Our Last Chance – Chapter 7

Eve rummaged through the contents of the refrigerator commenting, “Everything’s still cold because this door hasn’t been opened.”

Julian leaned against the kitchen counter. The domesticity of the scene stirred him. Eve preparing dinner. The simplicity of the event.

Luis came into the kitchen. “Sheridan is sleeping.”

Eve said, “If she’s doing this well in the morning, we can go back to Harmony. Julian, will you be able to get that machine up the drive? We can’t drag Sheridan and the baby through the snow.”

Julian answered, “The snow won’t melt off by morning.” He saw the opportunity to prolong their time. Being near her, part of her world. Bittersweet.

Luis said, “If there’s a snow shovel around here some place I can clear the drive well enough.”

Julian shrugged, “I have no idea if there’s a shovel.”

Luis looked at him scornfully. Of course, Julian Crane had never lifted a snow shovel.

A loud metallic banging came from behind the cabin. Eve dropped a plate as she reacted, startled. Luis threw the back door open. Julian protectively brought Eve into his arms. Luis stepped out into the snow and spotted a raccoon digging through the garbage of the over turned can. He chuckled as he said, “Raccoon.” But, the humor died on his lips as he turned back to the kitchen and witnessed the intimacy between Julian and Eve.

Eve looked up at Julian as he soothed her. She said, “Guess I’m jumpy.”

Julian replied, “It’s been a stressful day. It’s understandable.” Julian still held her in his arms, but Eve pulled away from him as her eyes met Luis’s over Julian’s shoulder.

Self-consciously, she turned back to the counter with her back to both men. Her voice trembled when she tried to comment nonchalantly, “There must be a lot of animals foraging.”

Luis answered, looking at Julian. “Yeah, animals.” Luis exited the kitchen.

Eve immediately turned to Julian. “Luis saw us.”

Julian accepted Luis’s observation. “He won’t say anything to TC if that’s your concern.”

Trying to convince herself, Eve said, “Luis would never stir up trouble. Maybe you should tell him about Antonio.”

“Buy his silence. I don’t think that’s necessary, Eve.”

“You shouldn’t be in here alone with me.”

Julian returned to the great room. He donned his coat and said to Luis, “I’ll look in the shed for a snow shovel.”

A few minutes later Eve came out of the kitchen. “Where’s Julian?”

“Looking for a shovel.”

Eve saw the speculation in Luis’s expression. “Luis, I need to explain.”

“Eve don’t say anything that I don’t want to know.”

“There’s a lot that I can’t explain.”

“Does TC know?”

“No, he’d kill Julian if he knew there’d ever been anything between us.”

This was more than Luis wanted to hear. “It’s none of my business, and TC won’t hear any ridiculous gossip from me.”

“Ridiculous,” Eve agreed. She turned back to the kitchen.

The next morning Eve examined Sheridan while Luis and Julian worked to bring their vehicles up to the cabin. Eve said, “You’re doing far better than I expected, but when we get back to Harmony I want to check you into the hospital for several days.”

Sheridan answered, “Good. I don’t think that I’m ready to face Antonio at the cottage yet.”

Eve explained very quietly that Julian had told her Antonio would be gone.

Tears formed in Sheridan’s eyes. The slightest emotion, even looking into little LJ’s face, made her emotional. But, knowing that she wouldn’t see Antonio was a mix of relief and regret. She asked, “Why would Julian ...”

Eve didn’t try to explain. She knew that Julian was trying to make amends, but she didn’t know all that he had done to Sheridan and Luis.

Eventually the drive was cleared enough for Luis to drive his SUV to the door. He parked along side Julian’s Hummer. They began the long drive back to Harmony. Luis led with Sheridan and LJ, followed by Julian with Eve.

Before they reached the main road, Sheridan told Luis that Antonio would be gone. Luis was silent for a long time. Finally, he said, “This proves it. Julian was behind Antonio leaving all those years ago. What I don’t get is why he let him stay this long. And, why run him off now?”

Sheridan speculated, “Is it possible that Julian is helping us?”

Luis responded, “I don’t trust him, and I don’t need his interference with Antonio.”

“Luis, I only want our life with our son. I’m grateful that you won’t have to fight your brother. Think what it would have done to your mother. Let alone what it would do to us.”

Luis was silent. His emotions boiled when he thought of Antonio knowing about Sheridan and him all this time. If his brother had ever loved Sheridan, he wouldn’t have blocked her happiness. Luis knew that for his own part, he’d been willing to give her up if Antonio made her happy. Damn Antonio. What did Julian have on him? He’d said that he knew his brother better than he did. The old suspicions stirred in Luis. He knew Julian and Alistair were behind his father’s disappearance too. The lines in Luis’s forehead deepened as he considered the Crane men and what they’d done to the Lopez-Fitzgeralds. LJ wakened and Sheridan made soft maternal sounds. The lines in Luis’s expression eased.

When they arrived in Harmony, Sheridan and LJ checked into the hospital. Julian returned to the Crane mansion. He poured a brandy and sat in his study. The time with Eve had been a soul-searching slice of time for Julian, tinged by the consequences of past decisions. If only they could go forward based on the depth of their mutual understanding. The connection between them belied their years of separation. It belied the wrongs of their past. More than ever, Julian was determined to locate their son. No matter what Eve said, Julian knew that finding their son was the key to their future. Eve had said it herself, “A child is a bond that cannot be denied.” He stared into his empty glass and grimaced. TC would never accept that Eve had a son with him. Was she prepared for her marriage to end? The marriage was built on years of deception.

Julian walked to his desk and prepared to lift the phone receiver to contact the investigator who was searching for their son. He stopped mid-thought when the phone rang. Pressing the speaker button, the voice of Alistair Crane boomed into the room. “Julian, you fool. Your sister is back with Luis. Thanks to your blundering interference.”

“Father, I don’t know why you’d assume that I had any part in this.”

“Antonio’s exit has your dirty fingerprints all over it, Julian. Are you prepared to accept the consequences? Luis is determined to bring us down. You couldn’t leave well enough alone. What inspired you to send Antonio packing? Trying to impress your doctor? Well, Eve Russell be damned. I’d never allow her or her spawn to taint the Crane name. You’ve defied me, Julian.” Alistair Crane continued to rant. “Responsibility has never been your cup of tea. Has it? Well, this time your stupidity has gone too far. Drink up, Julian, you’ll need your strength even if it comes from a bottle.”

“I suppose you know, Father, that Sheridan gave birth to a son.”

The room was silent and Alistair Crane clicked off. Julian shrugged. Amazingly, his father’s voice, threats, ultimatums didn’t strike fear into his heart as it had all his life. A passing thought made a smile flit across his features. Julian anticipated that Alistair would move beyond this when he considered that Sheridan had given him a new heir, a Crane heir, fathered by Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. Julian’s face broke into a grin. He muttered, “I’ll be damned.” He’d heard Alistair comment on more than one occasion that Luis would be admirable if he weren’t his nemesis. Julian’s grin widened. Alistair Crane was going to accept this, and by damned, he’d be pleased with the outcome. He sure as hell didn’t want a grandson sired by Antonio.

Harmony Hospital was astir. Security clamped down on the maternity and nursery wings as directives began to pour in from Alistair Crane. He made a personal call to Eve Russell to inquire after the health of his grandson. During the call, Eve mentioned that Julian had given blood to Sheridan. Alistair guffawed. Then his laughter abruptly ended. He stated, “Blood. That’s all that counts.”

Later Eve considered the comment. It struck her that if her child were alive, Alistair Crane knew his whereabouts. As if in tandem, standing alone in his study, Julian Crane had the same thought. The all-knowing Alistair held the key to his child with Eve. How could he circumvent his father on this? If Alistair didn’t want the child’s existence known, finding him would be impossible.

The second day of Sheridan’s stay at the hospital, a nurse rushed into her room. She said to Luis and Sheridan, “Alistair Crane is arriving within the hour. The hospital is in lock down mode. Until he personally approves our security, no one goes come in or leaves.” The nurse scurried from the room after dropping her bombshell.

Sheridan shifted in her bed to face Luis. “I don’t understand. Other than Ethan, my father has never shown any interest in his grandchildren. After he learned that Ethan didn’t carry a drop of Crane blood, Ethan was dead to him. It was cruel. He’s never had any interest in Fox. And, you wouldn’t believe the way he runs roughshod over Julian. You have no idea the conversations I’ve been privy to.”

Luis stated firmly, “When he arrives, I’ll inform him that his interest in our child is unwelcome. In no way will he be part of LJ’s life.” Luis’s back stiffened. His desire to protect his family surpassed his good judgment.
 

Sheridan begged, “No, don’t challenge him. We don’t want a power struggle over LJ. I think he’ll lose interest quickly. LJ is only a baby.”

Luis asserted loudly, “I will not let your father run roughshod over me.”

Sheridan pulled his hand to her. “Please, Luis, this one time, listen to me. The Crane men don’t fight fair. This is a fight we don’t want.”

Luis jerked his hand from her. “What we don’t want is for my son to become a Crane,” he snarled. “It’s not going to happen. I won’t allow it.”

Sheridan flared at him. “He’s my son too, and he has Crane blood.” Sheridan couldn’t help it. She’d always craved her father’s attention. Had she finally produced something that made her worthy in his eyes?

Luis paced the room with clinched fists. Two orderlies pushed through the door. “Alistair Crane has arrived. The chief of staff has taken him to the nursery. He brought a truck from FAO Schwartz in New York City. They’re carrying in items now for your son.”

Sheridan gasped, “A truck?” Luis growled and his eyes flashed fire.

Crane’s entourage began a parade of toys and nursery accessories into Sheridan’s room. Sheridan squealed with delight over a huge teddy bear. Luis’s face darkened. He took a deep breath and approached the bed. Lifting her hand, looking into her eyes, he tried to reason with her. “Sheridan, we don’t want him in our son’s life. We don’t want any of this.” He turned and eyed the mountain of stuffed animals filling the room.

Sheridan said, “Please, Luis, please let me enjoy this.”

Luis bowed his head. It was so hard to deny her plea. She was starved for her father’s approval. It was a void that he could never fill. Didn’t she see that this would only be the beginning of Alistair’s intrusion into LJ’s life?