Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 50
 

" Get your boss down here. Dr. Russell is going to leave."

Kevin Collins just stood there. " Mr. Crane, I wouldn’t advise.."

" I don’t pay you people to advise me. I said get your supervisor down here. Dr. Russell is leaving."

Julian looked over at Eve who smiled at him.

Kevin Collins left the room, and Julian went over to Eve.

" Are you sure about this?"

Eve nodded.

" Good then. I can take you back to Harmony."

Eve got a terrified look on her face and shook her head in disagreement. " No Harmony. Not yet."

Julian looked at Eve and understood. While she was ready to leave the sanitarium, she wasn’t ready to face the rest of her life. She needed a place to gather her thoughts, and feel free again.

Julian took out his cellphone. " This is Julian Crane. I want the Crane jet fueled and ready to go within a half hour. I don’t care how difficult it will be. Just do it. "

Julian looked at Eve. She looked like she needed a break. That she needed to go somewhere, and he tried to think of a place where he could take her and give her what she needed. His mind thought of something and got on the phone immediately to make the arrangements.

Julian came back right before Dr. Collins. " Well, it seems as if Dr. Russell will be released. "

" I had told you that.", Julian deadpanned.

" If Dr. Russell will sign these papers, she is free to go."

Eve signed the papers, smiled at Kevin, and then went to go get her suitcase. Julian stopped her. " Don’t you have people for this?", Julian asked Dr. Collins, who rolled his eyes, but returned with an orderly who brought Eve’s suitcases downstairs and put them in the Crane limo. Eve and Julian got into the limo and drove off. Eve looked back at the place that she had called home for the past few months, and was more than happy to get away from it. She never planned on returning.

The limo took them to the hanger which held the Crane jet. She and Julian boarded it. A helpful attendant came out as soon as they had boarded.

" Good Evening, Mr. Crane. Dr. Russell. Is there anything I can get for you."

Eve shook her head, and Julian ordered, " a scotch on the rocks."

" Certainly, Sir. The chef has indicated that the meal will be ready within an hour of takeoff." Julian nodded to the attendant and buckled up. He and Eve were soon in the air. Julian got up out of his seat, and went over to the couch where Eve was sitting.

" So….are you ready to talk?", Julian asked.

" About what?", Eve replied, not even looking at Julian.

" Dammit, Eve! Last conversation that we had, you asked me to take care of our son. I got ‘creeped out’ as they say , and later found you in a pool of blood. I think we have SOMETHING to discuss!"

" I don’t feel like it, Julian. Not now."

Julian looked at Eve. He hated when she got into these moods. When she did, there was no reasoning with her. Her mind was made up. She wasn’t going to talk, and he would have to deal with it.

" Fine. Just realize that we have a lot to talk about. Like the rest of your life."

Julian went over and opened his briefcase and took out papers for Crane Industries. Eve selected several magazines that the attendant had brought to the cabin. She was curious about things considering that it had been months since she read anything herself. Julian had tried reading her the paper daily, but, it’s not the same. Eve wondered where they were going. She was glad it wasn’t Harmony. She wasn’t strong enough yet for it.
 
 

" Damn, Baby. You were on fire tonight.", Hakim said, as he slid out of bed to get himself a beer.

Simone was trying to catch her breath. She had come over to Hakim’s to talk, and he got her to try a new pill because it would ‘ help her relax’, and the next thing she knew, they were in his bed having sex. Not that Simone didn’t enjoy it. Hakim made her feel things she’d never experienced. And though he hadn’t told her that he loved her, he had to, right? I mean, he couldn’t be making love to her like this without loving her. He wanted her around, which was more than anyone else in her family, lately. She had come to Hakim, because she once again, had gone by the Harmony Hotel looking for a message from her mother that wasn’t there. She was beginning to believe that her mother had indeed abandoned their family. After all, wasn’t it easier to just pick up and move on, rather than be involved and face all the drama that Harmony represented?

Simone didn’t want to think about what it meant about her mother abandoning her. She didn’t want to feel the pain that she felt when she thought about losing her family. Being with Hakim helped with that.When they were together, especially in bed, just for a little while, she didn't feel alone.

Hakim opened the refridgerator, took out a beer and popped it open. Taking some big gulps, he had to congratulate himself. Things with Simone were going according to plan. She was his and he knew it. They would have to pay in order to get her back, and if they didn't pay, well, he had his own ideas about how he'd be able to use Simone to get money. One way or another, Simone was going to be a gravy train for him.
 
 

Theresa was in the Lopez-Fitzgerald living room reading her history book when she saw a flower come in her view. She looked up, and there was Chad, smiling down at her. He leaned in to give her a kiss, which she didn't refuse.

" So, Mr. Harris, what did I do to deserve this?"

" You were just you."

" Uh huh."

" How's the studying going?"

Theresa looked at Chad. She could see that something was troubling him, so she would have to ask a few pointed questions.

" Chad, what's wrong?"

" Um…nothing, why?"

" Please, I can see something is bothering you. Spill it."

" Well, I was just wondering if you remember what next Wednesday is."

Theresa thought about it and then it came to her, " Oh, Ethan's party."

" Yes, Ethan's party. I was wondering if you had second thoughts."

" About going? Yes. About going with you? Not a chance."

Chad let out a sigh of relief. " I'm glad to hear it. You know it's my.."

" First Crane function since becoming a Crane?"

Chad nods. " I didn't think it would matter all that much to me. I mean, I don't give a crap about them, except for Sheridan..right?"

" Chad.."

" I'm not supposed to care, Theresa. Ethan's a snob, Alistair tried to get me killed, and Julian abandoned my mother. I'm not supposed to give two fucks about them."

" It's not that simple, Chad. They are your family. Alistair is a lost cause, but, I don't think Julian and Ethan are. I know Ethan isn't. Ethan may be a Crane, but, he's kind and caring. I was the one who lied to him. I was the one who built our relationship on deceit. Whatever happened between us, Ethan's snobbery aside, I was NO innocent.  And, as for Julian, haven't you seen anything that would convince you that he's not all bad?"

Chad gave Theresa a curious look. Theresa knew that he didn't think she had noticed, but she had. That look told Theresa that Chad obviously had been given a glimpse into Julian that wasn't all bad. And, if that was the case, Theresa was definitely curious about what it is.

" Chad, what is it? Did you find out something about Julian that would make you change your mind, or think about it?"

Chad looked at Theresa and slowly nodded.

" Theresa, what I tell you has to stay between the two of us. You can't tell anyone about this. I can't have this getting out."

" Chad, you can trust me."

" Theresa, my mother isn't out of town."

" She's not? She's back in Harmony?"

" She never really left the Harmony area."

" I don’t understand. I know people have been looking for her for awhile now."

" Well, she's been in a sanitarium all this time."

" For…."

" For crazy people. She had some sort of mental breakdown."

" How do you know this?"

" I've been to visit her."

" But, how did you find all of this out?"

" Julian."

" Julian Crane?"

" My mother tried to kill herself, Theresa. And, Julian found her and saved her and took her to this place so that she could get better. He's kept all of it out of the press, and away from those who would do her harm. Theresa, he goes to see her EVERYDAY. EVERYDAY. He saved her life, and makes sure she has human contact everyday. He has to have a heart then…right?"

Theresa nodded. " Chad, when you go out for someone like that, it does mean you have a heart. See, you have an example of Julian being a good man."

" Sure, one example versus the hundreds of others that prove he's a first-class creep.", Chad said with bitterness.

" Well, one is better than none. Remember what you told me about what Crystal said about your parents? That she knew your mother loved your father, and.."

" She thought my father loved my mother."

" Well, this is part of it. The part of Julian Crane that not only saved your mother but protected him, is part of the Julian that probably only your mother knows. He feels secure enough with her to show her that side of him. And, because you are her son, maybe he's feeling secure enough to show you that side of him."

" I dunno.."

" Chad, like it or not, this man is your father. A part of you. In order for you to live your life, you are going to have to come to terms with this. Terms with being a Crane. You can't deny it, Chad. Your entire life has been about people denying that you were a Crane. They are your family. And, you are going to have to find your place in the family, whatever it is."

" I don't know if I can."

" I have faith in you. You can do anything you want. I think you will truly begin to flourish, when you are able to stand up and declare who you are, Chad. And, that's not Chad Harris. Harris is the name associated with the lies and the pain of your life up until this point. Do you know what your mother was going to name you?"

Chad shook his head. " You know, I've never thought about it. "

" In my history class, we just finished reading The Autiobiography of Malcolm X, and I remember vividly how he described his decision to change his name. He couldn't keep Malcolm Little, because he considered it a slave name. Well, if you think about it, Chad Harris isn't your name. Nobody who loved you gave you that name. It's the name given to you before you were thrown to the wolves. Maybe you need to decide who YOU are."

There was a prolonged silence between the two of them before Chad spoke up again, " Damn, Theresa. That was DEEP. Almost too deep. "

" Chad, I…"

" Naw, Theresa. You are right. About a lot of things. I am wandering. I'm not focused yet. I have a lot of issues to work on with regards to my family - on both sides. You're right."

Chad leans in and gives Theresa a kiss on the cheek. " Tomorrow, first thing, I'm going to see my mother. Then, in the afternoon, I want you to meet me at that trendy boutique that you talk about all the time."

" Why?"

" Because, I want you to be the most beautiful woman at Ethan's party. We're getting you a dress."

" Chad, you can't…"

" Afford it? Theresa, your mother hasn't accepted a dime of my money. She just continues to say, ' put it away for a rainy day', and so I have. I either work, or I'm here. I haven't spent anything in months. Believe me, I have enough for one of those dresses."

" But, they're so expensive."

" But, you're worth it. If we're going to this thing, we're going to do it right, ok?"

Theresa smiles. " OK."

" Well, I'm going to let you study. I have some thinking to do."
 
 

Eve had slept most of the trip. She wrapped herself in the supersoft cashmere blankets on the plane. They had finally landed on what she believed to be an island. From there, there was a helicopter waiting for them. They rode only a short time before she saw their final destination. Her mouth dropped open, as Julian leaned over to her and said,

" Welcome to Paradise."