New Beginnings, Chapter 24
 
 

" You’re wrong, Eve. Chad can’t be Julian’s son."

" He is Julian’s son, and we have to talk about it."

" There’s nothing to talk about. If he’s that man’s bastard, then I want him out of our house."

" TC! You can’t be unreasonable like this."

" You think I’m being unreasonable. You tell me I have a CRANE living under my roof, and I’M unreasonable?"

" Yes, I do."

" He’s OUT of our house."

" Oh no, he’s not, TC."

" What did you say?"

" I said that the boy isn’t leaving. He has no reason to go. Julian didn’t raise him. He had no contact with the Cranes. He just has Julian’s blood, that’s all."

" That’s too much. If you think I’m going to allow my daughters to be around a Crane…"

" TC, you haven’t been looking at our daughters too closely, have you. Whitney and Simone aren’t going to abide by any such rules by you."

" I am their father!"

" And Chad, is their friend. All their lives, we have told them to judge people by their actions. If we now turnaround and tell them  that Chad’s off limits because of something he couldn’t help and had no control over, what would that make us?"

" Good parents."

" Wrong! TC, that young man is the same young man that you told me you adored just a couple of days ago. He hasn’t changed!"

" He’s JULIAN’S son! EVERYTHING has changed."

" No. TC….that young man can’t help anything that Julian has done. It’s not right. We both like Sheridan, and she was even RAISED with Julian. So, how can you possibly blame Chad for being Julian’s son."

" You can’t possibly think this is a GOOD thing."

" It’s not for me to determine good or bad. Facts are facts. We got to know him. Maybe if we hadn’t, we could turn our backs on him, and even then, it would be unfair and unjust. Chad is good young man. We can’t turn our backs on him."

" WE have to protect our family from all enemies. And, that means CRANES!"

" Don’t you talk to me about protecting MY children, TC! Don’t you stand there and lecture me about MY children!", Eve said with a coldness that TC’s never heard before.

" I am the head of this family, and it’s  my job to protect you, whether you like it or not!" With that TC left the room, slamming the door to both the bedroom, and then to the suite itself.

Eve broke down in tears, and soon she was joined by her daughters, who had heard everything. They hugged their mother and tried to comfort her through their own tears. Eve kissed both daughters, and looked them in the eyes and assured them,

" It’s going to be fine. He’ll cool off, and don’t worry. We won’t be kicking Chad out of our lives."

As she hugged her daughters, for the first time, Eve realized, in her heart, that she was beginning to accept facts: Chad was HER son by Julian. He was alive. Her tears grew, and though the girls thought the tears were for Chad, they had no idea why their mother was crying so hard.
 

" Julian, are you here?", Sheridan knocked on the door to the library. She heard music coming from inside.

" Yes, Sheridan.", Julian said quietly. Sheridan walked into the library and went over to the desk, stopping when she stood in front of Julian.

" This is Eve, isn’t it? I used to be outside of your room when I was a little girl, and I used to hear you listening to these tapes. It’s her, right?"

" Yes. This is Eve. Well, this has been quite a day."

" Yes, it has. I thought I should let you in on some more pertinent information."

" What is it?"

" Chad’s moved into the Lopez-Fitzgerald garage."

" What? When did this happen?"

" Today?"

" Why?"

" Chad doesn’t want to put the Russells in an awkward position."

" Pilar agreed to have MY son living at her house?"

" She agreed to have CHAD living at her house. She’s known Chad longer and better than you, and she knows what a wonderful young man he is. She wants him to have a place where he can feel comfortable."

" What about Luis? He hates all things Crane."

" Luis is too fair to judge Chad by a father he didn’t know existed until a couple of days ago. Luis is fine."

" Are you sure?"

" Yes. He told me so, and more importantly, he’s told CHAD so. He welcomed him, and told him that he could stay there for as long as he wanted."

" Well, I have to say that I’m relieved. I am afraid of TC’s reaction in all of this. And, anything that keeps my son safe, is a good thing."

" Agreed."

" Something else happened."

" Ooh, I forgot. Rebecca…how did it go?"

" Horribly. I was close to choking her, but thankfully Ivy came."

" Whoah…you’re thanking Ivy?"

" Yes. She came, and we discussed Chad. She guessed the reason for my confession, and we called Winston, Serena and Marina. "

" How was that?"

" The check’s in the mail to Marina."

Sheridan laughs. " It’s scary how much she reminds me of Father."

Hearing any reference to Alistair gave both of them the chills.

" What do you think he’s going to do, Julian?"

" I don’t know, Sheridan. But, you have to be prepared. The man will definitely be on attack. And since you’ve told me that Chad has moved, I have to call the security that I’ve hired for him and give them the Lopez-Fitzgerald’s address."

" Chad won’t like it."

" Too bad. The point is to help him stay alive. I can’t trust that Father won’t blow his top and do something rash. They have been instructed to keep their distance…so maybe he won’t notice."

" He might not. But, Luis.."

" Is a cop. Will you tell him to cooperate, Sheridan? Make him understand how important this is?", Julian said pleading.

" Ok. I will."

Julian gets a smile across his face. " Why don’t we go shopping?"

" Shopping?"

" For a housewarming gift for Chad."

" Julian….it’s too soon."

" I know….but, I want him to know that I’m concerned. A simple gift, chosen by your exquisite taste….and then we’ll leave."

Sheridan wants to talk Julian out of it, but, she can see that Julian just wants to SEE Chad, and has come up with this excuse.

" Ok. A simple gift, Julian. It’s going to be under $50.00."

" Do they sell things that  cost  less than $ 50.00?"

Sheridan laughs. " God, we are SUCH Cranes. We’re going to find one. Come on."

Sheridan pulls Julian out of his chair, and they leave the library.
 

" Sheridan, why are we stopping HERE?", Julian asked.

" To get the gift, silly. Come on."

Julian follows Sheridan into the shop.

" Hi Sheridan!", says a bright voice.

" Grace, how are you?"

" Doing fine." Grace turns to Julian. " Hello, Julian. I….I suppose congratulations are in order."

" Why thank you, Grace. I think so."

" Chad’s a terrific kid. I hope you come to realize that."

" I hope that I have the chance."

" Grace, we were looking for a housewarming gift for Chad. It has to be under $50.00. Is that a problem?"

" Absolutely not. If you look over there, in that corner, that’s my newest shipment. See if you see anything you like."

Sheridan goes towards the corner, and Julian is about to follow her, when Grace grabs ahold of Julian’s arm and backs him towards the other corner.

" Grace…what is going on?"

" Have you spoken to Eve?"

Julian stares at Grace for a couple of moments, and before he can say anything, she responds,

" Yes, Julian. I know that if Chad is your son, Eve is his mother."