Collision Course, Chapter Eight
 

Ethan sat in his bedroom at the Mansion, with the hourglass that Alistair had sent him. He had sent Theresa home, telling her that he would go over their wedding plans tomorrow.

He found himself going into the trunk in his room, and bringing out a gift that he had received from Gwen when he graduated college. It was a memory book of the time that they had spent together. Ethan found himself going back in time, with each picture recalling a memory long forgotten. Nearly all were good times, with some funnier than the others.

A piece of folded paper fell out of the book. Ethan opened it. It was a charcoal sketch of Gwen that had been done on the Left Bank the first time they’d gone to Paris together. Gwen had been searching for some books in an antique bookstore, and had stayed there long enough so that the artist could his sketch. There was something almost ethereal in the way the artist had captured her. There was something so achingly vulnerable in the sketch; it was as if the artist had stripped off the layers of Gwen and found her soul. The sketch had jarred Gwen, which is why she had turned the artist down, and they went back to the hotel. But, while Gwen was meeting with an old family friend later on that evening, Ethan went back to the spot on the Left Bank, found the artist and purchased it anyway.

The Gwen in this picture was the Gwen underneath the tree today, who had let him have it. He had been so wrapped up in what pleasured him, that he had deluded himself that he had ‘done the right thing’. After all, he was Ethan Crane, and since birth, he had been told whatever he wanted, he could have. Of course, his mother tried to temper that, by making sure that he knew that it wasn’t ‘proper’ to be as obvious about it as Alistair and Julian, but, underneath that, was the message that it was no less true for him.

When, in fact, of course, it was less true. It wasn’t true at all. He had been raised that there were two sets of rules in the world: one for the Cranes, and one for others.

He had just been informed that he was actually an ‘Other’, and the truth is, he didn’t like it. Not in the least. He had been raised Ethan Alistair Winthrop Crane, heir to the Crane Empire, an Empire so vast that it touched six of the seven continents. He had been raised to meet with Presidents, Dictators, Kings, Sheiks. Presidents would come and go, but, he would ALWAYS be a Crane. He had always listened, on those rare occasions that Alistair would return to Harmony, when his grandfather summoned him to the Library. While there, Alistair would tell Ethan what he had been up to: the deals that he had been wheeling, the people involved. There was always a colorful story, full of larger than life people that Ethan would be assigned to look up, and become informed about. And, once Ethan returned with his information, Alistair would add to it, giving out intimate details of these very wealthy and powerful people. He knew, though Alistair didn’t tell him, Ethan knew, even at a young age, that the world he was allowed to see wasn’t something that everyone would have contact with in their lives. Men who were able to make the kinds of decisions that Alistair and Julian made were few and far between. He’d go places sometimes with Alistair and see how people automatically deferred to him. The extent of his power.

And, the underlying promise of it all was understood: this would be YOURS someday, Ethan.

He didn’t know any other life. He didn’t know if he had the courage to want to. But, men with power have responsibilities. They make decisions that affect lives. Oh, he had been in on business deals, learning from Alistair and Julian about how the world worked. He had seen them take over companies and destroy entire towns with their decisions. But, somehow, he had been able to rationalize it away, because he didn’t know those people.

Well, he knew all the players involved in this drama. And, a choice had to be made. He had always believed everything that Ivy had told him. He might be a Crane, but, he was a ‘better’ , ‘more benevolent’ kind of Crane, which set him apart from Alistair and Julian. He was the ‘new kind’ of Crane, that would take the Empire in a different direction and set that new tone.

The truth was, he wasn’t a Crane at all. It was all he knew, but, it should not have been his birthright. In fact, it didn’t belong to anyone, since there were no other male Cranes in his generation. He was reared to lead. It had been pushed into his head since the day he was born, by his ‘grandfather’, ‘father’, and nearly everyone else he met. Ethan was the Crane Crown Prince, and he was to be treated accordingly.

How could he be expected to give that up? For something as abstract as ‘love’. Loving Theresa hadn’t cost him anything, he had originally thought.

Now, it could cost him everything.

Could he give up an Empire for her? Could he live his life as a mere ‘mortal’? Could he destroy the only family he’s known? Could he allow his mother to be cast out into the cold, as an enemy of the Cranes? Ethan realized now that he had deliberately allowed himself to turn a blind eye to certain stories. Certain things, not really wanting to believe the extent to which Alistair and Julian would deal with their enemies. But, he knew Alistair’s words to be true: Julian Crane knew how to deal with his enemies. He left no room for mercy, and as an Enforcer, when he decided he wanted to do the job, he did it brilliantly. His mother wouldn’t stand a chance against them. His sisters would in effect, become motherless.

He looked at the sketch of Gwen. He knew that if he decided to take Alistair up on his offer, there was no turning back. Not only would Alistair never allow it, but, in the sense of right and wrong, he simply couldn’t and wouldn’t hurt Gwen again. She had been furious with him, but, in the end, her voice had admitted that she still loved him. And, if she did, then, he could work from that vantage point.

He could see the agony on Gwen’s face as they lowered her father into the ground. They had been terribly close; her devotion to her father equaled his for Ivy. He tried to imagine his mother without her family, and couldn’t do it. Whatever life it was, it was the one she had chosen for herself, and she DID love his sisters.

Ethan turned over the hourglass. Watching the sand go from top to bottom, he realized what he was going to do.

He took out a piece of paper and a pen.

On it, he wrote:

I am Ethan Alistair Winthrop Crane.
 

" I know how hard Johnathan’s death has been on all of you. I don’t want to add to your grief, so, I’ll try to be brief."

Rebecca, Bobby and Gwen nodded at the lawyer.

" Johnathan’s will was pretty straight forward. There were a handful of small bequests that he gave a group of people. I’ll notify them by mail.

Then, there were a handful of larger requests:

He wanted the following institutions to receive donations of $ 5 million a piece:
St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis
Brigham And Women’s Hospital – Breast Cancer Research Project "

" That’s because of his mother.", Rebecca volunteered.

" Harvard University
The Groton School
Choate Rosemary Hall
Rutland College for Women
Provident St. Mel School
Piney Woods Educational Institute"

" I’ve never heard of the last two.", Bobby says.

" They’re both private schools dedicated to the education of poor African-American students. Johnathan had been sending them blind donations for years.", the lawyer replied. " At all the schools, the monies have been stipulated to be part of a scholarship fund. I know the particulars, and will make the rounds to the schools, sorting out the details with them."

" Now, the major requests.

To my wife Rebecca, I leave a trust of 200 million dollars, and 10% of my Hotchkiss Enterprises stock, which comes accompanied by a Seat on the Board of Directors of Hotchkiss Enterprises. Rebecca is to have use of all of our homes, and they may not be sold without her consent, until after she is deceased.

To my son, Robert, I leave a trust of 200 million dollars and 10% of my Hotchkiss Enterprises stock, which comes accompanied by a Seat on the Board of Directors of Hotchkiss Enterprises. I also leave him my collection of cars, and my boats.

To my son Robert, and my daughter Gwyneth, I leave my art collection. They will split everything 50/50, EXCEPT for small art gallery set up in the house in Harmony. Everything in that gallery belongs to Robert.

To my daughter Gwyneth, I leave everything else, which includes a considerable trust, and 70% of my Hotchkiss Enterprises stock. I know that the company that her Grandfather founded is in good and capable hands.

I’ll be able to get a solid figure about the trust within the next few days Gwen, after I tally all the accounts, but, at present time, it’s in the vicinity of 360 million dollars. "

Gwen nods.

Robert speaks up. " Wait. By my calculations, that’s only 90% of my father’s stock. What about the other 10%?"

" That is an issue between your father and mother. He left this envelope for Rebecca, explaining the conditions for this 10%." The lawyer hands Rebecca the envelope. " He believed that you would understand his wishes, Rebecca. He said that it was up to you how you handled the situation."

Rebecca accepted the envelope and nodded.

" Well, that’s really the big strokes of the will. There are of course, many details to be dealt with, but, I’ll do those myself. Gwen, I hate to say this, but, there are things at Hotckiss Enterprises that demand attention."

Gwen put her hand up. " I can’t deal with this today, but, I promise that sometime tomorrow, I’ll be into the office. Tell Daddy’s secretary to expect me, and you should work with her to prioritize things so that I can deal with things expediently."

The lawyer nods.  " I’ll leave you. You have my number.", and he leaves the library.

Bobby goes over to Rebecca. " Bec, you OK?"

" Yes, Bobby. I’m just a bit tired. I think I’ll go up to my room. Bye." Rebecca kisses both Bobby and Gwen and leaves.

" What do you think was in the letter from Daddy?", Gwen asks.

" I haven’t a clue. But, it definitely spooked her. I….I talked to Ethan today."

" You did what?"

" I talked to him. I told him what I thought of him. Don’t chastise me, Gwen. I had to do it."

Gwen laughed. Bobby asked, " What’s so funny."

" I let him have it, too. Everything I had wanted to say, but, kept my tongue, because I was involved in that insane ‘Dating Game’, and then me got engaged to Theresa, and I think I was in shellshock. It felt SO GOOD to get it off my chest. I needed that."

" To move on?"

" To be able to make it, day to day. To be able to own my own pain. Be in control of something. I think that’s why I’m glad I’ll have work to do."

" Gwenny.."

" Please, Bobby. Don’t lecture me. I need this. I really do. The pain is so large, it’s almost unbearable."

" It’ll be OK."

" Will it? I hope so, but, I’m not really believing it right now."

" Well, why don’t we go down in the wine cellar, get the most expensive bottle of Dad’s collection, get a tray of those leftover appetizers and toast Johnathan Hotchkiss?"

Gwen kisses Bobby on the cheek. " Sounds like a fantastic idea."
 

Ivy was sitting on the couch, looking over Theresa’s notes for the wedding, when Ethan came in the room.

" Ethan! How are you. We really haven’t had a chance to talk. I saw you and Gwen at the funeral. It seemed like an intense conversation."

" It was."

" I saw you too, Son. She seemed to be telling you off, but good.", Julian said, walking into the room, and going straight  for the bar.

" Is that true, Ethan? Was Gwen telling you off?"

" Gwen and I were having a discussion, Mother."

" But, she said that she only wanted your happiness."

" Ivy, GET REAL! Ethan dumped her for the Housekeeper’s Daughter, which isn’t embarrassing only for THIS family. Plus, remember all the ‘hell hath no fury’ stuff. Ethan has to take his lumps if he wants to behave like a cad."

" Ethan is NOT a cad."

" Earth to Ivy, when you dump your fiancée on the EVE of your wedding, that qualifies in the dictionary as one of the meanings of cad."

Ivy didn’t get to respond because the phone rang, and Julian went to pick it up.

" Hello? This is Julian Crane. WHAT? What the hell do you mean, she’s MISSING?

Shut up! Shut up your babbling!

Know this, I’m on my way. And, if she hasn’t been found by the time I arrive, your life won’t be worth SQUAT!"

Ethan and Ivy look at one another. They watch as Julian dials another number.

" This is Julian Crane. I want my plane ready for takeoff within 30 minutes!"

He slams down the phone, and turns to Ethan and Ivy.

" That was that idiotic school that you sent Penny too. Seems, my darling, that those IDIOTS have ‘lost’ our daughter in an avalanche."

" AVALANCHE!", Ivy yells.

" I’m going to Switzerland. Are you coming?"

" Of course I am, Julian. Let me go get a bag together!"

Ivy leaves the room, and Julian goes over to Ethan. " Don’t worry, Ethan. I’ll find Penny. I won’t come back without her. You can handle things here? Handle your grandfather if he calls?"

" Of course, Father. You go look after Penny."

Ethan watched as his parents drove off in the limo. He hoped that everything was ok with Penny. She had to be. And, even though he hated the situation that took his parents away, he was glad  that they were gone. Now, he could proceed with his plans unencumbered.
 

Rebecca Hotchkiss was walking around her bedroom in her favorite nightgown. She had been pacing the floors for awhile now. The letter the lawyer had given her was sitting on her nightstand, unopened. Rebecca didn’t know why the letter scared her, but, it did. She had ordered a bottle of wine awhile ago, and was nearly at the end of it. Gulping down the last bit of wine in her glass, she put the glass down, and took the envelope off the nightstand. She steeled herself, sitting at the edge of her bed.

Taking out the letter, she began to read it.

Gwen and Bobby were on their way to Bobby’s room for a mean game of Backgammon, when they hear a yell from Rebecca’s room.

" NOOOOO!"

They rush to the door. Gwen is about to bang on the door when Bobby stops her fist in mid-air.

" Bobby!"

" Sssh!"

They stand there, at their mother’s door, listening.

" Oh, John….Oh John…..Oh John…."

Gwen and Bobby look at one another with confusion. They’re paralyzed about what they should do. They don’t hear anything else from the room, except for Rebecca clearing crying hard.

Bobby leads Gwen away from the door.

" Shouldn’t we help her?", Gwen asks.

" I think this is between her and Dad. If she needs us, she knows she can talk to either one of us." Bobby leads Gwen to his room for some backgammon.

Rebecca holds Johnathan’s letter in her hands, which are shaking. Her entire body is convulsing, due to the depth of her cries. Rebecca has collapsed to the floor, on her knees.

She can barely read the letter anymore, because of her tears. She holds the letter close to her chest.

" I can’t believe it. You really loved me."

Rebecca winds up falling asleep on the floor, after she physically exhausts herself due to crying.