Theresa and Chad started cleaning the house on the upper floors. Chad commented that they should be listening to music, and Theresa told him to call the Crane Mansion for a boom box and some CD’s.  He could barely put down the phone when a servant arrived with requested materials.

“ Damn, that was quick.”, Chad commented.

“ That’s what happens when you’re a Crane.”

Chad laughed. “ Yeah, I guess you’re right. Well, let’s get to it.”

They went back to cleaning.

Theresa took the master bedroom. She had finished the master bath, and was now on the bedroom itself.  It has a wall of windows, from ceiling to floor, cut off by what Theresa knew, in its prime was probably the favorite spot in the room – a windowseat. She swept the floors, and polished the wood paneling on the built in bookshelves, and then started on the windowseat. She pulled it up and cleaned it out. Playing around and dancing to the music she tapped the seat, and she heard a creak in the wood. Looking inside, Theresa saw that a door of some kind had opened. She opened the door and saw that there was another empty space there. She felt in the space, reaching her arm, but found nothing. Giving the space a final sweep, her hands felt something.

“ Chad…CHAD!”

Chad came running into the room.

“ What, ‘Resa.?”

” Come here.”

Chad went over to Theresa. “ What is that?”

” A secret hiding place.”, Theresa said with a smile on her face.

“ Theresa..”

” Chad, I felt something!”

” Theresa, it’s none of our business.”

” Chad, come on. It might be Crane secrets.”

” I don’t know.”

” You want to know your family. Your grandmother is part of that family.”

Chad looked at Theresa for a few moments, and then sighed.

” What to you want?”

“ Well, I need something like a hook. My arm isn’t quite long enough to get whatever’s hidden here.”

Chad came back with a makeshift hook, and Theresa took it and grabbed ahold of what was hidden. She finally got it out. Whatever was inside was covered by a beautiful scarf, with twine tying wrapping it around. They undid the twine and removed the scarf.

“ They’re….they’re books?”, Theresa commented.

“ No, diaries.”, Chad replied, thumbing through them. “ See, ‘Property of Katherine Crane’ on the inside cover.”

Chad studied them a bit more.

“ These…these began about 2 years before I was born, and the last one seems to be finished a month after I was born.”

Chad looked at Theresa.

” What should I do, Resa?”

” READ THEM!”

“ Theresa..”

“ Chad, there is a reason Katherine Crane hid them.”

” Yeah, because it was HER private business.”

” But, she hid them completely away from her family. There is a point to that.”

” Theresa..”

” Chad, the woman is as dead as she’ll ever be. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that YOU found them. After all, in ALL these years, NOBODY else was in this house? You know this could be considered..”

” If you say fate..”

Theresa smiled. “ Yes, I do say fate. Chad, of ALL the family members to find these diaries – it’s you. There’s a reason for it. Of ALL the time periods for these diaries to be about – it’s around the time of your parent’s relationship and your birth? Fate, my friend. You were meant to read these.”

Chad looked at them. “ I don’t know about that, but I do know is that I don’t want anyone else to know about them.”

” I won’t tell anyone.”

” Thanks. So, why don’t we finish up here. I can’t believe we’ve gotten it cleaned up here.”

” It’s ready for some furniture, so you can move in tonight.”

“ Tonight? Theresa, we can’t get furniture here today. It’s the afternoon already.”

” Chad, mere mortals can’t. But, leaving now, we can make it in time for you to select three different bedroom sets, and I know not only will they be delivered tonight, but all your furniture will be set up before you go to sleep.”

” Because I’m a Crane.”

” That’s how it works, Chad. Let’s go.”

Chad thought about it. “ It would be good to sleep in my own bed.”

Theresa took him by the arm. “ And, you know I’m a blackbelt shopper.”

” Indeed I do.”, Chad laughed. He picked up the diaries and put them in his backpack. He didn’t know what to do with them, but he wasn’t going to let them out of his sight.
 

Julian was looking over business contracts when he heard a knock on the door.

“ Come in.”

“ Hi Julian.”, Sheridan said.

“ Sheridan, I’m happy to see you.”

” You are?”

” Yes. You’re the only person I can talk to freely and trust with certain things. Would you take a walk with me?”

Sheridan nodded, and she and Julian left the Mansion and made it down to the gazebo. Sheridan had to admit, if only to herself, that she cherished this newfound closeness with Julian. She had ached for a family for so long, and though she knew her father’s love was never going to be possible, a bond with her brother was quite probable.

They took a seat next to one another.

“ So, Julian, what’s wrong?”

” I don’t know. Chad broke things off with Whitney today.”

” Broke things off?”

“ They had some semblance of a romantic relationship, before..”

“ Oh, I see. It must have been hard on both of them.”

” Yes, especially with the way in which Chad ended things.”

” How did he do that?”

” By acting like a Crane. He made sure that Whitney found him in bed with another woman.”

” Ouch. Having been in that situation, I can testify that it’s no fun.”

” I know. It gets worse.”

” How can it get worse?”

” Because the woman she found him with was Theresa, Whitney’s best friend.”

” LUIS’ SISTER?! Is Chad crazy? Do you remember what she did to Ethan? Julian, you have to talk..”

Julian put up his hand. “ Don’t waste your breath. I know how you feel about Theresa. That you’ve never forgiven her for what she did to Ethan. I know she’s not on your ‘people you like’ list. “

” No, she’s not.”

” Well, being a man, I guess I appreciate her ‘talents’ a bit more.”
Sheridan gave Julian a scornful face, and he laughed.

” She’s the kind of woman ONLY men can stand.”

Julian nodded. “ That’s quite true, and now she’s got her hooks into my son.”

” But, Julian…”

” No buts, Sheridan. Chad made it clear – Theresa is in his life, and everyone else better get used to it.”

” YOU KNOW she only wants him because he’s a CRANE!”

” Not fair, Sheridan. Though, I’m sure Theresa’s mind has calculated all the benefits of being with Chad with dollar signs in her eyes, the truth of the matter is, when Chad had nothing, Theresa was his friend. She only wanted his friendship. That counts for a lot with Chad. And, the truth of the matter is, Chad isn’t Ethan. He’s not naïve. He doesn’t think the world is a good place. He’s had it hard, and seen a lot of bad things. He has an instinctive connection with Theresa, and nothing you or I or anyone else can say about her is going to change his mind. It’s only going to alienate us from Chad, and that can’t happen. So, for the time being, WE’LL keep our mouths shut about Theresa – capiche?”

Julian looked at Sheridan intensely. She nodded reluctantly and mumbled. “ Ok.”

” Good. Well, I have another bit of information for you. I got Chad to move to the Crane Estate.”

” Chad’s moving into the Mansion?”

” I didn’t say the Mansion. I said the Estate. I’m letting him live in Mother’s Cottage.”

Sheridan looked as if she’d had the wind knocked out of her. She said nothing for a few minutes, getting up and walking around the gazebo. When she did speak up, all she could say is,

” Wow.”

Julian got up and went over to Sheridan. “ I…I didn’t mean to hurt you, Sheridan. You’ve been home for so long and never used it, and I wanted Chad to have a place near, where we could be there for him, where he could be protected from the vultures of the press, and I admit, I wanted him away from Theresa’s influence. But, you’re right, I should have spoken with you about it..it just came out of my mouth.”

” Julian, it’s ok. I’m glad Chad will be there. I know he’ll appreciate it, and we can get to know him better.”

“ That was my thinking. He was so upset, Sheridan. He was so angry with himself for coming up with the plan to hurt Whitney. He’s scared about…well, you know..”

” The  Crane in him? I understand. Julian, we will help him. This family thing is new for all of us, and we’ll help him. And, I’ll keep my tongue with regards to Theresa. Chad is more important.”

Julian leaned over and kissed Sheridan. “ Thank you. I also wanted to talk to you because I needed a favor from you.”

” Ok.”

” Neither Chad nor myself are that welcome at Casa Russell. Yet, I don’t want Eve to be out of the loop where Chad is concerned, so..”

” You want me to be the carrier pigeon?”

” You’re far prettier than that ugly fowl. How about you’re the United Nations.”

” I’ll accept that, and I’ll be your Ambassador, Julian.” Sheridan hugged her brother, who though stunned, reciprocated. “ I’m so happy, Julian. We’re building a family.”

“ I know, Sheridan. I know.”