Bride and Prejudice: An uninvited guest

by tarskeewee08

5 Months Later

Evangeline stood out on the veranda watching the landscaping crew setting up the floral arrangements. The wedding was in 3 weeks and they needed to get everything planted and tied down for her big day. She was so excited she barely could contain herself. After the bit media frenzy of her engagement and scandal in Ireland she got a call from her mother. She decided to allow Lisa back into her life and she expected Layla and Ming early next week.

"Madam, you have a visitor in the parlor" Gladys the live in maid said coming up silently behind her.

Evangeline turned around frowning, John was in London attending to business. He started a non profit agency to help place orphaned children with deserving families. The company was in its second month and John was more than excited about his progress.

Over the past five months major renovations were ongoing through out the castle. Finally the entire place was wired with electricity and she had decorated 15 of the 45 rooms personally. Removing the old paintings and sending them to Ireland she hung up artwork more to her likings turning their castle into their Palace. She rarely had visitors but with the wedding there was always some crisis from her wedding planner so she figured it was her.

"A visitor hunh?" she asked walking off the veranda and heading to the parlor.

Evangeline came down the corridor and turned into the room. Standing in front of her looking at the vase on her antique Maplewood table was the one person she never expected to find in their home.

"What are you doing here?" she asked shocked
"I came to see how you were getting along playing mistress of my family home."
"Get out!" Evangeline snapped marching in prepared to drag her out by the hair.

"Wait!" Eve said stopping her. "I'm sorry that came out wrong"
"Get out!" she said again glaring at her.
"Look, we need to talk. Here me out and then I'll go. I've traveled quite a distance to have this conversation with you."

Evangeline looked her up and down. Since the whole scandal she and John made a considerable effort to stay far from Eve McBain. When she found out about the renovations she tried to pull the deed to the castle. John immediately paid Thomas the actual true blood McBain, for ownership. Evangeline contributed some of her millions from her divorce settlement to make the purchase a joint one. Since then they have been living comfortably off his investments outside of the McBain fortune. They owed Eve McBain nothing.

"You have 10 minutes and not a minute longer" Evangeline said folding her arms
Eve looked her up and down "I was surprised when you had my families portraits and furnishings shipped back to Ireland."

"Do you really want to waste your 10 minutes on this Eve?" she said nastily

Eve went to the leather chair in the room and sat down crossing her legs and holding on to her purse "Could you please sit, standing over me like this is very unsettling."

Evangeline smirked "Always a stickler for appearances. Fine, if it means you leave sooner then I will gladly oblige" she said taking a seat.

"First let me apologize to you Evangeline, all he way back to our first meeting. I treated you horribly and I feel badly about that"

Evangeline sat back in her chair amused. Eve wanted something and she would have to wait her out to discover what. Eve saw the distrusting look Evangeline was giving her and swallowed hard. She told Thomas she could do this. She really thought she could, but it was so hard.

"Look dear, I want to repair my relationship with my son. He refuses my calls and all my letters are returned. I need your help."

Evangeline rolled her eyes "Didn't you try to evict us not to long ago?"
"That was a mistake…"
"No it was a failure. See Eve everything you've done to destroy us backfired. Now you sit there hoping to weasel your way back in to stir the pot all over again. No thank you!"

Eve shook her head sadly "I have been a horrible mother, and I have little to be proud of but the love of my children is real."

"Doesn't matter….John wants nothing to do with you and I support that 100" Evangeline said smiling at Eve.

Eve sighed "I deserve that. I know I do"
"You deserve to be tossed out on your rear!"
"Evangeline please…"
"Please what Eve? You expect me to extend you the courtesy you wouldn't extend me. Why? Simply because you ask? I love him with all my heart Eve, I love him so much sometimes I get weak at the thought of him. I live for us both and I will never let you and your poisonous ways hurt him again."

"He's my son dammit!" she snapped
"And you think that gives you the right to wipe your feet on him don't you!"
"No…Evangeline, god no I really do love him"

"I don't believe you and your 10 minutes are up! Get out of her or I will have one of the gardeners throw you out!"

Eve flinched "He was born on a Tuesday. It was raining outside and pretty warm for March. I remember crying on the way to the hospital afraid that I would be a terrible mother. Funny I guess I knew even then"

Evangeline stared at her confused by this little reflection but seeing some strange evidence of sincerity on her face. She decided to let her have her say.

She looked up at Evangeline smiling "When the doctors put him in my arms and he looked up at me with those beautiful topaz blue eyes, I fell hopelessly in love. He was so tiny only 5 pounds. But he was strong even then. He held my finger tightly and swear that in that moment we formed a bond that could never be broken. I loved him ways I didn't know possible."

"Then why didn't you show it!" Evangeline asked

"I didn't know how….I still don't. All I know is that I love him and I can't live with him hating me. The more I push the more he clings to you and all of this." she says gesturing around them "Why is that?"

Evangeline shook her head at Eve "He's in love Eve? Even now you don't get that."
Eve dropped her gaze "I tried to be a good mother, but it always came out in the ways I controlled and protected him. Both my boys needed love and all I gave them were instructions and orders. I just…"

"Eve, I can't help you….I feel like you are only here because everything else has failed. That doesn't mean you've learned a damn thing or better yet that you won't hurt him again. I won't let you hurt him Eve."

"Who are you to decide what's best for him?" she asked turning up her nose.
"The woman that can do what you failed so miserably at, love him for him."
"Now wait a minute!"
"No you wait a minute. John is a remarkable man and I have to believe that in some small way you had something to do with that. But he is also very trusting when it comes to you, which makes you dangerous in my opinion"

"You don't have to protect him from me."
"I think I do"
"Dammit Evangeline he's my son! I love him and I want him to know it!"

Evangeline stared at her for a long moment "What do you want form me Eve? You could have very well made this speech to John"

"I want you to invite me to your wedding. If I make a public appearance he will see my sincerity. Please.."

Evangeline laughed "Are you kidding me? The wedding that you detest you want to appear at? For the whole world to see?"

Eve smiled "And if you know me as well as you claim you do, you know that I am really trying here Evangeline."

Evangeline sat down and sighed "I can't just spring you on him on my wedding day. I want him focused on us and our love….not your surprise appearance. That day is ours not yours Eve!"

Eve nodded "I understand, could you please ask him. Find out if he wants me to come. If he doesn't I won't trouble you two again."

"I will think about it"
Eve rose clutching her purse "Thank you dear, that's more than I would have done for you. I do know that I misjudged you but there aren't enough apologies that I can offer to atone for that."

Evangeline rose again looking at her "I won't make you any promises Eve, but I can appreciate how desperate you must be to ask. I will give it more thought."

Eve nodded and walked out. Evangeline stood in the Parlor hugging herself. John would be flying home tonight and she had to decide what to do about this.

Later that night

"I want you to come as soon as possible Nora, I can't get everything prepared without you here, plus you have been promising to come to Europe since I left." Evangeline said sitting on her bed with her reading glasses on going through her planner making sure she has covered everything for the wedding.

"Oh I'm coming sweetie, and I am bringing my new boyfriend with me."

Evangeline couldn't believe she left Bo, of course she divorced Kevin but Bo and Nora were really soul mates. "I can't wait to meet him!"
"Well I love you and can't wait to see that dress!"
"I love you too sweetie call me when you get your flight booked" Evangeline said looking up to see John coming in through their bedroom door carrying his bag with him.
"Sure will, tell John hi!"
Evangeline got up smiling "Will do! Bye" she said hanging up the phone and going to him. He leaned over and gave her a sweet kiss. She smiled and then he snatched her up in his arms giving her a more passionate one. She leaped up into his arms wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Wow!" he said as she rained kisses all over his face.
"I have missed you so much!" she said forcing her tongue into his mouth.
He held onto her walking her to the bed kissing her back. Falling on top of her squealed as the pen she left on top of her planner stuck her in the buyt. John got off her as she pulled it free and they both laughed

"I was only gone for two days Van"
"So what!" she said pouting "Are you saying you weren't going crazy without me!"
"I was going insane with out you sunshine" he said burying his face into her neck.
She moaned under him feeling him trying to get her out of her clothes. "John…we need to talk first" she said softly

"No talking…about anything that doesn't' involve what I'm about to do to you" he breathed into her ear.

"No John we really need to talk" she said pushing him away.
John looked at her confused. Rolling off of her he fell onto his back and blew out a frustrated breath "What is it? The florist? The caterers? No wait it's the string quartet this time"

Evangeline frowned and lifted herself up on her elbows "No its your mother smart ass!"

John looked at her shocked "What!"
"You heard me Eve McBain…she came by today"
"By here?"
"Yes here…"

John sat up on the bed "Why was she here?" he asked angrily
Evangeline sat up and rubbed his back "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine why was she here!" he snapped

"She wanted to talk about you"
John looked at her surprised "What about me?"
"John she misses you and wants to know if she can attend our wedding"
"No way!" he yelled getting off the bed and pacing the floor.

"John she's making an effort."
"Why do you care?" he asked looking at her angrily
"Because I know that even now you still do" Evangeline said rising from the bed. "Because I know what its like to be disappointed in a mother you love. And I know that you can't turn those feeling off John."

John looked at her "I don't want anything to do with her Van, she's just trying to insert herself in our lives. She just wants to destroy our happiness."

"Do you really think she has that power sweetie" she said touching his face. "Do you? Because she only has the power we give her. By inviting her to our wedding we move on and you have the opportunity to make sure that you gave her the chance to move on with us."

"Do you know what kind of media attention she will attract? Do you really want to turn our wedding day into that kind of circus?"

Evangeline smiled "I want my husband happy and whole. If that means his wicked mean ole mama has to come to my wedding then so be it."

John laughed and pulled her in his arms. "You are amazing do you know that?"
"I do now" she said kissing him.

He walked her back to the bed. "What are you doing Mr. McBain?" Evangeline said giggling.

"Making up for lost time" he said picking her up and throwing her on the bed.
She laughed and tried to get away as he swan dove on top of her pinning her down.

"I love you John" she said giggling.

"I love you to sunshine…" he said smiling.