Unexpected Happenings, Chapter 59
by SIPort
Grace was unpacking the latest shipment when her phone rang.
“ Bennett Antiques…hello…..hello?” Just as Grace was about to hang up the
phone..
“ Hello, Grace.”
“ EVE?”
“ Yes, it’s me, Grace.”
“ I have to say it’s a surprise to hear from you.”
“ I know.”
“ Why are you calling, Eve? Is something wrong with the girls?”
“ No, the girls are fine. I need a favor, Grace.”
“ A favor? From me?”
“ Yes. I FedExed you an envelope. I sent it to the shop. You should get
it today. I need for you to hand deliver the letter inside to Julian.”
“ Julian Crane?”
“ Yes. I need for you to place it in his hand.”
“ Eve..”
“ Grace, I wouldn’t ask you if it weren’t important.”
“ Ok. I’ll take it to Julian.”
“ Thank you, Grace….are you doing ok? You and……the baby?”
“ The baby is fine. Everything looks good so far, despite the age issue.”
“ That’s good. And, Chad? How’s he?”
“ He’s wonderful. He’s so wonderful.”
Eve choked up hearing the obvious joy in Grace’s voice. There was part
of her that was still hurt that she hadn’t found HER son, and Grace had
found one she didn’t even know existed.
“ That’s great for you. Well, thanks once again for doing me this favor,
Grace.”
“ Eve?”
“ Yes, Grace.”
Grace sighed. “ TC looks for a letter from the girls everyday.”
“ Grace, I have no control over what Whitney and Simone do or don’t do
concerning their father. I can only say that I haven’t spoken ill of TC
in front of my daughters, and have not tried to poison their minds against
him. I think they need this break to process and accept the situation of
their new lives. I will say that I know that both girls have been buying
presents for their father all throughout this vacation. But, I’m not going
to force them to write to him. They have to work things out with TC on their
own timetable. Ok?”
“ Ok. I understand. Enjoy your vacation, Eve. You and the girls.”
“ Thanks Grace.”
Julian was sitting at his desk, going over contracts when he heard his
secretary raise her voice.
“ You can’t go in there!...” he heard her say as his visitor came through
the door.
“ Mr. Crane, I’m so sorry. She wouldn’t listen to me….” Julian put up his
hand and motioned to his secretary that it was ok, and she left the two
of them alone.
Julian looked at the woman standing before him. She was literally glowing.
In fact, he had never seen her look as beautiful as she did today.
“ Well, well…Grace Bennett…or is it Grace RUSSELL yet?”
Grace smiled at Julian as she stood in front of his desk. “ It’s still
Grace Bennett, Julian. As for my marital status, that’s none of your business.”
“ Indeed it’s not. So, what brings you to my office, Grace.”
Grace opened up her purse and handed Julian an envelope. “ It’s from Eve.
“
“ Eve?”
“ Yes, Julian. She was so desperate for you to get that letter that she
asked ME to deliver it. Whatever she wrote, must be important. Have a nice
day, Julian.”
Grace left Julian’s office and he stared at the letter for a long time.
He was about to put it in his desk, but decided to read it.
Dear Julian,
You don’t know how much I regret
hurting you. You don’t know how angry I am with myself for doing what I
did. I don’t have any excuse for what I did except for that my ego needed
Jerry Jacks.
I never slept with him, Julian.
The most we shared were a few kisses.
I don’t expect for you to understand
this, Julian. But, up until a few months ago I was a happily married woman
in a committed marriage who thought I was doing all that I could to keep
my marriage successful. In the blink of an eye, the husband that I would
have bet my life on, cheated on me, and impregnated my best friend, thus
destroying the very core of the life that I spent 20 years building.
When a man cheats on a woman,
he’s telling her that she wasn’t good enough. That she wasn’t beautiful
enough. That, in essence, she didn’t meet his needs and he went elsewhere.
I know that you’ve told me that
you love me, Julian. But, it wasn’t enough, because it was you, if that
makes any sense. You are knee deep into the mess that I call my life, and,
I just couldn’t trust what you told me. It wasn’t right, but it wasn’t enough.
When I met Jerry, here was this
rich, handsome, world-traveling playboy who took an interest in me – this
smalltown doctor. Was I woman enough to keep his interest? Was I woman enough
for him to be attracted to me? To try and woo me? The answer was yes, and
it was a big boost to my ego.
And, although Jerry was all
those positive things, there was one thing wrong with him.
He wasn’t you. You were always
there, Julian. You’re always here with me Julian.
I’m not asking you to forgive
me right away. You can think about it. To be honest, I can’t deal with you
right now. I’m about to deal with lies from my past; I’m going to see my
parents for the first time in twenty-five years. I don’t know what’s going
to happen; if it’s going to be a complete disaster. But, right now, my focus
has to be on my parents and facilitating the meeting of my children with
their grandparents.
I’ll see you when I return to
Harmony. Hopefully, you’ll want to see me too.
Love,
Eve
Julian opened the drawer and took out a picture of Eve.
“ Oh, Eve….oh, My Darling.”