Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 34
 
 

Chad looked over at a sleeping Simone. He thought that they had a breakthrough last night. For the first time, he really believed that they connected as siblings, and it made him feel good. He was happy about it.

He was her big brother. It broke his heart that she was so devastated about Eve’s leaving. But, he didn’t think it was his place to tell Simone about where Eve really was. He didn’t think she could handle the truth. Yet, on the other hand, it was obvious that she was ready and willing to forgive Eve for her transgressions. If that was true, then wouldn’t seeing Simone help Eve get well?

Chad took a gulp of the coffee he had. It was a real quandary. What should he do? Who could he talk about this with, in order to figure out what to do about Simone? There were only two people who knew about Eve: Pilar and Julian. Chad shook his head. He wasn’t ready to have any type of conversation with Julian about his mother. Everything was still too raw for him to be comfortable discussing his mother.

Simone began to stir.

" Hey sleepyhead, don’t you think that you should be getting up?"

" What time is it?"

" Time for you to be up."

" Geesh. You are such a grouch. "

" I’m going to go downstairs and fix us something for breakfast. Use my showed, get dressed, and I’ll meet you downstairs in the Lopez-Fitzgerald kitchen in a bit."

" You’re sure Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald is Ok with this?"

" One of the last things that she told me yesterday, was to make sure that I fed you before I let you go on your way."

Simone laughed. " Sounds like Mrs. L-F."

" Good. I’ll give you some privacy."

Chad left, and went to the L-F house, where he found Theresa and Pilar at the kitchen table.

" Morning, Chad.", Theresa said.

" Morning, Theresa. Mrs. L-F."

" How is Simone?", Pilar asked.

" Fine. We had a good talk last night. We made progress."

Pilar smiled. " I’m glad for you."

Chad turned to Theresa. " Theresa, would you mind checking on Simone. She might have forgotten some of that girlie stuff that I wouldn’t know anything about."

Theresa looked at Chad with confusion, but, shrugged her shoulders. " Ok."

Once Theresa was gone, Chad sat down at the table.

" Simone doesn’t need anything, does she?", Pilar asked.

" Nope. But, I needed some advice Mrs. L-F, and you were the only person I could turn to."

Pilar sat down next to Chad. " What is it?"

" Simone broke down with me last night. She thinks that Doc Russell abandoned her. That she’s never coming back. I told her that the Doc would come back, but, that she just needed some time to herself."

" And, now you’re wondering if you should tell Simone the truth about where your mother is."

" Exactly. If she knew where the Doc was, then maybe it would give her peace of mind."

" Chad, I’ve known your mother for many years. She always struck me as a woman with great pride and dignity. I do not believe that she would want for you to burden Simone with news of her condition. You told me that the doctors said that she would probably get better. You should trust in that. Let Simone believe that her mother just needed a break. If the situation doesn’t change, THEN you can tell her. "

" I want to do right by Simone…..and my mother.", Chad says.

" You will. You are someone who does the right thing. It’s in you."

" Thanks, Mrs. L-F. I thought I’d fix some breakfast for Simone."

" Nonsense. As soon as she gets here, I’ll finish up the juevos rancheros for her, and the other dish is already on the stove. "

" Anything I can do to help?"

" Just get the bread out for the toast, and maybe help wash those few dishes."

Chad does the dishes as Pilar checks on the items she has on the stove for breakfast.
 

Theresa knocks on the door. Simone opens it up, with a towel wrapped around her underwear clad body.

" Theresa!"

" Hey Simone. Chad wanted me to come up and check on you. Though, I think he got rid of me so that he could talk to my mother. About what, I don’t know."

Simone throws off the towel and begins to put on her clothes.

" Maybe he’s asking her permission to date you."

" Excuse me?", Theresa asked bewildered.

" Date….what two people go on when they like one another.", Simone explains.

" I know what a date is. Why do you think Chad would want to date me?"

" Theresa, it’s SO obvious. I see the way that he looks at you. He’s crazy about you."

" We’re friends, Simone."

" The looks I saw being exchanged between you two weren’t ‘friendly’. It was more than that."

" You don’t know what you’re talking about."

" Oh, I don’t? Ok, Theresa, I have a simple question for you: are you, or are you not, interested in Chad?"

" I told you, we’re friends."

" Theresa, don’t give me that. Not that I don’t understand why BOTH of you would be gunshy, but, come on. Life goes on. Ethan Crane is married, and Whitney is off limits. If you enjoy Chad’s company, then why shouldn’t you go for it. He’s a great guy."

" I’m sure that Whitney wouldn’t see it that way."

" What does it matter HOW Whitney sees it? She’s not your friend anymore. And, simply put, she can NEVER be with Chad again. They’re siblings. It’s an ugly truth, but the truth, nonetheless. Unless you’re telling me that you’re with Ethan now, and he’s left his wife."

Theresa shook her head. " No. I’m not with Ethan."

" Then, what’s wrong with Chad. You two are friends. You know one another. You know all the ins and outs of Chad’s life, and the things that have him ‘messed up’. Plus, you knew him ‘when’."

" When?"

" Yes, before he turned into Chad Crane."

" Chad doesn’t even connect with the Cranes."

" I know that…NOW. Last night I asked Chad if he wanted a relationship with our mother. He said that he did, and even though he was hesitant, I know that he wants a relationship with his father too. EVENTUALLY, he is going to join the Crane Family. And, there are a lot of golddiggers out there, who would LOVE to get their crack at Chad CRANE. The Crane money and power can blind people, and I couldn’t stand to think that Chad would get involved with someone who could take advantage of that. I know Chad is ‘street’, and all that, but, he’s never been more vulnerable than he is right now, Theresa. He needs to be with someone who cares for him, and doesn’t look at him and see dollar signs. That’s YOU, Theresa."

" I think others would disagree."

" Then they can kiss my ass! Cause I know what my brother needs. And, what you need. Theresa, don’t be afraid to appreciate the good thing right in front of you. And, THAT, is the end of my lecture for today. I’m gonna pack my things, and then, I’ll be ready to go."

" Let me help you.", Theresa said, smiling at Simone, as they packed her bag. Simone was the first person who expressed unabashed approval of her feelings for Chad. She validated them as something other than ‘rebound’. Theresa didn’t know why, but, she was feeling better by the moment.
 

" Morning, Princess.", TC said, as Whitney entered into the kitchen. " Enjoy your rest?"

" Yes, Daddy. I’m so glad that I slept in this morning."

" You did terrific at the tournament last night, that I thought you deserved this treat. And, I’ve decided upon another treat."

" What, Daddy?"

" I’m going to take my best girls out for breakfast. Why don’t you get dressed, and we’ll stop over at Sam and Grace’s and pick up Simone, and we’ll get those Waffle Specials at Jensen’s."

Whitney kisses TC on the cheek. " I’ll hurry up and get ready, Daddy."

TC smiled as Whitney left the room. He picked up the mail, and was going through it until he got to a letter that he couldn’t pass by. He opened it. It was a letter from his lawyer, indicating that his first courtdate for the divorce was in 3 weeks. TC threw down the letter.

Three weeks.

In three weeks, he would begin to dissolve something that had been a part of his life for twenty years.

How did it come to this?

TC opened the back door, and sat outside on the garden furniture. He couldn’t believe it. His marriage had been everything to him. Now, he couldn't help wonder if it had been all a lie. A big, fat, lie. The woman that he thought he was married to, didn't exist. And, if she didn't exist, then what had he been doing all those years.

TC kept himself busy these days. He alternated between pure rage and complete numbness. Rage at the thought of Eve playing him for a fool. That he built his marriage on quicksand, and that it sank both of them, and their family. He had been so proud of his family. How could he have trusted her? Made a life with her? When none of it was real.

And, now, it could all end, with some time before a judge, and signing some papers. Can a lifetime really be obliterated with the swipe of a pen? It just seemed to cheapen it. Well, at least he had Whitney and Simone. Whatever problems they had, they had created two beautiful daughters. But, he knew that their lives would never be the same. At night, when he couldn't sleep, he had been reading books about children of divorce. To say that they were grim, was an understatement. He knew the damage that this was doing to his children, but, he didn't see any other way. There was no way that he could forgive Eve. No way that he could even fake it, so that they could stay together 'for the sake of the children'. After having been on the receiving end of so many of Eve's lies, he couldn't become an active participant in them. Divorce was the only option, and he hoped for the best with the girls.

He was still thinking about things when Whitney came outside.

" Daddy? I'm ready to go."

TC smiled up at her, and they went on their way.
 

Sam, Grace and Jessica were sitting around the kitchen table, when TC and Whitney arrived.

" Hey, TC. Whitney. Good morning.", Sam said.

" Morning Sam, Grace, Jessica."

" TC, I just finished some muffins. Do you want one?", Grace asked.

" No thanks, Grace. I just came by to pick up Simone, so we could go out for breakfast."

Sam and Grace looked at TC with a puzzled look on their faces.

" Simone? Why would Simone be here?", Sam asks.

" Because she spent the night here with Kay."

Grace shook her head. " No, she didn't, TC. Simone isn't here now, and wasn't here last night."

It was TC's turn to be confused. " Well, if Simone isn't with you, then, where is she?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders. " I don't know, but, I bet I know who does. " He gets up and goes to the stairs. " KAY BENNETT! GET DOWN HERE!"

Kay comes rushing down the stairs. " Dad, what do you…..". She's stopped at the sight of TC and Whitney in her kitchen.

" Kay, TC was under the impression that Simone was here last night. But, that's not true, is it. "

Kay was silent.

" IS IT?…..Look at me, and tell me where Simone is!"

Kay was about to tell, when the back door of the Bennetts opened, and Simone and Chad came bouncing in.

" Good Mor…", Simone was stopped by the sight of TC and Whitney.

" Simone, where the HELL were you last night?", TC demanded. TC was crossing the room to get to Simone when Chad stepped into his path.

" She was with me, Coach Russell."

" YOU! I thought I told YOU to stay the hell away from my daughters!"

" I did. I didn't have anything to do with Simone, until she came to me."

" Liar! I told Simone that I didn't want you around her. "

" Well, she's got a mind of her own, and her own ideas."

" I don't need YOU telling me about my daughter. "

" Obviously, you do."

" I told you, Crane Bastard, that you are NOT to be around MY daughters."

" You don't OWN Simone. She's her own person, and she wants to spend time with me."

" What could she possibly want from a relationship from you?"

" Oh…I don't know…Someone who actually LISTENS to her."

" My father doesn't NEED your advice about Simone!", Whitney piped in.

" Well, he does need something. Simone is hurting. She's in pain. She needs somewhere.."

" Somewhere what?", TC demands.

" Somewhere she can be free to talk about her feelings."

" Simone can talk to me!", TC says.

" Not true. She needs to have someone in her life that she can to…about things.."

" Things. You mean that whore of a mother of yours."

Sam and Grace winced at TC's last line. Simone's eyes filled with tears, and she shouted, " Chad's right! I need him. I need to talk to him. And, know that I won't be looked down upon. Mom is NOT a whore, Daddy. And, if she is, what does that make me?"

Grace looked at Simone. She had known her since the day she was born. Though she was the stronger of the two, Simone had always had an innocence about her.She saw a child with a broken heart, and it moved her.

"  Ok, if THAT's the way you wanna play it…YEAH….that WHORE of a mother of mine. She's my mother, and Simone's MY sister. And, that is a bond YOU will never break. And, ANYTIME Simone calls me, I'll be there for her. No matter the time. No matter where she is. Because, she is MY sister, and I know that is what MY mother would want. You can hate me for being a Crane. You can hate me for being a living reminder that my mother failed to live up to the image that you had of her. You can hate me because you see Julian in me. But, none of that matters a damn when it comes to me and Simone. I was going to give you some lattitude, hoping that you would 'see the light', where I was concerned. But, now, I don't give a damn. I want a relationship with Simone, and I'm going to have one."

" Well, my my……don't giving a damn..only doing what YOU want. Congratulations, you're a true Crane.", TC says bitterly.

" Daddy, STOP IT!! STOP IT!! I'll go home with you, but, I'm going to see Chad whenever I want."

" Oh, no you're not.", TC replies.

" Yes, I will, Daddy. This doesn't have anything to do with you and Mom. This is about me. And, what I want. And, I want Chad in my life.", Simone says crying, and running up the stairs. Kay follows her.

Sam gets up and goes over to TC. " Come on, Buddy. Let's go outside." Sam leads TC out the house. Whitney glares at Chad, who just stares and Whitney, and speaks up: " You can hate me. I don't care. But, Simone needs me. Simone needs me in her life. Making her feel guilty about having me in her life isn't going to do HER any good."

" My father will do what's best for Simone. She doesn't need you. "

Chad looks at her sadly. " Yes, she does, Whitney. She needs all of us."

Chad turns to Grace, and tells her, " I'm sorry, Mrs. Bennett. This shouldn't have happened here. I don't mean you any disrespect."

Grace nods as Chad leaves out of the Bennett kitchen and out of the Bennett House.