Chad woke up the next morning and went down for breakfast.  He couldn’t believe the spread.

“ Doc, you went all out.”

TC smiled at Chad, “ Eve does this for the girls every first day of school.”

“ Thanks.”, Chad said, picking up a waffle. The look in his eyes towards Eve said so much more. And the look in her eyes told him that she understood everything he was feeling.

“ Chad, this is an important day in your life. You’re beginning a whole new life.”, TC told him.

“ Thanks, Coach. For everything. I…I don’t know how I’m going to pay you back.”

” Son, when you’re a bigtime record producer, mention me in your Grammy speech.”

They all laugh, and Eve brings out the camera.

” Eve, please.”, TC chided.

” Just a few.”

They spent the next few minutes taking pictures. All sorts of combinations.

” Well, I have to get to the hospital. I made sure that I’m not on rotation tonight, so that we can have a nice dinner and talk about your first day.”

” Ok.”, Chad told her.

“ Honey, I’ll see you later.”, Eve said, kissing him and then leaving the kitchen.

” My wife has a lot of faith in you, Son.”

” I know, Coach. I don’t want to let her down.”

” Don’t let yourself down. All we want is for you to live up to your potential. That’s it.”

” I hope…well, one day if I find my father, he’ll be like you. A good man who opened his heart to a stranger.”

TC’s eyes got misty. “ Your father will be so proud to call you ‘Son’, Chad. Any man would.”

“ Gotta go, Coach.”

“ Ok.”

Chad left the house. “ I hope when the truth come out, Coach that you’ll still want me around. “
 

Julian was sitting at his desk, working on a deal when his secretary buzzed him.

“ I thought I said that I didn’t want to be disturbed!”, Julian hissed.

“ Mr. Crane, there is a Dr. Russell here to see you.”, his secretary replied.

” Send her in!”

Eve walked into the office and closed the door. “ Hello, Julian.”

” Eve. Is something wrong?”

Eve walked over to Julian’s desk and sat down. He got up and went to the front of the desk.

” Today was Chad’s first day of college. We had a party for him last night. And, I got to fix him a special breakfast today.”

“ You must have loved that.”

” I did. I…um….took these pictures. I thought you might want to see them.” Eve said, handing him the envelope full of pictures.

Julian smiled as he looked at his son.

” He…he looks happy.”

” I believe he is.”

“ Your family seems to have accepted him.”

“ More and more everyday.”

” Um, why was Theresa there?”

” Theresa and Chad have been friends since he arrived in town.”

” Are you sure that they’re just friends?”

” What are you saying?”

” I had a talk with Ethan, and he’s under the impression that Chad and Theresa might have crossed the line past friendship.”

” I honestly don’t know, Julian. But, what if he had? What, are you going to tell me that Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald isn’t ‘good enough’ for your son, the Crane?”

” No. I could care less. Theresa is a beautiful girl, and if my son’s head has been turned by that, I certainly understand.”

Eve rolled her eyes at that comment.

“ I’ve known Theresa her entire life. If Chad wants to become involved with her, I won’t discourage it. Things might get sticky once Whitney finds out, because…”

” She was interested in Chad, and doesn’t know what he’s her brother.”

” Exactly.”

” Well, let them deal with it, Eve. It’s none of our business. Our son is taking his first steps towards a new life. I want to help him, Eve.”

” Julian, you can’t. I can’t raise any suspicions now.”

” I know…but, there has to be a way that I can be involved in his life without him knowing that I’m his father.”

” Don’t you think that would be tempting fate?”

” No.” Julian walked around to the window. He turned to Eve and smiled.

“ I’ve got it.”

Eve got up and went over to Julian, as she shook her head. “ Whatever you’re thinking Julian, don’t.”

“ I’ve got the answer.”

” No.”

” The Crane recording studio.”

Eve’s eyes widened in horror. “ Oh, HELL no.”

Julian smiled. “ Yes.”
 

Whitney was sitting on a bench reading a book, when..

“ Hey, Whit.”

” Chad? How’s it been? First day and all.” Whitney motions for him to sit down.

” Ok. Whitney, I want to apologize again to you..”

” Chad, don’t think about it. It’s ok. I’ve been doing some thinking, and I realize now that it wouldn’t have worked.”

” You do?”

” Yeah. We’re on different tracks. We’re young. And, I realize now that you need to be focused on your life. I was sort of hurt in the beginning, but it’s getting better.”

” I’m glad to hear it, Whit.”

“ One day I want us to be good friends…it’ll take time.”

“ Time is what I have.”

Whitney smiled past Chad. “ Hey, Theresa!”

“ Whitney, Chad. How’s it going Chad?”

” Fine.”

” Well, I gotta go to class. See you later, Chad. Theresa.”

“ Bye Whitney.”, they said together.

Theresa sat next to Chad.

” So, how’s it really going with Whitney?”

” Ok. She says that she realized we couldn’t be together.”

” Isn’t that good?”

” Yeah. And, I guess if we become friends, it will be easier for her to accept me as her brother.”

“ That’s true.”

” So, what about US, Theresa. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but..”

Theresa puts her fingers on Chad’s lips.

” You helped me through the darkest night of my life. And, I helped you through yours. We’re friends, Chad. First, last, and always. Neither one of us can handle anything more. “

Chad smiled. “ I need this.”

” Me too.”