New Beginnings, Chapter 63

Julian was looking over some contracts when his special cellphone that only one person knew the number to rang.

” Hello, Eve.”

” Julian…we need to talk.”

” I thought you’d be calling.”

” A lot of things have been going on with our son.”

” Yes, they have.”

” Oh Julian..”

“ Eve, I’m home!”. Eve heard TC yell.

” Julian, I have to go. TC is home. Call Grace and tell her the time. Bye.”

Theresa was setting the table for dinner when Chad came up behind her, putting his arms around her waist.

” Hey Beautiful.”

” Hey yourself. I thought you’d be working late. You staying for dinner?”

” Nope. And neither are you. We’re going to celebrate.”

” Celebrate? What?”

” Well, the utterly fabulous gift I got for you.”

Theresa turned around to look at Chad. “ What gift?”

” I’m not telling. You’re a smart girl. Find it.”

Theresa began looking all over the dining room, then the kitchen, then the living room. As she was about to go upstairs, something outside caught her eye. She ran to the door, opened it and stared, “ Oh my God.”

“ You like it.”

Theresa began jumping up and down and repeating ‘ Oh My God’. She jumped all around  it. She began to walk cautiously towards Chad’s gift.

” A Range Rover. Top of the line, fully decked out, GPS, CD player. DVD player. Everything you could want is in this car.”

” Chad, I don’t get it. I mean, I know you make a nice salary from Crane Industries, but..”

Chad kissed Theresa. “ No buts. I have a lot to tell you. So, you ready to take a ride?”, Chad asked, dangling the keys in front of Theresa. She grabbed the keys and yelled out, “ MAMA! MAMA, COME HERE!”

Pilar came from the kitchen. “ Dios Mio. Is this your new car, Chad? It’s pretty.”

” No, Mama. It’s not Chad’s new car. It’s MINE! Chad bought it for me.”

” For you?”

” Yes, Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald, I got it for Theresa. She was always taking her old car into the repair shop, and I thought she could use some new wheels.”

” Isn’t it wonderful, Mama?”, Theresa asked as she ran into the house. In a split second she was back with her purse. “ We’re going to take it out for a spin, Mama. See you later.”

” A gift? Geesh. Mama…”

Theresa and Chad wound up at a wonderful Country Inn for dinner.

” Chad, why did you get it for me?”

” Because, one, you deserve it, and more importantly, I could afford it.”

” Chad, you’re only a mid-level executive at Crane Industries now. I know how much a Range Rover cost.”

“ I told you, it’s been quite a day. I guess I should tell you about it. I went to see Julian at the Mansion. When I got there, a strange man was there. His name is Phipps, and he’s my private banker. She knew, Resa.”

” A trust fund? You sure it was her?”

” Yep. She set up a blind trust years ago. The beneficiary’s name wouldn’t be revealed for years. Only a couple of months ago did Julian find out it was me. My grandmother knew about me.”

” Things?”

” Yeah. She told me to tithe. To give to others. So, I’m making a list of 12 charities. Each month, I’m going to pay ten percent of my monthly income to it.”

” That sounds good.”

” I asked my mother if she needed anything. She said not now.”

“ I can’t wait.”