Chapter 52: A New Life

Chapter 52


6 YEARS LATER


Many things had changed in Harmony, since the night Eve Crane had left Harmony.

Duncan and Jessica McKechnie welcomed a son into the world. Unfortunately, the child looked exactly like James Stenbeck! There was just no mistaking the resemblance. Jessica had been forced to come clean(meaning Duncan had almost snatched her bald while she was recovering from child birth), and Jessica admitted that the baby could be his....through rape. When Duncan didn’t look like he was buying that, Jessica was forced to tell him the truth, all of it, including the part about Bonnie.

For Duncan, not only was being made a fool of hard to take, but for him not to have fathered either of the children he had thought he had with Jessica, was just unthinkable! But the babe looked EXACTLY like James, only it was a girl.

Duncan could not help but think about that time, after the town helped rescue Julian and Eve from that cave in. Julian had said something about James and Jessica, but then something else happened, and he just decided that Julian was a goddamned liar.

But he hadn’t been, had he?

And Eve....Eve had known. When Duncan looked back on it, she used to have this funny look on her face, whenever he mentioned Jessica. Duncan had thought it was just the awkwardness of his having went back to Jessica, and the residual feelings they had for one another.

But now Duncan believed Eve had known about Bonnie all along.

Not that he could blame her for not saying anything. It was not in Eve’s nature to hurt people. She probably just thought he was better off not knowing. Duncan now knew he was not better off, not having Eve in his life.

He had been foolish. He had made a mistake. He needed to find her.

But Martin Fitzgerald had blocked his every move, for almost 5 and a half years now.

Duncan was the only one that knew that Martin had helped Eve leave Harmony that fateful night, six years before. So he knew the man knew where Eve was.

But he was not forthcoming. And worse yet, Duncan had noted that Fitzgerald disappeared from Harmony for months at a time, making him think that he was off to see Eve.....and the child she had to have given birth to by now.

So, Duncan McKechnie decided, that the next time Martin Fitzgerald left town, he was following him. After all, what did he really have left here? His wife was no damned good, Bonnie...oh, how it hurt his heart to leave her, but she was Stenbeck’s. And the timing of the pregnancy, told him, and couple of others, that the man had to still be alive, if he had been able to impregnate Jessica like he did.

Jessica confirmed it, but then swore she had not heard from him in years. Duncan didn’t believe it. And he wasn’t waiting around for the man to show up claiming his children.

Duncan also didn’t have a business anymore. McKechnie-Castillo went down the tubes, when Cruz became a drunk, then died of alcohol poisoning. Word was that Cruz, though he tried, could never truly forgive Pilar for driving Eden to murder a woman. Of course to this day, the only person that knew that Eden didn’t kill Tanya Lincoln Johnson, had seemingly disappeared.

Now here is where things began to get strange. Martin wooed Pilar, until she consented to be his wife. Pilar agreed, and the two were married in a rather lavish style.

It was not long until Duncan confronted Pilar about what she knew of Eve’s whereabouts. Pilar swore up and down she knew nothing, and oddly enough, Duncan believed her. And he believed her because Pilar seemed genuinely appalled at the idea of Martin’s business trips, in reality, being rendezvous’ with Eve.

And of course, there was Julian Crane. It warmed Duncan’s heart everytime Julian would get a lead on Eve, only to come back empty handed. He deserved to come back with nothing! He hoped Eve and the child ran like hell whenever they saw him! And from the looks of things, that seemed to be the case.

Julian would be close to finding them, then Eve, and the son she supposedly gave birth to, would reportedly slip away. That was another reason that Duncan strongly suspected that Eve was getting help of some kind....from someone with powerful resources. And Martin Fitzgerald had been very powerful ever since he found that gold.

In the meantime, when Julian was not off chasing after Eve, he was running the whole Crane empire. Julian Crane had forced his father to confess to killing his mother, Rachel Crane. Then, Alistair had disappeared, just as Sam and his deputies were coming for him. But the whole story made no sense. First of all, because someone had been wounded in the Crane mansion. Ms. Kitty Cat, obviously, but the blood was nowhere near where she had been. Others speculated it was Rachel’s blood, from earlier that day.

Then there was the theory that Julian had shot his own father, after finding out that he had wrongly accused Eve.

Just how Alistair disappearing like he did, fit in, no one knew. Not to mention the other dead body of T.C. Russell, that also lay in that mansion, that particular evening. The whole thing was too bizarre to be believed. So odd, that soon after, everything seemed to die down. The hatred people felt for Alistair was still there, but many believed that Julian had killed him, then buried him someplace, thus making some feel better. That and finding out that everyone that the town had thought had died, was really still alive, but had been captured by Indians and then let go, once Brightfeather had been killed, soothed some of the wounds a bit.

But not for Julian Crane.

*****

When Alistair Crane regained consciousness, after being shot in the shoulder by his son, he was ordered to leave town, anyway he had to, by Julian.

Alistair did not fight his son. He had too much going against him anyway. The guards he kept, to keep the other townspeople at bay, the lie he had told about the cattle, his connection with the now dead T.C. Russell and his beloved Rachel.

He decided to leave....for now. Until he could plan his comeback and still stay a free man.

Ms. Kitty Cat lived and Julian moved her into the mansion to recuperate....where she has stayed for all of these years. It’s a little known secret now, that she is really Julian Crane’s mother, even though he has never publicly acknowledged her as such.

Fox took to her right away, and spent very little time missing his other grandmother, or the stepmother he had known for too short awhile.

Katherine was there for her son, as he grieved for Rachel, the loss of the father that never was, and his beloved Eve, whom she urged him to go after.

But Julian knew there was no fixing what he had done. He didn’t deserve Eve. He decided to let her be, with the hopes that one day, she might come back to him....she and their child.

And Julian would’ve let it stay that way, until one day, two years later, something happened by chance. A bittersweet tragedy, of sorts.

Esther Fuller, who worked as a maid for them, was kicked by one of the horses in the stables, as she took her husband, Carter, who also worked for them, his lunch. The new doctor in town, A Dr. Rick Webber, was with her when she died.

But she had also asked to see Julian, of all people, on her deathbed.

Julian, who had barely glanced at the woman, during her years of employment, stood curiously at the foot of her bed, wondering why this woman would want to see him, above her husband, and the two children they shared?

Julian found out quickly enough, when the woman gasped that she had indeed overheard Eve and his father, the day of Rachel Crane’s murder. Rachel had been alive when Eve left the mansion that day.

Julian had been a bit surprised, since by his telling the authorities that Alistair was indeed the culprit, everyone knew Eve was innocent. But then the woman went on and on, almost as if she were re-living what she had overheard.

And that was when Julian found out, that Eve had told his father that she had loved him.

He would never know if this woman, a maid that he has paid scant attention to, had somehow known that he needed to hear that, or even know it. But she passed away quickly after telling him that.

And that was when Julian decided that he would not give up on Eve or their child. He was not going to wait for her to come back to him. He would find his family and do whatever he had to to make things right.

But first he had to find her.....


PRESENT DAY


Six year old Brandon Lincoln, stood before his class at the Worther Academy For the Gifted, in Minnesota. He had invented something for his class project, and was about to demonstrate it. He ignored the snickers of his older classmates, who were between the ages of 8 and 10.

One of them was a boy named Fox Crane.

Brandon cleared his throat.

“Now, you can write whatever you want on it, then leave it on your desk, or the wall or wherever. I call it a ‘post-it’.”

There were snickers! Fox raised a brow. Hmmmm. That was not a bad idea.

The teacher rapped her ruler on the desk.

“I will have order! Now, Brandon, please continue and....oh....Mrs. Lincoln.”

Eve smiled an apology to the class, as she entered the room. Fox looked behind him and frowned. There was something familiar about her....was she a teacher here?

Brandon felt like groaning! Whenever his mother came to his school like this, it meant that he had to go to another school!

“I’m sorry, Ms. Kincaid, but I must see Brandon right away.”

“Uh...well...”

“Mother, I’m in the middle of my project.” he said calmly. Fox looked from Brandon to Eve. So this was Brandon’s mother, hey?

Ms. Kincaid smiled at Brandon.

“Brandon, go with your mother while we hear from Fox Crane.”

Eve stood stock still. Fox Crane?! Oh damnit! She knew her instincts had been right! Martin had gotten word to her, that Julian had found out somehow that they were here! Eve did what she always did when that happened. She pulled her son out of whatever school they were in, and ran as fast as the wind would let them! There was a train leaving in a half an hour.

But Worthy was a boarding school as well, though Brandon lived at home with her. Julian must’ve sent Fox away.

Eve looked away, doubtful that he would recognize her, since he had been just a baby the last time he saw her. She could feel the boy’s eyes on her for a minute that felt like an eternity, before he slid out of his seat and carried a box up to the front.

Eve pulled on Brandon’s hand and almost dragged him out into the hallway. She hated doing this to him! She really did! It was not easy to find schools for the gifted in this country, but when he could do algebra at two years of age, Eve knew that no ordinary school would do for her boy.

Of course, what she got in return was a pint sized adult. One that had many mannerisms that reminded her of Julian, though God knows why that was, since the two had never met.

Then again, she meant to keep it that way.

Martin had told her of the events that had went on, after she left. Eve didn’t care. Julian had been a mistake, and in the back of her mind, maybe she always knew they couldn’t make it work.

And she was not interested in trying again, or letting Julian get his hands on her boy!

“Honey, we have to go.”

“Mother! Why don’t we just have Uncle Martin take care of whatever this is all about.”

“Excuse me?”

“Mother, it is obvious that we are running from something.”

“No we aren’t.”

“Then if we aren’t, then I can go back inside and listen to whatever preposterous idea Fox Crane has in store for us.”

“How is Fox? I mean....as a student?” Eve asked curiously. Brandon shrugged.

“He’s fair. I will admit, his idea for a machine that goes off, whenever there is a fire, was sort of ingenious.”

Eve nodded. Sometimes she wondered if these schools indulged a bit too much in fancy? Who in the world needed a machine to detect fire, when all one had to do is use their nose? And that project that Brandon had been working on, with the slips of paper left everywhere.....

But then again, she herself was a doctor. Anything was possible.

That was another thing. She was forced to leave yet another job. But it couldn’t be helped. She had no intention of looking at Julian Crane ever again.

“Brandon, I know this seems unfair.”

“It is, Mother. It truly is. What kind of trouble could we possibly get into if we stayed here? I like it here. I like this school.”

“I like it here too.”

“And won’t Uncle Martin be cross, if he comes back and finds us gone, yet again?”

Brandon thought that ‘Uncle Martin’, a.k.a, Martin Fitzgerald, was his real uncle, brother of his dead father. Martin understood there could be nothing between them, yet he still insisted on helping.....which was kind, and invaluable, to Eve. For she never would’ve evaded Julian this long, if it had not been for his help.

Eve had told him to go to Pilar, after Cruz Castillo died. She did not know if Pilar knew the secret her husband kept from her, or if it was indeed a secret to her at all. She just knew that Martin loved Pilar as well.

Eve had gifted him with what she had learned from T.C., about the likelihood of Alistair Crane being the one responsible for killing her mother. Maybe, just maybe, Pilar could free herself from some of the guilt, that Eve knew must’ve compounded, after Cruz’s death.

“Uncle Martin loves us, honey, he isn’t going to be mad.....”

Damnit! Eve looked out of a window, and saw Julian walking towards the door! Eve then wondered if Julian wasn’t here for her, but to see Fox? Maybe, just maybe, she could relax a little. Maybe he was here to see Fox, and once that was done, he would go back to Harmony? Maybe this wasn’t about her at all?

“You know what? You’re right. We’re not going anywhere.” Eve announced. Brandon’s eyes lit up!

“Really, Mother? Really and truly?”

“Yes, really and truly. But.....I want you to take a walk with me until.....uh, just for a spell.”

“Alright.” Brandon agreed, taking his mother’s hand. Eve pulled him out of another door, just as Julian walked into the main one. He looked around, until he saw the room that Fox was supposed to in. He knocked on the door, then let himself into the classroom.

Fox was just finishing up some sort of lesson at the front of the room, and his classmates were clapping. Julian clapped as well, even though he had no idea why!

Ms. Kincaid patted down her hair. She really liked Mr. Crane! Really, really, really liked him!

“Mr. Crane! My, my, this is the second parent we’ve had here today.”

“Oh? Well it’s nice to see you, Ms. Kincaid. I need to speak to Fox though.”

“Oh, alright. Well Fox, go with you father.”

Fox rolled his eyes and followed his father out into the hallway. He frowned. Where was Brandon and his mother?

“Fox? Are you paying attention?”

Fox’s eyes returned to his father’s.

“Uh, yes, Father. What are you doing here?”

“Well, I’m here in town for a bit of business. We can have dinner tonight and catch up.”

Fox stared at his father. Julian frowned.

“What is it? Tell me, are you not pleased to see me?”

“Uh, no Father. It’s not that. I know this is going to sound odd, but....I have a classmate, who’s mother looks exactly like that woman you have the picture of.”

Julian felt his stomach do flip flops!

“The picture....”

“Yes, the lady you were married to after Mother, and then she ran off or disappeared, correct?”

Julian didn’t like hearing that put so baldly, but did not comment on it. He half wondered if his son even really remembered what Eve would’ve looked like, even from a photograph?

“Funny,” Fox went on, “she was just here with Brandon. I thought they were out here.”

Now Julian frowned and walked to a window. He did not see any signs of anyone that looked like Eve. But still....he did have it from a good source that Eve and his son were living in town here....he just didn’t know exactly where.

Julian looked down at Fox.

“Maybe they’re on the grounds somewhere. Why don’t you come with me and introduce me to them?”

“Okay.” Fox said. They both left out of the side door that Eve and Brandon had left through. Almost as soon as they left, Eve and Brandon returned through the normal door. Eve had peeked in through a window of the classroom, and did not see Julian anywhere. She figured it was safe.

“Alright, well I will pick you up after school today, alright?”

“Alright, Mother. And don’t worry. Everything will be fine this time. I promise.”

“You promise, hey?” Eve asked, kissing her son on the cheek. He sounded so grown up and sure of himself, that she almost believed it too. She watched as Brandon went back into the classroom, then she herself went out of the side door.

A few minutes later, Julian and Fox came back in through the front door, not seeing anyone. Julian would’ve been frustrated, except for the fact that he just had this feeling, that this time around, for once, he was close. He didn’t know why, but it was just a feeling.

Fox looked back into the classroom.

“Brandon’s back. I guess his mother must’ve headed home.”

Julian watched the profile of this ‘Brandon’ and could see Eve in the boy, clearly. He could feel it! He was staring at his son.

Julian looked down at Fox.

“Fox, I want you to ask Brandon to come home with you after school.”

“Father, I live here, remember?”

“Oh, yes, of course. Ask him to come to your room then. I will be there and I will take you both out to dinner.”

Fox raised a small brow.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do I have to ask him to my room and why are you taking us out to dinner? He’ll have to ask his mother first.”

“Yes,” Julian said, almost purring, “he will have to ask his mother.”