New Beginnings, Chapter 21
 

" Well, Julian, I'm glad to know someone was in the loop. Cause it sure in hell wasn't me.", Rebecca fumed.

" I'm going back to the Cottage. ", Sheridan said on her way to the door.

Once Sheridan was gone, Rebecca began.

" Julian, what is wrong with you?"

" Excuse me?"

" Confessing to be that Chad person's father on national TV? What were you thinking?"

" His name is Chad Harris, and he is my son."

" Julian, but, why  'embarrass' yourself  like that? What is your motivation?"

" Embarrass myself, Rebecca? What ever do you mean?"

" Julian….you know…..he's……well, he's….not one of us."

" I don't get it."

" The hell you don't, Julian. You should know better. You know what 'our set' thinks about things like this. There are ways for this to be dealt with, and you didn't follow it."

" Oh, and what was I supposed to do, Rebecca?"

" Why buy him off, of course? Pay him a little hush money, so that he could get out of the ghetto."

Julian wanted to leap across the couch and strangle her, but, he kept calm.

" Julian, I am your fiance. You are supposed to discuss things with me. If you had, I certainly would have come up with a better solution that what you did. "

" Rebecca, Chad is MY son. He has nothing to do with you. So, whatever I do with regards to him is none of your concern." Julian's tone was as icy as he could muster. Rebecca noted it, and realized that she crossed a line. It was time to backtrack.

" But, Pookie, I was just trying to help you. Whatever makes you look good. That's my only concern."

" My son is NOT your concern. None of my children are.", Julian said coldly.

" Well, we finally agree on something Julian."

Julian and Rebecca turned to see Ivy standing in the doorway.
 

" Baby, who are you calling?", TC asked.

" Calling? Umm..room service, of course. I didn't get to eat. I thought they could bring up some food for us."

" You don't worry about that. You get some rest. In fact, I'm going to unplug the telephone, so that you don't have to worry about it disturbing you. " Eve watched in terror as TC unplugged the telephone and took it with him out of the bedroom. " Don't worry about room service. I'll call for us. You rest until it gets here."

TC closed the door, and Eve fan her fingers through her hair. She had to talk to Julian. But, she wouldn't call until Whitney came back with the information. Maybe she had heard wrong. Maybe Julian didn't confess to being Chad's father. All she could do was sit and wait. Her entire life could be changing, and she have no control over it. She pulled the covers up on her. She thought about what could be happening. The tears began to fall from her eyes. If it was possible that she could get her baby son back after all these years, she didn't know what to do. The tears were ones of frustration and joy. She hoped Whitney would be back soon.
 

" What are you doing, Whitney?", Simone said, coming over to her sister's bed, where she was looking on the laptop.

" Mom asked me to look up the news for today."

" Why?"

" I don't know. I guess when I get to it, I'll know."

Whitney clicked on the browser and went to the local TV station for Harmony's web site.

In bold letters, plain as day, she  was stunned.

" Whitney, is THAT for real?"

Whitney and Simone were looking at the screen, where the headline read:
 

Julian Crane Admits Paternity of Chad Harris

They read the article, and couldn't believe it. So, then, they went over to the Harmony Herald web site, and saw the same story.

They went to several other web sites, and they had the same news. They downloaded the TV interviews and saw for themselves Julian admitting paternity of Chad Harris. Simone and Whitney kept on and on, until they had read or scene the story from 10 different news sources.

They were quiet the entire time, and finally, Whitney spoke:

" The bartendar said that Mom was watching TV before she passed out. Do you think that THIS is what she saw?"

" Whitney, it has to be. Can you believe it?"

" No, Simone. We've been looking at this for over a half-hour, and I don't believe it."

" No wonder Mom was so upset. You know how fond she and Daddy are. To find out that he's…."

" Julian Crane's SON? Simone, HOW?"

" Says that Mr. Crane had a relationship with another woman all those years ago."

" Simone, we all know Julian Crane's reputation. The man is a pig. But, to be Chad's father?"

" Oh, Whitney! Poor Chad. Do you think he knows about it? Do you?"

" If he did, he didn't know before we left for the tournament. What kind of man would tell the whole world that he fathered Chad?"

" I dunno. This sounds crazy."

" But, it has to be true, Simone. Why would all these media outlets have it. We SAW Julian's face utter the words. Yet, it's unreal."

" I know. All this time, Chad's been looking for his parents, and at least his father was right there in Harmony."

" Well, I guess we better tell Mom that she wasn't imagining things. Chad Harris is Julian Crane's son. Oh, Simone, how are we going to tell Daddy?"

Simone shrugged her shoulders.
 

" Ivy, you're not wanted here. I'm talking to my fiance.", Rebecca snarled.

" No, Rebecca, YOU don't understand. I need to talk to MY husband about how we're going to deal with this situation, with regards to OUR children."

" YOUR children. You don't give a damn about any of them, except for Ethan, and everyone knows HE's not Julian's."

Ivy glared at Rebecca and was about to respond when Julian spoke up,

" Rebecca, Ivy is right. We have things to discuss."

" Julian.."

" Rebecca, leave."

Rebecca wasn't happy about it, but, she would leave them alone. Ivy would make some antagonistic move towards Julian, and make him happy to see her later when she would welcome him with open arms.

Once the door was closed and they were sure that Rebecca was gone, Ivy spoke up,

" Julian…"

" I know, Ivy. I didn't tell you. I had my reasons."

" To protect Chad by exposing him."

Julian looked at Ivy, and she smiled back at him.

" Julian, we've been married for forever. You don't think I know how the Cranes work? Puleeze, I have a PhD in this family. I can envision the situation. You tell Alistair that you know about your son, and Alistair probably threatened him. Knowing that Alistair works in the shadows, you expose Chad to the world, thus giving him protection from his grandfather. How close am I to the truth?"

" Frightfully close."

" From my point of view, it was a brilliant and successful strategy."

Julian looked at Ivy. He's not used to her complimenting him.

" One can only hope."

" Do you want me to tell the kids about Chad?"

" I don't know. I think maybe this is something we can do together. I doubt they'll be happy about it."

" Oh, I don't know. Winston won't be happy, of course. Chad being older makes him the Heir, doesn't it?"

" Yes."

" So, of course, he's not going to be happy about it. Serena will probably like Chad once she gets to know him. With her bohemian ideas, she would be most receptive of him. Now Marina, well…..don't hold your breath."

Julian laughed. " No, I don't think I shall."

Ivy laughed along with him.

" So, let's make the calls Julian."

Julian begins with their son, stationed in London.