Whitney was sitting on Theresa's bed trying not to panic.
She couldn't believe that in a half an hour Theresa was going to meet Ethan
as herself. She really couldn't believe how calm Theresa was. She watched
her friend try out different hairstyles in the mirror and marveled at her
ability to tune reality out.
"Whitney," which hairstyle do you think goes with this
outfit?" asked Theresa pinning her hair up and turning away from the mirror
to look at Whitney.
"I don't know Theresa. Besides what does it matter? Nothing
looks good with an orange jumpsuit and ankle chains."
Theresa put her hair down and gave Whitney an amused
look. She knew that Whitney was worried about her meeting with Ethan, but
she wasn't. She had spent a lot of time with Ethan and she knew that he
would never do anything as hurtful as to have her arrested. Ethan was her
knight and shining armor, the greatest man that ever lived. He would understand.
She had been making such progress with him. She could feel it. He was really
starting to develop feelings for her. And when this was all over, they
would be together she just knew it.
"Whitney if I told you once I told you a thousand times
you worry too much."
"And if I told you a thousand times you don't worry enough,"
said Whitney figiding around nervously. "Has it ever occurred to you that
Ethan could have the cops waiting for you when you arrive at your little
meeting."
"Not going to happen," said Theresa smiling triumphantly.
"Ethan trusts me. He knows that I would never do anything to hurt him and
I wouldn't set up a meeting between him and somebody that was dangerous."
"Theresa. Don't you feel bad about lying to Ethan?"
Theresa looked at her friend for a moment and then sat
down beside her. It was times like this that she really regretted that
Whitney was so deeply involved in this whole mess. She knew that Whitney
hated lying ,she did to. But the difference between the two of them was
that she understood that sometimes you had to lie for the greater good,
Whitney didn't get that. Besides she did feel bad about lying to Ethan,
but she just didn't have another choice. It was that or loose him forever
and Theresa couldn't bare the thought of that.
"Of course I do Whitney. That's why I'm doing this, to
end this whole stalker misunderstanding once and for all."
"No Theresa," said Whitney getting up and grabbing Theresa's
wig off the dresser." If you really wanted to end this you would tell Ethan
the truth. The WHOLE truth Theresa. You would tell him that his mother's
plain secretary and the girl he thinks is stalking him is one and the same."
"I am."
"Thank God," said Whitney breathing a sigh of relief.
"Just as soon as the time is right?"
"What? asked Whitney moving from the dresser. "Theresa
are you telling me that you're not going to tell Ethan who you are today.
Then what is the point of this meeting?"
"To get Ethan use to the idea that I am not stalking
him. Then once he believes it I can pick my moment and reveal my true identity.
Just like Clark Kent," said Theresa smiling as her thoughts went to that
moment: Ethan would be waiting for her and the park. She would come
in her disguise. He'd look up at her:
"Theresa what are you doing here I thought the
stalker would be here," asked Ethan getting up from the park bench he was
sitting on.
"Yes Ethan," said Theresa coming towards him. "I'm
right here," said Theresa pulling off her wig.
"Theresa you're my stalker?" asked Ethan confused.
"Yes Ethan but It's not what you think," she
said coming towards him.
" I thought that you were stalking me," he said putting
his hand on her face," but now that I see that you just wanted to be near
me."
"Yes Ethan. I love you." said Theresa smiling. "You're
not mad?"
"No I guess I knew it all along. That's why I kept
trying so hard to find you. I guess deep down inside I knew that my search
would lead me to you. I love you Theresa," said Ethan moving in for a kiss..
"You're dreaming Theresa," said Whitney trying to talk
some sense into her friend. "Ethan would never let you off that easy. Why
don't you just tell Ethan the truth and beg for mercy.
"Because I don't have to Whitney everything will be ok.
All we have to do is just hold on. Oh and stay out of Frank Lomax's way,
no matter how hard that may be."
Whitney looked up at the mention of Frank's name. She
couldn't help but flashback to how good it felt when he was leaning so
close to her. She was interested in him. She couldn't deny it, but she
sure wasn't going to let Theresa know that. This situation was complicated
enough without adding the fact that she had the hots for Frank Lomax to
the equation.
"For the last time Theresa I do not have the hots for
Frank Lomax," said Whitney trying not to blush.
"And you call me a liar."
Gwen hated this. Talking to her mother was always like
talking to a drill sergeant. No matter what she did she always expected
more. It was bad enough that she was getting anxious about Ethan proposing
to her, but her mother was now harping on how great it would be for her
to marry into the Crane family as soon as possible. She was pacing up and
down the Crane living room trying not to scream.
"After all," said Margaret Hotchkins on the other end
of the phone for the millionth time. "Ethan Crane is quiet the catch. You've
managed to hold on to him for 5 years dear, but he is young and he IS a
MAN. You have to snap him up before some other pretty young thing catches
his eye."
"Mother," said Gwen trying not to loose her temper. "Ethan
loves me. He has never even looked at another women."
"Keep telling yourself that," said Margaret on the other
end. "He is the son of Julian Crane and we all know how much he loves
the ladies."
"Ethan is nothing like his father," said Gwen trying
to surppress the image of Ethan moaning Theresa's name. "He is strictly
a one woman guy."
As Gwen was finishing her sentence she noticed Frank
Lomax coming in.
"Mother I have to go," said Gwen hanging up before her
mother had a chance to say good bye.
"Hello Frank," said Gwen walking over to the detective."
If you're looking for Ethan he isn't here."
"Damn," said Frank blowing air through his teeth. "I
can't believe that he actually went to meet that girl."
"So you think that this meeting is a bad idea too," said
Gwen relieved. Finally somebody was thinking clearly.
"I tried to talk him out of it when that Theresa girl
suggested it I mean who knows what she's up to?"
"So you don't trust Theresa either?" asked Gwen offering
Frank a drink.
"No thanks," said Frank turning down her offer." That
girl has done nothing but lie to me and to everybody since this whole thing
started."
"Do you know that for sure?" asked Gwen. Theresa was
really becoming a thorn in her side and she wanted desperately to knock
her off of that sweet little pedestal that Ethan had put her on.
"No," said Frank sitting down." But I know that she is
in league with the stalker and that she has somehow managed to drag Whitney
into her scheme."
"What makes you think Whitney is not involved?" asked
Gwen joining him on the couch.
"A gut feeling. She's just too sweet for that. Theresa
is definitely the bad guy in all of this."
"Thank God that somebody sees through that girl," said
Gwen relieved. " Ivy and especially Ethan think that she is this sweet
innocent girl, but I know better. I know that there is more to that girl
then meets the eye."
"Me too," said Frank happy to finally have an ally. He
was beginning to think that Theresa had snowballed everyone in this house.
He couldn't understand Ethan's loyalty to her, but he suspected that they
were more romantic then he cared to let on. Frank couldn't see him being
interested in Theresa especially with such a pretty girlfriend, but to
each his own. "And I'm going to prove."
No," said Gwen." We're going to prove it. Theresa has
been manipulating Ethan from the get go. I want her exposed." Its the
only way Ethan will be all mine again.
Frank smiled at Gwen and she took h is hand.
"Partners?" she asked shaking his hand.
"Partners," he said smiling broader.