The Mystery of Chad Harris: Fate Delivers Us, Chapter 47
 
 

Chad was trying to write some music when he heard a knock on his door.

" Come in."

" Hi Chad."

" Coach. Um…what are you doing here?"

" I thought it was time that we had a talk of our own. May I sit down?"

" Of course."

TC pulled the chair so that he was right across from Chad. "I guess you know your mother and I have reconciled."

" I thought so."

" Chad, I wanted to talk to you. Man to man."

" Ok."

" I love your mother….deeper than I thought was possible. Getting through this has been hard. I'm still not over it, but, we will work it out."

" What about me? You want me to leave? I will, if it's what you want."

" No, Son. I don't want you to leave. Your mother wants you here, and quite frankly, our marriage doesn't stand a chance if you leave. Eve would never forgive me if she believed I ran off her child. "

" But, I would understand if you didn't want the son of Julian Crane around. I know how much you hate my…..him."

" Chad, you are your own man. It would be unfair of me to remotely blame you for any problems that I have with Julian. It's totally wrong. I had a talk with Julian."

" You did? What could the two of you have to discuss?"

" Your mother and you. I set some ground rules, and I hope that you can handle them. He is your father. Eve and he are your parents. Your welfare is going to be of concern to both of them, and it's unrealistic for me to think that Eve wouldn't have contact with Julian. Just not in this house. I told Julian I don't want to see him in my house, and if he has to get in contact with your mother, he is to call her cellphone or page her. I would hope that he would contact you on your cellphone also. "

Chad nodded. " Sounds reasonable."

" I also told him, when he voiced concern about you, that of course, you were welcome in my house. You're Eve's son, and that makes you a member of my family. The doors are always open to you."

" Thank you, Coach."

" Chad…..my feelings for Julian Crane aside, I hope that he does become a better person, for you sake. You're a wonderful young man, and you deserve a father that supports you and that will be a good example for you. From what I've seen, Julian isn't that man, but, maybe things will be different for the two of you. I know you want a relationship with your father, and I want you to have it. Any man would be lucky to have you as a son. Quite honestly, Julian doesn't deserve you, but I hope he's smart enough to appreciate you."

Chad felt a lump form in his throat. " That's a nice thing of you to say, Coach."

" Only speaking the truth. I can already see the effect you're having on your mother. Her heart is getting bigger by the say, and there is a light in her eyes that's never been there. I want to thank you for that. You're healing her."

" You…..you really think I'm helping her, Coach?"

" Most definitely. " TC looked over to Chad's desk. " The college brochures?"

" Yes. I wanted to start soon. I have a future now."

TC looked at the young man in front of him. " Yes, you do. Chad, you can do whatever you want with your life. You have a FAMILY now to help you."

The tears came down Chad's cheeks. " I know. I get overwhelmed by it, sometimes. I have a FAMILY. " Chad went to his desk and brought back a legal pad. " Sometimes, I write down all my new family members." TC looked at the pad and saw the list of names. " Being alone so much of my life, writing it down is a way to make it real. These are real people and they are my family."

" And, they will support you. It'll all work out, Chad. That's what families do best: work things out. May not always be pretty, but it will work out……….Well, I'm going to do some work in the garden. I'll see you at dinner."

" Thanks, Coach. "

TC went to the door, and as he opened it, someone was about to knock on it.

" Sheridan! Hello. I guess you're here to see Chad."

" Hi TC. Yes, I'm here to see Chad."

" See you later."

TC left, and Sheridan stood in Chad's doorway.

" Hi Sheridan."

" Chad."

" Well, come on in."

" Thanks." Sheridan came in and put some boxes on Chad's desk.  When she put those down, she rushed back into the hallway and brought a huge plant into the apartment.

" Um, Sheridan. What is all of this?"

" It's your 'welcome to the family' gifts. I didn't know your taste, so I got a little bit of this and that."

Chad looked at the pile of boxes on his desk. " A little bit, Sheridan?"

Sheridan giggled and smiled. " Well, Chad, I am a Crane."

" I know."

Sheridan and Chad stood facing one another in silence.  Then Sheridan stepped forward and pulled Chad into a big hug.

" Chad, I'm so happy about this. I'm so happy that you're my nephew."

" Um, I guess thank you is in order."

Chad motioned for Sheridan to take a seat, which she did.

" I don't know what the protocol is for when you find out that you have an adult nephew, so I just decided to dive right in. Chad, I want you to know that I'm so happy about you being in the family."

" You've said that."

" Oh, I guess I did. I'm nervous, I guess."

" Nervous…about what?"

" About me…about you…about whether or not you're going to give us a chance."

" Sheridan…"

" Chad. I know what you've heard about the Cranes. I guess all of it is probably true, but that doesn't matter. We're family. Chad, I'm sorry about what Father did to you. Don't hold it against the rest of us."

" Sheridan, Julian doesn't exactly have the image and reputation that you have. Everyone says that you're the 'nice' Crane."

" Nice, schmice. Julian is your father, and he wants a relationship with you. I KNOW it."

" How? How do you know it?"

" Because, he loves his children. Whatever faults my brother has, he loves his children. He's devoted to them in his own way. Considering who was his role model, I think Julian has done very well with regards to his children. And, now, that includes you."

" Sheridan, he abandoned my mother when she needed him the most."

" But, he regrets it. I know he does. Chad, will Julian be judged for that one act?"

" ONE act? Sheridan, puleeze. The man's sins could wallpaper this room 25 times over."

" And, it doesn't erase that he loves you and wants a relationship with you. People aren't perfect."

" Ain't that the truth."

" Sometimes, the best we can hope for is to see the best part of a person. Julian is complicated. He's not easy to love, but he is loveable. Chad, I would hate for you to hurt yourself by not having a relationship with him. Give him a chance."

" What could I benefit from I a relationship with Julian Crane."

" A chance to have a father."

" I'm a grown-assed man, Sheridan. I don't need a Daddy."

" That's a crock, Chad. I'm a 'grown-assed' woman, and STILL, there is an ache in my heart because I don't have the relationship with my father that I want. Maybe you don't need a 'Daddy', but you need a father. A friend. A mentor. Find something in Julian that he can give to you, and take it. Nurture it. How can you be a father in the future, if you haven't experienced the relationship for yourself. Won't you be putting yourself at a disadvantage?"

Chad looked at Sheridan. She had a point.

" I don't know where to start.", Chad said softly.

" How about with one step. A dinner. You, Julian, myself, and maybe Ethan. Get to know us."

" You're not going to leave this alone, are you?"

" Absolutely not."

” You’re stubborn.”

” From what I hear, that’s the one of the Crane family traits you’ve inherited.”

Chad grinned.