Lost Cause, Chapter 25
“ Fox, you nearly scared me to death.”
“ Did I, Father?”
“ Yes. You did. What are you grumbling about?”
“ Don’t play coy with me, Father. You hit the jackpot tonight.”
“ Nicholas..”
“ Father, before you say anything, you should know that I found Simone
Russell tonight. Crouched on the ground, in front of the hospital. Devastated.”
“ Oh.”
“ Yes, Oh. So, before you lie to me, I know that Doctor Russell woke up
to see that her husband and two daughters were STRANGERS. But, she knew YOU,
didn’t she, Father?”
“ Why the accusatory tone, Son. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“ But, you definitely benefited, didn’t you?”
“ Eve is ill. “
“ Ah yes, Doctor Eve is ill and needs your undying support, doesn’t she,
Father?”
“ If you want me to apologize for Eve knowing me, I’m not. I’m not going
to take advantage of the situation, Fox.”
“ Aha. It DID occur to you TO take advantage of the situation, didn’t it,
Father?”
“ Fox..”
“ Father, for once in your life, do the right thing. You CLAIM that you
love Doctor Russell.”
“ I DO!”
“ Then leave her alone. Let her FAMILY take care of her.”
“ Fox..”
“ Father, Coach Russell, Whitney and Simone love her. You know they do.
They can help her get through this. Without your help. Do the right thing.
Leave Eve alone.”
“ I can’t Fox. I can’t leave Eve alone.”
“ You’re NOT LEAVING HER ALONE!”
“ Yes, I am. Fox, she woke up, and didn’t know anyone. No one. She believes
she’s all alone in the world, Fox. All she remembers is me and our son.”
“ Your son? How’d you get out of that one?”
“ I told her our son was in the Navy, and that he’s on submarine duty.”
Fox shook his head. “ Unreal. So, now you’re lying to her about her own
child?”
“ I’m lying about his location. He’s alive!”
“ Well, you know, sooner or later, you’re going to have to tell her the
truth. She’s going to want to see her Navy son.”
“ I know. And, I hope it’s later. Much later.”
“ Father..”
“ Fox, once upon a time, I deserted Eve in her time of need. I promised
myself, when I decided to turn over a new leaf, that if Eve ever needed me,
I would do whatever I had to in order to help her. As she sees it, she’s alone
in the world. She’ll not be alone – she’ll have me.”
“ This is a recipe for disaster.” Fox picked up the phone and dialed. “
You’re needed at the main house. Please come.”
“ Who did you call?”
“ You’ll see. You need to think about this, Dad. I know. You have every
intention of helping Doctor Russell. But, Dad, what happens the longer
this goes on? Your resolve is strong now. But, over time? You actually think
you’re strong enough to keep this up?”
“ Keep what up?”
“ The ‘ Noble Julian’ act. Dad, come on, sooner or later, the CRANE in
you is going to come out.”
Just then, Sheridan came into the living room. “ Fox, why did you
call me?”
“ To talk some sense into your brother.”
“ Sense?”, Sheridan asked, looking at Julian.
“ It’s nothing.”, Julian replied.
“ It’s NOT nothing. My father, your brother, thinks he can be this ‘Noble
Julian’ character for the long haul. The truth of the matter is, he’s setting
himself and everyone else up for nothing but trouble. “
Sheridan looked from Fox to Julian and back again. “ Will SOMEONE please
tell me what Fox is talking about?”
Before Julian could reply, Fox did. “ Doctor Russell woke up from her coma,
but there’s a hitch – she has total amnesia. She doesn’t remember her husband,
or either of her daughters. But, she DOES remember one person – YOUR BROTHER!”
“ Julian?”
“ Yes, Julian. Short story, Aunt Sheridan. Dad and Doctor Russell were
hot and heavy years ago. SO hot and heavy that they produced a child – a
son. Doctor Russell remembers the good old days, and, Dear Old Dad here,
has decided that because he treated Doctor Russell like crap all those years,
that he owes it to her. He’s going to make it up to her by being there for
her NOW. Nevermind that she has a HUSBAND and TWO daughters who would be
perfectly willing to care for her. No, Father’s going to ‘ do the right
thing’, and help Doctor Russell through this bad time.”
“ Fox, is that so bad?”
Fox rolled his eyes. “ You GOTTA be kidding me? This has DISASTER written
all over it. You have to see this. You HAVE to talk him out of it!”
Sheridan looked at Julian, then Fox. “ Fox, why don’t you leave Julian
and I alone. We can talk privately.”
“ Sure. I hope you can talk some sense into him.”, Fox replied before leaving
the room.
“ Shall we sit down?”, Sheridan asked. Julian followed her to the couch.
“ So, you and Eve Russell? Really?”
“ Really.”
“ How serious?”
“ She is the ONLY woman I have ever loved.”
Sheridan was stunned at the solidness of Julian’s tone. He was so certain.
“ I have to admit that I’m shocked, Julian. You and love and deep love
at that, in the same sentence.”
“ Well, it’s true.”
“ All these years, it was only Eve?”
“ Only Eve.”
“ Fox said something about a son. You had a son with her?”
“ Yes.”
“ Where is he?”
“ I don’t know. Father kidnapped him hours after he was born. What happened
to him is anyone’s guess, but I’m working on trying to find him.”
“ Oh Julian. I’m so sorry.”
“ When Eve needed me last time, I was a coward under Father’s thumb. I
left her open and vulnerable to Father’s attack. I hurt her deeply. I disappointed
her, and, in essence abandoned her. I won’t do that this time, Sheridan.
She’s all alone in the world, and I’m the only familiar face to her. Whatever
comfort I can give her, I’m going to give it.”
“ Julian, Fox is right. She has a husband and two daughters. “
“ That she doesn’t know from Adam. “
“ Doesn’t matter, Julian. They are her legal family. Julian, you know how
much TC hates you. And, this was BEFORE he knew about you and Eve?”
“ I know.”
“ Julian, I think it’s admirable that you want to help Eve. But, Fox is
right. Maybe you need to back away.”
“ Absolutely not.”
“ Ok, Julian, now I’m beginning to see why Fox is worried. Julian, I know
you love her, but you’re not being fair to Eve or yourself. Eve is living
in the past. What’s to say that you being around Eve won’t make you think
things.”
“ Things?”
“ Do you really think you’re strong enough to handle being around Eve like
that? What about YOUR heart, Julian? How safe is it?”
“ I’m strong enough to take it. I intend to help Eve through this difficult
time, Sheridan. And, I’m not going to be talked out of it by you or anyone
else.” Julian replied before he left the room.
Sheridan sighed. “ Oh Julian. Don’t you know that they say the road to
Hell is paved with good intentions.”