Eve had a busy morning planned. She had errands to run. She went back to the little diner in Castleton and ordered her a coffee.

Her first appointment got to her.

” Hi  Marlene.”

” Eve, I had been wondering when I would hear from you again. I have about a dozen places for you to look at around Harmony.”

” Marlene, I don’t need the house. Not right now. “

” Things are good between you and TC?”

” They haven’t fallen apart. I’m sorry to be so mysterious.”

” Eve, it’s none of my business. If you love him, and he’s not abusing you.”

” He’s not.”

” And, you want to keep your family together – who am I to judge?”

“ Thanks, Marlene. I appreciate you being willing to help me. “ Eve pulls out her checkbook. “ How much for your time.”

” Eve, nothing. I told you. You saved my life and showed me the way. I couldn’t possibly pay you back.”

” Thank you so much, Marlene.”

” I’ll see you later.”

Marlene leaves, and her next appointment is there soon.

“ Hello, Eve.”

“ Hi Dawn.”

” I’m in the process of doing the liquidations that you wanted.”

” Well, you don’t need to rush it now. “

“ Things aren’t falling apart for you?”

” No. Not now.”

” You want me to stop it?”

” No. I want you to liquidate it, but you have time now. I want the money put into a trust. I want the money taken and put into bonds. Can you arrange it?”

” Now that you have time, I’ll be able to get the money and minimize the penalties. I can arrange the trust.”

“ Thanks. “

“ I appreciate that you were so fast at getting that first money to me, but I don’t need it right now. Leave me a message at the hospital, and I’ll come over to your office to give you all the details about the trust.”

” You want all three million in bonds?”

” Yes.”

” Well, with that amount, I should be able to get a nice return.”

” Thanks.”

” Eve, is everything ok?”

” Things are better than I could have ever hoped. “

” You look so much better than our last meeting.”

” Things have changed a great deal.”

” Well, I’ll be going. I’ll begin the paperwork on the trust. I’ll call you when I have it all set up.”

” Thank you once again.”

Eve waited for her last appointment, which got there 20 minutes later.

“ Hello, Eve. I’m not used to meeting clients in diners.”

” Sorry, Alexandra. I didn’t want anyone else to see us.”

” So I gathered. We haven’t spoken much since the last time we met, though your financial adviser did  give me the prelimary reports on your finances.”

” Well, I don’t think that I need your services, for now.”

” You don’t?”

” No. My marriage hasn’t fallen apart.”

” Your husband accepted your son?”

” No. He doesn’t know about my son, which is what my son wants for now.”

” Oh.”

” Yes. So, while I don’t need your services right now, I still want to keep you on retainer for a year. We can make some sort of arrangement, right?”

” Yes.”

” The situation that I’m in right now is volatile. While my son insists that nobody know about our connection, I’m not so sure. I don’t want to use you, but better safe than sorry.”

” I understand, Eve. I’ll messenger over a bill to you at the hospital. I’ll do all the paperwork, and we’ll keep it on file, ok?”

” Fine.”

“ I can tell that you want to keep your marriage, Eve. I hope it works out for you.”

” Me too. Thanks, Alexandra.”

Eve shook her hand and she left.  Eve paid her bill, and decided to go for a drive.
 

“ Well, everyone has started without me, I see.”, Ivy said, coming out to the terrace. She came over to Julian, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

While Penny beamed, Ethan and Gwen looked at one another in shock, which matched Julian’s facial expression.

” Ivy, Dear, we were hungry, you can’t blame us, considering you rarely make an appearance downstairs before noon.”

” No, Julian, I understand.” Ivy went to kiss Penny. “ Sweetheart, did you get enough?”

” Daddy helped me, Mommy.”

” Good.” Ivy sat down and was served by a maid. She turned to Ethan and Gwen. “ So, you two, how was the honeymoon?”

” Fabulous, Mother. Gwen and I thought we would stop back home for a couple of days before we finished my trip.”

” You look happy, Ethan.”, Ivy said, staring directly into her son’s eyes.

” I am happy, Mother.”, Ethan replied, and the look in his eyes validated his words.

“Well, I’m glad you two came home. I have to admit that I missed you, Ethan. I love you so much.”

Ethan softened towards his mother. “ I love you too, Mother.”

Julian looked at Ethan. He thought of Chad. He wanted both of his sons to be with him, but he didn’t dare.

“ Ivy, Penny was telling me about all the fun you’ve been having.”, Gwen said.

” I have definitely enjoyed having Penny here. I missed her so much. I can’t even think about her leaving us.”

” That’s because she’s not going to leave. Right my wonderful Princess?”, Julian said, kissing Penny’s hand.

Ethan smiled, because he could see how much Julian loved his sister. He looked over to his wife, who was so happy, and then to his mother, who seemed to have softened in his absence. His family was around him, and he knew, without any doubts, that he had made the right decision. A sense of peace came over him, and he silently thanked his blessings. He was living the right life.