HEARTS DIVIDED: Meet the McBains
by tarskeewee08
Evangeline passed KJ his cookies and looked up at the sign indicating they were now on Abercorn Blvd. She saw the homes against the night sky which was clear, sparkling with stars. She had to admit she was excited about taking KJ to the beach for the first time.
John looked over to her. "Have you ever been to Atlantic City?"
She shook her head no. "I've been to Vegas with Kevin."
John frowned. "Atlantic City is much better has a lot more to offer than Vegas. I will make sure to take you to the The Quarter one night to some of the Latin clubs down there."
She smiled at him. "Thanks"
Turning on to Hwy 87 she looked out the
window at the hotels and resorts they passed. "Must have been
interesting growing up here."
"It was cool, having 12 brothers
and sisters helped."
Evangeline laughed "I can't imagine a
family that large! Tell me who they are so I can put faces with
names."
He smiled "Well let's see Peter is the oldest then there's Craig a teacher, Patrick own a restaurant on the boardwalk, Darlene a stay at home mom, Cassie a casino manager, Brian works at one of the casinos as a blackjack dealer, Stacy a stay at home mom, Art a truck driver, Henry a policeman, Me unemployed, Caitlyn a student and Michael a doctor."
Evangeline laughed
at the colorful way he described himself and his siblings. "So you
are somewhat the baby."
"I guess somewhat. Michael is the
baby and KJ is going to love him."
"I met him at the party he
and Marcie were really sweet."
"We will be going to my moms in
Brigantine first. I was thinking that we would stay at our beach
house." He said passing another car picking up speed.
Evangeline
nodded. "Okay, your family has a beach house?"
"Yep on St.
George's Bay"
Evangeline watched as he pulled off the exit and
passed through some narrow streets with block houses lined on each
side. Soon they were pulling up to a three story house with cars
lined outside of it. KJ was peeking up in his car seat curious as to
where they were.
"Looks like mom told everyone we were coming." He said smiling putting the car into park on the side of the street.
Evangeline turned and looked at KJ who had cookies crumbled around his face and fingers. She frowned looking for a baby wipe as John got out. He went around the other side and pulled open his car door getting his son out before Evangeline could clean him. She heard laughter and people calling to them and looked up to see the front door open and at least 7 people walk out smiling.
Evangeline opened her car door as John went to his brothers and sisters with KJ. They all surrounded KJ and he looked at them confused clinging to John. One of his sisters reached for him and he turned away. Evangeline smiled. Her baby wasn't used to this kind of attention.
Walking up behind John his two sisters Caitlyn and Stacy came to her.
"Good to see you again." Caitlyn said pulling her into a hug. She hugged her back and smiled. "Nice to see you again" she said bashfully.
"Wow you're really
pretty." Stacy said.
"Thank you"
The older brother who looked to be in his fifties came up. "Hi, I'm Peter." he said extending his hand.
Evangeline smiled and shook his hand. "Then everyone started coming over introducing themselves. She spoke to them all and they told her they had a big spread for them. It was already 8pm but they knew they'd be hungry. John turned and winked at her and went in the house toting their son.
She followed hearing Stacy talk about KJ's pacifier and ways to get him off it. Evangeline laughed. What was their thing with pacifiers in this family anyway?
Coming in the door she saw kids and several other family members all turning smiling. She swore it was close to 25 people in all. She'd never in her life been around a family this big. Wives and husbands hugged her. Babies were put in her arms. KJ was now in his grandfather's arms laughing as he tickled him. John was hugging Eve. She was overwhelmed by the amount of love and sharing within the McBain household.
She thought she'd seen family bonding with the Buchanan's but nothing could compare to this.
Monday night football was on and several men were in the den screaming at the TV. John winked at her taking the beer his mom had for him and walking in the back to watch the game.
Caitlyn pulled Evangeline's hand and took her to a bonus room where his two sisters Darlene and Cassie sat laughing and talking to Marcie. They all greeted her and asked that she sit down.
The bonus room was lined with the McBain children school portraits. Trophies from baseball, football, soccer gleamed on the top of the shelves next to diplomas in frames. She got up while the ladies talked and looked at John's picture at 6, 7, 10 and 12. She ran her hand over some of the baseball trophies with his name on it. She saw his prom picture where his hair was long like he was a member of Motley Crew and burst into laughter. Darlene came over and looked at the picture. "Isn't that a hoot!" she said smiling.
Evangeline put the picture back and then saw the wedding picture with him and Kelly her smile faded as she picked it up and studied Kelly's face. John was smiling widely and so was she. Her blonde hair cascading around her shoulders in her halter Cinderella like wedding gown. Darlene looked over her shoulder. "He loved her very much, would do anything for her. Her death really destroyed him."
Evangeline thought about Kelly and Spencer feeling her chest tighten with anxiety. It would kill him to know that she betrayed him. "I knew her" Evangeline said smiling.
Darlene
smiled "Really?"
"Yes, but I never met John. I attended
several charity functions she threw in Llanview."
Darlene
nodded. "She was good at those."
Eve came into the room.
"Evangeline can I fix you a plate sweetie"
Evangeline turned
and smiled. "I can do that Eve…."
"No, you stay here…."
Eve said smiling.
Just then KJ came running in being chased by his two year old cousin laughing. Darlene saw him and picked him up. She smiled into his face "You sure are a McBain, look at those eyes"
KJ looked at her confused as she ran her hands through his thick curls. Darlene pulled his pacifier from his mouth and Evangeline was sure he would cry or hit her, but he just stared at her with his wide eyes and fat cheeks. Her sister Cassie rose and came to him rubbing his cheek. "Wow he's gorgeous."
Darlene kissed him on the forehead and let him go. He looked up and held his hand out to her. She laughed and gave it back to him and he took off in the direction of his cousin after popping it back in. Evangeline observed very happy that her son would have a family like this. She was very happy that John had found them.
Darlene turned to her. "Well let's go eat."
Evangeline followed her into the kitchen where 6 women moved around at once reaching over each other, stopping and kidding with each other. She maneuvered through the cramp space and got a plate. Then she thought of John.
Turning she could see out of the window that gave a view of the den. She walked out of the kitchen into the den. The 8 men inside all looked up at her and she blushed. She looked at John "Do you want me to fix you something to eat?" he raised and eyebrow and smiled slyly at her "That would be nice."
She smiled back and went into the kitchen fixing her new husband his plate. Eve observed and Evangeline could tell she was pleased. KJ flew past her again and she resisted the urge to make him sit him down and stop all the running, but it seemed that every kid in the house was running.
Taking John his plate he winked at her and she smiled looking up at the TV and the game. The Eagles were playing and it was her favorite team. Finding a spot she sat down to the men's surprise. John watched her amused before returning to his plate.
"What's the down?"
Michael looks up and smiles "Second and seven on the Jets 35…"
"McMahon in?" she asked
"Yeah took McNab out with a knee injury." Michael said nodding.
"McMahon's going to pass"
John laughs "No he isn't, the Eagles run the ball on second down."
"Wanna bet! McMahon loves to pass on second down and if McCant's is in, he's going to pass and they're going to score" she said confidently.
"Come on, they're going to run the ball, the Jets defense sucks at the run on the second down" John says sucking his teeth.
"Watch and see McBain, watch and see.."
John puts down his beer and smiles "I didn't know you liked football."
She winks at him and then jumps up with his brothers screaming when he throws and the Eagles make a touchdown. John watches her laughing and clapping and a couple of the women come out to see them. John can't believe it on both counts and his brothers are all impressed. Evangeline put her hands on her hips and looked at him. "Told you so!" then turns and walks out.
His brother Art who is closet to him watches her leave and leans in. "Okay where did you find her?" John picks up his plastic fork to finish eating and watches her laughing with his sisters about how she chumped him. There eyes met and she flashed him a seductive smile. "Looks like we found each other" he said smiling back.
Art smiled "Damn, does she have a sister?"
Michael laughed "A
hot blonde with a chip on her shoulders."
John laughed too and
went back to the game.
After several hours Eve came into the family room with Evangeline and Caitlyn who were talking. Caitlyn wants to go to law school and was asking Evangeline for pointers. Eve smiled. "KJ's asleep in my bed. John is getting ready to leave. Is it possible he could stay here tonight?"
Evangeline looked at her shocked. KJ clung to his grandmother and grandfather most of the night but she'd never spent a night without her baby. NEVER. "Well…"
John walked in "Come on mommy…he will
be okay with Mom tonight. I swear."
Evangeline saw the heated
look in John's eyes and knew this was his little setup. She smiled
at him putting her on the spot with everyone waiting for her to
respond. "Okay but you call if he has any problems. Promise?"
Eve smiled "Of course!"
"You ready?" John
asked.
Evangeline stood up and hugged Caitlyn, then going to Eve and hugging her. Eve rubbed her back "He will be fine I promise"
She nodded and followed John out saying bye to everyone. John put his arm around her walking to their car. She felt exhilarated, meeting his family was the best time she had had in years. He opened her car door holding it for her. Before she got inside he grabbed her arm. She turned around and he moved into her space pinning her into the open car door. "You are a woman of many mysteries" he said now so close her breast touched his chest."
She smiled into his face. "You ain't see nothing yet." She said then climbing into the car.
John closed the door and saw it in her eyes. He would have her tonight. Going to the other side of the car he jumped in and pulled away. Everyone waiving bye to them as they drove off.
