New Beginnings, Chapter 19
 

" Chad Harris is the name of my son."

The Book Café was totally silent. Everyone was looking at Chad, who felt all the eyes upon him. He could only stare at the television.

" Mr. Crane, why are you coming forth with this information now?", the reporter asked.

" Well, as I said, I didn’t want those awful tabloids setting the tone for this story. I want the truth out, and I wanted it done on my own terms. And, I wanted my son to know unequivocally, that I am totally proud for him to be my son. "

" What about his mother?"

" That is between him and his mother. It isn’t my place to say. "

" So, you have contact with his mother."

" Once again, it’s not my place to say. His mother isn’t a public figure, I am."

The reporter took the hint. " So, what has been the reaction of the rest of your family?"

" Well, I do think that is a privacy issue for them, but, I can say that my sister is overjoyed with the new addition to the family. "

" Will we be able to get an interview with you and your son?"

" I don’t think so. I think he likes his privacy."

" Didn’t you just destroy that?"

" In a way…but, I also want for people to respect his choice if he doesn’t want to have anything to do with the press."

" We’ll see.", she said coyly. " I just want to thank you for this interview. I hope your son appreciates all that this took."

" Telling the truth about our relationship isn’t a hardship."

" I understand."

Chad leans up and turns the channel. " Freak show’s over.",Chad remarks.

He looks at Sheridan. " Why the fuck did he do that?"

Sheridan could see that Chad was furious. She had never seen him that angry before. Neither had Beth who eased up to the pair,

" Why don’t you two talk about this in my office."

Chad looks at Beth and Sheridan, and then just takes off in the direction of the office. He’s already there when Sheridan arrives. She closes the door.

" Chad…"

" WHY? WHY would he do that? After all that mumbo jumbo that he wrote in the letter to me about taking my own time..WHY would he sell me out like that?"

"Chad.."

" See! I knew he was a phony. He’s a lying, racist mutherfucker. I knew that. IKNEW IT! Dammit, I feel so stupid. I was beginning to weaken and think that he could possibly be different. God, why don’t I ever learn!"

" Chad, he is different. There is a good reason for what he did."

" Tell me."

" He did it to protect you."

" Protect me?"

" Yes, protect you."

" How?"

" Well, it’s sort of my fault. "

" Your fault? Sheridan you wouldn’t hurt me."

" Julian came over to talk to me last night after he spoke to you. He stayed the night. Father called Julian there….and then…"

" What?"

" Father was shocked that we knew. Once we told him about you and his plan for you, he became angry. He said…"

" What?"

" He said that you wouldn’t live long enough to get what you should."

" Sheridan, he doesn’t have to worry. I don’t want anything."

" Chad…it’s not whether you want it or not. It’s already been determined before you were born."

" What?"

Sheridan sits Chad down begins to talk with him. " Chad, my great-grandfather had it in his will that the first –born son of the first-born son would be the Heir. Didn’t matter what the circumstances. All that was necessary was for him to be the first-born son. We thought it was Ethan, but, it’s not. It’s you. Alistair can’t change things. Julian can, but, Father can’t. He’s stuck with the rules that great-grandfather set down. That makes you The Heir."

Chad looks at Sheridan like she’s crazy. " I said I don’t want it."

" You don’t have a choice."

" The hell I don’t. I have a choice. This still doesn’t explain why Julian’s ‘outing’ me to the world."

" Well, the only thing that Father hates more than anything is bad publicity. He likes secrecy, Chad. He thrives on it. He gets his power because of secrets and lies – those he uncovers. As long as you were a ‘secret’ to the world, he had some power over Julian. But, now, Julian has taken the power away from him. By putting you out there for all the world to see, he’s taken you ‘public’, and if anything were to happen to you…"

" The first place they’d arrive is on the Crane doorstep."

" Exactly. Father is a cold, ruthless, manipulative man, but, the publicity from the ‘disappearance’ or anything else happening to you isn’t something he’s willing to go through. We’re sure that he’ll just try other things to try and cheat you out of what’s yours. But, don’t worry – Julian’s taken care of that."

" How?"

" Well, he’s gathered all of his assets, and mine. We’ve placed them out of Father’s reach. Now, it’s not as much as the Crane Empire, but, it’s a great deal."

" I can imagine.", Chad says sarcastically.

" Chad, we had to do something quick. We couldn’t allow Father any chance to hurt you. We didn’t go about it in the best manner, but, we were working off the cuff."

" Does my mother know?"

Chad looks at Sheridan, and the look in her eyes makes it clear that she does know who his mother is.

" It’s Ok, Sheridan. Julian told me that he wouldn’t tell me about her. He was going to tell her first."

" No, he hasn’t had a chance to tell her. "

" Oh..Ok…."

" Chad, I know that Julian is difficult. But, he’s trying. He really is. He wants a relationship with you. You have to know that. He told me about the letter. Every word was the truth."

" Including him being a coward and abandoning my mother?",Chad says bitterly.

" Yes, and also the part about him wanting to do anything to make things up with you. Chad, he can’t do anything about the past. We can only think about the present and the future. You have a father who wants to be a part of your life. Please know that today was part of that. He wants to protect you. He will never forgive himself for not protecting you all those years ago. It will live with him forever. Please give him a chance."

"Sheridan…..I like you……but, I can’t tell you that I can have any kind of a relationship with him. I…..I’ll think about it."

" That’s something. And a good first step. " Sheridan hugs

" So you’re trying to tell me that he did all of this to protect me? He put a target on me!", Chad said angrily.

" Everyone else, I’m not worried about. I ….we…HE…was only worried about Alistair. You had to be protected. Please understand."

Chad looked at Sheridan. " I have to think about it, Sheridan. I really do. Don’t expect miracles. "

" I won’t. "

Sheridan gave Chad a hug and a kiss. " Well, I’m going back to the Mansion to see how Julian is holding up. I’m glad it’s out in the open, Chad. As someone who grew up with lies and secrets, I’m glad this one is out in the open, and Julian told the truth – I am totally and unequivocally happy that you’re a member of my family."

Chad looked at Sheridan and knew she was telling the truth." Thanks, Sheridan."

Sheridan left the room, and Chad remained there, until he heard a knock on the door. The door swung open and there was Beth.  " You ok?"

Chad laughed. " Hell if I know."

" If you need to sneak out the back and think, it’s ok to me, Chad. You have a lot on your mind."

" Thanks, Beth." Beth turns to leave.

" Beth?"

" Yes, Chad."

" My life is never going to be the same, will it?"

Beth looked at him sympathetically. " No, Chad. Nothing is ever going to be the same for you."

Chad nodded and Beth left. He realized that he couldn’t go back out there and take the stares from people. He had to get out of there. He left out the back way and got on his bike.
 

Ivy Crane was in the middle of her weekly facial and manicure when the spa manager came in and turned on the television.

" Mrs. Crane, I think you ought to see this."

Ivy took the cucumber slices off of her eyes to open them and see Julian on the television.

Like everyone else, she was in shock to hear what Julian was confessing to: the paternity of Chad Harris.

Ivy had guessed it so many months ago, but, couldn’t believe that it was actually true. It couldn’t be a joke, because Julian would never take Crane business so public. He did it for a reason. Ivy searched her mind to come up with an answer, and suddenly it came to her:

" Alistair", she said out loud, but nobody else knew what she was talking about. Julian was doing an end run around Alistair. By putting Chad out in the open, Alistair couldn’t operate in the shadows, which is his best strength.

Ivy had to nod in an agreement. If the strategy was to protect Chad and keep him alive, Julian had found an effective method. Ivy listened with eager ears to the next two interviews, which went as well as the first one. Julian covered all the bases: reassuring the business community that this news would have no effect on Crane Industries stock, and that everything was just fine.

Ivy also noticed the one thing that Julian did NOT say in all the interviews:

The identity of Chad’s mother.

That was quite curious indeed. She didn’t know if it was because he was protecting Eve. Or maybe Eve didn’t know. She wondered if Chad knew who his mother was.

Ivy looked at the Spa Manager, " I can’t stay. I’m going home."

They all looked at Ivy with sympathy, but, they didn’t need to; the gears in Ivy’s mind were already spinning – she knew that there had to be some way for her to work this to her advantage.
 

Rebecca Hotchkiss was sitting at a table at the Country Club, looking at swatches with the decorator that she had hired to re-do the Crane Mansion, when one of the members told her that she better come into the bar and look at something.

Rebecca saw Julian, big as life on television, admitting to Chad Harris’ paternity. Rebecca looked around the room to see the members there. The whispering campaign had already begun.

Rebecca didn’t like this. She didn’t like it one bit. She didn’t like looking so ‘out of the loop’ where Julian was concerned. After all, she was his fiancé. SHE should have been by his side when he made the announcement. That she didn’t know that an announcement was going to be made, got her furious!

What the hell was Julian doing on tv, admitting to fathering an illegitimate Black child, in the first place? Didn’t he know that Chad was to be bought off, so as to not sully the Crane name and reputation?

Rebecca left the decorator sitting at the table, and got into the limo for the Crane Mansion.
 
 

Theresa had been on her first assigned break. The little 13"black and white wasn’t on, so she turned it on and switched the channels until she saw Julian. She stopped and watched.

As Julian claimed paternity of Chad in the first, second and third interviews, Theresa lost track of time. She was overjoyed, but, confused. She had been there when Chad read the letter from Julian, telling him that he was going to let Chad work at his own pace, and that he wouldn’t reveal his paternity to anyone. Now, it was all over the airwaves. Theresa couldn’t believe it. The whole world knew that Julian Crane was Chad’s father.

She doesn’t know what to think. Theresa is still watching the television when her supervisor comes in.

" Theresa, your break was over sometime ago."

" Oh…I’m sorry. I’ll get back to work."

Theresa was in the middle of stocking the shelves, when she looks up from the cans, and sees Chad standing there.

He looks down at Theresa.

" I need you."

Theresa looked to him at nodded.

" I’m here."

Theresa went to her boss. " I’m sorry, but, I’m not feeling well."

" I’ll have to dock you, Theresa."

" That’s ok."

Theresa clocked out, and went out front and saw Chad on his bike. She got on the back and they drove away.
 

Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald was working on his morning reports when a fellow officer came to get him.

" Luis, I think you should see this."

Luis got up out of his chair and went to the police lounge. He looked at the tv, which showed Julian. Luis rolled his eyes and wondered what scam Julian was pulling. But, he continued to listen, and like everyone else, was stunned by Julian's news.

He listened to the reports, trying to process it all, but was drawn back into the tv, when he heard the reporter ask Julian about the response from his family.

" My sister is completely behind me, and is very pleased to have my son in the family."

That sentence went over and over in Luis’ mind. Suddenly, it all made sense. The sudden closeness of Sheridan and Julian. Her defense of him. SHE KNEW about this. This wasn't a surprise to her. And, to make matters worse, she didn't tell him!

Luis stormed out of the Police Lounge on his way to the Crane Estate.
 
 
 
 

Eve Russell was enjoying a late morning breakfast. TC and Whitney were out practicing, and Simone was being treated to an entire day in the spa.

She had been told of a wonderful menu in the bar, and she was sipping on her orange juice, and pulled out the ‘Baby’ issue of Martha Stewart Magazine. She couldn’t believe it. She was having a baby. She had never been happier.

Hearing the voice on the television, she thought to herself,‘ I know that voice.’

She looked up and saw Julian on the television. She got up out of her seat, and went to the bar, looking at the television. She motioned for the bartender to turn up the volume, which he did. She looked up at the television, and listened, in shock, as Julian confessed that he was Chad’s father. Eve couldn’t believe what he was saying. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be possible. Eve thought about all the times she had spent time with Chad. How they clashed in the beginning. How their relationship progressed. How she held him in her arms when he was shot. The joy of their reunion when they both thought the other was dead.

Could it be?

Could Chad Harris be the little baby she thought was dead? Could Chad be her son?

" Oh God!", Eve said, suddenly feeling dizzy, and fainted on the floor.