Sheridan opened the door to her cottage and saw Luis there.

“ Luis! I thought you had to work.”

” I do. But, I switched hours with Smith so that I could have a nice breakfast with you.”

Sheridan smiled. “ We haven’t spent a lot of time together lately.”

” I know. But, I have to work, and you, well you’ve been very busy with your ‘ family’.”

Sheridan frowned. “ Luis, you know that I love you. But, I love my family too.”

“ Sheridan, do you know how scared I am that you actually think you have a family.”

” Luis, I don’t want to fight with you, but you have to respect my feelings about this. I’m so happy about this, and you being unhappy only disappoints me.”

Luis sighed. “ Let’s table this and enjoy one another. My instincts are to protect you. I love you so much. “

“ I love you, too. Luis, one of these days, you’re going to understand things. See it my way.”

Luis kissed Sheridan.
 

Julian got the call from Crane Security that TC had left for work.

He knocked on the door, and Whitney answered.

“ Mr. Crane?”

“ Hello, Whitney. I came to talk about Harmony Hospital business.”

” My mother’s on leave.”

” I know that, but she was working on several projects, and I wanted to get them all cleared up so that they can be finished.”

” Oh…well, my Dad is gone to work.”

” I won’t take up too much of her time.”

Whitney got a cellphone call. “ Oh no.”

” What is it?”

” My professor wants to go over my term paper with me. She has to leave town because of a family emergency, and this is the only time she has to talk to me.”

” Well then, go. I’ll stay with your mother. “

” I don’t know…..”

“ It would be my pleasure.”

” Well, if you’re here, you can wait until Mrs. Bennett comes over, I guess.”

” I won’t leave until Grace comes. “

“ Thanks, Mr. Crane.”, and Whitney leaves.

Julian goes upstairs and knocks on the door.

“ Whitney, you don’t have to knock, Sweetheart.”

“ It’s not Whitney.”

Eve looks up to see Julian.

“ Julian, what are you doing here?”

“ I came to visit you, Eve.”

“ Why?”

” Did you want tea or not. Whitney had left this downstairs.”, Julian motioned to the tea set in his hands.

” Yes, I did want tea.”

Julian fixed a cup for Eve, remembering how she liked it, and fixed himself one.

Eve took a sip of her tea. “ So, how are you here? And, where is Whitney?”

“ Whitney got a call from her professor. She went to meet her, and I told her that I would stay with you until Grace came.”

” And, you risked TC being here?”

” Um, no.”

“ Do I want to know how  you knew he wouldn’t be here?”

” Um, no.”

Eve looked at Julian and took another sip of tea. “ Sheridan came by yesterday.”

” I know. I asked her too. But, I haven’t had the chance to see her for a report.”

” Well, I’m glad she didn’t have the chance to give you a report. It’s past time that you and I talked.”

“ Good. So, talk.”

“ How is our son. Really, Julian, how is he?”

Julian thought about his answer. “ I think he’s coping, Eve. Better than coping. Our son is a wonderful young man. I think he’s accepting me. That he wants a relationship with me.”

Eve smiled. “ Do you know how much you light up when you talk about him?”

“ I have some idea. He’s a good man. Far better than I could ever be, and I feel honored that he’s allowing me in his life. He’s had a rough time as of late.”

” You mean when he decided to hurt Whitney using Theresa.”

” Yes. He is very scared about what he did to Whitney. That he came up with the plan, and that he executed it with precision.”

” Like a Crane would…”, Eve said with a sigh.

“ Yes, like a Crane would.”

” What did you tell him?”

“ That he did what was necessary. Whitney had to move on, and so did he. He couldn’t let her think that they could have a life together. That would be cruel. Better now, than months from now, when..”

” When I have my baby. Are you doubting me, Julian? “

“ No, Eve. I don’t doubt you. But, I wonder if you realize that you’re going to be putting everything on the line. You’ll have a brand new baby, and your family…”

” Will NOT be complete until I can claim Chad as my son.”

“ Eve, I’m sorry about all of this.”

” Why?”

” If we hadn’t become involved..”

” Then, I wouldn’t have Chad. I’m not apologizing for Chad. EVER. And, neither should you.”

” Oh, I don’t. I pinch myself sometimes..knowing that the son we thought was dead all those years is alive and well. “

Eve had tears in her eyes. “ I agree with you. Chad is the full embodiment of our relationship. Of …”

” Our love?”

Eve looked at Julian. “ Yes, of our love. “

Eve and Julian looked at one another. Julian reached out to hold her hand, and  Eve let him.

Eve looked down at the blanket. “ Everything is so complicated.”

Julian picked up her hand and kissed it. “ My love for you isn’t complicated. It’s very much a part of my life.”

“ Julian, I have to concentrate on having a successful pregnancy. Everything else has to second behind it.”

“ I understand.”

Wanting to change the subject, Eve asked. “ Chad’s living on the Crane Estate?”

“ Yes.”

” How did you swing that?”

“ I offered him my mother’s Cottage.”

” I didn’t even know your mother had a Cottage.”

” Yes. It was her private place, and it’s hidden from view for the most part.”

” Why would Chad want to leave Pilar’s?”, she asked, knowing the answer, but wanting confirmation.

“ Because, as I explained to my son, Pilar is an old-fashioned woman, and I didn’t think she’d appreciate him dating her daughter under what is extensibly, her roof.”

” So, he IS dating Theresa.”

” They’re sleeping together.”

” I know…the Whitney situation. But, Chad wouldn’t use Theresa like that. If he’s sleeping with her, there must be a great deal between them.”

” I just don’t understand..”

” Theresa was his friend, Julian. And now they’ve bonded. Like I told Sheridan, I know how the Crane feel about Theresa, but you better get over it. Now.”

“ You’re a fan of Theresa, aren’t you?”

” I know that she didn’t deserve the treatment she’s gotten from the Cranes, and I know that if my son says she’s in his life, I could imagine far worse for him.”

” So, you’re going to support him dating her?”

” Yes, I will. Chad is a Crane, Julian. He needs someone who will love him for himself.”

Julian snorted. “ You don’t think Theresa cares that Chad is a CRANE?”

” I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt. And, if you want to keep your relationship with our son, you’ll keep your skepticism to yourself.”

Julian saluted Eve. “ Yes, M’am!”

Eve laughed. “ Don’t be a smartass, Julian. Our son needs us. I am counting on you to use this time with him to grow your relationship. He will need you as a rock when the next wave of paternity revelations happen.”

“ Don’t worry about me, Eve. I won’t let anyone come between me and my son. I will protect him and you. You have my vow on that.”

“ Is that why Ivy is still at the Mansion?”

” I had to give into her blackmail, and I gladly did it. “

“ How much did that cost you?”

“ Nothing that will hurt. Nothing meant more to me than protecting our son. And you. I’ve lived with Ivy in a loveless marriage for years. It’s nothing new to me.”

“ Julian..”

” I won’t ruin your happiness, Eve. And, I am going to do everything I can to make things up to our son. It’s my top priority.”

Eve reached our and put her hand gently on Julian’s face. “ I believe you, Julian. I know that you’ll protect us.”

Julian kissed her hand, and they both smiled.