“You okay?” Julian asked Eve.
 

The door clicked shut behind them as they entered the structure Eve used to call home. She knew it would never be home again. “I don’t know,” she answered softly.

“TC, is that you?” Liz called from the living room.

Eve closed her eyes and groaned. This is just great! Her sister’s presence shouldn’t have surprised her, but for some reason it did. She didn’t want to deal with her right now.

Julian pulled her closer, as if sensing her hesitation. “You don’t have to stay,” he whispered against her ear. “You shouldn’t have to contend with her on top of everything else. We can leave.”

Before Eve could respond, Liz came out to meet them dressed in a slinky, black peignoir and matching sheer robe. The flowing lace garment left very little to the imagination. Eve shook her head in dismay; her young sibling had absolutely no shame.

“Why, Eve, aren’t you the bold one? Here you go missing for weeks, and when you finally decide to grace us with your presence, it’s on the arm of your lover,” she said in Julian’s direction. “Well, it just goes to show you -- once a tramp, always a tramp.”

Julian took a step forward, but Eve held him back. “Don’t bother,” she said. “Liz, where is TC?”

“I don’t know, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. I can only imagine what you and your knight in rusty armor subjected him to that would make him want to disappear for weeks on end.” Liz eyed them up and down before sauntering off to the couch and lounging like an overstuffed Persian cat. She flung the robe over her outstretched legs. “I do know he’s back in Harmony, and I’m going to make it my business to show him there’s a woman in this town who can appreciate him for the wonderful man he is. So, why don’t you and Julian go back to wherever you came from; nobody missed you here.”

“Liz, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be alone with TC,” Eve said.

“You don’t?” Liz took a sideways glimpse at Eve. “Well, it’s a good thing I don’t care what you think.”

Eve didn’t imagine TC would harm Liz, but she didn’t know for certain what he was capable of, not anymore. She felt compelled to give her sister some warning. “You need to listen to me,” she implored.

“I don’t need to listen to anything you say. You come here with Julian, and get territorial because I’m making myself available to TC?” Liz chuckled in ill humor. “You are a true bitch.”

Julian placed his hand on the small of Eve’s back. The circular motion of his hand was both relaxing and comforting. Instinctively, she pressed against him. Julian was clearly unhappy with Liz, but he managed to remain calm, even as his face continued to redden with growing annoyance. “Eve, my darling, there’s no point in staying. TC is not here, and you shouldn’t have to put up with this,” he said glaring at Liz, “she’s not going to listen. Besides, you really should get your rest.”

“Her rest?” Liz scoffed. “That little getaway took a lot out you, huh, Eve?”

Eve expelled a weary breath. Julian was right; Liz wasn’t going to listen. Even if she told Liz the truth, she probably wouldn’t believe it. She wanted to talk to TC, but she couldn’t fathom waiting a moment longer. Staying would only upset her and that was neither good for her or the precious baby growing inside her. Eve looked up at Julian. “I am feeling a bit peaked,” she said.

Julian ushered her to the door. “Let’s go.”

“Goodbye! Don’t hurry back,” Liz called to them.

Eve stiffened, and Julian gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “We’ll try again tomorrow, maybe your witch of a sister won’t be here then. I know you’re worried about her, but I don’t think TC will harm her.” He grunted. “This might be mean, but it’s the word ‘no’ he doesn’t like, and I can’t imagine Liz ever saying no to TC. If the time comes when she does, I’m sure by then she’ll be wise to him.” He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “Please, my love, don’t worry.”

The door opened as Julian reached for the knob. TC stood brooding in the frame. “Crane, what the hell are you doing in my house?!” he shouted.

Liz glided into the room in dramatic fashion. “TC, you’re home.”

TC barely acknowledged Liz’s presence when he spotted Eve. The anger twisting his face melted like butter in a hot frying pan. He walked into the house and closed the door.

Eve’s heart fell to her stomach. She hadn’t seen TC since that horrible night, and being face to face with him was more overwhelming than she expected. Trembling slightly, she took a step back.

Julian’s arm tightened around her. “It’s okay, Eve. I’m here with you.” She could only manage a slight nod.

TC took a step forward, extending his hand. “Eve, I--”

Julian slapped the hand away. “Don’t even think about laying a finger on her,” he snarled.

TC stared where Julian’s blow landed. “You must be out of your damn mind!” He edged towards Julian, his eyes narrowed and fists balled. “I want you out of my house, Crane.” Mere inches separated Julian’s face from his. “Don’t think I don’t know what you tried to do to me. I may not have proof, but I know it was you. You don’t want to push me,” he warned.

Unfazed, Julian shoved TC away. “No, you don’t want to push me! I assure you, you don’t want to do that,” he said, his voice low and deadly serious.

Eve pulled Julian’s arms, well aware of the lengths he would go for her. “Julian, please, don’t.”

He nodded and stepped back. Eve covered his hand with hers, feeling the tension in his body slowly ebb. “I’m fine,” he whispered.

“What is this?!” TC shouted, staring at their joined hands.

“I’m as appalled as you, TC,” Liz said, taking her self-appointed place at TC’s side and wrapping her spindly arms around his large upper arm. “I can’t believe Eve is calming Julian when he all but attacked you in your home. Tell me, what is it he tried to do to you?”

Eve rolled her eyes; subtle Liz was not.

TC pulled his arm away. “Liz, not now.” Liz managed to play off her pain at TC’s blatant dismissal of her, but Eve knew her sister was hurt. She wanted to feel sorry for her, but she had too many other feelings to deal with at this moment to feel Liz’s pain. Her gaze met TC’s. She was taken aback when his eyes softened and the makings of a slight smile turned his lips. “Look, Eve, I’ve had time to think, and I want you to know I don’t blame you for what happened.”

“You don’t blame me?” Eve said incredulously. Did he actually expect her to take the blame for what happened between them? “I don’t understand, TC?”

“I know you don’t. Somehow, Crane took advantage of you, and everything is all confused, but I believe we can work this out together. Alone!” he said, glaring at Julian.

Julian tightened his hand around Eve’s and brought her closer to him. His gaze met TC’s dead on. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“What’s going on here?” Liz asked. “Am I missing something?”

“Liz, this does not involve you,” TC said, not pulling his eyes from Eve and Julian. “Damn it, Julian! Take your hands off my wife!”

“Or what?!” Julian countered. “I don’t think you’ll try to rape me.”

“Rape!” Liz barked, turning to TC. “What is he talking about? TC?”

“Liz, please,” TC said irritably. “Not now!”

“Then when? What the hell is going on here?! Where was Eve all those weeks? Where were you?”

“It’s none of your business!”

“You’re wrong, TC, it is very much Liz’s business,” Eve stated, holding fast to Julian’s hand. “It’s time you heard the truth you didn’t give me a chance to tell you the night you tried to force yourself on me. The truth I should have told you over twenty years ago.” Eve glanced at Julian, gathering strength in the warmth of his eyes, the silent urging in his nodding head, and the tenderness of his caressing hand. She turned to TC. “I’m the hateful sister Liz has been vilifying all over town, and the man I fell in love with back then, the man I’m still in love with, is Julian.”