New Beginnings, Chapter 15
 
 

Sheridan was waiting in her Cottage when Julian came through the door.

" Julian! How was it? Did you tell him?"

Julian said nothing. He went over to Sheridan's bar and poured himself  a drink and gulped it down.

" That good.", Sheridan says sadly.

" Worse.", he said, pouring himself another drink. Sheridan went over to him and pulled him back towards the couch. They sat down and Sheridan asked Julian,

" What happened?"

" Nothing happened. I told him the truth, and he hates me. My son hates me.", Julian says sadly.

" Julian, he's in shock. When he adjusts to the truth.."

" He will STILL hate me, Sheridan. You didn't see his eyes. It was eery. When I looked into them when he opened the door, I could see Eve's eyes staring back at me. I was surprised that I hadn't seen it before. But, after I told him the truth, the eyes took on a coldness and fury that I've only seen in one other person - Alistair."

Sheridan shivered, "it was bad, then."

" Yes. He went off on me. Calling me a pig and a slimeball. He called me plenty of names, and didn't want to hear anything that I said to him. "

" You just need time."

" I don't know if there is enough time in the world. It's a lost cause."

Sheridan turned Julian's face, so that he was looking directly at her.

" Julian, I don't want you to think this way. Yes, it's been bad right now, but there is  a lot of work to be done. You knew it was going to be difficult. But, you took the first step. Julian, Father robbed you of the chance to be with your son.  Don't let him rob you now."

" Sheridan, Father didn't rob me of the chance with my son. I would never have been with him. I was too much of a coward. But, I truly thought he'd be with his mother. I took comfort in it. I never EVER wanted him to be thrown away like garbage." Julian looked at Sheridan with pleading eyes.

" I know that, Julian. I know that it's taken time for you to get courage. It took years for me to get it too. I got it because of Luis."

" No, Sheridan. You always had it. Even when you were a little girl. Father was furious about it."

" Well, whatever it is, we both have it now. I'm here to help give you strength, and I know you'll do the same for me."

" I would."

" So, you didn't get to talk at all?"

" Not really."

" What are you going to do?"

" Site and wait. I thought it might go that poorly, so I gave him an envelope. Inside are the DNA test results, a legal document declaring myself his father, and a letter I wrote to him trying to explain things."

" See? He has all that."

" But, he has to read it, Sheridan. He was so mad when I left him, that I doubt he wants anything to do with me."

" Julian, he's been searching for his family his entire life. I highly doubt that he's going to burn any information connected to that. His curiosity will get the better of him, and he'll open it. Your sincere words will get to him."

" I'm not sure."

" Well, I am. And, as soon as he realizes that you WANT to have a relationship with him, and do right by him, he'll open up to you."

" You seem so certain."

" I am. He has to have anger; that's expected. But, he wants to  know his parents. And, that means you."

" And Eve."

" Yes, and Eve. Julian, have you told her?"

" No. I thought one reaction at a time. She's out of town. I need the breathing room right now. But, I'll tell her soon enough. Them being out of town is going to buy me some time. If I get Chad used to the idea of me being his father, then telling Eve about him will be easier."

" Do you think she'll be happy?"

" I think she'll be horrified and delighted in the same breath. Her life will never be the same once she claims Chad."

" Are…are you so sure that she'll do it? After all…."

Julian halts Sheridan. " No, Sheridan. You don't even have to think it. Eve was the ONLY one who wanted Chad from birth. She's cried over him everyday since. No matter the destruction to her family, she will claim Chad. THAT I know."

Sheridan was so curious. Her brother spoke of Eve in such certain terms. The intimacy that they must have shared, that they still share, was showing her a side to Julian that she didn't even know existed.

" Julian, have you thought about what others are going to say?"

" Others?"

" Your other children, Julian. Are you going to tell them?"

" Yes. After I tell Eve. " Julian drank the rest of his brandy. " I feel like a big burden has been lifted off my shoulders, Sheridan. Facing the mistakes of the past is tough, but, not horrific. Of course, I haven' had to deal with the serious matters."

" Father and TC Russell."

" Yes, confronting a man who wanted my child dead. I can't believe it. I know the truth, and still don't want to face the fact that he's such a complete monster. And, TC, who knows if I'll be alive to try and have a relationship with Chad."

" Well, Father will be taken care of sooner than later, Julian. And, TC? I have faith that someone will be able to stop him. We'll get him in anger management."

Julian laughs. " Good luck."

" He can't kill you because of a relationship you had with his wife before THEY EVER MET! That's ridiculous."

" Well…things with TC go far deeper than that, Sheridan. The man has good reason to hate me immensely."

" Maybe so, but, this isn't one of the reasons. Julian, it's going to be fine. Today wasn't the end - it is the beginning. The beginning of a new Crane family. One of honesty and love."

" Sheridan, I don't know if we know how to do honesty and love."

" Well, we have to learn. I don't know Chad that well, but, I think I know him well enough to know that he would not want anything to do with Crane 'business as usual.'"

" No, he wouldn't."

" So, we have to change. "

" Change is hard."

" But worth it."

" Well, I guess I'll be going. I'm sure Luis will be back soon."

" Actually, Luis will be staying over at Hank Bennett's."

" Really?"

" Yes."

" Then, would you mind it if I slept on your couch? I'd like to be near someone who actually cares."

Sheridan hugged Julian hard. " Sure."

As she went to get sleeping material for Julian, Sheridan was hopeful. She believed that the future would be positive.
 

" Well, are they settled in?", TC asks as Eve comes back into the room.

" Yes. They were embarrassed that I wanted to check in on them. They pleaded that they weren't babies. "

" No, that's what you're carrying.", TC teased Eve as she got into bed.

" TC, can you believe it? We're going to have a baby."

" I'm trying to be convinced. After Simone, I just didn't think it was in the cards."

" I know. Things were touch and go with both Whitney and Simone, and this is a high-risk pregnancy, but, I think we can do it, TC."

" I know, Eve. And, I'll do whatever it takes for this pregnancy to go off smoothly. You have my and the girls full cooperation. We're going to take good care of you."

" You already do, TC."

" Thanks, Baby. But, I mean it. And, really, what could be so stressful that it would risk the baby? We love one another. The girls are healthy. Financially, we're fine. So, no, I can't see anything endangering this child.", TC says as he kisses Eve.

" Me neither.", Eve replies, settling into cuddle with TC. ' Nothing at all', Eve thought.
 

Whitney was flipping through a magazine, as Simone was on her laptop, trying to finish up an essay. As the page turning got louder, Simone  stopped her typing.

" Whitney, just call him."

" What? What are you talking about?"

" Chad. That's who's on your mind, right? Stop driving me crazy by listening to you do everything but what you want to be doing."

" Is it that obvious?", Whitney asks.

" Yes."

" You sure you don't mind?", Whitney asks hesitantly.

" I told you that I was cool about you and Chad, and I meant it. So, call the guy, I know you want to."

" I'm sorry, Simone. I should have never allowed it to spin out of control like this. I shouldn't have been a coward to you or to Chad. Facing my feelings has never been as easy for me as it's been for you. It's one of the things I most admire about you."

" It is?", Simone asks.

" Yes. You have so much passion. You're so free with your feelings. I'd be scared to be as emotionally honest as you."

" Lot of good it does me.", Simone mutters.

" Simone,  don't ever change. It's one of the best things about you."

" Thanks. Well, I'll continue to be honest, and tell you to get your butt up and call the man."

Whitney smiles at Simone, and says, " Ok."

Whitney dials Chad's number, which rings and rings. She gets the voicemail for him.

" Chad, I'm sorry you're not there. I really wanted to talk to you." Whitney looks at Simone, who encourages her by waving her hands. " I, um…I wanted to tell you that I missed you. That the only thing that would make this trip perfect, is if I could have looked up in the stands and saw you sitting there, cheering me on. I wanted to tell you that you were right about us. About how right we are for one another. That I've been a knucklehead. I bet you never thought I'd say that. I can't wait to come home and see you, Chad. It can be a new beginning for us. Bye."

Whitney hung up the phone, and by the time she had, Simone was over next to her on the edge of the bed.

" See, was that THAT hard?"

Whitney broke into a huge smile. " Nope."

Simone hugged her. " I knew you could do it."

" It feels so freeing."

" I know. Why don't we celebrate by ordering up a pint of Haagen Daas?"

" Simone, I have a tournament."

" I don't. So, you can live vicariously."

Whitney nodded. " Well, maybe ONE spoonful."

Simone laughed and dialed the number for roomservice.

Whitney had hope for her romantic future with Chad, and a future with her sister after all.

While the voicemail did record Whitney's message, Chad had heard the phone ring. He had just ignored it, because he and Theresa were in the middle of making love.