New Beginnings, Chapter 11
 
 

Sheridan was stirring her coffee at the Book Café. She hadn’t really drunk any. She was too busy watching Chad.

Her nephew Chad.

Part of her wanted to just run over to him and give him a hug and welcome him to the family. But, Julian made it clear that he had to prepare things against Alistair first. Once that had happened, the two of them could approach Chad.

" Hey, what’s the matter with you?", Luis asked.

" Nothing. I was just thinking about some things."

" Yeah, like what?"

" Well…", Sheridan began, trying to get Luis off of the trail of suspicion…" I was wondering if you would still love me in 50 years."

" Nope."

" Nope?"

" I’ll love you more."

Sheridan leans in for a kiss, and they enjoy themselves.

" Hey hey  you two…you are being a little demonstrative.", Chad kids.

" Hi Chad. How are you?"

" Doin’ fine, Sheridan."

" Any luck on the search for your parents?"

Sheridan noticed the sad look that came across Chad’s face and regretted her question immediately. " Chad, I’m so sorry."

" Naw, Sheridan, don’t be sorry. When I first came to town, I thought it was a good idea for as many people to know about my search as possible, but, now, I know people mean well…but, it’s getting hard. I thought that we were really going to get somewhere when Dr. Russell did the DNA search. I was surprised that it came up empty."

" It came up empty?", Sheridan asked curiously.

" Yeah. It said that I wasn’t related to anyone who had been serviced in Harmony Hospital."

" Maybe the test was wrong?"

" Naw. Dr. Russell and her people know what they are doing. Hey Luis..I think I might have a burglar."

" A burglar, Chad?"

" It’s odd. Last week, I came back into my apartment, and I swear certain things had been moved. I know that Simone and the Doc wouldn’t do it. Not a lot of stuff, but, just certain things that weird me out."

The hair on the back of Sheridan’s neck began to stand on edge.

" Well, I have to go."

" You do?", Luis questions. " You said that we were going to spend the morning together."

" Luis, I know. I’m sorry, but, I just remembered that I had another appointment. Please forgive me, Sweetie." Sheridan gave Luis a big kiss before she hurried out of the Book Café.

Once Sheridan was safely out of the Book Café, she took out her cellphone and made a call.

" Julian? It’s Sheridan. I have to talk to you. Meet me in the park by the statue of the founders."
 

" May I help you?", Theresa looked up from the Deli Counter at the Safeway to see,
" Dr. Russell?"

" Hi, Theresa. I was doing some volunteer rounds here in Castleton at the Hospital, and I thought that I would buy some cold cuts and other groceries to stack in Chad’s refridgerator."

" Why? Yours is usually full."

" I know, but, Simone and I are going to see Coach Russell and Whitney in California."

" When?"

" We leave on the red-eye tonight. I just wanted to make sure that Chad had enough food while we were gone. I know that things are tight for him since he decided to take those classes. I can’t help but worry about him sometimes."

" I understand." The wheels were turning in Theresa’s mind. " How long will you be gone?"

" Well, for sure, the next two weeks. But, I’ve taken another week and Simone has another week’s worth of homework. We might take a vacation in Palm Springs or Santa Barbara."

" I’m sure you all would love it."

" Well, I’ll take your order so that you can get home and finish packing."

" Thank you, Theresa."
 

" Sheridan, I was in an important meeting, but, you hung upon me so fast that I didn’t get the chance to tell you that."

" Julian, I think the rules of the game have changed."

" What rules?"

" Father knows, Julian."

" Father knows what, Sheridan?"

" That Chad Harris is yours and Eve’s son."

" No. You said the old man told you that Father didn’t know about the doublecross."

" He might not have in the past, but, he does now. Eve Russell ran a DNA test on Chad Harris, using the DNA banks at Harmony Hospital. But, when the results were read, they came up saying that Chad wasn’t related to anyone in Harmony. Now Julian, I have DNA test proving that Chad is YOUR son. If the DNA test had been valid, then that match should have come up. "

Julian flashbacked to the time when he found Chad and Whitney at the Lab. He remembers about the DNA test. " I remember going to the hospital and getting into it with Chad about the expense of the DNA test. I hadn’t even thought about it until you brought it up at this moment. It came up blank?"

" Said he wasn’t related to anyone in Harmony. Julian, if the test had been true, it would have come up with you and Eve as matches for parents. Eve is on staff, and remember the surgery you had a few years ago? I would have come up because of my time there due to the buried alive incident. And, Whitney and Simone would have partially matched also, as I remember them on the television public service announcements asking for registering for the bone marrow donor list. ALL those matches would have come up for Chad. That NONE of them did.."

" Means that someone has tampered with the test."

" There’s more."

" MORE?", Julian questioned.

" When I was at the Book Café earlier, Chad joked to Luis that possibly he needed a cop, because he felt that someone had been in his apartment. Now, the Russells wouldn’t have a need to go and bother things in Chad’s apartment."

" Father."

" Yes, Father. Now, I remember Luis finding the listening device one time. WHATIF he’s planted one at Chad’s apartment."

" Sheridan, this is NOT what I need to hear. IF Father knows the truth about Chad, he’s in danger. "

" How close are you to the money?"

" I’ve finished with your private trust. I hate to say this, but, we really could use the inheritance that you’ll get when you marry. My private funds are more difficult."

" Julian, I know that they might be, but, finding out about the DNA test has sent me into a near panic. The thought of Father knowing about Chad, and deciding that maybe it would be best.."

" Don’t say it, Sheridan."

" I don’t want to say it, Julian, but I have to. What if Father decides to finish the job he thought should have happened years ago?"

As Sheridan clutched her stomach, Julian grabbed his temple.

" We can’t panic, Sheridan. Panic makes for mistakes, and we can’t afford any right now. No, Father might know, but, he’s still clueless in two areas: that I know about Chad, and that I know that he knows. This is still our advantage. But, I will have to work hard on this. I have to funnel that money to the proper accounts. I’ve been working over secured channels, never using the same one twice."

" Why do I feel like I’m in some sort of spy novel?"

" Don’t think that you’re not. Chad is safe…for now. He’s in plain sight, and we have to be ready."

" I’m with you all the way, Julian."

Julian sadly smiles at Sheridan and kisses her on the cheek." Sometimes, I don’t think you really know what you’ve gotten yourself into."

" I know, Julian. "

" Then why?"

" I want my own family."

Julian nods in agreement and gets up. " Well, I have to go."

" Are you going to tell Eve?"

" I thought I would tell her in the next few days. TC is a situation that has to be settled. I might have to leave town right after the announcement is made."

" Julian…"

" Sheridan, TC Russell is a madman when it comes to his family. The moment he finds out that I was not only with his wife, but, she gave me the son that he doesn’t have…he’ll be out for my blood. If he can’t find me, he can’t kill me. He is a man ready to go to jail for killing me…THAT is what’s frightening about it. Most men bluster about being ready to take the punishment for the crime. TC IS ready and willing to do it. "

" Ok. Well, you be careful then."

" I will. "

Julian kisses Sheridan and leaves. Sheridan takes out her cellphone.

" Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald."

" Officer, have you had your lunch break yet?"

" Well no, Miss Crane, I haven’t."

" Book Café in 10 minutes?"

" Sure."
 

" Hi Chad."

Chad looks up to see Theresa standing there. Damn, why did she have to wear THAT top, that fits her curves.

" Uh, hi Theresa."

" You Ok? You didn’t call me. I didn’t know if we were on for tonight’s pizza and movie."

A part of Chad told him to say ‘NO’, but, his mouth said, " It’s my turn for the movie."

" I know. I won’t complain about your choice."

" Yeah, right, Resa. When have you ever NOT complained?"

They both laugh, and Chad is back into the zone where they are comfortable with one another. Just then, the door opened, and Sheridan and Luis walk in, arm in arm.

" Hey you two.", Luis says smiling.

Sheridan smiles at Chad, and lessens it a bit upon seeing Theresa.

" Hi Luis.", Theresa says, giving him a kiss. " Sheridan."

" Theresa."

" Luis, weren’t you just in here this morning?", Chad jokes.

" I was, Chad, but, when a beautiful lady invites you to lunch, you come."

" I understand."

Theresa minds has a breakthrough. " Oh Chad, I have to go. I was going to give Dr. Russell a good luck gift for Whitney before she leaves."

" Eve is leaving?", Sheridan asks.

" Yes. She and Simone are going to California for the next couple of weeks. I get the feeling if the tournament goes well for Whitney, that they will celebrate for another week."

" Oh.", Sheridan replied, her mind thinking.

" Chad, you must be so proud of Whitney. But, you must miss her too."

Theresa wanted to shoot daggers at Luis, but, didn’t. Chad felt guilt wash over him as he realized that he didn’t miss Whitney as much as he should. " Yeah, I miss her."

" Well, we have to go. I’m not a Crane Industries Executive, so I have limited time for lunch.", Luis says, leading Sheridan away.

Once they are gone, Theresa turns to Chad, who hurriedly tells her, " I’m sorry, Theresa, but, I don’t think we’ll be able to have that movie night tonight, OK? I gotta go. Customers."

Theresa nods at Chad, and then leaves the Book Café. She stops at the window and stares inside. She knows that Luis is oblivious, but, she’s succeeded with Sheridan and even Chad. Sheridan is thinking that this is the perfect time to tell Chad. After all, with the Russells out of town, Chad will be alone, and the Cranes can approach him in private. She knows that they would try and talk Chad out of having anything to do with the Cranes, and that won’t do at al. She knows that Chad is thinking that he has to be loyal to what he thinks are his feelings for Whitney, but, Theresa’s been around the Russells long enough to know that TC and Eve Russell, if they can’t convince Chad to not have anything to do with the Cranes, will NEVER allow their daughter to date Julian Crane’s SON. Things will definitely be heating up in the next few weeks, nd Theresa planned on being in the thick of things.