New Beginnings, Chapter 34
 
 

" Do take another brandy, Julian. You'll need it.", Ivy said, smiling as she sat in the chair across from Julian's desk. Julian did as she instructed and got another brandy before he sat down.

" What do you want, Ivy?"

" I want to know how important is it for you to keep the identity of Chad's mother a secret?"

" I don't know what you mean, Ivy."

" Julian, cut the bullshit. I know that Chad's mother is Eve. I suspected it long before she did."

Julian looked at his wife. He was stunned.

" Yes, I put the pieces of the puzzle together a long time ago. The only thing that threw me off was the DNA test, but now, it's obvious that was forged by Alistair. "

Julian still looked at his wife, and realized that a bluff wouldn't do, because he didn't have any cards.

" What do you want, Ivy."

" Well, I see that you believe me and know that I know the truth. Ok Julian, I want two things. First, I want you to send Rebecwhore packing. I don't want that redheaded slut to step foot inside this Mansion. I want you to make it clear that you're not divorcing me. Call off your divorce lawyers. "

" And?"

" And, I want a trust set up for me within the next 30 days, Julian. The amount? Fifty million. Once you put the money in there, you can't touch it. It's mine."

" For what?"

" For putting up with your ass all these years. The money shouldn't be of concern to you."

" Why My Pet, you know that things are strained between me and Alistair right now."

" Don't lie to a liar, Julian. Though Alistair's bank is bigger than yours, there are only about several dozen people in the entire world who have a bigger bank than yours. Pleading poverty won't work for me, Julian. I KNOW how skillfull you've been with investing your own money. "

" Even so, fifty million is hard for anyone to pull out of  a hat. Even me."

" Well, start your magic tricks….or else."

" Or else, what?"

" Or else, that beautiful little dream that Chad has about being a big brother is going to go up in smoke, because make no mistake, once I go public about Eve's identity, the stress will cause her to miscarry."

" How can you be so cruel?"

Ivy laughed. " I've been married to you for HOW LONG, and you don't think it affected me? Come on, Julian. You have to do a risk analysis of this. Are you willing to take the risk that I might have a heart and won't say anything. Or, is a relationship with your son worth anything? I wonder what Chad would say to you once he found out that you had a deal on the table. That you could have stopped me, but didn't. What would he say to you?
Hmmmm……"

Julian looked at his wife, filled with rage, but Ivy had him. Right where she wanted him. If he didn't give into Ivy's demands, she would expose Eve, causing a chain of events that would more than likely result in miscarriage. Ivy was also right that Chad wouldn't understand why money was more important than keeping his mother's identity a secret. He would never forgive Julian for taking away his one chance at a loving, uncomplicated family relationship.  Julian knew what he had to do.

" Ok, Ivy. When do I get the papers?"

Ivy broke out into a huge smile. " I'll have my attorney draw up the papers. Bye Sugarplum." Ivy laughed as she skipped out of the Library. Julian went to get himself another drink.
 
 

Eve finished eating the soup that Grace had prepared. Grace took the tray down and returned with two cups of hot tea. Grace sat down at the foot of the bed.

" Eve, I can't wait anymore. How did things with Chad go?"

Eve put down her tea and began to cry. Grace put down her tea and went to hold her best friend.

" Honey? It was that bad?"

Eve shook her head. " It was marvelous. Oh Grace, I'm so happy, I could burst. I….I'm crying because I'm overwhelmed. For over 20 years Grace, I've had the same dream. I've had the same longing - for my baby to be alive. For some miracle to have happened. And now, it has! Grace, he's come home to me. He's come back to me. It's real, and yet, now, I think it's a dream."

Grace smiled at Eve. " It's no dream. He was here. The two of you talked, and from your reaction, it must have gone well."

" It did. He was so accepting. So forgiving. I…..I looked into his face, and I saw the missing part of my soul."

With that, Grace began to cry too.  " So, when  are you going to tell TC and the girls?"

" I'm not."

Grace looked at Eve with confusion. " Why not?"

" Can you believe that Chad doesn't want me to?"

" Why?"

" He found out about the baby, Grace. He told me that he wants a sibling. He wants at least one uncomplicated family relationship. "

" That makes sense."

" I know. I know. But, it's going to be so hard, Grace. On the one hand, I love my baby, but…."

" Chad is your son, too. Your baby. Your first baby."

" Exactly. I am so happy right now, I could cry."

" Eve….if TC and the girls found out.."

" They would feel so betrayed. They would be so disappointed in me. I'm being realistic, Grace. I know that they would probably leave me."

" And, what would THAT do to the baby?"

" More stress than I'm supposed to have."

" Exactly. So, Chad has made the right decision. You keep quiet until after the baby is born. And, you'll be able to have ALL of your children."

" Grace…it's so hard. I want to tell everyone why I'm so happy!"

" Well, you can talk to me about it."

" You have NO idea how good it is to be able to be with someone who understands the difficulty of the situation."

" Eve…it's only a little while longer. You've waited years to have another child with TC. This is probably your last chance."

" I know. This baby is a miracle. "

" Then, you have to do everything you can to make sure that the miracle comes into the world. Don't risk it. Ever!"

Eve nodded. " I'm going to need support, every once in awhile."

" And, you have it. You'll always have it."

Eve and Grace hugged. There was a knock on the door. The two of them looked towards the door and they saw a huge stuffed bear in the doorway. Eve and Grace laughed.

" TC?", Eve asked.

" Sorry, but will the godfather do?", Sam said, smiling as he brought the bear in the room.

" I thought you two were going tools shopping.", Grace said as she hugged Sam.

" Well, you know….tool store….toy store…they both begin with 't'."

Eve shook her head. " How bad did TC do?"

" I think he showed considerable restraint considering he wanted to buy out the store."

The three of them laughed.

" Where is he hiding his stash."

" In the garage. You're not supposed to notice.", Sam said.

Eve shook her head. " I won't. Grace, why don't you fix the guys something to eat. I could use a little rest."

Grace nodded, and led Sam out of the room. Eve turned off the light, and thought about the events of the day.
 

Theresa was wondering about Chad and Whitney. She had kept a lookout for Chad and when he finally arrived back to his apartment, she was pleased. She was concerned that he had been with Whitney.

Theresa knocked on Chad's door. He opened it to a darkened apartment.

" Chad?"

" Hi Resa."

" What's wrong?"

Chad answered Theresa as he pulled her inside of the apartment, closed the door behind her, and kissed her hard. Theresa was surprised, but pleased, as she responded in kind. By the time they reached the bed, half their clothing littered the floor.