The Turns Life Takes (Eve/Julian) - Chapter 24
by yhh
Playing a few games of racquetball with Sam was just what he had needed
to take his mind off of everything. TC grabbed his bag and jumped out of his
truck. Maybe he should take the summer off this year and take his mother
on the cruises she had mentioned to Asia, Australia, or Europe. She deserved
to be spoiled and now he had the money to do it. And he didn't need anyone's
approval to go on the trip.
Sam had asked him if he felt guilty for taking everything: Eve's 401K,
the stocks, the bonds, their savings, the two houses, and the time share
condo in Hawaii. He answered honestly, he didn't feel guilty, not one single
drop of guilt. After more than twenty years of constant lies, a relationship
built on half-truths, he was entitled to everything he got. He was even
entitled to Eve's future earnings, but after she told him she had found
her spawn he had wanted to be rid of her ASAP. He was very glad, she had
asked to take back her maiden name. He didn't want her to carry his family's
name or be a part of his family's legacy for another second.
He was considering remodeling so every day Eve drove by her former home
to go to Kay's, she could see the furniture she had so loving picked out and
chosen sitting on the curb waiting for the garbage man to come pick it up.
Smiling at that thought, TC pushed the kitchen door open and headed into
the living room.
"Hi, Dad," a voice rang out in the darkness.
Quickly feeling for the light switch, the room was suddenly flooded with
light.
"Suga- - Simone, what are you doing here sitting in the dark? I thought
you were spending the night with Jessica?"
"I wanted to give this to you before I left," Simone answered, as she placed
an envelope on the table.
Walking over to the table, he picked up the envelope. "What is this?" He
opened it and pulled out the papers inside. "What is this?"
"Isn't it obvious?! It's medical proof that Whitney and I are your biological
daughters. 99.99% proof. Proof that everything mom every said to you, to
us about her love for us, about caring for us, about wanting only the best
for us, about wanting to shield us from her hurtful past was true."
Despite himself, he felt joy course through his body. His babies were his.
They were his and not that monster's. He had wanted, in his heart of hearts,
to believe Eve but everything out of her mouth from the moment they first
met was a lie on her part, so how could he trust her. Wait- -How did Simone
find out about his doubts? Did that lying, trampy whore tell her? Did she
reveal such information to his Sugar Bear? How dare she! He was going to
give her a piece of his mind, even if he had to go up to that evil Crane
mansion. Now it was time for damage control. "Sugar- -"
Simone held up her hands and stood up. "Don't Dad. It's too late. It's
too late for words. It's too late for sorrys. Did you think Whit and I were
so dumb, we wouldn't notice how you distanced yourself from us? The only
time you could eat with us was when we went to Uncle Sam's and Aunt Grace's.
You couldn't even look us in the eyes. You thought we weren't yours. Even
though you were the only dad we'd ever known." Tears flowed from her eyes.
"Don’t cry- -"
She brushed away the tears. "No, Dad- - when I asked you if I could date,
you always said, not yet because you didn't want some little scrawny, snot
nose boy breaking my heart. I didn't like that answer. In fact, I hated
it. But I respected you and your answer and a part of me was thrilled that
you wanted to protect not just me, but my heart too." She picked up the
duffle bag next to her and moved towards the front door. "Who knew you would
be the first man to break my heart?"
TC's heart shattered into a thousand pieces. He hadn't meant to hurt his
Sugar Bear or her sister. But Eve's betrayal, it cut him to the quick. Everywhere
he turned all he could see were her lies and her with Julian, his sworn
enemy. "I love you, Sugar Bear. I love you with all my heart. You and your
sister. You two are my whole lives."
Pausing at the door, Simone turned to face her dad. "Your love has conditions
on it, Dad. You only loved Mom as long as she was perfect and everything
you always wanted in a wife. As soon as she fell from grace, from the pedestal
you put her on, she was scum- -she was beneath you. How do you think Whitney
and I felt to hear you disparage our mother? To hear her being called a
whore, tramp, (overused derogatory adjective) , and any other words, which
were plentiful come out of your mouth. Her blood runs through our veins,
she raised us, so what does that make us?"
"Baby, you are nothing like that woman," TC stressed.
"She's not that woman, she's my mom, my mommy, my mama, and I love her
and I miss her," Simone cried.
TC was torn. His hatred and anger towards Eve was so consuming, he couldn't
bring himself even for the sake of his daughter's sake to say a good word
about Eve Johnson. "Baby, I love you- -"
"Only as long as you're 100% sure that I'm truly a Russell, while you had
your doubts, I was deserving of your time, affection, or attention- -"
"That's not true. Simone Elizabeth, Daddy, is going through a lot right
now. Your mother's lies hurt me like they hurt you and Whitney. If I've been
a little distant, I apologize. I never meant to."
She opened the front door and stepped through it.
"Don't leave, Simone. Don't leave like this."
"Daddy, I would totally believe your words if I hadn't seen you with Dora.
A little girl with no one, but us and you couldn't bring yourself to love
her. I fell in love with her as soon as Mom told us about her and what happened
to Miss Lenox. But you couldn't love her because she wasn't truly a Russell
so why would I expect you to do anything different for Whit and I- -"
"That is not true! It's not true, baby," TC cried, with tears in his eyes.
He felt like he was fighting for his life here.
She shook her head. "I did expect you to treat us differently even though,
I saw the way you practically kicked Whitney out of the house because she
was dating a man you didn't approve of. But I thought because you were the
man who changed our diapers, taught us to walk, helped us with our homework,
taught us how to ski, play tennis, fish, and swim that you would love us
regardless. You were the best dad anyone could have ever asked for. I love
you, Daddy. But I can't live with you- -"
"Simone, you don't mean that- -"
"I can't live with your conditions, afraid to fall off the pedestal like
Mom and Whitney did. I'm going to live with Mom- -"
With Eve. No that whore couldn't raise his precious, fragile, innocent
Sugar Bear. "Simone, you can not go live with her. I refuse to allow you
to leave this house- -"
"You can't stop me from living with my Mom and besides it's too late the
paperwork is all being drawn up by Mom's lawyer, Alexis Davis. And I've
also asked that I have no visits with you until you go to counseling for
your temper and your issues with Mom. Bye Dad." She closed the door.
"Simone!" he screamed, running to the door, swinging it open. "Simone!
Get back in here!"
"Oh, and it wasn't Mom, who told me about your little request. So don't
blame her. She doesn't even know the tests were run," she informed her father
before she ran across the lawn and got into the black Mercedes Benz Sedan.
"Are you sure?" Julian asked her.
She nodded and the Sedan zoomed off. She saw her screaming and crying father
become smaller and smaller in the side mirror, as matching tears streaked
her face.