An Affair To Remember: The truth

by tarskeewee08

Evangeline walked off the balcony into her room. She sighed deeply and went to the red roses in the corner closest to her. Picking a rose out of the arrangement she pricked her finger. Gasping she automatically brought the tiny red bead of blood on the tip her finger to her mouth and sucked out the soreness. She smelled the rose and thought about her mother's garden. It was her favorite place as a little girl. She would spend all her evenings in it wishing for the spring so that the buds would bloom, or daydreaming she was a princess and that was her magical forest. The garden was small and set in the back yard but for a eight year old with a great imagination it was an enchanted forest. It was her escape when daddy didn't want her and Lay in the house.

Shaking her head at the memory and forcing it back where she kept most of those painful childhood ones she put the rose back in the arrangement. Strange but even now she felt everything had its place and should remain in it. Turning she went to the door and stepped out into the hallway. The door to the master suite was cracked and she hoped that John was in it. Walking to it cautiously she sucked in a deep breath before knocking.

"Come in…"

Evangeline walked in to see him pulling out clothes to decide what to wear. He looked up at her and smiled "Hey sunshine..."

She smiled faintly "I need you to get my husband on the phone please"

John smile faded as he looked at her. Evangeline stared him back in the eye standing firm in her request.

"Well…I mean are you sure?"

She ran her hand through her hair. "I will give you your week John, but Kevin is my husband and he's worried about me. What you did in tricking him was wrong and disrespectful to us both. Please get him on the line so I can tell him where I am."

John put his hands on his hips and looked away. He didn't want to push but he wasn't confident that if she spoke to Kevin he would have the access to her that he needed. This was his shot to get her back, bringing her husband into it would ruin it all.

Evangeline stared at him and saw his hesitancy. She knew he wanted her to lie, but that wasn't who she was. This visit to Cambridge wasn't for Sir John Thomas McBain heartbreaker and possibly the love of her life. No this was something for her. Why she needed it was still a mystery to her but she was clear on the fact that she didn't want to live her life trapped in her own fear and pain anymore.

John looked back at her and fought the urge to control her. He recalled Ming's advice to loving her enough to trust in it. God it was so hard. "Okay Evangeline"

Going to his bag on the floor Evangeline watched him retrieve his cell phone and place the call. He spoke to someone and Evangeline folded her arms somewhat angry to hear him unweaving the extravagant hoax he played on her husband. Apparently he laid the ground work for this lie she was supposed to tell by saying they plane was diverted to London for an imaginary emergency landing.

Kevin was already in discussions with his executives over the merger and John looked over at her somewhat embarrassed that she heard his part in the deception. Finally he rose and brought her the phone. She took it from his hand and he stepped back watching her cautiously.

"Kevin?" she said softly looking into John's sea blue eyes shimmering with hope.
"Van baby are you okay? They told me you had to make an emergency landing. I've been worried sick."

Evangeline smirked to herself. Sure he was upset, so upset he went to those meetings anyway.
"I'm fine Kevin."
"What's going on? How soon will you be here?"
"There was no emergency landing, I'm not on my way to Ireland."

John ran his hand through his hair nervously and blew out a breath of regret. He looked into her face and she never dropped her gaze. He felt his stomach tighten into a knot with tension over what was to come next.

"What! Where are you?" Kevin asked angrily stepping away from the blonde associate that's been batting her eyes at him since he landed. She had the most remarkable green eyes and her legs were longer than Evangeline's. She smiled sexily at him and walked away giving him privacy. He watched the way her hips moved inside her mini skirt and shook his head. If he wasn't a married man he'd definitely have to know her better.

"I was brought here to meet with friends."
Kevin heard what she said and focused on her voice again. "What? You were brought were?"
"Cambridge England"

Kevin's throat went dry. He suddenly felt hot with rage. Pulling on his tie he glared out the large office window trying to gain some perspective. Rex told him that this all started in England. "Are you with John Thomas!" he hissed

Evangeline frowned and John looked at her concern. "How do you know about John?" she asked confused.

"Answer me dammit! Are you with him!" Kevin snapped now unable to control his blinding jealousy.

"Yes, and don't talk to me like that" she said hurt. She began to pace nervously. How did Kevin know about John? Why was he calling him John Thomas?

"I am sick of this Van! I tried to be patient and understanding but this is too much. To purposefully mislead me and disrespect our marriage…"

Evangeline ran her hands through her hair holding back her tears "Kevin…listen!"
"No dammit! I'm serious Evangeline…how you pulled this off I don't know but you are my wife and its time you start acting like it!"

Evangeline closed her eyes sucking in her breath. No matter how they tried to start over he always went back here. She was his wife and she had her place. God she hated when he did this!

Battling her own sick need to be a good wife, to be what was expected she fought the urge to give in to his demands. John watched her and clenched his fist. He didn't know what was being said to her but he saw the tear and the tremble of her bottom lip. His heart was being pulled from his chest and all he wanted to do was protect her.

Evangeline found her voice and though cracked with emotion she stood up to her husband. "I will be home in one week. We will talk then." Hearing him screaming at her in the phone she closed it ending the call.

Looking up at John she held the phone out to him her hand still shaking. She was tired and not in the mood for dinner or anything else she just wanted to escape and be alone.
John took the phone from her hands and ran his fingers over hers. Dropping her hand she turned to leave.

"Evangeline"
Stopping she looked away embarrassed that he witnessed as much as he did.

"Please don't go just yet"

"John what did you tell my husband about us?" she said cutting her eyes the left and shaking her head sadly at the state of her marriage and her life.
John frowned "Nothing I swear…."
She shook her head "You still want to play games even now!" she hissed turning the door knob to flee.
"Wait please..."

"I need to be alone" she said irritated sucking her teeth and thinking of Kevin's pain instead of her own.

"No you don't. You need to be with people that love you. Don't close yourself off like this. I was wrong for manipulating Kevin and I am sorry for putting you in this position. I don't know why I resort to these tactics but know that its never done to hurt you I honestly believe we belong together."

Evangeline wiped at her tears still refusing to turn and look at him. John took a step toward her cautious not to come to close. Thinking of who she is now and desperately wanting to see that sparkle of the woman she once was, he chose his words carefully. "I know this is hard. I know there are things that you carry with you I haven't even touched yet, but you decided to give this a try. To take some time to reconnect with yourself. Please don't change your mind now."

Evangeline sighed turning to look at him her mascara running "I don't trust you"
John frowned "I know sunshine and I'm sorry for betraying…"
"That's not it John, its not the betrayal that makes me not trust you. I've lived with betrayal all the way back to when I was eight years old." She said taking a step toward him.

John searched her face and he saw something that he didn't understand. Something he didn't recognize "Okay, why don't you trust me lassie?"

"I don't trust that you want what's best for me. I think this…." she said point around the room "All of this from the first day you brought me here was for you and only you."

John flinched inwardly at her words. He loved her so much and so passionately that her implying it was all self serving cut him deep. She saw the pain on his face and smiled softly at him. "Oh I believe you love me John, it's why I agreed to stay because truth be told I love you too. I just don't trust that you will ultimately when given the choice of my happiness over yours chose mine. You want what you want, like always and I'm not willing to just give you that after all that's happened."

"That's not true…"
"Doesn't matter. I don't trust you, so with that being said I will allow you the opportunity to reconnect with me and maybe forge a friendship not based on lies and deceit. But that starts now. No more of these games. I won't be manipulated by you or Kevin. I won't let either one of you control me!"

John watched as she stormed out speechless. Seeing the door closing behind her he looked up at the ceiling and cried out to the saints that they not do this. He had to reach her, but if she viewed him in the same category as the bloke she married he would never succeed. Going back to the bed he sat down and thought about what she said. Maybe there was some truth to it and if it there was he had a lot of work to do.

KnockKnock

"Come in" Evangeline said putting on her sandals. Ming stopped by an hour earlier checking to see if she was still going out. She agreed, staying inside her room was self defeating. Besides she missed her friend most of all.

"Hey you…ready?" Ming said walking in wearing jeans and tennis shoes. Evangeline frowned at her. "I thought we were going to dinner?"

"Girl you are in Cambridge not Paris…" she said laughing.

Evangeline laughed. Her expensive dresses and pant suits wouldn't work here. She walked over and pulled a pair of Jeans from her suit case. Turning to get dressed Ming walked into the room and sat down on the bed looking at the blood red roses everywhere.

"I'm surprised you stayed Van."
Evangeline pulling up her pants looked over confused "Really?"
Ming laughed. "I had no idea he would kidnap you girl. I mean I knew he was bloody stir crazy over ya, but kidnapping girl that's just too much."

Evangeline fastened her jeans and laughed too "Yeah pretty extreme and needless to say my husband is livid." she said shrugging going over to her suitcase to get a cool cotton shirt.

Ming frowned "You told your husband?"
Evangeline nodded "Of course I did"
"Wow…that must have been hard."
"Yeah, well I'm sick of the games. Besides my staying here is not to have an illicit affair…"

Ming searched her face as she changed shirts "Why are you staying?"
She pulled her bright red shirt over her head and it fit the contour of her body snugly. "I don't really know, I just think that closure with us is needed. This may be my only chance at it."

Swallowing her guilt Ming looked toward the floor "Do you think we will ever be able to have the friendship we once shared?"

Evangeline looked at Ming and saw her sitting with her head down and her hair hanging in her face. She looked like a 16 year old as oppose to a 34 year old. "I would like for us to try. I know we are different people now and I'm dying to know more about your life."
Ming slung her hair over her shoulder, Evangeline saw the tears of regret in her eyes and went to her friend.

"Look, I have one week and I want to spend a lot of it with you. Hey I got an idea maybe we can go back to the fountain!" she said sitting on the bed next to her friend and putting her arm around her.

Ming's eyes lit up with the mention of the fountain. "Oh my god I haven't thought about the fountain in so long!"

Evangeline giggled "Do you remember when Chancellor Edwards came out Sanford Hall to find us jumping around in that fountain at 2 in the morning."

Ming started laughing "Us? If I recall I was the one drunk and jumping around in that frozen water while you screamed for me to get out."

Evangeline laughing now bent over "A lot of good it did me your crazy butt pulled me in. Girl we could have been expelled! Or dropped dead from pneumonia"

Ming shrugged "Oh right….but Edwards wasn't going to expel us…."
"How do you know?"

Ming got up from the bed and did her seductress prance with her chest pushed out "Oh Chancellor Edwards…I don't know what came over me….I've never lost control like that….I just feel so bad about the entire thing!" Ming said in her Betty Boop voice jiggling her titties in Evangeline's face.

Evangeline looked at her shocked "Oh my god! Are you serious? Is that how you got us out of it?"

Ming winked putting her hand on her hip. "I told you I took care of you back then."

Evangeline smiled. She was so busy chasing her fairytale with John that she never even appeared before the Chancellor the next day. Ming came to her room later that week and said it was all handled. Looking at her friend she remembered incidents at Princeton where Ming fixed things for her when shied away from defending herself. She never realized that was the dynamic of their relationship.

Ming smiled at her "Let's go the boys are waiting."

Evangeline grabbed her windbreaker and jumped off the bed following her friend out of the room. They laughed and chided each other going down the stairs to the front of the castle. Ming threw her tiny body up against the large double doors and pushed it opened.

Evangeline walked out laughing at her Shera move then stopped in her tracks confused. John and Sam both sat on the motorcycles they used to ride years ago, or ones just like it. John smiled at her surprised face "You ready?"

Shaking her head no she turned to Ming for support but saw her flying over to her husband and jumping on the back. Putting on her helmet she looked back "C'mon Van let's go girl!"

Evangeline put on her windbreaker understanding the need for jeans and tennis shoes. Going over she grabbed John's shoulders and threw her leg over climbing on the bike. John passed her the helmet he had and waited for her to put it on. Once done she slipped her arms around his waist. Hearing him start the motorcycle she squeezed her body tightly to his and looked over to see Sam and Ming take off. Once John sped off she realized she wasn't breathing and fought to fill her lungs with air. She was too old for this shit.

It had been years since she did this with them. They raced down the rocky road and Evangeline squeezed her eyes shut and held on tighter. Once they made it to the main road she felt a lot better.

She looked around at the passing village and remembered how much she loved her time in Cambridge. Free of her mothers oppressive control and her fathers guilty avoidance. Looking over John's shoulder she watched the road as he rode to a destination unknown. When he made a turn she leaned into it with him like he taught her years ago and she smiled at the fact that riding with him again felt so natural.

Within 20 minutes they were back at the market place and Evangeline frowned to see how modernized it was. Now there was a Starbucks and a McDonalds. John rode down the street pulling over to the side of a quaint little pub and eatery. He kicked down the kickstand and she let go of him taking off her helmet. Sliding off he took her helmet and his locking them onto his bike.

"That was fun" she said.
He looked up at her and smiled "I'm glad you liked it."

She saw the sexy smile on his face and shook her head. She was doomed to forever being a slave to that smile. Ming and Sam came up the side walk holding hands. They were glowing as if they just got married yesterday. She couldn't help but stare and feel envious that she never felt that free in her own marriage.

John reached for her hand and she avoided his reach walking to the door. She didn't look back to see what her rejection caused, she already knew. Going inside people turned and stared at the raven haired beauty, she and Ming always drew attention in Cambridge and she couldn't tell if it was their American swagger or exotic features. She waited on the rest of then and they all chose a table. John sat close to her and she looked at him and smiled. She didn't mind the closeness but she wouldn't encourage it. They ordered their meals and laughed about the mischief they got into those few days they spent together.

Sam spoke of his sons and how proud he was and Ming laughed that Sam's mother liked to drop dead in polite shock when she met her. Ming talked about the polite prejudices she faced with the aristocrats in England, especially at Oxford.

She told them how Sam's mother obsessed over her grandsons now and their relationship was much better. Evangeline sipped her black and tan listening intently. She felt John's eyes constantly on her and for the most part ignored it.

After a couple of drinks Ming true to form went to the jukebox and put on some music. Coming to the table she grabbed Sam and forced him to come to the dance floor with her. John and Evangeline laughed as Ming danced and Sam tried to keep up, he was extremely grateful when more people rose and joined them.

"This was good night eh?" John whispered in her ear.
She nodded swaying to the music watching the couples bounce around on the dance floor while drinking her beer.
"Would it be too much to ask for a dance?"
Evangeline lowered her glass and looked at him. "Sure" she said willing to dance to the up tempo beat. John jumped up and pulled her over to the jukebox. She frowned as he flipped through the song list. Putting in his money he looked up at her grinning. She saw that devilish look in his face and smiled.

"Okay lets go…." She said heading to the dance floor.
He grabbed her hand stopping her. "Not yet"
She waited confused and leaned against the wall while he stared in her face. "I sure have missed you sunshine"

Evangeline laughed softly "Sir John McBain you flatter a girl with all this attention" she said winking at him. He bit his bottom lip and kept his place avoiding the kiss he wanted from that flirtation. Then the song came on. The one they danced too the night they met. He pulled her to the dance floor and into his arms before she could resist. Holding onto him she kept her head on his shoulder to avoid his face. The way he held her awakened desires she knew she could never bury, especially not when she was in his arms.

They danced that way through the next two songs and she felt as if time once again had stopped for them. Finally returning to the table they laughed and drank more all four of them trading stories on the other. Ming and she talked about some of the crazy times they had in Princeton. John and Sam reminisced over soccer and the adventurous times on the rowing team. Calling it a night Evangeline was so tired when she got back she adjourned to her room immediately.

John watched at the bottom of the steps as she retired to bed wishing he was going along with her. But he would honor wishes. He was just glad to have her here again.