They were all gathered in the conference room, just as Eve had requested. They wondered why they were there.

Chad looked around. He guessed Eve had wanted him to have support. After all, most of the people in this room had been there for him along the way. They’ve been supportive of his search for his parents.

Could it be ending now?

Just then, Eve entered the room. She went over to Chad.

” Hi Chad.”

” Dr. Russell.”

” I guess you’re wondering why I called you down here.”

” Well, I’m guessing it had to do with my parents, right?”

” Yes, Chad.”

” Doctor Russell…..did you find my parents?”

The room was so quiet a pin could drop.

” Yes, Chad. I’ve found your parents.”

Chad sat down in a chair. He was having a hard time breathing. Eve sat down next to him and reached out to hold his hand.

” It’s going to be ok, Chad. I promise.”

Chad looked up at the ceiling. “ Take deep breaths”, he heard Eve say, and he did just that. When his heart stopped racing and calmed down, he looked at Eve.

“ You sure?”

” Yes. I’ve been working on this for the past four days. I’ve gone to more than one lab, and had the tests re-done because I didn’t want there to be any room for error. I’ve found your parents.”

” That means they live in Harmony.”

“ Yes, they do.”

“ Do….do you know them?”

” Yes, I do. For a long time.”

” Are….are they good people, Dr. Russell?”

Eve swallowed hard. “ Yes, Chad, I think I can honestly tell you that they’re decent people.”

” Do you think they’ll want me?”

Eve smiled and reached out to touch Chad’s face. “ Chad, once they get over the initial shock, I’m very sure they will be THRILLED to have you in their lives. To have you as their son.”

“ Ok then, I guess I’m ready. Who are my parents?”

” Your parents are Grace Bennett and TC Russell.”

The room was so silent, Eve could hear people processing it in their minds.

” WHAT?”, TC said. “ What did you say?”

” I said that Chad is yours and Grace’s, TC.”

” Coach Russell and Mrs. Bennett are my parents? You’re sure?”, Chad asked.

“ Yes, Chad. I knew it..”

” OH HELL NO!”

Everyone turned to look at Kay.

“ Kay..”, Grace said.

” No. No. NO!! First, I have to accept that Daddy cheated on you. THEN, I have to accept that YOU cheated on Daddy with my Godfather. Next, we’re supposed to accept the bastard created by that cheating. Now, to top it all, we’re supposed to believe that you didn’t just begin cheating on Daddy, you did it years ago, and you had CHAD?”

Kay didn’t wait for an answer; she ran out of the room.

Whitney just stared at the entire room. Simone could see that Whitney was about to pass out, so she rushed over to Whitney and helped her sit down. She held both of Whitney’s hands, trying to keep her calm, and spoke up.

” While I’m not as blunt as Kay, I have to admit that the feelings behind it, I definitely relate to. Daddy, you had a relationship with Mrs. Bennett back then? You cheated on Mom throughout your marriage?”

” No! No, Simone. I have always been faithful to Eve until a few months ago. But, yes, Grace and I had a relationship before I ever met your mother, and before she met Sam. “

” You never told me.”, Eve said quietly.

“ Grace didn’t remember me, and I didn’t see the sense of rocking the boat.”

” You have a CHILD with her, TC. You didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”

” Eve, until this moment, I had NO IDEA that Grace had my child. None. She was in my life one day, and then she was going away to visit family for a week, and she never returned. Next time I saw her, she was the girl Sam told me he’d fallen in love with. When I realized that he was telling the truth and that Grace had total amnesia, why would I bring up a past she couldn’t remotely remember? She loved Sam. I had found you, Eve. Nothing good could come of bringing up the past.”

Grace walked over to Chad. She reached out to touch his face, and held his hand. “ I don’t remember anything from my past before the night Sam saved me in the fire. I don’t remember being pregnant. I don’t remember giving birth to you.”

Tears are streaming down Grace and Chad’s faces. “ But, even though I don’t remember, and I’m in shock. I’m happy. I’m so happy right now. How can I not be? I know it will take time, but don’t think that this is bad news to me. It’s wonderful news. Wonderful.”

Grace pulled Chad in for a hug.

Jessica walked over to Chad and gave him a slight hug. “ Kay’s just upset. I’m in shock, but it’s not you, Chad. I think everybody is going to need time. “

Chad nodded and Jessica turned to Grace. “ I think I should be the one to tell Noah. “

Grace agreed and Jessica left.

Chad looked in Simone and Whitney’s direction. Whitney just shook her head and ran out of the room with Simone following her.  Eve left after the girls.

TC came over to Chad. He wanted to say something, but all he could do is pull Chad into a huge hug. He held onto Chad for a long time. When he released him, Chad could see the tears coming down TC’s face.  “ It’s odd. There have been moments since we first met that I thought you would make some man a terrific son. I just didn’t know that man would be me.”
TC pulled Chad in for another hug, and then the three of them, TC, Chad and Grace, sat down at the table together – staring, crying, and holding hands.

Eve was running down the hallway after Whitney and Simone, who ignored her, and got on the elevator. Eve thought about running after them, but realized they probably wanted to be alone. Eve walked back to her office with a heavy heart. When she got there, she found Julian waiting for her. Eve said nothing, but just went up to Julian and hugged him. He held on tight, and escorted her into the office and over to the couch. Eve hugged him for awhile, and he could hear her cry. He thought it best that he did nothing and wait for her.

After awhile, she didn’t lift her head from his chest, but she spoke up.

“ Chad is TC and Grace’s son.”

” Yes, I’d heard about that strange twist of fate. What an odd pairing. You don’t think that..”

” That they were having a relationship the entire time TC and I were married? No. I believe TC when he said that Grace didn’t remember him.”

“ You’re upset about your daughters?”

“ Well, I am upset about them, but this….Julian, she doesn’t even REMEMBER HIM! She doesn’t remember him, and here it happens. This wonderful young man just FALLS into her lap. While..”

” While you remember every minute of every day about our son. And, you grieve for him. And miss him.”

Eve nodded. “ It just doesn’t seem right. I’ve got so much pain where our son is concerned, and she gets a son she didn’t even miss! I guess I’m just feeling sorry for myself.”

” It’s allowed.  What are you going to do now?”

” I’m going to go home, and hope that my daughters are there. I’m going to finish packing, and pray that the next few days goes quickly, because I can’t wait for the vacation to begin.”

“ I’ll miss you.”

Eve smiled. “ And, I, you. But, I think it’s for the best.”

” Why don’t I walk you to your car?”

” I’d like that.”