Disclaimer: Sorry about the chapter that was previously posted under the same title. Thanks to the wonderful (and very observant..lol) Serena, I realized I posted a VERY ugly and VERY rough almost to the point of being embarrassing draft of the first couple pages of the next chapter. So I am sorry if anyone caught it and I hope it didn't spoil anything. This is indeed the chapter that was supposed to be posted. Thank you again Serena!
Anything can happen over the course of a single day. In just a few short hours babies are born, marriage vows are spoken and doctors inform their patients they've beat the illnesses that once threatened to take their lives. Though for some of us, the events of a single day are not so blissful, they change the person life has sculpted us to be and shake us down to our very core.
Evelyn tried to keep herself as busy as possible in order to forget about John leaving and focus on the meeting with her father. So it came as no surprise to her that Saturday morning had come so fast. That night Katherine and Bree were hosting a benefit party that Tom and Lynette were attending and Mrs. McClusky was going to watch the kids. Evelyn was supposed to go into work for a couple hours after her parents left to help close but traded the shift with Jo in order to make time for dinner. After nearly forty loads, or so it seemed, of football jerseys and princess t-shirts, she finished up the last of the laundry and dodged fighting children to make her way up the stairs. As she passed her mother's room she caught a glimpse of her looking herself over in the tall floor length mirror. The chemo had made her thin and worn but if asked at that very moment Evelyn would have said she had never seen her look more beautiful. The red dress held tight to her skin and loosely flowed out through the bottom. Lynette had pulled her hair back and the long silver earrings suited her thinning face. Lynette looked over and smiled. "What do you think?" Lynette asked. "Is it too much?"
"You look beautiful momma" and Lynette smiled as if Evelyn's conformation was all she needed. She walked over to her and gently placed her hands on Evelyn's shoulders. "I really am sorry about your dad sweetheart, it was for the best though" she said with genuine regret flickering in her eyes and Evelyn nodded.
"You've just been through the ringer this week. Things are going to get easier".
"I am okay I swear. I just want you guys to have fun tonight and we can talk tomorrow morning"
"Do you really mean it"? Lynette asked looking surprised. "Yes I promise" Evelyn said. Lynette smiled and kissed her on the cheek hoping she was serious about her offer, they had way too much to discuss. Lynette looked at her for a second then smiled and headed down the hallway. Tom came busting out of the bedroom looking frustrated, quite the contrast to her mother's graceful exit. "You know I really hate these things, I hate having neighbors that are constantly throwing parties" Tom said as he tried to adjust his tie. "I know I pity you" Evelyn said grabbing the tie and helping him fix it. "I pity you A: because you have to go to a ravenous party and mingle with fabulous people, Poor you" she commented making Tom smile. "And B: because you have worked in advertising for how long and still can't put your tie on".
"It's not my fault public functions drive me crazy" Tom said kissing her on the cheek and rushing down the hall. "Thanks kiddo. Why don't you take the kids over to McClusky's in a hour and enjoy the quiet before you have to head in?".
"I will" she said and picked up the laundry basket and trudged up the stairs to her bedroom. The minute the house was empty she began getting ready. She quickly showered but took her time fixing her hair and putting on make-up. As she looked in the mirror she realized she had equal amounts of her parents in her as far as looks we concerned. She had her father's piercing eyes, and mother's short little nose. Her ears looked just like her fathers and she had a mixture of both when it came to her mouth. Where people really saw the resemblance was in her facial expressions. She couldn't tell you how many times she had looked surprised, nervous or excited and people pinpointed just how much she looked like Lynette. After putting on some mascara she drew back from the mirror. The black dress was a little tight for her liking but didn't look too bad on her she decided. The heels were going to be challenge this evening for the simple fact that she hated wearing them but this was defiantly an occasion for such a thing. She took a deep breath, threw on her long black coat and headed down the stairs.
Once out the front door she quickly walked to her car nervously unlocking the door. Before she could get the key out she caught someone walking down the street out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Mike with a skinny blonde in tow. They were walking shoulder to shoulder and headed right past her house. "Hey Mike" Evelyn yelled waving from her driveway. Mike stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her and if Evelyn didn't know any better she would have sworn he stared a little longer than he should have. "Hey Evelyn, headed out?" he said stopping
"Yeah I am headed to the Carlton for dinner" she said and saw the blonde looked out towards the street as if she was trying to ignore her." Wow, John certainly has expensive taste".
The name hit her like a semi truck to the stomach. She had thrown herself into work since he left and just realized she hadn't even taken the time to tell Mike. Here and now was not the appropriate time either, so once again, instead of telling Mike the truth Evelyn told yet another lie. "Yeah I think he is trying to impress me" she said forcing a smile. "Who is this?" she asked looking towards the woman who was blatantly disregarding her.
"Oh, I am sorry this is Jennifer" he said and put his arm around her and nudged her forward. "Hi Jennifer it's nice to meet you". Evelyn outstretched her hand and Jennifer hesitantly took it. "Same to you" she said in a snarky tone and once again turned away. "What are you two up to?" Evelyn asked playfully smiling and silently pushing her nose upward.
Mike smiled and jokingly rolled his eyes. "We just got finished eating dinner and we are about to head back to the house and watch a movie…Hitchcock" Mike smiled and gave Evelyn that knowing look. Obviously the date wasn't going very well and Mike didn't plan on doing anything else to make Jennifer comfortable. He would turn on the film and once she realized things were going to go any further she would leave. Mike had such a twisted sense of humor, but it never failed to make Evelyn laugh.
"Well you all have a lovely time and I will see you two crazy kids later" Evelyn remarked and without another glance from Jennifer she crawled into her car and drove off.
It didn't bother Evelyn to see Mike with other woman as they were just friends but for some reason Mike had a strange way of picking the wrong ones. Susan was the only woman she ever thought really suited Mike, and since her his prospects weren't very admirable. He seemed to have a knack for picking up the girls that made up in breast size what they lacked in intelligence.
Thoughts of Mike didn't last very long, eventually the nerves hit and she didn't even have time to let them settle before she pulled into the hotel parking lot. She was twenty minutes early so she parked her car out front of the casino. She slowly walked across the parking lot and watched as the fancy cars pulled up to the Valet parking booth and people got out in their fastidious clothes carrying their gold studded clutch bags. She didn't want to think about how much money would be lost in the casino that evening. Evelyn never cared for gambling, she had watched her grandmother loose way too much money in the past and saw the toll it took on her family. The hotel was more beautiful than she could have imagined. She had never stayed there or eaten at the restaurant but she had heard stories of its great magnificence. Once she was seated she finally had time to take it all in. She ran her fingers over the beautiful crystal glasses, she toyed with the edge of the white silk napkins and took a sip of her chardonnay as she waited. Time went by and it seemed like she sat there forever, she made her way through two glasses of wine and was starting on a glass of water. "Where was he?" she wondered, "He said eight o'clock". She reached in her purse to find her cell-phone only to realize she left it at home, so she stopped a nearby waiter. "Excuse me, what time is it?"
"It's fifteen minutes after nine miss, are you waiting for someone? Would you like me to get you a phone?"
"No that's okay, thank you". She watched him as he walked away. She really didn't know what to say. "Maybe something happened in the meeting, or maybe he got sick" she wondered. She was pulling things out of a hat at that point but refused to believe she had been stood up or worse he had forgotten about her. She got up from the table, retrieved her coat, and stormed out of the hotel door. The temperature had dropped considerably in the last hour but Evelyn failed to notice. Her heels hit hard on the cement as she made her way next door. It was perfectly logical that the meeting could have run longer than her father expected but her mind was full of nothing but doubt. She entered the casino and the smell of cigarette smoke immediately overtook her. "Can I take your coat miss?" she heard someone ask her and forced a smile as the young man gently slipped the long pocketed coat off her shoulders. She looked around at the massive amounts of people that had filled every nook and cranny of the building. Old women were playing their slot machines, and younger women were draped over their perspective players whispering in their ears and blowing on dice when asked. Unsure of who to ask, she trekked back to the information desk in search of someone that could locate her father. "Can I help you?" a young woman with dark hair asked smiling and leaning over the counter. "Yes I am looking for a Vincent Antonelli, he was supposed to meet me for dinner next door nearly an hour and a half ago, he never showed up and he said he had a meeting here earlier today".
"Let me call upstairs" she offered. "Yes do you have a Vincent Antonelli registered in any of the conference rooms?" Out of the corner of her eye Evelyn caught a man stop when she mentioned her father's name and sure enough, she turned around and he was smiling at her. It wasn't a warm and inviting smile like the young concierge had offered rather his was sinister, like he knew something she didn't. His black slacks were offset by a white button up shirt. His blonde hair was long but tamed and his mismatched eyes glared at her with a predatory intensity. She knew right off the bat her and this strangers weren't going to get along. "Did I hear someone ask for Vincent?" he asked in a British accent that was enough to make any woman go weak at the knees.
"Yes sir Mr. Richardson, she is looking for him" the young girl remarked as she hung up the phone. "He's out of the scheduled meeting". The man looked over Evelyn once more before taking her hand and kissing it. "I am Stephen Richardson, I own this casino, but most people call me Shelly", He took a brief pause as if he was waiting for her to fall to her knees out of admiration. She quickly jerked her hand out of his, "Do you know where my father is?" she asked forcing a phony smile. "My my love, aren't we testy" he said leaning up against the counter and closer to her. He smelt of rich spices and as the space between them got smaller she grew more uneasy. "Do you know where he is or not?" she remarked
"Your father and I were discussing business earlier this evening, I left him with a few of my associates they are taking care of a problem outback" he said as he admired the rings on his fingers.
"It's really important that I talk to him. So if you would be so kind as to point me in the right direction I would be much obliged"
"Oh no. I think it would be best if you waited until he was done then I will send for him. If you would like I would be more than happy to escort you to my office, the area might be more comfortable". He smiled the most sinister grin she had ever seen. The points of his teeth stuck out from underneath his top lip and his eyes burnt right through her. If he hadn't opened his mouth she might have swooned at the sight of his beautiful features but his arrogance, especially at a time like this, just made her want to hit him square in the face. "I will wait right here thanks" she said taking a seat in a nearby stool. "Suit yourself my dear, it was lovely to meet you" he said as he nodded and walked off. Evelyn took comfort in knowing that he hadn't forgotten about her and also that Shelly had left her alone. Her feeling of contempt didn't last long though, eventually time and her nerves got the best of her and again she went looking for her father. She stopped a young man in a casino uniform near an exit door on the wall. "Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the area out back of the casino". The young man looked at her surprised for a moment as if he wondered why she wanted the directions. Evelyn flashed him a smile though and he didn't stay silent for long until he gave her the information she needed.
***
As Evelyn hastily walked down the back corridor, she officially declared that everyone in this place certifiably gave her the creeps. It seemed as if they had something to conceal and she wondered what sort of business could be keeping her father so long. The more she walked and the more corners she turned, the dingier things became. Chandeliers were soon replaced with single bulbs that lit the way as she walked down a cement ramp which led to a door with the words "Employee's only" scrawled on the front. Evelyn stopped dead in her tracks as she heard muffled cries coming from the other side. She gently pushed the door open and nothing could have prepared her for what was on the other side. It was a large warehouse that was nearly completely empty except for one corner which was sealed off by a chain link fence. Evelyn could hear the screaming but couldn't see what was going on. Old poker boards and tables and chairs blocked her view of what was happening on the other side. She quickly pressed herself up against the wall and slowly made her way around the room. "Come on Joey, I don't deserve this please!" she heard a man say. "My kid has college funds, I'll sell my house. I will pay you back all the money I lost you guys" he said in a plead of desperation. As she got closer and looked through the cracks of all of the piled garbage, she could see a young man, who couldn't be any older than 30, lying on a dark table. His face was bloody and he was sweating refusly, the poor guy was terrified. Another man walked up behind him carrying a piece of long steel piping. He was much taller than any man she had ever seen, and had the tail end of a brown cigar hanging out of his mouth. "You probably should have thought about that before you came into Shelly's casino carrying a pocket full of rigged dice". Evelyn sank back against the wall, she knew this was about to get ugly and just as she turned to leave she saw him. There was her father sitting back in the shadows lighting a cigarette. She couldn't believe it, he was about to just sit back and let this happen. "Please don't do this Joey" he yelled again in agony.
"A casino is its owner's home" Vincent began, as if he has recited this speech a thousand times. "Do you think Shelly sees it as a sign of respect when you come into his home and lie?"
"No, No I don't Im sorry…I'm sorry" he said one more exasperated time. "We could indeed kill you" Joey said circling him like a vulture would a rodent. "I think we'd be better off just giving you a token of our appreciation" Joey said and before Evelyn's mind could register what was going on, Joey brought the pipe down hard on the young man's leg. Evelyn didn't know which one registered louder in her mind, his screams or the deafening crack of his leg. She held her hand over her mouth to stifle her own screaming but her efforts to stay silent proved futile when she tripped over a hub cap that was sitting on the floor. "What the hell was that?" Vincent asked as he whipped around the corner. Evelyn had never seen anyone's expression change so fast; his eyes went from livid to petrified in no time. "Evelyn" he said faintly. They didn't have time to think before Joey came around the corner. If Evelyn hadn't seen him fire the gun, she never would have believed it to be there, its shot was so quiet. Luckily he missed and before she could think she kicked her heels off and took off running. A quick look back caught Joey right behind her and Vincent right behind him. She didn't think about the gun or getting caught she just ran. Every few seconds she could hear something break or hit a wall and she could hear Vincent yelling for Joey to stop, but she didn't dare look back. All she could think about was getting the hell out of the casino. She ran back down the long grey corridor and out a side door with an exit sign over it. She recognized the area as the same parking lot where her car was and made a b-line for the Landrover praying to God she wouldn't get caught. She finally made it to her car when she felt something graze her leg and blow out her front tire. The bullet didn't pierce her skin but startled her enough to cause her to hit the ground, falling face first. Before she had enough time to get up she felt a hand pull her up off the ground, grab her throat and slam her into the car. "Who are you?" Joey demanded. Evelyn couldn't even speak, she was out of breath and his large hands were pressed tight against her windpipe. Without even a thought Joey brought the gun down hard on her shoulder causing her to hit the ground once more. She let an agonizing cry that didn't seem to phase him one bit. He grabbed her by the arm once more, jerked her up and threw her up against the car. " I am going to ask you once more time princess, who the fuck are you?"
Evelyn would have sworn the next thirty seconds happened in very slow motion. She felt everything all at once; his breath on her face, the tightness of his hand around her throat. She felt the blood splatter all over her and Joey's grip loosen as he hit the ground. Time stopped as Evelyn stood there covered in blood and her father stood behind Joey's lifeless body with a gun in his hand. Evelyn's mind stopped. She couldn't think, she couldn't move, she couldn't even seem to make her brain work. Vincent quickly ran up to her and put his hand on her unhurt shoulder and one on her face. "I am sorry baby..I am sorry"
"I never meant for any of this to happen to you. I promise" he said as he hastily kissed her forehead. He turned around quickly to see Shelly and three other men running out of the same side door she had come through carrying a bigger gun than he was carrying. "You have got to get out of here Evelyn, if they find us we are both dead. Just run and don't stop until you make it home". She didn't move. "Evelyn go" he yelled and once again she took off. She ran as fast as she could weaving through the cars and straight into the woods that would take her to the interstate. Once inside the wall of trees, hidden from sight she turned around to see the men dragging her father back inside. "Get the girl Sam!" she heard Shelly yell in the distance and saw one of the men weave though the cars and run down the hill towards her. She ran as fast as she could across the cold ground. About halfway through the woods without warning it began to rain heavily. Thunder filled the sky and every moment or so lightening would fill the area so she could see where she was going. She couldn't tell you how much time had passed but eventually she came to an opening in the road up ahead.\ She was almost out of the woods when her foot caught a tree root which sent her once again to the ground. For a moment she didn't move. She felt as if she didn't have enough energy to do so. Her mind was so overwhelmed and so exhausted that she couldn't tell her body to keep going. Then the idea of being home safe gave her the strength to push just a little bit harder to make it onto the road. She pushed herself off of the ground and ran straight into traffic, flagging down anyone who would stop. It took three cars to totally pass her by before one finally stopped, it was a Fairview cab, undeniably just leaving the casino.
"Are you crazy you almost got yourself killed running out into the street like that" the driver explained as she jumped into the cab, but upon catching a glimpse of her, his tone softened. "Well I don't even need to ask, I'll take you straight to the hospital".
"I need to go home" she said frantically searching out her window through the rain for Sam. "I don't think so maam look at you, your covered in blood and practically freezing to death, I am taking you to the hospital" he said forcefully as he began to pull off.
"I don't need to the go the fucking hospital, there is someone after me please just take me home". The cab driver stopped in the middle of the road with a blank and panicked look on his face. "I'm really sorry, it's just really important that I get away from him and to my family, please" she turned back towards the woods and saw Sam run out crouching over and trying to catch a breath. "Where do you live?"
"4355 Wisteria Lane, please hurry" the cab driver looked over and caught a glimpse of the man running towards the cab and slammed on the gas. The ride there was completely silent but she noticed him look back at her every now and then. After what seemed like forever he pulled up in front of her house. She frantically searched her pockets and realized her bag was in her car. "It's okay, just get inside and get to your family" he said with a look of pity. She didn't know what to say, so she smiled and nodded sliding out of the car. The cab driver didn't even notice her slip the gold ring of her finger and leave it in the backseat.
He left her standing in her driveway and she frantically searched for anyone that appeared to be following her. Her mind was in vast contrast from its previous state. It wouldn't stop whirling, and she couldn't figure out what her next move was. She couldn't go over to McClusky's, the last thing she wanted to do was get the kids involved. The weight of the night's events weighed too heavily on her mind and Evelyn was slowly loosing it. He had to have followed her she was sure of it. Any minute someone was going to pull onto the street and grab her. She couldn't just stand there in the middle of the road, she had to do something. "Protection" she said out loud was what she needed. So without thinking she quickly ran to Bree's ignoring the feeling of the blood on her skin, the ache in her shoulder and the wound on her leg. The lights were on inside but she knew everyone was gone; all of the neighborhood was at the benefit dinner. She turned around to go grab her key and remembered they were gone; she left them in the pockets of her coat, which hung at the casino. Without thinking she slung her fist through the window next to Bree's door and opened it from the inside. She quickly grabbed a throw on a nearby couch and quickly wrapped it around her arm; Bree would have a cow if she came home and there was blood all over the carpet. She knew exactly what she had to do and flew upstairs and reached for the box that was hidden beneath Bree's bed. She pulled the shot gun out and pulled a bullet out of a separate box. Her hands were violently shaking and she dropped it on the ground. "Damn it" she muttered picking it up and putting it back in. She cocked the gun back and quickly closed the case and shoved it back underneath the bed. She ran across the street, thankful that the neighbors were away or else someone might have thought she was crazy. She grabbed the spare key from underneath the front carpet and quickly locked the front door behind her. Once she was in she took her first breath in what seemed like hours and slowly slid down the door taking a moment to rest on the cold hard wood floor.
Life is made up of a mixture of moments that shape who we are. At a beautiful banquet dinner a prestigious redhead and her partner congratulate each other on a benefit dinner well done, knowing they have a bright future ahead. Somewhere a tired plumber fixes a broken sink after a long night wondering if he will ever find love after a lost date. And somewhere in a house in the suburbs a young girl clutches tight to the barrel of a shot gun fearing what will happen if she has to come face to face with those she fears the most.