We are drawing to a close with this story - a few more chapters should do it. I hope you will stick it out.

Enjoy.

MAN OF SORROWS

CHAPTER 44

They had only been sitting for five minutes, when Julius and Evie sat down at the table. There were no words spoken at first, just curious stares and glances.

"Did you like Japan?"

Evie broke the thick silence and drew Christine into a conversation.

The younger woman's face lit up and a vivid smile spread over her features.

"I loved it…it was like no place I have ever been before."

Erik chuckled, lightening the air considerably.

"That's not saying much…she hasn't been too many places."

That was all that it took, and the conversation soared.

"Why now, Evie…why?"

Erik was full of questions and wasn't particularly sure he wanted the answers.

"After all these years of no contact – now they want to come back and renew relations with us?"

Evie could see the frustration and fury etched into Erik's eyes and features. His voice was low and rather venomous.

"Well, I've got news for them…they never had a relationship with me; there's nothing to renew."

Evie had known it would be difficult for him to see the correctness of doing this; Erik was a passionate personality – in every aspect of his life.

"Erik, I know you don't understand it – I don't either…but they are here and they are not going anywhere until they have a chance to talk with you."

Erik could see the trepidation on her face and hear it in her voice; there was something she was keeping from him.

When Evie noticed the glowering stare that Erik was giving her, she immediately dropped her eyes and looked away, a sure sign that she was hiding something.

"Evie, I don't have the patience to play verbal games with you, say what you need to say."

She sighed resolutely and slumped her shoulders in defeat.

"Dad is sick, Erik…really sick."

Erik barely moved, but she could see the spark of something in his inimitable eyes. When he spoke, his voice was controlled and emotionless.

"Sick in what way?"

"He has bone cancer…the doctors have done all they can do…it's in his lymph nodes now."

Erik was stunned beyond words. He had always seen his father as something other than human – his stamina and his intelligence – but now…he still wasn't certain he could give them what they sought.

"He wants to see you, Erik – and mother too…the past is one big regret with them…show them the magnificent man you have become."

Erik looked around the restaurant at all the people enjoying family time. Other fathers and sons laughed and joked with each other – being what they were meant to be; but Erik never had any of that with his father – and the resentment ran deep.

His eyes finally settled on Evie and she saw the turmoil he was battling. They were a vivid teal color and she knew he was very upset.

They spent the rest of the meal making small talk and Christine would reach over and give Erik's hand a squeeze, just to reassure him that she was beside him, every step of the way.

It was an hour or so later that they all stood outside, about to part ways. Erik, fighting the demons that had resurfaced, pulled his sister into his embrace and hugged her fiercely.

Evie put her arms around Erik once again, and held him close – relishing the prospect of seeing him mend the relationship with their parents.

"By the way, my dear brother, you're going to be an uncle."

At first, Erik didn't quite understand what she had said – his mind was still grasping the idea of his parents being back.

"What?"

Her impish grin did what it always did and made him chuckle.

"I'm going to have a baby, Erik…you'll be Uncle Erik."

The most awesome smile changed his features drastically. It seems as though every problem in the world faded in the beauty of what she told him.

"A baby."

He didn't ask, or question – just accepted.

"It's about time…" he teased, "…I was beginning to think that Julius was shooting blanks!"

Julius smiled and then immediately went serious.

"Is that funny? I don't think that's funny."

Of course, everyone was laughing – and Julius narrowed his laughing eyes at Erik and waggled his finger.

"Let's see how long it takes you…" He challenged, loudly.

Then, he mumbled under his breath, knowing that Erik was still listening, "…shooting blanks – I don't think so."

Erik scoffed and shook his head.

"Loraine was pregnant in a matter of weeks…" He reminded Julius, "…do you really want to go there?"

Julius conceded with his arms in the air and a grin on his face.

Evie wound her arm through Erik's waist and smiled up at him.

"I know this won't be easy, Erik…I know that."

Erik kissed her forehead and looked deep into the eyes that were so much like his own.

"I'm not sure I can do this, Evie…give me time – and I'll try."

She pulled back and put her palm to his perfectly carved cheek. Her smile was genuine and understanding.

"I know you'll do what's right Erik, I have do doubt. If you can come to terms with what Monsignor Neville did, you can reconcile with our parents."

To that, all he did was shake his head…he knew she was right.

♫♫♫

Christine tried to talk to Erik several times over the next few days. He seemed reluctant to discuss anything concerning his parents, especially his father.

He had not raised his voice, nor seemed angry – but instead, he had taken on a rather dark, mysterious shroud of indifference….and Christine was concerned.

Their relationship was not strained in any way; in fact, Erik seemed very attentive, affectionate, and downright horny – most of the time.

However, Christine knew that his thoughts were occupied with remnants of a fleeting childhood devoid of the love of his parents…and he wasn't sure he could overcome the pain that had been a part of him for so long.

Evie sat in the living room of Erik and Christine's home, admiring the architectural design and the soft tones Erik had used to create a homey and loving environment in which to build his family.

The leaves outside were finishing their descent, making a carpet of colors on the ground, as winter was just a month away.

"Erik, it's Thanksgiving, come and spend it with Julius and me."

He stirred the dying embers of the fire, feeling the warmth penetrate his bones. It was unseasonably cold outside. Erik saw the irony in that, knowing that his heart had a chill on it that he had tried so hard to deny.

"You're going to that place again, Erik…the place where I don't like you to be…you're a newlywed and you're going to be an uncle…"

"I know that, Evie…don't you think I want to get past this – that I thought I had moved past it…"

He was frustrated and cornered at this point, he knew what needed to be done; and yet, there was a dark force holding him back.

"If you don't make amends, you allow Neville to get the victory – and everything you have fought so hard to become, is meaningless."

There was anger in her tone – anger at the stubborn turn of his chin and the defiance in his eyes; this was an echo of what he had been in the months following Loraine's death.

Nonetheless, he had met his match in Evie. She strode up to him and glared into his stormy eyes.

"This isn't who you are anymore, Erik…you're better than this. Don't you think Christine…"

He ground his next words out through clenched teeth.

"Don't bring her into this – it has nothing to do with her!"

"Yes it does!"

Erik jolted from her harsh tone and abrasive words. He turned from her and started toward the kitchen, wanting to put some distance between them.

"This has everything to do with her, Erik…she is a part of you now; this involves her as deeply and profoundly as it does you."

His shoulders slumped and she knew she was breaking through his defenses. When he turned his eyes to hers, they were brimming with unshed tears.

"But my life, Evie…they took it from me… carelessly and heartlessly…

"…yes, they did – but if things had not gone the way they did---would you have ever met Christine?"

He bowed his head and closed his eyes, allowing the tears to run down his face. Evie saw this and went to him, closing that gap he had painstakingly constructed between them.

"What happened, happened…you have a chance to begin afresh with them…they want it, Erik..." she lifted his chin with her fingers and smiled into his pained features, "…do you?"

He finally smiled a half-smile and sighed painfully.

"I do…more than I ever thought I would."

TBC