Collision Course, Chapter Twelve
 
 

Eve awoke from her sleep, and realized that she was still clutching the clothes that she had bought for her son.

Chad.

In the moments after waking up, she thought maybe it had been all a dream. Some illusion.

Being surrounded by the baby clothes made her realize that it had been no dream. It was all too real.

Chad.

Chad was HER son.

She had confirmation about it. The only thing left was the other DNA tests that she had run. But, in her heart, Eve knew that was a formality, rather than anything to hold onto hope. Eve packs up the baby clothes, and puts them back into her hiding place in the closet. She goes into the bathroom to splash some water on her face.

Once back in her bedroom, Eve picks up a picture of her family, and carries it over to the bed and stares at it.

‘ It’s all gone.’, she muses.

Eve cries quietly while looking at the picture. She’s truly in a quandry. What should she do?

She doesn’t get the chance to think further because the phone rings.

" Eve Russell."

" Dr. Russell. This is Melanie. You told me that if there were any special deliveries for you to contact you immediately."

" Yes, Melanie. I’ll be right there."

Eve hung up. She knew what the delivery was about, and thought it was time to face the music.
 

Ivy is sitting by Penny’s bed, waiting for her to return, when the door bursts open, and people begin to walk through it. With flowers. Balloons. Stuffed animals. They set up all over the room. Of course, the last person through the door is Julian, with a giant bear.

" She’s not back?", he asks Ivy.

" No. Since she did so well with the other tests, they just decided to run the entire battery of tests on her now and get it out of the way."

" They don’t think that will tire her out?"

" They want to be able to treat her ASAP, Julian. Now, WHAT is all this?"

" Did you see this room before? How could anyone be encouraged to get well in a dismal room like this? It needs life? And, Penny needs a bright place. You don’t think it’s too much?"

Ivy laughed. " When did that ever stop you when it came to Penny?"

" Never.", Julian said smiling. " I meant what I said, Ivy. She came back to us alive. She won’t die now."

" Julian, she could be.."

" NO, Ivy! I don’t want to hear it. Nothing but positive thoughts. Our daughter is going to be fine."

As if on cue, they nurses wheeled in Penny.

Julian and Ivy watched as they placed Penny back into her bed. The nurse came over to them and told them,  " I’m sorry, but, she still hasn’t awoken. I wish we had better news."

She left them with Penny. Julian and Ivy each flanked a side of her, and held her hand.

" Penny sweetheart, it’s Mother. You know that you’re sort of scaring us right now. We’re so used to you being lively, alert and very talkative. I mean, if you won’t wake up and talk, that might force your father and I to talk to one another."

On cue, " And, you KNOW how we feel about that, don’t you, Darling?", Julian says.
Julian kissed Penny’s hand. " We’ll help you fight, Penny. We’ll be here every step of the way, but, you have to help us. I know your mother and I won’t win parenting awards, but, know THIS…….we are desperate for you to wake up, and we’ll do whatever it takes to help you get well. All the sarcasm aside, our love is true. Never truer than when directed at you. Please wake up, my Princess."

Julian lowered his head to her hand, and stayed there.
Ivy was moved. She knew of the bond between Julian and Penny, but, in all the years they had been married, Julian had never displayed such obvious affection for anyone, including their children. She knew what was best was for them to just wait in the silence.

After almost an hour, Julian sat up with a start. Ivy stared at him, and he was staring down at Penny’s hand. Ivy stared too, and she saw what had made him jump: her hand was moving on its own. They looked at one another with hope in their eyes, and then, they saw her head move. Her eyes fluttered, and she opened them slightly when she began to focus on Julian.

" Father?", Penny mumbled.

Julian smiled, his eyes full of tears. " It’s me, Penny. I’m right here." He motioned to Ivy, but, she was already out the door, yelling for them to get a doctor. Ivy returned with a doctor and some nurses. They asked Julian and Ivy to wait out in the hallway. Once there, Julian was smiling with joy.

" I told you she would be ok. I told you.", Julian said, picking up Ivy in a congratulatory hug. They both came to their senses and Julian apologized.

" What for, Julian…for being estatic that our daughter’s awake? Nothing wrong there. "

" She’s going to be fine. Lots of therapy, but, she’s going to be fine.", Julian said, looking directly at Ivy, awaiting confirmation.

Ivy rubbed her hand up and down Julian’s arm. " Of course, she will. She’s going to be fine. She’ll need our help, but, that won’t be a problem."

Julian nodded. " Well, I’m going to go bully the nurses, so that we can have sleeping accomodations near her, if not even in her room for tonight. No way am I leaving her."

Ivy nodded, and then went over to the desk. She dialed up Ethan’s cellphone, but, it was busy. She got his voicemail.

" Ethan, this is your mother. Penny’s awake, Darling. She’s with the doctor’s right now. But, I have a good feeling about this. I think she’s going to be fine. I’ll talk with you soon."

Ivy went to find some coffee. She came back and handed Julian his, which he took with gratitude. They stood there in silence, waiting for the doctor.

" Mr. And Mrs. Crane.."

" What about Penny?", Julian asked.

" Your daughter is awake and fully functional. She passed all of the motor tests that we gave her. She did suffer a severe concussion, so, we are going to monitor her brain activity for the next 24 hours. Barring any sort of relapse, we will probably be able to believe that the worst is behind us. Now that she’s awake, we’re going to take her down to deal with her other issues.

The nurses are in there, giving her a bath, and preparing her for the casts. It’s going to be tough on her, but, I believe it will be ok. Her x-rays came out clean. There is NO internal damage, which in itself is a miracle, because everyone else has needed surgery.

The cast process is going to take a couple of hours to complete. You should get some rest, or go for a walk. "

" Thank you, Doctor.", Ivy responded. As the doctor walked off, Ivy looked at Julian, who replied. " I’m not tired."

" Then, go for a walk. I am a little sleepy, so I’m going to take a nap. " Ivy smiles slightly at Julian and walks away.

Julian walks out of the hospital, and soon gets a call on his cellphone.

" Julian Crane."

" I see that Penny is doing well."

Julian shakes his head, not even attempting to figure out how Alistair knows this. " Yes, Father. I have a question, Father."

" When do you not?"

" What’s going on between you and Ethan? "
 

Mrs. Hutchins came into Ethan’s office.

" I was so pleased that you could meet me on such short notice, Mrs. Hutchins. "

" No problem at all, Mr. Crane. Since I’m a party planner, you need a party?"

" Yes, I need a wedding planned."

" Yes, I had read that you were engaged…..a local girl?"

" Yes, Gwen Hotchkiss."

Mrs. Hutchins’ eyes bugged out, and she dropped her pen.

" Gwen Hotchkiss?"

" Yes. We plan to be married in 3 days. Can you put together a wedding in that time? Of course, discretion is of the utmost importance."

" Of course, Mr. Crane. Where will it take place?"

" The Crane Mansion. Most likely, the living room."

" How many guests?"

" Oh, I’d say 20 at the most. Very small. Very intimate. But, every detail has to be perfect. No expense is to be spared."

" Of course. "

" A sit-down dinner will follow."

" Absolutely."

" Well, here is my chef’s number.", Ethan says, sliding her a piece of paper. " You are to talk to no one but the chef and myself. Am I clear?"

" Yes."

" And, Mrs. Hutchins, I would look disfavorably upon your business if it were to get out…my intentions."

" As you said, Mr. Crane, discretion is of the utmost importance. I’ll begin work on it."

Melody Hutchins left the office. She couldn’t believe it. She was on top of the hottest scoop of the year. But, she knew not to say anything. It was the way Ethan Crane looked at her when he warned her about keeping her mouth shut. It sent a chill down her spine. Her mouth would be shut, for there was no way, she was going against the future head of the Crane Empire.

Ethan opened up his desk drawer and pulled out the ring he had selected for Gwen. It was simpler than the original one he gave her, but, had more history to it. He also brought out the wedding bands. His plan was being set in motion. The only things left to do were:
a) to break Theresa’s heart
b) to get a ‘Yes’ from Gwen

And, it would have to be in that order. He had to speak to Theresa first.