

Yeah, I guess you're right but I don't even know how to act around another man." Gwen confessed. "I have been with Ethan for so long...I am out of the loop."

"Let's this date with Mr. Fox be a learning experience." Sheridan said. "The first of many."

Gwen glanced at her watch. "Okay, it's time for me to go." She said nervously.

"Do you have everything?"

Gwen checked her purse. "I have crackers, extra pens, my keys, condoms...oops it's a little late for those." She grinned. Sheridan laughed. "Yep, I think I'm ready."

"Don't forget about your folder."

"I mustn't forget that." Gwen said. "I'll give you a full report when I get back." She promised. "Kiss Luis for me."

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Colyer was sitting at the bar when he saw Gwen. He was dressed in a pair of well fitted jeans, a black tee-shirt and a black causual jacket.

Gwen saw the Texan coming towards and immediately she thinks that she is waaaay overdressed.

"Hello." He greeted. "You look very nice." He complimented. "I think that I am a tad bit under dress to be seen with you."

"Oh no you look good...er fine with what you have on." Gwen assured him. "If it's anyone that should feel awkward it's me...I'm the one who is overdress."

Coyler chuckled. "Believe me Gwen, there is nothing wrong with the way you're dressed."

Gwen began to blush...

He placed her arms in his ad escorted her into the restaurant.

Ivy nearly dropped her fork when she saw Gwen and Colyer being seated at their table.

"What's wrong mother?" Ethan asked. "You looked as if you have seen a ghost."

"Worst." She said. "Gwen is here with another man."

"What?" Ethan turned around. Sure enough there was Gwen having dinner with some guy he had never seen before.

"I wonder who she's with?"

"Don't bother her mother." Ethan warned. "Let her enjoy her dinner."

"Oh Ethan, there is nothing wrong with saying hi." She said. She called for the waiter and gave him a note to give to Gwen.

Gwen read the note and rolled her eyes. She turned around and gave Ivy a friendly smile.

"Oh great." Gwen mumbled. "Just what I don't need."

"Who sent you that note?" Colyer asked. "You don't look too pleased."

"It's from the people sitting two tables behind us." She replied."Ivy Winthrop and her teat sucking pup - Ethan."

Coyler laughed. "Such colorful language coming from such a beautiful mouth." He teased.

Gwen cheeks turned pink. "It's a long story." She explained.

"Do you want to go over and say hello?"

"We might as well get it over with." She agreed. "Colyer if you happen to see me reaching for any sharp objects, please restrain me."

Colyer grinned. He was liking Gwen more and more by the minute.

Ivy greeted Gwen and Colyer with a warm smile.

"Gwen it's so nice running into you here." She said. "Imagine my surprise when I saw you sitting over there."

She gave Colyer a quick glance. "Mmm not bad." She said to herself.

"Helo Ivy...Ethan." She greeted.

"Gwen." Ethan replied without looking up.

"I like for you to meet Colyer Fox."

"It's nice to meet you m'am." Colyer smiled. "Same to you Ethan." They shook hands.

"Ethan how was your trip to Las Vegas?" Gwen asked. "Was it everything you imagined it to be? Did you come back a winner? Or a big fat loser?"

Ethan began to squirm in his seat.

Colyer stiffled a laugh, he was very amused by the whole situation. Whatever Ethan did to Gwen, he was regretting it now.

"Gwen let's go back to our table nd let Miss Ivy and her son enjoy their dinner." He suggested.

"Alright." Gwen agreed. "Have a pleasant evening." She smiled before returning to their table.

"Coyler Fox." Ivy said. "That name sounds familiar."

"Mother, stay out of Gwen's business." Ethan said "She has a right to date who ever she pleases."

"Ethan I saw the way you looked at Gwen." Ivy huffed. "You still have feelings for her."

"Mther I will always have feelings for GWen." He admitted. "But that's not the point."

"Then what is the point?" She whispered harshly. "Ethan use the brain God gave you, if you want Gwen back you are going to have to fight for her."

"Mother I'm a married man." He reminded her.

"I didn't see you respecting the sanctity of marriage when you proposed to a married woman!" Ivy hissed. "Screw Theresa, the sooner you are rid of her the better."

Gwen laughter carried through the air.

"Don't you miss that Ethan? Don't you miss having a normal relationship with a woman?" Ivy asked. "Before you got involved with that Lopez Fitzgerald slut you and Gwen had one...and you were smarter too but now..." She shook her head in shame. "You are dumber than a sack of sh!t."

"Mother." Ethan replied.

"I love you Ethan but it's true." Ivy admitted. "It's hard for anyone to believe that you're actually a brilliant lawyer that graduated top of his class...hell I find it hard to believe and I'm your mother. She sighed. "Maybe it's the Bennett genes in you...I don't know."

Ethan threw his napkin in his plate. "I have had enough mother." He said angrily. "I'll meet you at the car!" He stormed out the restaurant.

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"Time goes by when you're have a good time." Colyer sighed as he glanced at his watch.

Gwen felt a twing of disappointment herself. She too didn't want the evening to end. She was have so much fun laughing and having a decent conversation with a mature man.

"If I didn't have to be back in Dallas by tomorrow afternoon, I'll stay a day longer."

"I had a nice time tonight." Gwen admitted.

"I can always sleep on the plane." He hinted. "Do you know a place where we can listen to some cool jazz?"

Gwen smiled. "I know just the place." She said, trying not to sound too eager.

"Great."He grinned. "Let's go."