It was just after 5am when Eva arrived back home. The intrusion of a fast approaching dawn pulled her from John's arms and steered her home to the family that she tolerated. The hours that she spent with John were magical. It took all of her strength to overcome his pleas to stay. When she didn't give in, he insisted that she allow him to drive her home. She was surprisingly well rested, so she declined. Now she was home again, and she was already counting the hours before she would see him again.
The idea of sleeping without him was less than appealing, so she headed to the kitchen to make some tea. If she was in the mood, she might even start on breakfast. There was the sound of soft singing when she approached the kitchen. From the doorway, she saw Layla, who looked dead on her feet, singing and feeding the baby.
"Need a break?" Eva chose to make an effort to mend the broken relationship with Layla. With all the chaos that had gone on, she hadn't once had a chance to hold the baby. There was no reason not to show her love and affection.
Layla looked at her skeptically for half a second. "Sure!" She waited until Eva was settled down in a chair before she passed the baby to her. "Thank you. I've gotten a little spoiled with help from mom. These early morning feedings are killing me."
Eva marveled at the sweet face of the little girl. The was something pure and innocent about children that she was jealous of. They were untainted by the ugliness of the world and loved by everyone. "She is beautiful." She rocked her gently as the baby started to fidget.
"I'm going to get some coffee started." Layla stretched and yawned as she walked over to the cabinets. She looked over occasionally to make sure Eva and the baby were both okay. The advice that John had given her previously was playing over and over in the back of her mind. Maybe now was the right time to try. Neither one of them would get into a heated argument with the baby around. "Vange, I can't do this."
Eva sighed. "Layla, it's just like other coffee machines. You use the grounds if you want to make a pot and you use the little pods if you just want a single cup." The baby was finally settled, so she couldn't pivot to give her more direction without disturbing her.
Layla gritted her teeth and started the machine. She smiled patiently remember John's advice again. The awkwardness that she felt trying to approach Eva put her on edge. The machine started and the unmistakable sound of coffee percolating filled the air. "I got it." She decided it was easier to feign ignorance than start a fight. She walked back over to the table and sat across from her sister. Seeing her daughter in her sister's arms brought tears to her eyes. "I actually was talking about whatever is between us." Layla looked at her nervously.
Eva nodded that she understood. "I'll admit that it's getting old for me too."
A warm feeling settled in Layla's chest. She saw the wide smile on her sister's face, and it caused her to smile. "You actually seem like you are in an exceptionally good mood. I'm not trying to pry, but is John the reason you have that satisfied smile on your face?" Talking about boys had been how the sisters bonded when they were younger, so she would try that approach again even though they were both more experienced than they had been before.
Eva couldn't hide the surprise on her face. "That obvious?"
"Mhm. I haven't seen that look on your face in…well ever. Must have been some night." Layla prodded her to go further. If Eva was in control of the conversation, Layla hoped that would keep her in a positive mood.
"It was…it was my first time." Eva was a little hesitant sharing such intimate details about her life, but there wasn't anyone else she could confide it. Her intent wasn't to use Layla. This was her honest attempt at bonding.
"Ah, so your first time with John? It's always an adventure when you're adjusting to a new person's needs. Where does he rank on your list of others?" Layla laughed softly. John was at the top of Evangeline's list the last time she asked.
"Not just John. Ever." Eva corrected her.
Her eyes grew wide with surprise. 'Maybe that's why she's been so uptight for so long,' she thought to herself. She wouldn't dare say that out loud. "Wow. Okay. I definitely wouldn't have called that."
"I don't want to sound like a prude, but I didn't want to just fall into bed with a guy that I really didn't know." Eva noted Layla's silence and grew nervous. "Between you and me, you picked the wrong one of my exes to sleep with." She laughed to convey that she was telling a joke.
"I guess I'm not going to need that coffee to help wake me up." Layla fanned at her face and laughed.
"John is amazing. Beyond amazing. He was sweet, gentle, loving. I can't imagine doing anything differently to make it better." Eva stared down at the sleeping face of her niece. "It was perfect. It's only been a month and I know it's crazy. I love him."
Eva's use of the 'l' word piqued Layla's interest. Evangeline had fallen hard for John before. Layla hoped that it wouldn't cause too much friction, but she didn't feel right staying silent. "Love is definitely a big deal."
"I know, but we love each other. Everything just feels so right. It's actually pretty scary." Eva shifted the baby onto her shoulder and patted her back gently.
"John said that he loves you?" Layla approached the topic carefully.
"He did and he gave me his mother's pearls. It was a complete surprise to me. I know you guys told me it was big deal for us in the past, but I don't think he's the same man anymore." The confused look on Layla's face was sort of amusing to her. "I know you all meant well, but you were wrong about what we meant to each other. It's just, for me, you all told me your version of the past…That was your truth. Just like a game of telephone."
Confusion turned into understanding and then acceptance. "I can't disagree with that. I wasn't in Llanview when you were together. You were a mess when I got there. I hated him for what he put you through. Somehow, you managed to forgive him and you two stayed friends. I always thought you were kidding yourself about your relationship with him, but you really didn't want to get into it with me. It took a long time for me to come around about John."
Eva was glad for Layla's honesty. "So, I've heard the family's version of why John and I didn't work out. I've heard John's version too. Do you have any other insight that maybe you didn't share before?" Eva knew there was more to it than anyone was saying, but that might have been the extent of their knowledge. Evangeline's diaries hadn't been as informative as she imagined.
"Actually, yes." Layla stood and moved through the kitchen to fix herself a cup of coffee. Eva was keeping her entertained, but her lack of sleep was starting to get the best of her. "Once, when you were in a more talkative mood, you told me that you broke up with John because he didn't love himself. That was supposedly the big eye opener for you, because it was just impossibly hard to keep building him up when he kept tearing himself down. I really didn't question you on it too much. John was not my favorite person, and by that time you were starting things up with Cris. I wanted you to be happy. I wasn't going to let any lingering feelings keep you from real happiness."
"That makes more sense than you can imagine." The John that Eva knew now was confident not cocky. He wasn't going to be the first person shouting about his own accomplishments, but he could accept praises that came his way. Watching John proudly accept praise for a job well done was a huge turn on for her. "Since you were honest about John. I think it's fair that I'm honest about you and your husband." Eva's eyes were trained on her as she returned to her seat.
Layla flinched slightly. Things had gone so well. She was sure that Eva was about to unleash her fangs like she often did. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this."
"You need to hear it anyway." Eva was moved by her honesty, but this was going to continue being an issue for them until everything was out in the open. "I don't actually have a problem with you other than your insistence that I start being Evangeline again. I think a lot of that stems from my feelings about your relationship with him." Eva didn't want to say his name. Not because she disliked him that much, but because the baby was present. She would not get in the habit of bad mouthing either of them with the child in the room.
"Something about him scares me. On some subconscious level, it always has." The rhythmic sound of Layla's nails tapping the side of the mug made her choose her next words carefully. "I actually brought it up with one of my counselors. He told me that it's most likely a negative response to your relationship. I don't know enough to be upset, but somehow Evangeline is aware on some level. So, my brain takes negative things that I do know about him and justifies those feelings. I remember about him being gone and then being different when he came back to Llanview. I think my brain is holding that against him now."
The hot coffee perked Layla right up. It was that or Eva's candid admission. "Or it could be anger because we got close when we were waiting for you to wake up. He was always by your side…by my side. The breakup between you was still raw, and I know he had regrets about how he reacted to your relationship with Todd Manning. A lot of time passed, and he moved on. We moved on together. Both of us feel guilty, but we were already in love. If we ever had any clue that our relationship would be so damaging to you, we would have done our best to stay apart."
For all Eva knew, either theory could be correct. She still didn't like how he was willing to show explosive anger around his own young child, but he wasn't the man that she loved. "Please don't even hint that I was ever interested in that…that horrible man." Cris scared her, but Todd was a whole different nightmare. His interest in her was sickening instead of comforting. Her family didn't have anything good to say about him, and she believed every word they said.
"Well, if I'm being all honest, I shouldn't stop without a better explanation of your relationship with Todd." Layla sighed internally that they were still speaking after her revelation about Cris. "He is a very selfish and cruel man when it comes to dealing with people that aren't his close friends or family. He's just a very rich child in an adult's body. I could go on for hours about all the terrible things he's done, but I'm sure you've heard it all. Despite that, you two were very good friends. Most of the terrible things that he did were before you got to Llanview or after you went into a coma. You really didn't get to see the monster that he became."
"I know who is now, though. For the life of me, I can't understand what she…I ever would see in him." Eva felt herself growing nervous. She rocked the baby to make sure her anxious energy wasn't about to ruin her peaceful slumber.
Layla hated to say anything positive about Todd Manning, but she realized this was more than just about her. It hadn't done Eva any good when she and the family tried to paint their picture of her life. There was still no guarantee that she would ever come back. If there was any hope, it was going to have to come from truthful and objective facts about Evangeline's past. "You had many suitors that never had a chance, so take this information with a grain of salt. I once tried to hook you up with this psychiatrist named Phil Jamison. It didn't work out. We were still kind of friendly, so I asked him from a medical standpoint about your interest in Todd."
Eva rolled her eyes and laughed at the absurdity. "Somehow, I barely know you and that sounds just about right."
Layla laughed and smiled. "Yeah, mhm. Well, he said that it's because you were his lawyer during that craziness with Margaret Cochran. Quick version in case you don't remember, she kidnapped him and forced him to impregnate her. Later she and the child were found deceased. You believed Todd when no one else did. You didn't win the trial and he was sentenced to death. You put your career on the line protecting him. He did technically get executed, but he was revived."
"And this is the quick version?" Eva was starting to miss that cup of tea that she planned on making when she'd first come to the kitchen.
"It's all important so bear with me. Want me to get some tea for you?" Layla saw her eyeing her mug and put the pieces together. She was already up before Eva could nod her head. She went to the task of making tea while filling in the last bits of the story. "Todd was revived but he had already lost his life. His wife moved on and things were strained with his kids. Phil thinks you blamed yourself for that because you lost. You also saw him in a light that no one else did, so that also colored your view of him."
Layla picked out the tea that she knew Eva wouldn't complain about. "All of that mixed with the occasional turmoil between you and Cris pushed you two together. There was this gigantic void in his life and you starting to fill that more and more for him. Phil thinks you why you two ended up getting so close. He was lonely. You felt guilty."
Eva eagerly handed the baby off to her mother, who was hopefully more adept at handling hot liquids near fidgeting babies. "Thanks." She blew into the mug to cool the tea. "For the tea and the story." Eva still didn't feel any better about Todd. He was just a horrible person on all accounts. A few good deeds couldn't wash away the atrocities that he committed. "Just so we're clear, if things don't work out with John, don't try to hook me up with another shrink. I'm sure he was a nice guy, but the thought of someone analyzing every detail of your life is just too bizarre."
They laughed together. It was the first joyful, casual laughter that they'd shard in years. It felt good for both of them to talk without anger getting in the way. They chatted further as they finished their beverages. Lisa had been watching from a distance completely out of sight. The sound of laughter filled her heart with joy, but she was rooted to the spot unable join in on the conversation.
Several hours later, she found herself in the same predicament, but in a different spot. John and his family made an unexpected appearance around midday. Lisa was slightly annoyed that she would have to share her girls with others, but she couldn't ignore the change she saw in Eva. After opening presents, Lisa, Cris, Layla, and Evangeline were hanging out in the living room. Everyone was laughing and carrying on, but Eva was off to the side by herself as usual. She toyed with a pearl necklace that she surmised John had given and only joined in the conversation temporarily when someone directed a question at her. Lisa could see that her heart was longing to be somewhere else and with someone else. Guilt gnawed at her that she had again stolen away her daughter's happiness.
The sound of approaching laughter pulled her from her thoughts. A very cheery John McBain stepped into the kitchen holding an empty popcorn bowl. She smiled at him politely. It was time to clear the air. "John, you are just in time. I'm just finishing my caramel sauce for the caramel popcorn."
The cheery smile that John was wearing shifted into a more neutral expression. Lisa was probably the last person he wanted to talk to today. Forgive and forget had long been his motto, but he couldn't let go of the anger that he felt toward her. It was starting to border on hatred.
"Since you're here, I was actually hoping that we could talk." Lisa met his neutral stare with one of her own.
"There's nothing for us to talk about." John set the bowl down on the counter and went to the fridge to grab a water. The cool air from the fridge did nothing for his blood that was nearly boiling.
Lisa watched him move casually through the kitchen. He seemed just as at home as she did. It was hard to believe that he'd broken though Eva's tough exterior in just a few months. She'd been trying for years and felt that they were slowly growing further apart. "I think it's time that I set things right."
The bottle in John's hand made a loud sound as he squeezed it out of reflex. He suppressed his incredulous laughter but looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "I think it's a little late for that. No, I know it's too late for that."
"This is my decision to make," Lisa snapped unintentionally. Anger, disappointment, and jealously were clouding her better judgement. She was forced to watch as her daughter smiled and laughed with the man that broke her heart, all while the mother that loved her was treated as an inconvenience.
"How can you be this selfish?" John walked around the counter and spoke to her in a harsh whisper. "You see how happy she is, right? She's getting along with Layla. Things have never been better for her at work. We are happy together. Now, you want to come in here and blow everything up…and for what?"
Lisa slammed her spatula down on the counter and glared at him. "An inconvenient truth is still a truth. I will not let my baby continue to suffer." She went to work mixing the caramel into the popcorn. She needed something to do with her hands.
John looked up at the ceiling to contain the tears that burned his eyes. "I have nothing to lose. If I'm telling you this is a bad idea, you should be listening to me."
The sickly-sweet smell of the popcorn was actually nauseating to Lisa and it showed on her face. She poured it into the bowl and pushed it toward John. "This is my decision!"
"It has always been your decision," John countered. "You chose to keep your mouth shut for all this time and now this guilt is eating away at you. Tough! Evangeline is happy and I won't let you take that from her. You wanted it this way. Deal with it." John glared back at her. He couldn't believe her audacity. She couldn't be back in Maryland fast enough for his taste.
"What's the it and why are we dealing with it?" Eva appeared suddenly behind John. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Lisa looked flustered and she could feel how tense John was.
John quickly switched off his anger. He grabbed the bowl of popcorn and held it away from him. "This popcorn smells like a sugar bomb. I think your mom's caramel sauce was a little off." He looked at Lisa expectantly. He wasn't asking her to play his game. He was telling her.
"John's right. I shouldn't have poured so much in there. It's just going to be a sticky mess." Lisa smiled and untied her apron. She was able to lie quickly and it didn't make her feel good.
"Don't listen to John. He just doesn't know what he's missing out on." Eva grabbed some of the still warm and sticky treat and tossed it into her mouth. "Tastes perfect to me. You can never have too much sugar."
"We'll see what your sister says. You know she's a picky eater." Lisa grabbed the bowl and headed out of the kitchen. She was hoping that Eva had overheard more than just the tail end of their conversation. The time alone with John would hopefully drive her to inquire for more details.
Eva nibbled on his ear and kissed his neck playfully. She laced her fingers between his and tugged on his hand gently. John picked up on her subtle hints and allowed himself to be pulled away. The hallway from the kitchen to her bedroom didn't go past the living room, so they would be able to get away without being noticed.
John stepped into the room behind her and locked the door while her back was turned. He spun her around and kissed her while scooping her up into his arms. The bed was in the center of the room and he walked her over to it. Laying her down gently, he parted her legs with his knee so he could settle himself between them. He wanted her to feel how much he missed her. Her submission pushed him further. He kissed her hungrily and pulled at the hem of her t-shirt.
His cool hand on her warm skin brought her back to reality. She pushed at his shoulders while moaning through the kiss. "John, wait, wait." Her voice came out breathless.
"It's not nice of you to tease me." He placed slow kisses down the side of her throat.
"Teasing is one thing. Having sex with our families in the next couple of rooms over is another." She didn't want to stop him, but she was afraid that he would really want to go the distance if she didn't.
"I just figure it's par for the course." He slowed down his fury of kisses only to catch his breath.
"Don't think you're going to turn you into some kinky little freak just because I don't remember how things were between us before." She pushed at him again and he rolled of her with a peal of laughter. She slapped his arm to silence him. "What is so funny?"
He grabbed her by the back of the head and pulled her in for a quick kiss. "I don't plan on turning you into anything. I'm just trying to spark a memory," he whispered against her lips.
"Yeah right, John." She pushed him away and shook her head. The doubtful look on his face gave her pause.
He grabbed at her waist and tried to pull her on top of him, but she resisted. She slid off the bed and walked to the closet."
"If you make up a bunch of bull, you're just going to have to grovel when I find out the truth." She pulled out a wrapped present and walked back to the bed.
John sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. This time when he pulled at her she didn't resist him. She settled down between his legs and he wrapped his arms around her. "Our first time was in a stranger's basement." He whispered in her ear. "There were also a couple of times on the roof of the building where I was living. Once, in the elevate of an upscale hotel. A coat closet at community Christmas party. In your office. In my car." John nibbled at her earlobe. "On my car. That was probably my favorite time. All of those were your idea. I will admit that I was a very willing participant."
Eva felt a warm rush all over. "Why on earth would you go along with any of that?" Eva felt slightly aroused, but profoundly embarrassed. She didn't know Evangeline at all.
"A beautiful woman looks me in the eyes with a heart full of desire or puts her hand on my thigh and tells me that she needs me right now. It was already too late for me." He moved a few loosed hairs out of the way and kissed her neck.
She leaned back against him and let out a soft sigh. The feeling of his lips curling into a smile against her neck broke her concentration. "I got this present for you," she blurted out suddenly. She moved from in between his legs and sat beside him. The hold he had on her was almost more than she could bear.
John smiled that she was still so nervous. It only made him want her more. "I'm hoping that it's lingerie to pair with the gift you gave me earlier." He pulled at the wrapping paper carefully as not to make a mess.
Eva didn't respond. She was still working hard to catch her breath and steady her heartbeat. If she couldn't calm herself down, there was no way she was going to be able to go back out there and face the crowd that had surely noticed they were missing. Then she watched with excitement as he pulled the lid off the gift box.
The desire he felt for her only intensified as his gift was revealed to him. Inside the box was an Eagle's football that was identical to the one she'd given him years before. It was too painful to carry that memory with him, so he'd left the ball in storage at his mother's house along with any other thing that reminded him of her. There was also a silver sharpie in the box and a pair of tickets. "The Seahawks?" He saw the logo on the back of the stub.
She grabbed the tickets and flipped them over. "The Eagles versus the Seahawks. I figure we need to get out there and cheer like a couple of real fans if we want the Eagles to start the season off right." The thought of being in a crowded stadium of crazy football fans was extremely enticing to her. The thought hadn't occurred to her until John started hanging around. "Do you like it?"
He leaned in and kissed her softly. "I love it. I love you. Thank you." He kissed her again but didn't let his desire overwhelm her. "I swear that I will never let anyone take you from me. Never again." John pulled her down onto the bed and held her from behind.
John's reaction to her simple gift caught her off guard. The uncertainty that she felt about his feelings towards her versus Evangeline faded away. He was right here with her, and they were madly in love with each other.
Eva snuggled against his chest and pulled his arm around her waist. She knew it was bad manners to ignore her guests, but she didn't care. Everything she ever wanted or needed was right here in his arms.
Another long day was over, and Eva was again walking around with a giddy grin on her face. Her midafternoon break with John gave her the strength she needed to make it through the rest of the Christmas get together. He held her in his arms as they laughed and joked about silly things. Just before someone came looking them, they had planned to meet again secretly for another late-night rendezvous. The subterfuge only heightened her anticipation.
She had started cleaning to distract herself and pass the time, so he hadn't noticed her silent observer. Out of the corner of the eye, she saw a shadow. Startled, she turned and was greeted with the apologetic smile of Cristian Vega.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. I was just doing some sketching." He turned the pad and revealed a rough sketch of her cleaning.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" She tried to stabilize her racing heart. It was clear from the progress of the sketch that he had been watching her for quite some time.
"I didn't think you'd mind." Cris flipped the book shut. He was hoping that Eva would show him some of the kindness that she'd showed to others. It was clear that she still hadn't forgiven him for what she deemed to be a horrible transgression.
She shrugged and shook her head. It didn't seem out of line to expect what she considered privacy in her own home. "You didn't think I'd mind you secretly drawing pictures of me to do who knows what with. Aren't you supposed to be with my sister? Do you think she'd be okay with this?"
"You know what? Just forget it." Cris ripped up the photo dramatically. "I'll just stay out of your way from now on."
Eva watched him carefully as he started off back towards the guest bedroom. His temper was exactly what put her on edge. She could almost breath a sigh of relief, but he turned suddenly and walked toward her. Instinctively, she took steps back to maintain the distance between them.
Cris could see her flight or fight response engaging. It killed him inside that she truly disliked him. "Even after all this time, you still hate me? What have I ever done to you?" He stuffed folded his arms behind his back with the hope that would relax her.
"I don't want to do this." Eva was already considering her options to keep him away from her if needed. She didn't think he would attack her with the family right down the hall, but he was violently unpredictable at times.
"All I ever did was love you. Not like John, who lied to you…to Natalie. He was perfectly happy to leave me rotting in jail. If it wasn't for you, I'd still be there or worse off dead." Cris tried pleading to the woman that he used to know. It still hadn't clicked that she wasn't there to hear him.
"I don't want to do this with you." Eva raised her voice. That was her warning to him. If he didn't back off now, things would not turn out well.
"Eva, please." He took a step towards her with his arm extended.
"Hey, Cris, Layla was looking for you." Lisa called out to him as she walked into the room.
"Really? Thanks." Cris turned and excused himself quickly. He hoped that Lisa hadn't overheard their conversation, but he knew he probably wasn't that lucky. He wasn't intending for a harmless little sketch to cause so much drama. If he didn't go and do some damage control now, Layla would be pissed at him as well. She would at least hear him out and let him explain himself.
Eva relaxed as soon as he was out of sight. She walked over to the sofa and sat down. They were only going to be there for one more day. Somehow, she would manage to endure them without her own explosive outburst.
Lisa walked around the sofa and sat down next to Eva. "You have to forgive him, Eva. I don't think he meant any harm." Lisa tried to put her arm around Eva, but she moved away from her.
"No, I don't," she said incredulously. "He was way out of line. I don't care if he's Layla's husband. I am entitled to my emotions." Eva took a breath and tried to calm herself down. "Cristian and Layla are happily married with the sweetest little baby. Their relationship has nothing to do with me. Cristian has nothing to do with me."
"You're right, baby. I'm sorry." Lisa leaned back against the sofa cushions. This conversation was already off to a bad start. John's insistence on her silence was starting to make more and more sense. She needed to hear the truth, but definitely not from her.
"I didn't mean to snap at you. Cris puts me on edge, and I don't know why. It's best for everyone if we keep our distance." Eva explained herself further. Things had only recently started to deteriorate with Lisa. They had gotten along well enough in the past, so she wanted to ease the tension if she could.
Lisa looked over at her hopefully. Eva had never been quick to make apologies. "I he's just vocalizing what Layla and I have been feeling. You've gotten close to John what seems like suddenly, and all of a sudden things have been more strained than ever with us.
Eva shifted on the sofa so that she could look at her. "You can note a correlation, but the deterioration of my relationship with the family has nothing to do with John. It's the continual insistence that I devote my entire being to becoming Evangeline Williamson."
"Eva, that's not true." Lisa was hurt that she felt that way. Of course, she wanted her daughter back. She was also glad that her daughter had survived another violent attack.
"It's true and it's so deeply-rooted in our relationship that you don't even know that you're doing it. I challenge you to look back through the last few months of text messages and find one conversation where you don't mention me getting back into therapy or trying some new alternative medicine treatment." Eva wasn't intending on being confrontational, but she had the proof to back up her argument. She knew Lisa wouldn't stop the conversation to check, but later, when she was alone, she would.
Lisa didn't doubt that for the most part, Eva's statement was accurate. She missed Eva desperately. Layla had always been the one she worried about, but now the roles were reversed. Layla was just fine. It was Evangeline who was far from home and living a life at a distance from the family.
Lisa was still silent, so Eva continued. "If that wasn't bad enough, I have to deal with the feeling of being used."
"That's just not true." Lisa wouldn't let that statement slide. "You are my daughter. I would never use you."
Eva's smile was forced. "You've been trying to control me. You don't just want Evangeline back. You want her back in the way that you envisioned and not the way that she really was." Lisa shook her head no, and Eva slowly nodded her head yes. "It's why you got so worked up when I cut my hair a while ago."
Lisa stuttered. "Your hair is one of your best features. I was just surprised that you'd made such a dramatic change. You must have agreed because you grew it back out." She was buying time to refute her other accusations. Eva claimed that she wasn't Evangeline, but she was grilling her like she'd done so many people during litigation.
"Have you ever thought about why Evangeline moved to Llanview in the first place? If she was really dedicated to becoming a supreme court justice or president, there were much more direct ways of trying to achieve those goals. It was her ex, the lawyer, that told me how big of a mistake she'd made. To me, it was obvious that she wasn't really interested in those things. But, if you asked any of the family, it was all she cared about; her soul purpose for living." Eva couldn't let up now. If things were going to get better between them, they needed to know exactly what it was that set her off.
"The focus was on high profile cases and connections. She was blazing her own trail. I didn't have to understand, but she never told me that she was going to be pursuing any other interests. Dennis was just speaking out of turn. He's a wonderful young man, but I don't think he ever got over Evangeline." Lisa puffed out her chest proudly. This was the same rehearsed speech that she'd given to others that questioned Evangeline's future.
Eva just shook her head no. "The choices in her personal life didn't help her political ambitions. Dennis said they ended her political career before it even started."
"Eva," Lisa tried to interrupt.
"I don't know what her plans were, but I don't think you did either." Eva wouldn't go into lots of detail about things that weren't important now.
Lisa relented. "Well, you might just be right about that." Lisa smiled despite her sadness. "I was so used to pushing Cookie toward the path of excellence. When you woke up without her memories, I guess I just fell back into old habits." Lisa knew it was time to stop arguing. For years, she was just set in her ways and it had already driven Layla away. Evangeline was the mediator that kept their relationship from completely disintegrating. With Eva, there was no one that could fulfill that role. It was past time for her to grow and change as a mother. "I just love you girls so much. I miss Evangeline dearly, but that doesn't mean I don't love you. I have always loved you. I will always love you. Yes, I know I'm overbearing, but please bear with me"
"Only if you do the same for me. Mom, I am Evangeline. I'm just figuring out exactly what that means." Eva had decided that she would no longer hide behind the name of her alter ego.
"Did you just call me mom?" Lisa clasped her hand over her nose and mouth. "You've never called me mom before."
"Let's just call this a Christmas miracle." Eva reached over and pulled her into a hug. "I love you, okay. Just love me too."
"Of course, of course." Lisa savored the moment. She'd hugged Eva plenty of times, but she'd never returned the affection. This magic moment was what she'd been waiting years for. She cried tears of joy and tears of dread. She was keeping a terrible secret and sooner or later the truth would be revealed.