Chapter 16
"Hello?" Julian said picking up his phone, when no voice sounded he listened carefully hearing sobbing on the other end. "Hello? Who is this?" He asked.
Still more crying. His heart sank and suddenly, he knew. He just knew.
"Eve?" He questioned. "Eve darling is that you."
"Julian." She whimpered.
"Eve my love, what is it?" He questioned almost frantic.
"T.C., Julian please be careful." She warned through sobs. "He’s back."
"T.C? Did he hurt you Eve? Talk to me Darling." Julian begged, fear seeping in him like never before. Suddenly he wasn’t thinking about himself, it was all about Eve.
"No." She said her voice becoming calmer. "But he’s angry."
"Eve I’m coming over to your house now!" Julian said standing up phone in hand.
"Julian." She began.
"Eve, I need to see you."
Her voice was shaking but when she answered Julian felt a bit better. "Julian, I do want you to come." She spoke, honest yet sad.
"Then I’ll be over soon." He told her, "Please, don’t cry Eve. I hate hearing you cry." He said tenderly.
"Just get here soon." Eve said calmly.
"Yes of course dear." Julian finished hanging up the phone.
His heart was racing as he looked up from his desk, preparing to run out his door to find Eve.
"Talking to my wife Crane?" A angry voice yelled out.
Julian looked up as T.C. eyed him his eyes showing nothing but rage.
"She’s not your wife anymore." Julian said walking over to him, his voice firm as he stood tall.
"I’ll kill you if you touch her Crane!" T.C. warned rage in his eyes, furry in his voice.
Julian looked up at T.C. , the man that had once sent fear into his every bone. "Then I suppose you should just kill me, because that’s the only thing that will stop me from going to Eve." He said refusing to back down.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ericka Crane sat down smiling as she looked at her friend. "Lori, thank you so much for your help."
Lori laughed. "Please, its been so much fun. Your brother is so cool, and messing with Jasolyn is always interesting."
Ericka nodded. "So tell me more about Chad. Is he anything like the Cranes? And Theresa, is she good to him?""Ericka quizzed.
"Chad is so down to earth, he’s just totally honest and cool. I like Theresa too, she seems honest enough." Lori smiled. "And as far as love goes they have that as well." Lori added.
"And Jas, what is she up too?"
Lori shrugged. "Not sure yet, but its big. I do know that your father is becoming close to Eve Russell."
Ericka smiled, "That’s good, from what I’ve read about her she seems like a good person."
"You know it was pure luck that Chad sat down by me on that bench, it was so hard for me to pretend not to know who your father was."
"So he has no clue?" Ericka asked.
Lori shook her head. "No, Chad simply thinks I’m just some girl that wants to help him. He doesn’t know that I’m connected to you in any way at all."
"Lori, I can’t let Jasolyn ruin my family, Daddy is good now, I just feel it. I don’t want her to ruin his happiness. He deserves to be loved and if Eve Russell loves him then I won’t let my sister get in there way."
Lori smiled. "So did Jasolyn freak when she saw you?"
Ericka nodded her head, "She had a hissy fit, and then when I told her Jonah was on his way, her eyes almost popped out of her head."
Both girls laughed, "So Jonah is coming?" Lori finally said grinning. "I’ve always wanted to meet him."
Ericka frowned. "My brother is off limits, he’s way to old for you.."
Lori rolled her eyes, "No Ricki I don’t want your brother, I just want to see if he’s as dumb as you told me. I mean all those stories about Jasolyn were true, and I just can’t wait to meet the dumbest member of the Crane family."
Ericka smiled. "Trust me, Jonah is a sweet guy, but as far as a brain, well he doesn’t have one."
"Your family is so much cooler than mine." Lori sighed.
"No my family is more messed up than yours." Ericka corrected.
Lori rolled her eyes, "Well I don’t know about that, but they are more interesting."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jasolyn Crane stood at Chad’s apartment door, she was ready to break up the sickening sweet couple that, her father loved so much. Knocking on the door, she smiled as her brother opened it, staring down at her with nothing but contempt.
"What do you want?" He questioned his voice cold.
"Now is that anyway to treat your sister Chad?" She laughed, though her tone was bitter.
"Chad, who’s at the door baby?" Theresa’s voice sounded as she approached Chad and Jasolyn. Her eyes glared over at Jasolyn, her mouth falling into a frown. "You."
"Yes Theresa me." Jasolyn smiled pushing past both Chad and Theresa as she entered the small apartment. Jasolyn turned to look at Chad and Theresa, both frowning at her presence. "So are you two planning your wedding? I’m sure that’s going to be a wonderful event." She grinned.
"Actually it will be the best day of our lives." Theresa said taking Chad’s hand. "We love each other more than anything, and can’t wait to be married."
"Oh there you go again with all that love talk." Jasolyn sighed rolling her eyes.
"Oh, I’m sorry Jasolyn, I almost forgot you know nothing about love, do you?" Theresa shot at her.
Jasolyn let the comment go as she looked at Theresa, "You know enough for the both of us don’t you Theresa?"
Theresa gave the woman a strange look, "What do you mean?"
"Well you’ve been in love with enough men, but of course Chad knows all about that."
Chad crossed his arms. "Theresa and I have no secrets, of course I know about the other man she loved, He was my best friend once."
"Right, you must be talking about Ethan, my other brother." Jasolyn said her eyes bright, her grin to the side. "You know Theresa, it must be hard for you to keep up with all the men you’ve loved, I mean just the list of the men you’ve been engaged with is long enough."
Theresa swallowed and looked at Jasolyn, "You have no idea what your talking about."
Chad looked at Theresa, then back at Jasolyn, "Resa has only been engaged twice, and you know that."
Jasolyn shook her head, "Theresa, I thought Chad said you had no secrets."
"We don’t." Theresa frowned.
"Then why doesn’t he know about the other Bennett brother?" She glared her eyes dancing.
"What is she talking about?" Chad asked turning to Theresa, her face loosing all color.
"So he doesn’t know." Jasolyn laughed. "Tell him Theresa, tell the love of your life all about your near marriage to Ethan’s brother. Tell my dear brother here, how you and Noah Bennett almost ran away together."