The Russells sat around the dining room table eating.

Eve was waiting for Chad to deliver his news.

“ So, how was everyone’s day?”, TC asked.

“ Fine.”, Simone replied.

“ Fine, Daddy.”, Whitney offered.

“ Great! I got a job offer!”

” A job? Chad, your first priority needs to be school.”

” Coach, I know that. And, ordinarily, I wouldn’t consider taking a job, but it’s part-time, and it’s in my field.”

” Really? What is it?”, TC asked.

” I was offered the chance to run the Crane Recording Studio.”

Everyone was silent, looking at each other, waiting for TC to blow.

“ The CRANE recording studio? Chad, have you lost your mind?”

“ Coach…”

” Boy, getting involved with the Cranes is nothing but trouble. You can’t think that they are on the up and up. They don’t know anything, BUT crooked.”

“ I know you have issues with the Cranes.”

“ Issues? Issues? That family is POISON. Pure poison. Chad, you’re a good guy. A great young man. Your future is bright. Why ruin that by becoming involved with the Cranes? They do nothing but USE and ABUSE.”

“ Coach, I understand. I understand everything that you’re saying. I know what people say about the Cranes, but that’s usually with Alistair and Julian. Ethan is different.”

” Is he? I know he puts up a good front, Chad, but the bottom line is – he’s a CRANE. Not only is he a Crane, he’s the Crane HEIR. Julian and Alistair are teaching him every trick that they know. Cranes look out for Cranes and no one else. Isn’t that what brought you to Harmony in the first place – you were dogged out by a crooked producer. Well, crooks get no more crookeder than the Cranes.”

Eve took this time to speak her mind.

“ Chad, tell us about the entire offer.”

Chad nodded and began to explain. “ I would get to run the Crane Recording Studio. Not only that, but they are beginning to produce again under a label they bought – The Blue Note.”

Eve was startled by hearing the name of the place that she met Julian, but didn’t lead on.

“ Since the Cranes own a group of radio stations in the region, they’re going to begin a talent contest. The winners will get contracts with Blue Note. This is an opportunity for me to work with raw talent. I don’t even have to look for the talent – it’s going to come to me. I can use my producing skills, and gain experience – on my own terms – that it would take me ages to get in the industry. Coach, I know you have you doubts. I’ll always keep my eyes open, but this is something that I simply can’t turn down. I will probably be working with talent in different genres of music, which will only increase my resume. I am thankful to you that you want to look out for me like this, but this is something that I feel I have to do.”

“ Chad, while I understand TC’s concerns, and believe that they error on the side of caution, I think that you are right. You need to take the job with the Cranes.”

TC shot Eve a ‘ What the Hell?’ look, but Eve continued.

“ Sometimes, we can’t always get opportunities from people that we like. I remember seeing an interview with General Chafee James – one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. He was talking about his philosophy of life, and why Education is so important for Black youth. He said so many people are waiting for the door to crack, and then tell the person who opens it to wait there while they go get their bags. His mother told him to be standing their, with their bags, ready to go when the door is opened. Chad, TC and I are providing you with your bags. And now, Ethan has opened the door. You MUST go through.”

“ Mom’s right, Daddy.”, Simone piped up. “ This is a shot for Chad. Because it’s such a small place, Chad will be able to make his mistakes. They will appreciate his risks.” Simone looked over to see TC scowling. “ Just my opinion.”, Simone mumbled.

“ Chad should work for the Cranes. He’s his own man. He has his own mind. Chad won’t sell out. He’ll leave before that happens. And everything that he learns, he’ll take onto the next job.”

” The Cranes are just using him!”, TC bellowed.

” And Chad is using them, TC. Chad needs our support, TC. He needs to know that he’ll have us in his corner, helping him, no matter what.”

TC saw the pleading in his wife’s eyes, and he relented. “ If they hurt you, I’ve got your back.”, TC said to Chad.

Chad smiled.  “ Thanks, Coach. Doctor Russell. I appreciate it.”

“ Well, I think this deserves a toast.”, Simone said, raising her glass full of lemonade. “ To Chad, the next Music Mogul.”

They all laughed and clinked their glasses.
 

“ Whoah, could we eat anymore?”, Ethan said, putting down his fork. He looked around the living room of the Cottage. Sheridan, Luis, and Gwen were all sitting back.

“ We ate like pigs!”, Luis joked.

“ Yeah, we did.”, Sheridan said, kissing Luis.

“ I’m so glad we got to do this before we left on the rest of our honeymoon.”, Gwen said.

“ I want to congratulate you again on the engagement, Luis. I know you’ll make Sheridan happy.”

“ Thanks, Ethan.”

“ I can’t believe you’re quitting the police force.”, Ethan said.

” I always wanted to be a lawyer. I get a feeling that I’ll never be away from law enforcement, but I want to go to law school. In fact, I signed up for a LSAT Prep Course today.”

” Oh Luis! That’s wonderful!”, Sheridan exclaimed.

“ Sheridan, I think we should fix some tea.”, Gwen said. Sheridan looked at Gwen and realized she wanted to for the guys to be alone.

” You’re right, Gwen. We’ll be back.” Gwen and Sheridan left the room.

Luis looked at Ethan. “ So, are you happy?”

” Yes, Luis. I am.”

” Does my sister know you’re back in town?”

” Yes. I saw Theresa at the Book Café. “

“ And?”

” And? It was sort of awkward. Luis, your sister and I had an intense relationship. The truth of the matter is, I love Gwen. I’m supposed to be with Gwen. I’m committed to Gwen. I wish Theresa the best.”

” She’s not going to give up on you.”

” Yes, she is. I could see it today. She realizes that we will never be.”

” I just want my sister to be happy.”

” The truth of the matter is, so do I, Luis. I want her to be happy, because I am happy. Just like I want Sheridan to be happy.”

” I’m dedicated to spending my life with Sheridan. To making her happy.”

“ I know that.”

” We have things that we need to work out, but we love one another. Nothing is going to break us apart. I’m a macho guy. Swallowing some of that pride, and letting her support me for the next few years is going to be a learning experience. But, couples without Sheridan’s money do it all the time. “

“ Yes, they do. I want us to be friends, Luis. Sheridan is the relative that I love most, and you are the love of her life. We’re always going to be involved in each other’s lives.”

“ I’m working on it, Ethan. Part of me is pissed that you hurt Theresa. Another part of me doesn’t like you because you’re a Crane..”

” Luis..”

” But, another part sees the love that Sheridan has for you. And, the love that you have for Sheridan. I actually believe that you give a damn about Sheridan.”

” So does Father.”

” Whatever, Ethan. I will NEVER change my opinion of Julian and Alistair. They are scum, and I will protect Sheridan to the death against them. “

” Ok. I guess it’s something I will have to deal with in our relationship.”

Ethan stuck out his hand.

” Agreed.”

Luis took it and shook it.
 

Penny was reading a book in her room, when Julian and Ivy came into see her.

” Mommy, Daddy!”

” Hello, Princess.”, Julian said, kissing her on her forehead.

” Penny, your father and I wanted to know your opinions about the nurses that we interviewed.”

” I like Marta.”

“ That horrible butch looking woman?”, Ivy asked.

“ I know she looks hard, but she’s quite sweet. She’s a lot of fun. Plus, she’s the only one who told me that she was going to be very hard on me. Everyone else was sucking up. If they can’t stand up to a little kid like me, how would they stand up to you?”

Julian smiled. “ Indeed. Marta, it is. Anything else?”

” I want to go shopping, Mommy.”

” But, that would mean being out in public. Honey, the way that you look..”

” Like a freak? Mommy, I love the house, but I wanna see other people.”

Ivy shrugged her shoulders. “ As you wish.”

“ Are you two a real couple now?”

Ivy looked at Julian, then their daughter. “ We are working things out.”

Julian shook his head. “ It’s beyond crazy. I never thought I’d work anything out with your mother. But, we’re trying.”

“ Cool!”

Penny kissed both her parents, and they left her room.  Julian turned to Ivy.

” Why, Ivy? I’ve been burned so many times. Why?”

“ I’m tired of living my life in anger. Join me in my room?”

Julian took the extended olive branch and followed Ivy to her room.