“I…daddy’s just going on a little trip,” he lied.

Julian was leaving the mansion. He already served Eve with divorce papers as she wanted, and now he was going to make things easier, and leave.

“But why, daddy,” Evangeline whined, “Is mommy going too?”

“No, just daddy,” he gave her a smile to try and hide his hurt.

He didn’t want to leave them. He didn’t want to leave Eve, and he was ready to tell her that if she would just say that she didn’t mean what she said.

The front door slammed and all kids, including Julian turned towards the bedroom door. They could hear stomping on the stairs, and then Eve appeared in the doorway.

“Mom!” the quads yelled and smiled.

“Kids, out…NOW!” Eve pointed towards the hallway.

They all gave each other looks and then left in a line, one behind the other.

Eve shut the door.

“Julian, what is the meaning of this?!” she threw the divorce papers onto the bed.

“They’re divorce papers,” he shrugged as he continued to pack, “They’re what you wanted.”

“I--,” she paused.

Eve thought about it for a minute. Julian must have wanted this divorce badly if he went through all this trouble to have the papers drawn up so quickly. What she was afraid of must’ve been true. He was seeing someone. If only he begged her drop the divorce; she would.

“You, what?” Julian waited for a response as he stared back at her, “I already signed them; all it needs is your signature…and we will no longer be married,” he turned his back to her.

He could not have her see him cry. Julian walked into the closet and wiped his tears and then came back out with more clothes.

“Fine!” she walked to the desk in their room, grabbed the pen, and signed on the spot marked for her signature, “There!” she picked up the papers and threw them back down on the bed beside his suitcase.

On the outside, the kids all looked at one another.

“Divorce?” Julian Jr. said, “But why?”

“We must’ve did something wrong,” both Evelyn and Evangeline said together; tears brimming in their eyes.
---

“Thank you, Eve, I’ll have them filed tomorrow,” Julian picked up the papers and placed them inside his briefcase.

“You son of a b*tch!” Eve walked up to him and slapped him.

He glared at her as he rubbed his cheek.

“Don’t you ever lay a hand on me,” he said through gritted teeth.

He then shoved her back. She fell onto the bed and watched as Julian picked up his suitcase and briefcase and left the room.

“Dad?”

“Dad?”

“Dad? Where are you going?” three of the children asked, as Evangeline burst into tears.

She didn’t want her father leaving. He was everything to her. He was her favorite between him and Eve.

They walked to the top of the stairs and watched as the front door opened and closed.

Julian’s heart broke into two as he heard the front door close behind him. He was leaving his babies behind, and his boys…and Eve.

“Why, Eve, why?” he hiccupped a cry, “After eight years, why now?”

The kids walked over to the doorway of Eve and Julian’s bedroom and watched as Eve curled up in a ball on her bed and cried. They all looked at each other and decided mentally, to leave her alone at this time, so they all returned to their rooms.
---

Julian called the quads every night and talked to them and asked them about their day. He and Eve tried to talk to one another, but always ended their conversations in an argument. How did things get so bad between them?

Weeks had passed, and Eve looked for a house to move to with the kids. She thought it wasn’t fair that Julian had to move out of the mansion, when that had been his house.

Eve looked in the newspaper, and that’s when she saw it! The house she used to live in with Tc was for sale. She had always loved that home, and Eve decided that she just had to have it, so she called the realtor and weeks later, the house was hers.

The quads weren’t too keen on moving and wanted to stay at the mansion with their father, but a deal was made. The four of them would stay with one parent each week and then alternate.
---

Three months passed and Julian and Eve’s divorce was finalized.
---

It was parent’s night at school, and Julian arrived first. He was meeting with Julius’ music teacher, Miss Tracy Richards.

Miss Richards always had a crush on Julian, but failed to pursue him, since he and the missus always appeared to be happily married. But now, it was different. Julian was now divorced, and Eve Crane wasn’t his wife anymore.

“Hello, Miss Richards,” Julian smiled.

“Tracy, please…and how are you doing today, Mr. Crane?”

“Since we’re on first name basis, call me Julian,” he continued to smile, “And I’m fine.”

“Okay,” she laughed, “Will do…and I’m glad everything’s good,” she paused as a serious look appeared across her face, “Especially through your trying time…” she placed her hand on his and squeezed it.

Eve had just entered her son’s music class room and witnessed Julian…very comfortable with Miz Richards!

Tracy looked up and met Eve’s glaring eyes. She pulled her hand from Julian’s.

“Oh, uh, it’s good to see you, Dr. Russell.”

“It’s DR. CRANE to you,” Eve shouted out her name.

“Oh, I just assumed with the…”

“Yeah, well, you ASSUMED WRONG…”

By this time, Julian excused himself and his ex-wife. He grabbed Eve by her arm and went out into the hallway.

“What is the matter with you?!” he hissed.

“Oh, f*** off Julian,” she yelled, and turned and left the hallway and walked down another to visit her other children’s classrooms.

Julian ran a hand through his hair as he watched Eve disappear around the corner. He shook his head as he walked back into Miss Richards’ classroom.

“I’m sorry; I apologize for my wif…ex-wife,” he laughed, “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. Maybe something at the hospital,” he shrugged, “Well, it was nice talking to you; I should get going and check out the rest of the classes,” he pulled out a piece of paper with his kids teachers and room numbers, “Uh, would you happen to know where two-ten is at?”

“Oh, yes,” she led him to the door, “Why don’t I show you?” she smiled and linked arms with him.

And they were off. Evelyn was the first to see her father with another woman’s hands on him. She didn’t like it; she didn’t like it one bit! Her eyes resembled Eve’s…that cold glaring stare. She nudged her sister in her side and then nodded towards their father and brother’s teacher. Evangeline looked saddened and turned around to find her mother. Evelyn just rolled her eyes. Her sister was such a wimp, but she wasn’t…she was going to fix that trick who had her paws on her father…

Evelyn was about to step towards her father when Julius grabbed her from behind.

“Mom’s calling, Evil,” he snickered.

He and his brother had given her that nickname since Evelyn was always pulling pranks, and also because it sounded like the first two syllables of her name. She sighed and decided that her plans would have to be put on hold…anyways, she would never see her father with Miss Richards ever again…so the heifer should start counting her blessings now…

Eve exited J.J.’s classroom when she saw Julian and Tracy arm in arm and laughing together. His eyes met hers and then went back to his companion. He knew she was jealous, and he loved it!

Eve continued to stare at them. What was going on between them?! Eve then was on her way to her daughter’s room when she walked right into another person.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re walking,” she said rudely, and then looked up, “TC?! Tc, is that you?”

“Eve!” he screamed cheerfully, which caught Julian’s attention.

He watched as his ex-wife was pulled into the arms of her ex-husband. Julian started breathing through his nose. He was livid! He wanted to tear up Tc’s face just for having his hands on Eve; just for breathing on her!

J.J.’s eyes were now on this man who was touching his mother. He squinted his eyes, as his stare turned into one of his father’s…which he got from Alistair. Eve always hated the fact that her one son and one daughter resembled their evil grandfather at times, but there was nothing she could do about it, so she learned to live with it…

While Evelyn had plans for Miss Tracy Richards…Julian Jr. had plans of his own for a Mr. Tc Russell…
---*~*9