A WOMAN APART: Chapter 14 - DENNIS

by tarskeewee08

"O, swear not by the moon, the fickle moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circle orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable."

William Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet

Summer 1988

The darkness of her parent's basement was comforting. She stood on her tiptoes to look out of the window for any sign of Dennis. Her mother and father had a Teachers conference they were attending for two days. Daddy convinced her mom to allow Evangeline to watch over her and Layla. He told her that she was the more responsible than any babysitter her mother could find. Evangeline felt proud of his confidence in her.

Evangeline overheard her mom talking to Ms.Washington about watching the house while they were gone. She new that woman was probably asleep in her living room just to make sure she could spy on them.

It was Candace that told her of the idea to have Dennis come through the Johnson's backyard to hers and enter the basement. That was a perfect idea since she was sure that Layla was the one tipping Lisa off to her romance with Dennis. They'd waited until Layla was asleep to meet.

The incident at school had caused great strain in the Williamson household. Dennis was kicked off the varsity football team and Evangeline's father forbade her from seeing him. Her mother had made it seem like they were in the act of sex when she discovered them. She'd pleaded with her dad to meet Dennis to give him a chance. But Lisa was having none of that. Well she loved her dad and she wanted to make him proud but she would not let him or her mom control her.

Besides there was another reason why she had to see Dennis tonight. Her period was late and she needed his reassurance.

Evangeline saw Dennis come over the fence. She got down from the window and went to the back cellar door to let him in. Dennis smiled and came in the basement

"Hey baby!" he said scooping her up in his arms and kissing her passionately.

Evangeline loved Dennis' kisses. The power of them made her feel like the most special girl in the world. Before that night at Candace house all they would do was kiss for hours.

"I've missed you so much" he said slipping his hands under her shirt rubbing her back while kissing her deeply. Evangeline closed her eyes and allowed him to push her up against the wall. She smiled as his hands traveled to the front of her shirt pushing up her bra so that he could he get a hold of her breast. His touch had her body on fire. "Dennis, I need to tell you something" she said while gasping from the passion of the moment. Dennis kept kissing her and now trailed the kisses to her neck. He had his hands on the button of her Levi's trying to open her jeans.

"Dennis, wait we need to talk first" she said finally gaining her senses and pushing his hands away.

He let her go and smiled at her. "Okay" he said obviously disappointed. Evangeline touched his face. "We don't have many opportunities to talk now since school is out and I need to tell you something."

Dennis took her hand feeling sorry for bum rushing her the way he did. He loved her so much that sometimes his need for her took over all his senses. "I'm sorry baby, I just missed you"

Evangeline nodded and led him to the old couch in the basement. "I spoke to Candace and she said it's probably not a problem but I haven't had my period yet"

Dennis looked at her shocked "How late are you?"

"I'm going on the second month now, but Candace says that when you loose your cherry it takes a long time for your period to come back"

Dennis smiled at her. Evangeline was the smartest girl in their school. She'd scored a perfect score on her SATs and was slated to be valedictorian. But her family kept her so sheltered. It took him months to break through her shyness to get her to have a conversation with him. It amazed him that she and Candace were friends, but he was grateful because Candace was the way he finally reached her. Her innocence was sweet to him. She had no idea what a missed period really meant.

"Evangeline, I don't think that's true." He said gently

Evangeline frowned. "It is! Candace said that you can't get pregnant on your first time. It's impossible" she said feeling the panic take hold of her.

Dennis looked at her. If she was pregnant their would be World War III in this household and it was up to him to protect her and their child "Baby, listen to me"

Evangeline jumped up. "No Dennis, I just wanted to talk to you but I wasn't saying that I'm actually pregnant. I mean. Candace has done this since she was 14 with many guys. She would know about these things. We only did it once. I'm not pregnant. I can't be."

Dennis got up and grabbed her. "If you are we can do this. We can get married. I can work at the plant with my father"

Evangeline eyes got wide "My dad would never let me marry you. My mom would kill me. My dad would kill you" she said the reality of what might be happening to her sinking in.

Dennis pulled her into his arms "You're what's important Vangie, not your mom and dad. It's your life and maybe our child which was made of love that we have to think of first."

Evangeline was terrified but she looked in Dennis's face and felt safe. She wanted to be part of a real family. To be loved for just her. Dennis was the most important thing in the world to her. His love was the best thing that she had. She smiled at him. "Do you think that I could really be pregnant?" she asked actually understanding this may be the only way that she and Dennis could have a life together.

Dennis put his hand on her stomach. "I really hope so"
She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest "I do too"
Dennis pulled her away grinning. "I think we should celebrate lets dance."
Evangeline smiled "Now?"
Dennis shook his head and looked around "What type of music do your parents have?" he said walking over to the stereo player up against the wall.

Evangeline shrugged "Jazz and Blues mostly. Me and Layla are only allowed to listen to classical"

Dennis turned around and frowned at her. "We are going to have to get you out more Vangie"

She laughed and sat on the couch as he thumbed through her dad's album collection. "Why do you want to dance?"

Dennis pulled out an album. "I think tonight is a special night. We decided tonight that no matter what we have a future together. I want to stand here and celebrate with you so when I leave you have the memory of this night being special. I don't want you worrying about this Vangie. I'll protect you"

Evangeline nodded and bit her lower lip. She was putting on a brave front but she was terrified. Her dads love was very important to her. A pregnancy would cost her him and she didn't know if she could do that even for Dennis.

Dennis smiled "My uncle loves Billy Holiday. I have the perfect song that speaks to this magical summer night"

Evangeline laughed "I have never seen a romantic 17 year old boy that would rather dance to Billy Holiday with his girlfriend than make out"

Dennis looked at her and winked "The make out session comes next"


Summertime and the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is fine
Oh your daddy's rich and your ma is good lookin'
So hush little baby, don't you cry

One of these mornings
You're goin' to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take the sky
But till that morning
There's a nothin' can harm you
With daddy and mammy standin' by

Layla opened her eyes. She'd fallen asleep on the couch watching movies with Van. The music she heard over the TV was coming from the basement.

"Dennis!" she said jumping up and running toward the basement. She crept down slowly and sat in the shadows of the steps to see Dennis dancing with Evangeline. Her smile turned into a grin as she saw how graceful Dennis was. He turned her sister around and pulled her close. Layla couldn't help but clap when he bent her over to dip her.

Evangeline heard Layla clapping and looked up angry. "What are you doing up!" she hissed. Dennis grabbed Evangeline's arm and pulled her back. "Don't be like that. Hey Lay Lay how are you?" he said sweetly to her.

Layla came down the steps grinning. "Dennis, I knew Vangie was going to sneak you in. I just knew it" she gushed. Dennis winked at her "Do you want to dance?" he asked extending his hand.

Evangeline loved the way Dennis was with her sister. Her dad all but ignored Layla and mom was her usual cold self. Layla shined under Dennis's attention. She knew she was just as in love with Dennis as she was.

Layla looked at Dennis shyly and walked over to him. Evangeline started the record over and watched them dance. Dennis twirled Layla around and picked her up dancing around the basement. "What if I told you that someday I would be your brother in-law" he said grinning down at her.

Evangeline gasped "Dennis don't!" she said quickly. She loved her sister but she had a knack for revealing secrets as soon as she uncovered them. Layla looked over at Evangeline and rolled her eyes "I'm not a little kid I can keep a secret"

Dennis smiled at Evangeline and winked "Yea, she's not a little kid!" he said laughing.

Evangeline laughed. "How about I make us something to eat. We can watch TV."

Layla looked at Dennis while still dancing "You go Vangie and watch TV me and Dennis will stay down here and dance"

Evangeline smiled whenever Layla was around her and Dennis she tried to compete with her. It would be aggravating if it wasn't so cute. Dennis didn't help by always paying her the attention she craved. He sensed like most that Layla was an attention starved child.

"Dennis after this song will you two come upstairs and join me?"

Dennis kept dancing with Layla "We sure will" he said sweetly

Evangeline walked up the stairs to make them something to eat. She touched her belly. Maybe he was right and a baby would make her parents relent on their determination to control her. Maybe Dennis and her love would be enough to bring everyone together. In her heart she held onto that hope.

Present

Evangeline opened her eyes and touched her face. As she suspected it was wet from tears. She rolled over and looked at John sleeping. She hadn't dreamed of the sweetness of Dennis in over 10 years.

When she closed her heart she closed the door on Dennis too. Now she had this wonderful man professing the same concern and passion for her that Dennis did. It had awakened something in her that she thought was gone.

She scooted closer and stared at his face silently crying. Why was it so hard to believe that a second chance was actually an option? Why would god allow it after how she destroyed Dennis and herself in the process?

Before turning away from him he opened his eyes. He looked at her tear soaked face and she saw her reflection in his blue eyes.
John touched her face and wiped at some of the tears. She couldn't say anything but in silence she knew he understood her.

"Evangeline, you are going to have to trust me"

Evangeline stared at him and bit her lower lip. John saw the pain and anguish on her face and new part of her secret. Whatever made her afraid to love had to do with the relationship with her family. Since Layla and Lisa arrived she's been unable to keep the calculated control that she'd mastered. The two of them together like this had her in agony. "I love you and I will fight for you to admit that you are in love with me"

Evangeline touched his face and then kissed him. John felt her need to be reassured so he pulled her close and kissed her back. She was everything he wanted. He wished she knew what a treasure she was. He rolled on top of her and pinned her to the bed kissing her neck and face. He looked back at her and saw that she was squeezing her eyes shut. Stopping his attempt to make love to her he stared in her face "Can you tell me what it is? Can you tell me something?"

Evangeline opened her eyes "I want too. I want for you to know. I want..."
John watched her struggle and couldn't believe it. This was a woman that used words on a daily basis effortlessly. Now she lay beneath him and couldn't find a way to tell him her heart. At some point this had to stop. At some point she had to let go.

"It's okay" he said rolling off of her. He turned to look at her. "Come here"

Evangeline moved over to him and welcomed the comfort of his arms. She wanted the dreams to stop. If they kept coming like this she would have to relive it all over again. She might not survive that. "I'm very grateful for you" she said weakly

John rubbed her back and shook his head "Grateful?"
Evangeline looked up to him "I didn't mean it that way. What I'm saying is your patience your caring. I'm happy to have you in my life"

John looked at her "You don't seem happy. You seem tortured. You seem closed off and in pain."

Evangeline heard the frustration in his voice and cringed "John, please…"

John couldn't help himself this was getting to be too much "Why didn't you tell your mother we were involved?"

Evangeline rose from his chest and lay back on her pillow "Don't do this"
"Do what? Ask the woman that I love to give a proper introduction of me to her mother?"

Evangeline said nothing she continued to stare at the ceiling.

John looked at her lying next to him "Layla told me something interesting"
Evangeline turned her head and looked at him confused "About what?'
John turned over and looked her in the face "That there was no love in the Williamson household"

Evangeline frowned "That's a lie" she snapped.

John saw the anger on her face but pushed harder "Is it your dad? Was it your mother? Who hurt you Van? What made you retreat inward like this?'

"Stop it!" she shouted sitting up in bed "If you want me in your life John, don't push me, because I'll push back!"

John looked at her sadly "That's just it, I want YOU, not this shell of yourself that you prefer to give me"

Evangeline got up from the bed and started looking for her clothes
"What are you doing? Are you going to run from me in the middle of the night? Are you that scared?"

Evangeline glared at him. "Why are you doing this? Why can't you give me time we've only been together for a couple of months? Why push and push and push me like this!" she shouted.

John jumped out of bed and went to her grabbing her by both arms "Because now you're on the edge and I see it. I could sit back and watch you drown or I can help you. My love for you won't allow me to just do nothing."

Evangeline tried to get loose but he tightened his grip "Stop it Van, Face me let me in"

She shook her head "Let me go!" she said trough her tears fighting him.
John held onto tighter and forced her into him "No, let go of it whatever it is and face it dammit!"

"Let me go Dennis!" she said crumbling into his arms.

John heard her say the name and his confusion deepened. She cried hysterically and went limp under him. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Her wails got louder and his heart broke "Dennis, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I love you and I'm sorry" she screamed through her sobs.

John pushed her hair from her face as he sat on the bed with her in his lap. "Please forgive me I was wrong. Please forgive me" she wailed.

John rocked her as she begged for forgiveness and held onto him. He thought her cries would last all night and became frightened by the intensity of them. From nowhere the lessened to the point of a whimper. She still clung tightly to him but there was a break in the storm that he'd pushed out of her.

He had no idea she was this broken. Her demons were deep and he shouldn't have pushed her like that. Who was Dennis? What had happened to him and her? He lifted her from his lap and tried to maneuver her to the bed but she held tighter to him and started her cries again.

"Baby, I'm sorry its okay…shhh..its okay." He got in the bed with her and let her press her body tightly against his. Her body shook from the explosion of tears she released minutes ago and soon she was asleep in his arms from exhaustion.

Whatever happened to her was bigger than a simple conversation. He would be more careful with her in the future. He was so worried about her he spent the rest of the night watching her sleep.

He found it amazing but he loved her even more.