“ Gwen, what are you doing?”

” I’m packing my things, Mother.”

” Yes, I see that. But, why?”

“ Because I can’t take it anymore, Mother. You want to know where Ethan is now? He’s with THERESA!”

“ So, she’s been kicked out of the house.”

“ Yes, she’s out of the house, and there goes Ethan right after her. No more.”

“ B…But! You’re married! You’re having a baby!”

” And, I actually want to carry to term. I don’t need this stress.”

” Where are you going?”

“ I’ve reconnected with Daddy. I asked him if I could stay with him while I thought things through.”

” Gwen, if you leave, Theresa is going to win!”

” I don’t care anymore. I have to put ME first, because nobody else will.”

“ Gwen…”

” Goodbye, Mother.”

Gwen kissed Rebecca, and rolled her suitcase out the door.

” Damn you, Theresita! I’m going to make you pay!”, Rebecca said, throwing a vase against the wall.
 

Kay sat at her tablet at the Book Café. She looked at the pregnancy books and the baby books she had selected. Her fingers were exploring the ‘Baby’s First Book’ that she had selected. She put it down and picked up the small bag from the toy store she had visited on her way to the Book Café. Inside, there was a small stuffed Piglet. Kay had memory flashes from her childhood, and how Sam used to read her Winnie the Pooh every night. It was their special thing to do together.

She looked around at the table and realized that she was making decisions ALONE. SHE was buying the pregnancy books. SHE was buying her baby its first toys and books. For all his protestations, Miguel hadn’t been very interested in her OR the baby. The only reason he went to the sonogram was because she manipulated him.

She looked at Piglet and began to cry softly.

“ Awe, come on. It can’t be THAT bad.”, said a voice, handing her a handkerchief.

Kay looked up at the man.

” With beautiful blue eyes like that…they’re much too pretty to be crying. Kay Bennett…that’s your name, right?”

Kay nodded.

” Well, we haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Nicholas Foxworth Crane.”
 

Eve was happy to be walking in the park. She loved this section of the park. It was secluded and more private. She sat down on her favorite bench and thought about how fast her life had spun apart. Simone was gone. TC was barely speaking to her. She didn’t feel like speaking to Whitney. She absolutely HATED Chad. And then, there is her bitch of a sister, circling like a buzzard.

She was so frustrated, she let out a loud scream.

A couple of men came running her way to see what was wrong, but she shook her head. She sat down on the bench and she didn’t sob, but let the tears run down her cheeks.

“ You’ve always been far too beautiful to cry. I should know, considering I caused a great deal of them.”

Eve looked up to see ..

” Julian? Little Ethan?”

Julian Crane had Little Ethan in his stroller and was pushing him along. Julian handed Little Ethan his handkerchief and motioned for him to give it to Eve, who accepted it. Julian sat down on the bench next to Eve.

” Julian…may I say that the last person I thought I’d run into would be you. And, with Little Ethan no less. Is Theresa around?”

” Oh, heck no. Today is Independence Day for me.”

Eve looked at him curiously.

” I found out that I am not, nor was I ever married to Theresa.”

Eve was shocked.

Julian burst into a big smile. “ Incredible, isn’t it?”

“ How?”

“ I was set up with a fake wedding.”

“ You’re NOT married?”

” No.”

” Then, what about Little Ethan…”

” I had a DNA test run immediately when I found out. He’s mine, alright.”

Eve shook her head. “ Julian, what are you going to do?”

” I threw her out in the street, which is where she belongs.”

” Julian.”

” Oh puleeze. She was a powerhungry diva.”

” Julian, Theresa would never leave Little Ethan.”

” She didn’t have a choice. I was awarded custody.”

” In what world?”

” In the world where Cranes have power, Eve.”

Eve looked at Julian with disgust.

“ How could you keep a little boy away from his mother? How could you?!”

Julian looked at Eve and took a deep breath. “ I see the ice cream vendor. Do you still like strawberry?”

Eve snorted.

Julian came back with cones for himself and Eve and a grape popsicle for Little Ethan, whose eyes lit up as he grabbed it. Eve took her ice cream reluctantly.

“ The conversation isn’t over, Julian.”

” I know that. But, I wanted some nourishment.”

” You can’t keep a baby from his mother.”

” Why not? She didn’t think twice about trying to keep MY son from ME!”

” Julian, a child needs his mother.”

” And, I’ve lost TWO sons, Eve. What about that?”

Eve was silent. She ate her ice cream for awhile and then spoke up.

“ Little Ethan will suffer without his mother.”

” I don’t intend for him not to have his mother. I just want more control. She and her maniac brothers have tried to bully me since the day my son was born. THAT is over.”

” You mean it? You’re going to have Theresa in his life?”

” Yes. I want full custody, but I’m willing to share joint custody.”

” Why? Sharing isn’t a Crane trait.”

” I love my son. Why is it so hard for everyone to realize that?”

Eve looked at Julian. She knew he was sincere. “ It’s not so hard. It’s just unlike you.”

” Maybe. But, I want to be a better man for him. I didn’t get a chance with our son. I loved Ethan and that was a lie. I didn’t do right by Fox at all, and I could have done better with my daughters. This is my last chance. I just want the chance to do right by my son. I’m tired of fighting everyone for that right.”

Julian and Eve both looked over at Little Ethan, who had popsicle all over his face and clothes, but was grinning, ear to ear. Julian took out a napkin and wiped Little Ethan's mouth.

” Julian, if this is true, then I wish you the best. “

” You mean it?”

” Yes. Everyone should have the chance to prove themselves as parents. “

“ Thank you. Now that we’ve settled things on my side, why don’t you tell me what would have you crying in the park.”

“ It’s a long story.”

” I’m listening.”

Eve began to tell her story, and instead burst into tears. Julian pulled her close and let her cry on his shoulder. She needed that.