(Author’s Note: I made a bonus montage for this chapter. Clink on this link , when the lyrics come up play the montage.
Julian went back into his room and dimmed the lights down low. He was feeling really happy about finding Marty. He had been very worried about Marty when Beth had kidnapped him, and now miraculously he was alive. It was definitely nice for Julian to have some company for a change, he just wished it wasn’t at the compound. He was feeling proud of himself for being able to take care of Marty all by himself. Maybe he did have some paternal instincts in him after all. He knew Eve would have definitely been impressed.
Julian changed into his pajamas and bathrobe and sat in the window seat and looked out at the stars. As usual his thoughts turned to Eve. He wondered what she was doing now. Four months without here felt more like an eternity to him.
However, that night Julian could feel Eve’s love all around him. It was if her love was circling around him and she was holding him. Julian and Eve had always had shared a connection that was deeper than just love. They could always tell what the other one was thinking or feeling without even having to speak. Even though they were apart now Julian could still feel that connection with her and it was still strong. Somehow as he looked out the window at the stars that night, he could feel her love. It was if she was telling him that she loved him and hadn’t forgotten about him, and that everything would be okay and he wasn’t alone. Julian could tell no matter what happened with the imposter, it didn’t change Eve’s feeling for Julian, in anyway. She knew something wasn’t right and knew that the man she loved was somewhere, she couldn’t reach him. Feeling Eve’s love made Julian feel at peace and gave him hope that they would be together again.
He thought back to the fight he had with Eve the day he was kidnapped. It felt so petty to him now. He had been so frustrated at the time, and just when he realized the truth of the situation Spike kidnapped him and it had been too late. Julian made a promise to himself never to take anything for granted ever again. He also promised that he would find a way out of the compound with Marty if it was the last thing he did. Then he would bring Marty home to Sheridan and find his lady love and never let her go. The love that Eve and Julian shared was too precious to let get away, and Julian wouldn’t let one of Alistair’s plots come between them. They would find their way back to each other, Julian was certain of that.
Julian started to hear the maid out in the hall cleaning and listening to the radio and a song began to play. The song was pretty and made him think of his beloved Eve and all the love they shared.
The first time I laid my eyes on you I knew. We'd spend this life side by side. I still feel the same though you're so far away. I swear that you'll always be mine...
Forever Love. I promise you. Someday we'll be together. Forever love. I won't give up. No matter what. I'll be waiting for you. Forever love.
Minutes and hours and years may go by. But my heart knows nothing of time. So don't cry, just keep me right there. In your dreams. And hold on to these words of mine. Forever Love. I promise you. Someday we'll be together. Forever love. I won't give up. No matter what. I'll be waiting for you. Forever love.
Love is the road to our destiny. Nothing can change what is meant to be.
Forever Love. Forever Love. Oh, I won’t give up. No matter what. I'll be waiting for you. Forever love. I'll be waiting for you. Forever love.
Julian smiled as he listened to those words, remembering Eve and all the wonderful times they shared. “I love you Eve,” he said. “Now, always and forever.”
Julian was beginning to feel tired so he took off his robe and crawled into bed and went to sleep. As he slept he dreamed he was with Eve back home in Harmony in the Crane Mansion. They were making love in their bedroom suite with the room candlelit. They both were under the covers naked, kissing each other tenderly. Julian was on the top and Eve was on the bottom. As they were kissing each other, Julian held back for a second, putting his hand gently on her cheek and looked lovingly in her eyes. “I love you so much,” he said to her.
“I love you too,” Eve said breathlessly. She tenderly caressed his face with her left hand. “I’ve been so lonely without you.”
“So have I. I was so afraid that you would forget about me.”
“Oh no Darling,” she put her hand on his cheek tenderly. “I could not forget you. I just didn’t understand how and why you regressed.”
“I didn’t regress,” he answered. “They took me away.”
“They took you away?” Eve was confused. “Where are you?”
“I need you to find me,” he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While Julian was taking care of Marty, Eve went back to the hotel after her afternoon with Marlena. Her muscles were beginning to ache again, especially her back. She took a muscle relaxant to help with the pain which made her feel groggy so she decided to take a nap. After a couple of hours (after Julian had gone to sleep) she dreamed she was with Julian. They back home in the Crane Mansion. They were making love in their bedroom suite with the room candlelit. They both were under the covers naked, kissing each other tenderly. Julian was on the top and Eve was on the bottom. As they were kissing each other, Julian held back for a second, putting his hand gently on her cheek and looked lovingly in her eyes. “I love you so much,” he said to her.
“I love you too,” Eve said breathlessly. She tenderly caressed his face with her left hand. “I’ve been so lonely without you.”
“So have I. I was so afraid that you would forget about me.”
“Oh no Darling,” she put her hand on his cheek tenderly. “I could not forget you. I just didn’t understand how and why you regressed.”
“I didn’t regress,” he answered. “They took me away.”
“They took you away?” Eve was confused. “Where are you?”
“I need you to find me,” he said.
“Julian,” Eve said as she was coming out of sleep. She could actually feel Julian holding her. However, when she opened her eyes he was gone. Still feeling him holding her, made her feel wonderful.
Eve got out of bed and went to look out the window. As she looked out the window, she could feel Julian’s love all around her. It was if his love was circling around her and he was holding her. It made her feel at peace. Julian and Eve had always had shared a connection that was deeper than just love. They could always tell what the other one was thinking or feeling even without having to speak. Even though they were apart now Eve could still feel that connection with him and it was still strong. It was telling her that Julian still loved her and that there was something that was going on with him that she didn’t know about. As Eve continued she could feel his love around her, she also could feel that Julian was somewhere very far away and didn’t know how to come back from that place. Somehow it gave her hope that she and Julian would be together again.
As Eve thought about how Julian had coped with the pain of losing her all those years ago by . She had coped with the pain of losing Julian by hiding her pain inside and acting like she was happy when she wasn’t. Now history was repeating itself again. Eve was beginning to realize that her hiding her pain, was just as destructive as Julian . Her biggest mistake was that, she let her guilt over T.C. cloud her judgment when he had his stroke, and she made the same mistake before when T.C. wanted her back last year. She was now beginning to see that she couldn’t keep letting her head rule over her heart. Marlena was right; a relationship without love is just a recipe for disaster.
Eve remembered Ethan, Theresa, and Gwen. Ethan loved Theresa more, and married Gwen out of obligation. Now there was turmoil between the three of them. Then there was Sheridan and Luis. Sheridan loved Luis more, but stayed married to Chris out of obligation. Now she was miserable without Luis. Eve couldn’t keep making the same mistake with Julian. Julian didn’t deserve that from her, no matter what he did.
She decided to take Marlena’s advice, to try to figure out what was really going on with Julian. The truth was if Alistair was still alive she would have thought he had something to do with it, but Alistair was dead. However, the possibility of Julian having a neurological condition was very plausible. As far as Eve knew even though Julian was a long time drinker, he had always been healthily. He had never had any physical complaints when they were together, and even if he were sick she would have noticed something. Julian had started more again that summer, and any physical symptoms he could be having might be mistaken for drunkenness. She got out her laptop and printed out a copy of neurological and medical conditions that cause personal changes.
Her neck was beginning to hurt so she got out a cold pack and pressed it to her neck. Also her back was giving her a hard time too. Eve’s entire body was still in a lot of pain from the beating. Being on her feet all day at the hospital had been difficult for her, now that the beating had caused her to walk with a limp temporarily. She thought about getting a cane until the pain healed, but the image of a cane reminded her of when T.C. struck her with his. She just hoped the injury would go away soon. Mainly because she didn’t want to have to go to a doctor and have to explain herself. As a doctor, she knew that physicians were trained in spotting physical abuse and any doctor would be any to tell in a minute that she had been beaten. All she could do was hope that she would get better.
Eve sat down at the small table in her room with her cold pack pressed up against her neck, and looked over the list of conditions to see which ones applied to Julian. Alcoholism, she read. Julian was a long time drinker so she marked it down. Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia. No Julian was too young for that, so Eve crossed it off. A brain tumor. That was entirely possible, so Eve marked it. Bing-Neel syndrome. Another possibility, so Eve marked it. Brain surgery. No, Julian hadn’t had any recent brain surgery. A cerebral hemorrhage. No, there was no way Julian would be able to survive this long with a cerebral hemorrhage, so she crossed it out. Cirrhosis of the liver. That was a definite possibility. Julian had always been a long time drinker, and was a risk for cirrhosis, so Eve marked it down. Encephalitis. No, if Julian had encephalitis he would have been diagnosis by now. Fabry's Disease. No, Julian didn’t have any problems with his weight, so Eve crossed it out. Huntington’s Disease. It was possible, it might explain why the Cranes were so nasty. However, for Julian’s sake Eve hoped that it he didn’t have it knowing what a nasty disease it was. Korsakoff's psychosis. Entirely possible. The symptoms fit and was a risk factor. Lead poising. Possible. Mental illness. The only think related to mental illness regarding Julian that Eve could think of was alcoholism and his child abuse issues. If he had had bipolar disorder or something like that, surely it would have been noticed a long time ago. Nervous breakdown. Posssible. Prion diseases. Possible. Reye’s syndrome. Possible, the mental symptoms fit and the alcohol use was a risk factor. Traumatic Brain Injury. No, Julian hadn’t been in any accidents. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. The behavior symptoms fit and as was a risk factor. Wilson’s disease. That was another possibility, like Huntingtons. Young McKeever Squier syndrome. No, Julian didn’t have any problems with seizures or breathing problems.
Eve looked over the list. So far she had it narrowed down to alcoholism, a brain tumor, Bing-Neel syndrome, cirrhosis of the liver, Huntington’s Disease, Korsakoff's psychosis, child abuse trauma, a nervous breakdown, Prion diseases, Reye’s syndrome, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and Young McKeever Squier syndrome. Now the question was how to diagnosis him. Eve hated the idea of Julian being sick. She didn’t want anything bad happening to him, she loved him. Eve kicked herself for not realizing something might be wrong with Julian in the beginning. Unfortunately, Julian’s behavior had really scared her, ever since that day at the wharf fair for the hospital. Somehow she felt if she could find out what was really going on with Julian, that it would give her a big insight to Julian and it would help her find her way back to him.
Eve knew that Julian had been abused terribly by Alistair, which was one of the reasons she forgave him for leaving her all those years ago and for his past transgressions. But for him to regress now made absolutely no sense. The bottom line was Julian had every right to be angry with her over her spending so much time with T.C. after his accident. She had no right to do that to him. If the situation had been reversed and Ivy was all alone and had a stroke. Julian would never have treated Eve, the way she treated him. Julian would have got Ivy medical care and dropped in once in awhile to see her, but he never would have been as insensitive to Eve as she was to him. Julian was right when he said when you love someone you put them first consciously, and subconsciously. He had always been first in her heart, but she hadn’t always shown him. Julian had been absolutely wonderful to her when they were together, and would do anything to make her happy. However, when he was uncomfortable with the situation with T.C. she couldn’t even show him the same courtesy.
“I’m so sorry Julian,” she said out load. “I truly am. I never met you hurt you. I love you. I love you so much. I always have and I always will. I never fell back in love with T.C., and in the end you were right about him. I miss you so much, and I want you back. Please come home Darling, I need you.” From out in the hall way, Eve could hear the cleaning lady listening to a song on the radio. It made her think of Julian.
The first time I laid my eyes on you I knew. We'd spend this life side by side. I still feel the same though you're so far away. I swear that you'll always be mine...
Forever Love. I promise you. Someday we'll be together. Forever love. I won't give up. No matter what. I'll be waiting for you. Forever love.
Minutes and hours and years may go by. But my heart knows nothing of time. So don't cry, just keep me right there. In your dreams. And hold on to these words of mine. Forever Love. I promise you. Someday we'll be together. Forever love. I won't give up. No matter what. I'll be waiting for you. Forever love.
Love is the road to our destiny. Nothing can change what is meant to be.
Forever Love. Forever Love. Oh, I won’t give up. No matter what. I'll be waiting for you. Forever love. I'll be waiting for you. Forever love.
“I love you Julian,” Eve said again after the song. “Now, always and forever.”
Just then there was a knock at Eve’s door. ‘Who could that be at this hour?’ she wondered. She put the cold pack back in the freezer and limped over to the door and opened it.
Eve couldn’t believe her eyes, it was Grace Bennett at her door. “Grace,” she said feeling surprised.
“Hi,” Grace said smiling. “I hope I’m not disturbing you. I was wondering if we could talk.”
“Of course, come on in,” Eve said as she stepped aside so Grace could come in, and she closed the door behind her as she turned to face Grace. Eve couldn’t believe Grace was there and that she wasn’t spitting out some sort of venom at her. It was definitely not what is expected after they talked on the phone, last week. If it had been under different circumstances, Eve would have thrown her arms around Grace, after being apart for so long. She had missed her best friend so much.
“It’s good to see you again,” Grace said smiling warmly. She was being sincere to Eve.
“You too,” Eve replied smiling back at her. “When did you get back to Harmony?”
“A couple of days ago.”
“That’s great,” Eve answered. “How did you know I was here?”
“Sam did a little digging. I hope that’s all right.”
“No it’s fine.” Then Eve began to worry if Sam told T.C. where she was. After all Sam was T.C.’s best friend. “You and Sam didn’t tell anyone else where I was did you?”
“No, why?” Grace asked.
“Oh it’s nothing.” Eve hide her relief from Grace. “Would you like to sit down?”
“Sure.”
Grace sat down at the table in Eve’s room. Eve cleared the list of diseases she had been looking at from the table, and put it in her medical bag, and then sat down at the table with Grace. Grace couldn’t help but notice that Eve was walking with a limp and the right side of her neck was bruised. She decided to ask Eve about it later. Eve sat back down at the table across from Grace, feeling nervous about whatever Grace was going to say. Grace had been very angry with Eve and rightfully so. Now Eve was afraid of what would happen next, and what Grace was going to do. “So what did you want to talk about?” asked Eve.
Grace folded her hands and rested them on the table and took a deep breath and said, “Okay look, I’ve had a lot of time to do some thinking since we last talked. And I realized that with the exception of this one incident, you’ve been a really good friend to me and my family. I also realize that Ivy blackmailed you repeatedly to the point that she threatened your daughters, and that she had the Crane power at the time. Not to mention T.C. threats about killing Julian. The truth is I can’t imagine how difficult that was for you or the pressure you must have felt. Regardless, it just doesn’t seem right to throw away our friendship. So, I talked it over with Sam and the kids and they agree with me. So, we decided to forgive you.” Grace then looked sheepishly at Eve. “And I was hoping if you can forgive me for the terrible things I said to you on the phone, if we could be best friends again?”
“Oh my God,” Eve cried as she put her hand over her heart. “Do you really mean that?”
“Yes, I do,” Grace nodded smiling. She put her hand on Eve’s arm. “You’re a good person Eve. We’ve all done things that we’re not proud of. And I didn’t mean the things I said to you on the phone. I was angry, and I know that’s not an excuse. I’m very sorry that I did.”
“Grace, there’s nothing to forgive. You have every right to be angry with me.”
“I didn’t have the right to call you all those names though. I love you Eve."
“I love you too.” Eve and Grace stood up to hug each other. Eve had tears in her eyes. She was so happy and relieved that Grace had forgiven her. Eve loved Grace like a sister and it had killed her knowing that she had hurt her. Having her friendship meant everything to her. After they hugged Eve looked Grace in the eye and said, “I am so sorry Grace. I never in a million years wanted to hurt you or your family, but I know I did. And I promise you I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.”
“It’s okay,” Grace said kindly rubbing Eve’s arm. “I understand. You don’t have to feel bad about it anymore.”
Eve sighed and then said “I don’t a friend as wonderful as you.”
“Yes you do,” Grace smiled affectionately at Eve. Eve smiled back with appreciation for Grace’s kindness.
Then Eve and Grace sat back down at the table, “So how are things?” Eve asked.
“Things are good. It’s been great being back with Sam and the kids, and I think Sam and I will be able to help Jessica now.”
“That’s great,” Eve smiled. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. So what about you? What’s been going on with you since I’ve been gone?”
“Oh Grace,” Eve sighed. “You won’t believe what’s happened.” Eve pushed her hair behind her ear causing the right sleeve of her blouse fell down exposing her bruised forearm.
“Eve what happened you your arm?” Grace asked as soon as she saw Eve’s bruises.
Eve looked down and saw that her arm was exposed. “Oh it’s nothing. I accidently fell down the stairs the other day,” she covered.
“It doesn’t look like nothing.” Grace took Eve’s arm and rolled by the first of her sleeve and saw bruises all over Eve’s arm. “Oh my God!” Grace exclaimed in horror. Grace remembered when Sam was just starting his police career; he had brought home a book on battered women. Grace had taken a look at it herself and seeing remembered seeing pictures of women after they had been beaten and the bruises that they had. Eve’s bruises looked just like those she had seen in the book. “Oh my God!” Grace exclaimed again.
“Grace, I’m fine,” Eve said standing up. Grace stood up as well and stood in front of Eve. “Eve let me see,” she said firmly allowing for no argument. Then Grace rolled up Eve’s other sleeve and saw that her other arm was bruised the same way as well. Then Grace remembered that Eve’s neck was bruised and was walking with limped. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed a third time. “Eve, who did this to you?”
“No, one did this to me Grace,” Eve said pulling down her sleeves. “I told you I feel down the stairs the other day I’m fine.”
“Really,” Grace folded her arms across her chest. “When you fell, did you land on the side of your neck?”
“What?” Eve looked in the mirror and saw that the cold pack had removed the cover up she had put on this morning, exposing where T.C. had kicked her and struck her with his cane.
“Eve,” said Grace. “I don’t have to be a cop’s wife to know that you did not fall down the stairs. Now who did this to you?”
Eve turned around to face Grace and looked at the ground in embarrassment. She knew Grace well enough to know that Grace was not and shewas not going to let up until Eve told her the truth. Eve looked up at Grace with sad eyes. “You can’t tell anyone about this Grace,” she pleaded. “Not even Sam.”
“Eve, if someone is hurting you we need to tell Sam and let the police know so we can get you protection.”
“No, it’s not like that,” she cried. “I’m not in any danger.”
Grace wasn’t sure what was going on but she decided to humor Eve for the moment. “Okay, fine,” she agreed.
Eve took a deep breath. “You’re right,” she said. “I didn’t fall down the star, I was beaten.”
“By who?”
“T.C.,” she said in a low voice.
“T.C.,” Grace exclaimed.
“It was a couple of days ago. He got angry with me because Simone is a lesbian and he just beating me.” Eve started to cry as she recounted what T.C. did to her. “He slapped me, and punched me, threw me to the floor while he kicked me and struck me with his cane.”
“Oh my God, I don’t believe this,” Grace had tears in her eyes. “I knew T.C. had a temper but I never thought he’d take it out on you!” Then Grace began to feel angry at T.C. for doing this unspeakable thing to her best friend. How dare T.C. hurt Eve like this, “I’m going to kill him!” she stated.
“Don’t,” said Eve. “I don’t want Whitney and Simone finding out about this.”
“Are you okay?” she asked with concern.
Eve nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just really banged up.”
“How bad?” asked Grace. Eve went to the mirror and wiped off the make up from her face exposing her bruises. Then she turned around and lifted up her skirt to show Grace her bruised legs, and then she lift up her blouse to show her bruised torso. When Grace saw the rest of Eve’s bruises, she could see the horror that T.C. had put Eve through. T.C. had attacked Eve very badly. “Oh my God,” Grace said. She gave Eve a hug, and Eve began to cry again. Grace held Eve as she cried, trying to comfort her. Her heart broke for her best friend. Grace could tell Eve had put through an emotional ringer, since she had been in Europe, and it had taken a toll on her and still was taking a toll. Then after a few minutes Grace looked at Eve and said, “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry.”
Eve wiped away the tears from her eyes. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault.”
“What happened? What’s been going on since I left?” she asked.
“I don’t deserve your sympathy Grace,” Eve replied.
“You let me be the judge of that.”
Eve nodded. Eve and Grace sat on the end of the bed and Eve told Grace the whole story about what happened after Grace left. She told her about how when she and Julian were looking for their son how their feelings for each other grew stronger and stronger; the night of the founders day dance; Liz exposing her past; Eve finding out that it had been her driving the car the night of T.C.’s accident that ruined his knee; being told that Chad was her son with Julian; her divorce from T.C.; getting back together with Julian; the way T.C., Liz, Whitney, and Simone had treated her; Whitney thinking that Miles had been conceived by incest; being on trial for triple attempted murder; Simone coming out as a lesbian; Liz lying to Julian about Julian raping her; finding out that Chad wasn’t their son; T.C.’s recent accident and stroke; Julian’s regression and her recent break up with him; and T.C. beating up Eve.
“Oh Sweetie,” Grace said after Eve finished telling her. She put her arm around Eve. All of a sudden Grace felt so guilty about complaining about her pain, when Eve had gone through a lifetime of it. At least Grace was lucky to have a family to forgive her for leaving with David. Eve’s family just kicked her to the curb. “I am so sorry that you had to go through that, and that I wasn’t there to help you. Would you like to know what I would have said if I had been here?”
“What?”
“That T.C.’s a jackass for throwing you away because you’re not perfect; and that he and Whitney and Simone need to grow up stop blaming you for everything.”
Eve smiled back at Grace. “Thank you,” she said.
I hope you’re not thinking of going back with him.”
“No,” Eve shook her head firmly. “I’m not going back to him. I finally see the truth about him.
“Good.”
“Actually, I finally stood up to the girls today.”
“Really, what happened?”
“They came into my office at work, wanting to know why I left T.C.. Whitney start chewing me and lashing out at me for my past sins, her problems, what I did to you and Sam, for leaving T.C.. Then I finally told them off for how they treated me and told them that they’re not paying for my mistakes and I’m not going to put up with them blaming me anymore. Then I told them if they didn’t love me and only tolerated me that I no longer wanted anything to do with either one of them.”
“Good for you,” Grace commended. Then Grace shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe how Whitney treated you, slapping you and saying you ruined her life and that she was paying for your mistakes. She found out you weren’t perfect, that’s all.”
“I know,” Eve nodded solemnly. A week ago, Eve would have made excuses for Whitney, but not anymore. Whitney had betrayed Eve, and treated her horribly. It hurt Eve greatly knowing that her own daughter had been so cruel.
“Look, I’ll talk to her about what happened with Ivy,” Grace said.
“It’s okay, you don’t have too. Right now I’m too angry at the girls to be around them.” Ever since that afternoon, Eve was starting to feel the anger and betrayal that she should have felt two years ago at Whitney and Simone. It made her blood boil when she thought back to the horrible way they treated her. She was also equally angry at herself for putting up with it. She wished she would have just stood up to them then, instead of letting herself become a doormat.
“Well I’m glad you’re finally standing up for yourself with them,” Grace said.
“I wouldn’t have been able to if it wasn’t for Marlena,” she answered.
“What?” Grace was confused.
“Marlena Evans,” Eve answered. “She’s staying at the B & B.”
“Oh Dr. Evans,” Grace said. “Yeah, I met her. She’s really nice.” “Well after T.C. beat me I came here, and when I called down at the front desk for the hotel doctor, they said the hotel doctor wasn’t in, but Marlena was there and offered to see me. Of course when she examined me she could tell that I had been beaten, and she talked with me and helped me see the truth about T.C.. We had lunch this afternoon and we’ve struck up a friendship.”
“You like her better than me!?” Grace teased.
“Never,” Eve said light heartedly.
They both laughed. Then Grace said seriously, “Well I’m glad she helped you. What about you and Julian?”
“It’s been really hard. I know now, that I was wrong to be so insensitive to him when it came to T.C., and I feel terrible about it. However I still can’t understand how and why he would regress like this. I mean I wasn’t even planning on leaving him, until he regressed. Also this is not the first time he had a reason to be jealous and he never acted like this before. I’ve had this gut feeling inside of me for the longest time that there’s something going on with Julian that I don’t know about, and after talking to Marlena, I decided to try to find out what it is.”
“Well just be careful,” said Grace. “I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“I will be.”
“So what are you going to do now?”
“Stay here, until I find a more permanent place to stay.”
“No, you’re not,” said Grace. “You’re not staying here. You’re going to come home with me and you can stay in the garage apartment, until you find a place.”
“Oh no Grace, I couldn’t impose,” Eve said.
“You’re not imposing. We want you there. Plus we can spend time together, and you’ll be near Dr. Evans.”
“What about T.C.? I don’t want him knowing where I am.”
“I’ll make sure that Sam doesn’t bring him by the house.” Grace smiled at Eve, “Come on, I won’t take no for an answer.” Eve wanted to go home with Grace so badly, but she felt like she didn’t deserve Grace’s hospitality after what she did. Grace could tell what Eve was thinking and she said, “Eve, I’ve forgiven you. Now it’s time to forgive yourself.”
Hearing that made Eve realized just how much Grace loved her, and she couldn’t refuse that kind of love from Grace. So she smiled at Grace and said, “Okay, I accept.”
“Great,” Grace said beaming.
Eve went to get her suit in her closet. As she bent down to pick it up, she felt a sharp pain in her back. It caused her to wince as she put her hand on her back.
“Are you all right? Grace asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said. “I’m just really sore from the beating.”
“I saw when I came in here you were limping.”
“I know, I threw my back out too.”
“Well here, let me get your suitcase.” Grace went over and picked up Eve’s suitcase from the closet and put it on the bed. Eve walked back over to the bed and said “You’re not going to tell Sam about T.C. are you? I don’t want Whitney and Simone to hate their father.”
“You mean you’re not even going to press charges against him?” Grace asked shocked. Eve shook her head no. Grace wanted to strangle T.C. for what he did to Eve, and wanted to protect Eve from any possible threat that T.C. might have over Eve. However, Grace could see that Eve was adamant about the girls not knowing. She reluctantly sighed and said, “Okay, I won’t tell, on one condition. You have to promise me that if T.C. hassles you again in any way, you’ll get a restraining order against him.”
(Note to Reader: In this story, Sheridan does not become evil and the incident in the park where Sheridan lashed out at Eve never happened)
An hour later, Eve and Grace arrived at the Bennett house. Grace had called ahead to let Sam know that she had invited Eve over to stay in the garage apartment until she found a place of her own. When Eve and Grace arrived, Sam, Noah, Kay, and Jessica were all sitting in the living room. When Eve stepped into the living room, she felt nervous as she was facing the people who she had hurt.
“Oh good you’re both here,” Sam said when Grace walked in with Eve in. He stood up and gave Grace a kiss. Then he turned to Eve, “Hi Eve,” he said to her.”
“Hello,” she said demurely.
“It’s good to have you here,” he said.
“Thank you,” Eve smiled shyly back.
“Ah, kids,” Grace said to Noah, Kay, and Jessica. “Eve’s going to be staying with us in the garage apartment for a while.”
“We know,” replied Noah. “Dad told us.”
Then Eve took a deep breath and said, “I want to thank all of you for letting me stay here. And I want all of you to know how sorry I am for what I did. I never in a million years wanted to hurt any of you, but I know that I did and it shames me. I promise I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to all of you.”
“Dr. Russell, it okay,” Noah said kindly. He stood up from sitting on the couch. “We’ve all done things in our lives that we’re not proud of. I know I have and it’s people that I love and care about who have given me a second chance.”
“Yeah Noah’s right,” said Kay. “Besides we know that Ivy forced you into it.”
“You know, T.C.’s temper and all his talk about killing Julian scared even me and I’m his best friend,” said Sam. Then he smiled warmly at Eve, “It’s okay, we understand and we still love you. We all make mistakes sometimes. You’re like family to us, and you forgive family.”
“Besides,” said Jessica. “You’ve done a lot of good things for us and we haven’t forgotten that.”
“Thank you,” Eve said teary eyed. “That means a great to me.” Eve still felt guilty for what she did, but at the same time she never felt more loved, which made her felt good inside. She realized the kind of love she had from the Bennetts was the kind of love she had wanted all of her life from her family growing up, and from the Russell’s but never got it. It was the kind of love she had when she was with Julian. Unconditional love. That’s what true love was made of, and the kind of love that a family was made of. The kind of family she had with T.C. was not unconditional and was not good. It was the kind of family where everyone walked on eggshells and hide the truth. Families shouldn’t care if someone made a mistake or decided to choose their own path. She knew had hurt the people in her life who had loved her unconditionally, Julian and the Bennetts, for a family who didn’t love her. Well that was over now. She was not going to be that Eve, who let guilt and obligation cloud her judgement anymore.
“We’re just glad to have you here,” Sam said.
“Well thank you for having me,” said Eve. “I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime,” he replied. “Where are your things?” he asked.
“They’re in the car,” Grace answered. “Noah, could you get her bags and put them in the guest house. Eve hurt her back the other day.”
“Sure Mom,” Noah answered and went out to the car.
“Yeah, I noticed when you came in her you were limping,” Sam said to Eve. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I just threw my back out that’s all.”
Sam accepted her answer, but the cop in him was little suspicious.
Eve had dinner with the Bennetts, and after dinner when they were picking up the dishes Sam said to Eve, “You know Eve I was talking to T.C. the other day and he’s really worried about you. He said you just left the other day with no notice.”
“Yeah,” Eve said tensely. “It’s a long story, and I’d appreciate if you wouldn’t tell T.C. I’m staying here.”
“Why?” Sam was confused.
“Just trust her Honey,” Grace said to him. Then she turned to Noah, Kay, and Jessica. “Listen kids, whatever you do don’t let T.C. or anyone else know that Eve’s staying here and don’t bring T.C. by the house.”
“Okay,” they said. After they left Sam turned to Eve again and said, “Eve, what’s going on? Maybe I can help.”
“You can’t,” she said. “You just have to trust me.”
Sam gave Grace a ‘what’s going on look?’ Grace whispered, “I promised Eve I wouldn’t say anything, but trust me T.C. can’t know that Eve’s here.”
Sam didn’t feel comfortable keeping a secret like this from his best friend, but something in Grace’s voice and the look on Eve’s face told him to do what they asked.
“All right I will,” he said reluctantly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few nights later Eve was working late at the hospital. It had been a week since she left T.C. after he beat her. Since then she had managed to block his calls and told security at the hospital not to let him in. The Bennetts had done a good job of keeping her secret as well. She body still ached and her bruises were still there. It hadn’t been easy having to be on her feet at the hospital with her back the way it was. Still that seemed to be was the least of her problems.
It was Julian who had been on her mind. It had been two weeks since she had seen Julian when he tried to force him while he was drunk. It just was so unlike him to do something like that. She couldn’t understand how something like that happened. Nonetheless, she really missed him and needed him, especially now that T.C. had attacked her. When they were together he would have held her and comforted her, and would have been so wonderful and caring. Now she didn’t know where Julian was these days. The gut feeling that she had was growing by the day. It was telling her that Julian was in trouble and not to believe what she saw when she did see Julian, whatever that meant.
However, Eve decided to take matters into her own hands and tried to figure out if Julian had a neurological condition. Eve had asked Marlena for a second opinion, regarding Julian’s psychiatric health. Eve gave Marlena, Julian’s psychological history about how he was abused by Alistair, him leaving her all those years ago, the way he was when he was the old Julian, Julian befriending Timmy and then helping Eve when Liz came to town, then when they got back together, and his recent regression. Marlena said that Julian it sounded like Julian made some really bad decisions in the past, but being abused the way he was would definitely cause Julian to try to adopt Alistair’s values and do whatever he could to please Alistair. She said it sounded like Alistair wanted a lacky in Julian and did whatever he could to do it, which would definitely cause Julian to become the Old Julian. Then she said that the time he spent with Timmy away from Alistair definitely helped him begin to be his own man, and along with his love for Eve. However, she said for Julian to regress the way he did recent made absolutely no sense. Julian had broken away from Alistair and stood up to him. Once a child abuse victim realizes what their abuser did was wrong, and they stand up to them, they don’t start emulated them. As for Eve taking care of T.C. after his accident, it would be normal for him to be frustrated, but not for him to regress. So that left Eve with trying to figure out if the problem was neurological.
That night Eve was sitting in her office at her desk, looking at the Crane and Barrett medical files to see if any neurological or medical conditions ran in either of the Crane and Barrett families. There was nothing in the Barrett files that stood out to Eve. They all seemed to be pretty healthy. Of course, everyone thought Katherine died of kidney failure but of course that was a lie. Then Eve looked at the Crane files, and saw nothing alarming either. No preexisting conditions and all of them seemed to be pretty healthy. Although Eve was surprised that all of the cigars Alistair smoked didn’t kill him when he was alive. It did say that’s grandmother went mad when she lost the man she loved. She wondered if that might be the case with Julian, but then she remembered that this wasn’t the first time they broke up, and he never acted this way then. So Julian’s grandmother’s condition probably wasn’t passed onto him.
Then Eve took out the list she had made of possible neurological conditions Julian might have and looked them over. There was a very good chance this problem was due to alcoholism. Julian was a long time drinker, which could lead to other medical problems such as the ones she had on her list. To determine if Julian had anyone of this diseases she would have to exam him thoroughly and run a bunch of tests on him. Eve knew that a brain tumor could cause personality changes and irritability, especially if it’s in the frontal lobe. It could be a Gliosarcoma, Ganglioglioma, Meningioma, Ependymoma, or Astrocytoma. Eve didn’t know that much about Bing-neel syndrome or Young McKeever Squier syndrome because they were so rare. Julian would be at risk for cirrhosis of the liver with his , which would make him a good candidate for that. Eve hoped to God that Julian didn’t have Huntington’s, but she was worried that he might because the first symptoms of the disease of personality changes and irritability. It was a genetic disease, so maybr Alistair had it and just didn’t know it or many Alistair hide the fact that he did. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome A.K.A. Korsakoff's psychosis might explain Julian’s behavior, and people who are at risk for Wernicke-Korsakoff are chronic alcoholics. Julian actually almost fit the perfect descriptions for Wernicke-Korsakoff. Reye’s syndrome was unlikely given the very few adults are get it, and Eve was beginning to doubt that Reye’s syndrome was a possible diagnosis.
At the top of her differential was now alcoholism, brain tumor, Huntington’s, and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. What she really needed was to have Julian come in for a complete physical exam and tests, but given the way things were between her and Julian now that would be difficult. Now all she had to figure out how to diagnose him without him being there to test him.
Just then she heard a knock at her door. “Come in,” she said. Sheridan opened the door and walked in. She looked like she had been crying. “Sheridan, Honey are you all right?” Eve was really worried about Sheridan now, especially with everything Sheridan had been going through. Eve had been hoping that Sheridan would come and talk to her, so she could help her.
“No,” Sheridan replied brushing the tears away from her eyes. “Can I talk to you please?”
“Of course Sweetheart,” Eve said kindly. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” Sheridan sat down in the chair in front of Eve’s desk, she managed to dry her eyes and pull herself together a little bit. “I’m sorry to come in without an appointment, I just didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s all right, Sheridan,” coaxed Eve. “I’m just glad you’re here. What’s going on? ”
“You were right,” Sheridan said. “I’m still in love with Luis. The truth is I never loved Chris, it was James that I loved and I was just so devastated when I thought Luis had died that I let myself think that I loved Chris. I’ve never gotten over Luis, I’m still angry with him for Marty’s death, but I still love him and now I’ve lost him forever. And I can’t leave Chris, because of James and were still married, but I can’t live without Luis either. I don’t know what to do.”
As Eve was looking at Sheridan while she talked it was like looking in a mirror of her own story with Julian. It was enough to break her heart. Eve solemnly folded her hands in front of her and said, “I know how you feel Sheridan. I know a lot of people say that, but I really know. The truth is I’ve been where you are.” Sheridan knew Eve was talking about her relationship with Julian. “When Julian left me all those years ago,” Eve continued, “and Alistair kidnapped our baby from the hospital, I was devastated. I was so angry at Julian for leaving me that I tried to fool myself that I hated him. And I blamed him for our baby’s disappearance. Then when I met and married T.C., I thought I was happy but the truth was I couldn’t give him my heart because I still loved your brother. When Julian came back into my life again I eventually realized that I could never hate him and I finally admitted to myself that I still loved him. I also realized that Julian made a mistake in leaving me but our baby being kidnapped wasn’t his fault. Alistair would have found a way to kidnapped him regardless. Then recently I made same mistake of letting obligation cloud my judgment when I went back to T.C. after he had his stroke, and now I’ve lost the man I love.” Eve took a deep breath and said, “The point I’m trying to make Sheridan is that it’s one thing to do the right thing by James and Chris, but a relationship without love is just a recipe for disaster. The heart wants what it wants. And as far as Marty goes, Luis made a mistake by not listening to you, but in the end it wasn’t his fault. Just like it wasn’t Julian’s fault about our baby.”
Sheridan nodded. She could really relate to Eve’s story. Somehow seeing the comparison with her situation with Luis, and the situation with Eve and Julian made sense, and she began to see things with Luis more clearly. “I see what you mean. I know I was unfair to Luis about Marty. But what am I suppose to do about James? He already lost one mother.”
“Well honey, I don’t think it’s good for him to have two parents who don’t love each other. Do you want James to have the kind of relationship when he grows up?” Sheridan shook her head no. “Maybe,” Eve continued. “You and Chris could get joint custody of James.”
“That could work,” Sheridan agreed.
“Look,” said Eve. “I think what you need to do is go to Luis and tell him how you feel. I know he’s with Fancy, but I’m sure he still feels the same way about you.”
Sheridan smiled starting to feel some hope, “You know Eve, you’re right. I’ll do that. Thank you, I feel so much better.”
Eve smiled at her, “I’m glad Sweetheart.”
“Listen Eve,” said Sheridan. “I’m not trying to pry, but what you were saying about Julian and going back to T.C.. Is everything all right? I mean I heard you moved out from T.C. about a week ago.”
Eve sighed. “No, it’s all right,” she said to Sheridan. “Do you remember last year after we thought Luis died, and I said that T.C. and I had a beautiful love? Well I was wrong. Julian tried to warn me about him and he was right, and I didn’t listen and now I’ve lost the man I love.”
“Then why did you go back to T.C. in the first place?” Sheridan was trying to figure out what was going on.
“I felt guilty, I blamed myself for hurting T.C. in the past, only now I understand exactly why I lied to him about my past.”
“Did something happen that made you leave T.C. last week?”
Eve couldn’t tell Sheridan what happened. She was still determined to not let anyone know that T.C. beat her. “Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about it,” Eve said.
“Okay,” Sheridan said respecting Eve’s wishes.
“I had no intention of leaving Julian for T.C. and I never stopped loving Julian, but when Julian regressed I didn’t know what to do.”
“Well Eve, I’m not trying to take sides or defend what my brother did or his behavior. However, I can understand how he felt about you taking care of T.C.. I mean you’re not married to T.C., and that would make Julian or anybody else uncomfortable.”
Eve nodded solemly at what Sheridan was saying knowing just how true it was. “I know, and I see that now. I had no right to do that to him, and I feel terrible about it.”
“Have you tried talking to him about this?”
“No,” Eve said shaking her head. “Things are already pretty tense between us.”
“Look Eve,” Sheridan said. “I know my brother has his faults. But I do know that he wasn’t born the Old Julian. It was father who destroyed him. Deep down Julian is that good Julian.”
“I know that,” Eve agreed. “That’s why I can’t understand why he regressed.”
Sheridan felt bad for Eve and Julian. They were so perfect together. She had been so excited when they decided to get married. She wanted her brother to be happy, and she wanted Eve to be her sister-in-law. Now these days Julian was acting like a complete stranger. “Would you like me to talk to him?” she asked Eve.
Eve smiled at Sheridan’s kindness, “No thank you Sweetheart. I need to deal with this myself.”
“Okay,” Sheridan said. “If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
“Thank you,” she said. Then Eve got an idea. “Ah Sheridan can I ask you something?”
“Sure, what?”
“Do you know if any medical or neurological conditions run on either side of your families?”
“No, not that I’m aware of,” she said.
“Really, what about Huntington’s Disease or cancer?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Why?”
“Just curious.”
Last Edit: Nov 13, 2008 20:25:18 GMT -5 by srhrobin
(Note to reader) When you see a computer link in this chapter click on it. It’s a bonus montage.
Back at the Compound, Julian was standing by the window and looking out at the stars. He had put Marty to bed, about a few hours ago, and had changed into his pajamas and bathrobe. In the past few days, Julian and Marty had really bonded. Julian played with him, read him stories, bathed him, and tucked him in at night. It was nice for Julian to have some company for change, and he was enjoying being an uncle. Marty was such a sweet little boy, it was impossible not to fall in love with the little fellow. Julian loved his nephew very much, and had grown very protective of Marty since he found him. He would lay down his life for Marty if he had to now. Both Julian and Marty were also bonded by the nightmare of being kidnapped. They both knew that all they had were each other right now, but together they would find a way to get out of the compound. Of course, being locked up in one room had been hell for both of them, especially Marty. The child was only four years old; Julian wondered how Alistair expected Marty to be locked up in one room for the rest of his life. Still Julian did whatever he could to keep Marty happy and his mind off the stir craziness.
Julian wondered if his son with Eve had suffered the same fate as Marty. It was enough to break Julian’s heart. When Eve and he both found out that Chad wasn’t their son, they were both relieved. However, it didn’t change the fact that their son was still out there somewhere. People said there’s nothing worse than losing a child, and they were right. For years, Julian had grieved over his son with Eve, and wanted him back. Julian hated himself for letting Alistair force him into leaving Eve all those years ago. Alistair was so powerful, that Julian became extremely intimidated by him. As much as Julian regretted that mistake, after being kidnapped, Julian was beginning to wonder if Alistair would have come after him and Eve regardless if he had stood up to him. Julian had made Eve a promise to find their son and to find a way back to her, and he was determined to keep those promises.
Alistair had kept Eve and Julian apart and stole their son when he was born, and now he did the same thing to Luis and Sheridan. Now Julian was being kept apart from Eve, and Sheridan was being kept from Luis. Sheridan would be with Luis right now if Chris hadn’t tricked Sheridan into marrying him. Julian still couldn’t understand how Chris could be so selfish, knowing how much Sheridan loved Luis. The only reason Sheridan stay with Chris was out of obligation, just like Eve was staying with T.C. out of obligation. However neither Eve nor Sheridan knew the real truth about T.C. and Chris.
Then there was Noah and Fancy. While watching the monitors, Julian learned exactly why Fancy broke up with Noah. Julian had no doubt in his mind that Alistair planned the whole thing with Maya and Lena, so that Fancy would break up with Noah. It made Julian furious at Alistair for hurting his daughter that way. Alistair had no right to interfere with Fancy life like that. Personally, Julian had always liked Noah. Noah was a nice young man, who was respectful, and was everything and was more that he could have wanted for Fancy. He knew Noah didn’t make some very wise decisions regarding Maya, but Julian knew better than anyone what it was like to be pushed into a corner by a Crane. If Julian had known what happened before he was kidnapped, he would have sat down and had a talk with Fancy after she came home from Rome. However, now Julian was planning to as much as soon as he got back to Harmony. Julian knew that Fancy had started seeing Luis. Of course, Julian liked Luis but it seemed to Julian that Luis and Fancy were rebounding from losing Sheridan and Noah. Julian loved Sheridan and Fancy very much and didn’t want either one of them to be hurt. The bottom line was that if Alistair hadn’t tricked Sheridan and Fancy they would be with the people they truly loved right now.
Julian wondered if it was possible to ever bring Alistair Crane down, or if he would ever be free of him. Julian knew he had to bring Alistair down, but he still wasn’t sure how. He was still racking his brain trying to figure out a way to do it. Alistair already had so much power as it was, that he could get away with anything. It would be no problem for Julian bringing T.C. down. Julian couldn’t wait to beat him to a pulped for beating up Eve. The man deserved that and worse for what he did to her. Julian still couldn’t get the image of Eve’s face on the monitors as she pleaded with T.C. not to beat her. It made Julian sick knowing that T.C. beat her. If Julian had ever thought for a single second that T.C. was capable of doing that to Eve, he would taken measures against T.C. along time ago. Julian had begun to worry about Eve’s safety as well. Alistair was hell bent on keeping the Julian away from Eve. Julian was beginning to worry that Alistair might do something to Eve, like hurt to harm her. Julian knew that Alistair would have to get through him before that happened.
Julian pulled out a picture of Eve and him from the pocket of his bathrobe and looking longingly into it. Julian ached for Eve. He longed to hold her and touch her, and just be with her. It wasn’t fair that they were being kept apart. Eve was his life, his inspiration and his reason for living, and being without her was like being without air. Eve meant everything to Julian. She had loved him in spite of all his mistakes, and saved him from the Old Julian. She was his angel on earth. She believed in him and loved him for who he was, not his money. No other woman that he had ever been with loved him that way before. Eve was his whole life, and without her Julian wasn’t sure what would have happened to him.
“Oh Eve,” Julian said looking out the window. “I miss you so much. I’ll find my way back to you, I promise you.” Then Julian began to hear Marty screaming in his room. Immediately Julian race into Marty’s room. As soon as Julian opened the door he saw Marty crying out as he tossed and turned violently in his sleep. Julian sat down on Marty’s bed and said, “Marty, Marty wake up you’re having a bad dream. Marty sat upright in bed and opened his eyes, as he screamed. “It’s okay son,” Julian reassured him, “you were just having a bad dream.” Marty looked around and when he saw Uncle Julian he realized the dream was over. “It’s okay come here,” Julian said tenderly as he took Marty into his arms. Julian held Marty rocking him back and forth like a baby. “Sshh,” Julian said to Marty. “It’s okay I’m here.” Julian kissed Marty on the top of his head. Marty felt safe in his uncle’s arms. He could tell just how much his uncle Julian loved him and cared about him. It made him feel safe and secure knowing that he was not alone. After a few minutes, Julian held Marty back and looked at him.
“Are you right son?” he asked lovingly as he wiped away the tears away with his thumbs.
“There are monsters in here,” Marty moaned.
“There are no monsters in here,” Julian said smiling at Marty’s innocence.
“Yes, there are. They’re under the bed in and in the closet. Big mean purple monsters with scary teeth.”
“I tell you what,” Julian said. “I’ll go look under the bed and in the closet for you, okay?”
“Okay.”
Julian opened the closet door and then knelt down on the floor to check under the bed, and then sat back down on the bed with Marty who had laid back down now. “You see son, they’re no monsters in here. You were just having a bad dream. You all have bad dreams sometimes, but you know what?”
“What?”
“There not real.”
“Are you sure?” Marty asked still feeling shaken up by the dream.
“Absolutely, it’s just your imagination.”
“It still was scary.”
“I know,” Julian said sympathetically. Julian remembered when he was little and whenever he had a bad dream Katherine would stay with him in his room, sleeping right next to him, so he wouldn’t feel scared. It always made Julian feel better. Julian thought it would be a good idea to do the same thing for Marty. “Would you like to sleep with me in my bed tonight?”
Julian asked him.
Marty nodded.
“Okay.”
Marty picked up his stuffed bunny rabbit and got out of bed and followed Julian into Julian’s room where they both crawled into the bed. Julian lay on the bed with his back against the head board. Marty lay on the left side next to Julian, cuddling up against his uncle side. Julian put his arm around Marty. Marty seemed calmer now that was with his Uncle Julian.
“Are you all right now?” Julian asked Marty tenderly.
Marty nodded. Then he noticed a picture of Eve on the bed and picked it up. “Who is this?”
Julian saw the picture and said, “That’s my fiancée Eve.”
“What’s a fiancée?” That was definitely a word Marty hadn’t heard before.
“Someone you’re going to marry,” Julian answered.
“You’re going to marry her?” asked Marty.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Will that make her my aunt?”
“Yes, she will,” Julian answered.
“Do you think she’ll like me?”
“Are you kidding? She’s going to love you,” Julian kissed the top of Marty’s head again. “Just as much as I do. I’ll tell you one thing I sure miss her right now though.”
“Because you’re kidnapped like me?” Marty asked summing up the situation. Julian looked at Marty with sad eyes. “Yeah, because I’m kidnapped.”
Marty then got a pensive look on his face and said, “Uncle Julian, where do I belong?”
“What do you mean son?” Julian asked as he turned to look at Marty.”
“Who do I belong to? Beth said I belonged to her, but I don’t know.”
Julian heart broke for Marty when he said that. Even though Marty was four years old he knew that Sheridan was his real mother and he knew things were not the way they should be. Julian signed and said, “You belong with your mommy Sheridan and daddy.”
“Then why am I not with them?” he asked sadly.
Julian could tell that this question had been eating away at Marty. The uncle in Julian wanted to protect Marty from the truth, but he also could tell that the longer Marty didn’t know the harder it would be for him. So Julian sighed and said, “You’re your grandfather and your other mommy Beth kidnapped you from Sheridan when you were born.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know son, I wish I knew.” Julian knew why, but Marty was too young to understand right now. “But,” he continued. “I know that you’re mommy and daddy love you and miss you very much.”
“I miss them too.”
“I know you do,” Julian squeezed Marty tighter and gave him a kiss on the top of his head.
“Why does Grandpa hate me so much? Was I bad?”
‘My God, Father,’ Julian thought to himself. ‘What have you done to this child?’ Then Julian said to Marty, “Oh no son, you weren’t bad. You’re the best little boy in the world. None of this is your fault. You’re grandfather is a very mean and bad man. He’s mean to everybody, but it’s his problem not yours. You know when Sheridan and I were little your grandfather was mean to us too.”
“He was?”
“Yes.”
"Why is Grandpa so mean?"
"I wish I knew." Julian really didn't know the answer for the one.
“Someone should teach Grandpa to be nice.”
‘That will be the day,’ Julian thought.
“Uncle Julian,” Marty asked. “Why did Grandpa kidnap you?”
“Because he didn’t want me to marry Eve,” Julian answered.
“Why?”
“Because her skins a different color than mine.”
“Just for that?” That seem crazy to Marty.
“Yeah, just for that,” quipped Julian.
“I’m scared,” Marty said. “I don’t think Grandpa is ever going to let us out of here.”
“Ssshh,” Julian coaxed. “Hush now. I know it’s hard right now, but we are going to get out of it. I promise you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because before I found you I saw an angel and he told me that we would get out of her and go home to our families. He didn’t say when, but that it would be soon.”
“Really?” asked Marty starting to feel hopeful.
“Really,” answered Julian. Then he looked Marty in the eye as he put his hand on the back of Marty’s head. “I can also promise you this. I am not going to let anything happen to you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, and I’ll bring you home to your mommy and daddy.”
“You will?” Hearing Uncle Julian tell him that gave Marty hope and made him feel loved.
“Absolutely, I know things are hard right now, but we still have each other.”
“I love you Uncle Julian,” Marty said.
Hearing those words warmed Julian’s heart. It made him feel choked up inside. “I love you too, son.”
Julian and Marty hugged each other. A true bond that formed between Julian and Marty that would last them the rest of their lives. Julian held Marty in his arms until Marty fell asleep and then Julian feel asleep as well.
Last Edit: Oct 20, 2008 15:14:00 GMT -5 by srhrobin
(Note to reader) When you see a computer link in this chapter click on it. It’s a bonus montage for the the story.
Back in Harmony, at the hospital; Sheridan had just left Eve’s office and Eve all of a sudden had an idea to determine if Julian had a neurological condition. She remembered that the Cranes keep blood in the hospital for emergency. She knew Julian frequently donate blood because of his rare blood type. All she would have to do is obtain a blood sample from the blood he donated and she could run some tests on him.
Eve left her office and walked down to the blood bank. As she walked, she felt her muscles throb again. It caused her to limp slowly. Grace had strongly suggested to Eve that she see a chiropractor, but Eve knew that the second the chiropractor saw her bruises they would know she had been beaten and she would have to do deal with a lot of questions. Eve had made up her mind that she would have to wait to see a chiropractor until her bruises were healed, which would probably take weeks.
As Eve was walking down the hall, she saw Pilar.
“Eve,” Pilar said cheerfully as soon as she saw Eve. Pilar noticed that Eve was limping as she walked.
Eve smiled, “Pilar, hi it’s good to see you again.”
“You too.” Eve and Pilar gave each other a hug.
“What are you doing here?” Eve asked as she smiled at Pilar.
“Oh I was visiting a sick friend. Are you all right? I noticed you were limping.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just threw my back out the other day.” Eve was getting used to saying that to people when they asked why she was limping. Little did they know the horrible truth. Then Eve had an idea. Pilar worked at the Crane Mansion for years. Maybe she could confirm some facts about Julian’s history of being abused by Alistair. “Aw Pilar, do you have a little time? There’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“Sure,” Pilar answered. “What about?”
Eve looked around. She didn’t want to talk in out in the hall, in case someone heard them. “Could we go in the chapel and talk?”
“Sure.”
Eve and Pilar walked into the hospital chapel and sat down on the chairs as they faced each other.
“So what’s on your mind?” Pilar asked.
“When you and Martin started working at the Crane mansion Julian was a teenager, right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Did you or Martin ever notice or witness Alistair abusing Julian?”
“Oh yeah,” Pilar nodded. “All the time.”
“What was it like? I mean how did Alistair abuse Julian.”
“It was mainly verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, but it was bad. Alistair would belittle Julian, call him names, and nothing Julian ever did was good enough for Alistair. Even would Julian did a good job at something Alistair would tell him that he was failure. He did the same thing to Sheridan too. Katherine tried to protect Julian and Sheridan from Alistair, but it was no use. Then of course, Alistair emotionally, physically, and sexually abused Katherine. Of course no one knew that Alistair was raping Katherine , but Julian and Sheridan both witnessed the emotional and physical abuse Katherine suffered at Alistair’s hands. Julian tried to protect Katherine from Alistair as well, but it was no use either.”
Eve remembered Julian telling her about how he witnessed Alistair abusing Katherine. “What about after everyone thought Katherine was dead? What was the abuse like then?” she asked.
“Well, at that time it was just me working at the mansion, but Alistair’s abuse towards Julian and Sheridan grew a hundred times worse. As you know, Alistair blamed Sheridan for Katherine’s death. Julian tried to be there for Sheridan but Alistair sent her away to school in Europe. However, Alistair’s belittling and bullying of Julian grew worse. Alistair did everything he could to mold Julian into a true Crane. He would even threaten Julian that if he didn’t do what he said. Julian knew that Alistair meant it and exactly what his father was capable of. Then Julian started turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the pain, and doing whatever he could do to survive. Even when Julian went off to school, Alistair hired spies to watch him and Julian knew it. Actually, based on what I know now about your history with Julian, I think in between him thinking his mother died and losing you all those years ago, that he just slowly lost himself.”
Eve’s heart broke hearing how Alistair tortured her beloved Julian. It was just so horrible. “What was Julian like when he was growing up?” Eve asked.
“Well I just knew him when he was a teenage, but he was nice. He was really friendly, down-to-earth, and funny. He was spoiled of course from being a Crane, but still he was a really nice young man. A lot like how he was when he was with you. I remember he loved taking care of Sheridan. A lot of older siblings complain about having to take care of their younger siblings but not Julian. He loved it. It was one of his favorite things to do. He didn’t even have to be asked, he just volunteered.”
“I see,” said Eve. Pilar had confirmed what Eve had known all along about Julian being abused. “Do you know if any medical conditions ran in the Crane or Barrett family, like maybe a neurological condition?”
“No, that I’m aware of. They’ve all been pretty healthy as far as I know.”
“Did you ever hear anything about Huntington’s disease at all?”
“No, why?”
“Just wondering.”
“Eve is everything alright?” Pilar asked with concern. Pilar knew Eve had been through a lot lately with her break up from Julian and she had heard that Eve had left T.C. last week without any warning.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” Eve said. “I just have a lot of things that I’m trying to work through right now.”
“I heard that you left T.C. last week, did something happen?”
“Nothing worth mentioning,” Eve replied as she rubbed her sore forearm.
“Look if you need anything or someone to talk to you know that I’m here for you.”
“Thank you Pilar,” Eve said smiling at Pilar’s kindness. “I appreciate that.”
Eve and Pilar stood up and hugged each other. “Thanks again for answering those questions for me,” Eve said.
“Oh no problem,” Pilar replied. “I’m glad I could help. I hope everything works out for you.”
“Thank you.”
After Pilar left, Eve made her way to the blood bank. Regardless of what Pilar and Sheridan knew about the Crane and Bennett family medical history, Eve knew as a doctor that it didn’t mean that Julian didn’t have a neurological condition, or that some relative of his had a medical condition and they didn’t know it or they kept it a secret. When Eve arrived at the blood bank, she went over to the cooler where they kept the Crane blood, however according to the label it said that the last time Julian donated blood was six months ago, before T.C.’s accident. Eve took the IV bag of Julian’s blood and went over to the computer to see if Julian had come by the hospital to donate blood recently or to have some blood drawn for any reason, but it said that he hadn’t. That was differently strange. Julian usually donated every two to three months. She wondered why he hadn’t. Eve knew without the blood having being recently drawn she couldn’t determine much on Julian’s current state of health, but she could run a test to see if Julian had the genes for Huntington’s Disease or Wilson’s Disease. She got a catheter and took a sample of Julian’s blood from the IV bag and put his blood back in the cooler. Then she went to the label to run the genetic tests. After Eve was done, the computer printed out a copy of Julian’s lab report. Under gene for Huntington’s Disease it said the word “negative.” And under gene for Wilson’s Disease it also said “negative.”
~
A half hour later Eve entered the Bennett’s garage apartment feeling tired, and her muscles throbbing. On her refrigerator there was a note from Grace.
“I knew you would be working late so I put a plate in the microwave for you and some ice and fresh cold packs in the freezer. Love Grace.” Eve pick up the note smiling at Grace’s kindness. It was really wonderful for Eve having her best friend back in her life again. She really needed Grace more than ever.
Eve took a shower, put her nightgown on, and took some aspirin for her muscles. As she looked in the bathroom mirror at her bruises, she hated the way she looked. T.C. had beaten her so hard that it would take weeks for the bruises to heal. She just hoped she could get away with nobody finding out.
Eve left the bathroom and crawled into bed. She was relieved to know that Julian didn’t have Huntington’s Disease or Wilson’s Disease, knowing how awful those diseases are, especially Huntington’s Disease. Still she didn’t know what was wrong with Julian and she still didn’t know how to find out. Eve picked up the picture of Julian from her nightstand. She missed him so much. Living without him made her feel like a part of her heart was gone. The truth was Julian was and always would be the love of her life, her soul mate, her one true thing, and her rock. Eve’s love for Julian was so deep that no matter what happened between her and Julian that it would never die.
As Eve thought back to all the wonderful times she and Julian shared she ached to feel his arms around her and to hold him in her arms. Eve looked longing into the picture. She knew couldn’t deny her feelings anymore. She had always loved Julian and always would, and she knew that something was going on with him that was causing him to act like this, that she didn’t know about. “Please God,” Eve prayed. “I know Julian, and he’s not like this. Please have him come back to him. I need him.” Eve set the picture back down on the night stand and turned out the lights and went to sleep.
~
Over at the Lennox House, Endora couldn’t sleep so she decided to go downstairs to the living room. Mummy was in the kitchen with Kay, had left the magic bowl in the living room, leaving Endora to see what was going on in Harmony. She got up on the chair and looked to see what was going on in Harmony tonight. She saw some parties going on but then she saw her Daddy, in the bowl. Endora smiled when she saw her Daddy. She loved him so much. She just wished Mummy would let her spend time with him. Hopefully in time, Mummy would see just how wonderful her Daddy was.
As Endora looked in the bowl, she saw that something was very wrong with her Daddy. The bowl showed five months ago, her grandpa Alistair had faked his death in Rome. Then the bowl showed that mean Spike putting a gun to her Daddy’s head and kidnapped him. Then the bowl showed that grandpa Alistair had had her Daddy kidnapped to break up Daddy and that nice, pretty Dr. Russell. Then grandpa Alistair replaced her Daddy with an imposter so Daddy wouldn’t be found. And that mean T.C. Russell did what!!! Endora couldn’t believe it!! “How dare T.C. do that!” Endora said in her thought bubble with anger. The bowl also showed the reason Eve left T.C. was because he had beaten her. The bowl wouldn’t tell Endora where her Daddy was, it only showed Daddy in some room locked up somewhere. And her cousin Marty was being held captive with Daddy. Grandpa didn’t kill Marty after all. However, all of this meant the last time Endora saw her real Daddy was when he brought her a balloon.
Endora went over to the couch and bursted into tears. She couldn’t believe that her beloved Daddy had been kidnapped. She loved him so much and now he was gone. The worst part was that she didn’t even know where he was so she couldn’t use her magic to go save him. It wasn’t fair. Endora continued to sob. She felt like her heart was braking. She wanted to hurt that imposter for taking her daddy away from her and for being a part of kidnapping her daddy. Then Endora had an ephiphany. She could still help her daddy. After all she was a witch of course. Endora went back over to the bowl. She realized she maybe didn’t know where her Daddy was but she could cast a spell to let it be known what had been done to her Daddy, and that he was missing. Endora also wanted to help her Daddy get back with Eve Russell. Endora didn’t know Eve that well, but what she did know of her Endora liked. She was nice and very beautiful. While Eve could never take mummy’s place in Endora’s heart, Endora wanted her daddy to be happy, so if Eve made daddy happy then Endora would help her daddy be with Eve. Endora would also help Daddy bring Marty home to Aunt Sheridan. “Don’t worry Daddy,” Endora said in her thought bubble. “I love you and I’ll protect you. and I’ll help you get back with Eve. No one’s going to hurt you, not while I’m around. And I’ll protect you too Marty. I’ll bring you home to your mommy.”
Endora pointed her finger at the bookshelf and used her magic to bring over the book about the history of Harmony couples. She turned to the page about Eve and Julian. In it, it said that Daddy and Eve had been together in other lifetimes; the American Revolution, the Civil War, The Titanic. During the American Revolution they were Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Then they were together again in the Civil War, and on the Titanic. Endora being the romantic she was thought it was so wonderful. She decided while she was working on casting her spell she would let Daddy and Eve remember being together during the civil war. Endora pulled up Daddy and Eve in the bowl to see what they were doing at that moment. They were both asleep. “Perfect,” Endora said in her thought bubble. “Now I’ll let them remember it in there dreams.” Endora waved her finger to have Daddy and Eve remember being together during the civil war. Endora looked in the bowl and saw that the spell had been cast. Now all she had to do was come up with a spell to let everyone know what had happened to her Daddy.
The year was 1860 on the Crane Plantation in Virginia during the early summer. Twenty-one year old Jonathon Crane “John” was the son of Alfred Crane the plantation owner. Alfred Crane was the younger brother of Neville Crane, who lived up North and ran the Crane Empire. Alfred was Neville’s second in command when it came to the Crane Empire and ran the cotton plantation in Virginia.
One afternoon John was sitting on the porch, in the porch swing. He had just finished his studies at Harvard and was now home until he went to law and business school. Despite becoming a Crane and born to privilege and wealth, John’s life had not been a pleasant one. Alfred had abused John from the time he was born. Alfred would bully and belittle John verbally and would even hit him and whip him. When John was growing up he even witnessed Alfred doing the same thing to his mother Louisa. Both John and Louisa tried to protect each other from Alfred, but they were no match for Alfred. The marriage between Alfred and Louisa had not been a pleasant one either. It had been an arranged one, where Louisa had no stay in the matter. If it had been up to Louisa she would never have married Alfred. She was an abolitionist and condemned anyone who supported slavery and bigotry. Louisa raised John with the same values even though Alfred had tried to teach him differently. When John was twelve, Louisa had died falling down the stairs. Although rumors said that Alfred had killed Louisa, no one could prove it. John believed it though and was forced to endure not only the loss of his mother but had to endure Alfred’s abuse as well.
The years of Alfred’s abuse had taken a toll on John. He had no self esteem or self confidence and felt helpless to escape his father’s cruelty. Even when John was at Harvard, Alfred hired a spy watch John constantly, and John knew it. Alfred wanted John to take over the plantation and the family business once John graduated. When John was growing up, he believed in the prosperity of the south but he did not believe in slavery. He felt that it was a cruel practice that must be stopped. Even when John told Alfred how he felt, Alfred slapped his face. Now that John was an adult, he no longer supported the prosperity of the south, and desperately wanted to move Boston and join the Union in fighting the war and get his law and business degree, so he could start his own business where he would treat his workers fairly. When John was in Boston he learned about how people, even children in the north were treated in factories under dangerous conditions, for long hours and little pay. It horrified and disgusted him. ‘Business can thieve by treating its workers decently,’ John felt. Still John was afraid of his father’s wrath of what he would do to him. It wasn’t just that Alfred would disinherit John leaving him with a penny, not to mention John had never worked a day in his life, John was afraid that Alfred would hurt him like he did Louisa. He knew Alfred was definitely capable of it. John saw was Alfred had done to him and his mother, not to mention the brutal way he treated the slaves. John felt at a loss at what to do. He could empathy with the slaves, for he had endured Alfred’s cruelty too and Alfred’s abuse had imprisoned John both body and soul. John looked up at the sky, “Oh Mother, tell me what to do,” he said feeling all choked up. “I don’t know how to get free of Father.”
Several moments later John saw Alfred and Thornton the overseer coming up the walk. Thornton was a slave on the plantation that Alfred had appointed as overseer, because of his nasty temper. When Thornton was angry about something he would show it. “John what are you doin’ sittin’ there. Get over here and help me.” John got up and walked out to the yard where Alfred was standing.
“What is it father?” John asked.
“We have a new slave girl coming in.”
“We’re getting more slaves?” John asked in disgust. He felt sorry for the poor woman that was coming. She didn’t know what she was in for with Alfred. Alfred was known to be the most brutal slave masters in the state. He brutally beat and whipped the slaves, raped the female slaves, and even killed several of them.
“Yes, of course you idiot,” Alfred clipped. “You can’t run a successful business or plantation with slaves.”
Even after all these years, it still got to John when Alfred called him that. Just then a wagon came with a black woman in the back shackled in chains about eighteen years of age. The moment John saw her, his breath was taken away, for she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was slender and had soft coconut skin with long beautiful black hair and beautiful brown eyes. There was something about her that drew John to her. It was he had met her before, even though he hadn’t.
Alfred went to the back of the wagon and approached her. “What’s your name girl?” Alfred asked coldly.
“Essy,” she replied feeling intimidated.
“What can you do?” Alfred asked with the same coldness.
“Anything sir. I can do indoor and outdoor work.”
“All right then, I’ll take ya. But if you do what I say and do your job or you’ll be whipped.”
Thornton unchained Essy and brought her back to the barn. As John saw her leave, he watched Essy with memorization. He had heard of stories of love at first site, and he didn’t believe it until now.
~~~~~~~
The next morning Essie was in the kitchen in the main house kneading bread. She was only eighteen and had spent her whole life as a slave. Essie’s parents were sold when she was twelve leaving her to fend for herself on the plantation. Around that time she had befriended the plantation owner’s daughter Sadie who taught her how to read and write. Sadie leant Essie books and would teach her the same lessons she learned in school. Sadie and Essie had been very good about concealing this secret from Sadie’s father and from other people as well. Essie knew how to make herself look illiterate to others. If there was a sign or any writing she pretended to not know what it said and no one ever even suspected anything. Essie had proven herself to be very smart. She excelled in her lessons with Sadie and wanted to be a nurse or even a doctor. Essie knew how to cure any ailment on her own and tend to people who were sick. She had heard about Elizabeth Blackwell becoming the first woman doctor eleven years earlier, and the works of Florence Nightingale which had inspired her. Most of all she longed for freedom and for slavery to end. She wanted to go to the north and join the abolitionist movement and the women’s suffrage movement. Essie hated being someone else’s property and not having the right to be free. She had heard about the Underground Railroad but she knew it wasn’t an easy thing to do.
Her previous owner had died a month ago and his son had sold her to Master Crane. When Essie learned that she was being sold to the Crane plantation it made her nervous. She had stories from other slaves about how cruel Alfred Crane was. One man said that he cut off his hand once. Another woman said that he had brutally raped her. Essie just hoped that she could stay safe from Master Crane. Since she had arrived at Crane plantation the overseer Thornton had tried to flirt with her. However, Essie wasn’t interest in him. She was put off by his nasty temper. When Thornton took her back to the barn, she witnessed him whip a slave five times for accidently dropping a saddle. Even though he was the overseer Essie thought Thornton’s cruelty towards the rest of the slaves was a disgrace to their race. Even so, ever since yesterday, she couldn’t stop thinking about Master John. It wasn’t just his handsome looks that drew her to him, there was something else too. It was like she had known him for years. Of course she knew it was impossible for a colored person to marry a white person. There had been rumors about Thomas Jefferson having a love affair with one of his slaves, but even if that were true they were not able to get married. Essie knew that most white men would talk advantage of colored women and would rape them like Master Alfred had a reputation for. However, there was something different about John. He seemed kind. She remembered yesterday when Master Alfred had been questioning her how sad he looked for her. When Essie met Master John he made her heart beat a thousand miles.
Just than Eloise, another slave in her late fifties came into the kitchen.
“How’s the bread comin’?” Eloise asked Essie.
“It’s comin’.” Essie answered.
“Listen,” Eloise said seriously. “You’re new here, so I think its best that a warn you. Master Alfred is a brut. He’s been known to rape the female slaves here, so be careful given that you’re a pretty girl.”
“I know,” Essie acknowledged. “I heard about Master Alfred from other plantations.”
“Good. You know rumors say he killed his wife. I knew her. Sweet woman. She was an abolitionist. They’re marriage was arranged so she didn’t have no say. They say she accidently fell down the stairs, but rumors say he pushed her and the good lord took her to heaven.”
“That’s terrible,” Essie said in horror.
“I know. She was one of the finest women that ever walked the earth. But Master Alfred abused her mercifully and Master John.”
“What about Master John? What’s he like” Essie asked with curiosity. She wanted to learn everything she could about this man who had taken her interest.
“Master John?” answered Eloise. “He’s nice. He’s always nice to us slaves. The poor thing has been tortured by his old man since the day he was born. Between you and me and the man upstairs, I think he’s an abolitionist. I think he would go up north if he could and leave the family business.”
“Why doesn’t he?”
“Master Alfred’s abuse has killed his self worth.”
“That’s awful.” Essie felt her heart break for Master John and his mother. At the same thing, she felt even more drawn to him knowing that he was an abolitionist. She was falling for a man that she could never be with. She knew in her head that society would never allow for her to be with John, but in her heart was telling her that John was the one. The truth was Essie fell in love with John at first site and she couldn’t be with him. This was a terrible situation she was in.
~
Out in the dining room, Alfred and John were sitting across the table from each other when Essie came in caring the breakfast tray for them.
“I have some news you might be interested in,” Alfred said to John as Essie began serving them.
“And what news would that be father?”
“As you know, we’re going to have our annual ball soon and I’ve invited Priscilla Osborn.”
“You mean that wench who flirts with any man who comes her way?” John found Priscilla shallow, rude, and was a complete air head. She was a narcissist and the only person she cared about was herself. She was only interested in men with money and would have sex with any man that came her way. John had courted her, a couple of times when they were teenagers. Given that he was fifteen, he had been attracted to her beauty, but once he got to know her he no longer wanted anything to do with her.
“Yes her . And you are going to entertain her while she’s here.”
“Please Father,” John groaned. “I can’t stand the woman.” The thought of having to entertain that awful Priscilla Osborn made his stomach churl.
Alfred banged his fist on the table. “I don’t care if you like it or not. I’m your father and you’ll do what I say dammit. You’re Uncle Neville has talked to Priscilla’s father and we’re creating a merger with Osborn’s company and we decided that you and Priscilla would be a perfect match for one another. As soon as Essie heard this she found herself feeling very disappointed. Even though she knew that she and John couldn’t be together, she couldn’t help but feel jealous.
“Isn’t it may choice who I choose to be with father?” John said to his father.
Alfred got up and put both of his hands on the table and leaned forward looking at John with vengeance. “Are you trying to cross me John, because if you are,” Alfred said making a fist.
“No father, of course not.” John knew when his father got like this, he was at a loss. “I’ll do what you say,” he said hanging his head.
“Good,” Alfred clipped.
After Alfred left the dining room and Essie went back into the kitchen, John sat alone in the dining room feeling sorry for himself. He hated having his father run his life and choose who he married. He knew his parents had an arranged marriage and there was no love between them. His mother had been miserable and if he married Priscilla he knew the same thing would happen to him. The woman he was interested in was Essie but he knew the law would never allow him to marry Essie. Still he couldn’t get her out of his heart. He didn’t know anything about her and he felt like he had known her forever.
As soon as John got up Essie came in with a pitcher of water and tripped over the carpet causing the pitcher to brake and for her to spill the water all over John.
“It’s okay,” John said smiling at her kindly. “Accident’s happen. No harm done. Here let me help you,” he said as he as he knelt down to pick up the broken pieces of the pitcher.
“Thank you,” Essie smiled at John as she knelt down to help John pick up the broken pieces. While they were kneeling on the floor their eyes were locked on each other as they felt the attraction to one another. Just then Alfred came in and saw the mess.
“You clumsy fool girl!” Alfred snarled at Essie. “Look at what you did! You’re going to be whipped now!”
Essie felt fear trembling in her as she heard Alfred say that knowing what awaited her.
“It’s my fault, father,” John said standing up.
“What?” Alfred asked.
“I went to pour a glass of water for myself and I accidently broke the pitcher when I picked it up and spilled water all over me and Essie was helping me pick it up.”
“Well why didn’t you tell Essie to pour you the water? And she can pick up the mess herself. That’s why we have slaves.”
Alfred left and Essie put the pieces of the broken pitcher in the waste basket next to her. John went over to her and offered her his hand to help her up. Essie accepted.
“Thank you,” Essie said with gratitude. “That was so wonderful of you. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“There’s no need, I'm happy to do it.” John smiled. He was just happy to help Essie. He couldn’t live with himself if he let anything happen to her.
Essie smiled back at John. Except for Sadie, Essie had never met a white person who had been so kind to her. John treated her like a person, a lady, not a slave.
A week later at Crane Plantation, at the Crane annual ball, Essie was working as a server at the ball and looking across the room at John dancing with Priscilla Osborn. She wished desperately that John was dancing with her instead. All week she had tried to get John out of her mind but she couldn’t. Somehow he had become a part of her. It tore Essie up inside knowing that she could never be with John because society would never allow it. It was enough to break her heart. ‘Poor John,’ she thought to herself. He looked miserable dancing out there with Priscilla. She knew from the conversation between Alfred and John that, John didn’t love Priscilla. ‘If only John believed in himself,’ Essie thought.
On the dance floor, John was having a miserable time with Priscilla. Her conversation was only limited to fashion and her self-absorbed ego. The only thing Priscilla seemed interested about John was his money and family name. She didn’t seem to care at all about him as a person. The thought of having to spend his life with this woman made John’s skin crawl.
When the song ended John started to leave to get something to drink. “Ah where you are going?” Priscilla demanded as John started to leave.
“I’m thirsty,” John replied.
“Oh come on, let’s dance some more,” Priscilla said putting her arms around John.
“No, I need a drink,” he said pulling Priscilla’s hands off of him. John went over to the food table to get his drink and Priscilla followed him.
“I can’t wait until this war is over,” Priscilla said as John took his drink. “I am so sick of talk about some dead or injured soldiers.” She talked about it as if it were nothing more than spilled milk. “I swear President Lincoln is a fool, abolitionists make such a big deal about slaves having no legal rights and how they have the right to be free, be educated, be paid for their work, and not to be beaten. Colored people are inferior to whites and therefore are meant to be slaves and are not entitled to any rights.”
“Oh you mean just because their sink is a different color?” John asked in disgust. He couldn’t believe how racist Priscilla was being. “Yes,” Priscilla stated matter. “If anything bringing them to the United States in from Africa was the best thing that could have happened to them. At least here they’re not living like savages.”
“No we only kidnapped them from their homeland, put them in chains, and force them to be slaves. And on top of that we torture them and don’t give them any rights of any kind,” John said sarcastically. John couldn’t believe the racist things that came out of Priscilla’s mouth. If his mother Louisa were alive she would be horrified to know that Alfred wanted John to marry such a horrible woman.
“Oh please,” said Priscilla. “You sound like that Fredrick Douglas and Elizabeth Cady Stanton up north. Next you’ll be telling me that women should have the right to vote.”
“Why not?” asked John. “Why shouldn’t women have a voice in government? There legitimate citizens too.”
“Oh please, women are meant to be wives and have babies. I should think that’s something women would need less of. The next thing we know women will be trying to become men.”
Just then Essie came up to the food table with a tray of appetizers and set it on the table.
“Hey girl,” Priscilla demanded. “Pour me a glass of water.”
Essie obliged not saying a word and then left.
“You don’t have to talk to her like that,” John said to Priscilla.
“Oh come on, she’s just a slave.”
When everyone left after the ball, John sat on the front porch after the miserable time he spent with Priscilla. He knew if he married her his life would be ruined. However he still didn’t have the courage to stand up for himself with his father. The things that Priscilla said disgusted him. John remembered how his mother Louisa was arranged and how miserable in the marriage. Like John she was also an abolitionist who had an arranged marriage to a confederate. John was afraid he was going to end up just like Louisa. The thought of it killed him inside. John then looked out over the plantation where the slaves were housed and saw Essie outside her cabin. She looked so beautiful. Something about her drew her to John. John decided to go over to the cabin and see her. He wasn’t sure what he was doing or what he was going to say to her, but some force that was stronger than he was pulling him there.
~
“Wade in the water, Wade in the water, children, Wade in the water, God's a-going to trouble the water.” Essie was standing outside of her cabin, leaning her back against the cabin while looking at the moon and singing, Essie was known to a have beautiful singing voice and she liked to sing. She helped her to know that singing Negro spiritual songs would help other slaves to find their way to freedom. If only she could find her own way there.
Just then she saw John appear next to her. “You have a lovely voice,” he said as he approached her.
“Oh thank you Master John,” Essie said blushing and feeling rather shy.
“Please it’s just John,” he said. “I wanted to come by and apologize to you for Miss Osborne’s rudeness at the ball. While he did want to apologize for Priscilla, he was too embarrassed to admit yet that he was smitten with Essie.
“Thank you,” Essie replied overwhelmed by John’s thoughtfulness. “But it isn’t necessary. I’ve dealt with much worse.”
“Well you shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of treatment at all.”
Essie smiled at John. “I heard that you were an abolitionist.”
“Yes,” John said standing next to Essie and leaning his back against the cabin as well. “My mother was an abolitionist and raised me to be one too. She believed that all people are equal and deserve civil rights, and condemned bigotry of any kind.”
“She sounds like a wonderful woman,” Essie replied.
“Yes she was. She died several years ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Essie said with sympathy.
“Yes, it hasn’t been easy, especially living with father. I’d love to go up North and join the Union and make my own way.”
“Why don’t you?”
“I’m not smart enough. Besides I’d have no money and I don’t know anything about manual labor.”
“Sure, you’re smart and as far as manual labor goes you could learn.”
“Even if I were father would make me pay for it for the rest of my life. He doesn’t take well to people who defy him. I ache to be free from him.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling,” Essie said empathizing with her own plight of being a slave.
“Would you like to go for a walk in the woods?” John asked. He wasn’t sure exactly what he was doing, all he knew is he wanted to spend time with Essie.
“A walk in the woods?” Essie was completely caught off guard. “Master John I--”
“I told you its John, not Master. And I can assure you my intentions are good.”
Essie wasn’t sure what to think. However, her desire for John made her want to go with him. “All right then John,” Essie said smiling at him. John offered her his hand and Essie took in as they walked out to the woods.
In the woods, John and Essie were walking by along the river. Eventually they decided to sit down by the shore of the river together. “So do you have any family around here?” John said to Essie as they sat by the river bed.
“No,” Essie replied. “My parents were sold when I was twelve and I don’t know where they are. I’ve been taking care of myself since then.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I just pray for the day when slavery comes to an end.” “What when you do if you were free?”
“I would go up north about join the abolition and suffrage movement. Then I’d like to become a nurse or maybe a doctor.”
“A doctor?” John replied in amazement.
“There are women doctor’s now. Look at Elizabeth Blackwell.”
“How did you know about Elizabeth Blackwell?”
“I heard about her,” Essie said trying to cover up that she read about her.
“Wait a minute, do you know how to read?” John asked. Essie didn’t know what to say, she just sat their speechless.
“Essie it’s okay if you do,” John said gently rubbing Essie’s arm. “I think colored people should have the right to be educated. And I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
Essie gave a sigh of relief. “Oh thank you John. I would be in big trouble if anyone found out.”
“Don’t worry, you’re secrets safe with me,” John reassured. “How did you learn how to read?”
“I befriended my last owner’s daughter and she taught me to read. She would teach me the same lessons she learned in school so I learned a lot then. I remember she would lend me books sometimes. I love to read, but now I don’t have access to any books now.”
“Yes you do,” John answered. “I can supply books to you now.”
“Well thank you,” Essie said amazed at John’s generosity. “You’re very kind.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
~
From then on John and Essie were inseparable. Every night they would go to the back of the woods and spend time together talking, laughing, swimming in the river, and kissing under the stars. John would bring Essie flowers and books to read. One night they were together, they found a nearby cave and they made passionate love. It was the most incredible experience of their lives. They’re souls were intertwined.
As the sun rose, and they were holding each other, John said to Essie, “I have a confession to make to you. I love you. I’ve loved you ever since the moment I ever laid eyes on you.”
“I have a confession to make too,” said Essie. “I’m in love with you too. Ever since the day we met each other.”
“I love you Essie,” declared John. “I love you more than anyone or anything. “Ever since we’ve been together, you’ve helped me to believe in myself. I feel like a whole man for the first time in my life. Because of you I’m no longer afraid of my father. I want to be with you forever. I want to marry you and go up north with you and live together forever.”
“Oh Darling,” Essie said caressing his cheek. “How can we?”
“We’ll run away together. I know father will leave me penniless, buy while take the Underground Railroad and go to Philadelphia.”
“Well,” said Essie. “There is this woman named Harriet Tubman, who’s a conductor for the Underground Railroad. She’s a former slave herself who ran away to freedom and now works as a conductor.”
“I know I remember father talking about her when he was worried about his slaves escaping.--- So does that mean that you’ll marry me?”
“Yes John yes,” Essie looked at John with deep love and passion in her eyes. “I will marry you. I love you John more than anything. I don’t care about what the laws say I just want to be with you.”
“Oh my darling you won’t regret this.” John then pulled her into a passionate kiss.
Thornton the overseer was listening outside the cave as John and Essie talked. All of a sudden he was filled with rage. “No,” he thought to himself. “Essie’s mine, Master John can’t have her. Not if I have anything to say about it.
"Wade in the water" is a negro spiritual song written to guide slaves to freedom
Last Edit: Jun 15, 2009 14:05:29 GMT -5 by srhrobin
(Note to reader; All the activists mentioned in this chapter were real people)
Later that day, Alfred called John into his study. “I’m disappointed in you Son,” Alfred said coldly. “I would have had no objection to you using a black girl for sex, but to fall in love with her.”
John felt fear running through his veins like ice water. “What are you talking about Father?”
“You and Essie, that’s what's going on. Thornton saw the two of you together this morning and told me about it. Apparently he wanted Essie for himself and out of revenge decided to blow the whistle on the two of you. Well I sold Essie this morning and I doubt you’ll ever see her again.”
John felt his heart break into a million pieces. “No, you can’t do that!!” he cried. His face was turning bright red. “I love her and I want to be with her.”
“No son of mine is going to marry a black person.”
“Don’t you dare call her that,” John hissed. “This was the first time in his life that he was standing up to his father. “I love Essie. She’s all I want. I don’t care about your money; I just want to be with her.”
“I don’t care what you want. I won’t have you defile the family name by marrying a slave.”
That night John packed up all of his belongs and left Crane Plantation. He didn’t even tell his father where he was going and didn’t care if he never saw him again. He traveled up north to Philadelphia and got a job working with Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society campaigning against slavery and for black people’s rights. John used every connection he could find to help look for Essie but it was no use. He vowed he would not rest until he found Essie.
While he was working for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society he had the pleasure of getting to know James and Lucretia Mott the founders of Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. Mr. and Mrs. Mott became good friend to John. John was found them to be wonderful people who were generous and had strong convictions. John was especially impressed with took Mrs. Mott. She had a clear sense of justice and was not afraid to fight to what was right. Mrs. Mott’s sister Martha Coffin Wright was also a suffrage like Mrs. Mott and both of these women worked for women’s suffrage and abolitionism and negro rights. They even worked as part of the Underground Railroad. When Mrs. Mott heard that John didn’t have a place to stay, let him stay in one of the back rooms of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society office, and made it into a room for him.
John also befriended Frederick Douglas and became very inspired by him. A few months earlier Mr. Douglas’s daughter Annie had died and he still was grieving her loss. John was in awe of Mr. Douglas. Mr. Douglas was exactly the kind of man John wanted to be, a strong man with conviction and an advocate for civil rights for all people. After hearing Elizabeth Cady Stanton talk at the lecture, John befriended her as well and joined the temperance and the women’s suffrage movements and campaigned for women’s rights, Negro rights, Native American rights, temperance, labor reforms, the poor, children and other progressive causes.
One day John was sitting down talking with Mr. Mott, Mrs. Mott, Mr. Douglas, Mrs. Wright and their friends Susan B. Anthony and Matilda Joslyn Gage, who all worked for the Underground Railroad and John told them about his past with Essie and how desperate he was to find her. Mr. Mott, Mrs. Mott, Mr. Douglas, Miss Anthony, and Mrs. Gage’s hearts all went out to John and agreed to help John in any way they could to find Essie. They agreed to use every connection they could find on the railroad to see if anyone had seen Essie. Mrs. Wright and Mr. Douglas were both close personal friends with Harriet Tubman and said they would enlist her help as well.
For a year, all of them looked but none of them could find Essie. Then one day in 1861, Mrs. Wright and Mr. Douglas came to John’s office in the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, with Harriet Tubman. “Mr. Crane,” Mr. Douglas said, “I would like you to meet Moses.”
John stood up from his desk and shook Mrs. Tubman’s hand. “Mrs. Tubman it is an honor and a privilege to meet you,” he said.
“You too sir,” Mrs. Tubman replied. “Mr. Crane I have news on your beloved Essie. About six months ago, I was guiding some slave to freedom and there was this girl about eighteen her name was Essie and she matched your description. She told me that he master had sold her to the Deep South in Georgia. However once she got there she ran away and took the Underground Railroad and eventually she met up with me and I took her to New York. By that time the war broke out and she told me she was going to volunteer as a union nurse for the army. I’m sorry I don’t know where she is right now, but I thought you should know.”
“Oh thank you Mrs. Tubman,” John said gratefully. “You don’t know what this means to me.”
“What are you going to do now?” asked Mr. Douglas. “I’m going to join the Union Army and find Essie.”
“That’s so dangerous,” said Mrs. Wright. “You could be killed. I know who want to find Essie, but stay here and we’ll contact the union to look for her.”
“We both know Mrs. Wright how secretive the army is during war,” said John. “If I join the army, I will have better access to finding her and putting an end to slavery.”
“He has a point,” said Mr. Douglas.
Mrs. Wright nodded in agreement.
“Mr. Crane,” said Mrs. Tubman. “I only wish more white men were like you.”
Two weeks later, was in his army uniform at Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society saying good-bye to Mr. Mott, Mrs. Mott, Mrs. Stanton, Mr. Douglas, Miss Anthony, Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Gage. It wasn’t easy for any of them to say good-bye, for John had become a real friend. “I’m going to miss all of you so much.”
“We’ll miss you too,” Miss Anthony said. “You come back safe now you hear?”
“Yes ma’am I will,” replied John. “I promise to write as often as I can.”
“So will we,” answered Mrs. Gage
I don’t know how I will ever repay your kindness.”
“There’s no need,” said Mrs. Stanton. “You just find your beloved Essie.”
“Listen if anything happens to me; before Essie is found please tell her that I looked for her and how much I love her.”
“We won’t have to,” said Mr. Mott. “Because you’re coming home safe.”
“Amen to that,” added Mr. Douglas.
~
For two years John fought with the Union army, and looked everywhere for Essie, but still couldn’t find her. Mrs. Tubman also worked as a nurse and a spy for the union and promised to let John know if she heard anything. He still wrote to his friends as often as he could and they wrote to John as well. Then June 1863, John was ordered to Gettysburg to fight in the battle. He survived the first day, but the second day he was shot in the chest. He was rushed by his comrades to the field hospital. When they arrived at the field hospital they called out for a nurse and low and behold there was Essie. When she reached John’s cot she gasped.
“John,” she said taking his hand and caressing his face. “Is it really you?”
John couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Essie standing over him. “Oh my darling Essie, at last I found you.”
“I can’t believe it,” Essie had tears of joy in her eyes. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too,” John squeezed Essie’s hand. “I’ve looked for you ever since father sold you.”
“I looked you too. A few months after I was sold, I ran away to the north. One the way I stopped at Crane Plantation and they told me you had left right after your father sold me.”
“I know. I couldn’t stay after what he did to us. I went up north and joined the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. Two years ago Mrs. Tubman told me she helped you escape to New York and you joined the cause as a nurse, so I joined the army to so I could find you.”
“Everything’s going to be fine now,” Essie reassured him. “We’re together now.”
However, John could feel death approaching him as the internal bleeding spread through his body. “I know, at least I got to see you one last time.”
“No,” Essie cried. “Don’t you talk like that; you’re going to be fine.”
It was no use. Death had come for John. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “Always remember that I love you.” Then he closed his eyes and died.
“No,” Essie sobbed as she laid her head on John’s dead body and cried.
After the war, Essie went to Philadelphia and met John’s friends who told her about John when they were working with him. Essie became life long friends of theirs too. Essie graduated from Oberlin College in 1869 and continued her work as a nurse and campaigned for women’s rights, Negro rights, Native American rights, temperance, labor reforms, the poor, children and other progressive causes. She never got married or had children, and she never got over losing John. She never stopped loving John and in her heart she was married to him. She died at age forty-eight of cancer.
~
Back in the present day, Endora had finished conjuring up her plan to let everyone know that her daddy had been kidnapped, by casting a spell on Chief Bennett and the District Attorney. Still even with her plan she didn’t know where her Daddy was. Endora sat down at the desk in the living room feeling very sad about her daddy. Just then Tabitha walked in.
“What are you doing up Sweet Pea? You’re supposed to be in bed.” Then Tabitha noticed how sad Endora looked. “Are you all right she asked with concern?”
“Daddy was kidnapped five months ago,” Endora said in her though bubble.
“What?” Tabitha was confused.
“Look in the bowl,” Endora replied in her though bubble.
Tabitha went over to look in the magic bowl to see what Endora was talking about. “Alistair Crane faked his death in Rome and is still alive!!?” Tabitha said as she looked in the bowl. “Then he had Julian kidnapped and replaced him with an imposter to keep him and Eve apart. … And T.C. Russell did what? Oh I never in a million years dreamed he was capable of something like that.” “Oh my stars,” Tabitha exclaimed. “T.C. beat Eve and that’s the reason why she left him last week! Oh the boys in the basement ought to be loving this.”
“It’s not funny Mummy,” Endora said in her though bubble.
Tabitha went over to Endora and put her arm around her daughter to comfort her. “I know sweet pea. Even I didn’t want this to happen to you father. Although, this does explain everything that’s happened with him these past few months.”
“Daddy’s going to come home,” Endora replied in her though bubble.
“Why do you say that?” Tabitha asked with suspicion.
“You’ll see.”
Last Edit: Jun 17, 2009 15:30:37 GMT -5 by srhrobin
Kimweeeeee: drive by hello...sorry i've been mia...just a lot of stuff going on in my life lately
Nov 30, 2013 19:50:37 GMT -5
Deleted: drive by too x
Dec 6, 2013 5:08:27 GMT -5
vvenababy2: Hello hello ladies!
Dec 7, 2013 12:46:29 GMT -5
Kimberella: hello all! Sorry to have been MIA,got hiredon at school fulltime so it has been a teensy bit crazy in my household!!! hahaha!! Hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!
Dec 9, 2013 9:34:34 GMT -5
vvenababy2: Finally have some time to work on my fanfic
Dec 15, 2013 1:38:57 GMT -5
vvenababy2: Merry CHRISTMAS!
Dec 26, 2013 0:25:31 GMT -5
Kimweeeeee: Hi everyone!!
Jan 7, 2014 23:21:49 GMT -5
vvenababy2: Fleece sheets and hot cocoa
Jan 14, 2014 11:46:34 GMT -5
vvenababy2: Its been quiet round here lately
Feb 9, 2014 21:52:17 GMT -5
vvenababy2: New Lancy fic posted
Feb 9, 2014 22:51:42 GMT -5
tangledinyarn: Good morning
Apr 3, 2014 3:55:45 GMT -5