“ Julian, what are you up to?”, Eve asked, on her office phone.

“ Why Eve, why would I be up to anything?”

“ Don’t mess with me, Julian.”

” Ok….it worked, Eve. My plan worked.”

” So, you ARE behind the phone call to Chad from Ethan.”

” They’re meeting?”

“ This afternoon. Chad was in my office when Ethan called him.”

” Good.”

” Julian, I’m concerned.”

” Eve, Ethan is so enthusiastic about working with Chad.”

“ What if Ethan suspects something?”

” He doesn’t suspect anything. He has no reason to remotely think that there’s any connection between Chad and me. Ethan thinks it was HIS idea to get Chad.”

” You sure?”

” Yes. I told you that I intended to look out for our son, and do what I could for him. Helping him begin his career is the least that I can do.”

” Julian, we’re treading a thin line here. We agreed to keep Chad’s parentage a secret.”

” But, not forever. One of these days, Penny will be completely out of the woods, and you and Chad will have formed a strong enough bond to weather the test of him learning I am his father.”

“ I  need for Chad to be protected, Julian. I just want….for me to be able to have my family and my son. I don’t want to lose my marriage.”

“ You won’t. It will work out. “

“ Thank you, Julian…for helping Chad. I have to go. I’ll have to spend the afternoon coming up with arguments that will support Chad working with the Cranes over TC’s vehement objections.”

Eve heard Julian laugh. “ You do that, Eve. Goodbye.”

“ Bye, Julian.”
 

Sheridan heard a knock on the door.

” Sheridan?”

She opened the door.

” Gwen!” Sheridan pulled her into a big bear hug. “ I just got home from my trip, how are you?”

“ I’m fine. Ethan had to check in at Crane Industries for a few days, and then we’re back on the road for our honeymoon-slash-review of Crane Industries.”

“ You look fabulous!”

” I feel great. I…I made the right decision, Sheridan.”

“ Gwen, all I ever wanted was the situation to be resolved in the best way.”

” I know. Ethan and I, well, we had a lot of possible problems, but the wedding and the honeymoon has been good. With each passing day, I believe it’s going to be good. “

“ That’s wonderful.”

“ We had a big surprise when we got home.”

” What?”

” We found Julian and Ivy in bed….TOGETHER!”

Sheridan had a look of shock on her face. “ No way.”

Gwen nodded. “ Yes. Naked as the day they were born.”

” I leave town for a few days and hell freezes over?”

Gwen shrugged. “ I guess so. Penny says that Julian AND Ivy have said that she didn’t need to go to boarding school. That she could live at home.”

“ I don’t believe it!”

” Believe it. I think Penny’s illness changed Julian and Ivy. They are so devoted to Penny, and they seem to be able to exist in the other’s presence. No fights. No hostilities. I have never seen them like this. I don’t know what to think.”

Sheridan was pensive in thought. “ I’ve heard that almost losing a child can shake anyone to the core. And we both know that if Ethan is the apple of Ivy’s eye, Penny is Julian’s. He never wanted to send her away, but he deferred to Ivy. “

“ Well, I guess it’s a good thing, but it’s definitely something to get used to. It hasn’t been the only thing strange.”

” What else, Gwen?”

” My mother. She’s so odd. She’s gotten involved in Hotchkiss Charities.”

” This bothers you?”

“ It’s just not her. You know it’s not her. But, I think something has changed.”

” Your father’s death?”, Sheridan asked softly.

Gwen nodded. “ Yes. I knew that their relationship was different. I didn’t quite grasp the depth of their feelings. It was a strong bond.  This is the first time in my mother’s life that she’s been without a man, and she’s financially independent. I think she’s in shock.”

“ Despite her eccentricities, I know Rebecca loves you, and that she’ll be fine. “

” I’m in shock that she’s backed away from Julian.”

” Well, now that she has her own money, maybe being Mrs. Julian Crane isn’t too desirable.”

” Maybe. And, how are you and Luis?”

” More in love than ever. I’m so glad he went on this vacation with me. He’s made some plans. Gwen, I have to tell you!”

” What!”

” WE’RE ENGAGED!!!”

Gwen and Sheridan began screaming at the same time. Gwen hugged Sheridan fiercely.

” Oh Sheridan. I’m so happy for you.” Gwen had tears in her eyes.

” Thanks.”, Sheridan replied, tears in her own.

” So, have you thought about the wedding?”

” We talked about it all last night in bed..”, Sheridan laughed. “ I want a small wedding. Not too formal. In Paris.”

” Paris? Oh, romantic.”

” Well, this is where Crane money is going to work in my favor.  Only family and a few friends.  When we were in Paris, before the drug dealers found us, we discovered this beautiful little church near the Left Bank. So, we’re going to marry there.”

“ A wedding in Paris. I’m there!”

They both laughed.

” So Sheridan, when is it?”

“ In three months.”

” So long?”

” I thought you were going to ask why it isn’t longer, because to be honest, I want to get married tomorrow.”

” I understand.”

” Three months is enough time for Luis to give sufficient notice to the Police Department.”

” Notice?”

” Luis wants to become an attorney. I don’t think there’s any reason why he should defer his dreams.”

“ Of course, not. But, he’s willing to let you support him?”

“ Well, I made a pretty good argument. It would only be for a few years, and that’s what he would do for me. So, we’re in a partnership. I think he’ll make a fabulous lawyer.”

” A great one.”

“ How about you call Ethan, and tell him to come to the Cottage, and we go look at some takeout menus?”

” Sounds great.”
 

Eve comes through the back door into the kitchen, putting down the dinner she bought. TC comes into the kitchen.

“ Hey Baby, you got my message?”

“ Sure did. “

” I can’t wait to eat. What did you get?”

” Everyone’s favorite Thai food.”

” Excellent!” TC kisses Eve. “ How was your day?”

” Not bad. And you?”

” Fine. Did I tell you that Rebecca Hotchkiss made a donation to the school?”

” What kind of donation?”

” Lots of athletic equipment.”

” Why?”

TC laughed. “ I dunno. Maybe she has to give away some money.”

” Rebecca’s never struck me as the philanthropic type.”

” I don’t care. We have the equipment, which is all that’s important.”

” I agree. You call the kids, and I’ll put everything out on the dining room table.”

“ Fine. I just saw Chad come in a few minutes ago.”

Eve smiled at TC, but her thoughts were of Chad. She knew that he had news for dinner, and she still hadn’t thought of a strategy to help her son.