“ Whitney, do you know about the baby?”, Simone asked.

“ Yeah.”

“ What are we gonna do? We’re going to have a little brother or sister in less than 9 months.”

“ I hate it.”

“ Whitney, the baby’s innocent. The parents are rotten, but the baby is innocent.”

” Sorry, Simone, I have the siblings that I want. You. I don’t need anyone else.”

“ Well, we’re going to have one. And sooner than later. I physically HURT, Whit. When I think about it? My stomach aches something fierce, and I’ve been getting headaches.”

“ This is the longest I’ve been able to get out of the bed since it all went down. I…just don’t believe it. It’s like a tornado went through our house, and we’re supposed to act like what’s left is ok.”

“ But, it’s not.”

” No. I can’t even think of looking at Daddy. And looking at Mom is so painful. Her agony is right there, in plain sight.”

“ I’m not able to concentrate on anything in school. I can’t wait until this year is over. I need this break.”

” I hear you.”

“ Do you think we need to talk to somebody?”

” Like who?”

“ Therapist?”

” I dunno if I want to tell my problems to a stranger.”

” But, they would be objective. Harmony is a small town. Mostly everyone else knows us and has an opinion.”

“ Well, there’s Father Lonigan.”

” I’ll be honest….he’s gonna be full of platitudes about faith, and forgiveness. I don’t want to hear that mess now.”

Whitney laughed. “ I know. I think anger is VERY healthy in this situation. And, it’s VERY deserved.”

” Amen.”

“ You know what, Simone? Our mother brought us up to be strong Black women. Like her. And, that’s what we’re going to be. We can make it, and we can help Mom to make it. The three of us against the world……that’s how it’s gonna be.”

Simone nodded.
 

Julian Crane was walking in Harmony Hospital on his way to a Board Meeting, when someone bumped into him so hard, it knocked him down.

“ Could you look where..” Julian stopped when he realized who the person was.

“ Eve?”

Eve looked over to Julian, tears in her eyes. Julian gently pulled her up and helped her walk to a conference room, locking the door behind them. He sat her down in a chair and pulled up beside her, holding her hands.

“ What’s wrong, Eve?”

“ Besides my life completely falling apart?”

” Besides that.”

Eve took a few deep breaths and softly explained, “ I went to see Grace today.”

” Oh.”

” I thought I could take it. I thought confronting the woman who destroyed my family would be good for me. I was wrong.”

” What did she say for herself.”

” That she was sorry. SORRY?! What is that gonna get anyone in this situation?”

” Not much.”

” Exactly. I….I still don’t understand. I would have bet my life that it was going to be MY past that would ruin my life. The truth of the matter is that my past didn’t matter at all. Yet, my life is as destroyed as it ever could be.”

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

” I thought I needed to work, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t think I can make effective decisions, Julian. And I wouldn’t want to hurt my patients. I don’t want to be seen as irresponsible.”

“ You’re never that, Eve. I’ll talk to the Chief of Staff.”

Eve took a letter out of her purse. “ I typed it up last night. I didn’t know if I would use it, but I think I should. “

” Take your time. Get your life back in order.”

“ I am. I’m going to begin by telling my daughters the truth about my past.”

“ Why?”

” I just think it’s time that I did. I need to be honest with them. You understand that?”

Julian nodded. “ It’s just …what will people say?”

Eve laughed bitterly. “ Julian, no more than they’re already saying. I’m not going to make it common knowledge, but Whitney and Simone deserve the truth. It’s not going to be easy, but it has to be done.”

” Then, I wish you the best.”

“ You’re a complicated man, Julian Crane. You’re cold and ruthless one minute, and the next, you’re showing me deep compassion. Which is the real you, Julian.”

” Everything I do with you is real, Eve. It has to be. “

“ Thank you, for everything Julian. I’m going to go clean my desk out and finish some paperwork.”

” Don’t worry, Eve. Your position at Harmony Hospital will be waiting for you when you come back. I can promise you that.”

“ Bye.”
 

Grace went to open the door.

” Oh TC!”, she cried, as she went into his arms.

” Grace, what’s wrong? Is it something about the baby?”

Grace shook her head. “ I had a visit from Eve.”

” Oh.”

” It was awful. I knew that our being together had changed a lot of lives, TC. It’s just…”

” You didn’t want to hurt anyone.”

” No. “

” I know that, Grace. I understand.”

Grace looked into TC’s eyes. “ You really DO understand, don’t you?”

“ Yeah.”

“ TC, I sound crazy saying it, but I FEEL something between us. Do you?”

TC nodded. “ Hard to explain.”

” I know.”

“ I’m here for you, Grace. For you and our baby. And, whatever happens after that, we’ll deal with it, one step at a time.”

Grace found comfort in TC’s arms.

“ Well, well, isn’t this sweet?”

TC and Grace look up to see Kay glaring at them.