HEARTS DIVIDED: Road Trip

by tarskeewee08

John came through the door carrying the blanket and picnic basket. Closing the door he heard singing coming out of the family room and stopped. KJ's laughter and the angelic singing kept going. Intrigued he went to the kitchen area and saw Carlotta. She smiled at him.

"I can take those for you Mr. McBain."
"Thank you Carlotta" he said turning in the direction of the singing.

Carlotta smiled "KJ loves for his mother to sing. She sings all kinds of songs to him but for some reason that's his favorite."
John smiled. "She can sing?"
Carlotta winked at him. "Like an Angel"

There's a hero…If you look inside your heart…You don't have to be afraid…Of what you are…There's an answer…If you reach into your soul…And the sorrow that you know…Will melt away...

John came around the corner to see the back of Evangeline as she held their sons tiny hands and swayed. KJ looked up at her moving side to side grinning at his momma and John listened to the most beautiful voice he'd ever heard.

And then a hero comes along…With the strength to carry on….And you cast your fears aside…And you know you can survive…So when you feel like hope is gone…Look inside you and be strong….And you'll finally see the truth….That a hero lies in you.

KJ bursts into laughter and Evangeline bent down and picked him up turning around singing she saw John and stopped.

"Don't stop because of me."

She blushed and kissed KJ on the cheek putting him down. He whines for her to pick him back up and John walks into the room. "See he doesn't want you to stop mommy. Sing some more for us."

She smiled lightly. "I only sing to him."

John puts on a pout going to KJ and picking him up. "That's not fair KJ, can you convince her to sing for daddy?" KJ looks at him and tries to put his pacifier in his mouth. Evangeline laughs. "That's what you get for asking for some this morning"

John smiles and looks at her. "I need you to pack his things and yours we will be leaving within 2 hours. I'm going to have Duke take me to get a rental car."

Evangeline blinks. "What?"
"No questions, just pack enough clothes for a week or two." He said handing their son back to her. Kissing her on the cheek he touches her face. "Non-negotiable." Then he turns and walks out.

Evangeline watches him leave confused. She looks at KJ who has the same expression on his face. "Wonder where he's taking us?"

Walking out the room she calls for Carlotta. She felt bad for the way she treated him in the stables. She was certain he would force her to hold to their agreement. When he let her go she was extremely grateful. He didn't deserve her pushing at him like this but she needed things to slow down some. Now he wanted to leave her comfort zone and that was a frightening thought. Carlotta came down the corridor and Evangeline handed her KJ.

"Watch him please I have to pack our things."
"Pack?"
"Yes….John's taking us on a trip. Can you tell Antonio so he won't be worried about us."
Carlotta nodded and stepped back. Evangeline headed to her room still curious as to where he wanted to take her ad somewhat excited.

2 Hours Later

John carries the bags out to the rental car and Duke comes up. "Sir, I can get those."
"No!" he snaps pushing past him.
Evangeline comes out the door to see him loading the car and pushing Duke away. She shakes her head while holding KJ on her hip.

"Duke can you get his car seat and put it in the car?" she asked
"I already did that" John said then looking at Duke. "Thank you but I will make sure my family is okay."

Duke tipped his hat "Of course sir" he said walking away.
Evangeline came down. "John he was just trying to help."
John looked up and smiled. "We don't need his help. You ready."

"Where are we going?" she asked looking at the Lincoln Town car he rented. "Are we driving or flying?"
John smiled at her and pulled KJ from her arms. "Get him plenty of toys to keep him occupied. It's a road trip."

She frowned "Road trip?"
John opened the car door and put KJ in his car seat ignoring her questions.
Evangeline turned almost running into Carlotta. "Sorry Carlotta"
"No problem. Here's his bag with two sippie cups of juice and snacks. And here are some toys."

She smiled at her. "Thank you"
"Have fun."

John closed the door and smiled. Walking over Evangeline's door he opened it. "Your chariot awaits my dear."

Smiling she went and got inside the car. John winked at Carlotta. "I've left my cell number in case you need to reach us."

Carlotta nodded. "Okay, be safe"
Getting in the car he sat down on the plush leather seat and started it pulling away. Evangeline looked back at Carlotta waving bye then at John. "So can you tell me now where we are going?"

John looked at her and smiled "You must have been an awful kid at Christmas time."
She smiled "The Christmas's I did have were never too exciting anyway. But no I'm not real big on surprises."

"Well you will know soon enough"

Evangeline looked out the window as John drove finding a radio station to listen to. He saw how her profile as she stared out the window and felt the tension still between them over what almost happened in the barn.

"Van, I wasn't trying to take advantage of you earlier."
She looked at him. "I never said you did"
"I want you to know that it wasn't the wine either. I've wanted you for quite some time."
She smiled weakly. "I'm sorry I led you to believe I was ready."

John kept driving processing what she just said. "You are ready. You're just scared."
Evangeline turned and looked at KJ who was riding silent. His blue eyes fixed on her and he smiled still holding to his pacifier with his teeth. She blew him a kiss. "John I may be scared or confused but the point still remains that I'm not ready."

"Let me ask you a question. What do you need to feel whole again?"
'I don't know…"
"Not good enough. You're a brilliant attorney I know you can answer this question. Now take a minute and think, what do you need to feel whole Van?"

She looked at him and he looked at her seriously. The question was a valid one and truth be told she never answered because hiding behind her pain was her comfort zone.

"I guess I need resolution with my past"
"Before or after Kevin?"
"After I was fine before Kevin.."
"I find that had to believe"
"I beg your pardon…"
"The only person in this town that paints your husband as a saint is you. You have to know that."

Evangeline became angry. "Drop it!" she snapped.
"No, let's not. Who exactly was Kevin Buchanan and how did he win your heart?"
"He was a kind man?"

John looked at her seeing she was lying and that she knew she was. "What made him kind? Was he a humanitarian?"

She shot him another angry look "That's enough!"

KJ burst into tears and she turned to see her outburst had upset her son. Undoing her seatbelt she reached around to him and touched his face. "Mommy sorry" He looked at her and stretched his arms signaling he wanted out. She knew that his 10 minute ride time had elapsed. Turning she went into the bag that Carlotta fixed and passed him his cup. Taking it his eyes dropped sleepily and he started to drink. Then holding his cup to his chest he turned his head and drifted toward sleep.

John looked in the rearview mirror at him. "Is he okay?"
Turning back around and putting on her seatbelt she said nothing.
He looked at her and saw that she was still mad at him. "Okay I'm sorry"
"Just let it go…"
"No, we're adults we can talk even if its difficult topics"
She looked at him. "Kevin was a complicated man, but he was capable of great kindness. I knew a different side of him. One that he didn't show everyone and he loved me!"

John saw her eyes glistening with tears. "I don't doubt he loved you but I think that your past left you missing the comfort of family. The Buchanan's are a tight knit family to become part of that must have been comforting to you."

"Don't analyze me!"
John shook his head looking at the road. She looked at him and thought about the lie he lived. He may not know the sordid details but his wife was no paragon of virtue.

"What about you!"
"What about me?" he asked looking at her.
"Well you were an agent when you married right?"
"I was."
"Then you must have spent many nights away from home leaving your bride alone."

John looked at the challenging look on her face. What was she implying? "I was gone a lot before she got pregnant, but we relocated afterwards and my hours stabilized, I was by her side up until…." His voice cracked.

Evangeline saw his hands tighten on the steering wheel and felt bad for taunting him. Who was she to play with the truth about his wife? She wished she'd never discovered that Kelly was having an affair. She didn't want to know those things. And god why would she have one with Spencer Truman of all people?

"John, I'm sorry…I.."
He looked at her "It's okay, it was a valid question. Kelly put up with a lot in the first year of our marriage."

Evangeline looked at the road. "Amazing you lived in Llanview and we never met"
John smiled "Well I was gone quite a bit and when I came home she couldn't get me to leave the house."
Evangeline smiled "I can imagine"
"Kelly was a patient woman, I miss her I do but I know she would want me to be happy, just as Kevin would want that for you. I only asked what would make you whole because I think you're looking at this wrong."

Evangeline frowned "Looking at what wrong?"

"Your grief. You think its Kevin that you miss. Although I know you love your husband deeply and would want him back in a second, I think what you miss is the connection and feeling of belonging that he gave you. He was very protective of you wasn't he?" John asked studying her face. He remembered what Antonio told him about her. Kevin loved the idea of possessing her. His possessiveness must have fed into her desperate need for family and love of her own.

Evangeline bit her lip. "What you saying I transfer my neediness for a family and sense of belonging to you?" she asked bitterly.

"Of course not, I'm suggesting that you stop dwelling on what you've lost through the years and focus on what's in front of you. KJ who adores you and is a part of you and me a man that wants to give you a new start."

Letting go of the steering wheel he extended his hand to her. She looked at him and his hand. Smiling weakly she took hold of it and blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.

He spoke softly. "I'm lucky to have a woman like you in my life Evangeline, don't think I don't know that. I won't give up on what's blossoming between us. I just ask that you give in a little at a time to it."

She nodded "I'll try"

"Now do you want to know where we are going?"
She looked at him and smiled still holding his hand. "Desperately!"
He laughed. "Atlantic City, where I grew up. I'm going to show you and KJ my life and the new family that you have."

Evangeline's face brightened. "Thank you John"
"You're welcome."

Angela Whitley House
Jessica watched the door open to revealing the woman she spoke to on the phone. "Ms. Whitley? I'm Jessica Buchanan, can I come in?"

The older black lady with graying tightly twirled curls framing her face smiled sweetly "Yes please come in…."

Jessica walked inside looking around. The house smelled of fresh baked bread and collard greens. Pictures of her family lined the fireplace and sat on the end tables. She walked over to the beige sofa with a diamond shaped large multicolored crotched blanket thrown over the top half.

Angela smiled at her "Are you hungry baby? I just fixed my supper."
"No mam, I hope this isn't an intrusion."

Angela waved her hand. "Of course not, I understand how upset you must be. I am so sorry for what has happened to your sister in-law."

Jessica frowned "How do you know it's about Evangeline."
Angela let loose a soft laugh "Sweetie everyone in this town knows you Buchanan's and the poor dear's face has been plastered over every station."

Jessica nodded. "Can you help us? Can you tell me everything you know about Spencer Truman?"

Angela's face darkened. "He's a nasty man, and may the lord forgive me for not exposing him for the monster he is."