Sacrifices
of the Soul, Chapter 88
by SIPort
Julian, Sheridan
and Ethan
were going over the current projects of Crane Charities.
” So, that concludes my report.”, Sheridan
said. She looked to Ethan and Julian. “ Well?”
” You did a great job, Sheridan.”
” I agree with Ethan. These projects will help the Harmony community a
great
deal.”
Sheridan smiled with pride. “ I want to thank you
both for
giving me this chance. I know how Father thought of any woman being
involved
with Crane. But, I honestly think we can do a lot through philanthropy.
We can
make Crane look even better in the eyes of the world. Look at what the
Gates
Foundation has done for Bill Gates.”
” Indeed, and anything that makes Crane look good is best for the
bottom line,
and, if Father could speak, he’d tell you the same….oh, who am I
kidding? He’d
never admit that your work actually helped Crane.”
They all laughed.
” Between Crane Charities and picking up the slack at the radio
station..”
Ethan spoke up. “ Father, have you heard anything from Chad?”
” I have. Simone’s being evaluated by the doctors in New York, but
he thinks that will be over
soon. He believes they’ll be bringing her home.”
” That’s great news. Eve must be so happy!”, Sheridan replied. Sheridan immediately regretted saying
because
she had gotten the feeling that Julian’s relationship with Eve is
something
that was extremely personal.
“ I haven’t talked
with Eve
lately, with her being so devoted to Simone’s recovery.”
” Of course Father. It was good of you to help Chad find Simone, but it is
a
Russell family matter.”, Ethan replied, automatically protecting his
mother’s
‘turf’.
” Ethan, how are plans for the nursery going? I leave messages for
Gwen, but
she’s so busy working, we barely get to talk.”
” The nursery is coming along. We finally chose the perfect nursery
plan from
the designer, and they’ll begin construction next week. It’s going to
be a room
fit for a Prince or Princess.”
“ Sounds wonderful.
I can’t
wait for my first grandchild to be here. I’m going to spoil him or her
rotten.”
“ Mother still
hasn’t
apologized to Chad.”
” Her accounts are STILL frozen. I’ve taken away her limo privileges. “
Ethan smiled. “ I
know. I was
there when she found out. She was livid.”
They all laughed
again.
” Sheridan,
how
does Luis like this new you?”, Ethan asked.
” I’ve been wondering that myself, Sheridan. Luis always reeked ‘
caveman’ to
me.”
Sheridan swatted Julian’s hand. “ Julian, you leave
Luis
alone. Luis is very supportive.”
” I hope so, because he’s got a modern woman.”
“ Yes…she’ll be
burning her
bra soon! I am woman!”, Ethan teased.
” You two are ridiculous, and I think this meeting is over. We ALL need
to
work.” Sheridan
said, as she left the room.
“ Father?”
” Yes, Son.”
“ Is there
something we can
do to help Simone Russell?”
” Why do you ask?”
” It would mean a lot to Chad.
I still feel hideous about what happened at the dinner.”
” Ethan, that’s
water under the bridge. Chad knows it wasn’t you. “
“ He was quick to
believe it
was me.”
” That’s because your friendship was damaged when you married Gwen.
But, now,
you’re brothers. And, you need to find a way to be together as
brothers. It
won’t be easy, but it IS possible, Ethan. If you treat Chad
as a
friend, he will respond. Maybe not immediately, but he will.”
” Is that what YOU want, Father?”
” Ethan, I want both my sons to get
along. I admit that. I’m not
Alistair. I’m
not going to pit the two of you against one another like it’s some cock
fight.
There is literally BILLIONS of dollars in this family. There HAS to be
a place
for BOTH of you. I’m not wavering from that. “
” I’m glad you’re not, Father. You’re a much better man than I’ve ever
given
you credit for, and I’m sorry. “
” Coming from you,
that means a lot. “
Eve and TC sat in the doctor’s
office.
” Mr. Russell. Dr. Russell. We’ve done all we can for Simone. She’s on
medication for her STD, which should clear up. We’ve given her a
thorough
physical exam. Nothing is wrong with her, physically. Emotionally, it’s
another
story. But, it’s my opinion that being in a foreign city, surrounded by
strangers isn’t what your daughter needs. She needs to be in her own
environment. She needs to be around the people who love her. I’ve made
arrangements for Simone to be transferred to Oak Haven Sanitarium.”
Eve panicked. “ No!
Simone can’t go there!”
” Dr. Russell, I assure you that the facility is top knotch. That she
will get
excellent care.”
” I simply refuse to send Simone there!”
” Eve, if the doctor thinks Simone should go …”
“ I don’t give a
crap what
this doctor thinks. MY daughter IS NOT going to Oak Haven, and that’s
FINAL!
And, since the divorce decree says that I have approval of what happens
medically with Simone, I say NO!”
Eve left the room
without
listening to the doctor or TC call her back. She rushed into Simone’s
room,
where Chad
was sitting by her side.
” Chad?
I thought Whitney was here.”
” She was. When I got here, she chose to leave.”
” Oh.”
Chad looked at his mother. “ Mama, what’s wrong?
Why are
you so upset?”
Eve burst into tears, and moved away from Simone, not wanting to upset
her. Chad
rushed to
comfort his mother. “ Hey, whatever’s wrong, we’ll help Simone. WE can
help
her.” Chad
let his mother cry in his arms for a few minutes, then Eve pushed her
son away,
but held his hand. She looked down at the floor.
” They want to put Simone in Oak Haven.”, Eve said quietly.
“ Oh.”
” Yes, oh.”
” Mama..”
” Chad,
nobody knows about my breakdown. Only you, Julian, and probably
Sheridan and my
lawyer. Nobody else knows.”
” Mama..”
” I can’t let TC know. I can’t open
myself up to him like that. If he
finds out
that I had a breakdown..”
” What? What is he going to do? Mama, he can’t do anything to you. The
divorce
is final..”
” What if he took me back to court over custody?”
” Then, we would fight it. My
father’s not about to let anything happen
to
you.”
” And, what about my medical license? I’m in a tenuous position as it
is, Chad.
If the
Review Board found out about it..”
“ Oh. I hadn’t thought of
that.”
” Yes, well I have. All I have in the world that’s my own is my medical
career,
you and Simone. I have nothing else. I can’t lose anymore. Nothing
more.”
Chad hugged his mother once more. “ I think I
have a
solution for you.”