The Turns Life Takes, Chapter 18 - Eve/Julian
by yhh
"We commit Alistair Crane's body to the ground; earth to earth; ashes to
ashes, dust to dust. The Lord ble- -"
"Father, so the coffin won't burn to a crisp in front of us, you should
stop there. Thank you so much for your services," Julian interrupted Father
O'Brien, Father Logan's replacement while the older priest was on vacation.
With a confused look on his face, the Father nodded, stepping away from
the coffin.
Julian looked at Sheridan to see how she wanted to proceed. Grabbing two
roses from an arrangement sent to them, Sheridan handed one to him. Slowly
and reluctantly, he followed his younger sister to their father's casket.
The blonde kissed the rose and placed it lovingly on top of the casket. He
tossed his on and thought good riddance. Only Sheridan could possibly have
feelings for the father who had once ordered him to kill her. Naïve and
way too trusting, but his sister had a great heart and had found it in her
heart to forgive him.
As he waited to the side for his sister, he caught a glimpse of Eve near
a tree on the edge of the cemetery. With a nod, he acknowledged her presence
and thanked her for her support. She nodded back and went back to her car.
"Eve?" Sheridan asked, after thanking the Father.
"Yes."
"How is she doing?"
"Whitney and Simone are confused and hurt- -"
"Understandable considering all the hate the Cranes rhetoric TC had been
preaching for years."
Julian nodded, as he found himself and his sister strolling through the
cemetery.
"They've moved back in with TC and are a part of the 'I hate Eve' movement
and refuse to speak to her. But that will change soon."
"How so?"
"TC asked for a DNA test on the girls."
Grabbing her brother's arm, she brought him to a halt. "He wants a DNA test?"
"Yes, he believes Eve and I were carrying on behind his back." Noticing
his sister's silence, Julian paused. "Sheridan?"
"Are they yours?" she whispered with a touch of doubt in her eyes.
"Sheridan," he reprimanded. Still seeing the doubt in her eyes, he continued.
"Do you really think Eve would have carried on an affair with me for years
with the way I acted back then?"
"Julian, it only takes once. Or in this case, possibly twice."
"No, they are not mine. They are, God help them, Russells through and through.
Eve has been true to TC from the moment they began dating."
She sighed and began walking again. "You really think TC will insist on
one now that Whitney and Simone are home with him?"
"Yes. His idiotic pride will demand it. He has branded Eve a whore, his
words not mine, so he will trust nothing she has done or will do unless he
has solid proof."
"But his daughters will be devastated by his accusations?"
He nodded.
"Obviously they don't know."
"No, Eve hasn’t told them. Nor will she. She is under the false impression
TC is a better man than he is and will forget all about the test."
"And you don't think so?"
"Is TC known for his restraint?"
Sheridan shook her head. How sad, first, Whitney and Simone's faith in Eve
was damaged; and now TC was about to do irreputable damage to their relationship
with his demands. "How is Eve handling the girls shutting her out?"
"Taking one day at a time. Of course, Endora being the Crane that she is,
is reveling in it. She, of course, misses her sisters and asks for them, but
she loves having Eve's complete attention."
"The medical board hasn't ruled on her misconduct of falsifying John's paternity
results have they?"
"No. But hopefully they will soon," he remarked, looking off into the sky.
"Julian?"
"What?"
"Have you done anything to sway the board members?"
"I may have pointed out to the majority of them how helpful and generous
the Cranes have been to the hospitals, schools, and businesses in Harmony
and beyond."
"Julian," she reprimanded.
"Did you expect me to leave Eve's fate in the hands of some sniveling, gossiping,
judgmental people? She is getting enough of that from Grace, Sam, and others
of her so-called good friends. Besides she couldn't take another loss right
now. I truly believe Endora, Ethan-Martin, Kay, and Maria are the only reasons
she keeps going."
"Besides the search for your son."
"Of course."
Finding a bench, the duo sat down and enjoyed the solitude the cemetery
brought.
If someone had told him a year ago, Sheridan Crane, his sister, would be
his closest confidante and advisor, the one he turned to when he couldn't
talk to Eve, he would have laughed until tears ran down his cheeks. But here
he was, sitting in the Harmony Cemetery with his sister, conversing, being
reprimanded, teased, just having a normal brother and sister relationship.
Well, as normal as the Cranes did normal.
Nothing in his life was going as expected. He and Eve weren't together.
TC was branding Eve an adulterous tramp to anyone who would listen, while
at the same time suing for sole custody of Simone, the house, their vacation
home, 80% of all of Eve's investments, 50% of her future earnings, 50% of
her 401K and retirement investments, child support, and spousal support. He
wasn't surprised by this vindictive side of TC, but Eve was. He loved her
ability to see the best in people, but with TC she was going to far. If she
had let him intervene, TC would have been silenced already. But she wouldn't
allow him to intercede. He offered to pay off TC's silly demands. He could
definitely afford it, but once again she refused. Sometimes he truly hated
her pride and morals.
But as unscripted as his plans for his relationship with Eve were going,
they were bonding more as family since she was free of TC, the girls, and
her duties at the hospital and free clinic. Ethan-Martin positively adored
her and had taken to calling her "mom" when he was with Endora. He was pleased
by that as was Eve, though she wouldn't admit it. It's not like the boy had
a mom in Theresa. And the fates smiled on him once again with the death of
his father. Alistair, who after spending months in a coma, woke up when no
one was home, went downstairs to the pool, and promptly fell in and drowned.
The ineptitude squad, also known as the Harmony police department, had searched
the house for clues, questioned everyone, but came up empty handed. So Sam
had to rule the death, accidental. He thought of it as God's just desserts.
He would have burned the old man's ashes, then danced on them, but Sheridan
and Eve wouldn't allow such. So he did his duty and gave his father a public
memorial service attended by business partners, associates, politicians, all
people who were overjoyed that the hated Alistair was dead and no longer held
anything over their heads. He put his foot down when Sheridan requested a
public grave side service. Sensing his determination on the subject, she quietly
abided by his wishes and let it be just the two of them there with the priest
as their dead father was lowered into the ground.
His cell phone ringing disturbed the solitude they were enjoying. "Crane."
"Julian, I apologize for bothering you while laying your father to rest."
"No, Stefan. We're finished. How are you, friend?"
"I'm well. Thank you. I have some news that you've and Dr. Johnson been
awaiting."
Julian sat up straighter on the bench.
Noticing her brother's sudden movement, Sheridan was on full alert.
"How quickly can you arrange for us all to meet?"
"Tomorrow."
"I will see you and Dr. Johnson then."
"Stefan, you have my deepest gratitude."
"You would do the same for me, Julian," Stefan Cassadine replied and ended
the call.
"Meet who? Your son?" Sheridan asked eagerly.
Her eageriness reminded him of her younger self. He could easily picture
the five-year-old who was always happy and smiling when he returned home from
boarding school. "Yes, but you are sworn to secrecy I must tell Eve first."
"Of course," she squealed before kissing and hugging him enthusiastically.
He pretended to tolerate her affections, although secretly he enjoyed them.
________________________________________________________
"Mrs. Harper, your backhand is really improving," Whitney encouraged, zipping
up her tennis racket.
"Oh, Whitney, you are so good for my ego. But I know my backhand is as good
as my cooking which is nonexistent," Cynthia Harper laughed.
"Mrs. Harper, you really have made strides."
"Well, thank you, sweetie," the forty-something red head said. "I'll see
you next week." Mrs. Harper grabbed her tennis bag and left, passing Simone
in the interim.
"Hey, Whit, what did you need?" Simone asked, taking a seat on the bench
next to Whitney and her gear.
"Hi, Simone. What are you doing here?"
"You texted me and told me to meet you here."
Confused, Whitney shook her head. "No, I didn't."
"Then who- -"
"I did," Julian announced, appearing out of no where.
"What are you doing here? Stay away from us before I tell my dad," Simone
warned as Whitney looked weary and confused.
Julian shook his head. How could his precious Eve have given birth to children
who would turn their back on her as Whintey and Simone had done? Didn't they
realize how great of a mother they had? How much she sacrificed for their
sakes? "You both are being ungrateful, selfish brats- -
"Don't you dare- -" Simone began.
"Be quiet," he demanded, sick of the attitude. "My mother died when I was
a young boy and every day I mourned her. Yet here you two are with your mother
living and breathing, but you refuse to talk to her- -"
Whitney opened her mouth, but upon receiving Julian's daring glare she closed
it.
"Why? Because you discovered she was human. Because she didn't tell you
about her sordid past that hurts her to talk about, that she's partly ashamed
of. How could she have ever raised two of the most selfish, judgmental children
ever?"
Simone sputtered.
"Are you denying its true? When did you last speak to your mother? You both
ran out like children after your mother bared her soul to you. Why would she
ever tell either of you anything of importance again when this is the reaction
she will get? Thank God, your mother is more forgiving and understanding than
I. With that said, your brother has been located. I'm praying you can finally
be the women your mother raised and come to my house in two hours to support
her on this momentous occasion. If not, I won't mention this meeting or conversation
to her. I wouldn't want to break her heart any more than its been broken
already," he concluded, then turned and left before either of Eve's daughters
had a chance to speak.
Simone reached for Whitney's hand as they sat chastised and bewildered.