An Affair To Remember: Reaching Evangeline

by tarskeewee08

"Hey mate…"

John turned to see Sam standing behind him. He was out back on the open breezeway looking out into the thick forested land that surrounded his property. Emotionally drained from Evangeline's breakdown he found him self fighting off the feeling of desperation as time ran out on their second chance. The worst part was coming to the realization that he was partially responsible for her anguish.

"What's up mate.." he said dryly.

Sam walked out toward his friend. Earlier when they went to eat he seemed distracted. He knew how much this time with Evangeline meant to him and he was hoping that he didn't over invest in it. Evangeline is a married woman, someone else's wife….exactly where could this go?

"You look like bloody hell" Sam said looking out into the land with him.
"Thanks mate..."
"So I take it this thing with Evangeline is not going well?"
John looked at his friend and frowned "It's more than a thing!"
"Sorry mate..." Sam said blushing.

John sighed "Doesn't matter…you are right it's not going well at all"
"I can't see where it can really lead John, she's acting like a woman on vacation not a woman in love. Are you sure that you two are on the same page?"

John folded his arms avoiding his friends stare "She told me she loved me."
Sam eyes grew big "Good going ole boy!" he said punching him playfully in the shoulder.
"Well she also said she didn't trust me."
"Blimey!" Sam snapped
John laughed and shook his head "It's a tough one mate…"
"Can I give you a word of advice…" Sam asked looking at his friend
John turned and shrugged "Can't hurt"

"I've been married to Ming for a long time and the one thing I learned that works for us is I let Ming be Ming"

John cut his eyes and looked at the sky "Sam I know this already…"
"Do you mate? You brought her here against her will John…you've forced her to do things that you want to do and surrounded her with your own comfort zone. That is why me and Ming are here mate….to help you win her over."

"What the hell does that mean? This castle is romantic for us!" John snapped.
"John…this castle is where you broke her heart. Don't you think she looks around here and sees where she was betrayed? Can't you see how hurtful being here with you is?"

John looked at Sam sadly "You have a point."
"Evangeline needs to know that you see her that you want to know her….and trust me mate words and kisses won't do it. Take action John. Get her out of here and find some neutral territory, time is almost up and you have to do something now to reach her."

John thought about what his friend said and smiled. That was it. He needed to give Evangeline her power back and he knew just how to do it.

Evangeline laughed listening to Ming prattle on about her colleagues and how she makes them respect her voice the Business school. Evangeline could see little Ming perched with her hair in that tight bun giving it to them straight with no chaser, and then the minute someone takes it to far…a flash of that little vixen that resides in her comes out putting everyone in check.

Ming saw her friend laughing and stopped looking at her "Van, he loves you"
Evangeline wiped at her eyes confused "What?"
"John…he loves you"
"Oh Ming let's not talk about that now."
"I think we should…"
Evangeline lay back on the bed looking up at the ceiling, she was having so much fun with Ming she didn't want to talk about Johns needs. She just wanted to spend the last days relaxing and enjoying Cambridge again.

"Listen to me…" Ming said lying back on the bed next to her looking up at the same ceiling. "Do you know how many times over the years I sat with him and talked about you Van? I mean the man used me as his own little personal Evangeline memory book"

Evangeline frowned turning her face to look at her friend lying next to her. Ming kept looking up "He left without really knowing you. Once we became friends he asked me all kinds of things about you. What you liked, what made you cry, what you felt about him"

"What about his wife? I mean he was a newlywed…."
Ming looked at her friend and saw the pain on her face. Lifting on her elbows she looked over sighing "He wasn't horrible to Katie, he was actually honest with her. He told her from day one that he met and fell in love with you."

"Are you serious?" Evangeline gasped shocked
Ming nodded "Imagine that kind of honesty Van, the man you are marrying telling you that he can't give you his heart."

"How did she take it?"
"How would you take it? She wasn't exactly head over heels in love with him but she expected a fair shot. He told Sam several times that he was leaving her, that he was going to Princeton to find you and beg for your forgiveness. Yet his commitment to his family and legacy always won out in the end. And Caitlyn well can you blame her she was falling for him fast. Even a brooding John is a charismatic sexy John, within a year you would think the sun rose and set on the shoulders of Sir John Thomas McBain" Ming said shaking her hand sadly causing her long silky black mane to sway and rub against the bed.

"I know the feeling..." Evangeline said softly thinking of how she feels when he stares at her when he thinks she doesn't know, or the way his pet name of sunshine makes her stomach flip each time he says it.

"The man has walked in a fog for years and he considered coming to you over and over. He actually learned of a seminar BE was sponsoring in Texas for Land Developers. You were supposed to be a speaker."

Evangeline smiled "God that was 6 years ago."
"Exactly…."
Evangeline looked at Ming who kept staring ahead "You think I should give him another chance?"

Ming turned her head to her "I think you should give you another chance."
"And what does that mean?"

"I don't know much about your life now Van, but I know you aren't happy. I never revealed to John the things you shared about your childhood but I know how hard trust and faith in others is for you, which is why I was so angry when he lied to you. I think that man is a gem and what he feels for you is real. That kind of love is not easily found sweetie, don't cast it aside because you don't understand it."

Knock Knock

Evangeline and Ming looked toward the door. Sitting up on the bed Evangeline called for the person to enter. John walked into the room. "Ladies am I interrupting?"

"Yes.." Ming said getting off the bed saucily. "But I need to check in on that hubby of mine. Where is he?"

"Downstairs…" John said staring at Evangeline
Ming looked back at her friend "Think about what I said Van" she said winking and walking out.

Evangeline pulled her legs up on the bed underneath her and watched her friend exit as John closed the door. He stared at her silently then walked toward her. "Can we talk?"

Evangeline nodded.
"I was thinking, maybe we should go on a little adventure..."
"Adventure?"
"Overnight adventure into the village of Asira. I have a cottage very small but peaceful there."

Evangeline stared at him saying nothing. John ran his hands through his hair nervously.

"It would be different and there is a couple that has some horses nearby. We can do some riding."

He watched as she chewed on her bottom lip and he knew that she was deciding for what seemed like eternity. "A cottage hunh?"

"It's just an idea if you prefer we stay here with Ming and Sam that's fine. I was just thinking that since our time grows short we could do something different. Make a new memory"

Evangeline smiled "I like the sound of that. A new memory sounds great"
"So you will go?"
"Hey why not….what about Sam and Ming wouldn't it be rude to leave them behind?"
"This place is like a second home for them. Besides we'd only be gone for a day or two. We'd come back to spend the last night here before you leave to go home"

Evangeline heard how his voice trailed off at the mention of her going home. She saw his need to please her and tested it. "If I say no what then?"

"If you say no then we do what you want to do….name it. Anything"
"Dinner in Paris?"
John smiled "Wow….that was a good request and could be arranged"
Evangeline laughed "Its fine John I will go to the cottage with you"
John blinked surprise "You sure?"
"Yes…what time do we leave?"
"As soon as you can get packed" he said grinning.

John turned and rushed out and Evangeline couldn't help but get excited too. She didn't know what brought this on but she welcomed the change. It would be nice to spend sometime alone with him. Getting off the bed she went to pack her extra bag.

Buchanan Jet

"Kevin do you know where he's taken her?"
"No Lisa, but I'm sure we will find him soon, he's some kind of Prince or Earl or something"

Lisa shook her head "What on earth has gotten into my daughter!"
Kevin looked at Lisa and smiled "Evangeline's had it pretty rough Lisa go easy on her."
"I will not! She's your wife and she knows her place. I raised her better than this. Who is this man anyway?"

Kevin ground his teeth in anxiety "Some college boyfriend I think he went by John Thomas at Cambridge….did she tell you anything about him?"

Lisa thought about it for awhile. "Evangeline was in Cambridge for a month and she was pretty depressed when she came back from loosing that grant. She never mentioned a boyfriend. She was barely interested in boys."

Kevin cut his eyes. Evidently Lisa didn't know her daughter. Not only did she have a boyfriend but he was one of the wealthiest men in the world, giving her a $20 million dollar Faberge as a trinket.

Lisa saw Kevin staring out the window and her heart bled for him. She would smack some sense into her daughter for hurting this wonderful man. She just thank god he put up with her. Evangeline needed to know her place.

Cambridge England

John turned the knob and pushed the door open to the dark cottage. He went in familiar to where everything was and found the lamp near the sofa turning it on. Evangeline came in with her bag and closed the door behind her.

"This is so cute…"
John looked at her confused "Cute?"
"Yeah…I like it" she said dropping her bag and walking around. The kitchen and living room faced each other and there was a small dining table with chairs. To the far left was a chess set with Victorian style chairs on either side. She looked further and saw where the bedroom lay.

"Let me guess one bedroom?"

John looked over to the bedroom. "This sofa pulls out to a bed I can stay here"
Evangeline smiled. "Hmmm okay" picking up her bag she went into the bedroom and smiled at the simplicity of it. A far stretch from the castle. She dropped her bag and went to the queen sized bed with the patch black and white quilt spread on top. There was a dresser and a night table that had a lamp nothing else. Turning around she thought it was a quaint little get away and was surprised that he would keep something so simple on standby.

"Why do you have this place?" she asked walking back into the living room.

"Its property that I own that's all. I own and lease out 40 of the housing in Asira."
Evangeline nodded. She kept forgetting he was a real estate mogul, among other things.

He pulled out a bottle of wine from his bag "Want a drink?"
Evangeline smiled "Love one"
"Can you get the glasses for me out of the cabinet?"

Walking over to the tiny kitchen she went to the cabinet and pulled out some glasses. John uncorked the wine placing the bottle on the table. He then turned and went over to the large window to the side of the stone cottage and pushes it open. Looking over at her staring he smiled "I just thought it was nice outside and we could enjoy the night breeze."

Evangeline nodded and brought him the glasses. Taking a seat she accepted the one he poured for her. John poured his and sat in the chair across from her. They both drank in silence looking at each other.

"I'm surprised you came"
"I can tell, you've been acting awkward since we left"
"I just didn't expect you to be so agreeable after earlier"

Evangeline cocked her head "Earlier?"
"What you said in the servant's quarters"
"Oh"
"I just figured you wanted nothing to do with me…."
"John it's not that…."
"Hey I understand sunshine, you've been through a lot. I bloody damn well wouldn't give me the time of day"

Evangeline laughed "I love the way you talk do you know that?"
John smirked "You do?"
"It's the sexiest thing…"
John blushed and looked away. Evangeline shook her head and laughed "Hey we are being honest with each other we both know that we are attracted to each other." She said taking a drink of her wine.

"Well that's true but you've been pretty clear that attraction isn't enough"
Evangeline nodded swallowing "That's true its not, but it hangs in the air between us."
"It does"
"Why did you bring me here John?"
"I don't know I just thought I'd give you an opportunity to enjoy yourself on your terms."
Evangeline shook her head "I think you wanted to get me alone and ply me with wine to make love to me again."

John choked on his wine, coughing trying to catch his breath "First, I wouldn't dare use wine to make love you too. Second, I wouldn't necessarily choose this place for a seduction. Third and most important….thank you for calling it making love because that's exactly what it would be."

Evangeline rolled her eyes and drank her wine. John liked the jovial tone of their conversation but he had to address the root of their problems. He had to climb that wall around her heart.

"Evangeline…"
"Yes"
"Will you really go back to him?"
Evangeline lay into the sofa and drank more of her wine. Looking over at the chess set she smiled. "Let's play!"

"What?" John asked confused by her response.
Evangeline got up and went to the chess table and sat down. John looked at her and smiled. "Now you are talking!"

He went over and let her make the first move. They drank more wine and played for what seemed like hours. She told him about being a member of the chess club in Princeton and the captain of her team was her first crush. John asked if he was the lover she alluded too when they met and Evangeline laughed. "If that's what you want to call him."

John told her about his accident on the rowing team his senior year when the boat capsized and he hit his head. Evangeline was surprised to hear he was in a coma for a day. She couldn't imagine him being hurt and possibly taken from her. In that moment she realized she did want him more than she thought.

As the wine poured and the game progressed the laughter between them erupted into frequent giggles and outburst. Finally distracting him with the move of her knight she went for the kill "Check Mate!" she screamed jumping up knocking the table upward and almost tossing the pieces.

John laughed and told her he let her win and she told him he was a sore looser! He laughed and said he would give her this freebee and she grabbed her wine tossing it in his face. Surprised by the assault he gasped and she took off running. Jumping up he chased her around the sofa. Falling and working hard to stay away from him she begged for mercy. He wasn't having any of it. Leaping over the couch her grabbed her bringing her to the floor. She squealed and kicked underneath him but it made no difference.

He picked her up off the floor and tossed her over his shoulder taking her into the bedroom.

Going to the bathroom he kicked the door open and put her in the tiny shower.
"No! John….I'm sorry…I was playing please stop!"

Flashing her a devilish grin he held her under the shower head and flipped the knob bringing the cold water down on her. Jumping out to avoid getting wet he heard her scream from the water hitting her face and body.

She came out after him laughing dripping wet saying it wasn't over. They stood before each other wet from wine and water staring into each other face. Her smile faded as she thought about what life with him and with out him meant. He looked at her hair stuck to her face and shirt clinging tightly showing her nipples through her bra. Dropping his gaze he reached for a towel and passed it to her. "Here you go" he said and walked out.

She watched him leave a little disappointed that he didn't try anything. Drying her face and turning the water off in the shower she came out the bedroom to see him picking up the chess pieces. He looked up at her and smiled. "There are some extra blankets in the top drawer."

"You going to bed?" she asked disappointed
"Aren't you?"
She chewed her bottom lip. "Good night..." she said going back in the room closing the door. Leaning against it she closed her eyes. God she wanted him.

John got up from the floor and looked at the closed door. What he would give for an invitation. Sighing he went to the sofa and pulled out the bed. It was time sleep off the wine and the hard-on, nothing more would come of it tonight.