" Mom, I can’t believe that we’re in First Class.", Simone said, reclining in her seat. " I mean, you and Daddy sometimes ride it, but, you never allow Whitney or me. What’s up?"

" I’ll tell you when I tell your father and Whitney. But, I’m very happy about it."

" I can see that. Mom, I’m glad we’re going to spend some time together as a family.", Simone says with an unusual sense of seriousness.

" You are? Why?"

" We need it. Whitney and I had bad words between us over Chad, but, now, I realize that it was just a crush for me. I wish they had been honest with me sooner. I do think I deserved it, but, who knows if Whitney and Chad will even be together in 5 years? Whitney will be my sister for as long as I live. And, I don’t want that bond to be broken over Chad. I think he’s a nice guy, but, he ain’t ‘all that’."

Eve laughs. " I’m so happy to hear this coming from you. I was worried about the two of you. And, with Whitney’s tennis career taking off like it is, there are only happy things coming for this family."

Simone nods, and brings out the cards so that she and Eve can play gin rummy.
 

Pilar is looking as Theresa is washing the breakfast dishes.

" Theresa, what is it that makes you so happy?"

" No reason, Mama. Nothing is wrong."

" Theresa, you are positively glowing."

" Mama, so I haven’t been complaining."

" Not complaining? No, you haven’t. You go to a job that I know you hate, quietly. You hum to yourself. What is going on? What are you up to?"

" I’m not up to anything, Mama. I’m just realizing how lucky I am. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go to work." Theresa kisses Pilar and leaves.

Pilar shakes her head. " Theresa, what is going on with you? Oh please, don’t let it be one of your plans."

Theresa gets into her car and looks into the mirror. " Mama, I’m happy because I know that my dream of being Mrs. Crane WILL come true. "
 
 

Julian straightened his shoulders and entered the Book Café. Beth Wallace saw Julian and went right to him.

" Mr. Crane! Is there something wrong? Something that you need?"

" No, Miss Wallace. I just thought it was time for me to inspect the local Crane Properties. "

" What do you need?"

" Nothing but a good cup of coffee. "

" Well, Chad can help you."

" I’m sure he can." Julian walks over to the counter. Chad was helping another customer, and then he came over to Julian.

" May I help you, Mr. Crane?"

Julian was taken aback by being face to face with his son.

" Mr. Crane? Mr. Crane?"

" Ah, yes, Chad. Just a large expresso, if you please."

" Coming right up. " Chad gives Julian his expresso, and Julian thanks him and sits down.

As he sips on his drink, Julian can’t keep his eyes off of Chad. He’s trying to study his face, and see if he sees any of himself in him. The first thing he notices is that Chad has Eve’s eyes. Not the coloring, but, their generosity. A sense of decency that shines in them. Julian has been studying the file he’s gathered on Chad like he was taking a class and Chad was the subject. It’s been a difficult read at times, seeing how poorly Chad has been treated in life. Reading the reports of the social workers; the comments on his foster homes; the time he was in a homeless shelter, and then, when he was out in the street, period. He shakes his head, thinking how different Chad’s life would have been if Alistair had stayed out of it. He might not have been in Chad’s life, but, he would have had a mother that would have loved and adored him from the beginning. A mother that would have nurtured any of his interests and been there for him all the way. A mother that still cries over her son.

When Julian thought of Eve’s tears throughout the years. Her pain at being totally abandoned by him, and the ‘death’ of their son, he felt the rage quelling inside of him. Her agony was evident to him practically everytime they had spent anytime alone together. He berated himself for not being smart enough to ‘see the signs’ with Alistair. He KNEW him. He knows how he thinks. NOTHING is beneath doing if it is in the pretense of ‘protecting the Crane Empire’. Eve blackmail Alistair? That was Al telling him what he wanted to hear. He NEEDED to paint Eve as the bad one, in order to salve his battered conscience. He knew that his abandonment of Eve and their son was the most cowardly thing he had ever done. Not only that, but, he also knew, somewhere, that his happiness was also being flushed down the toilet. He chose not to remember the good times with Eve. How could he remember them and continue to live his life? No, paint her as the ‘bad one’, and try and throw her over into a pile of being ‘just like the others’. It was the only way to survive.

The pain for both his son and his lover was churning him on the inside. He was beginning to see red. Only red. He was focused on a magazine that had Crane Industries on the cover. He didn’t even notice Chad was near him, until Chad was shaking Julian on the shoulder.

" Mr. Crane? Mr. Crane?"

Julian snapped out of it, and looked into Chad’s concerned eyes.

" Yes, Chad?"

Chad looked down and Julian followed him. He had broken the handle of the cup off in his hand.

" You want me to check for glass? Do you need me to call someone for you to go to the doctor?"

Julian looked at his hand, and then tried to joke his way out of it, " and, they say I’m not strong…………….thank you, Chad. I’ll be fine."

" You sure?"

" I’m sure."

Julian heard a ring from his coat, and took out his new cellphone. The one that he had delivered to his door, that didn’t have any bugging equipment in it.

" Julian Crane."

Julian listened as the man at the other end, spoke to him in code. He knew which phrases to look for.

" I see, thank you."

Julian had a mini-smile on his face after the call. That was his launderer telling him that he had secured the final accounts for Julian.

Julian had been  gathering documents against Alistair. Over the years, in spurts of courage, he had gotten Al to put his fingerprints all over key documents. It wasn’t a tenth of what Alistair had been guilty of, but, it could make things uncomfortable for Alistair.

Julian heard his unbugged phone ring again.

" Julian Crane."

" Julian, it’s Sheridan. Can we meet at our usual spot?"

" I’ll be there in ten minutes."

" See you there."

Julian got up from his seat and went over to Beth Wallace, who was chewing down on a pencil.

" Yes, Mr. Crane?"

" Miss Wallace, the Book Café is in superb shape. You do a terrific job. I’ll remember this at bonus time."

" Thank you, Mr. Crane. But, I wouldn’t be this successful without Chad Harris. He’s been with me working on the improvements every step of the way."

" He has? You think he has talent?"

" I do, Sir. No formal education, but, his instincts are terrific, and he’s great with the customer base. "

" I’ll see you later.", Julian said, walking out of the Book Café.

‘ Great instincts’, Beth had said. He felt a surge of paternal pride.
 

By the time Julian got to the park, Sheridan was there.

" Hi.", she said, kissing Julian.

" Ok, what is the matter?"

" I found out that the Russells are all out of town for the next couple of weeks."

" You sure about that?"

" All of them. They are in California. Julian, I know that you wanted to wait until the money was ready.."

" The money IS ready."

" But, how?"

" I have very talented people working for me, Sheridan. They cost, but, they get the job done."

" So, you agree with me? Chad should be told soon?"

" I have some papers that I have to gather, but, the answer is yes. Chad Harris will know of our connection within the next few days."

Sheridan looked giddy as the smile crept over her face.

" Are you nervous?", she asked Julian.

" Scared out of my mind. On ALL accounts."

Sheridan reached out and held his hand. She knew that they would be fine. They would be a family.