The Turns Life Takes - Julian/Eve - Chapter 5
by yhh
"Kay, you don't have to pack everything. I would like for a few of her
things to stay over here," Eve said, folding Endora's undershirts and putting
them in the suitcase.
"Really?" Kay asked surprised.
"Yes." Pausing, Eve turned to look at the younger woman, who was packing
up the toys. "This is her home just like my home will become hers. You are
her family. You are a big sister/aunt figure to her and Maria is her little
sister/cousin to her. Uncle TC, Whitney, Simone, and I are just being allowed
the privilege to join the family she already has."
"Oh, Auntie," Kay cried, hugging her aunt fiercely.
"It's all true, Kathleen. So I hope you'll allow her to continue to consider
this her home."
"Of course. This will always be a second home to her like yours was to
me."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not being there for you when you needed me. I knew Charity moving
in and Noah being gone was a big change for you and I wasn’t there for you
like I should have been. Can you forgive me?"
Kay's mouth dropped open. Aunt Eve was apologizing to her. She couldn't
recall any adult doing that before. And no one had ever acknowledged how hard
it was to have Charity move in so shortly after Noah left for school. "Auntie
Evie, you didn't do anything wro- -"
"Yes, I did. I wasn't there. If I had been there for you, you wouldn't
have moved in with Tabitha, a woman you barely knew at the time, than with
me and your uncle."
"Auntie, I knew I could have moved in with you, but- -" Looking into her
aunt's eyes, Kay knew it was total truth time. "I knew what I was doing
wasn't right and I knew you wouldn't approve. I was doing things you, Dad,
Mom, and Uncle TC had always taught us not to do. And Tabitha wasn't judgmental-
- not that you guys are, but she just wasn't- -" She didn't know how to explain
it. "I didn't really know her so I knew I couldn't disappoint her or let
her down like I could with you guys."
"Kay, whatever problem you have or situation you're in, you can always
talk to me about it. No judgment. No questions asked. Okay?"
"Okay."
Going back to their individual tasks while Maria and Endora slept, Kay
decided to use this opportunity to ask the questions she had been dying
to ask. "Auntie, what's going on with you and Mr. Crane?"
Eve hadn't been expecting that question and fought hard not to freeze.
She couldn't be seen reacting so strongly to the question. "Nothing. Why
do you ask?"
Kay shrugged. "Simone and I have seen you two together a few times and
your discussions always seem really intense."
Damn you, Julian. Now Kay and Simone besides Fox and Whitney were suspicious.
And knowing her niece like she did, she knew Kay was like a dog searching
for a bone, she wouldn't rest until she found out the truth. Great. Now
she had to lie to her, she had no other choice. "It was probably hospital
business. He can be very tight-fisted sometimes when it comes to the hospital's
monetary needs."
Kay suspected there was more to the story than that, but for now she'd
let it rest. She'd do some more investigating later when things were more
settled. "How is Uncle TC going to react when he finds out that Mr. Crane
is Endora's father?"
A subject weighing heavily on Eve's mind. "He won't be happy, but hopefully
Endora will wow him. And maybe if you don't mind, Julian, could have his
visits here? So the two of them rarely have to see each other- -"
"Except at ballet recitals, school performances, programs at the church,
birthdays, holidays."
How could she have forgotten all that? Maybe Julian would forget too, but
she had a sneaking suspicion she wouldn't be that lucky. "We'll deal with
him. Don't worry."
With her back turned to her aunt, Kay rolled her eyes. Now her aunt was
living in a fairy tale. Things were going to get bloody around here as soon
as Uncle TC found out about Julian, unless- - "Auntie, we don't have to tell-
-"
Shaking her head, Eve knew where Kay was going with this one. "No, it wouldn't
be fair to Endora. She's gone the first two-and-a-half-years without her
father, I won't deny her to miss anymore."
"But Uncle TC would be her dad."
"Yes and he still will be. But Julian deserves to get to know her and love
her."
Hearing the finality in her aunt's voice, Kay wisely decided to drop the
subject and they continued to pack making casual conversation.
"What is this?" Eve asked herself, while giving the room a once-over to
make sure they hadn't left anything important. Getting on her hands and knees,
she pulled a box wedged underneath the dresser out. Opening the box, she
found a bunch of pictures. She took one out and stared at the obviously Halloween
or costume party that Timmy and Tabitha were at. Dressed in what she thought
were late 1800s outfits, she thought they looked like they stepped out of
those times. Taking a closer look at the photograph and the texture of the
paper, she was puzzled at the feel and look. She had never seen a photograph
made with this type of paper. Shrugging her shoulders, she let the mystery
go. Anything having to do with Tabitha always left her wondering and asking
questions. Closing the lid, she decided to look at the other pictures later
at home.
"Mom, we're ready to shop," Simone called out.
Grabbing the box, Eve made her way downstairs. "Kay, are you coming? I
think your room and Maria's could use a little sprucing up."
Happy to be included, Kay smiled.
"Yeah, Kay come with us. It's been forever since we've been shopping,"
Simone encouraged her best friend.
"Okay, let me grab Maria's coat and stuff."
"Already in the car," Simone informed her.
"That sure of me, huh?"
"Kathleen, when have you ever passed up an opportunity to shop?" Eve added.
"So true, Auntie. So true," Kay replied, locking the door and happily heading
out to spend some quality time with people whom she loved that were still
here.