Julian finished his champagne.

” Well ladies, I will bid you adieu.”

Julian left Gwen and Rebecca in the living room and went upstairs. He entered Little Ethan’s nursery. His son was playing with a bear. Julian smiled and got down on the floor with his son. The nanny looked at Julian in shock.

” Mis….Mister Crane? “

“ Yes.”

” Is there something I can do for you?”

” Yes. I’m going to play with my son. You can leave us.”

“ But, Mrs. Crane..”

” No longer lives in this house. Leave us.”

The nanny left out the room.

Julian smiled at his son. He observed him with the toy and brought out a truck, and watched as his son’s eyes widened with glee. It had been a long time since he had played with a child. He had played with Ethan in stolen moments away from Ivy. He couldn’t remember playing with Fox, which made Julian sad to remember. He remembered tea parties with his daughters that he enjoyed far more than he would admit to anyone.

“ You know what, Son? I’m not perfect. But, I’m not a monster either. I have a good part inside, and I’ll give it to you.”

Little Ethan crawled over to his father, and began playing with his face. Julian couldn’t believe how much he was enjoying this. He smiled and began tickling his son.
 
 

Kay heard the doorbell ring.

“ I’ll get it, Tabitha.” She answered the door.

” Dr. Russell?”

” Kay, may I come in?”

“ Sure.” Kay and Eve went into the living room.

” I…I don’t know how to ask this, but..”

” She’s gone, Dr. Russell.”

Eve’s heart sank, and she lost her balance and wound up on the couch. Kay sat beside her. Eve began to cry. “ You know, I had convinced myself all the way over here that she had come to you and the two of you had a sleepover last night.”

Kay shook her head.

“ She came to see me. She was really upset finding out about Chad and Whitney.”

” You didn’t try and convince her to stay?”

” Of course, I did. But, she felt she had to go. She was destroyed.”

” But…you could have called me! I would have convinced her not to go!”

” Dr. Russell, if I had called you, I would have destroyed my friendship with Simone. She had to go. I didn’t want her to, but I love her. She’s my best friend. “

” But, she’s out there all alone.”

” She needed to be alone. Just like I had to move out of my parent’s house..sometimes kids do things that parents don’t want, but in order for us to live, we do.”

” I love Simone.”

” But, she doesn’t feel like it. “

Eve began to cry. “ I’m a failure.”

” No. This is about Simone. What she needs and wants. She’ll be fine. You need to have more faith in her.”

Eve looked at Kay. “ That’s been a problem all along…..Simone doesn’t think anyone believes in her.”

“ Dr. Russell, I believe if we give Simone this time for herself, that when she returns, it will be better for all of us. Simone will come back happier.”

” If she ever comes back.”

” She will. It won’t be forever.”

” You’re in contact with her? You talk to her on her cellphone?”

” No. She left it on the kitchen table. I didn’t even notice it until she was gone. “

Eve sighed. “ I’ll be going now.”

” Dr. Russell, if I hear from Simone, I’ll tell her how much you’re worried about her.”

” Thank you, Kay.”

Eve left, and Kay shook her head.

“ Simone, I hope you’re ok.”
 

” Mama, I can’t believe it’s true. He has to be lying!”, Theresa said, entering the Lopez-Fitgerald home.

” Theresa, Julian wouldn’t joke about something like that. It’s too important to him.”

” How DARE HE try and keep me away from Little Ethan! I’m his mother!”

“ Of course, you are, but Theresa, you have to think about things now.”

” What is there left? I’m nothing if I’m not Mrs. Julian Crane!”

” That’s not true.”, Fox said.

” Fox, the only reason anyone tolerated me was because I was married to Julian. That’s the only reason I got respect.”

” Theresa, you didn’t even love my father.”

” No, but I was Mrs. Julian Crane! That counted for something.”

” Theresa, you being married to Julian brought you nothing but misery and heartache. You’re  better off.”

” BETTER OFF? Mama, I don’t have a job. You don’t have a job. What am I supposed to do?”

” You’ll get a job. You’ll find work. You’ll support yourself and your son.”

” Plus, I’m sure you’ll get child support from Father.”

“ Fox, your father took custody of MY son without me knowing about it. Why are you so sure I’ll even get custody?”

“ Because I’ll be your lawyer and fight for you.”

Everyone turned to see Ethan standing in the doorway. Theresa ran to Ethan and hugged him.

” Oh Ethan! I knew you wouldn’t let me down!”

Pilar and Fox just shook their heads.