New Beginnings, Chapter 20
 
 

Chad and Theresa had wound up on a cliff overlooking Harmony. Couples sometimes came here to make out, but, they were sitting on some boulders.

" You saw him on TV, didn't you?", Chad asked.

Theresa nodded. " I don't get it. His letter said that he was going to wait until you were ready. What happened?"

" What happened? Well, according to dear Aunt Sheridan, Grandpops Al ain't too fond of me, and Julian thought this was a way to protect me."

" By telling everyone?"

" Yes. If I have the logic right, the only thing Al hates is bad publicity, an d by putting me out there,  they have blunted his ability to dispose of me."

Theresa looked at Chad with sympathetic eyes. " Oh, Chad."

" Do I really believe them?"

" I do.", Theresa said. Chad looked at her. "You weren't there, Chad, when Orville Perkins confessed. The man was on his death bed, and still, he was afraid of Alistair Crane.  So, if they thought this could protect you, who would know better than his children?"

Chad looked at her. " I….I guess you might be right. It was weird, Theresa. "

" What?"

" The way that people looked at me. The ones in the Book Café. It was like I was another person."

" You are another person. You're a Crane."

" Theresa…"

" Chad, you ARE a Crane. You can wish it away, but, it doesn't make it so. You are a Crane, and people are going to treat you differently now. They won't be able to help themselves."

" I'm the same person!"

" I know. That's why you're Chad. What are you going to do?"

" Hell if I know. I just found out last night, and I haven't had any time to absorb any of it, and now the whole world knows. Well, everyone but my mother."

" She doesn't know?"

" Sheridan made it seem like she didn't know. This is all so complicated."

" I know. And,  I don't want to add to your troubles, but, you have to think of something else."

" What could I possibly have to worry about now?"

" You moving from the Russell House."

" Theresa.."

" Chad, you and I BOTH know how Dr. and Coach Russell feel about the Cranes. "

" They hate them."

" Yes. And, I just don't know if they will want the son of Julian Crane being under their roof. I'm sorry to have to bring this up.."

" No….you're right. I know exactly how Coach Russell feels. I can remember when the possibility came up the time I was doing my DNA search. He didn't care that he knew me. The only thing that he thought about was me possibly being Julian's son. And that meant that he didn't want me anywhere near his family, especially his daughters."

" I'm sorry."

" No. It's just that, my circumstances haven't changed. I moved into the Russell House because I needed somewhere to stay that I could afford. "

" Chad.."

" Theresa, I'm not taking any money from that man."

" I wasn't going to suggest that. I was going to say that you could stay at my house."

" YOUR House?"

" We have a garage apartment like the Russells. You can stay there."

" I don't know Theresa, shouldn’t you ask your Moms?"

" Mama would never turn away someone in need. And, you are in need. I think you should move out of the Russell House before they return. Don't make an awkward situation even worse. If you're gone, it might show them how much you respect them, and you won't have to totally break away from the family."

Chad thought about it. " Maybe you're right."

" Of course I am. We should go to my house right now, tell Mama, and look to see what needs to be done to the apartment before you move in."

" We will ASK your mother if it's OK. If not, we'll find another solution."

" Ok. Let's go.", Theresa said, on her way back to his bike.
 

Sheridan came home just as the last camera crew was packing up. She found Julian in the Library.

" So, how did I do?", Julian asked.

" The interviews went well."

" You know that's not what I'm talking about."

" Chad was furious. Beyond furious."

" I could imagine."

" But, we had a talk. And, I told him why it had to happen."

" What did he say?"

" He was skeptical, but, I think he believes me. I think he understands the gravity of the issue. And, Julian.."

" What, Sheridan?"

" I told him about Great-Grandfather's will."

" WHY? Sheridan, it's not like he's beating down the Crane door."

" I know. But, I thought it was the time for full disclosure, so as to let him know just what would push Father to try and hurt him."

" His reaction?"

" Like you said, he wants nothing to do with the Cranes. But, I think he understands. He did have a question, though."

" Which was?"

" Had you told his mother. I told him that you haven't been able to, but that you were going to talk to her as soon as possible. Did you talk to Eve?"

" No, but Martha got me the telephone number to the resort in California. If I'm lucky, she didn't find out over the TV. Hopefully, I can tell her myself, even though I wanted to do it in person."

" I know. I told him how much you regretted doing it like this, but that we saw it no other way. He's very bitter towards you, Julian."

" With good reason."

" True. But, I think the letter was perfect."

" Why?"

" In our talk, he spoke of being weary towards you, and softening because of the letter. The interviews had put him back to square one. But, I really think all he needs is time."

" Time I didn't give him."

" Time you DID give him, Julian. You can do it. You can have a relationship with him. And, I made it clear to him in as many ways as possible that you wanted a relationship with him, and that BOTH of us welcome him into the family without question."

" Thank you, Sheridan. I don't know what I would have done without your support in this entire situation." Julian leans over to hug his sister.

They are interrupted by a voice.

" Well, it's nice to know that at least SOMEONE was in the loop."

Julian and Sheridan turn to the door to find Rebecca standing there.
 

Eve Russell's eyes opened slowly. She looked around the room, to the hazy images of people surrounding her. Regaining her full faculties, she realized that she was in her suite, in her bed. TC and Whitney looked down on her with concern, as well as a man that she had never met before. He spoke.

" Dr. Russell, I'm Dr. Ollie. I work here at the resort. You gave us a scare downstairs."

" I did?"

" You don't remember? You fainted dead away in the bar, and they couldn't revive you, they brought you up to the room. Your husband notified me of your pregnancy, and I've already called your OB-GYN. I've checked your vitals, and none of them seem out of order. Your blood pressure is borderline, but, I'm not worried. Are you cramping any. Are you having twinges in the abdominal area?"

" Cramping? Twinges?  …..Oh, the baby. No, I feel fine."

" Eve Honey, what happened?", TC asked, concern all over his face. Eve looked from TC to Whitney and back again.

" TC…I don't know. I just felt faint. Maybe I didn't get enough nourishment soon enough today and my body reacted."

TC looked at her. " Are you sure that's all?"

" What? Why would you say that?"

" The bartendar told us that you had been watching TV when you fainted. Is THAT what upset you?"

Eve thought about what she was doing down in the bar. She had been watching Julian confess on international television that he was Chad's father. And if HE was Chad's father, then that made HER his mother. At first, she thought maybe it was a bad dream. But, she didn't know. She HAD to talk to Julian, but, didn't know how.

" Doctor, what is your diagnosis?", Eve asked, trying to throw TC off the trail.

" Well, I recommend bedrest for the next 24 hours. IF you feel any abdominal pain, you are to call me, and get an ambulance ASAP. I've already notified the best OB-GYN's at the local hospital of your possible visit. We can't take any chances, Dr. Russell, but I think you know that."

" I do. I won't do anything to jeopardize this baby."

" Good. So, Coach Russell, may I count on you to take care of your wife?"

" That is definitely something you can count on. Eve will receive around the clock care."

Eve winced, because she knew TC was serious, and she needed to get to a phone.

" Well, here's my card.", the doctor says. " I'm going to leave you in your husband's capable hands, Dr. Russell."

" Thank you so much, Doctor.", Eve commented.

" Let me walk you out, Doctor.", TC said, going out of the bedroom with him. But, Whitney remained.

" Mom…are you ok?"

" The doctor said that I was. Whitney…I need for you to do me a favor."

" Anything, Mom."

" I….I sort of lied to your Father, when he asked why I had fainted. But, I need for you to check up on something for me.I have to know if it was a bad dream, or if it was real. Simone has her laptop, right?"

" Yes."

" Go online, and find out what the major news stories are for today. Ok?"

" The news?", Whitney asks confused.

" The news."

" Ok, Mom.", Whitney says, giving her mother a kiss. " I'll go check the news."

As Whitney was about to leave, Simone came bursting into the room with a worried look on her face.

" Mom, are you ok? The baby?"

" Simone, the baby and I are doing just fine. I just need some rest."

" Simone, come on. Mom needs her rest."

Simone kissed her mother, and left with Whitney.

Once she was certain that her daughters were out of earshot, Eve leaned over and picked up the phone. She was about to dial, when she heard ,

" Honey, who are you calling?"