Chapter 9
Celeste tells Lexie about her association with Eve. Teresa and Austin meet again.
Grace and T.C. were out on his patio, when they heard the commotion from her house.
'What the hell is going on over there?' T.C. said aloud, knowing Simone was over there. Grace began running, with T.C., close on her heels.
Meanwhile, Sam Bennett pulled up in his driveway and was met with quite a sight. Julian Crane was dragging Ivy out onto the lawn! Miguel, John, Charity and Simone just stood there and did nothing! Sam noticed that Tabitha and Kay also came out of Tabitha's home.
Sam jumped out of the car and ran to Julian and Ivy. He punched Julian hard in the face. The blow caused Julian to release Ivy and fall back onto the lawn. Sam looked at the kids.
'What the hell is wrong with you all?! Why would you let Crane do this to Ivy?!'
'Sam!' Ivy sobbed.
Sam reached down and picked her up in his arms. Julian, Miguel, John and Simone, let out short laughs of contempt, all in unison. Charity was quiet.
'Put her down, Mr. Bennett!' Miguel yelled.
Julian rubbed his jaw and stood up.
'Yes, Chief Bennett. I would dare say that you will find that Ivy isn't the cripple you thought her to be!'
'Shut up, Crane!' Sam hissed, then carried Ivy back into the house. Simone and Charity stepped aside so he could have access to the doorway. Simone began shaking her head at the others.
'She won't be there for long. Once we tell Mr. Bennett that's she's been faking all of this time...'
'Well,' Charity began, 'it is possible that she did just get the feeling back in her legs.'
Tabitha and Kay came forward. Tabitha wrinkled her nose.
'What is this I hear? Ivy can walk?' Tabitha asked, wondering why she had not known that already.
'So she was faking all of this time.' Kay said, more to herself than anyone else.
'What's going on over here?' Grace asked, out of breath. T.C. was behind her. He walked up to Simone and the others. His eyes narrowed when he caught sight of Julian.
'Are you alright? What was all of that noise?' he asked.
Simone put an arm around him.
'We're okay, Daddy. We found out that Ms. Winthrop has been faking this whole time.'
'Faking? Faking what?' T.C. asked.
Julian rolled his eyes. God, how did Eve stay married to this moron for so long?
T.C. caught the dirty look Julian gave him, and let go of Simone.
'What are you doing here, Julian?' he asked, his body tensed for a fight. Grace pulled him back, but looked at Julian as well.
'You were here to see Ivy?' she asked.
Julian smoothed his now wrinkled tie.
'I was. She stole something from my home this afternoon. I wanted it back. Things got a bit violent, and we discovered that she could walk.'
Grace's eyes went wide!
'The only reason I let that bitch stay in my house, was because I thought she was handicapped! Are you sure of what you saw?'
Charity stepped forward.
'We all saw it, Aunt Grace. But I do think maybe Mr. Crane's shoving Ms. Winthrop into the ant farm, might have brought back the feeling in her legs.'
It got quiet, as everyone looked at Charity as if she were nuts!
'Did you see all of that in one of your 'premonitions'? Kay asked snidely.
Miguel put up a hand.
'Okay, that's enough. Mrs. Bennett, your husband is in there with Ms. Winthrop now.'
Grace nodded her thanks and hurried into the house. There were ants everywhere. She turned around and looked at John.
'John honey, could you pick up your ants?'
John nodded.
'I'm sorry, Mom. Simone, do you want to help?'
Simone looked him up and down.
'Help pick up ants?! Uh, no!' Simone answered. Besides, she wanted keep an eye on her father. He was glaring at Julian.
'Go on in, sweetheart. I'm sure it will be alright.' he said absently, eyeing Julian. John pulled on Simone's arm and they went inside.
Miguel looked at Julian and T.C. as well. Tabitha turned and went back over to the home. If there were to be any fireworks between the two men, she could watch from her window. Kay walked up to Miguel and Charity.
'Are you coming over to see the baby?' she asked, ignoring Charity.
'Uh, I don't think I should leave just yet.' he answered, his eyes still on T.C. and Julian. Charity patted his shoulder.
'Go. I'll get Uncle Sam and John if anything happens.'
'Yes,' Kay answered, 'Charity will take care of everything.'
Kay then pulled on Miguel's hand, steering him towards Tabitha's house. Charity emitted a sad sigh, then walked back inside the house.
Julian and T.C. stared one another down.
'Just why were you here throwing Ivy out of her wheelchair?' T.C. asked, his tone, menacing.
Julian's eyes went over T.C.. The man didn't look as if he'd lost a night's sleep over Eve. Now that she was gone, there was no need to hide anything.
'Ivy stole some CD's I had of Eve singing. I want them back.'
T.C.'s mouth dropped open!
'You have CD's of Eve singing....'
T.C. thought back to the Crane parties, when those strange jazzy sounding songs could be heard from the library. T.C. always thought that voice sounded familiar! That was Eve? Crane was playing them even back then? This lech had been after his wife all of this time?
T.C.'s face was too easy to read! It was clear that he was thinking back to everytime he may have heard those then tapes. Julian smiled.
'You sonofabitch! If anyone should have those CD's, it's her family, the people that loved her! That wouldn't be you!'
Julian stepped up to him.
'You would be wrong on that point. Remember all of those Crane parties Ivy invited the two of you to? I wanted Eve then, during every single one of them! The night before I married Rebecca, I begged her to leave you, so that we could be together. But she wouldn't leave you. And you repaid her by sleeping with Liz. I hope to God Whitney never finds out how you killed her mother...'
T.C. came at him so fast, Julian never had time to react. He found himself pinned under T.C. and taking vicious punch after punch. After the fourth one, something inside Julian just burst. He managed to reach up and jab T.C. hard in the eye!
'Christ!' T.C. screamed, rolling away from Julian and holding his eye. Miguel came running out of Tabitha's house. Simone screamed, then kicked at Julian, before rushing to her father. John, Charity and Simone bent over T.C..
'Daddy!' Simone cried out.
'My eye! My eye!' T.C. howled.
Miguel reached them, then ran inside the Bennett house to call 911. Julian managed to stand, then slip back inside the Bennett house. There was still the matter of his CD's.
****
'Tell me you're not serious, Sam!' Grace cried out.
Ivy was standing in the middle of the room. Sam and Grace were by her door. She turned away and smiled.
She had told Sam that she just could 'suddenly' walk. She had no idea how or why it happened, but that it was a miracle. Sam agreed. Unfortunately, she did tell him that now that she could walk, she would find another place to live. That part, was not so great.
And it was obvious Sam believed her story, bless his heart. Ivy loved him all the more!
'Sam, I told you Ivy wasn't going to her physical therapy classes! And now we know why! She could walk all of this time!'
Grace then looked around Sam at the smirking Ivy.
'How long, Ivy? How long have you been able to walk?'
Ivy put on her most pitiful expression.
'I told Sam and I'll tell you, I don't know how it happened. All of a sudden I could walk. But I can assure you, I couldn't this morning.'
Sam's eyes went from Grace, to Julian, who was standing in the doorway, looking worse than ever! Sam only hit him once! And if he didn't do that to Julian's face, then that meant...
'Where's T.C.?' Sam asked curtly. Grace turned around to look at Julian. Ivy raised a brow.
Julian cleared his throat.
'Miguel put in a call to 911. T.C. did his usual thing and got hurt.'
'You mean you got lucky!' Ivy snorted from across the room.
Sam looked at Ivy.
'I have to see to this, I don't want you in here alone with him.'
Ivy walked up to him and touched his face. Grace gasped at her gall. Julian rubbed one of his bruises. Poor Grace didn't stand a chance.
'Thank you, Sam. But I'm not afraid of him. Besides, he wouldn't dare do anything.'
'He dared before, Ivy.'
Ivy's hand slipped down from his face.
'I'll be fine. Go.'
Sam nodded reluctantly, then left the bedroom, shoving Julian aside. Grace looked at Ivy.
'I want you gone from this house, today!' Grace snapped, then followed after Sam. Julian smiled.
'Well, well dear. It looks like your scam has been uncovered. Wherever will you go?'
Ivy looked directly at him.
'I don't have your CD's. But I did call your precious Becky to tell her of their existence. I don't think it is a coincidence that they're suddenly gone. Now get out!'
Julian felt drained. He could think of no parting shot for this witch, so he simply turned and left the bedroom. Ivy smiled again.
****
Teresa walked into the Book Cafe and spotted Austin Reed sitting at a table, drinking a cappuccino. She tossed her dark hair and walked up to him. He looked up from some reports he had been reading.
'Mind if I join you?' she asked.
Austin stood up and pulled out a chair for her. Teresa smiled her thanks and sat down. He sat back down as well. Teresa's eyes fell on the file. It read, Crane Industries.
'I see you're working hard there.'
Austin shrugged.
'It's just a proposal I wanted to run by Alistair.'
'Well, you could run it by Julian.' she suggested.
Austin shook his head.
'I haven't changed my mind on that front. Something has happened to Alistair. You should have heard the names he used to call Julian behind his back.'
Teresa nodded. She could imagine...as a matter of fact, she was pretty sure she had heard Julian's father speak of him in unglowing terms.
'Okay, but isn't it possible that Alistair...I don't know, met a woman or something?'
Austin appeared to be thinking.
'Tell me, how did you end up married to Julian?'
Teresa stared at him, a little thrown by the change of subject,
'I thought it was common knowledge. Besides, I was never really married to him.'
Austin leaned forward.
'Well, I know that it was not exactly a love match. But the two of you do share a son. Something must have happened.'
Teresa laughed briefly, then, her expression turned somber.
'To make a long story short, I woke up in bed with him...we had both been drinking. Otherwise, I would've never let that man touch me.'
Austin didn't respond at first. He then covered one of her hands with his own.
'I'm sorry for prying. I guess I just wanted to know for sure if Julian was any competition.'
Teresa's mouth dropped open. She liked the feel of his hand on hers.
'Julian Crane competition? You've got to be kidding! Besides he's married to Rebecca.'
Austin let go of her hand.
'Everyone knows how much Julian values marriage, love or anything or anyone else but himself.'
Teresa shook her head.
'I agree, but for you to think that he would mean anything to me...he's little Ethan's father, period. Now, let's get back to your mystery.'
Austin knew he had insulted her. And for that he was sorry. Maybe, if he told her a little of what he knew, it might soften the blow that his questions had caused.
'I know that Alistair and I had an appointment to discuss a report I had worked on. His secretary called and canceled, telling me that some important business had taken him out of the building. Teresa, if he was going to kick back and turn everything over to Julian, even temporarily, Alistair would've appraised everyone in the company of the change. But for Julian to just burst in and tell us that he's now in charge...I just don't see it.'
Teresa looked away. Austin did have a point. She couldn't imagine Alistair canceling an appointment with Austin, then having Julian inform everyone that he's in charge. It would seem more likely that Alistair would have told Austin what was going to happen, before he canceled their meeting.
'You know Austin, you seem like a sweet guy...'
'I am.' Austin answered, smiling at her.
Teresa smiled back.
'Yes, well, then you may have to just face up to the fact, that the Crane's have enemies that extend beyond Harmony. Maybe something has happened to Alistair. And no, while I wouldn't put it past Julian to take advantage of his father's absence, that man does not have the spine to do something as bold as kill or kidnap his father. But, maybe you should go to the police, if it will make you feel better.'
Austin cracked his knuckles, then stood up. Teresa stood as well.
'You know, Teresa, you're right. It is bothering me, but, I will take into account what you said. Julian doesn't seem to have that much nerve to get rid of his father. He's too afraid of him. And it's not like Alistair and I are close...he can be eccentric. Maybe he did meet someone or just decided to take a vacation. So, how about dinner and a movie?'
Once again, Teresa was thrown by the sudden change of subject. She shook her head.
'I have to get home to my son. It was nice seeing you again.' she said, before walking out of the cafe. Once outside, she realized she had completely forgotten what she had come in for in the first place!
Austin watched her from a window. He hadn't felt anything for anyone since Sami Brady had ripped his heart in two. Maybe he shouldn't rush into anything. His thoughts moved from Teresa to Alistair. There was a part of him that didn't feel right sitting on this. Austin decided to keep his ears open, in case he heard anything else suspicious.
****
Julian slammed into the house, walked into the library and made himself a drink. He would call his lawyer later, for surely T.C. Russell was at the hospital, blubbering about how he had been attacked by him, instead of how it really was.
Rebecca quietly slipped into the room. She handed him a basket full of CD's. Julian snatched them from her!
'It was you! I should've known!'
Rebecca looked away from him.
'I hope Ivy didn't do that to you from her chair?'
Julian shook his head.
'Did you know she could walk all of this time?' he asked. Rebecca's mouth dropped open.
'Oh my God! No! Interesting...maybe she should've been an actress.'
Julian grunted, but did not answer. He took the basket of CD's and walked over to the CD player. Rebecca folded her arms.
'You're going to have to make a decision, Julian. Do you want me or a ghost?'
Julian set the basket down and turned to face her.
'What are you talking about?' he asked blithely. He noticed she was dressed in a curvaceous looking nightgown. Neither the lingerie, or her, held any interest for him.
'Our sex life has went down the toilet, Julian! And I'm not stupid! I know it's because you're longing for a dead woman! You were longing for her when she was alive!'
Julian sighed and faced her.
'I can't help what I feel, Rebecca. Our marriage, to me, is just one notch emptier than the one I had with Ivy. I definitely have more fun with you than I ever did with her...but we both know this is not a love match. I can't give you anymore than what I have been. I doubt I ever will.'
Rebecca just stared at him, then nodded.
'No, Julian, it isn't a love match. And I'm not asking for undying love. But I do ask that you don't disrespect me by allowing other people and servants, to know that you are pining for Eve Russell. Now Ivy, and God knows who else, knows how important those CD's are. I'm going to look like a fool!'
Julian has no response at first. He picked up his drink and gulped it down quickly. He then set the glass down.
'I can do that, I suppose.'
Rebecca smiled and walked up to him, throwing her arms around his neck.
'That's my pookie! So, how about we retire early? Fox and Whitney left on a trip, so, we practically have the whole house to ourselves.'
Julian reached up and removed her hands.
'I have some work to do. Crane Industries business. It can't be avoided.'
There was a loud and long silence. Rebecca then nodded, turned and walked out of the library. Julian closed his eyes briefly. There had been a part of him that had hated hurting her in that way. But their relationship, whatever it was, was always honest. Rebecca was looking for another rich man to replace Jonathan. He was just looking for sex...and now he didn't even want that from her.
Julian then turned and walked back over to the CD player. He looked over his favorite one, then put it in. He then turned down the sound very low. Soon, Eve's enchanting version of 'Stormy Weather' softly filtered out of the speakers.
****
SALEM
Lexie finished putting Theo down for his nap, then walked back downstairs, where Celeste was waiting on the couch. Her mother had just dropped in, without calling, which was fine, but Lexie sensed that this was not a social call. She skipped off the second bottom step.
Celeste, hearing the noise, stood up and turned around. Her smile was shaky.
'How is my grandson doing?' she asked.
'Fine, same as when you asked me ten minutes ago. What's going on? Why are you really here?'
Celeste was tempted to make a joke, but her heart was so heavy, ever since her visit with Julian Crane, that she just decided to tell the truth.
'Alexandra, I was married, once before.'
Lexie didn't appear to be to fazed. She shrugged.
'Oh. Okay, why are you telling me this now? Is your ex-husband back?'
Celeste rubbed her hands together.
'He's dead. Stefano killed him.'
Now, Lexie looked shocked! She walked over to her and sat down on the sofa. Celeste sat as well.
'My father killed your husband? Okay, do I dare ask why?'
Celeste cleared her throat.
'I was cheating on him with Stefano. My husband caught us, Stefano killed him. It was more like self defense...sort of.'
Lexie took a deep breath.
'What's going on here, Mom? Why does any of this matter now?'
Celeste touched Lexie's hand.
'Because the man I was married to was Eve's father.'
Lexie pulled her hand away quickly and stood up!
'My God! Stefano killed Eve's father?! You were married to Eve's father? That means she's going to remember you when she gets her memory back!'
Celeste stood up as well.
'No, she won't. I never met her. Eve was estranged from her family, something she does not remember.'
'Then how do you know you have the right Eve? Maybe you were married to another woman's father?'
Celeste shook her head quickly.
'Warren, that was Eve's father, kept pictures of her all around. I could never forget that face, even if it is slightly older.'
Lexie said nothing for a moment. This whole Eve/Tony situation went from bad to worse!
'Have you told Tony?' Lexie asked.
Celeste sighed.
'Yes, for all of the good it did. He still plans to just keep lying to Eve.'
'Mom, I don't see what we can do about any of this. Let's just stay out of it.'
Celeste put her hands on Lexie's shoulders.
'That's what I want you to do. I don't want to see anything else disrupt your marriage to Abraham.'
'But?' Lexie prodded.
Celeste's hands slid down off of her daughter's shoulders.
'I am going to Harmony. That is where Eve is from. I want to know what happened to get her to this point.'
Lexie's mouth dropped open!
'Mom! I don't think you should! I mean, Tony had an investigator look into all of that! He thinks Eve was in danger.'
'Tony fed Eve false information.'
'How do you know that?'
Celeste sighed.
'I just do. Look, I'm going to Harmony, and if I'm satisfied that Eve would be better off with Tony, then I will come back and not say a word.'
'But?' Lexie said.
'If I find that her husband and children, or anyone else that loves her, are in any pain or missing her, I will tell them the truth and get them here to Salem. I owe that much to Warren...and to Eve.'
Lexie said nothing. She knew that Tony was wrong, but, when she saw how her brother was with Eve, she just didn't have the heart to lecture him. He seemed so happy, and it was not as if Eve were being mistreated in any way.
'When do you leave?' Lexie asked quietly.
'Tonight.' Celeste answered.
**** Middle of the Night in the DiMera Mansion
Tony burst into Eve's room again. Her screams has awakened him.
Eve, for her part, felt stupid! She was embarrassed that she had awakened Tony...again, over some foolish nightmare!
Tony turned on the small lamp that was on her nightstand and pulled her into his arms. Eve lay her head on his shoulder. He rubbed her back.
'You're safe now. Was it the same dream? Where you're underwater?'
Eve nodded against his shoulder, then pulled away. Tony peered at her.
'What is it, Eve? Was it worse this time?'
Eve sniffed, wiping tears away from her face.
'I just feel so silly for letting this get to me. I know I'm safe here. I think this time it was the men.'
Tony didn't like the sound of this!
'Men?' he asked carefully.
Eve nodded, blinking hard.
'Yes...one of them was yelling at me...I couldn't figure out why...and I didn't say anything to him...or yell back...and the other...'
'Yes? The other one what?' Tony asked.
'The other said he loved me.' Eve decided to say no more after that. There had been something about that man, with the grayish hair, that even in her dream, she had no doubt that he loved her.
Yet, that couldn't be. Tony had told her she had no family, no husband or boyfriend. So, who was this man that told her he loved her? And who was the man that had yelled at her?
Tony pulled her to him and stroked her back again. Eve was beginning to remember, at least that was what Tony suspected these dreams were all about. The man that was yelling at her, probably was her husband, T.C. Russell. Tony had read in the report that he was somewhat of a hothead.
And the other man was probably Crane. Tony remembered his Harvard days with Julian Crane. It was well known he could sweet talk any woman into bed, with words of love. He had no doubt he'd used some line on Eve to confuse her, and put her marriage into jeopardy.
'Will you stay with me?' Eve asked suddenly.
Tony was delighted by her invitation. Tony climbed into bed with her, and Eve, leaned into him, in spoon fashion. His arms were draped around her. Her arms rested on his. He soon felt her body relax, and knew she was asleep.
For the first time since he met Eve, Tony was at a loss on how to proceed. He had no problem with her wanting to be reunited with her children. But, if she went back to T.C. Russell, or worse yet, Julian Crane, Tony knew he would have to kill one or both of them. And he would, before he would let Eve go.
Celeste tells Lexie about her association with Eve. Teresa and Austin meet again.
Grace and T.C. were out on his patio, when they heard the commotion from her house.
'What the hell is going on over there?' T.C. said aloud, knowing Simone was over there. Grace began running, with T.C., close on her heels.
Meanwhile, Sam Bennett pulled up in his driveway and was met with quite a sight. Julian Crane was dragging Ivy out onto the lawn! Miguel, John, Charity and Simone just stood there and did nothing! Sam noticed that Tabitha and Kay also came out of Tabitha's home.
Sam jumped out of the car and ran to Julian and Ivy. He punched Julian hard in the face. The blow caused Julian to release Ivy and fall back onto the lawn. Sam looked at the kids.
'What the hell is wrong with you all?! Why would you let Crane do this to Ivy?!'
'Sam!' Ivy sobbed.
Sam reached down and picked her up in his arms. Julian, Miguel, John and Simone, let out short laughs of contempt, all in unison. Charity was quiet.
'Put her down, Mr. Bennett!' Miguel yelled.
Julian rubbed his jaw and stood up.
'Yes, Chief Bennett. I would dare say that you will find that Ivy isn't the cripple you thought her to be!'
'Shut up, Crane!' Sam hissed, then carried Ivy back into the house. Simone and Charity stepped aside so he could have access to the doorway. Simone began shaking her head at the others.
'She won't be there for long. Once we tell Mr. Bennett that's she's been faking all of this time...'
'Well,' Charity began, 'it is possible that she did just get the feeling back in her legs.'
Tabitha and Kay came forward. Tabitha wrinkled her nose.
'What is this I hear? Ivy can walk?' Tabitha asked, wondering why she had not known that already.
'So she was faking all of this time.' Kay said, more to herself than anyone else.
'What's going on over here?' Grace asked, out of breath. T.C. was behind her. He walked up to Simone and the others. His eyes narrowed when he caught sight of Julian.
'Are you alright? What was all of that noise?' he asked.
Simone put an arm around him.
'We're okay, Daddy. We found out that Ms. Winthrop has been faking this whole time.'
'Faking? Faking what?' T.C. asked.
Julian rolled his eyes. God, how did Eve stay married to this moron for so long?
T.C. caught the dirty look Julian gave him, and let go of Simone.
'What are you doing here, Julian?' he asked, his body tensed for a fight. Grace pulled him back, but looked at Julian as well.
'You were here to see Ivy?' she asked.
Julian smoothed his now wrinkled tie.
'I was. She stole something from my home this afternoon. I wanted it back. Things got a bit violent, and we discovered that she could walk.'
Grace's eyes went wide!
'The only reason I let that bitch stay in my house, was because I thought she was handicapped! Are you sure of what you saw?'
Charity stepped forward.
'We all saw it, Aunt Grace. But I do think maybe Mr. Crane's shoving Ms. Winthrop into the ant farm, might have brought back the feeling in her legs.'
It got quiet, as everyone looked at Charity as if she were nuts!
'Did you see all of that in one of your 'premonitions'? Kay asked snidely.
Miguel put up a hand.
'Okay, that's enough. Mrs. Bennett, your husband is in there with Ms. Winthrop now.'
Grace nodded her thanks and hurried into the house. There were ants everywhere. She turned around and looked at John.
'John honey, could you pick up your ants?'
John nodded.
'I'm sorry, Mom. Simone, do you want to help?'
Simone looked him up and down.
'Help pick up ants?! Uh, no!' Simone answered. Besides, she wanted keep an eye on her father. He was glaring at Julian.
'Go on in, sweetheart. I'm sure it will be alright.' he said absently, eyeing Julian. John pulled on Simone's arm and they went inside.
Miguel looked at Julian and T.C. as well. Tabitha turned and went back over to the home. If there were to be any fireworks between the two men, she could watch from her window. Kay walked up to Miguel and Charity.
'Are you coming over to see the baby?' she asked, ignoring Charity.
'Uh, I don't think I should leave just yet.' he answered, his eyes still on T.C. and Julian. Charity patted his shoulder.
'Go. I'll get Uncle Sam and John if anything happens.'
'Yes,' Kay answered, 'Charity will take care of everything.'
Kay then pulled on Miguel's hand, steering him towards Tabitha's house. Charity emitted a sad sigh, then walked back inside the house.
Julian and T.C. stared one another down.
'Just why were you here throwing Ivy out of her wheelchair?' T.C. asked, his tone, menacing.
Julian's eyes went over T.C.. The man didn't look as if he'd lost a night's sleep over Eve. Now that she was gone, there was no need to hide anything.
'Ivy stole some CD's I had of Eve singing. I want them back.'
T.C.'s mouth dropped open!
'You have CD's of Eve singing....'
T.C. thought back to the Crane parties, when those strange jazzy sounding songs could be heard from the library. T.C. always thought that voice sounded familiar! That was Eve? Crane was playing them even back then? This lech had been after his wife all of this time?
T.C.'s face was too easy to read! It was clear that he was thinking back to everytime he may have heard those then tapes. Julian smiled.
'You sonofabitch! If anyone should have those CD's, it's her family, the people that loved her! That wouldn't be you!'
Julian stepped up to him.
'You would be wrong on that point. Remember all of those Crane parties Ivy invited the two of you to? I wanted Eve then, during every single one of them! The night before I married Rebecca, I begged her to leave you, so that we could be together. But she wouldn't leave you. And you repaid her by sleeping with Liz. I hope to God Whitney never finds out how you killed her mother...'
T.C. came at him so fast, Julian never had time to react. He found himself pinned under T.C. and taking vicious punch after punch. After the fourth one, something inside Julian just burst. He managed to reach up and jab T.C. hard in the eye!
'Christ!' T.C. screamed, rolling away from Julian and holding his eye. Miguel came running out of Tabitha's house. Simone screamed, then kicked at Julian, before rushing to her father. John, Charity and Simone bent over T.C..
'Daddy!' Simone cried out.
'My eye! My eye!' T.C. howled.
Miguel reached them, then ran inside the Bennett house to call 911. Julian managed to stand, then slip back inside the Bennett house. There was still the matter of his CD's.
****
'Tell me you're not serious, Sam!' Grace cried out.
Ivy was standing in the middle of the room. Sam and Grace were by her door. She turned away and smiled.
She had told Sam that she just could 'suddenly' walk. She had no idea how or why it happened, but that it was a miracle. Sam agreed. Unfortunately, she did tell him that now that she could walk, she would find another place to live. That part, was not so great.
And it was obvious Sam believed her story, bless his heart. Ivy loved him all the more!
'Sam, I told you Ivy wasn't going to her physical therapy classes! And now we know why! She could walk all of this time!'
Grace then looked around Sam at the smirking Ivy.
'How long, Ivy? How long have you been able to walk?'
Ivy put on her most pitiful expression.
'I told Sam and I'll tell you, I don't know how it happened. All of a sudden I could walk. But I can assure you, I couldn't this morning.'
Sam's eyes went from Grace, to Julian, who was standing in the doorway, looking worse than ever! Sam only hit him once! And if he didn't do that to Julian's face, then that meant...
'Where's T.C.?' Sam asked curtly. Grace turned around to look at Julian. Ivy raised a brow.
Julian cleared his throat.
'Miguel put in a call to 911. T.C. did his usual thing and got hurt.'
'You mean you got lucky!' Ivy snorted from across the room.
Sam looked at Ivy.
'I have to see to this, I don't want you in here alone with him.'
Ivy walked up to him and touched his face. Grace gasped at her gall. Julian rubbed one of his bruises. Poor Grace didn't stand a chance.
'Thank you, Sam. But I'm not afraid of him. Besides, he wouldn't dare do anything.'
'He dared before, Ivy.'
Ivy's hand slipped down from his face.
'I'll be fine. Go.'
Sam nodded reluctantly, then left the bedroom, shoving Julian aside. Grace looked at Ivy.
'I want you gone from this house, today!' Grace snapped, then followed after Sam. Julian smiled.
'Well, well dear. It looks like your scam has been uncovered. Wherever will you go?'
Ivy looked directly at him.
'I don't have your CD's. But I did call your precious Becky to tell her of their existence. I don't think it is a coincidence that they're suddenly gone. Now get out!'
Julian felt drained. He could think of no parting shot for this witch, so he simply turned and left the bedroom. Ivy smiled again.
****
Teresa walked into the Book Cafe and spotted Austin Reed sitting at a table, drinking a cappuccino. She tossed her dark hair and walked up to him. He looked up from some reports he had been reading.
'Mind if I join you?' she asked.
Austin stood up and pulled out a chair for her. Teresa smiled her thanks and sat down. He sat back down as well. Teresa's eyes fell on the file. It read, Crane Industries.
'I see you're working hard there.'
Austin shrugged.
'It's just a proposal I wanted to run by Alistair.'
'Well, you could run it by Julian.' she suggested.
Austin shook his head.
'I haven't changed my mind on that front. Something has happened to Alistair. You should have heard the names he used to call Julian behind his back.'
Teresa nodded. She could imagine...as a matter of fact, she was pretty sure she had heard Julian's father speak of him in unglowing terms.
'Okay, but isn't it possible that Alistair...I don't know, met a woman or something?'
Austin appeared to be thinking.
'Tell me, how did you end up married to Julian?'
Teresa stared at him, a little thrown by the change of subject,
'I thought it was common knowledge. Besides, I was never really married to him.'
Austin leaned forward.
'Well, I know that it was not exactly a love match. But the two of you do share a son. Something must have happened.'
Teresa laughed briefly, then, her expression turned somber.
'To make a long story short, I woke up in bed with him...we had both been drinking. Otherwise, I would've never let that man touch me.'
Austin didn't respond at first. He then covered one of her hands with his own.
'I'm sorry for prying. I guess I just wanted to know for sure if Julian was any competition.'
Teresa's mouth dropped open. She liked the feel of his hand on hers.
'Julian Crane competition? You've got to be kidding! Besides he's married to Rebecca.'
Austin let go of her hand.
'Everyone knows how much Julian values marriage, love or anything or anyone else but himself.'
Teresa shook her head.
'I agree, but for you to think that he would mean anything to me...he's little Ethan's father, period. Now, let's get back to your mystery.'
Austin knew he had insulted her. And for that he was sorry. Maybe, if he told her a little of what he knew, it might soften the blow that his questions had caused.
'I know that Alistair and I had an appointment to discuss a report I had worked on. His secretary called and canceled, telling me that some important business had taken him out of the building. Teresa, if he was going to kick back and turn everything over to Julian, even temporarily, Alistair would've appraised everyone in the company of the change. But for Julian to just burst in and tell us that he's now in charge...I just don't see it.'
Teresa looked away. Austin did have a point. She couldn't imagine Alistair canceling an appointment with Austin, then having Julian inform everyone that he's in charge. It would seem more likely that Alistair would have told Austin what was going to happen, before he canceled their meeting.
'You know Austin, you seem like a sweet guy...'
'I am.' Austin answered, smiling at her.
Teresa smiled back.
'Yes, well, then you may have to just face up to the fact, that the Crane's have enemies that extend beyond Harmony. Maybe something has happened to Alistair. And no, while I wouldn't put it past Julian to take advantage of his father's absence, that man does not have the spine to do something as bold as kill or kidnap his father. But, maybe you should go to the police, if it will make you feel better.'
Austin cracked his knuckles, then stood up. Teresa stood as well.
'You know, Teresa, you're right. It is bothering me, but, I will take into account what you said. Julian doesn't seem to have that much nerve to get rid of his father. He's too afraid of him. And it's not like Alistair and I are close...he can be eccentric. Maybe he did meet someone or just decided to take a vacation. So, how about dinner and a movie?'
Once again, Teresa was thrown by the sudden change of subject. She shook her head.
'I have to get home to my son. It was nice seeing you again.' she said, before walking out of the cafe. Once outside, she realized she had completely forgotten what she had come in for in the first place!
Austin watched her from a window. He hadn't felt anything for anyone since Sami Brady had ripped his heart in two. Maybe he shouldn't rush into anything. His thoughts moved from Teresa to Alistair. There was a part of him that didn't feel right sitting on this. Austin decided to keep his ears open, in case he heard anything else suspicious.
****
Julian slammed into the house, walked into the library and made himself a drink. He would call his lawyer later, for surely T.C. Russell was at the hospital, blubbering about how he had been attacked by him, instead of how it really was.
Rebecca quietly slipped into the room. She handed him a basket full of CD's. Julian snatched them from her!
'It was you! I should've known!'
Rebecca looked away from him.
'I hope Ivy didn't do that to you from her chair?'
Julian shook his head.
'Did you know she could walk all of this time?' he asked. Rebecca's mouth dropped open.
'Oh my God! No! Interesting...maybe she should've been an actress.'
Julian grunted, but did not answer. He took the basket of CD's and walked over to the CD player. Rebecca folded her arms.
'You're going to have to make a decision, Julian. Do you want me or a ghost?'
Julian set the basket down and turned to face her.
'What are you talking about?' he asked blithely. He noticed she was dressed in a curvaceous looking nightgown. Neither the lingerie, or her, held any interest for him.
'Our sex life has went down the toilet, Julian! And I'm not stupid! I know it's because you're longing for a dead woman! You were longing for her when she was alive!'
Julian sighed and faced her.
'I can't help what I feel, Rebecca. Our marriage, to me, is just one notch emptier than the one I had with Ivy. I definitely have more fun with you than I ever did with her...but we both know this is not a love match. I can't give you anymore than what I have been. I doubt I ever will.'
Rebecca just stared at him, then nodded.
'No, Julian, it isn't a love match. And I'm not asking for undying love. But I do ask that you don't disrespect me by allowing other people and servants, to know that you are pining for Eve Russell. Now Ivy, and God knows who else, knows how important those CD's are. I'm going to look like a fool!'
Julian has no response at first. He picked up his drink and gulped it down quickly. He then set the glass down.
'I can do that, I suppose.'
Rebecca smiled and walked up to him, throwing her arms around his neck.
'That's my pookie! So, how about we retire early? Fox and Whitney left on a trip, so, we practically have the whole house to ourselves.'
Julian reached up and removed her hands.
'I have some work to do. Crane Industries business. It can't be avoided.'
There was a loud and long silence. Rebecca then nodded, turned and walked out of the library. Julian closed his eyes briefly. There had been a part of him that had hated hurting her in that way. But their relationship, whatever it was, was always honest. Rebecca was looking for another rich man to replace Jonathan. He was just looking for sex...and now he didn't even want that from her.
Julian then turned and walked back over to the CD player. He looked over his favorite one, then put it in. He then turned down the sound very low. Soon, Eve's enchanting version of 'Stormy Weather' softly filtered out of the speakers.
****
SALEM
Lexie finished putting Theo down for his nap, then walked back downstairs, where Celeste was waiting on the couch. Her mother had just dropped in, without calling, which was fine, but Lexie sensed that this was not a social call. She skipped off the second bottom step.
Celeste, hearing the noise, stood up and turned around. Her smile was shaky.
'How is my grandson doing?' she asked.
'Fine, same as when you asked me ten minutes ago. What's going on? Why are you really here?'
Celeste was tempted to make a joke, but her heart was so heavy, ever since her visit with Julian Crane, that she just decided to tell the truth.
'Alexandra, I was married, once before.'
Lexie didn't appear to be to fazed. She shrugged.
'Oh. Okay, why are you telling me this now? Is your ex-husband back?'
Celeste rubbed her hands together.
'He's dead. Stefano killed him.'
Now, Lexie looked shocked! She walked over to her and sat down on the sofa. Celeste sat as well.
'My father killed your husband? Okay, do I dare ask why?'
Celeste cleared her throat.
'I was cheating on him with Stefano. My husband caught us, Stefano killed him. It was more like self defense...sort of.'
Lexie took a deep breath.
'What's going on here, Mom? Why does any of this matter now?'
Celeste touched Lexie's hand.
'Because the man I was married to was Eve's father.'
Lexie pulled her hand away quickly and stood up!
'My God! Stefano killed Eve's father?! You were married to Eve's father? That means she's going to remember you when she gets her memory back!'
Celeste stood up as well.
'No, she won't. I never met her. Eve was estranged from her family, something she does not remember.'
'Then how do you know you have the right Eve? Maybe you were married to another woman's father?'
Celeste shook her head quickly.
'Warren, that was Eve's father, kept pictures of her all around. I could never forget that face, even if it is slightly older.'
Lexie said nothing for a moment. This whole Eve/Tony situation went from bad to worse!
'Have you told Tony?' Lexie asked.
Celeste sighed.
'Yes, for all of the good it did. He still plans to just keep lying to Eve.'
'Mom, I don't see what we can do about any of this. Let's just stay out of it.'
Celeste put her hands on Lexie's shoulders.
'That's what I want you to do. I don't want to see anything else disrupt your marriage to Abraham.'
'But?' Lexie prodded.
Celeste's hands slid down off of her daughter's shoulders.
'I am going to Harmony. That is where Eve is from. I want to know what happened to get her to this point.'
Lexie's mouth dropped open!
'Mom! I don't think you should! I mean, Tony had an investigator look into all of that! He thinks Eve was in danger.'
'Tony fed Eve false information.'
'How do you know that?'
Celeste sighed.
'I just do. Look, I'm going to Harmony, and if I'm satisfied that Eve would be better off with Tony, then I will come back and not say a word.'
'But?' Lexie said.
'If I find that her husband and children, or anyone else that loves her, are in any pain or missing her, I will tell them the truth and get them here to Salem. I owe that much to Warren...and to Eve.'
Lexie said nothing. She knew that Tony was wrong, but, when she saw how her brother was with Eve, she just didn't have the heart to lecture him. He seemed so happy, and it was not as if Eve were being mistreated in any way.
'When do you leave?' Lexie asked quietly.
'Tonight.' Celeste answered.
**** Middle of the Night in the DiMera Mansion
Tony burst into Eve's room again. Her screams has awakened him.
Eve, for her part, felt stupid! She was embarrassed that she had awakened Tony...again, over some foolish nightmare!
Tony turned on the small lamp that was on her nightstand and pulled her into his arms. Eve lay her head on his shoulder. He rubbed her back.
'You're safe now. Was it the same dream? Where you're underwater?'
Eve nodded against his shoulder, then pulled away. Tony peered at her.
'What is it, Eve? Was it worse this time?'
Eve sniffed, wiping tears away from her face.
'I just feel so silly for letting this get to me. I know I'm safe here. I think this time it was the men.'
Tony didn't like the sound of this!
'Men?' he asked carefully.
Eve nodded, blinking hard.
'Yes...one of them was yelling at me...I couldn't figure out why...and I didn't say anything to him...or yell back...and the other...'
'Yes? The other one what?' Tony asked.
'The other said he loved me.' Eve decided to say no more after that. There had been something about that man, with the grayish hair, that even in her dream, she had no doubt that he loved her.
Yet, that couldn't be. Tony had told her she had no family, no husband or boyfriend. So, who was this man that told her he loved her? And who was the man that had yelled at her?
Tony pulled her to him and stroked her back again. Eve was beginning to remember, at least that was what Tony suspected these dreams were all about. The man that was yelling at her, probably was her husband, T.C. Russell. Tony had read in the report that he was somewhat of a hothead.
And the other man was probably Crane. Tony remembered his Harvard days with Julian Crane. It was well known he could sweet talk any woman into bed, with words of love. He had no doubt he'd used some line on Eve to confuse her, and put her marriage into jeopardy.
'Will you stay with me?' Eve asked suddenly.
Tony was delighted by her invitation. Tony climbed into bed with her, and Eve, leaned into him, in spoon fashion. His arms were draped around her. Her arms rested on his. He soon felt her body relax, and knew she was asleep.
For the first time since he met Eve, Tony was at a loss on how to proceed. He had no problem with her wanting to be reunited with her children. But, if she went back to T.C. Russell, or worse yet, Julian Crane, Tony knew he would have to kill one or both of them. And he would, before he would let Eve go.
