Chapter 31

Ethan picked up the phone on the first ring. "Gwen?" He answred. "Gwen is that you?" Theresa rolled her eyes on the other end of the reciever.

"No Ethan...it's your wife, Theresa." She spat. "What's the deal with leaving me homeless?"

"Theresa..." He sighed annoyingly. "I've been expecting your call...do you have the anulment papers ready to be filed?"

"Don't try to change the subject, why are you doing this to me? It's because of that damn moo cow you knocked up isn't it? She's behind this."

"Theresa, Gwen have nothing to do with this." He said hotly.

"I don't believe that for one damn minute!" She spat. "Ethan why are you letting her do this to us?" She cried. "We love each other."

"Theresa why don't I come and get you, are you still at the Bed and Breakfast?"

"Yes." She sniffed. "But you better hurry, Kay is tossing my things out the front door." Kay smiled at the mention of her name as she tossed the last of Theresa's bags out the door.

"I'll be right there." He promised.

****

Ethan saw Theresa sitting outside the Bed and Breakfast - she looked defeated.

"Remember Ethan you're here to get the anulment papers and that's all. She can fend for herself." He said giving himself a pep talk.

He got out the car...

Theresa rushed into his arms...

"Oh Ethan." She cried. "Don't you love me any more?"

"Theresa it's not about my love for you." He explained. "It never has been, I don't trust you."

"But...but."

He looked into her liquid chocolate eyes - his demeanor began to melt. He quickly turned away.

"Focus Ethan." He reminded himself. "Theresa do you have the anulment papers?"

"I-I can't think about that right now." She answered hastily. "I have no place to stay."

"I thought you might use that as an excuse not to hand over the papers so I'll make you a deal. Money for an apartment and all you have to do is hand over the signed anulment papers."

"You want me to sell you the papers?" She asked incrediously. "I don't believe this! No Ethan no, I will not sell you your freedom."

"You don't have the papers do you?" He questioned. "That's why you started that fire, hoping by burning the papers you can make the anulment disappear!" He stated, realizing what he was saying was the truth. "I am so happy I know you so well!" He exclaimed. He dragged her to the car.

"Ethan you are hurting me! Stop!" She begged.

He opened the passenger's side door and pulled out his attache case.

"And here I was feeling sorry for you!" He mumbled as he took out another copy of the anulment papers. "Either you sign or you're going to jail!"

"That's-that's blackmail!!" She spat. She couldn't believe the man she loved would stoop so low as to suggest such a hideous thing.

"Well Theresa what will it be? Your freedom or jail?"

"I-I thought you said you will give me money for an apartment." She said.

"Theresa I will give you just about anything to get the hell away from you." Ethan spat "But the offer has been taken off the table. You will sign the anulment papers and be thankful that you're not in jail." He jammed the pen in her hand. "Sign!"

Tears blurred her vision as she signed on the dotted line. Ethan felt a weight lifted off his shoulders as he placed the papers in his suit breast pocket for safekeeping. He took out his wallet and threw a couple of bills her way and got back into his car.

"Have a nice life." He said before driving away. "If you see me on the streets look the other way."

Theresa slumped into a heap on the ground. "I WILL NEVER LET YOU GO!!" She shouted after him. "NEVER!!"

****

A few hours later, Christopher heard a knock at his hotel room door.

"Enter!" He yelled. He was surprise to see Theresa walking across the threshold. "Hi..." He said. "I didn't expect to see you again." He said truthfully.

"Didn't you see my message on the mirror?" She smiled. Christopher broke into a grin. "Oh God he looks so much like my Ethan." She said to herself.

"Yeah I read it, but I didn't know that you meant it."

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't have any intention of seeing you again." She said coyly.

Christopher chuckled softly to himself. "Listen tonight is my last night in town." He said. "Will you have dinner with me?"

"Sure." Theresa replied. "I would love to have dinner with you and then some." She hinted. "Who knows? This could be the beginning of a lasting friendship." She said as she dropped her clothes to the floor.