Sacrifices of the Soul, Chapter 93
by SIPort

Eve walked through the door to her apartment. She saw candlelight and Julian.

” How did you know?”, Eve asked.

” So, how is Simone?”

” She’s settled in. I feel better now, that she’s back in Harmony.”

” I know you do.”

” But, she’s still so responsive.”

” It takes time.”

“ I know.” Eve didn’t say anything else, but ate her food. Julian thought she was ok, until he saw her crying.

Julian took Eve’s hand. “ You ARE NOT to blame for what happened to Simone. It’s that thug that is responsible. No one else. She’s young. She’s surrounded by love. She just needs time to trust that.”

” Julian, I love her so.”

” I know you do.”

“ She’s my baby. She’s my baby, and I didn’t protect her. For all my lies, I wound up not protecting ANY of my children. What the fuck kind of mother am I?”

” I know you love Chad, Whitney and Simone. Fact one – I was the coward. I let you down. If I had been any kind of a strong man, you wouldn’t have been left alone and at the mercy of my father. I and my father are responsible for what happened to Chad. Why wouldn’t you believe doctors if they tell you a child has died? Why not? What normal thinking person would think that there is a someone so evil as to kidnap an innocent child and throw him to the wolves? I know NOW that my father is capable of it, but back then? I wouldn’t have believed it either.

As for Whitney..”

” She hates me.”

” For now.”

” No, Julian. We had words, and I REALLY looked at her. In her eyes. She hates me, and always will.”

” I’m sorry about that. But, not your fault. Yes, maybe you should have told TC and your daughters about our relationship and our son. But, would that have made any difference with regards to Chad?

NO.

Because you did everything right with regards to him. You ran the damn DNA test. How could we have known that my father would switch the results. You could have done 10 DNA tests on Chad, and my father would have changed every one of them.

As for Simone…..you love her. You’ll be there for her. You’re not to blame. You are their mother, and you love them, but right now, Eve? They need you to be strong. No more ‘ what ifs?’ They don’t need that. That milk is spilt. We can’t turn back time. The only thing you can do now is be there. Fight for them. Be their champion. Give them that space where they know they’re loved and welcome above all else. That’s the thing they need. And, it’s the thing you need. You’re not perfect. That was your Doctor Eve Russell persona, and I’m glad SHE’s gone. Eve  Johnson Russell might be more flawed, but she’s human and real, and is EXACTLY what her children need.

Don’t you see? You can finally own everything you’ve been running from all these years. Your children will see you as human. They will take your counsel because they know from when you’ve come. They’ll know that your experience teaches them something that they don’t know. And, if they do know it, they know they have a kindred spirit. No more self-pity, Eve. I thought this was the beginning of a new life for you.”

Eve smiled at Julian. “ Were you a cheerleader in boarding school?”

” No. Just a man who lo…..appreciates a wonderful woman.”

“ Thank you. I needed that.”

” No problem.”

” Everything in my past, Julian. How I grew up. My problems. My battles. My mother.”

” Judgemental prick.”

” Julian, it wasn’t that. It wasn’t his usual judging eyes. It was more a look of understanding.”

” No, Eve. It was judgement.”

” Julian, don’t be unfair to TC. I was unfair to him. I didn’t give him a chance to know the truth.”

” Hmmmm”

” Julian, TC has been so full of rage and anger. A lot of it justified. A deep part of that was him believing that I thought he was a fool and played him for one all these years. I wanted…I needed for him to know that I hadn’t thought of him as a fool. I thought of him as my emotional salvation. He needed to know that my feelings were true, and the depth of them. He needed to know just what could make someone that desperate that they’d perpetrate a twenty plus year lie. He needed to know that it WAS real, so that he can find love again.”

” I understand.”

Eve and Julian went to the terrace. They sat there, in silence, just looking out over the city. After awhile, Eve said, “ I’m tired. I’m going to go to bed.”

” Ok. I’ll be going.”

” Julian, will you sit with me until I fall asleep?”

” Sure.”

” No. Just resting my eyes. Julian,” Eve sat up in the bed and pulled Julian into a kiss.

” I thought you said that we were to keep it simple. That was your rule.”

Eve was undoing Julian’s tie. “ I like to break the rules, don’t you remember?”

Julian sighed. “ Why are you doing this to me? I’m trying to be decent.”

Chad had stopped by Eve’s favorite bakery and picked up some pastries for her. He looked up, and saw his mother on her terrace. He was about to try and get her to notice her, when something else caught his eye. Or rather, someone else.

Julian came onto the terrace behind Eve. His shirt was open. Chad was confused. His father seemed awfully close to his mother. Were those his hands going around her waist? Chad shook his head. This couldn’t be right. His mouth literally dropped open when he saw his mother turn around, face Julian, throw her arms around his neck, and kiss him passionately. Chad numbly walked into the lobby, and got onto the elevator. By the time he got off the elevator, he just stood there for a few moments before ringing the bell.

Eve opened the door. If he hadn’t known better, he would think his mother was happy to see him, but he knew she was thinking someone else had returned.

” Sweetheart, I wasn’t expecting you. Good morning.”

” Hey, Mama. I, um, brought you some pastries.”

” Oh, great. Let’s eat and have some tea. “

“ Yeah. I saw..HIM.”

” Watch it. I’m still your mother.”

“ Yeah. You’re my mother. But, I have to question whether or not you have anything resembling good judgment. “

” That’s in the past. Julian won’t hurt me.”

” How can you be sure?”

” Because….I know your father. You have to trust me to know him.”

” I…..I don’t see how you can have that kind of faith in him.”

” Because, he’s earned it.”

” I….you are vulnerable right now.”

“ I’m weary. Not vulnerable. I’m ok.”

” Privacy it is, then. Anyway, I did have a purpose for coming over here this morning. This.”

Chad pulled a big calendar out of the bag. “ It’s a calendar. I thought that each of us, you, Coach, Whitney, me, Kay probably, could take a color. And, we could plan the day. This way, we won’t overlap. Having more than one person leaves it likely that Simone will have time alone, and we don’t want that.”

Eve smiled. “ This is a smart idea. Makes so much sense.”

” Well, I’m going to take my work and be in Simone’s room all day today, so that I can explain it to everyone. Once we get organized, it should be a piece of cake.”

Eve kissed Chad. “ You’re a good big brother. I’m so proud to be your mother.”

” Mama, is this a sappy moment coming on?”

Eve hit him. “ Yes, it is. I’m entitled. I’m entitled to enjoy my children.”