Chapter 23

Eve rubbed her tired eyes. How many hours has it been? When her hands fell from her face, she noticed the faint flutter of Julian’s eyes. She eased closer to bed, and giving his hand a tight squeeze, called his name. A sigh of relief fell from her lips when his hazel eyes met hers and the makings of a smile curled the corners of his mouth.

“I’ve died and gone to heaven,” he said, his voice low, weak.

She shook her head and brushed her thumb alongside his brow. “No, you’re not going to be doing either of those things for a good long time.” She bussed his forehead. “How do you feel?”

“Like I got shot in the chest,” he answered with a little laugh that ended in grunt of discomfort.

“You have to take it easy,” she advised with a pat to his hand. “Dr. Harmon expects a full recovery, but it’s not going to happen overnight.”

“I know, but honestly, aside from being a bit drained and a little sore, I’ve never felt better.” He pressed a kiss to her hand. “Your beautiful face is the best medicine in the world.”

Eve closed her eyes to ward off the burning threat of tears. “Julian, I was so scared.”

“Shh. You don’t have to be scared anymore. I’m not going anywhere. Not even death can…” Julian closed his eyes for a long moment. “Not even death can keep me away from you.”

He took her hand and placed it on the thick, white bandage covering the center of his bare chest. His fingertips glided against the back of her hand. Trailing in a slow back and forth motion, extending her the comfort and reassurance she so desperately needed. “I was in surgery?”

“Yes, for several hours.”

“So, it was real,” he said more to himself than to her.

“What was?”

“Eve, the strangest thing happened when I was being operated on. You won’t believe this, but I uh-- I died.”

Eve nodded. “I know,” she said.

“You know?”

“Yes. That’s what scared me most.” She rubbed her hand against the bandage, grazing the monitor tabs affixed to his chest, before glancing at the monitor itself. She found such solace the continual beeps of the machine. That and just looking into his eyes, listening to him talk. “You were gone, Julian. I felt you slip away from me.”

“How did —”

“My heart felt empty. Like a hand reached into my chest, and pulled the very life from me.” Eve sighed. She hated thinking about it, but having him here, conscious and alert, made her realize the fragility of life and how lucky they both were. “I know it was only for a few moments, but it felt like forever.”

“For a second there, I thought it was going to be forever.”

“Do you want to talk about it? You know, the white light?”

He offered a weak chuckle. “There was no white light, my love.” He settled his head deep into the softness of his pillow. “Far from it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Death isn’t what I thought it would be. Well, it is, but it’s not.”

“Come again?” she said, become more confused by the second.

“I was gone, but then death… It took human--well, somewhat human form. It sounded like a man, had platinum white hair, and shocking blue nylon material covering him from heat to toe. You know, like robbers with stockings covering their faces. He was like that all over.”

Eve listened with a hint of skepticism. Perhaps the anesthesia hadn’t worn off completely. “Hmm.”

“Oh, and, Eve, it had the foulest smell. Like rotting flesh.”

“Smelled like death, huh?” she quipped.

“You’re being funny, my love, but that would be correct.” Julian paused for a long moment. “It was the oddest thing,” he said. “First, I heard somebody, I think a nurse, say ‘He’s dead’. I rose from my body and watched this doctor standing over me with the help of some contraption. Dr. Harmon.”

“Yes, that was Matt. You saw him?”

“I saw everything, Eve. This is macabre, but you haven’t lived until you’ve stood over your dead body and looked into the depths of your chest cavity.”

She rolled her eyes. “Julian.”

“It was all very surreal. Dr. Harmon was very persistent; adamant he wouldn’t give up on me. Of course, I led the cheers in him bringing me back. I didn’t want to leave you and our baby. I couldn’t. Then, Death appeared with word he was there to take me. I told him he couldn’t have me, but he insisted I didn’t have a choice. Somehow, I managed to convince him to let me stay, and before departing, he left me with some words of gloom and doom.”

“Gloom and doom?”

Julian nodded. “He said my past would destroy my future with you. That I would wish I had come with him when this happens, but it would be too late, and I’d have to live the rest of my days with the choices I made. That’s silly, right?” he said with an uneasy laugh.

He acted nonchalant, but Eve could tell this encounter with Death troubled Julian more than he let on. She tightened her grip on his hand. “Julian, I know all about your past and the not so nice things you’ve done. I have unsavory moments in my past, too. We talked about this, remember?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Then, you listen to me. I don’t care about anything you did while under your father’s thumb. The man is hateful. You —you were cornered. You know what you did was wrong, you want to make amends for that, and that’s what matters. You’re not going to lose me, Julian. Not ever.”

“You promise?”

“Yes, I promise,” she affirmed with a soft kiss to his lips. Her fingertips grazed the smooth hairs at his right temple. “Now, I don’t want you to think about anything but getting better, okay?”

“I’ll always think about you, Eve. I can’t help it.” He kissed the back of her hand. “You look tired.”

She tucked an errant wisp of hair behind her ear. “I guess I’m a little tired, but seeing you, talking to you… I’ve gotten a second wind.”

“That may be, but the wind is fleeting. Are you taking care of yourself? You’re pregnant; you can’t be worried about me. You have to worry about our baby.”

“Julian, everything is fine with me and the baby.”

He raised a curious eyebrow. “Really? Then, why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?”

Eve shrugged, in no hurry to divulge her little fainting episode from this morning. “I don’t know,” she replied.

His unwavering gaze stayed fixed on her. “What is it, Eve?”

She sighed. He knew her too well, and she knew he wouldn’t drop this. If telling him the truth meant he wouldn’t conjure up his own worse case scenarios and exacerbate his condition with unfounded fears, she had to go with the lesser of two evils.

“It’s nothing serious, so don’t get alarmed,” she prefaced, but knowing in her heart the warning would be for naught, especially when he groaned and closed his eyes at her statement. “I got a little lightheaded earlier and was out for a few minutes.”

“What?” he shrieked.

Eve stood. “Julian, calm down,” she instructed, rubbing his shoulder with soothing strokes as the steady beeps of his heart monitor rapidly increased.

A nurse entered the room. “Is everything alright in here, Doctor?” she asked.

“Yes, it’s fine. I have it under control. You can go back.”

The nurse nodded and returned to her post.

“This is why I didn’t want to say anything,” Eve explained. Once Julian’s breathing regulated and the monitor slowed, she returned to her seat. “Dr. Harmon’s wife checked me out and everything is good. It was nothing a little rest, food, and a prenatal vitamin couldn’t cure. Don’t worry, the baby and I are doing great.”

“You’re not just saying that, are you?”

“No. I would never lie to you about the welfare of our child. Everything is fine.”

“Thank God.” He pressed his hand against her abdomen and rubbed in a slow, circular motion. “I’m sorry I got excited, it’s just you and this precious life mean everything to me.”

“We’re in agreement. I feel the same way about you.”

“Okay, let’s keep agreeing. I want you to go home and get some rest.”

“Julian, I…”

He pressed his finger to her lips. “I’m a sick man, don’t argue with me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Julian,” she grumbled, wanting to offer more protests, but knowing it would be futile.

“Is there someone here to drive you?” he asked.

“Sheridan’s been here all day, and she’s been so supportive. I don’t know what I would have done without her. I really think you two can forge a wonderful relationship. She appears open to the idea.”

“That’s good to hear. I would very much like to be close to her.” Julian repositioned himself on the bed, wincing the slightest bit.

“Let me help you,” she offered, adjusting the bed and fluffing his pillow. “Is that better?”

“Yes, thank you. So, since my sister is driving you, does this mean you’ll be staying at the mansion?”

Eve shook her head. Did that gunshot affect his ability to think? She returned to her seat. “Uh, no. I won’t be staying at the mansion or on the grounds. The guesthouse is a crime scene, and even with Rebecca locked up, I don’t want to stay in the main house. Most especially when you’re not there. Grace came by earlier and offered me a room at the B&B. I’ll be there.”

Julian stayed quiet for a moment. His eyebrows furrowed, signaling deep thought. Finally, he nodded. “Okay, that will work. Grace will keep an eye on you.”

Eve frowned. Awake for ten minutes and he was already in super-protective mode. “I don’t need a babysitter, Julian.”

“I’m sick, Eve. You have to humor me.”

She gave him a half-hearted scowl. “You know, that ‘I’m sick’ line is not going to work forever.”

“Well, then, I’ll use it for however long it lasts.” A smile brightened his whole face. Eve’s heart swelled. He was feeling better. “You go on now, and don’t give our little girl any of that infamous tomato soup cake. The one good thing in my being shot is our baby didn’t get subjected to that horror.”

Eve stood from the chair, shaking her head. “First and foremost, there was nothing good in you being shot. Nothing. And lastly, our daughter wanted the cake, that’s why I asked for it.” She leaned forward and settled her lips on Julian’s in short but sensual kiss. “You get some rest, and don’t give the nurses a hard time.”

Julian licked his lips. “After that kiss, I’m the one having the hard time,” he said looking under his covers. “I think I spoke in haste earlier. Maybe you shouldn’t go now.”

She laughed. “Now is the perfect time for me to go.” She tapped the tip of his nose with her finger. “You’re incorrigible.”

“No, I’m a man in love.” He expelled a breath. His eyes reflecting everything she felt for him. “I love you so much, Eve.”

“I love you, too, but you need rest. That means no excitement.”

“How long will I have to go without ‘no excitement’?”

“For however long Dr. Harmon says. You’re a sick man, remember?” She smiled.

His eyes wide with disbelief, Julian opened his mouth to offer what she knew to be an objection.

Eve shook her head. “It’s not up for discussion, Julian.” She kissed his forehead. “You get some sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning,” she said, before crossing the room to the door.

“That bullet didn’t kill me, but I think this wait will,” he bemoaned as she closed the door behind her.

***

“Here you go, Mr. Crane.”

Alistair received the manila folder from his young, female assistant and reclined in his leather chair. “Is this everything?” he asked, flipping through the short stack of pages.

“Yes, sir. Baby pictures and every detail from Eve Johnson’s delivery all those years ago are enclosed,” the buxom blonde answered, easing her way to his lap and wrapping her arms about the wide expanse of his shoulders. “I do believe the good doctor is going to be in for a surprise.”

“Not just the good doctor.” Alistair dropped the folder and gave the young woman a long, wet kiss before reaching across his desk to retrieve a framed photo of Julian. “Beginning tomorrow morning, my son will receive the first of many surprises.” He slammed the frame against the solid oak finish, filling the quiet office with she sound of shattering glass. “With many more to come.”