Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 59
 
 

Ivy was sitting at her vanity table when she heard a knock on the door.

" Come in."

She turned around to see who was there.

" Sheridan."

" Hello, Ivy. "

" Is there something that I can do for you?"

" No. I just wanted to tell you that Julian has left on a business trip. But, don’t worry, Ivy. The edict that he had in place before he left – about your allowance, still stands."

" Sheridan….."

Sheridan held up her hand. " Don’t Ivy. I don’t want to hear it. Tonight was supposed to be the night for Ethan. This family. It was important for all of us, including Chad. And, you and your pettiness have cost this family a great deal. Don’t think that I’m going to forget this anytime soon, Sheridan."

" I told Julian that I was going to apologize to Chad."

" Like you will be sincere! Yes, you are going to apologize to Chad. You better believe it. But, like everything else about you, it will be phony. Ivy, if you’re smart, you’ll stay out of my way while Julian’s gone. You be on your best behavior, Ivy. Or pay the consequences."

Ivy arched her eyebrow. " Well, Sheridan, you actually sounded like a CRANE right then. I didn’t think you had it in you."

" Well, now you know. I do. "

Sheridan exited Ivy’s room.
 

Chad walked Theresa to her door.

" I had a terrific night, Chad."

" Theresa, come on."

" Yes. I got a limo ride. This beautiful dress. And, dances with you. What can be better than this?"

Chad laughed. " You sure do know how to make a guy feel good."

" Chad, I hope you heard me about your family. I just don’t believe that they had anything to do with what happened tonight. Not Ethan, Sheridan or your father."

" Maybe you’re right. But, now, I can’t think about this, Theresa. I just want to take it one step at a time."

" Ok. But, remember…remember everything how they acted before tonight. It doesn’t fit, Chad. "

" Theresa, I promise that I’ll think about it. You saved this night for me. I was about to jump off the walls earlier tonight. You helped me calm down. "

" Well, you have a good night." Theresa kissed Chad, and he pulled her into it deeper. When they pulled apart, they held hands, and looked deeply into one another’s eyes. It was as if they both knew that this had been a deep moment for the two of them. Theresa smiled softly and went inside of the house.

Chad went upstairs and took off his tux and got into bed. Chad was looking  across the room, out the window, when he heard the phone ring.

" Hello?"

" Chad. It’s Sheridan."

" Sheridan.."

" Chad. I didn’t know whether to call you or not, but, I thought I had to. I couldn’t let you go to sleep thinking that Julian, Ethan or I had anything to do with what happened tonight. I am SO sorry about tonight. We had no idea about the seating arrangements."

" So, this was a wild coincidence?"

" No. It was done on purpose. By Ivy."

" Ivy?"

" Yes. I think she considers you a threat to Ethan’s position in the family, which is ridiculous. Julian wants BOTH of his sons in his life. The Crane Empire is worth billions…there totally is a place there for you."

" I don’t want a place."

" Chad,  don’t be so hasty."

" Sheridan, I think the radio thing isn’t going to work out."

" Chad, no! I will not get off this phone with you talking like that. How can you let Ivy do this to you. Don’t you know that if you quit, Ivy wins? You were so excited about this job. I’m excited about this too. It’s the first time that I’ve ever done anything with meaning, Chad. My father always saw me as useless. Now, I can prove that I’m not useless. Chad, I can’t do it alone. With anyone else, I would be so self-conscious, because it would be like one of Alistair’s drones. You aren’t looking to turn on me. You’re not looking to sabotage me. Chad, how can you let one bad experience, ruin everything else?"

" Sheridan…."

" Chad, tell me you believe me. That you KNOW Ethan, Julian and I had nothing to do with tonight………Chad……Chad?"

" You sure about him?…Julian?", Chad asked quietly.

" Of course I’m sure! Julian would NEVER do that to you, Chad. NEVER! Chad, he wants a relationship with you so bad. Don’t you realize that? He was SO happy that you thanked him for helping your mother. Chad, he wouldn’t do anything to risk your potential relationship. "

" Maybe…"

" No maybe about it. Chad, you can’t go to sleep thinking that your father would hurt you like that.""

" Ok, Sheridan. I take your word.  He didn’t have anything to do with this."

" Good…..now, what about the radio station?"

" I’ll be there. I won’t quit. "

" Good! Chad, if you want to talk, please just call. I know that there is a lot that you’re thinking and not saying. I’ll leave you alone right now. But, we WILL talk. "

" Nite, Sheridan."

Chad hung up the phone, and thought about Sheridan. He wanted to be mad at her, but, Sheridan was SO sincere. She was so honest and decent. He knew she wouldn’t lie to him, which meant that his father and brother had nothing to do with it. It was Ivy Crane. Pilar had warned him about Ivy, but he thought she was exaggerating. Seems like Pilar was on the money. Chad shook his head. The hug he gave his father was on his mind. It was unplanned, but it had felt SO right. Chad didn’t know what to think. He had so much hope at the beginning of the night. He was so excited. Being part of a family. He hadn’t even admitted to himself how much he had wanted the evening to go well. Finding out that his mother had been released and that she was going to be returning to him and Simone, at least, had given him the courage to let down those walls and think that he have some place with his ‘other’ family.

But, tonight’s events had been so ugly, that it took him back to a bad time and place. It harkened back to everything that was unseemly about all their pasts. He wanted to believe that it could all be forgotten, but now, he wasn’t so sure.