Chapter 17

"Yes, my love, we'll begin our lives anew....I pray that you'll let me get it right this time," Julian whispered in Eve's ear. To his chagrin, she stirred--he had not intended on waking her. Then again, he could kiss her again, and that was worth the price of diamonds!

"Shh, go back to sleep, my dear," he enticed her."You need not arise just yet." He wanted her to be fully rested before he approached the very precious subject of their daughter.

Eve stretched, then opened her eyes to Julian's adoring gaze. "I don't feel tired at all, actually," she smiled.

"I'm surprised, my dear...we just about set the bed on fire." He pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I have missed you so, Eve."

"And, God help me, I've missed you too. I guess I never let myself realize that until now," she admitted, looking down.

"Eve, I love you so much. I was too much of a coward all of those years ago, but now I would do anything to make you happy,"declared Julian, his eyes taking in her slightly swollen lips. "I do apologize if I was a bit too eager."

She shook her head. "Don't apologize, Julian.....It was mutual." She lifted her hand to his face, her gentle fingers drifting over his forehead, and finally to his lips. "All of this time that we were apart, I tried very hard to deny any feeling I had for you--I simply built a wall around that part of myself, and didn't look back." Taking a deep breath, she continued, "I refused to let my mind and heart drift back into that time that we laughed and played without a care in the world."

"Those were the happiest days of my life."He kissed her fingertips lightly, then smiled at her.

"I know that.....now. I think I'm ready to face what we had together, Julian."

Julian closed his eyes for a moment, holding her close. "Then, Eve....won't you please tell me about everything we had together." Eve looked at him questioningly. "Eve.....I overheard you talking in your sleep, my dear."

"Wha-what do you mean?" Her eyes widened in confusion.

"I know we have a daughter.....a daughter named Whitney," he began cautiously, noting Eve's face beginning to pale. "You were saying something about someone never finding out that you and I share a daughter. My darling, words cannot express how elated I am to hear this."

Eve grasped the bedsheets, her heart beginning to beat faster. "No....no, you're wrong, I couldn't have said that." Her hands felt clammy...no, he couldn't have found out!

"I realize I am getting older, but I have not as of yet lost my capacity to hear--Eve, please just tell me about her. I saw her picture, she is just as exqusitely lovely as you are...I thank God that we have a daughter."

"What do you mean, you've seen her picture? How could you, Julian?" she cried, beginning to cry. "You had no right to do that to me!" God help her, what if TC somehow found out about Julian.? He would be like a madman! She pulled away from Julian, a rising panic flooding her body. "How could you," she sobbed, getting up from the bed clad only in his pajama top. She had to get away from him!

Julian was bewildered. "Eve, what's wrong? What are you not telling me?" He got up himself, only to have Eve hold her hand out to ward him off. "Eve, talk to me!" She backed away from her, her eyes having the look of a deer caught in headlights.

"I can't, Julian, I just can't--I have to leave!"

He was incredulous. "Leave? After the time we have just shared together, and the revelation of our child? Surely not--"Eve tried to run from the room, but Julian was faster, catching her around her waist. "Don't do this, Eve--don't run from me again," he begged. "I could not bear to have you leave me a second time."

"You don't understand, Julian--you don't understand,"she whispered, her voice quivering. "You can't know about Whitney." She tried to pull away from him, but to no avail. "It's too dangerous."

"Dangerous? You should know I would never harm her, Eve." Julian's face was full of pain.

She swallowed hard. "I know you wouldn't, Julian," she admitted. "I'm not worried about her, I'm worried about you."

"Me? Whatever for?"

"There's something I haven't told you yet," she hedged. "I didn't want you to know..."

"Just let me help you, so you won't have to go through it alone--whatever you want and need from me, you only have to ask." He kissed her on the cheek.

Eve whispered so softly that Julian had to bend to hear her: "I was married....to a man named TC Russell. We were married very soon after I had left you....he had swept me off of my feet, and he was so protective of me, I felt wanted and loved."

"In a way that I did not show you...Eve, I am so sorry." He was even more sorry that someone else had married Eve, but he was grateful that the marriage was apparently over.

Shaking her head, she continued, "I was pregnant right away--from the first time we were together, it seemed." Julian winced, and she held on to him for dear life. "We found out Whitney wasn't his daughter when she was in a car accident and had lost a lot of blood....TC's blood didn't match." Swallowing again, she said haltingly, "TC was so angry--he called me a whore, and then--then he hit me."

A glittering chill passed over Julian's features. "This TC hit you? How dare he lay a hand on you," he growled, wanting nothing more than to strangle the bastard who hurt her. His Eve! He couldn't even imagine someone physically mistreating her...she was too precious.

"He-he also said that he would kill whomever fathered Whitney. I couldn't let anything happen to you," she said. "I did divorce him, and left the city of Quincy where we had lived together. I go by my maiden name now, but I am still frightened of him finding me. And you," she finished, tears running down her cheeks. "Please forgive me Julian, for not telling you about Whitney...I was trying to protect her, and you."

"My dear, there is no need--and I swear to you--you are not alone. I will protect you and our daughter....and TC will never hurt you again."Julian's expression was fierce, and Eve could only wonder at what he intended.