Unexpected Happenings, Chapter 18
 

" What did you say, Sheridan?", Rebecca demanded.

" I said that Julian’s not here. He’s not here and his car is gone."

Rebecca let the full implications of what Sheridan said settle in before she exploded.

" That sonuvabitch! How DARE he do this to me! He won’t get away with it!"

Rebecca stormed down the aisle, and up the stairs with Gwen following.

The guests were stunned, and didn’t know what to do.

Sheridan got up before everyone and made an announcement. " I’m sorry that you all came, but there doesn’t seem to be a wedding happening tonight. If you want to stay and enjoy the refreshments, you can." She motions for the waiters to start circulating with champagne.

Luis came strolling over to Sheridan with a glass in his hand.

" Is it true? Can your brother be smarter than I gave him credit for?"

Sheridan punched Luis lightly in the arm. " Luis.."

" Sheridan, come on. This is too funny for words. Rebecca, the tarty bride, standing up at the altar, waiting for your brother who has decided to skip the ceremony. It’s hilarious. Makes having to wear the monkey suit worth it. There’s a great spread, and don’t tell me that you’re not hungry, Sher, cause you’re ALWAYS hungry these days."

" Picking on a pregnant woman can get you sleeping on the couch, Mister."

" Awe, Sheridan…come on….see the humor in this…everyone else does."

Sheridan has to crack a smile. " I love Gwen, but, loathe Rebecca, and if ANYONE deserved this…it’s her."

" That’s the spirit. Now, let’s get full, and maybe we can make something of the rest of the night."

" I..I hope Julian’s ok."

" Of course he is. The man came to his senses is all. You’ll see. In a couple of days, he’ll return home, and all will be right with the world."

" Rebecca is going to skin him alive."

" She’ll try. But, the one thing she can’t do is force your brother to make her Mrs. Julian Crane. Would serve her right. She dumped one guy because the other’s guys’ pockets were bigger. Winding up with nothing suits her."

" You’re right. Julian will be back in time. Let’s eat!" Luis and Sheridan go get something to eat.
 

" See Timmy, I told you that this was a shindig not to miss!", Tabitha said, taking a sip from her champagne glass. " Did you see Reboobca? She was about to pop – literally."

" Timmy didn’t think he had ever seen someone so mad. Timmy wouldn’t want to be Julian Crane when Rebecca sees him next time."

" Julian isn’t giving Rebecca another thought."

" Where is Julian, Timmy?"

" About to get very involved with his past, Timmy. Very involved. It’s begun, Timmy. So much pain and suffering is about to explode all over Harmony. Can’t you smell it in the air?"

" No, all Timmy smells is the Peking Duck, which looks great!"

" I’ll get their first Dollface.", Tabby said, rushing to the table.

TC had stopped trying to clean up the mess that had been made. It seemed appropriate that it remain in the house, as a reminder to all that had been destroyed by his actions.

Now that he had told Eve the truth, he knew that it was only the beginning, but that he had to let someone else know. He picked up his phone and dialed.

" Hello?"

" Grace, it’s me."

" TC? What’s wrong?"

" I told Eve tonight."

Grace put a hand over her stomach. " You told her? What did you tell her?"

" Everything. I told her about the affair, that it was you. She guessed about the pregnancy."

" How did she take it?"

" As well as can be expected."

" Where is she?"

" She left. I doubt she’ll be coming back."

" Maybe she’s coming to confront me?"

" It’s possible. I…I still have to tell the girls."

" Oh, TC."

" It has to be done, Grace. I…I don’t know how I’ll do it."

" They love you, TC."

" They love their mother. I just thought I’d warn you, Grace."

" Thanks. Nite."

" Nite."
 

The rain seemed to be letting up, not that Julian noticed. All that was on his mind was the conversation that had led him to leave the house.

[[[FLASHBACK]]]

" Julian?", the voice on the other end said.

" Eve?", he responded. He waited for confirmation, but heard none. Only sobs.

" Eve? Is it you?"

" Yes, Julian…it’s me. I….I…need you, Julian."

" Eve, what’s wrong? What’s wrong?"

" I…I need you Julian."

" Ok, I’ll come to you. Where are you?"

" I….I…don’t know. The car ran off the road.."

" What?!?! Where are you?"

" I…I….I see the old deserted church, which means I must be on Mill Road, going north, away from Harmony."

" Eve, are you hurt? I’ll call an ambulance."

" Julian, No! Please…only you. Only you."

" Ok. I’ll be there as soon as possible. "

" Ok."

Julian heard the phone drop, and the crying began again. He got his coat, went down the backstairs, and found his car and drove off.

[[[END OF FLASHBACK]]]
 

Julian had found Mill Road, and was going North slowly. He didn’t want to miss Eve. He couldn’t imagine what could be happening that she would call him.

Then, he saw it. A car smashed into a tree. It looked pretty bad. He stopped his car, pulling up behind it, and jumped out. He ran over to it, knocking on the window. She didn’t respond, so he pounded harder. Then, he heard a click. It was the lock on the door. He opened the door to see Eve sitting in the front seat, the airbags deployed. She was bleeding a little from her chin where there was airbag burn. Julian was stunned. She looked out of it, wearing nothing but a nightgown and peignore.

" Eve!"

She was groggy, and looked at Julian confused.

" Julian?"

" Yes."

" You came. You came.", she said, beginning to sob again.

" Yes, I came. Now, let’s get you out of here." He helped Eve out of the car, and took off his jacket to cover her with it. They walked back to his car, where he helped her into the passenger’s side, and then he got in.

" I have to get you to a doctor."

" No, Julian. No doctors. I can’t face anyone. Please, no doctors.", she said, crying all over again.

" Eve, what happened? Why are you dressed like that? Why did you crash into a tree? What would make you call me?"

" Please, Julian. Take me away. Take me away. I can’t face anyone right now. Please take me somewhere safe."

Julian mumbled, "Ok", but his mind was running 100 miles a minute, trying to figure out where to take her. Then, he realized that he was less than an hour away from the Crane Cabin. Nobody would know that he had gone there. Nobody would recognize them. It would be safe.

Julian turned to look at Eve. She had wrapped herself in his coat. She was shivering a little, so he turned up the heat. She was looking out the window, unable to face him, but, he could hear her quiet sobs, and he could see the reflection of her face on the window, showing her tear stained cheeks.  He didn’t know what had happened, but, he would make sure that Eve was ok.