The Mystery of Chad Harris: Fate Delivers Us, Chapter 37
 
 

The Russells and Chad had just left the Crane Mansion. Now, it was time for the Cranes to deal with what had just happened. It was question time for them, and Ethan began.

" Father, I know that Grandfather has done some horrible things, but, what you’re saying now, is that he willfully planned the murder of an innocent baby. Surely you can’t believe that he would do something like that?"

Julian looked at Ethan. Sometimes, it struck Julian just HOW innocent Ethan really was. Many thought that he turned out like he did because of Ivy and Ivy alone. Very few thought about the protectiveness that Julian felt towards Ethan. Towards all his children. A protectiveness that wanted to shield from them the true depth of the horror and evil that is Alistair Crane. Julian didn’t realize just how successful he had been until this moment. This moment when his son looked into his eyes, and was begging him not to tell him that his grandfather tried to murder his brother.

But, the time for lies had passed. Too many lies had been told, and it had cost his firstborn son the chance at a decent life. The chance of knowing a mother’s love from birth. Julian shook his head and looked at Ethan.

" I’m sorry if this hurts you, Ethan. But, it’s true. Your grandfather is very capable of doing what Mr. Perkins accused him of doing. And, I, for one, believe it 100 per cent. I’m sorry if your illusions are being shattered, but, Alistair Crane is cruel enough to do it. To do this to his own flesh and blood, and excuse it all in the name of family."

Ethan looked at Julian with confusion in his eyes. You could see almost a latter day version of a child who has found out for the first time that there is no Santa Claus. He couldn’t find any excuse.

" I….I need to think about this." Ethan left the room with Gwen following him.

Julian went to pour himself a drink, and Sheridan came over. " Surely, you aren’t surprised by what Father did?"

Julian could see that Sheridan’s eyes were a little heartbroken, but, she shook her head. " In my head, I know he’s capable of it. In my heart, no child wishes to know that their father is capable of such a monstrocity. " Sheridan reached out and touched Julian’s arm. " How are you? How are you dealing with it?"

" I don’t know how to answer it. Listening to Orville Perkins, I KNOW that he tells the truth. I knew long ago what Father was capable of, but, it’s something else to emotionally deal with that my father ordered my son killed. My son."

" How about that?"

" He loathes me, Sheridan. I can see it in his eyes. He absolutely loathes me. "

" He doesn’t know you, Julian."

" Would that really make a difference, Sheridan? You know me and hate me."

" I don’t hate you, Julian. Disappointed in you, yes."

" I have a tendency to ‘disappoint’ those who give their faith to me. I decimated Eve Russell."
" Julian, you can’t go back. You can’t undo what’s been done. Why don’t you consider this a new beginning. For all of us. Chad will get to know BOTH his parents on his own time. "

" Could I be any kind of a father to that young man, Sheridan? Anything that would mean something positive for him?"

" I think you could, Julian. I think it’s very possible that you could be a good father to him. Have…have you thought about what you’re going to say to Alistair when he calls?"

" No. I…I have to call the Russells. I have to speak to Chad about a DNA test."

" Julian…"

" Sheridan. When I reveal this to the world, and when I change my will, I want there to be mountains of proof verifying that young man’s paternity. Nowhere in this land will anyone deny him that he’s MY son. And, it begins with Alistair. "

" I understand."

" Sheridan…thank you…for talking with me. Thank you for welcoming my son. You don’t know how much it means to me."

" You’re welcome, Julian."

Julian kissed Sheridan lightly and went to his library.
 

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Eve, Chad and Madelaine arrive to see TC hugging Simone and Whitney. They see Eve, and all three leave the room. TC goes out towards the kitchen, and Eve knows he will be in his shed, Simone makes it up the stairs quick, but Whitney isn’t that fast.

" Whitney, don’t you want to talk about this?"

" What? That my mother is a liar, cheat, and a deceitful piece of trash?"

" Whitney Russell, you watch your mouth!", Madelaine scorns.

" I’m sorry, Grandmere, but, if the shoe fits. I have NEVER seen MY father in so much pain. And, it’s ALL because of HER! It’s a little too late to talk, EVE! How about 20 years too late!" Whitney is furious until she looks at Chad, and then the tears bubble up fast and she scurries up the stairs.

Eve turns to Chad. " Chad, I.."

" Doctor Russell, stop. Please stop. My head is spinning. My heart aches. I’m barely standing on my own two feet. I need to be alone. I promise I’m not running away, but, I really do need to be alone."

Chad is walking towards the kitchen when the phone rings.

" Hello?"

" Eve, it’s Julian. I’d like to speak to Chad."

" Chad?" Eve covers the phone, and yells out to Chad, " Chad, the phone is for you."

" Doc, I don’t want to.."

" It’s your….Julian."

Chad stares at the phone, and then decides to take it.

" This is Chad."

" Chad, it’s Julian Crane."

" Doc Russell told me that. What do you want?"

" I wanted you to meet me tonight at the hospital."

" Now?"

" Yes. I want DNA tests done."

" What? So you don’t believe the Doc?"

" Yes, I do. But, for legality’s sake, I need documented proof. It’s a simple blood test. I would bring the doctor and come to the Russells, but…"

" The Coach is here. I understand. When do you want to do it."

" In about 30 minutes.  The sooner we get the test begun, the sooner that other things can happen. I have a car waiting for you outside."

" I can ride my bike."

" Take the car. That way I know you’ll get to the hospital and back to the Russells."

" Ok. Bye."

Chad hung up the phone and turns to Eve and Madelaine. " Julian wants me to have a DNA test. He sent a car for me."

" NOW!?", Eve asked.

" He said it would be best to get it over with."

" Is he trying to say that he’s NOT your father?"

" No. He said it had to do with legal stuff. I actually believe him. He’s not trying to weasel out of admitting he’s my father. He wants irrefutable proof. I can relate. "

" Maybe, he’s trying to protect you.", Madelaine offers.

" Maybe. I’m going. I’ll be back as soon as possible." Chad leaves, and it’s just Eve and Madelaine.

An uncomfortable silence overcomes them, and Eve finally speaks, " I think I need to fix some dinner. I’m sure everyone is famished."

Eve goes into the kitchen and begins to pull out the fixings for a family dinner. She goes about washing and preparing things, like nothing is wrong. Until she drops some potatoes that she was washing.

" Damn damn damn damn damn!", Eve said. When she got to the floor, she slipped on some of the spilled water from the potatoes. Sitting in the middle of her kitchen, she began to cry. Then, she felt arms come around her. She looked up, and there was Madelaine.

" You come on now. This can wait."

Eve was in no mood to fight with her. She couldn’t. She let Madelaine help her up, and they made their way to Eve’s bedroom. Eve sat on the bed, and Madelaine fixed her a wet compress to cover her forehead.

" You lie here. You get your strength back."

Eve began to cry, and Madelaine held her hand. After awhile, Eve calmed down, and began to speak.

" You know, this should be the worst moment of my life. But, it’s  not. The worst moment of my life was when the doctor came into my room, and told me that I my son was dead. Nothing else has ever come close. Not TC’s hatred for me. Not the look in my daughter’s eyes. Nothing. I….I feel guilty about not being devastated by all of this. I’m just selfish."

" Nonsense! You have every right to be happy that your son is alive and has been returned to you. There is nothing worse on earth than the separation of a child from a mother that loved it. There’s a reason for it, because it’s so unnatural. Goes against the laws of nature."

" Why are you being so kind, Madelaine?"

" Because, this is my family, Eve. You lied to Theodore, and no, that wasn’t the right thing to do. But, all this pain happened before you met my son. In a perfect world, we would all be perfectly honest with people we love. But, sometimes, life gives us so much pain that the only way to deal with it is by leaving it be."

Eve nods. " That was how I dealt with it. I now know that it was the wrong thing to do, and I would never advise this same course to any of my patients. But, the facts are, nobody was there to tell me this all those years ago. Either I coped, or.."

" You died."

" There was no middle ground. So, I stuffed all that pain down. I let it be. I buried it. In my own special chest. But, there was so much pain in it, that sometimes, it creaked open, and I would remember the past. It was awful. I….I wanted to tell TC. Many times. But, I didn’t think he could deal with it, though I know that was a convenient copout on my part. I think ‘ I’ was the one who couldn’t deal with it. I had never faced the loss of my son head on. Not really. I never really mourned him. Not in the way that you can let go. I couldn’t let go."

" There was a point to that – your son wasn’t dead."

" I know that now. All those times, though,  that I thought I was losing my mind. That was another reason I couldn’t revisit the past. I felt my grasp on sanity slipping way when I wallowed in it."

" But, you are sane. And, you’re here. And, you have a family which includes YOUR SON. Your heart is full of joy. I can see it."

Eve smiles slightly. " Isn’t that crazy? Madelaine, I haven’t been able to share with anyone my happiness. My son is alive!" Saying those words Eve’s smile becomes a beaming one. " Alive!"

Madelaine returns Eve’s smile. " A miracle. For all of us.  I want you to hold steady, Eve. This is going to be a fight. I know that Theodore and the girls have a rough road ahead of them. But, you fight. You claw, and scrape and do whatever you have to do. You be the glue that never gives up. You let them know everyday how much you love them, and that love can overcome anything. And, when we all make it out of this dark tunnel, we will be SO better for it. "

" I don’t think TC loves me anymore."

" He’s disappointed. Bitter maybe. But, the love is still there. And, you have to remind him, even as you give him his space. But, not too much space. NEVER allow too much space to grow between you and those you love. You might not get a second chance to breach the gap. "

" Madelaine…I have to say that I never thought you’d support me."

" Why not? I want Theodore to be happy. And, the one thing that I know has made him happy for 20 years is being with you and this family. No matter what crazy notions are running through his head right now, I know that his soul would ache if this family broke up. In time, and with love, he will see the way. Now, you need some sleep. Do you need some of the sedative Dr. Alexopoulos gave you?"

" No. I won’t need any medical assistance to sleep. Everything in me aches."

" Then get some sleep." Madelaine hugs Eve and leaves her room. She goes into her bedroom, and makes a phone call.

" It happened."

" Julian knows the truth?", Piccola asks.

" The whole family knows now that Julian and Eve are Chad’s father. Orville Perkins admitted so."

" Well, what now?"

" I stay here, and make sure that my family doesn’t collapse."

" How is Theodore taking it?"

" Not well. He’s off by himself, which I think is the best thing for him. He shouldn’t be confronted by much. He’s having to deal with the collapse of the foundation of his marriage, and having to build a new one."

" Do you think he’ll do it?"

" Yes. He loves Eve. He doesn’t even realize how much yet, but, I do."

" And, Eve? How has she reacted to Chad?"

" No problems there. She’s so happy to get her son back. You can see the joy in her eyes."

" Whitney and Simone?"

" Whitney is nursing a broken heart. Not only about Chad, but about the illusions that she had about her mother. Eve was her ultimate role model, you know that."

" I know."

" And, Simone? I think she’s worried about everyone else. She’s trying to deal with having Chad as a brother. But, she’s much better off than Whitney. Though she loves Eve, she never set Eve up on the pedestal as Whitney did. So, now, the mother that she wished was more ‘human’, has become so, and Simone’s heart will be the first one to forgive and to help Eve rebuild the family."

" Chad?"

" Confused. Devastated. In complete shock. I’m keeping my eyes on him. It will take some time, but, when he gets a taste of the mother’s love that Eve has for him, I think it will do wonders for him. I also think once he and Theodore begin to bridge the gap, he’ll come back to life. "

" What was Julian Crane’s reaction?"

" Shock. He really didn’t know, and he asked Chad to come for a DNA test. He wants everything above board and legally settled."

" Ok. That sounds good, but, there still is one person we haven’t discussed."

" Alistair."

" Yes."

" You don’t worry about him, Piccola. I’m going to contact him and make him understand just how  things will be."

" Madelaine…"

" Don’t worry. Alistair Crane will NOT be hurting my family. I assure you of that."