A Diamond In
The Rough,
Chapter 33
by EvianForever
Kathy Lyons closed her hands around the coffee cup that Captain Wilkes
had just handed her, gripping it so hard that her knuckles were white.
"He took my phone?" she asked fearfully, her eyes wide. Of all the
stupid things she could have done..
Karen nodded, noting that she had paled as well. "Yes--everything else
was still in the car--"she gestured at Captain Morgan holding Kathy's
purse and car keys--"but he definitely took your cell phone. We can
file a police report about that as well as him assaulting you."
"Don't you understand? He can use that to get to Mr. Crane--his phone
numbers are programmed in it! What if he calls and that psycho answers
the phone?" Kathy suddenly was finding it difficult to breathe. If that
monster attacked Dr. Johnson, it would be all her fault! "Mr. Crane
will be coming back to the Crane estate soon, maybe with Dr. Johnson,
and that Russell man will be waiting for them!"
Ally shook her head. "Trust me on this--he will not be coming anywhere
near the Crane estate again. We will take of this." She looked at
Kathy, who was still quite pale. "Do you want us to drive you back
home?"
"I don't want to be there by myself, not with Russell on the loose."
"Fine then--I'm sure you can stay in the mansion, you've done it
before." Ally couldn't help but smile a little bit at her own remark.
She immediately remembered that she had to remain professional, and
schooled her features into a bland expression, but not quick enough to
escape Kathy's notice.
"I don't think this is the time for that, do you?" Kathy huffed,
irritated that the two guards obviously knew that she had had feelings
for Mr. Crane; she still did, actually.
"Captain Wilkes didn't mean anything by it," Karen hurried to assure
her, giving Ally a hard look. "We'll head up to the mansion after
contacting Harmony P.D."
"I didn't mean to imply anything, Ms. Lyons. Rest assured, we will do
our job without Dr. Johnson being any the wiser." Ally nodded at her.
Kathy was overwhelmed by a sinking feeling that Dr. Johnson would find
out about Mr. Crane's efforts to protect her in spite of him--she only
prayed that it would not blow up in her face!
********************************************
Julian's gaze went from Eve to Whitney, love and pride in his eyes. He
had laughed uproariously when, after Whitney protesting that she really
did not need anything, seeing the number of shopping bags that he had
to carry to the limousine. He did not mind in the least though,
spoiling his new-found daughter was affording him great joy.
"I think you are going to fit into the Crane lifestyle superbly, my
dear,"he smiled at his daughter. "Contributing to the economy is an
excellent start to it." Seeing Whitney's cheeks turned red, his smile
widened.
"You are just as lovely as your mother, and when you blush, you look
even more like her." Whitney's face beamed her pleasure.
"Thank you Father."
"No need to thank me. I merely like to state the obvious." He
glanced at Eve, and the love in his eyes took her breath away. "And
you, my darling, are the modern day incarnation of Helen of Troy,
Nefertiti, and the goddess Aphrodite rolled into one devastatingly
beautiful woman."
"Julian,"Eve said, her own cheeks now rosy as well. "You are making
poor Whitney uncomfortable."
"I am not doing anything of the sort," he declared. "Besides, don't you
think it will make our daughter feel more at ease seeing how her mother
and father--"here he looked again at Whitney and winked--"are quite
taken with one another?"
Whitney put a reassuring hand on her mother's arm. "It's okay, Mom, I'm
fine. I guess it is still a bit weird seeing you like this with someone
else other than Daddy." Seeing Eve's lips tighten, she added,"I didn't
mean to bring him up like that, I'm sorry."
"It's all right, Whitney. I know that you still think of him as your
father, and he did raise you for many years. He did love you, in spite
of everything that had happened."
"How can you take up for him after what he did to you? He hit you, Mom,
and if I never see him again, it will be too soon."
"Whitney, your mother is just trying to assure you that you were loved
growing up. I only wish that I had been there to see all of your
firsts, however...your first steps, your first dance...I've missed so
much, and I have no one else to truly blame except myself." Julian
closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, they were
bright with unshed tears.
"I will never forgive myself for not being stronger back then. My
weakness cost me dearly, and it is all I can do to make up for the pain
that I have caused you, Eve, and you, my darling daughter."
Eve leaned over and held one of his hands in hers, caressing it gently.
Her beautiful brown eyes shone with feeling as she looked at him, her
full lips turned up in a smile.
"I forgave you for that Julian...I think it's time you forgave
yourself."
"I don't know if I can."
"Do it please....for me. And our
daughter."
He lifted her hand, and pressed a kiss on the back of it.
"I can deny you nothing, my dearest love." Whitney cleared her throat
at that moment, causing her parents to look at her with some
embarrassment.
"Mom, you and my father do make a cute couple," she grinned. Julian
shot her a grateful look.
"I do thank you for not applying the term saccharine to your mother and
myself."
"I meant that sincerely, don't worry. How long before we reach
Harmony?" Whitney yawned, as she leaned further back into the
comfortable seat, smiling at her parents.
"About another hour and a half, I believe."
"Good--I'm going to try to take a little nap then, it's been a very
long and interesting day." With that, Whitney turned her face towards
the window, and within minutes, she was sound asleep.
Eve laughed at the sight of her daughter ."I think we bored her to
sleep, Julian." She unbuckled herself from her seat and moved to sit
next to Julian, who immediately buckled her in, stealing a kiss in the
process.
"It has been hours since I have had the opportunity to do that," he
whispered in her ear, his moist breath sending shivers down her spine.
"Allow me to make up for lost time." He then began to nuzzle her ear,
at which Eve let out a soft moan.
"Julian..our daughter is right across from us."
"I just wanted to hold you, my love." His finger traced the contours of
her face, then he held it against her lips. "This is the second
happiest moment I have known."
She looked at him, confusion in her eyes.
"The second?" Julian looked deeply into her eyes, then framed her face
in his large hands. Leaning close to her, he let his lips hover above
hers.
"When we were at the Crane cabin...in the bathroom...where you told me
you still loved me. My God, I thought never to hear those words once
more this side of eternity."
Eve couldn't help the tears that began to silently fall down her cheeks.