Chapter 23
 

"Harmony's Mayor Honors Volunteers." The Harmony Herald announced. "Mayor Cecil Anderson will honore the volunteers of 'Love Is A Home' tonight at a charity fund raiser. The volunteers spent the past two months in our little town building houses for low income families..."

"Gwen are you listening?" Rebecca asked.

Gwen looked up from the newspaper. "I'm sorry mother, what were you saying?"

"I asked if you decided on a theme for the nursery."

"No, I can't decide between Blues Clues or Sesame Street." She replied.

"Well you have to make up your mind soon."

"Mother I have four months." She said. "I will get it done before the baby comes." She returned to reading the newspaper article.

"Are you reading about that fund raiser Cecil is throwing tonight?" Her mother asked.

"Yes, Colyer Fox is part of that volunteer group that is being honored tonight." She replied.

"You mean that tall yummy man that was at the hospital?"

Gwen cheeks turned pink. "One in the same." She said. "Not only does he give his free time to charity, but he is also our newest business partner."

"You mean THAT Colyer Fox is Harrison Fox's son?"

"I'm afraid so." Gwen replied. "The snake." She spat.

Rebecca cocked an eyebrow. "Do I detect some hostility towards the man?"

"Mother, Colyer and I were kind of well...dating for a while." She admitted.

"Oh really?" She smiled. "Why wasn't I told?"

"It wasn't nothing special...I think...we were just enjoying each other's company. It was a really nice change for me after being stuck with Ethan for so long...or so I thought."

"What happened? You told him about the baby and he couldn't handled it?"

"Well something like that." Gwen began. Rebecca looked at her puzzled. "Mom I never told you the WHOLE story about the night I ended up in the emergency room."

"I'm listening."
 

****
"That jackass." Rebecca said angrily after Gwen told her the whole story. "What an idiot."

"I totally agree." Gwen said. "He had some nerves stepping out on his fiancee with another woman."

"I'm not talking about Colyer." Rebecca cleared up. "I'm talking about the OTHER jackass."

"Mother!"

"Well I'm mad at him too, imagine using my daughter as the other woman, but Ethan...I could just kill him everytime I think about that night."

"At least it's over." Gwen replied. "Believe it or not, Ethan did me a big favor before I fell for another jerk like him."

"Well yeah, I guess we can be grateful to the jerk." Rebecca sighed. "But still..."

Gwen nodded her head in agreement. "I know mother, I know."

"Speaking of the dumbass, word on the grapevine is that he is renting office space in Harmony Plaza, he got his shingle on the door."

The grapevine is true." Gwen verified."In fact I was there when he signed the lease." Rebecca gaped at her.

"Gwen please don't tell me you are seeing him again." She groaned.

"Relax mother." Gwen said as she waved away such a rediculous notion. "It's nothing like that." She assured her. "After my doctor's appointment Ethan took me to the Plaza to get my opinion before he made a commitment."

"To bad he didn't seek any advice before he sold his soul to Theresa." Rebecca smirked. "Now that was a comittment made in hell."

Gwen chuckled. "Really mother, such witty remarks."

"Well it's true and if Ethan thinks he's going to get rid of that cancer name Theresa by surgically removing her from his life, then he is fooling himself."
 

****
"Theresa! What are you doing here?" Phyllis asked nervously. She glanced around the door. "How did you get pass the guards?"

"I have my ways." Theresa replied. "How's my baby?

"Ethan Martin is doing great." She replied. "Mr. Crane took him to the office today."

"I really miss him." Theresa wept. "Does he ask for me?"

"I'm afraid not." Phyllis replied. "At least not when I'm around, you have to ask the nanny."

"Phyllis I need for you to do me a favor."

"What is it ex-Mrs. Crane?" Theresa glared at her then smiled sweetly.

"I had left something here that is very important to me and I must get it back."

"I thought Mr. Crane had all of your belongings put in a big hefty trash bag before he tossed yo out on your kiester." Phyllis replied.

"Some of my things were left behind." Theresa said hotly.

"If anything were left behind, Mr. Crane had it thrown out. So what is it? A lock of Ethan's hair?" She chortled.

"Phyllis I thought we were friends." Theresa pouted. "I even gave you a huge raise."

"I'm sorry Theresa but you no longer sign my pay checks." Phyllis retorted. "Mr. Crane does and if he finds out that I let you in the mansion it is goodbye 401K and hello soup kitchen."

"Phyllis I only need two minutes."

"Tell me what it is you're looking for and where to find it then maybe just maybe I'll go get it for you."

"Phyllis I can't describe it to you."

"Then I guess you don't want it badly enough." She pushed Theresa towards the door. "Good bye ex-Mrs. Crane."

"Okay, okay." Theresa said quickly. "I'm looking for a small gold locket that Ethan gave me, I'm sure it was left in my former room."

"Okay." Phyllis sighed. "I'll go check but you have to stay right here."

"I promise I'll stay." Theresa smiled. "Thanks Phyllis."

"I'll do anything to get you outta here before Mr. Crane gets back." She mumbled as she ran upstairs.

Theresa waited until Phyllis had disappeared upstairs before quietly opening the front door and grabbing the big leather bag she left in the bushes. She sneaked in the family room and quickly searched the shelves full of the Crane's family heirlooms and antiques until she found what she was looking for and placed it in the bag.

"My ace in the hole." She grinned.

She barely made it back before Phyllis came downstairs.

"I have searched your ex-room and couldn't find a thing." She said.

Theresa shrugged her shoulders. "Oh well. I guess I have to live with the fact that it is lost forever." She sighed.

"You don't sound to broken up about it." Phyllis said suspiciously.

"I am dying on the inside."

"You better go before Mr. Crane gets back."

"Okay I'll go, kiss my baby for me."

"Yeah, yeah bye." Phyllis said as she pushed Theresa out the door.

Theresa grabbed her leather bag and smiled.