Eve laughed. “ Julian, what do have in mind?”

“ Top of the line cruise throughout the Caribbean, and then a nice, long extended 3 week stay, all expense paid time at the Crane Resort.”

” In Bermuda?”

“ Yes.”

” Where there are so many memories of us?”

“ Well…”

Eve shook her head at Julian.

“ You know, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt, Julian and accept your offer at face value. If it pleases you, I’ll accept the vacation on behalf of my family.”

” Good. I do wish I could be a fly on the wall when Ivy realizes that the good Chief Bennett can see through her. Ah….justice.” Julian laughs loudly.
 

” Well, I have to go. But, you’ll call me when you’ve got the arrangements done?”

” Count on it.”

Eve kissed Julian and left him at their special place.
 

“ So. Did I do ok?”, Simone asked Reese, as he reviewed her practice test.

“ Damn. You kicked ass! You only missed 2 questions!”

“ Only 2? I’m surprised.”

” To be honest, so am I. I know you’re smart, but you’ve had a lot to deal with lately.”

Simone got up and sat in a beanbag in front of the window at their studyplace. Reese followed her.

” School has been a salvation. It’s like the only solid thing I have in my life, right now. I don’t have a family. My relationship with Kay is in the toilet. Outside of school…..and you…I feel I’m drifting to nowhere.” Simone looked down at the floor. Reese leaned over and lifted her face to meet his.

“ I’ll be there for you, Simone.”

“ You have been, Reese. This is definitely not the best way to begin a relationship, is it?”

“ Not the most conventional way, nope. “

Simone looked at Reese and could see he was upset.

” Reese, you’re upset. What is it?”

” Simone…I….I have some news. And, I don’t know how to tell you. I don’t even think I’m going to take it.”

” Take what?”

” I was accepted into this advanced science program at Cal Tech for the summer. I didn’t think I’d get in, because they only take 10 kids from the entire country.”

” Wow. And, you got in. What the hell do you mean that you don’t think you’ll take it?”

“ I mean, you need me. My mom needs me.”

“ Reese. I can only speak for myself, but you have to go. In fact, I was going to tell you something too. I’m going to be spending the summer with my mother and Whitney. We’re going on an extended vacation. My mother took a leave of absence so that we can work things out. Reese, my mother told me things that you wouldn’t believe.”

“ You want to share?”

“ Not now. I’m trying to sort through them myself. So, I guess it means that I’ll have a lot to write you in California. And, you don’t worry about your mother. She will be SO mad at you if she thought that you’d give up a chance like Cal Tech for her. Her children getting the best out of life is what pushes her.”

“ You know my Mom so well.”

” Because, she’s a great mother. She would feel awful if she knew that you were even thinking of throwing away this opportunity. “

” So, I shouldn’t hurt her like this.”

” Nope.” Simone reaches over to Reese and pulls him in for a long, slow kiss. When they separate, Reese’s glasses are partly fogged, and his cheeks are red. Simone smiles slyly and puts her head down.

“ Um….I guess that reminds me. I….I was wondering if you had a date for the Prom.”

Simone looked up in shock. “ Wow, I totally forgot about the Prom. After everything went down with Chad, I didn’t have any interest in going.”

“ Oh. Well, I was thinking…if you didn’t mind…”

” I would love to go with you, Reese. “

Reese’s face lit up with a huge smile. “ You would?”

” I can’t think of anyone else I’d  want to go to the prom with other than you. Though, I’m basically starting from scratch. NO WAY am I wearing the outfit that I was going to wear with Chad. So, forgive me if I leave now? I have to go ask Whitney and my mother to help me find a dress!”

Reese smiled. “ It’s good to see you happy about something.”

“ Reese Durke, you are so good to me.”, Simone said kissing him again and then leaving.
 

Eve is on her laptop at home, doing research about her family when the doorbell rings. She closed the computer and went to the door.

” Chad?”

” Hi, Doctor Russell.”

“ Whitney’s not home, Chad.”

” I didn’t come by to see Whitney. I came by to see you.”

” Oh. Well, come in.”

Chad came in and sat down on the couch across from Eve.

” What’s up, Chad? Why are you here?”

” I know you took a leave of absence from the hospital, Doc. But, I was wondering if you were still going to do me the favor.”

“ The favor?”

” My DNA test?”

Eve’s eyes lit up with recognition. “ Your DNA test! Oh, Chad. I’m sorry. I have to admit, I hadn’t thought of it.”

“ If it’s too much..”

” No, no, Chad. You don’t need to worry. I’ll make sure that I complete your DNA test before I leave on vacation.”

” Vacation? Didn’t Whitney tell you? We’re going on vacation together. Whitney, Simone and I.”

” No. She didn’t get to talk to me lately. Where are you going?”

” Just places where we can work on things together, and give us breathing room.”

“ I see.”

“ Chad, I don’t think it has anything to do with your relationship with Whitney.”

” I know that, Doctor Russell. I know Whitney needs the time for herself. She needs her family – right now, that’s you and Simone. It’s going to take awhile before she..”

” Reconciles with her father? You don’t have to be on eggshells with me, Chad. I WANT Whitney and Simone to work things through with their father. He MUST be in their lives. He just can’t be in mine, anymore.”

“ I think it’s a damn shame, Doctor Russell. I always looked at your family as the ‘perfect’ family.”

” Well, now you know: no family is ‘perfect’. Chad, if you excuse me, I have to deal with some business matters, but I’ll get back to you about the DNA test. I won’t leave town without giving you the results.”

” Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it.”