Gwen Winthrop was packing up the last of Sarah’s belongings to send them to the church when there was a knock on the door.

” Gwen? I need some help. “

“ Mother, what is it?”

” I want your suggestions about the wedding.”

” Mother, you know what I think about this wedding. It shouldn’t happen. Don’t you want to have a husband who loves you?”

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “ Gwen, I’ve been after the title of Mrs. Julian Crane, and I’m going to get it. No matter what.”

” By your own admission, Julian’s in love with another woman. Why would you want that?”

“ Because, life is more than about love.”

“ I disagree. Love is all that matters.”

” Is that why you’re willing to hand your husband over to Theresa?”

” We will never see eye to eye about this, Mother, but I don’t care. I look at Ethan and I see my dead baby. Isn’t that clear enough for you?”

” Don’t you see, Gwen? You have Ethan over a barrel. You have the control of the relationship now. Because of his guilt, you can keep  him!”

Gwen shook her head in disgust. “ We have different lives, Mother. And, I choose a different path. The next time I’m with a man it will be because he LOVES ME, and ONLY ME. I deserve that much.”

This time it was Rebecca who shook her head. “ You are a fool to give up control like that. But, never mind. We can work on my wedding plans.”
 

Fox knocked on the door to the Russell garage apartment. Whitney opened the door. She had on overalls and a paintbrush in her hand.

“ You redecorating?”, Fox asked.

“ Leave your leather jacket outside. I don’t want to get paint on it.”

” Ok!” Fox came into the apartment and picked up a paintbrush.

“ Fox, I didn’t expect you to paint.”

” The sooner you finish, the sooner we can go get something to eat. I mean..I know you need to get out of the house. It’s the least I can do. “

” You’re a good friend, Fox. Maybe I could bend your ear about some decorating ideas.”

“ I’ll do you one better. Why don’t we go to the Crane attic. If you see something you like, you can have it.”

” Don’t you think you should ask your father before you begin to offer Crane heirlooms?”

” I’m the Crane Heir, and if I want to give them away, so be it.”

Whitney laughed. “ I’ll think about it.”

Fox smiled. Chad was long gone, and soon, Whitney would be his.
 
 

Julian sat by the fire he had prepared. He didn’t know if the meeting would take place, but he had to hope. He heard the key turn in the lock and looked towards the door.

“ I didn’t know if you would come.”

“ I thought long about this. But, I had to come, Julian.”

“ Thank you, Eve.” Julian motioned for Eve to come in and sit down. Eve walked slowly to the sofa and sat down.

“ This a love nest of yours?”, Eve said jokingly.

“ Actually, I just bought it yesterday, under a dummy corporation. I needed a place to think. It’s secluded, with no one being able to see the house from the road. It’s a little over twenty-five hundred square feet.”

“ A fixer upper for a Crane.”, Eve joked.

Julian smiled. Julian reached out and touched Eve’s hair. “ God, I’ve missed you.”

“ I’ve missed you too.”, Eve said, barely above a whisper. Before they knew what was happening, Julian had pulled Eve into a passionate kiss. As they pulled away, coming up for air, Julian smiled slightly.

“ I’ve definitely missed that.” Eve blushed and Julian kissed her hand. Julian let out a big sigh. “ Despite enjoying that thoroughly, it’s not the reason I asked you to come here. “

“ Then, why?”

Julian’s face turned serious. “ I haven’t been able to sleep these past weeks.”

” Me either.”

“ I… I can’t get Sheridan out of my mind.”

Eve nodded. “ Me either.”

“ Eve, I replay that moment, when all of us are in Sheridan’s room, and Father makes his grand entrance. Pretending that he gave a damn about Sheridan. Playing to ALL of her vulnerabilities. It was obvious to anyone that she was on the edge. And, even when she was at full capacity, she had a vulnerability to Father that was unhealthy for her. She was so damn defenseless, I wanted to scream at him to get away from her.”

” I know what you mean. The man was oozing insincere sympathy.”

“ And then, when the FBI and Harmony Police Department have nothing on Sheridan’s kidnapper but a sketch, he turns up with a photo, her entire background, and, so convenient for him, ‘proof’ that Sheridan and Luis’ child is DEAD?!”

” I know.”

” It was like déjà vu, Eve. Replace you for Sheridan, and it’s the same scenario. Sheridan gave birth to a healthy baby, and within hours, the baby is gone and the mother is told that the baby is dead.”

Eve’s answer came out as barely above a whisper this time. “ I know.”

Julian looked over to Eve and could see the tears coming down her face. He moved to hold her in his arms.

” My Darling, I’m sorry. I’m sorry if this is too painful for you. I’ll stop.”

” No Julian, don’t. Keep on with your thoughts.”

Julian stroked Eve’s back as she kept her head on his chest. “ Well, I keep on thinking, who is the common demoninator in all of this?”

” Alistair.”

” Yes. Father. He no more wanted Sheridan to have Luis’ baby than he wanted you to have mine. Just like he doesn’t want Sheridan to be with Luis. “

“ And with Sheridan in the mental hospital, under lock and key, with access controlled by Alistair….who knows what they’re doing to her?”

” How did you know that Father controlled access to Sheridan?”

” I went to Pine Oaks. I thought me being a doctor would gain me access to Sheridan. I couldn’t even get into the building. I was told there are only two people on the allowed visitor’s list: Antonio and Alistair.”

” Tell me about it.”

” You haven’t been allowed to see Sheridan?”

” No. Father says that it’s none of my business. That I would only impede Sheridan’s recovery. I know that Sheridan and I aren’t nearly as close as we should be, but I NEVER wanted this to happen to her.”

” I know you didn’t, Julian.”

” Well, you would be the only one. No one else believes me.”

“ No one else knows you like I do.”

Julian kisses the top of Eve’s head. “ That’s for sure.”

” Julian, what are you going to do about it?”

” Do about it?”

“ I mean, you can’t leave Sheridan in there. I shudder to think about what Alistair is having done to her. She needs help, Julian.”

” I know that, Eve. But, what can I do? I can’t even get into see Sheridan. I can’t get close enough to help her. “

“ Maybe together, we can think of something.”

“ Eve, I don’t want to drag you into this.”

” Julian, you’re not dragging. I’m volunteering. “

“ Eve, I want you to think about this. You know what you have to risk, and going up against my father. He won’t be pleased.”

” Julian. If your father did to Sheridan what we believe he did to me, it’s payback. He’s NOT going to get away with it a second time. No way.”

Julian pulled Eve up to face him. “ My brave Eve. I almost believe that we can defeat Father.”

“ Julian, we’re older and wiser and maybe just bitter enough to defeat the bastard this time. No more children being hurt by that bastard. No more.”

Julian nodded and pulled Eve in for another hug.