The Turns Life Takes (Eve/Julian) - Chapter 25
by yhh
"She's in the kitchen. I'll take your bags upstairs," Julian informed Eve's
second youngest daughter. He eyed her suspiciously. She had come a long
way in his eyes, but he didn't fully trust her not to hurt Eve again and
that was unacceptable. He would hate to upset Eve by punishing her daughter,
but he was not going to allow anyone, including her daughters to hurt her
ever again.
"I just want to apologize," Simone tried to assure him.
"Make sure that's all you do," he warned, leaving the foyer.
She tried to walk the path she remembered the waiters walked, when she
had been here for the hospital benefit last year. Taking a deep breath,
she pushed open the door to the kitchen.
"Pilar, this is delicious. You have to give me the recipe," Eve smiled
at her friend, as she stole another sample of Pilar's soup.
"Eve, get out of the pot and I'll give you the recipe," Pilar reprimanded.
Reluctantly putting down the spoon, Eve stepped away from the stove.
"I can show you how to make it next time I make it."
"The recipe would be easier- -"
"Eve, I know that your marriage to TC is over. And as long as Brenda and
Sonny are here so will you, Endora, and Whitney. Plus I've seen the looks
Julian gives you."
Eve's eyes widened.
"He never looked at Ivy like that. And he behaves like a perfect gentleman-
-"
Eve raised her eyebrow at the statement.
"Okay, 95% of the time and I know that's due to you. You might not be able
to admit it, but you are part of the Crane family. To be completely honest,
there was no real Crane family until you came back into Julian's life. Between
you and Sheridan, this family will be having joyful Christmas mornings and
family barbeques where everyone is getting along and actually talking to
each other. I want that for my grandson. He deserves that much."
Reaching out to her friend, Eve put her hand on Pilar's shoulder. "I will
do everything in my power to make sure Ethan-Martin has a loving and caring
family."
"I know," Pilar said, with tears leaking from her eyes.
"I'm so sorry about Theresa- -"
Pilar shook her head. "The judge made the right decision. Theresita isn't
ready to be a mother and as long as she lives in this fantasy world where
her and Ethan are fated to be together- -"
"If there's anything I can do to help- -"
Patting Eve's hand, Pilar tried her tears with her other hand. "Thank you,
but the only person that can help Theresa is Theresa."
Simone coughed to make her presence known. She hadn't wanted to interrupt
the moment between Tia Pilar and her mom.
"Mija, how are you?" Pilar asked.
"I'm hanging in there. How are you?" she asked politely.
"I'm good now that I've seen you. You can still stop by the house even
though Miguel and Charity are in school in New York. Don't be a stranger,
okay?"
"Okay."
"I'm going to check on the kids," Pilar informed the mother and daughter.
Simone and Eve took in each other's presences. They both loved being in
each other's presences after being absent from each other for so long.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hello, Simone. How are you?"
Okay so she called her Simone, not the best of starts but at least she
was speaking to her. "I've been struggling- -"
"Simone, I’m so- -"
"No, Mom, it's not your fault. I'm the one who should be apologizing. You
were right. The world didn't begin to spin when Whitney and I were born.
It was spinning just fine without us for millenniums before us and will continue
to do so after we're long gone. You have and had a right to your privacy,
especially when it was obviously painful for you to talk about and remember.
Thank you for making my childhood so great and being the exact opposite
of your aunt."
Eve began crying. "Oh, Lizzie." She crossed the kitchen floor and pulled
her daughter into her arms.
Lizzie. She hadn't heard that in a long time. She was about nine when she
decided she only wanted to be known by her middle name. She smiled only
her mother had honored her request and called her Lizzie. She hugged her
mother as tightly as possible. She missed this. She missed this feeling
of love and security. She felt like she was home again.
"Sissy," Endora yelled from the comfort of Brenda's arms.
Moving slightly out of her mom's embrace, Simone turned to see her baby
sister. She had missed the toddler like crazy. "Hi, Dora. I missed you," she
said, reaching out to hold onto her sister's finger. Looking up, Simone stared
at Brenda. She hadn't noticed that Brenda had their mother's eyes just like
her. "Hi."
Brenda had noticed the younger Russell's absence, but thankfully Fox explained
everything before she stuck her foot in her mouth. "Hello. It's good to
see you again."
"Thanks," Simone murmured.
"Did you two need something?" Eve asked, concerned.
Her eldest shook her head. "No, this little miss was missing you."
"Did you need, mommy, Angelpie?"
Endora smiled brightly, laying her head on Brenda's shoulder, and holding
on to Simone's finger as she shook her head.
"Mom, Julian is wondering- -" Whitney stared at the sight in front of her.
Simone was in the Crane mansion, in Julian's kitchen. She had hoped and
prayed that her sister would come around and find it in her heart to listen
to their mom's side of things. But this was much sooner than she had ever
imagined or anticipated.
"Julian was wondering what, honey?" Eve questioned, acting as if it were
an every day occurrence that all four of her daughters were together in
one space. Her heart was overjoyed.
"He wanted to know when dinner was going to start. Hey, Simone."
Smiling shyly, Simone returned her sister's cautious greeting.
"Tell Juli- -"
"Sissy," Endora shouted, pointing to Whitney.
"Yes," Whitney replied.
"Sissy," Endora repeated, pointing to Brenda.
"That's right I'm your big sister," Brenda answered. She felt such joy
saying that. This little girl in her arms and her little brother, Ethan-Martin,
had made her transition into this family so much smoother.
"Sissy," the toddler said again for the third time, pointing to Simone.
"Yes, I am," Simone said, proud to be Endora's sister.
Sitting up and letting go of Simone's finger, Endora wrapped an arm around
Brenda's neck. "Sissy hug."
Obeying her command, Whitney and Simone walked over to their two sisters
and hugged them.
"Mommy!" Endora shouted.
Eve joined the group hug.
"The Johnson women together at last," Brenda laughed.
Sticking his head into the kitchen, Julian was about to ask what was taking
dinner so long when he saw the women and toddler hugging.
As always, since the moment they laid eyes on each other, Eve sensed Julian
was watching. She opened her eyes and smiled.
He smiled back, happy to see Simone had kept her word and to see his beloved's
eyes free of pain, hurt, and sadness.