Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 52
 
 

Chad decided that it was time to see Eve again. He woke up early that morning and drove up on his bike. He made it to the Sanitarium, not really knowing what he was going to say to his mother when he saw her again, but knew that he had to try to get through to her. For Simone’s sake if no one else.

Chad walked up to the Dr. Collins’ office and knocked.

" Come in."

Chad walked in, " Hi, Dr. Collins."

" Chad?"

" Yes. I wanted to know if I could see my mother. "

" Your mother."

" Yes, you know the lady that you’ve been treating for the last few months."

" I’m sorry Chad, but your mother isn’t here."

" What do you mean she isn’t here! What happened to her?!"

" She left."

" Left? You mean she’s not dead?"

" No. She’s not dead. She told us that she wanted to leave, and for us to call your father, and we did both. He came and got her."

" You mean she’s talking? She’s communicating with the world?"

" Well, at least your father."

" Do you think she’s cured?"

" I think that your mother was a difficult patient who was unresponsive in therapy."

" You think she could wind up in a place like this again?"

" I can’t say for sure, but, I don’t think so. This isn’t your mother’s kind of place."

" Thank you, Doctor. I hope you don’t mind, but, I really never want to see you again."

" I understand. No problem."

Chad shook his hand and left the sanitarium as quickly as he could. If Eve had left here, then where was she? He wanted answers and thought he had the right to demand them.

Julian’s secretary was in the middle of typing some correspondence when she felt the fist slam down on her desk.

" Where the hell is he?"

She looked up to see Chad standing there. Furious.

" Your father?", she asked.

" Of course Julian. Where is he?"

" He’s out of town for a few days."

" Where is he? I know he would never leave town without telling you how to get in touch with him."

" Well, ordinarily, that is true, Mr. Harris. But, not this time. I have no idea where your father is."

" You’re lying to me."

" Believe me, Mr. Harris. I know better than to lie to a Crane."

Before Chad could get his next accusation out, he heard a voice,

" Chad? Is there something wrong?"

Chad turned around and saw, " Ethan."

" Is there something wrong?"

Chad looked at Ethan, and Ethan motioned that they go into Julian’s office. Once the door was closed, Chad began again.

" Do you know where he is?"

" Father?"

" Yeah, Julian."

" No. He left me a message that he would be out of town on business and that he had faith that I could handle things.  "

" That for real? You don’t know where he is?"

" No. I don’t. If it’s really important, Chad, may I help you with it?"

Chad shook his head. " Naw, Ethan. I’m ok. I just REALLY need to talk to Julian. Will you tell him that I’m looking for him, the next time you see him?"

" Sure, Chad. I’ll do it."

" Well, then, I’ll be going."

Chad is about to leave, when Ethan asks, " Chad, are you still coming?"

" To your party? Yeah, Ethan. I said I would, and I keep my word. I’ll be there for your big night."

For reasons that he couldn’t explain, it meant a lot to Ethan to hear that from Chad. " Thanks."

" Bye, Ethan." Chad arrives at the secretary’s desk. " I want to apologize to you. I shouldn’t have been so harsh with you. I was out of line, and I hope you won’t hold it against me."

She smiled at Chad and said, " No problem, Mr. Harris. It was mild compared to others. You have a nice day."

" Thanks."

Theresa was waiting for Chad in the park with some hot chocolate. She knew that he was going to visit Eve this morning, and she couldn’t wait to hear about the visit. Looking at him, though, she knew that something was wrong.

" Chad, what’s wrong?", she asked, handing him the drink.

" My mother’s gone, Theresa."

" Gone? You don’t mean…", the tears were already forming in Theresa’s eyes.

" No. She’s not dead. She left the sanitarium."

" Left! Chad, that’s fabulous news. Where is she in Harmony?"

" She’s not in Harmony. She’s with my father."

" With Mr. Crane? Wow? Where?"

" I don’t know. Julian’s seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Nobody knows where he is. Not his secretary. Not Ethan."

" Well, maybe your father is doing what your mother wants."

" You think she’s run out on us too, don’t you? She couldn’t handle it, so she flaked?"

" No…No…No. I don’t believe Dr. Russell has run out on you. I think that Dr. Russell has taken a trip to recharge her batteries. She’s been through a terrible ordeal, Chad. She just can’t jump right back into her old life. She has to sit back and think about what has gone on. She’s been in a very bad place, Chad. She needs somewhere to rest."

" You thinks he’s resting?"

" Absolutely. Your mother loves all of you. She wouldn’t abandon you, Chad. Not now. Give her some time. She has to plan strategy. She has to think about all that’s happened. She has to get her sense of self back. Your father understands this, Chad. He knows this about your mother, and he wants to give her that time. This is a part of your parents knowing one another unlike anyone else."

" Theresa, I can’t think of my parents like that. It’s definitely weird for me to think of them that way."

" I know. But, your father has protected your mother all this time. Trust him, Chad. Trust that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. Not now. Not after all this time. He wants a relationship with you, Chad. He wouldn’t risk it.":

" You don’t know that he wants to have a relationship with me."

" Yes, I do. Chad, it is SO obvious. "

" I…..I.."

" Don’t want one with him? I don’t believe it, Chad. I believe you want to know your father. You can’t hate him, Chad. Because he’s a part of you. He made you, and it would be like hating yourself, which is very unhealthy."

" When did you get so smart?"

" The only thing I’m smart about is you, and knowing what it’s like NOT to have a father. Whatever Julian Crane is, he’s yours and he’s trying."

" Theresa, I want to believe that. Does that make me crazy?"

" No. Only human. " Theresa snaps her fingers.  " I think that I know someone who may know where Julian is."

" Who?"

" Sheridan. "

Sheridan was cleaning up what would be her office at the radio station  when she heard a knock on her door. She looked up,

" Chad."

" Hey Sheridan."

" You’re not supposed to begin work here until tomorrow."

" Do you know where he is, Sheridan?"

" You know your mother’s left the sanitarium."

" Yeah. Do you know where they are. She IS with HIM, isn’t she?"

" Yes. Your parents are together."

" Where?"

" I don’t know."

" Is that the truth?"

" You take me for a liar?"

" I take you for someone who has gotten into the habit of protecting her brother."

" Be that as it may, it’s not true this time. I love my brother, and all I know is that he believed your mother needed some time to relax and regroup before she came back to Harmony."

" So, she’s coming back?"

" Of course she’s coming back, Chad! Relaxed and ready to take on the world."

" He’s really been there for her, hasn’t he?"

" Yes, Chad."

" What do you think is going on  between those two?"

" I believe that Julian is doing what he thinks is best for Eve. Their history is long and complicated, Chad."

" I’m beginning to understand that."

" I spoke to Ethan. He told me that you are coming to his party."

" Yeah. I don’t know why this is important to him."

" Because, he respects you. He wants you as his brother. Sibling relationships aren’t something the Cranes have done that well, and he wants things to be different from the beginning between the two of you, and not take years and years like it did Julian and me. Plus, I think he senses that Julian wants you there."

" Julian?"

" Yes. Chad, having both of his sons there would mean more to him than you know."

" He….he really wants a relationship?"

Sheridan beams. " Absolutely! Chad, it can be a new day for the Cranes. Julian loves you. Ethan…well, the two of you used to be friends, and it can be that way once again, if only you would want it.  The only impediment for us was Father, and he’s in no position to be able to cause pain and confusion. I know it’s wrong to speak ill of the sick, but that stroke was the best thing that ever happened to this family."

" I’ll give you an Amen on that. Without the stroke, I’d be in jail for killing that sonuvabitch."

" Well then, another reason why I should be happy. This party is a new beginning for all of us, Chad. For the Cranes as a family. A Family that wants YOU as a fully functioning member."

Chad laughed. " I don’t know about all of that, Sheridan. But, I think you’re right. The party could be used as a new beginning. Well, I have to go. Promise me you’ll tell Julian that I’m concerned about Eve if he calls you."

Sheridan kisses Chad. " I promise. "