Eve sat on the masseuse table. She moaned in pleasure as the masseuse did her work.

“ Eve, you’re giving me ideas, here.”

Eve laughed. “ TC, be a good boy.”

” Awe Eve. This is…oh, damn, that feels good.”

” So,  you ready to admit that this was a good idea. “

” Maybe. Where’s Whitney?”

” Getting a full seaweed wrap.”

“ Yuck.”

” Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Let’s do the sauna after this.”

” You. Me. Two towels. Sounds promising.”

” TC Russell, sometimes, you’re a naughty man.”

TC laughed.” Yeah, maybe.”

There was a silence between them that lingered.

” Eve?”

” This is the first time we’ve been relaxed since……”

” I know. I miss her. I know you do too. Eve, we have to just think she’ll be ok. It’s the only thing keeping me sane.”

” I know, TC. I know.”
 

Julian was in the living room, drinking his morning coffee, as he opened his mail for the day.

” What the HELL?”

” Is there a problem, Father?”, Fox asked.

“ My not so ex-wife has chosen her vehicles of necessity. “

” Theresa? What did she get?”

“ Oh, vehicles to the tune of two hundred thousand dollars.”

Fox whistled. “ Good for her.”

Julian looked at him. “ You would be on her side.”

“ Father, you can afford it. It’s the price of being a Baby Daddy.”

Julian shook his head. “ What is that?”

” Oh Father. You really should watch some daytime television.”

“ Hmmph. I received the invitation to your party. By the looks of it, I should enjoy it.”

” I hope you do.”

“ How’s the Bennett girl working out?”

” Kay is everything I thought she’d be. What she lacks in formal training, she makes up for it in natural instinct. She’s a natural born businesswoman.”

” Well, she doesn’t get it from her genes. That bunch of middle-class yokels..”

” Stop it, Father. After all, your precious Ethan turned out to be one of them.”

” Are you getting along with Ethan?”

“ Why wouldn’t I be?”

” I don’t know..”

” Why don’t you ask HIM the same question. I’m sure it’s tough for the former Golden Boy to know that he’s not going to be in charge. That he has to work with me.”

” Fox..”

” Father, forget it. I should know better. Though Ethan turned out to be a Bennett Bastard, you still have a soft spot for him.”

” He was my son for over twenty-five years!”

” Yeah. And, when have ‘I’ been your son?”

Before Julian could respond, Fox walked out of the room.
 

” I found that these were some of the best pastries on the East Coast.” He waved the plate in front of her.

” You are a brave man to do this to a pregnant woman, Fox.” Gwen took one and munched on it. “ Ah, Mrs. Mulroney’s. How did you know about it?”

” When I got back to town, I sat the cook down and got the skinny on the best this area had to offer.”

” So many people pass up her shop, because it’s off the beaten path.”

” Yeah, well there were enough. Place was packed!”

” I know. But, I love it. Everything in there is so delicious. So, why are you here, Fox?”

” Came to check in on you, and to get your advice.”

” My advice?”

” Yes. I blew a gasket today. Julian paid Ethan a compliment, and..”

” A lifetime of resentment just came flooding through.”

” You know, as I take a half-step back, I can see that Julian wasn’t even trying to talk well about Ethan. I read into the situation.”

” Fox, you can’t undo what your parents did, but you can give them a chance.”

” Ha ha.”

Gwen punched him in the arm. “ I’m serious. Ivy’s a lost cause, but I don’t think Julian is. I heard he’s stepping up to the plate where Little Ethan is concerned. I’ve seen him in the park with him several times in the past few weeks. I sort of spied on them.”

” What did you see?”

” Well, if I didn’t know the relationship between them, I would have thought it was a loving grandfather taking his grandson out for a stroll. But, because I do know the extent of their relationship, I was shocked. Julian was so warm…sweet with him. He loves him, and that tells me that Julian’s changed. “

“ So, he took the kid to the park. So what?”

” So, maybe he wants something more with you. Yes, it was Julian’s fault that he bestowed his love on Ethan, but it is NOT Julian’s fault that Ivy lied to him – everyday of their marriage. The question is – do YOU think that Julian is trying to extend an olive branch to you?”

Fox contemplated Gwen’s question. “ Yeah, I think he is.”

” Then, it’s up to you to extend it back. Meet him halfway. “

“ Gwen..”

” Fox. You don’t know anymore about being a son than he knows how to be a father. So, learn together.”

“ You are too smart for words.”

“ If I’m so smart then how come I spent all that time chasing Ethan?”

” Hey, everyone gets insane sometimes.”

” He’s been calling.”

“ And?”

” I haven’t returned his calls. My lawyer told me that Ethan hasn’t called him.”

” Do you want him too?”

” I don’t know.”

” You’re thinking about taking him back?”

” Oh, HELL NO.  But..”

“ Ethan was a big part of your life for a long time.” Fox patted her stomach. “ He’s going to be a big part of your life for many years to come.”

“ I know. I think that’s what I’ve been realizing. Ethan and I WILL always be connected. It’s just hard knowing that, and knowing all the pain. I don’t want to hurt anymore. And, I’ve been slowly coming to terms with the death of all the dreams I had for this baby.”

” Gwen, this baby will be happy.”

” I’m sure that I’m going to really try, but from the beginning, he or she is never going to know what it’s like to grow up with both its parents. “

” True. But, you and Ethan will find happiness elsewhere, and that’s what the kid will learn. They will watch you be happy, and know that, even though Mommy and Daddy aren’t together, they can still be happy, love me, and respect one another. Gwen, take it from me. I think my life would have been vastly different if my parents had taken this approach.”

Gwen kissed Fox. “ You know what, Fox Crane? You are SO not your reputation. Thank God!”

They both laughed. “ Shhhh. Don’t bust my cover.”

” I won’t. I did get the invite to your party. Seems like it’s going to be a great shindig.”

” Yeah, Kay’s doing a great job. It’s her first big test, and though the pressure’s on, she’s kicking ass.”

” I told you she’d do a good job.”

” Yes, you did. And, I’m going to tell you that I’m NOT impressed with the object of her obsession, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald. I…I think Kay could use a friend, Gwen.”

” Me? I’m divorcing her brother, and you think I should befriend Ethan’s sister?”

” Yeah.”

Gwen thought about it. “ You think she’d be receptive?”

” Actually, I’m pretty sure. Her best friend – Simone, I think, is gone. Kay is awfully lonely. She’s working pretty hard, and going to school. But, I don’t get the sense that there’s anything else in her life.”

” Well, then we’re in the same boat. I’ll ask her out to lunch soon.”

” Thanks.”

” You want to join me for a walk? Pregnant women need the exercise.”

”  I’d love to.”