Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 20
 

Chad looked at Julian with confusion, then, he took a harder look at the woman in the chair.

" Yes, that's your mother.", Julian replied.

" But…how….when….what the HELL is going on here?", Chad demanded, confusion running through his voice.

" The when is a little over four months ago. How? Do you really have enough NERVE to ask that question? The how is that your mother couldn't handle the abandonment of everyone that she loved. So, something snapped, and this is where she is…for now."

Chad shook his head, and had his hand run over his face, trying to comprehend everything that Julian was saying. They stood there for a few moments, and then, just as Chad was about to speak, Julian cut him off.

" It's time for my visit with her. Considering the mood that you're in, I would prefer if you didn't come over during my time with her. "

Chad nodded his head in agreement, and watched as Julian went over to Eve. He sat down on the grass and watched Julian visit Eve. When he had been there a few minutes, someone came over to him.

" Hello. May I help you?"

Chad looked up at the man, and said, " No. I'm cool."

" Are you a 'guest' here, or a visitor?"

Chad lifted his eyebrow at the man. " Hell no, I ain't no guest. I'm visiting one of your 'guests'. Funny term- guest. Like these folks have a say as to whether they should be here or not."

" Well, patient upsets some of them. Since I see that you're quite interested in that couple over there, I am going to take a guess and say that you know Eve?"

Hearing her name, Chad let some of the hostility towards the man lessen. " Yeah, I know her. She's…….she's my mother."

" Well, one of her children. I was under the impression that nobody knew that Eve was here, considering that the only visitor she's had has been Mr. Crane."

" I don't mean to be rude, but, before I say anymore, who the hell are you?", Chad asks.

" Kevin Collins.", he replies as he extends his hand for Chad to shake, which he does. " I'm your mother's therapist."

" Ok. Can you tell me what's wrong with her?"

" I don't understand. I thought Mr. Crane would have told you."

" My….my father hasn't told me 'jack'. We just got in his car, wound up here, and he pointed to her. I thought she had skipped town."

" No. She's been a patient of mine for over 4 months now."

" Is she getting better?"

" I don't know."

" What do you mean, you don't know? What kind of a quack are you? Four months, and you don't know?"

" Your mother has been noncommunicative since the moment she arrived."

" English please."

" She hasn't spoken a word since her arrival here."

" Nothing? Well, she must talk to him.", Chad points to Julian.

" No. From what I observe between the two of them, your father does all the talking, and she says nothing. "

" He's been her only visitor? She must have been lonely, having only him when he can 'fit her in' to his schedule."

" I don't think you understand. Your father has been a most consistent presence in her life here. He's been very solid with her. He hasn't missed a day since she arrived."

Chad didn't know what to think. "Wait…..are you telling me that he comes to see her all the time?"

" Everyday, around this time. Like clockwork. The only reason I have any hope for your mother's recovery is because I see more involvement from her when it comes to her exercise. Good or bad, the human contact with your father is what she needs. He's become her 'safe place'. Someone that she knows she can depend upon no matter what."

" You say that she doesn't speak. That's not normal. What is it going to take to bring her out of it. There's nothing wrong with her mind, is there?"

" No. Unlike other cases, where you can see a complete disassociation from reality by the patient, I don't get that feeling with your mother. Her mind is always working. She's always thinking something, and I think that those thoughts are very coherent. She just isn't speaking. She hasn't decided to completely retreat into the corners of her mind. She's on the edge, though I do believe that the longer this continues, the more chance there is that she just might decide to walk away from her sanity and not come back."

Chad let that sink in before asking, " Is there anything that I can do?"

" I think Eve having as much contact with people from the outside who care about her helps a great deal. I'm sorry, but, I have to go. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Harris."

It was a couple of minutes before Chad had realized that he had never given Dr. Collins his name. Man knew all along who he was. He had been played, but, Chad didn't care about that right now. His eyes focused back on Eve and Julian.
 

" Well, Eve, that's what's going on in the world today.", Julian says as he folds up the newspaper. They sit for a few moments in silence before Julian admits, " I didn't come alone today. I brought someone here with me, Eve. Our son."

Eve still didn't move.

" I don't know if that was the right decision. It was sort of a split-second deal for me. But, he thought you were cavorting somewhere on an island, and I was so tired of hearing the judgement of you in his voice. I just wanted to shut him up. So, I brought him here. I guess I'm trying to trust him, and build a relationship based on the truth. I'm not going to have him see you. Not before I'm sure about what his intentions are. If he's just going to rake you over the coals, you don't need anymore grief. "

Julian got up and kissed her hand. " Well, it's time for me to leave. I'm sure I'll have something very interesting to tell you tomorrow. Wish me luck."

Julian walked away from Eve and went to Chad.

" Well, how is she?"

" Do you even care?"

" What the fuck do you mean, do I even care?"

" I think it's an honest question. After all, you couldn't piece together an entire positive sentence about your mother just a few hours ago, and now, I'm supposed to believe that you actually give a damn about her?"

" Who the hell are you?"

" I'm the one who found her when she was broken. I'm the one who held her after she was thrown away like garbage by everyone she loved. You know, I halfway expected nothing less from you with regards of your treatment of me: after all, it was my father that hurt you, and guilt by association. But, everyone involved told you how your mother felt about you, and what did you do? You spat in her face and banished her. So, pardon me if I happen to believe that this sudden display of concern is phony to the core. ", Julian said coldly.

Chad wanted to come back with some smartass reply, but, there was none. What Julian said had been the truth. When Eve had come to him, begging him to hear her side of things, he had been crueler to her than to anyone in his life. He shuddered as he remembered their last conversation, and the tears in Eve's eyes. Her eyes. Without really knowing what he was doing, he wandered over to where Eve was sitting, and even though he was clearly in her view, her eyes didn't move. There was no acknowledgement of his presence in the least. Chad couldn't take it, and ran away from Eve, as fast as he could, not stopping until he got to the car. Julian didn't say anything to him, and they rode in silence back to Harmony, when Julian stopped at the Lopez-Fitzgerald House to let Chad out. Before he opened his car door, Julian spoke up,

" I hope that you will keep this between us. Your mother's life would be affected negatively if certain people were to find out her location."

Chad didn't say anything, but, just nodded in agreement and got out of the car. He watched as Julian drove away.
 
 

Theresa was at the Book Café, looking at a magazine, waiting for Chad. She looked at Fortune Magazine, and who was on the cover for a story of 'Young Powerbrokers', but Ethan and Gwen. Her curiosity overcame her better sense, and she opened the magazine and read the article. The article was a gush piece on how Ethan and Gwen were the next generation of business leaders, and they commented on how compatible Ethan and Gwen were, and how they had both been bred for this moment in time, and that both companies were in good hands. Ethan couldn't help herself but, be a little heartbroken with the article, yet, had to admit to herself that it didn't hurt her nearly as much as it would have in the past.

Theresa checked her watch. It wasn't like Chad to be late, but, decided to stick around and wait. If he had meant to cancel, he would have called. She knew that he was on his way.

Theresa smiled when she thought of Chad. So much of her new life was possible because of Chad's unwavering support. She was dying to know what happened between Chad and Julian.  Though Theresa had been hurt after Ethan had so callously dismissed her, and she lost her job and was forbidden from ever coming back on Crane property, she couldn't quite dismiss Chad's involvement with the Cranes as easily as Luis had. Luis was always willing to tell Chad that he was better off without knowing 'those Damn Cranes'. It wasn't what Chad wanted to hear, but, Theresa knew that Chad respected Luis enormously, and his opinion counted. Chad had told her that Luis only reinforced the 'healthy skepticism' that he had with regards to the Cranes.

Theresa took out the list of books for class. She had to admit that she was getting excited at the possibility of school. For the first time, she really saw school as something that would HELP her. She had a goal- to become a fashion designer. And now, she actually had a path to take. Wasn't the one she originally thought, but, it was HER path, dependant upon no one else. Theresa liked the way that it felt.

Theresa ordered a tea, and began reading her design text.
 
 

Ivy was sitting in the Crane Living Room when Gwen and Ethan came in.

" Gwen! Ethan! Come look at these.", Ivy commanded.

They went over to the desk, and accepted what Ivy was giving them.

" What are these, Mother?"

" Why the invitations to the celebration of you being named President of Crane Industries."

" Mother, I told you that I didn’t want anything that big."

" Nonsense, Ethan. You have just ascended to the top of International Business. It should be a Coronation. You, after all, are the heir."

" Mother, nothing is concrete."

Ivy laughs. " Of course, you’re the Heir. Why wouldn’t you be?"

" Did you ever think that Father might see things differently from Grandfather?"

" No. Why would Julian think differently?"

" I’m thinking of Chad, Mother."

" Chad? What does he have to do with anything?"

" He’s a Crane."

" He’s Julian’s bastard."

" He’s a Crane, nonetheless, and it’s possible that Father will want him to take his place in the Crane Empire."

" Ethan, you’ve got to be kidding. Chad has no education. No breeding. Nothing that would ever make him remotely acceptable to have anything to do with Crane Industries."

" What does ANY of that matter, Mother. He’s Father’s son, and as much of a Crane as I am."

Ivy was about to begin again, but, Gwen interrupted. " Ivy, I’m sure that all the arrangements of the party are going fine. I’m so happy that you were able to help me out with arranging the party. Ethan and I have a dinner. A very important business dinner, and we have to change. You do, understand?"

" Oh..Of course, Gwen. You two run along."

Ethan and Gwen start for the staircase when Ethan stops and turns back towards Ivy.

" Mother. You DO understand that I want an invitation extended to Chad, don’t you?"

" Ethan, this is a formal event at the Country Club."

" I want him there, Mother. Extend the invitation."

Ivy knew better than to argue with Ethan about this, and let them go upstairs. She thought about what Ethan had said, and she regretfully had to agree with him. Julian was NO Alistair, and very well may want to give part of the Crane Empire to Chad. She nearly choked when Ethan said that Chad was every bit the Crane as him.

" No, my darling. You are wrong. The truth is, Chad is Julian’s rightful heir. But, I haven’t sacrificed all this time to let some bastard of that bitch Eve Russell swoop in and steal YOUR place as the head of the Crane Empire.  Oh, I’ll invite Chad alright. I’ll make sure it’s a night that he never forgets."