Ethan Winthrop had spent over a month traveling the world in an attempt to find his self. He had left his daughter with her mother and he was sure the time together would be a good thing for them. Theresa was delighted to have the time with Jane. She had told him she was sorry Gwen left him, but wasn’t shocked when he said he needed to get out of town for awhile.

He made his way up to the front door of the Lopez-Fitzgerald home and sighed as he knocked on the door. Tonight he would tell Theresa the one thing she had dreamed of hearing. He would tell her he loved her, and more than anything he wanted to be with her.

The front door came open quickly and a giggle escaped the lips of his Theresa.

“You’re early.” She said before she looked up. Her smile faded as she looked into Ethan’s eyes. “Oh Ethan, it’s you.”

“Expecting someone else?” He questioned with a smile.

“Um, yes actually I was.” She spoke. “Did you come to see Jane? I didn’t think you’d come over until you had time to rest from your trip.”

“I came to see you Theresa, and Jane of course.” Ethan spoke walking past her into the house.

“Jane’s sleeping.” Theresa frowned.

Ethan looked at Theresa and realized she was more than a little dressed up. She was wearing a short strapless black dress and her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. He loved her, he couldn’t believe it had took him so long to realize she was the one meant for him.

“You look stunning Theresa.” He spoke. “Did you have plans tonight?”

Theresa’s face dropped at his words, “Yes.” She sighed. “Ethan, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“There’s something I have to say to you too Theresa. Something that I’m sure will make you very happy.” He smiled.

“Let me go first.” She spoke carefully. “Ethan while you were away I started dating someone.” She spoke lowering her eyes.

“I see.” Ethan frowned. “Is it serious?” he asked. “I mean I’ve only been away for a month.”

“We’ve saw each other a lot in that month.” She shrugged. “He’s a good man, wonderful with the kids.”

“You care about him then?”

“Yes I do Ethan.” Theresa nodded with a hint of a smile, “And he cares about me.”

Ethan felt his heart drop at Theresa’s words. He had already lost Gwen, and now as he looked at Theresa he feared he was loosing her as well. “I think what I have to say to you will change all that.”

“Ethan.” Theresa frowned, “There’s more.”

“More?” He asked. “What has he proposed or something?”

“No of course not.” Theresa laughed. “Nothing like that.”

“So what is it?”

“Ethan, it’s your brother.” She spoke biting her lip. “I’m dating your brother.”

Ethan felt his stomach turn. Had he heard her right? Had Theresa just told him that she was seeing his brother? This would be complicated, he knew that much, Fox would be so bitter at him for taking Theresa away from him but it couldn’t be helped.

”I thought Fox was dating Kay now?” Ethan questioned crossing his arms. “What happened there?”

Theresa’s eyes widened. “You think it’s Fox? Oh no I’m not seeing Fox; he’s still very much involved with Kay.” Theresa spoke quickly. “It’s Noah, I’m dating Noah.”

“Noah? I thought he was interested in Fancy?” Ethan exclaimed. “You can’t be dating Noah!”

Theresa rested on hand on her hip and looked up at him, “Fancy left town Ethan, she’s in Paris. Noah and I were friends years ago, I saw him one day while I was shopping and we hit it off again.”

Ethan ran his fingers through his hair, “Theresa you can’t go out with Noah tonight!” He spoke boldly. “Not after you hear what I have to say.”

Theresa looked up at him and nodded, “Go on, tell me what it is that you think is so important.”

Ethan forced a nervous smile, “I love you Theresa. I’ll just say it, throw it out there. I love you, and I want to be with you.”

“Oh Ethan.” Theresa whispered.

“It’s you Theresa, all along it’s been you.” He smiled. “I just didn’t want to hurt Gwen.”

“Gwen.” Theresa spoke her voice almost silent. “Gwen is divorcing you.”

“Yes, yes she is, because she knew there would always be a third person in our marriage. She knew the truth before I could see it.”

“Gwen realized that you had loved us both all along?” Theresa questioned. “That you would always love us both?”

“Yes, no, I mean she realized that I’d always love you Theresa.”

“You told me you would always love Gwen.” Theresa frowned. “Which is it?”

Ethan took Theresa’s hand in his. He had expected to be kissing her by now. In his dreams by this point he would be holding Theresa in his arms and she would be telling him how much she wanted him.

“I love you Theresa. I’m in love with you.” Ethan smiled.

“And Gwen is just a mere after thought?” She questioned. “I’m sorry Ethan, I don’t buy that.”

Ethan suddenly felt nervous as he looked at Theresa. She wasn’t smiling; her brown eyes weren’t dancing at his declaration of love. He couldn’t understand what was happening. He had just told her the one thing she had wanted to hear for so many years and she was staring at him with a blank look on her face.

“Theresa, what’s wrong? Don’t you see, I came here tonight to tell you I want our family to be together. I know it will bother Noah, but our love is real. It’s strong and powerful, it’s fate Theresa.”

“It’s not fate Ethan.” Theresa frowned. “Fate was a teenage girl’s fantasy. It was what I thought I wanted for so long.” Theresa walked past Ethan and then turned to look back at him. “Noah cares about me Ethan, he cares about me and only me. Do you know how strange that feels? He gave your sister a chance and she didn’t want him so he moved on. I guess he didn’t drink the water in this town.” She laughed lightly.

“The water?”

Theresa nodded, “The water that makes us crazy.” She explained. “That makes us hang on to things we can’t have. Like Kay did with Miguel, like I did with you Ethan.” She shrugged.

“What are you trying to say Theresa? You’re talking nonsense.” Ethan frowned. “You love me! We belong together.”

“I’m glad you went away for awhile Ethan.” Theresa smiled. “It gave me time to think, to gain a little clarity. When you weren’t here, I did just fine on my own. I didn’t miss you as much as I thought I would. I had my kids, and then Noah came along. It was good for me, and I realized I can be loved without being second choice.”

“You’re not my second choice Theresa! I love you, I want to be with you.”

“Until Gwen comes back to town?” Theresa smiled. “It’s okay Ethan, I know now that you love us both.”

“No, no I want you, not Gwen.”

“Would you be here tonight if Gwen hadn’t left you?” Theresa asked. “I don’t think so, you would be with her and I’d be stuck wearing those same rose colored glasses.”

Ethan couldn’t believe his ears, this wasn’t his Theresa talking. He watched her, saw how strong she stood. Someone was influencing her, causing her to want to walk away from everything.

“Noah did this didn’t he? Did he put all these thoughts in your head? Wait, it was Fox wasn’t it? He would love this!”

“Fox is my friend Ethan; he only wants me to be happy.” She sighed. “No, no one has put thoughts in my head. I just took the time you went away to stop and actually think for myself.” Theresa shrugged. “I do love you Ethan; you were my first love and my daughter’s father. You’ll always mean so much to me, but I’m not going to stop seeing Noah. He makes me laugh, and when I’m with him I believe I can be a strong woman.”

“I can make you feel those things too.” Ethan pleaded. “I love you Theresa. We belong together, you know we do. Please, stop playing these games.”

Theresa’s eyes narrowed and her voice rose slightly, “This, isn’t a game. This is my life, and I’m going to live it Ethan. For the first time in my life I’ve realized I can live a life that doesn’t revolve around you. It feels good Ethan, to wake up and not think about how I’m going to scheme to get you. I like this person I’m becoming. My children deserve this from me; they deserve to have me put them before you. I’m moving forward Ethan, I have to leave the past behind me and move on with my life.”

“But Theresa I want to be with you. You’re talking crazy, I’m here tonight telling you that I want you. We can move forward together. There’s no need for you to move on without me now because I’ve decided that it’s you I want.”

Theresa lowered her head, “And I’ve decided that it’s Noah that I want. I don’t expect you to understand, but that’s just how it is.”

“I don’t understand Theresa! I don’t understand how can just decide this in a month’s time.”

“Without you here, I just saw things clearly. I was happy for the first time in years and I want it to stay that way.”

Ethan started to speak but a knock at the door stopped him. Theresa looked at the door and back at Ethan. Without a word she walked over to the door and smiled as she opened it.

“Hey baby.” Noah’s voice rang out. “You look amazing!”

“You said dress nice.” She laughed as Noah kissed her cheek.

“Hello Noah.” Ethan spoke looking at his brother with a stern glare.

“Ethan man, you made it back.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you here to see Jane? Isn’t she getting big?” Noah smiled.

“I came to see Theresa.” Ethan spoke bluntly.

Theresa looked at Ethan and then back at Noah, “We really need to get going.” She spoke to Noah. “Aren’t Fox and Kay meeting us at the restaurant?”

“Yeah, and Kay will go nuts if we’re late. She has that Bennett temper you know.” He laughed.

Theresa turned around and looked back at Ethan, “Why don’t you take Jane with you tonight Ethan? Have Mama pack her a bag, it’ll be good for her to spend time with you since you’ve been gone for so long.”

“Theresa…” Ethan began.

“We’ll talk soon Ethan.” Theresa spoke with a forced smile. “I’m sorry about all this.” She sighed. “Honestly I am.”

“You’re making a mistake Theresa.”

Theresa looked up at Noah who stood silent, “No Ethan, I’m not. I’m making a decision, one that doesn’t include you.”

“You want me to wait outside?” Noah questioned wrapping a arm around Theresa. “Leave you two alone?”

“Yes.” Ethan nodded.

Theresa shook her head, “No, we’ll talk later right Ethan?” Theresa questioned. “Fox and Kay are waiting.” She smiled back up at Noah. “We should go.”

“Theresa wait!” Ethan called out.

“Goodnight Ethan.” She whispered taking Noah’s arm as he led her out the door.

Ethan stood alone in the living room his eyes glued to the door. For a moment he expected Theresa to come back, tell him she was wrong and run into his arms. The sound of Noah’s car leaving the driveway however ended that thought.

“I’m alone.” He frowned. Looking up at the ceiling shook his head, “How did this happen? How in the world did this happen?”