HEARTS DIVIDED: Reclaiming Love

by tarskeewee08

"John it's been 6 weeks. When are you going to face for your family? You can't hide out at that beach house forever."

"Mom, I just came over here to eat. I don't want to talk about them."
"I called her.."
"You did what?"
"I called her last week and John she was relieved I did. She wants to see you."
"No!"

Eve looks at her son. He hasn't shaved since he arrived. His hair has grown longer and untamed. He's been out drinking at his brother Art's house nightly according to his wife Cheryl. He was slipping away just like he did with Kelly. But this time he had too much to loose. She wouldn't let him go down this path. She wouldn't let him destroy what she knew deep inside was so important to him.

"Baby…" Walking over to her son who was sitting at her kitchen table broken she ran her hands through his hair. Kissing the top of his head she pulled him to her and he wrapped his arms around her waist laying his head on her lower abdomen. "She loves you John I could hear it in how she asked about you. KJ needs a father."

"I contacted my attorney in Llanview she should have received the annulment papers yesterday!" he said his voice cracking. Lifting his head and blinking away his tears,

Eve gasped shocked. She'd spoken to Evangeline several days ago. Oh god so now he would end the marriage without fighting for it.

"John! You said you needed time to think and space. You said you were going to go back and get your family!" Eve said in horror bringing her hand to her mouth.

"I honestly thought I could, but I'm scared mom. Kelly betrayed me in the most painful way. I can't do this anymore. I can't take it. I love Evangeline and KJ too much to split them up so I won't fight her for custody I just hope I can see him some. I called the agency I will be going back to the Bureau next week."

"John baby no….don't do this!"

John got up from the table. "I'm going back to the beach house mom. I'll come back for dinner tonight…." He said desperate to escape the pain in his mothers face and voice. He had already made his decision and if he stayed right now he would cave.

He wanted the woman who his heart bled for, the woman he wanted more than life and the son he loved more than he loved himself, he wanted his family. Eve chased after her son who ran out of the house. She was desperate to help him but she couldn't reach him now.

The Beach house

Evangeline parked out front. KJ was singing along with her in the car and stopped to look at the house that looked vaguely familiar. She'd gotten the annulment papers with him relinquishing his rights to KJ and that was the final straw.

For weeks she has cried and ached for her man. She wondered where he went and when Eve called to tell her he was okay she let go a sigh of relief. Antonio told her he spoke to him before he left and he said he was coming back and that he loved her. She waited and waited but no word for him. After speaking to Eve she started getting things ready in Llanview with Jessica's help. She was going to bring him home.

But before she finalized things she got annulment papers and it almost killed her. She wasn't a big driver but she rented a car and through her baby inside. She would fight for them. He'd helped her let go of the past, now he was trapped in it. It was up to her to let go.

Stepping out the car she went to KJ's side and opened the door. He asked about his daddy constantly. One day he came to her as she sat on the veranda crying and gave her his pacifier. She wiped her tears sure that he just wanted to give her something to comfort her. She play sucked it and tried to hand it back to him. He shook his head no and went across the room to play in one of the plants. He hasn't touched it since.

It was his silent protest. He figured if he gave it up his daddy would come home. At least that's how she interpreted it. Pulling him from his car seat she lowered him to the ground.

"It's time to get daddy" she said confidently.

Walking up the porch she checked under the mailbox where Eve said the spare key would be. Finding it she let herself in. She was almost immediately assaulted by the stale smell of spoiled garbage and beer bottles. Walking in she looked at the ransacked mess that made and her heart ached. Her poor baby. KJ held her hand and looked around to not sure what to do. She smiled "Daddy must not be home. Let's clean up for him."

She went and got the garbage with KJ following and dragged it out to the side of the house mindful of her baby every step of the way. Getting garbage bags KJ helped pick up the empty beer bottles and she colleted the dishes left everywhere with half eaten food.

Loading the dishwasher and wiping down everything she made the place sparkle within 30 minutes and KJ didn't get away from her too much. Going to the car she got their bags and placed them by the door. Opening the blinds she let light into the house. Looking down at her watch she wondered how long he would be.

"Let's go to the beach!" she said smiling at KJ
He smiled up at her and she took his hand leading him out the back.

John pulled up to the beach house. Seeing the parked car he frowned. Which brother or sister was here now to try to talk some sense into him? Letting the car idle he contemplated pulling off. He just couldn't do it today. He was too exhausted from his own pain. He missed his boy. He wondered if he missed him.

Shutting off the car he sighed. "Fuck this! I will just go to sleep."

Walking up he saw the blinds opened and knew it had to be one of his sisters. She probably flipped when she saw the condition of the place. Walking in he was hit with the fresh smell of pinesol and the sounds of the dishwasher going.

He smiled, it had to be Cassie, she was just like mom and she was the only one that would clean up after his funky butt. Darlene and Caitlyn would force him to clean it up himself.

Closing the door his heart leaped to his throat. He saw Louis Vutton bags and KJ's little suitcase he dragged around. John looked at it frozen. They can't be here. She wouldn't come here after getting what she wanted. Or would she?

Letting go of the door he called out to her "Evangeline!" hearing nothing he raced up the stairs checking the rooms and saw no trace of her. Coming back downstairs he immediately went to the deck and stepped outside. He saw KJ running down the beach in a red short set with no shoes with Evangeline in hot pursuit. Her hair blowing in the wind and her jeans cuffed to her calves she got his hand and walked him to the shore then ran back with him when the water came rushing to them squealing with her son.

They looked happy and full of life. He couldn't believe they were here. Walking down the wooden steps to the sand he blocked his eyes with his hand as he stared at them. Evangeline looked up and saw him. She stood there for a moment smiling. KJ saw she wasn't running with him and turned to look in the direction his mom did. He saw John and screamed "Daaaddhheeee!" Taking off in the sand to him. John rushed to him and caught him as he leaped at him. KJ hugged his neck tightly and John inhaled the sweet smell of Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo in his silky curly hair.

Kissing his cheek he closed his eyes and rubbed his son's back. The last time he saw him he was kicking and screaming as he roughly snatched him from his little bed where he slept and tried to take him from her. He played that scene over and over in his head, his guilt over that and the horrible things he said to her kept him away.

Evangeline walked up. She smiled at him sweetly. "Hey"
John looked at her shocked. "What are you guys doing here?"
"KJ wanted his daddy, and you know I always give our son what he wants."
John smiled at her. "Evangeline…" he started lowering his son who ran in circles around them. Evangeline moved to him and touched his scruffy face "I missed you"
"I missed you too…" he said weakly
"Then why would you send those heartbreaking papers to me?"
John swallowed hard, his hands shook from nervousness. "I thought it's what you wanted."

Evangeline frowned. "John, all I want is you. I'm in love with you."
"You are?" he said stunned.
"I am" she said pulling his face to hers and kissing him softly on the lips. She felt his hands encircle her as his strong tongue slipped into her mouth. He kissed her in the way that made her float and she let her eyes roll as she finally had him back in her arms.

KJ shouted and tried to push them apart. They laughed and John bent down picking him up. He looked at Evangeline "I'm sorry for what I did to you and KJ"

"I'm sorry for keeping that information about Kelly from you."
"I know you didn't I found I Jessica's note." He said quickly.
She touched his face "I knew John, not the sordid details but I knew and I should have told you. We should have told each other."

John smiled "Yes we should have."

Taking his hand she led him back to the beach house. They walked in silence and Evangeline kept searching his face. He looked so tired and lost. She knew that look she wore it for two years. Kelly betrayal had wounded him. It had robbed him of his faith in marriage and commitment. She would have to work hard to help him get it back.

Walking into the house John put KJ down who took off to the living room. "I want you to take KJ to your mom's and come back here to me."

He looked at her surprised. "You do?"

"We need to talk. We need to get back on track. There are some things I want to tell you. Some things you need to know."

John looked into her dark brown eyes and saw her love for him. "Okay" he said walking out of the kitchen into the living room to collect their son. She went to KJ and kissed him. John stared at KJ and froze.

Evangeline looked at him. "What's wrong?"
"Where's his pacifier?"
She smiled and rubbed her son's back while he was in his dad's arms. "He threw it away. He figured if he did his dad would come back."
John laughed and looked at his son "Did you throw your binky away?"
KJ nodded with his serious face his blue eyes sparkling with his innocence and John hugged him tighter. "You are one remarkable kid KJ."

KJ gave his dad a kiss and then laid his head on his shoulder. He was so happy to be in John's arms again. Evangeline waved from the porch and watched them leave. She turned around entering the house and grabbed her suitcase, she raced upstairs to give him part one of his surprise.

A hour later

John pulled back up to the beach house. His mom was so excited to see her grandson she burst into tears. KJ squirmed under her kisses and pushed her away running into the den to join his granddad. Eve hugged her son and told him to take all the time he needed with Evangeline until they worked it all out. He laughed at how she pushed him out the door.

Getting out the car he felt his scraggly face and saw his stained sweat pants. Why did he have to look like a bum today of all days. Racing up the porch steps he entered into the house to the soft smell of scented vanilla candles and Najee playing in the background.

Evangeline came down the stairs in a long lavender satin robe with a satin form fitting nightgown that dipped dangerously low revealing the breast he loved so much. The lavender colored gown had two splits up the front reaching her hips on either side and as her long strong legs moved underneath the splits parted revealing her caramel colored thighs. John looked up at her with her hair falling around her face and was trapped in the passionate stare she gave him back.

"What's all this?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.
She smiled and came to him. "Come with me"

Taking him upstairs to the bath she ran for him in the antique claw foot porcelain tub she remained silent. Helping him out of his clothes she had him step inside. He eased into the warm water and let the heat and steam relax him. She took off her robe and he saw how much more her nightgown revealed of her goddess like body and eyed her appreciatively. She winked at him and hung the robe on the door then went to the sink to get a small bowl with water and a towel. She came back and put a gel bath pillow behind his head forcing him to recline back. "Why are you doing this?" he asked softly.

"Because you're my husband, and it's time you were treated as such." Getting the shaving cream she worked it onto his lower face and neck. Wiping her hands on the towel she picked up the straight edge razor with the sterling silver handle that she brought with her for this treatment and dipped it into the warm water in the bowl. Starting and the base of his neck she slowly slide the razor upward carrying the cream and his lost hairs with it. Cleaning the blade in the bowl she continued.

John felt her do the clean shave and had no idea she knew how. He couldn't believe she was doing this for him and he wanted to say so but instead allowed her to pamper him.

"John, My husband was a cruel man. I know that now. I've learned some things about him since you left that are unforgivable."

"Okay…" John said softly.

"But baby that's who he was. It wasn't who I was and I know that too. I know who I am and what type of man I want to share my life with. The man I want to be the father of my kids"

"Kids?"

She smiled. "I want you to let go of your pain over Kelly's betrayal. Love the part of her you knew and forgive her for the parts you didn't."

John looked upward as she continued to shave him. "I want to Van…" he said when she rinsed the blade. "I really do."

"Good, because where we're going there are no Ghost allowed. This is our new beginning. God works in wondrous glorious ways. If Kelly hadn't cheated on you and had you deposit that sperm, and if my husband hadn't lied to me and died the way he did we wouldn't have KJ. And John that special little boy was supposed to be here. We were supposed to be together. Who cares about the strange highway we took to get here!"

John felt his eyes glisten and the soft sound of her voice drove each word home. "You're right baby."

She kissed his forehead and finished his shave taking extra special care around his goatee. Once done she put everything away and then bathed him with her fruity smelling soap He protested at first but she wouldn't change her mind. Finishing him off she had him step out and dried him then put his thick blue terry cloth robe on him.

He wrapped his arms around her pulling her to him. The soft fabric on her body melted in his hands and he rubbed them around her apple shaped behind. She kissed him and smiled devilishly. "I got a surprise for you."

"This wasn't it?" he asked shocked.

"Nope!" Taking his hand she led him out the bathroom down the hall back down the stairs. Seating him at the sofa she went into the kitchen. He watched her hair swaying against her bare back as she left. The back of the nightgown dipped to the rise of her hips and he watched the seductive way she glided out of the room. He couldn't help but feel like the luckiest man in the world to be loved by her.

She reappeared with a champagne glass and bottle. Putting the glass down she struggled trying to pop the cork. He took it from her and popped it for her. She laughed and poured him some in his glass. He frowned at her "Where's your glass?"

She handed him his and told him to drink up. Watching her curious he turned up the champagne flute and felt something hit his lip like an ice cube. Holding the glass up to the light he saw a crystal pacifier at the bottom of the glass with tiny bubbles fizzing upward from around it. His mouth dropped open and he looked at her.

She took his hand and put it on her stomach. "You're going to be a daddy again!" she said with tears in her eyes.

John shook his head. "What? Are you sure?"
"I found out the same day you served me with papers."
John was so stunned he couldn't speak. Evangeline took the glass from his hand and put it on the table. Coming to him she sat in his lap. "Tell me you're happy."
"I'm happy" he stammered.
She laughed. "Good" and then leaned in and kissed him. "So am I!"