New Beginnings, Chapter 10
 
 

" A BABY!?", Eve questioned.

" Yes, you’re pregnant."

" But, but….I’m too old. "

" Nonsense. There are women older than you having children these days."

" TC and I weren’t trying."

" I know. You did try for all that time, and then decided that the girls would be enough. But, maybe, God’s decided to give you this one last chance."

" I…I’m stunned. I didn’t expect this."

The doctor laughs. " I can see that you didn’t. Eve, you’re in excellent shape. You’ve always taken good care of yourself, and with strict supervision by me, there is no reason to believe that you can’t deliver a healthy, normal baby."

" There are so many things that can go wrong.."

" I know. But, the advances made in this field in just the last 5 years have been outstanding. The fears that would have been here 10 years ago just aren’t these days. You should be able to work until the end of your second trimester with no problem. And, then, if you avoid any undue stress, things will be fine. So, am I settling any of those fears?"

Eve laughs. "Yes. Little by little. I can’t wait to get home to tell TC and the girls. I’ll probably need the smelling salts."

The doctor smiles. " You tell TC that he can stop by and see me anytime, if he has any concerns about your health."

" I will."

Eve left the doctor’s office, and  made it back to her own. She sat down in her chair and began to cry.

" Maybe, it’s a little boy. Nothing can replace the son I lost…but, if this is a little boy, I can give him all the love I would have given my first born. I’m going to have a baby.", Eve said smiling through her tears.

Sheridan was still sort of in a daze when she came back to the Cottage. She didn’t even notice Luis sitting on her couch.

" L…Luis! What are you doing here?"

" I was worried about you. We had a dinner date, remember?"

" Yes. I do now. I’m sorry I forgot. Can we order in?"

" Sure."

" Let me go get something more comfortable."

Sheridan went into her bedroom and changed into a t-shirt and some jogging pants. She went back into the living room, where Luis was just hanging up the phone.

" I ordered Indian."

" That’s fine. "

Sheridan sat down next to Luis, and just huddled in his arms. Luis kissed Sheridan on the top of her head and asked,

" Is there something wrong? You seem sort of distant."

A part of Sheridan wanted to tell Luis about Chad, but, she promised Julian that she wouldn’t. And, she had to honor it, plus, she didn’t think Luis could help in dealing with Alistair.

" No, nothing’s wrong. I’ve just been thinking about some things."

" Like what?"

" Like family. Is it better to grow up with a bad one, or not one at all, say..like Chad Harris?"

" Chad? Where’d that come from?"

" I don’t know. I mean, you grew up in a loving home. Of course, that was better than what Chad went through. But, I…I grew up in a house where love wasn’t present. Did I have it better than Chad?"

" I think so. You had my Mom, whenever you came home. And, you had your Mom, until she died. "

" You’re right. I should be ashamed of myself even remotely trying to compare my situation toChad’s. I had it better."

" Yeah, but, not by a lot. You lived with Alistair and Julian’s abuse for years, and no one should have to live with that."

" Julian isn’t so bad. He’s had it as bad as I have."

" Are you kidding?"

" No. Julian has had it as bad, Luis. You just don’t see it."

" Yeah, maybe..when pigs fly. Why are you asking about Chad?"

" I was just thinking about him. Do you think he’ll want to have a relationship with his family?"

" I would think so. I would think that the only way he wouldn’t want to be near his family, is if they made it clear that he wasn’t welcome around them. But, if they open their arms to him, I think he’d make every effort. He’s been looking for them for a long time. I don’t think he has any sort of idealistic expectations about them. I don’t think he’d care if they had money or were poor. He wouldn’t judge them like that. If they opened their arms to him and welcomed him, he’d definitely give them a chance."

" I hope his family does want him."

" If they don’t, they would be crazy. Chad’s a terrific guy. Good hearted, strong, hard-working. Those characteristics don’t pop up in just anyone. He’s something special."

" I got that impression from him too."

" I’m rooting for Chad to find a family. A real family, you know, like the Bennetts or the Russells. A family full of love that will welcome him with open arms. "

Sheridan felt a little sick in her stomach. She knew that Luis was not including the Cranes in that ‘family full of love’ description. But, Luis would see, once Julian opened his arms to Chad. They’d all see.

Sheridan had another topic on her mind too.

" Luis?"

" Yeah, Babe?"

" Do you know why TC Russell hates the Cranes so much?"

" Why does anyone hate the Cranes?"

" Luis…"

" Why do you ask?"

" I saw TC, and though he’s cordial, and sort of friendly, I get the sense from him, that he still sees me as a Crane, first and foremost."

" Maybe true, but, TC’s a good guy. He loves his family more than anything. He’s a rock solid guy, who has been there for me and my family many times. Many times when I was growing up, and we would need something that Mama couldn’t afford, like a special trip, or activity that maybe we didn’t need, but, it would have hurt us not to have been involved, TC and Sam Bennett pretty much made sure that we got it. It always came in the form of Father Lonigan, from some special church fund, but, they helped us out plenty of times over they ears. He has a temper, and yeah, it’s mostly directed in the Crane direction,  but, he’s a good guy. "

" He hates Julian, doesn’t he."

" Oh yeah. There is nothing clearer in the world than he hates Julian. Julian would do well to steer clear of TC. I hope your brother is never stupid enough to do something that TC perceives as a threat to his family. God help him if he does."

Sheridan felt a shiver go down her spine, and she gave into it involuntarily.

" Something wrong?"

" No. I think I felt a gust of cold wind. "

" Well, snuggle up close to me."

" Be glad to. Luis, I love you. I’m so glad we met."

" Me too. I can’t wait for us to begin a life together, and, that I can finally give you the family and love that you always should have had. Not that I don’t enjoy our times together here, but, I can’t wait for the day that I’ll move you out of this Cottage and away from your family. I think it will be nothing but good for you."

Sheridan held Luis close, but said nothing. How could she tell him that she had just given her brother a vow that she would help him try and build a new family for himself. She couldn’t and wouldn’t let Julian and Chad down. Somehow, when the time was right, she’d convince Luis of it too.
 
 

Chad sat in the dark, on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He kept his eyes open, because when he closed them, all he could do was remember the kiss that he’d given Theresa tonight. How right it felt….her lips on his. How right she felt in his arms. He looked over at his nightstand to the picture of Whitney. How he wished that she would call. How he needed to hear her voice again.

Chad was taken out of his thoughts by a knock on the door. He got up and answered the door.

" Dr. Russell?"

" Hi, Chad. Chad, I was wondering if you would look after the house for a few days. Whitney is having such a success at the Tournament Series that she’s been invited to the final two weeks of the circuit, played all across Southern California: Palm Springs, Malibu, LA, San Diego. I think I’m going to take Simone, and we’re going to go visit them. I….I have some special news for the family that can’t wait, and I wanted us to be together when I told it. So, you’ll look after the house?"

" Sure, Dr. Russell. No problem. When will you leave?"

" In the next few days. I have to take the time off, and give Simone’s teachers the chance to compile her assignments."

" Well, you just tell me when you’re going to leave. I’ll keep a lookout."

" Thank you, Chad. Would you like to come down for snack? Simone and I would love the company."

" You know, I already ate. "

" Ok, good night, then."

" Night, Dr. Russell."

Chad thought about Whitney being gone yet several more weeks. He couldn’t believe it. He supported her in her tennis, but, he wanted her home. He was so confused: how could he have kissed Theresa like that? Did he have feelings for her? She responded, so, it’s  clear that she has feelings for him. Chad didn’t know what to think about that at all.