Bride and Prejudice: The Wedding Gift
by tarskeewee08
It was the night before the wedding and the Fitzgerald Castle was a buzz with activity. Evangeline had prepared a large celebratory dinner for everyone to toast tomorrow's big day. Layla and Lisa were in attendance and worked hard to be civil to each other. Ming and Sam had the twins who immediately bonded with Mathew. The joy of kids roaming and exploring the castle was something that Evangeline couldn't wait to experience with John. Nora flew in with her young hot boyfriend Hugh Hughes and Evangeline was stunned at the pairing. But after watching the way he doted on her she was overcome with happiness for her. If Bo could get him a young tenderoni so could she. Across from sat Michael and Marcie. Marcie was feeding little Chelsea who was getting chunkier every day.
Evangeline contacted Thomas and asked that he bring Eve. John under some coaxing and soothing caresses finally relented. She knew that Eve was not to be trusted but she also knew how much he loved her and she didn't want him to have any regrets with his mother. Sitting at the table with her soon to be husband at the head of the table grinning and telling stories of how he fell in love with her she looked across the room and saw Eve's cold stare. It saddened her that even now trying to blend into a family she never envisioned she remained distant and unable to connect. John stood up to make his toast and Evangeline turned her attention back to her handsome Prince.
Standing in a black turtleneck and slacks his goatee freshly shaven for tomorrows event he looked like some Viking king as his blue eyes shimmered with love and gazed down at his bride to be.
"First I want to thank you all for coming to my last dinner as a free man!" he said grinning.
Everyone laughed and Evangeline narrowed her eyes on him. John looked at her and wink "I'm playing baby. But I am happy that we have finally arrived at this point in our love for each other, the point where we can be proud of who and what we are. The point where we can stand before our friends and family sharing what we already know to be true. That loving each other is just the beginning, being good to each other and supporting each other is our journey. I have loved you from the moment you walked into that Pub and changed my life. I will love you until I take my last breath. So will you all raise your glasses and toast the best thing that has ever happened to me, my sunshine."
Evangeline let tears fall and rose from her seat going to him. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply as everyone said cheers and clapped. Evangeline let go of him and wiped at her face she was so choked up she didn't think she would be able to give her toast. He leaned into her and she rested the side of her face against his.
Looking across the long dinning table she saw everyone smiling happily for her. Picking up her champagne flute she turned to John who sat back down.
"How
do I follow that up?" she said laughing
"Girl that man is so
in love with you does it matter!" Ming blurted out and everyone
laughed.
"Yes Ming it does matter" Evangeline said turning back to John "Because his love for me is equaled by the overwhelming amount of passion and desire I have for him. I met you a scared shy 20 year old girl in a strange country being led by my spit fire girlfriend." She said looking over at Ming winking.
"I had no idea who you were, and even when you brought me here I had no idea how my life would change. Now all these years later I have everything I've ever wanted and it's because of your love that I will soon have a lot more. See its time for me to give you your wedding gift sweetie."
John looked at her confused and everyone stared at Evangeline. She lowered her still full champagne glass that she'd been nursing all night. Going over to him she put his hand on her tummy "Soon you will have another little prince or princess running around this castle"
John's mouth dropped open and looked at her shocked and Eve gasped loudly. Everyone turned and looked at her. She couldn't hide her dismay and got up from the table. "Excuse me" she said running out of the dining room.
Evangeline saw her go but John didn't acknowledge her he kept staring at her. "Well aren't you going to say something?" she asked confused by the fact he hadn't spoke.
He pulled her to him and pressed his face to her tummy as he wrapped his arms around her hips holding tightly. Evangeline ran her hands through his hair and knew that he was terrified of loosing another child. Lisa decided to break the tension and began to clap. Everyone at the table clapped as well and John held onto her tightly unwilling to let go.
"Well this is wonderful sis! I can't wait to be an auntie!" Layla said smiling
Evangeline looked at her and smiled but kept waiting for her prince to speak. Finally letting her go with tears in his eyes he looked up at her. "I couldn't be more happy about this sunshine, I am the luckiest man in the world." He said smiling weakly.
Evangeline saw the fear in his eyes and cupped his face in her hands. "Listen to me. I'm fine and so is our baby, we will be our own family now. You are going to be a wonderful father!"
Leaning down she kissed him softly as the rest of the family clinked their glasses and she felt his anxiety slipping away. Letting him go she turned to her guest. "Now I suggest you all get plenty of sleep tonight because we start at 5 am."
Sam and Mike shook their heads no and others smiled. Thomas McBain excused himself and everyone knew it was to see about Eve. Evangeline went back to her seat next to John and squeezed his hand.
"You are going to be a father!" Mike said coming
down the table and hitting his brother on the shoulder.
John
smiled "I sure am" he said holding Evangeline's hand
tighter.
"Well take it from me you don't want twins!" Ming
said.
Evangeline smiled "Cheers to that Ming!"
Nora
smiled at her friend "Evangeline you sure do know how to keep a
secret"
Evangeline laughed "I've had practice."
Lisa
blushed "Well I'm happy for you baby" she said raising her
glass to her again.
"Thanks mom"
John still remained
mostly silent and it troubled Evangeline, she looked over at her and
she saw his eyes still glistening with tears. Rubbing her thumb
across the top of his hand that she held she prayed he would have
faith in them now. His fears of parenthood were ones they would
overcome together.
Thomas walked into the study and saw his wife pouring herself a glass of brandy. He watched as her hands shook while holding the decanter.
"Eve…"
"Not
now Tom" she said drinking the potent liquid letting it warm her
cold heart.
"Eve you promised"
Turning she looked at her
husband angrily. "And I'm trying, but their having a baby" she
said letting tears fall.
Thomas nodded "And he's terrified Eve, after all he's been through he's terrified. Just like you were when you had him remember? Remember how you cried all through the delivery thinking you would fail him."
She shook her
head and swallowed some more "I did fail him Tom"
"Well now
is your chance to correct that. You know why he's scared, you can
help him Eve, if you do you can help yourself."
Thomas went to his wife and pulled her in his arms. "Stop holding onto your bitterness and reach out to your son. Don't let him become the person that you have."
Eve hugged her husband and cried into his chest. She was scared of loosing him and confused as to why she couldn't reach him. She wanted to get passed it but she had to face truths about herself and her life that she's been running from for years.
"I'll try" she said still holding Thomas. He rubbed her back and smiled "I knew you would."
Later that night
John eased out of bed unable to sleep. Looking back at her she lay there sleeping like an angel, Pulling the covers back he covered her and she stirred slightly but remained sleep. Sighing he fought the sadness and joy in his heart. He was going to be a father. What if something happened? What if he lost her like he did with Caitlyn? God he couldn't live through that again. Slipping his feet into his slippers he went and got the robe off his chaise chair and pulled it on. He would get a snack or some warm milk, anything to help him sleep.
Walking out of the room he went down the dark corridor in a solemn mood. He had so much going on inside his head and heart was pounding. Pulling his robe closed tighter he shivered. Even though it was April and a pretty warm spring day the castle still remained cool at night. Walking down the stairs to go to the kitchen he saw a soft light pouring from out of the study. John frowned knowing it was almost 2 in the morning. Going toward the study he stepped through surprised to see his mother sitting there staring into space and drinking from a brandy glass.
She looked up at him shocked then smiled "Hello son"
John put both his hands in the pockets in his robe and stared at
her. Eve saw the look on his face and sighed "Can you join me
son…we need to talk"
John walked over to the bar and poured himself a glass of brandy. Taking as seat across from his mother he watched her distrustfully wondering what she would pull now. Eve saw his animosity and smiled slightly "I really have messed things up with us haven't I?"
"I didn't want you here. Evangeline persuaded me" he said dryly swirling the amber colored liquor in his brandy glass.
"I figured as much since
you didn't exactly welcome me with open arms when I arrived."
"Why are you down here sitting by yourself?" he
asked
"Waiting for you…"
"Me?" John said confused.
He didn't agree to meet with her. How did she even know he would be
up?
She saw his surprise and smiled again "I know my son, that wedding present of your fiancé is making it hard for you to sleep"
John cut his eyes away "I love her, and I will
love our child."
Eve nodded "Of course you will but you are
still so afraid aren't you?"
"No..." he said drinking his
brandy
"Son, I was there when Caitlyn and the baby died. I held you through the night remember?"
"Why are you bringing that up!" he shouted. "Do you wish death on her and my baby? Are you that sick!" he screamed
Eve saw his anger flare up and looked at him surprised "Oh god John no….calm down."
John glared at her "You do! You think I will destroy her. That I will kill my baby maybe even kill her" he said his voice cracking under his rage.
Eve knew that he was shouting out his own fears and it broke her heart. Her constant interference has scarred him deeply. Thomas was right, she had to fix this and make her precious boy whole again. "Johnny…..sweetie"
John squeezed his eyes shut and tried to settle his racing heart. If he messed this up, if he lost her and this baby it would kill him. He knew it was irrational to keep playing his fears over and over in his head but he wanted this so bad. He wanted it too much, he was so close to having it all. The panic in him made his chest tighten and he struggled to regain control.
Eve put her glass down and went to her son. She took the brandy glass from his hand and knelt in front of him holding his hands in hers. He kept his eyes closed and she smiled up at her handsome boy. He was seven years old crying behind stage begging her not to force him to go on. She didn't see his cry for help then but she saw it now, in this moment she was his mother.
"Listen to me son, I know you have lost a lot. I know that the pain of loosing a child and the woman that carried your baby is something beyond belief. But I believe the lord has a divine order of things."
John opened his eyes and looked at his mother "The lord?"
"Yes, he was preparing you for today, for this moment. Every tear you cried and every pain you felt was all leading you to this moment. Now he has in his infinite wisdom shown you favor. He's giving you the life and family you were destined to have. It's time to let go of the fear of the unknown. Because if you don't you will miss all the precious moments to come for you and Evangeline…"
John smiled at her "You called her by
her name"
Eve smiled "And it's about time. She's about to
be my daughter!"
John shook his head "Why are you saying this
to me now mum?"
"Oh sweetie I should have told you this the day you brought that special young woman into my home. But I was so racked with jealousy. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her that she was the one for you. I knew that you weren't my little boy anymore, you were a man about to embark on your own destiny and that terrified me!" she said reaching up and touching his face
Her words soothed him and he couldn't believe she was being a mother to him after all these years. "Mum, I needed you to be there….I needed you"
Eve pulled him to her and held him while kneeling in front of him on her knees. John hugged her and cried for all the missed moments between them. He longed for her to just love him and see him for more than just her heir. Having her tell him that she did finally gave him the courage to believe he could be a parent and husband. The one that his sunshine deserved.
Evangeline came around the corner pulling the belt to her robe tighter. She peeked in and saw them holding each other crying. She couldn't help but smile. She'd hoped that this baby would bring them together and to see it unfolding before her eyes made her giddy with joy. Turning she left to go back to her room giving them the privacy that this intimate moment required.
Eve let him go. "Now no more of this." She said wiping his tears. "Tomorrow is your big day and I want to see that grin you wore at the table earlier. John smiled for her and Eve burst into laughter "John Thomas McBain, she was right, you are a remarkable man!"
"I'm my mother's son" he said kissing her forehead.
Eve giggled to have his love back. She was so full of love now and she felt the cobwebs over her heart blow away. Life was pumping through her veins and she couldn't wait to experience it. Next she would make amends with Michael and then both her daughters. These women are doing for her sons what she couldn't. She was eternally grateful for that.
John helped her up from the floor and hugged her again. He then walked her out of the study holding her around her waist as she held him. He couldn't wait for his new life to begin; having his mother apart of it completed him.
Evangeline opened her eyes to see John walk back into the room. Pulling herself up on her elbows she saw him smile to find her awake.
"What are you doing up sunshine?" he asked taking off his robe and coming to bed in just his pajama pants.
"Waiting on you….where were you?" she
asked
"Downstairs talking with mum"
She felt him come in
closer to her and she scooted back toward the warmth of his embrace.
"Everything okay?"
"Better than okay, everything is
perfect."
"Good" she said sighing and closing her eyes.
"I want you to know that I am so happy about your pregnancy. I
hope you realize that."
"I do John…."
He rolled her to
her back and she opened her eyes looking up at him smiling "I can't
believe we are going to be parents."
"I can…this was no
accident you know. My god I don't know why it didn't happen
sooner with your insatiable appetite."
John smiled
mischievously "And guess what I'm hungry for now?"
"Nope!"
she said pushing him away
He looked at her surprised "What is
something wrong with the baby?"
She shook her head and her long
tresses fell across her face "I'm saving myself for my wedding
night!"
John burst into laughter and pushed her back to the bed "Too late for that one sunshine!" he said climbing on top of her. She laughed and held him. He was right they were way past that now.
