MAN OF SORROWS
CHAPTER 42
It was more than Christine could have ever asked for. They spent a glorious week at the Pension Cosmos in Lake Kawaguchiko in Kawaguchiko Town, Japan.
Erik knew how much she enjoyed the autumn leaves and there was no place more beautiful this time of year than the lakes and regions surrounding Mt. Fuji.
The lake was one of five in the surrounding area, and was a hot spring lake. They were able to spend a couple of nights in one of the traditional Ryokan inns, experiencing the Japanese culture to the fullest and being catered to like royalty.
Christine had never enjoyed anything so much in all her life. The hot springs baths were wonderful and she was going to hate to leave them behind; as well as the Japanese hospitality…she would miss it all…very much.
Their days were spent admiring the beauty of the majestic Mr. Fuji. They hiked and picnicked – not missing a moment to enjoy the scenery and each other's company. The fall colors were a beautiful backdrop to their love and each day was a testament to the love they shared.
The nights passed with fine dining and avid lovemaking – sometimes tender and serene and other times rough and frantic. The Japanese sky, filled with shooting stars and dancing moonlight, guarded them in the wee hours of the morning.
It was a dream come true for Christine, and she knew her life would never be dull or uneventful with Erik beside her every step of the way. It still baffled her – what had she done to deserve such a blessed man?
♫♫♫
Meanwhile, following the wedding, Evie and Julius had fallen into the bed – tired and joyfully exhausted from the measures that had culminated in this blessed event.
The morning had come all too quickly and Evie stretched lazily – knowing that the time had come to talk to Julius about what the future held.
She sidled up to him and ran her fingers up his flat stomach. He was seriously ticklish and she knew he would squirm beneath her touch.
She watched him come alive in the morning light and smiled at the boyish tousle in his hair and the finely carved muscles of his chest.
"Good morning, my handsome husband."
Evie nuzzled Julius' neck as the first crack of dawn invaded his half-open eyes.
"Wow, 'handsome husband', what did I do to deserve that one?"
Julius turned toward her and smiled an impishly lazy smile, capturing her heart all over again.
She didn't answer right away, and Julius saw an unknown shadow rest in her eyes. She was concerned about something and he sat up and drew her into his strong embrace.
"What is it…you know you can tell me anything."
She wasn't normally an overly sensitive woman, but she had been a little moody over the past week or so and Julius was beginning to wonder what had happened to make her that way.
"Evie…talk to me."
She lifted her troubled eyes and then smiled reluctantly.
"Julius, I know we talked about our plans for the future when we married…but sometimes, things just don't always go the way we plan…"
His brow wrinkled and his eyes became hooded.
"Evie…"
His tone was concerned and strained; and she decided it was best to just come out with it.
"I'm pregnant."
At first, there wasn't an inkling of recognition in his eyes – not a twitch or a blink – nothing. Then, a radiant smile spread across his features and he cradled her in his arms.
"Evie…are you sure?"
His tone was full of wonder and his features were joyous.
Her nod assured him and he put his hand to her womb in complete awe of the miracle that grew within her.
"I can't wait…it is never too early…" he spoke to the child that nestled there – sleeping beneath his hand. "…at first…after we married…I wanted to wait - wasn't even sure I wanted kids – but now…."
He lifted his eyes and stared deep into Evie's green gaze and she saw his tears as they started down his cheeks.
"…life's too short, Evie…we're not promised tomorrow – or even two minutes from now…why wait on something that we know we want…this is our chance…"
Evie raised her lips to his and savored his unique taste – exclusive only to him.
It was only two short days after that, while reclining in the bedroom eating popcorn and watching television, that a ring of the doorbell surprised them both…they were not expecting anyone.
Evie unwound from his loving embrace and moved off the bed.
"I'll get it…I know you can't leave that football game…even if your team is losing."
She loved to tease Julius during football season…she loved the game as much as he did, but he would never know that.
She opened the door and stood back, completely stunned. She looked from the woman to the man and felt the dread fill her heart.
"Mom….dad." She uttered.
♫♫♫
Still staring shockingly at the faces of her parents, Evie couldn't help but notice how much they had aged.
Her father, always a robust man – broad and tall – just like Erik; now looked much less intimidating and somewhat diminutive compared to the memories of the past. The fight seemed to be gone from his eyes and it was replaced with a sadness that Evie had thought to never see.
Her mother, although as beautiful as ever, seemed more demure and less demanding than she had been all her years – Evie wasn't sure what had brought them here, but she knew they wouldn't leave until they had done what they came to do.
"Why are you here?"
Evie tried to be as accommodating as propriety demanded she be, but the bitter twist in her heart didn't leave much room for politeness.
Her mother looked over at her father and then lifted her eyes to Evie's waiting features.
"It's been twelve years, mom…what could you possibly want from me now?"
"Evie…please…I know this seems rather strange to you…" she again looked at her husband and saw his shoulders tremble from some unknown emotion, "…our showing up like this."
"Yes mother, why do you suppose that is? You disowned your own son and the brother I adored and left him in the hands of strangers…not caring a wit what happened to him."
Elise Argeneau turned her head away not wanting to see the deep anger that filled Evie's eyes; the past needed to mending - and time was running out.
"Do you know the life he has made for himself? Have you any idea what he has become?"
Evie spat the words at her mother, not caring anymore whether they knew how hurt she had been when they sent Erik away from her.
Julius emerged from the bedroom, looking comfortable and commanding in a simple pair of jeans and plain blue t-shirt.
The stern countenance that Evie maintained did nothing to ease his mind and he saw the emotional drain that was being but on her. His ire riled and he spoke in a clipped tone.
"Excuse me, but who are you people?"
Evie loved the protective tone in Julius' voice – he was her golden knight and he would give his life to protect her from any and all enemies – from without, and from within.
"Mother, father – this is my husband, Julius Tremaine."
A pin could have dropped and it would have sounded as loud as a foghorn. Julius looked from one to the other and lifted his chin in a defiant stare…making them both squirm in their seats.
"How nice…a family reunion – except Erik is missing – oh wait, he's not your son…isn't that what you want him to believe?"
The two older people dropped their eyes and then finally stood up.
"We came because we need to set a few things straight…with you…but mostly with Erik."
"Old age has a way of opening ones eyes to the wrongs they have done to others…and there never was a time when we allowed ourselves to fully appreciate the gifts that our children were to us."
It was the first time her father had spoken and Evie remembered thinking that all would be well in the world as long as her father's voice soothed her aches and pains.
However, that was before he allowed greed and ambition to get in the way.
Lucian Argeneau swayed a little on his feet, but stood his ground as he rested his eyes on his beautiful daughter.
"Grant me this, Evie…I know that we have not been parents to either of you…although I think we tried to be with you." He smiled weakly and nodded his head, reassuring himself – if no one else.
"I know we made mistakes, but let us try to make things right...with both of you."
Elise sniffled a little, fighting back painful tears as she thought about all the lost years that had been lost to her…not knowing the beautiful boy that God had given her…those were years of self-indulgence and bad decisions.
"What has taken you so long?" Evie finally asked, "And why now?"
Evie was fighting the urge to embrace her father – whose tears seemed to spike through her like sharp pieces of glass.
"Facing ones own mortality has a way of humbling you – you realize what is important in life…and often times…you miss the chance to experience it."
Elise finally shuddered and the tears fell down her cheeks.
"We thought we had lost you both – you hadn't left any information about where you were going after you left France…six years – and all we found out about you was what we read in the papers…Erik's horrible and tragic loss and his disappearance from the public eye…
"…we tried to find you then, but shortly after this, your father started getting sick and we weren't sure what was wrong. He spent the next two years in and out of the hospital…we thought we had it beat and started our search again…but..."
Evie looked at her father at that point and noticed the deep circles under his eyes and the massive loss of body mass that had occurred over the years.
"He has bone cancer…this is the third time it has come out of remission…it's spread to his lymph nodes now…" her tears fell from her face to her folded hands, "…it's just a matter of time."
Evie just sat quietly, taking in all she had been told; all those years of separation and dissention…and for what? Her father was reliving the regrets of his life…and Erik was at the top of the list.
"Erik's on his honeymoon…they will be back on Sunday afternoon."
Her mother smiled at the news of Erik's marriage…a smile that held the pain of regret and the hope of reconciliation.
"I don't expect his forgiveness – or yours, for that matter – but I have to try…" her father bowed his head as though in prayer. "…he's my son and I have finally realized what that means to me…and how much I love him."
Julius had been standing back, watching the interaction between Evie and the parents she had given up on – years ago. He watched her rise up out of her seat and go to her father. She put her arms around him and held his frail form as they both started the healing process.
TBC