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Evangeline walked into Angel Square motel. She had to talk to him. She couldn’t believe and wouldn’t believe her cousin until she talked to him. She allowed her mind to recall all the visual encounters she witness that would support her cousin’s story. Something wasn’t right with John as of late, and she was starting to get a little worried.
She glanced over at the reception desk and no one was there. It wasn’t surprising because waiting around was never a Balsom’s trait. She glanced over her shoulder, started chewing on the inside of her left cheek, and headed towards the stairs.
There was nothing wrong with her wanting to check on her friend. John McBain was and always will be her friend. As she climbed the stairs, she reasoned if it was Nora, Todd, Antonio, Michael, Marcie, Adriana, Bo…hell the list was long, but the point is she would do the same thing for them. Just because it was John and Natalie doesn’t mean she’s trying to insinuate herself into their relationship. She wasn’t doing that, and she wouldn’t. Natalie did that on more than one occasion with her when she was with John, and she didn’t plan on returning the favor.
Stopping at the top of the stairs, she stared down the hall. What was she doing? She couldn’t do this. This was none of her business. She’s with Cristian and right now she had too much on her plate. Cristian is training for his first title fight, and she has to support him. Her cousin is getting married in less than a week, and she is one of the maids of honor. She doesn’t have time to deal with John and Natalie’s dysfunctional relationship.
Evangeline turned and gasped when she felt two strong arms embrace her small waist. Her breathing quickened and heart started to race. She closed her eyes, said a quick silent prayer, and opened them to find Michael McBain smiling at her.
“Slow down!” Michael gently pushed her back and helped her keep her balance. “There’s no fire.”
Evangeline smiled as she stepped back. She debated with herself whether or not she should talk to him. She finally decided she was being silly. John was her friend.
“Michael, I came to see you.” When he offered her a puzzled look, he continued. “I’m worried about John.”
“E, if this is about my brother,” Michael started to walk pass her. “We should take this inside.”
Evangeline continued to smile as she followed him down the hall.
Rodi’s
“So, what are you going to do about Evangeline?” Darius asked then sipped from his iced tea.
John nursed his beer and ignored the question.
“Come on man.” Darius said turning slightly to the man sitting beside him. “I’m not going to let you ruin Yvonne’s special day.”
John glanced at his friend and took another sip of his drink. Looking into the brown liquid, he finally informed. “You don’t have to worry about me spoiling anything.”
“Anyone with eyes can see you are still in love with the woman.” When John remained quiet, Darius decided to take another approach. “John, I see the way you look at Evangeline. You didn’t even look at Caitlin that way.”
“Darius, leave Caitlin out of this…Don’t compare them.” John warned and down his drink. “Besides, the woman is in a relationship.”
“Yeah, I know, and if I recall, you took his wife from him?” Darius challenged as he studied his friend. “So, taking his girlfriend should be a piece of cake.”
John glared at his friend and remained quiet.
“Sorry, man.” Darius apologized quickly. He knew mentally pushing his friend against the wall wasn’t a way to get him to open up. “That was a cheap shot. But, I loved Caitlin just as much as you did…but in a different way. If you are feeling guilty because you realized your love for Evangeline is more than what you felt for Cait…don’t!”
“You don’t know what you are talking about.” John barked and ordered another drink.
“I hit it right on the nail.” Darius chuckled to himself as he shook his head. “Yvonne told me you and Evangeline broke up because you couldn’t tell her you loved her. And, I couldn’t believe it. When WE lost Caitlin, I prayed one day someone will break through the walls you put up. The first time you mentioned her name before you even told me you hooked up, I knew it would be her. I heard it in your voice. I was angry at first then I thought about how long you cherished and protected Caitlin’s memory. I knew Evangeline had to be something…someone special…amazing…I remember when I saw you a few months after you two hooked up, you had this renewing peace about you. You were alive again…Man, you were in love. Before Evangeline, I couldn’t remember the last time I saw a stupid grin on your ugly mug or heard it in your voice. I was blown away when you told me you two broke up.” Darius looked away from his friend. “I felt your lost.”
John sat quietly as he listened to his friend.
“John, if you let Evangeline walk away because you feel guilty for loving her more than Caitlin,” Darius turned his attention back to the Irish man beside him. “You made the biggest mistake of your life. I don’t agree with what you did with the Natalie…”
“Darius, you don’t have a clue to what is going on with my life.” John rolled his eyes at his friend then signaled for the bartender. “Hey Rick, give us two burgers well done with everything and loaded fries on the side.”
“Rick, please change that order to two chef salads with Italian dressing.” Darius interjected. He knew John was eyeing him. “Man, we have less than a week before my wedding. You need to start watching your diet…Starting tomorrow, we start going to the gym and running.”
“Yes, Mommy.” John replied sarcastically. “Can I have some crackers with my salad?”
“It’s may I.” Darius winked at his old friend as they shared a laugh.
Michael & Marcie’s Apartment
“E, I don’t know why you always sell yourself short when it comes to John and his feelings for you.” Michael questioned bewildered. For Evangeline Williamson to be as brilliant as she is when it came to his brother, she was completely clueless.
“Michael, I can see where you will get confused about how John feels, and whom he’s feeling it for…I mean. I even told him looking at him and Natalie; I didn’t think he was capable of loving anyone.” She explained when the younger McBain frowned. “While I was at the diner waiting for the decision on Todd’s case, John came in, and we talked. He was trying to cheer me up with a joke.”
Michael nodded his head.
“Michael, I told John I didn’t think he was capable of loving anyone.” She frowned. “I was wrong. John loves Natalie.”
“What if you are wrong about that E?” Michael studied her, as she looked confused. He continued. “What if you are really the woman John wants?”
Evangeline opened and closed her mouth twice. Turning she focused on the remote control. She wanted to focus on anything except Michael’s question.
“Evangeline?” He probed.
“Michael, John loves Natalie.” She snapped as she turned to face him. “Natalie loves John.”
“Well, you’re half right.” He sighed and closed the distanced between them. “E, I’m your friend no matter what your relationship is with my brother. I know how it feels to be confused about your emotions over someone.”
Evangeline started to inform Michael she wasn’t confused, but he persisted on his point.
“When you and my brother were together, I never saw so much life in him – E, John was alive again. He was complete…I hadn’t seen him like that…since before our father died.”
“Mich…” She started, but he cut her short.
“Don’t over analyze John’s need to be Natalie’s hero.” He smiled at her weakly. “My brother knows how to play the part of the hero…He wasn’t given the chance to play the role of anything else when he was a kid.”
Evangeline allowed the words that John had once spoken flood her mind. “Natalie just needs more. She wants someone to protect her. She wants someone to take care of her.”
“John is still John.” Michael’s words broke into her thoughts. “I tried to warn Natalie about getting involved with him, but she wouldn’t listen. John is very closed off, and he has a lot of boundaries.”
“Who are you telling?” Evangeline laughed softly as she agreed.
“John has been hurt a lot E.” She watched as he scratched his head. “His wounds go deep. Since our father’s death, John has had this search and rescue mission thing. He feels he failed with Caitlin, so he couldn’t with Natalie.”
“Michael, John feels more than search and rescue for Natalie.” Evangeline turned not wanting her friend to see the hurt from her admission. “He just can’t express himself with words.”
“Not while he’s awake anyway.” Michael murmured.
“What?” Evangeline spun around hearing his words. Her cousin’s statement rushed back into her mind. ‘Apparently, John has been holding onto the love you had for him since you broke up with him…The man called out your name in his sleep, and he’s being hiding memories of your relationship under his bed.’
“Michael,” She sighed and closed her eyes. “When I saw you and John at Rodi’s…” She chewed on her bottom lip for a second before continuing. “I-I was concerned about John, and I went to talk to him. W-when…when I went to his room, the door was open. I figured he or Natalie was inside, but they weren’t.”
The younger McBain remained quiet as she continued.
“I n-noticed…some familiar things…on the bed caught my eye.” Evangeline studied him and saw revelation in his eyes. Michael knew about the memorabilia John kept of their relationship. John must have told him. “Why would John keep memories of our relationship in his room?...A room that Natalie spends a lot of time there alone.”
“I told you. Don’t sell yourself short.” Michael smiled weakly as she faced him. “John never stopped loving you.”
“But, he’s with Natalie.” She stammered over the words.
“No, he was with Natalie.” He confessed. “John called it quits. He didn’t want to live a lie anymore…He wants to be happy.”
“I’m with Cristian…now.” Evangeline stated not missing his meaning. “He loves me.”
“Of course, he does. A man would have to be crazy not to love you.” His gaze went down to her abdomen. “Cris seemed real excited about the baby.”
“I’m not pregnant.” Evangeline informed. She was sure John had told him about her suspicion. John didn’t open up to a lot of people, but he always confided in his little brother. “I should go. I’ve taken up too much of your time.”
“Don’t be silly. I always have time for you.” He pulled her into a hug. “I just want you and my brother to be happy.”
Evangeline relaxed in his arms until he asked her if she was happy. She slowly pulled away and stared into his eyes.
Rex’s apartment
While Rex was opening the door, Natalie stormed into his apartment yelling, “That bitch! I hate her!”
Rex looked out in the hallway then back at his sister clueless. He watched as she tossed her purse on the sofa and turned around to him. “I need a drink…something strong.”
“Okay.” Rex closed the door. “Are you going to tell me what is going on, Nattie or do I have to guess?”
“I just came from seeing Cristian at Rourke’s. I wanted to watch him practice for his big fight. You know, show my support as his friend.” Natalie rolled her eyes as she thought about her ex husband. “He tells me he can’t be my friend like that. It’s okay if we run into each other, but we can’t be buddies and hanging and comforting each other.”
Rex nodded his head in agreement. “That’s probably wise Nattie.”
“Why? Friends aren’t strangers!” Natalie couldn’t believe her brother. “What Cristian is proposing will make us associates…strangers. If I don’t see him, I don’t have a chance in winning him back.”
“Would that be a bad thing?” Rex questioned studying her. “You need to focus on yourself. I mean…you and John just called it quits.”
“John called it quits.” She whispered then started searching his apartment for some alcohol. “And, I see now that he was right to do so, because now, I know I am still in love with Cristian. Cristian is my soul mate. He’s the one I should be with.”
“Natalie, Cristian is in a relationship with Evangeline.” Rex watched as she discovered a bottle of Jack Daniels in the kitchen cabinet. “And, looking at them together, he’s very much in love with her, and she him.”
“If they are so in love,” Natalie challenged. “Why is he telling me we can’t be friends? You want to know why? He’s pacifying that selfish insecure bitch,” Natalie continued as she grabbed a glass and poured herself a drink. “He even went as far to say he loved her more than anything or anyone he’d ever loved in his life…Which if it was true would include me.”
Rex stared at her as she laughed the idea off.
“We all know Cristian loved me more than life.” She downed the strong liquid in one gulp and after she recovered from the burn of it going down, she poured herself another. “I know Cris still loves me.”
“Natalie, he loved you.” Rex tried, but she cut him off. “Past tense.”
“No, Rex. I let E-Evangeline steal John from me.” She looked at him with teary eyes. “I can’t let her win with Cristian too.”
“Nattie, she’s with Cristian – and he’s not leaving her for you.” Rex watched as a tear rolled down his sister’s left cheek. “I don’t want you to get hurt again, Natalie. You chose John over Cristian, and Cristian moved on. Evangeline is a great woman.”
“Yeah,” Natalie rolled her eyes. “And what am I, Rex?”
“You are a woman who needs to find out who she is without John…or Cristian.”
“What? I’m supposed to leave town like every other Buchanan when things get rough.” Natalie poured herself another drink. “I can call Joey and Kevin up and ask if they have room for me in London.”
When Rex didn’t reply, she stopped laughing and looked up at him. “You seriously think I should leave Llanview?”
“Nattie, I don’t think you can stay in Llanview and move on from John and Cristian.” Rex answered honestly. “I think if you stayed here your competitive nature will take over at one point or another. If everything you said about McBain is true, he’s going to try and get Evangeline back.”
“Why would you say that?” Natalie lowered her eyes trying to hide the hurt.
“Because I would if I loved her that much.”
“Maybe, I should warn Cristian.” She tried.
“Come on. We both know your only motive for doing that is to destroy his relationship.” Rex stated. “You once told me you wanted to do the right thing. Here’s your chance.”
Natalie placed her glass on the counter and walked over to her brother with opened arms. Rex gladly embraced her. “I’m going to miss you.” She whispered in his ear.
“Why don’t you stay here tonight?” Rex pulled back and studied her. “We can hang out like old times.”
Natalie smiled weakly and nodded her head. She knew her brother was right. It was time to take care of Natalie Buchanan. She also knew John McBain and Cristian Vega were both in love with Evangeline Williamson. She couldn’t deny it.
“Hold the elevator please.” Evangeline raced over to her apartment elevator not seeing whom she yelled out at but seeing the Caucasian male’s hand that obliged, she was thankful. “Thank you.” She offered as she stepped in, pushed the button for her floor, and opened the folder she was holding. She didn’t look up or back to offer the man a smile or any conversation like she was custom. Her attention was on the sheet music for her cousin’s wedding. Yvonne asked her to sing a solo at the wedding.
She wasn’t sure what she was going to sing. She could go with an Aretha Franklin song. Yvonne has always loved her songs. Anita Baker was one of her favorites too. Her cousin also mentioned one of Darius’s grooms men could sing, so she contacted him and they decided to do a duet. He had faxed over some additional sheet music for her to look over. He had some wonderful suggestions for the bride and groom.
Evangeline glanced up and frowned when her nostril recognized a familiar scent. She knew that cologne very well. She has only smelled that cologne on one man. Her eyes slowly glanced over her left shoulder, and she was surprised to see John standing behind her.
John was the man she asked to hold the elevator for her? Why hadn’t he said anything? What was he doing here? She was about to ask him when the bell from the elevator doors caught her attention. She glanced at him, stepped out of the elevator, and looked back at him.
“A-are you following me?” She questioned confused.
“I held the elevator for you.” He reminded her with a smile. “I live in the building now.”
The ringing of her cell phone grabbed her attention and pulled her out of her shock. “Evangeline Williamson.” She answered not checking her caller ID or taking her eyes off John. “Cris…”
John offered her a smile as he pushed the close button for the elevator doors. He was surprised when he heard her ask Cristian if she could call him back. As the elevator doors started to close, they both reached out to stop them.
They stood there in silence staring at each other as the doors opened again.
“I knew you moved.” Evangeline offered breaking the silent. “But, I didn’t think…”
“Yeah.” John glanced from his shoes to her face. “I needed a change of s-scenario…I-I’m w-working on a fresh start.”
She stood speechless.
“I guess…I guess I should let you go…so you can call Vega back.” He offered her a weak smile and started to push the close button again, but her words stopped him.
“I’m sorry to hear about you and Natalie.”
“Word travels fast.” John teased trying to read her expression.
“Small town.” Evangeline offered then supplied. “If you ever want to talk…or need a cup of sugar…” She didn’t finish her sentence but pointed to her apartment door.
“I might take you up on that offer one day.” John pushed the close button and looked up.
Evangeline watched as the elevator doors closed, and John avoided looking at her. Was he trying to change his life for her? NO, he knew she was in a relationship with Cristian. She allowed Michael’s question to come back to her. Was she happy with Cristian