Collision Course, Chapter 22
 

Eve had been everywhere that she thought she would be able to find Chad. She was so lost.  So, she had wound up at the Church, with Father Lonigan. Once she realized that once she found Chad, the rest would be ok, Eve felt a sense of peace come over her. She had no idea where Chad was. But, she knew she had to think about her next actions. Eve found herself in the sanctuary of the church. She came for guidance.  Yet, she wasn't alone. She recognized a familiar face and walked over to it.

" Pilar?"

Pilar turned to look at Eve. Eve could tell that she had been crying.

" Pilar, what's wrong?"

" My Theresa. She didn't come home last night. She had…upsetting news, and I haven't seen her since."

" The news that Ethan married Gwen."

" You know?"

" Yes. I'm so sorry, Pilar. If I see Theresa, I'll call you."

" Thank you, Eve. "

Eve turned to leave when an idea came into her head.

" Pilar, Theresa and Chad Harris are good friends, aren't they?"

Pilar nodded. " Yes, she and Chad have gotten close."

" Could it be possible that they would be together?"

" I don't know. I tried calling Chad, but, got no answer."

" He's not at home. He disappeared too."

" That's odd."

" Maybe, he's trying to help Theresa through this. Did…did Theresa take anything?"

" Like she was going to leave home? No. Everything's there."

Eve let out a sigh of relief. " Pilar, if you see Chad, will you call me? Don't tell him that I'm looking for him."

Pilar was curious, but agreed. " I will, Eve."

Eve turned, left the church, and got into her car. She prayed that Theresa and Chad were together. If he was helping someone else, then maybe he wouldn't try and leave town. Eve thought about her future. She thought about what she had to do. She was nervous. She knew, theoretically, that she had a plan. She had to stick to it. She had told Chad sooner than anticipated, but, it had to be done. She had to complete her list. Eve now felt she had to talk to Chad. It was Priority #1 over everything else. And, in order to do that, she needed some outside help.
 

Theresa and Chad were pulling into the Lopez-Fitzgerald driveway.

" Thanks, Chad. For helping me out.", Theresa said.

" Naw, Theresa, you helped  me. I was ready to get killed last night, which is why I was picking on those bigots. You saved me."

" So, does it hurt any less in the light of day?", Theresa asked.

" No. It's just as painful. It's excruciating."

" I hear you."

" What are you gonna do, Theresa?"

" I'm going to go into that house and burn every vestige of Ethan Crane. Every picture, every gift, every magazine I bought for the wedding I 'thought' I was going to have. Everything. I may not feel any better, but, I don't have to have reminders of him."

" Yeah."

" What are you going to do?"

" I don't have a clue. Right now, I feel like turning this bike around, and taking the road right out of town."

" Chad, you promised. You wouldn't do it. Please. I need you. I don't know what I'll do if I don't have someone that I can trust."

" Theresa, I understand all that. But, do you realize how hard it's going to be for me in this town?"

" You have to talk to her, Chad. You HAVE to see her before you leave, IF you leave."

" Theresa…"

" No, Chad. She's your mother. A talk is what the two of you need to have. Just one, Chad. Clear the air, and if you STILL want to leave, I won't hassle you anymore."

" Ok. One talk."

" Do you know where she is?"

" Nope. "

" Well, let's try and find her."

Theresa takes his hand and drags him into her house.
 

" Hello, Dr. Russell, how are you?"

" Officer Quimby, nice to see you. I'd like to see Chief Bennett."

" I think he's free."

Eve had come to the Harmony Police Because she needed Sam's help. She had to find Chad, and the police could find him sooner than she could. Eve walked over to his desk.

" Hi Sam."

" Eve! What's happening?"

" Not much. May I talk to you?"

Sam looked at Eve, and saw the seriousness in her eyes. " Sure."

Eve sat down next to Sam's desk. " Sam, I need your help."

" With what, Eve?"

" I need to find Chad Harris. It's possible that he's left town. I need to track him down."

" Why would Chad leave town, and why would it be important to you, Eve?"

" Because…because…" Just then, Eve heard her cellphone ring. She answered it.

" Eve Russell."

" Dr. Russell, it's Theresa."

" Theresa! Your mother's looking for you. Is Chad with you?"

" Yes, he is."

Eve let out a sigh of relief. Before Eve could respond to Theresa, she spoke up.

" Dr. Russell, Chad wants you to meet him at the bridge near the old brook. Do you know where that is?"

" Yes."

" Well, he'll see you there. Bye."

Theresa hung up, and Eve did too. But, she was faced with  curious Sam.

" So Eve, why would it be important if Chad Harris was lost?"

" He's not lost, Sam. He's been found. I'm going to talk to him."

Eve began to get up, and Sam grabbed hold of her hand.

" You're not going to tell me, are you?"

" You'll know soon enough, Sam."

The ominousness in that statement puzzled Sam, as Eve walked away.
 

" Oh Ethan, this feels wonderful.", Gwen purred.

She and Ethan were in the bedroom of the Crane Jet.

" It is fun, isn't it? Totally decadent."

" But, SOOOO enjoyable.", Gwen giggled.

" We had to pass the time on the flight somehow."

" Exactly.  So, let's have another round., shall we?", Gwen said, turning to kiss Ethan passionately.
 

Eve was sitting on a bench near the bridge. This brook was a main road, until the highway was built. Now, it was rarely used. She had broken nearly every speed rule trying to get here. She didn't want Chad to think that she didn't want to see him. She looked at her watch. The time hadn't gone any faster than the last time she looked at her watch. This was the most important meeting of her life. She just hoped that Chad hadn't decided that he didn't want to meet with her.

She was becoming saddened when she heard the sound of a motorbike in the distance.  She was stunned, as she watched Chad come towards her, like it was slow motion.

Her shock turned to nervousness. She didn't say anything as he came to sit on the bench next to her.

" You're here.", Chad said.

" Yes."

" I don't know why I'm here."

" I hope it's because you want to talk to me."

" I don't know."

" Chad, I'll answer any question. Any question that you want." The pleading in Eve's voice was evident.

" What kind of questions am I supposed to have? How could this happen? Why did you throw me away?"

" I didn't throw you away! I didn't. I thought you were dead."

" Dead? Woman, this ain't no soap opera? I was your mistake, and you threw me away and forgot all about me."

" I could NEVER forget about you. NEVER. I didn't throw you away. Until the day I got the DNA test results back, I didn't know. I didn't know. I'll do anything to prove it to you."

" You can't. If I wasn't the mistake that you threw away, then WHY don't the Coach and Whitney and Simone know anything about me?"

" I…I haven't told them yet. I needed to talk to you first."

" No, not that it's ME, but that you had ANY baby. They have NO IDEA that you had another child. Do they? DO THEY?"

" No.", Eve says quietly.

" No, they don't. They think that you walk on water. A vision that you have pumped all along. I'm nothing more than your dirty little secret. The secret that fills you full of shame."

" I am NOT ashamed of you."

" Aren't you? They don't know about the possibility of my existance. Why did that happen? Because you were ashamed. Ashamed of telling them that you had a baby out of wedlock, unless you're gonna tell me that you married 'your baby's Daddy'."

" No, I didn't marry him. But, I would have. All he needed to do was ask. Instead, he abandoned me."

Chad laughs. " The smart, bordering brilliant Doctor Eve Russell, got knocked up by a White punk that threw you away. Not so smart, was it, Eve?", Chad spat.

" No, it wasn't. I fell in love with a man who wasn't there for me when I needed him most."

" So, you decided to throw away his bastard."

" I did NOT throw you away. You are my son! I would NEVER throw you away. Chad………..I understand your hostility towards me. I don't know how we were separated. I don't. You're my son, and I am begging you not to leave town. I'm begging you to give me a chance."

" What are you going to tell your family?"

" The truth."

" The truth? You're going to lose them."

" I know that's likely."

" Why? Why aren't you begging me to keep this quiet? Why aren't you pleading for your family?"

" Because, I love you. Losing my family with TC will be a blow, but, it doesn't compare to if I let you leave town. If I can't convince you to stay and try with me. For over 20 years, I've had the same silent prayer. Those prayers that you don't even say out loud, but, if God is an all-knowing God, he hears them. It all being a 'mistake' - my son being dead, has been my prayer. And, he's answered it."

" You are going to LOSE Coach Russell, Whitney and Simone. Your family!"

" You were my family first. "

Chad stares at Eve. " I'm almost convinced that you mean it."

" I do."

" Lady, I can't take this anymore. I'm outta here."
Eve grabs Chad's hand. " PLEASE don't leave town. PLEASE tell me that you're going to give us a chance. "

Chad looked into her eyes, and for the first time, really saw them. Chad saw a pain in them that he realized must have been there all the time, but, so many people are blinded by the image she presents, that they don't see her. The pure pain in the eyes shocked Chad. He was so full of anger, not wanting to believe anything she said. Maybe her voice could tell lies, but, the eyes rarely did. He had been ready to get on his bike and never come back. But, something in those eyes stopped him dead in his tracks and shook his determination. He walked away from Eve, not giving her an answer.