Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 40
 

" What do I have to do with a radio station?", Sheridan asked.

" How about you taking it over?"

Sheridan looked at Julian with a confused face.

" WHY would I run a radio station?"

" To help me out?"

" Ok, Julian, explain."

" Sheridan, you said that you would do whatever you could to help me with Chad. "

" Yes, and I meant it."

" OK, well, I’ve decided that I’ve had enough of my son’s stubborn streak. It’s time that he became a Crane."

" Oh, REALLY. You think that YOU can decide this for Chad?"

" Yes, I do. I think I can help him with it. IF his mother is going to be coming back to the land of the living soon, he’s going to need his family to support him helping her. WE are his family. He may not like it, but, it’s true. Plus, he’s a grown man. And, it’s time that he got on with his life. This construction mess was amusing, but, the time for games is over."

" He has the right to choose any job he wants.", Sheridan protests.

" Sheridan, please. Spare me. You’ve never worked a day in your life, so don’t extoll the virtues of blue-collar life. I know you romaticize Pilar, and your love Luis, but, I don’t want to hear it. Chad is my son, and no son of mine is going to waste his life away working as a construction worker."

" You are an unbelievable SNOB, Julian Crane."

" Yes I am, Sheridan, but that has NOTHING to do with wanting my son to live up to his potential. I researched Chad. I saw what he did with the Book Café. I saw the innovations that he did to turn that place around and make it a money maker. I talked to the owner of the Sea Scape, and heard how Chad helped turn around their slowest nights with music innovations. Both places with positive, moneymaking ideas that turned profits. I’m nothing if not a smart businessman, Sheridan. Why WOULDN’T I want that for MY company?"

Sheridan smiled at Julian. " You’re not fooling me. You just want to draw Chad into your web."

" Web? You make me sound like that flower – the Venus Flytrap."

" Aren’t you?"

" No. I know he has to have dreams. I’ve heard from Ethan that they centered around music. I could go out and buy him a record company, but, not only would he turn me down, it’s counterproductive. He should work his way up."

" WHY? You and Ethan never ‘worked your way up.’"

" True. But, Chad wouldn’t accept it any other way. He has that part of his mother in him. They want to EARN respect, and don’t believe it’s just handed out. So, I want to give him the opportunity to work his way up, so when I DO offer him a record company, he’ll accept it."

" You’ve always been sort of iffy about entertainment ventures."

" True. That’s because I don’t have the ‘talent’ to make decisions that bring in the profits. I think Chad does."

" Which is why you want him at the radio station."

" Yes. You know we have an entire string of radio properties. We keep them because they are a good writeoff. I would love to make a profit from them, but, I haven’t found the right media people yet that can help me. I think Chad can do it."

" What about me?"

" Ok, you can do it, too. Your Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald doesn’t seem the type to me to spend his days like the ‘idle rich’. And, since you insist that you can live in ‘his world’, doesn’t that mean getting a job?"

" Yes, but.."

" And, if you have to have a job, what really are you qualified for, Sheridan? Absolutely nothing. You have a degree in Art History, which isn’t a highly sought out one. Where else can you get a job where you won’t start out doing lowly tasks, but  the family company?"

" Don’t you condescend to me, Julian."

" I don’t need to Sheridan. Every word I’ve said is the truth. You want a life with Luis, independence, well, I’m offering you a job. Who knows, you may even be good at it."

" Well, maybe I will be."

" Maybe you will."

" You know what, Julian? I’LL take over the station. And, I’ll get Chad to help me. And, you know what? We’re going to make a success of it. I’ll show YOU ‘ idle rich’..", Sheridan said in a huff, slamming the door behind her.

Julian took a sip of his drink. " Worked like a charm. ", he said, smiling as he  cut his cigar.
 
 

" Chad, Chad, you have to help me.", Theresa said, breathlessly, as she came into the Lopez-Fitgerald kitchen, where Chad was helping Pilar by fixing the kitchen sink.

Chad slid from under the kitchen sink. " What’s up, Theresa?"

" My boss at the boutique let me bring home these dresses. Whichever one I choose, she’s letting me get for 50% discount. Come and see!"

" Theresa…"

" Mama, come on!"

When they entered the living room, Theresa had the dresses all laid out.

" Theresa, why do you need dresses like this?"

" Because, we’re going to the big party celebrating Ethan being President of Crane Industries….aren’t we, Chad?"

Pilar looked at Chad in horror and Chad slowly nodded. " Yeah, Theresa, I’m going. And, I want you to come with me. I can’t face that crowd by myself. "

Pilar still had ‘a look’ on her face. Chad took her hands and told her, " Mrs. L-F, I know you must have your reservations. But, Ethan came to see me. We talked. He made it clear that he wants me there, as his brother. And, if he could come out and ask me, face to face, there’s no way that  I won’t be there for him. I’m taking baby steps where the Cranes are concerned. My dealings with them are very few and far between. Nothing too upclose and personal. But, I have to go to this party. Theresa is the only person that can keep me balanced there, which is why I’m happy she’s going with me. Theresa, choosing a dress is a female thing. Your Moms would be better for this. I’m going to finish up the sink."

Chad walks into the kitchen, and Pilar goes over to Theresa. " Why do you want to go to this party?"

" Because, it’s going to be fun, Mama."

" Theresa…."

" Mama, I’m not going because I want to see Ethan. I’m over Ethan."

Pilar bugged out her eyes.

" It’s true, Mama. I’m over Ethan. My dreams of becoming Mrs. Ethan Crane are over. I’m not going to see Ethan."

" Really?"

" Ok, maybe I want to go to show Gwen that she didn’t win. I’m not destroyed. I’m rebuilding my life, and Chad’s a part of that. Mama, Chad and I are possibly moving beyond that ‘friend’ stage, and I’m honored that he wants to take me with him. This is his first function as a Crane."

" I guess."

" But, that doesn’t mean that Julian or Alistair will see you as anything more than the Housekeeper’s Daughter."

" It doesn’t matter what they see me as. Only what Chad does. They have no influence over Chad, and you KNOW I tell the truth there."

Pilar nodded. " That is true, Therasita. I just wish you’d take an easier path."

" But what fun is that?", Theresa laughs as she pulls up one of the dresses in front of her for Pilar to see. " Do you like this one?"

She and Pilar are comparing dresses when the doorbell rings.  Pilar goes to answer it.

" Sheridan?", Pilar says, motioning for her to come in.

" Hi Pilar."

" Luis isn’t here. He’s at the Police Station."

" I’m not looking for Luis. I’m looking for Chad."

" Oh. Well, he’s in the kitchen."

" May I go in?"

" Sure."

Sheridan goes into the kitchen, and Theresa and Pilar look at one another curiously.

" Mrs. L-F, I think I fixed it."

" It’s not Pilar."

Chad slid from under the sink.

" Sheridan? What are you doing here?"

" I came to see you. Can we talk?"

Chad wipes his hands and goes to sit at the table with Sheridan.

" So, Sheridan, what’s up? I already told Ethan I’d be at his party."

" I’m not here about a party. I’m here to offer you a job."

" A job? I have a job."

" Doing construction."

" What’s WRONG with construction?"

" Nothing, if that’s what you want to be your life’s vocation. But, I’ve always thought that you wanted your life’s work to be centered around music."

" Yeah, well, I’ll get back to it."

" Well, why not get back to it right now."

" How?"

" Come help me with WHAR."

" The radio station?"

" Yes. I’m going to take it over, and I need someone to help me, and I thought of you."

Chad shook his head. " No way. I ain’t takin’ no Crane charity."

" Who said it was charity? I need someone to help me."

" I don’t know anything about radio stations, Sheridan. I’m sure there are tons of people more qualified than me."

" But, very few would make my final list."

" And, I made the list because I was family? Uh-uh, Sheridan. I don’t take no handouts."

" This is NOT a handout, Chad! This is an opportunity! And, I thought you were smart enough to know the difference. "

" This was HIS idea, wasn’t it?"

Chad looked intensely at Sheridan. She knew this would be a dealbreaker, so, she decided to take the Crane way out.

" Actually, Julian doesn’t know anything about this."

" He doesn’t?"

" No. Chad, look, I’m in love with Luis. I want to make a life with him. But, I have to be the kind of wife that Luis can be proud of. I want to be proud of myself. He’s worked his entire life. So has Pilar. I know that he expects me to make my way in the world. I wanted to find something that maybe I could do, but, I don’t have any skills. I could probably get a Rich Girl’s PR job at Crane Industries, or work with Crane Charities, and if this doesn’t work out, then maybe I’ll be forced to do this. But, I like radio. I’ve always been interested in it since I was a little girl, when my mother used to listen to broadcasts of old programs, and we’d make an afternoon of it. It’s one of my fondest memories of my mother.

And, if we can make a success of WHAR, then I would have accomplished something. Turning a profit is a way for me to get my father and brother’s respect. Despite what I might say, I want their respect. I know Julian loves me, but, he thinks of me as the spoiled little sister, willing to buy me off with a check, here and there.

I have something to prove, Chad. And, I wanted…no, I needed someone that I could not only work with, but, who I know will support me, and tell me the truth when they think I’m wrong. And, someone who won’t be a spy for Julian. Plus…I admit it. I wanted an opportunity where I could get to know you, and it wouldn’t seem forced. I’ve never hidden that I wanted a relationship with you."

Sheridan looked at Chad. She didn’t know him well enough to know if he believed her.

"Ok. We can try it for a probationary time, say three months. If I don’t like it, or you don’t like me, we go our separate ways with no hard feelings."

Chad extends his hand to Sheridan.

" Ok. I’ll see you on Monday."

" THIS Monday?"

" No time like the present to start. We’ll talk salary as well as other perks like college tuition."

" College tuit.."

" Theresa is Luis’ sister, so I know you’ve been looking into courses at Harmony U. And, this job will work around any school schedule. I promise. I know this is going to work out, great, Chad! Thank you!"

Sheridan impulsively hugs Chad, and though sort of shocked, he responds.

" Well, I’ll go now. I’ll see you around…partner."

" Bye  Sheridan."