Lost Cause, Chapter 24


“ Simone, here. Drink this. “ Kay handed Simone some tea. Simone drank up. Kay just sat there, waiting for Simone to talk.

“ How’d I get here?”

“ Your friend Nicholas brought you.”

“ Oh yeah. I guess I remember. He found me sitting on the ground outside the hospital.”

“ Simone, what’s wrong?”

“ My mother doesn’t know me.”

“ What?”

“ My mother has amnesia, Kay. She looked at Whitney, Daddy and I like we were made of glass. We were complete strangers. “

“ Oh.”

“ Your Mom has  had amnesia.”

“ Yeah, but Mom knows me and our family.  I can’t imagine…”

“ What it would be like for the one person you always thought would be there for you. The person you only thought death would separate the two of you. I never thought I took that look in my mother’s eyes for granted. You know that look. It’s a security that every kid knows, if they have the right kind of mother. Kay, it was like I was all alone in the world. “

“ Oh Simone, it’ll be ok.”

“ How? The doctor’s can’t promise that my mother will ever regain her memory.”

“ So what if she doesn’t? I remember when my mother had found her sister Faith. Even though she couldn’t remember anything about Faith, she was desperate to meet her and build their relationship again. Your mother is your mother. You can build a new relationship with her.”

“ What if she doesn’t want  a new relationship? She doesn’t need us.”

“ Simone, what are you talking about? Of course your mother needs you guys. You’re her family.”

“ Not in her mind. In HER mind, she has ANOTHER family.”

“ Another family? Are you crazy?”

“ Kay, my mother DID remember someone.”

“ Who?”

“ Julian Crane.”

“ Uh, Simone, what the hell does Julian Crane have to do with anything?”

“ We haven’t had time to talk. For me to tell you all that’s been going on. My mother has a past with Julian Crane.”

“ Define past.”

“ They had enough of a relationship for Julian Crane to still be in love with her – though he hasn’t admitted it. Enough of a relationship so that it produced a CHILD – I have an older brother out there. “

“ Whoah! Your mother and Julian Crane? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“ I wish I was. You should have been there, Kay. Mom doesn’t remember anyone. Not Daddy. Whitney. Me. She looked at us with fear in her eyes. But, the MOMENT Julian Crane came through the door, her entire demeanor changed. There was light in her eyes. It was in every fiber of her body. She totally wanted Julian to be there. She loved him. A lot. And, the way she talked about THEIR son. My mother loves my little brother. And, she loved Julian Crane.”

“ Well, maybe he was just using her.”

Simone shook her head. “ No Kay. I was thinking about it. I even talked to Whitney about it. I always found it odd that a man as rich and powerful as Julian Crane would consistently be my father’s punching bag. He could have had my father thrown in jail without a second thought, but he didn’t. He never came close to it. Why?”

“ Your mother.”

“ Yeah. My mother.  I saw the look on his face when my mother called out to him. It was like another Julian Crane. A new guy.”

“ He loves her.”, Kay said quietly.

“ Yes. He loves her. “

“ Do you think he’s going to take advantage of your mother?”

“ I dunno, Kay. I don’t want to think so. I want to believe he’s genuine, and will do the right thing. But, he’s a Crane. And, you can’t trust a Crane.”

“ What about Nicholas?”

Simone sighed. “ I don’t want to think about him.”

“ Why? Because it would complicate this simplistic version of life you’ve got going?”

“ Kay, I can’t be concerned about Nicholas.”

“ Uh huh.”

“ I can’t. My family needs me.”

“ Sorry Simone, I think this is a copout. The man saved your life. He’s been there for you. He brought you to me. You know there’s something brewing between you.”

“ Well, it has to STOP brewing Kay. I won’t betray my father like that.”

“ Your father? What the hell does your father have to do with anything?”

“ Me being involved with  a Crane after all that’s happened? Uh uh. Can’t happen.”

Kay put her hands on Simone’s shoulders and shook her. “ Now you listen to me Simone Russell. I know you love your family, but you’ve got to wake up. You’ve got to understand some things. You tried to kill yourself. That’s serious business.”

“ I know. I know.”

“ No, I don’t think you do. You scared me. Simone, I’m not saying that you have to plead your undying love to the guy. What I AM saying is that you need all the support you can get. You need friends. And, if nothing else, Nicholas is your newest friend. Someone you can depend on.Give him a chance.”

Simone sighed. “ Kay, how did my life get so messed up?”

“ It’s not messed up. It’s finally getting back into place.”

“ Thank you, Kay.”

“ What are best friends for? Now, let’s go raid Tabby’s fridge.”

Simone wiped the last of the tears from her eyes and softly laughed. “ Ok.”



Julian Crane walked into the Mansion. He didn’t hear anything, so he went straight into the darkened living room, to the bar, and poured himself a big glass of scotch. As he drank it,

“ Well, Father, seems as if you’re strolling down memory lane with Doctor Russell.”

Julian nearly choked on the drink for the shock. He turned on the light and saw Fox sitting in the corner.


Chapter 25
Chapter 23
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