Chapter Two

Whitney slipped quietly out of bed as not to wake up Fox and tiptoed downstairs to the kitchen to start the coffee. It didn’t take long before the aroma of roasted Macadamia nuts wafer through the air.

“It wouldn’t be long until Fox wakes up now.” She mused, taking two coffee mugs down from the cabinet. She poured herself a cup of coffee and stepped out on the deck and leaned against the railing.

She had always like this time of the morning when everything was still peaceful…
And the day still full of hope…

Staring out at the boats anchored in the harbor, Whitney wondered if she was doing the right thing by asking Julian to find her mother and bringing her back to Harmony.

Although the last time she saw her mother she was filled with hurt and rage, it was time for her to heal their relationship – especially now since she was about to start a new phase in her life and she really needed her.

TC had practically turned his back on her; he felt her marrying Fox is a betrayal not only to him but also to her grandfather. He made it perfectly clear if she marries into that family she was as good as dead to him.

Years of hating all that is Crane has shortsighted her father to the truth and turned him into a bitter, pathetic old man who couldn’t see what a good life he really has.

A slight breeze came out of nowhere, which caused her to grab the afghan off the lounge chair, and wrapped it tightly around her to fight off the chill. She took a sip of the hot liquid and was grateful for its warmth going down her body.

She heard footsteps creeping up behind her and smiled. “I wonder how long it would take you to wake up after the smell of fresh brewed coffee tickled your nose.” She said without turning around.

Fox wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the neck. “That’s not the reason why I woke up.” He said, giving her another peck on the neck.

“Excuse me?” Whitney giggled loving the attention he was giving her.

“Okay…that was one of the reasons I woke up.” He admitted. “But reaching out to wrap my arms around my beautiful fiancée only to find her side of the bed empty really woke me up.”

She leaned her head against his chest and looked up at him. “Is that a fact?”

“Yes.” He whispered kissing the top of her forehead. “Matter of fact why don’t we go back upstairs and start the day off right.” he suggested. “I can use a bit of warming up.”

Whitney lifted her cup of coffee to his lips - he took a sip. “Nice but not what I had in mind.” He said, winking at her.

“Do you think we have enough time?” She asked coyly. “I have to meet with the wedding planner this morning and I don’t want to be late, Mr. Alfie will throw a major hissy fit if I’m not there on time.”

“Okay.” Fox conceded. “We only have time for a quickie.”

Whitney turned around and hit him playfully on the chest. “Fox Crane!” she said, fringing surprise. “Why I never…” Fox bend down and covered her mouth with his… “Mmm…sweet.” She cooed.

“Well there’s more where that came from.” Fox whispered lustfully as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the house.
 

~*~*~*~
Sheridan listened intensely as Julian explained why he wanted her to find Eve – for Whitney’s sake.

“After all a girl needs her mother at a time like this.” He rambled on. “To help her get ready for married life…”

Sheridan rolled her eyes and took a deep breath, “Cut the bullcrap Julian.” She interjected. “Deep down in your heart you want to see her too…admit it.”

“Well…yeah…of course… just to see if she’s alright.” He said laughing nervously. “We go way back and it would be uncaring of me not to wonder what is going on in her life.”

Sheridan chuckled, “Julian, all of Harmony knows you’re in love with the woman.” She informed him. “I think it will be great to have Eve back in your life, she completes you.”

“Well…ahem…” He stammered, “It’s been two years and a lot has happen…”

“Julian when Eve left she took your heart with her…ten or may be fifty years can go by and you will still feel the same way about her...believe me I know…look at me and Luis.”

Julian had to admit that his sister and Luis had been through enough turmoil to last a life…no two or three life times…and their love for each other was stronger than ever. He still felt guilty about his part in Alistair’s sick plot to keep them apart.

“Listen Sheridan…” He began.

“It’s all in the past.” Sheridan said, as if she had read his mind. “I forgave you.”

“I know but…” he hung his head in shame. “I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself.”

Sheridan gave her big brother a comforting hug. “Sure you can.” She assured him. “You got to stop beating yourself up.”

“And I suppose this advice is for Eve as well?”

Sheridan nodded. “Of course.” She said patting him gently on the shoulder. “How do you expect to have a future with her if you don’t?”

Julian nodded his head in agreement. “Do you think that it will take you long to find her?”

“Not really.” She answered. “I’ll say that by the end of the day I will have Eve’s new whereabouts.” She said confidently.

“That’ll be great.” He said, “The sooner Eve is back in Harmony the better.”

Sheridan glanced at her watch and sighed. “I have to go.” She said, giving him a peck on the cheek. “Luis wants to go up to Statesville Prison and visit with Theresa.” She explained. “Being locked up is taking its toll on her.”

“Maybe she should have thought of that before she raped Ethan.” Julian smirked. “Tell her Ethan Martin is doing very well in school.”

“Okay, see you later and don’t forget what I said about forgiving yourself.” She said, grabbing her purse.

“I won’t and Sheridan?”

“Yes Julian?”

“Thanks…”

Sheridan grinned. “You are going to get your happy ever after.” She assured him before walking out the front door. “Mark my words.”
 

~*~*~*~
Eve stared at Whitney’s face in the newspaper article; she knew the entire short paragraph by heart. “She looks so happy.” She whispered to herself. “My baby.” She sobbed. “Oh Whitney!”

She wiped her red swollen eyes on the sleeve of her robe and took out her Rolodex and called the hospital to have someone filled in for her at her office, she was taking a sick day. She went into the hall closet and took down the family album she manage to retrieved before TC kicked her out of the house.

She tried not to think of that night when she finally told him the truth about her…Julian…and the accident…but seeing Whitney looking so happy brought it all back…vividly.

TC had turned purple with rage, “It was YOU all along?” He cried, the mixture of hurt and rage in his tone. “YOU were the witness I have been looking for?”

Eve cringe in the corner, full of fear, she wasn’t sure what her husband would do…Her bitch of a sister Liz tried to calm TC down only to get knocked down on her ass.

He took a couple of steps towards her…

“TC no!” Liz shouted. “She’s not worth it!”

He punched the wall above her…

Causing her to almost wet her pants…

“Shut up Liz!” He roared. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”

“TC I had to tell you.” Eve tried to explain, whimpering “I couldn’t keep up the pretense any more…I couldn’t let you go on blaming Julian for something he didn’t do.”

TC stepped back and stared at his ‘perfect wife’ as if he was looking at her for the first time.

“You and Julian?” He asked incredulously, looking like a lost little boy. “How-how could you have let him touch you Eve? You know he destroys everything he touches.”

“She’s in love with him.” Liz shouted with glee, “Tell him Eve, Tell TC how you have been sneaking around with Julian for months.”

Eve cut her eyes at Liz. “Shut up you bitch!” she hissed. “Shut your lying mouth or I’ll shut it for you!”

“Ask Whitney! She knows what kind of whore her mother is!”

“How dare you bring my child into this!” Eve said as she flew from the corner and jumped on top of Liz, punching and slapping her about the face until she drew blood. “I’d warned you! I’d warned you not to mess with me or my family.”

Some how Julian and Sam showed up and pulled her off a screaming Liz.

“Eve lets go honey.” Julian said, dragging her out the house. “TC needs time to cool off.”

“Julian?” She asked, not sure if he was really standing before her. “Why…you shouldn’t be here, TC is on the warpath.”

“I can’t leave you here to take the blame.” He said. “It’s my fault…everything that happened to TC is my fault.”

“Julian I know…” She whispered harshly.

He looked at her puzzled. “Know what Eve?”

“The truth about TC’s accident.” She confessed. “ I know I was the one driving the car that ruined his tennis career.”

“No…no…Eve that’s not true…it was me…”

“Will you stop trying to be so noble and let me take full responsibility for my actions?” She cried.

Julian looked into her sad brown eyes, “Eve…darling…” He wrapped his arms around her; she laid her head on his shoulder and cried uncontrollably.

TC saw them in the front yard and ran towards the door – it took all of Sam’s strength to hold him back…

“Calm down TC or I have to lock you up.” He warned.

“She…she betrayed me Sam.” TC sobbed. “She betrayed me with Julian…”

“Eve why don’t you run upstairs and grabbed some clothes.” Julian suggested. “I’m taking you home where you will be safe.”

Eve nodded her head and ran upstairs to pack a bag and grabbed the family album on the dresser.

Simone and Whitney threw daggers at her with their eyes. “You ruin our family.” Simone said accusingly. “Not only our family but Chief Bennett’s family too.”

“Simone…you don’t understand…Ivy was blackmailing me…”

Whitney placed a protective arm around her little sister. “Go!” she yelled, through angry tears. “Go your lover is waiting for you!” she watched as Eve walked out the door and slammed the door behind her.

Julian gave her a wistful smile. “Everything is going to be alright Eve.” He said, grabbing her bag and tossing it in the backseat of his car. “Now that everything is out in the open…we don’t have to hide our feelings any more.”

“Oh Julian.” She cried softly as they drove away from her home. “What have we done?”
 

~*~*~*~
“Eve!” Miss Charlotte yelled as she pounded on the door. “Eve is everything okay in there?”

“Just a minute.” Eve spoke up as she went to unlock the front door. “Hi Miss Charlotte.” she said with as much cheer as she can muster.

“Eve I saw your car still in the parking…” She stared at Eve tear swollen eyes. “What happened?” she asked pushing her way in the apartment. “Did you get some bad news?”

“Come on in Miss Charlotte.” She said, closing the door. “Would you like some tea?”

“Don’t mind if I do.” She said, making herself comfortable on the couch. She noticed the opened photo album on the table. “Your family?”

“Yeah, my girls and my hus…my ex husband.” Eve yelled from the kitchen.

“Beautiful girls.”

“Thank you.” She said, moving the album out of the way to make room for the tea and the plate of cookies.

“Now tell me Eve what got you so down?” she asked sternly. “And don’t lie to me.”

“Well Miss Charlotte…” she began… “I just found out my eldest daughter is getting married and I’m desperately in love with the groom’s father…Julian Crane.”