Chapter 7

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If all of the strength
and all of the courage
come and lift me from this place
I know I could love you much better than this
full of grace

I know I could love you much better than this

It's better this way

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It hadn't gotten any better. In fact Evie's inability to get past it had caused Rick to move out. It had saddened her to no end, but it was better this way. She loved him and knew that it broke his heart when he reached out for her and she pulled back. It wasn't his fault. No, it was Russell Spender's fault. Not that it really mattered anymore. Russell was dead and his wife was in prison for helping. She could still remember when Rick had suggested that he should move out.

She was downstairs trying to read a book. Anything to avoid their bedroom. She didn't hear him until he sat on the settee next to her. "Evie, we need to talk." She had closed her eyes and kept the tears from rising. She knew it had been coming, but she just didn't want it to. "I can't live like this Evie. I can't handle you avoiding me. I hate that every time I want to touch you you back away as if scalded. I love you Evie and I always will but I can not live here and go through this every day. I'm going to go and live with Jonathan until you're ready." Evie started to cry then. But before he left she had to know, "Are you still mine?" He gave her a small smile, "Always."

When he shut the door she broke down in tears. Alex who was at the top of the stairs stared at her. She had tried to explain, but he ran off and she let him. She didn't have the energy to face him. She did eventually face him the next morning and tried to explain it. "That's what Dad said." he told her. She accepted that. "Honey, your father and I will work through this. I promise." she swore. They heard a knock at the door, "That's Dad. He said he would still take me to school." Evie followed. Sure enough Rick was at the door. He looked good. In the morning sunlight he looked amazing and her body yearned for him. Her heart yearned for him, but her mind, her mind kept bringing up those horrible images.

"Good morning Evie." he greeted. She smiled at him. "Good morning." "If you don't mind I'll take Alex to school. I..." "You don't have to explain. I think it is wonderful." It almost felt like a divorce. But it wasn't. They still loved one another and one way or another they would hopefully find their way back, but not today. Alex who felt the tension ran to his father's car and just watched his parents.

When her boys left she rang the museum and informed them she wouldn't be coming in today. She needed to sort this out. She took a walk. Every event from the first moment she saw Rick up until the day he had disappeared replayed in her mind. It was because she needed to know how to get past the events of when Russell entered their lives that had somehow led her into the heart of London. No wonder her feet hurt. What further drove her curiosity was the fact that she was in front of the prison.

She was now being led to a room where they would bring Erika Spender. She stood up when the woman walked in. She didn't look very good and Evie's heart did go out to her. No matter how short her time here was it wasn't pleasant. "Oh it's you. I thought my lawyer was here." the woman said and sat down in the chair across from Evie. "No. I had to ask you a few questions. I need to know why." Evelyn explained. The woman nodded her head in understanding. "I don't really understand the why of it myself, but I guess your entitled to know what happened." "Thank-you." Evie whispered.

"Do you know anything about your husband's family?" Evie shook her head, "No, I know a little. That his mother died when he was six and he was thrown into a orphanage at Cairo." The woman nodded with understanding. "The reason Rick's mother was in Cairo was because she was trying to track down his father. He had stolen Russell when the boys were only one. But Rick's mother had gotten sick and died. His father knew that Rick was in the orphanage, but he didn't care. He considered Rick to be his mother's favorite and Rick's father hated him for that. My husband grew up in a house of hate. Had everything handed to him on a silver platter. I didn't. My mother and father were servants on a Duke's estate. When I met Russell I couldn't believe his life and that he had fallen in love with me.

Well we got married. About a year before you and Rick got married. We went to Cairo to see if we could find Rick because Russell's father had finally passed on. And we did, but he was now married to you and had amassed a lot of money. Which for some reason made Russell angry. And the more that he learned about Rick and you the angrier he got. I believe it was because he wanted to rescue Rick. His father had always told him that Rick was worthless, poor, stupid.. so on. And I think Russell saw himself as the knight and shining armor, but when he found Rick didn't need his help it did something to him. I think he saw Rick as the enemy. So we came back to England, as did you and your family. And then it was announced you would be working at the museum and all we had was the jewelry store. It just drove him further into this hatred. He started obsessing about Rick and you and your son. He blamed Rick and turned into his father and it just went from bad to worse. He started plotting his revenge. He was so jealous of your husband that he wanted to become him. When Rick came into the jewelry store I was going to warn him. And then he bought that locket for you and explained what it meant. And I was about to tell him when Russell came in.

Your husband was so shocked. He started to babble on about mummys and curses, but Russell didn't react the same way. Rick started to ask so many questions and the more he asked the more angry Russell became. I could see him start to get angry. I tried to pull him apart, but he hit Rick and with the surprise of his attack your husband was thrown back. He didn't come to until Russell had him tied in a chair. He planned to beat your husband and then take over his life. I didn't know where I fit into the picture after that.

I helped him. I am sorry I did it, but I thought if I did that...oh I don't know what I thought. Perhaps he would remember me. Remember that I was his wife and I loved him. Who knows. By that time I don't think Russell was in even his mind anymore. But at least you didn't fall for it. You knew who he was. I'm glad you figured it out. I..." "Times up." the officer said. Both women startled. "Thank-you Erika." Erika nodded and left with the officer. Evie walked out into the sunny London afternoon. She was going to have to make a decision today. And she walked past one of her favorite cafe's where her and Rick always went, she knew what to do.

She took a cab to Jonathan's apartment. She knocked on the door. She heard mumbling from behind it and after a few minutes the door finally opened. "Evie? What are you doing here?" he asked surprised. "Is Rick here?" Jonathan's face fell. "No I'm sorry old mum. But he left for the weekend. I don't know where he went or when he'll be back, but I'm guessing by Monday morning since he plans on taking Alex to school." It took everything Evie had not to cry. But Jonathan could tell that she wanted to. "I'm sorry. I was going to ring and tell you that I was taking Alex for the weekend, but I didn't get the chance." he mumbled. "No. It's okay. Everything is going to be okay." she stated and left. Maybe this was a sign. Maybe she didn't know what to do. She got back in the cab and told him to drive.

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End of Chapter 7. So what did you think? Sad or what? Just keep the faith, the next chapter is going to be a doozie. :)

Seletha I swear I knew you were one in the same. I did know!!! I just seem to have forgotten I'm sorry!

To everyone else thank-you so much for the reviews! You have no idea how much this encourages me to keep writing.

I am so very thankful for it all. You guys are wonderful! Love, Dylan.