by L. B. Reyes
“And this, dear, is why you're different from her,” came Poison's voice from behind me. I looked up, surprised to find her there with a glass of water for me. I took a sip and set the glass down on the bar counter. “Do you realize that she came in only to hurt you?” Her voice was gentle, soothing. “She didn't care that you're her sister and simply did what she felt and hurt you purposely.”
“How do you know?”
“How do you not know?” she asked sadly. “Hun, I don't know the circumstances surrounding your relationship with Nathan and your sister, but it's clear who the mature one, who the one with the good heart is. Trust me when I say she probably is happy to have said what she said because she knew it would hurt you.”
“You got all that from just the brief visit?”
“I got that from interacting with you,” Poison stated. “People like her rarely change and if they do, it's after a lot of damage has been done.” She squeezed my shoulder in comfort, giving me a small smile. “You have a family here, dear. You've earned it. Don't be afraid to tell us if you need help.”
***
The rest of the day proved to be uneventful. I focused on catching up with my work in Nathan's studio while he busied himself with whatever he needed to do. I sighed, running my hands through my hair, getting his attention. Nathan frowned as he set his laptop to the side before beckoning me to him. I sat on his lap, burying my face in his neck, taking in his familiar scent.
He held me tightly, not bothering to ask any questions.
“I just want this to be over,” I whispered.
“I know,” he said. “The papers are being served tomorrow, though, so we'll be there soon, baby.”
I smiled against his skin, finding comfort in his arms despite our situation. If anything good came out of this, it would be our relationship and I refused to let it fail. Call it naivety, but I believed that this was it for us.
As difficult as it was to admit, I knew that Poison had been right. Hannah had been there only to humiliate me and yet to my surprise, I'd found people willing to back me up. Nathan tilted my face up and smiled at me, cupping my cheek in his hand.
“You are not what Hannah said you were, Evie,” he said softly. “I don't know why she would say something like that other than to hurt you, but you know you're not. Don't believe it for a second.”
“I know,” I replied. He kissed me then, gentle like he knew I needed. We spoke for a little while more until my phone rang, breaking the peace that surrounded us. It was my mom. I shot Nathan a nervous look, terrified that my sister had said something about Nathan and I.
Eventually, they would find out but I didn't need to be in that moment. Nathan accepted the call, placing it on speaker so that we'd both hear what she had to say.
“Hey,” I answered, trying my best not to sound anxious.
“Evelyn,” my mom said. “Are you busy? Oh, of course you're not.”
“Then why did you ask?” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“Listen, we need to meet tomorrow at the Thompson's house.”
“Jenna's?” I asked with a frown.
“Yes. It's about my mother's will and they have requested you be there.”
I glanced at Nathan who sighed. We both knew that the problems were only about to start.
“Yeah, okay. I'll be there. Who else is going?”
My mom hesitated before speaking up but ended up clearing her throat. “I believe Hannah will be telling Nathan shortly and Carter has also been requested, though I don't understand why. He's not family.”
“More of a family than you've been,” I countered immediately. I could hear my mom start to say something, but quickly said goodbye and hung up.
“I guess hell is only about to begin.” Nathan grimaced as he spoke. As much as I wanted to say that wasn't the case, I knew he was right; our problems were just beginning.
What I didn't know, however, was the severity of the storm to come.
CHAPTER 29
Evelyn
“It's going to be okay,” Nathan said quietly enough for only me to hear. He squeezed my hand and placed a kiss on my cheek while we waited in the Thompsons’ office. Nathan and I had been the first to arrive and we were waiting for my parents, Hannah, and Carter. I sighed, relieved that at least for a few moments I could receive Nathan's comfort.
David and Jacqueline Thompson, Jenna's parents, were well aware of my relationship with Nathan, so hiding in front of them wasn't necessary. Not only that, but I'd also learned that they had been quite close with Nana for the past few years; both of them working as her confidants when it came to her finances and problems with my mom, which had been many.
I had been in the dark regarding the things my parents had done in order to “save” the company, and each thing was more painful than the last. More than anything, it was disappointing. I nuzzled Nathan's neck, closing my eyes while he held me. He was talking to David about the divorce but I didn't really care to listen to it. Just the fact that he was holding me made me feel better.
Starting over in a new city, in a new state sounded more appealing every second that went by. Fighting, arguing, being surrounded by so much hate was just so exhausting. I was so emotionally drained that I felt that literally, the ones holding me up were the people that supported me because I could no longer stand on my own.
Maybe it was the fact that we were about to officially listen to my grandma's last wishes, but I just felt…tired.
Nathan pressed a kiss on my forehead, and it wasn't until then that I realized that everyone had stopped talking. My eyes fluttered open and I saw his eyes set on me, his forehead creased with worry.
“I'm fine.” I leaned into the comfort his touch offered again.
“You're not. You're exhausted” Worried, he cupped my face in his hands. “We should go to the doctor.”
“I'm fine, Nathan. There's no need to go if I'm completely fine, I'm just tired.”
“I bet your grandmother wouldn't agree at all.” My head snapped up, following the voice. Carter looked down on me with concern and frustration on his features. Though he was angry, I couldn't stop myself from jumping on my feet and into his arms. He returned the hug immediately, holding me tight against his chest.
“My beautiful girl,” he whispered brokenly. There was so much emotion in his voice and when I looked at his face, I noticed how worn out and tired he seemed. His eyes, they were almost lifeless. Fear invaded me at the thought that he could possibly leave me soon as well and I shook my head in denial, hugging him again.
“You can't leave too,” I said so that only he'd hear. My eyes had filled with tears and my heart started to pound against my chest; he was the closest person left to Nana left and I loved him dearly. I refused to let him go. “Please, you need to be strong.”
“You do too, darling.”
Someone in the room cleared their throat, forcing us to break the hug. My mom glared at me, seemingly disappointed at the fact that I'd let someone of “lower class” embrace me that way. I ignored her, letting Carter greet Nathan and sitting between both of them. Hannah sat on the other side with my parents, my mother holding her hand in reassurance.
My gaze lingered on their hands for a moment too long. She never had those gestures with me.
I swallowed, ignoring the pain that settled in my heart. It wasn't worth it.
“Okay, I believe everyone is here,” David said with a tight smile. I couldn't imagine this being easy for him either. The Thompsons never had a strong relationship with my parents but as acquaintances, I was sure my parents had expected them to tell them anything regarding Nana.
David let out a breath and picked up a large folder from his desk and took out a single sheet of paper. He cleared his throat and began.
I sighed, tuning out most of what he said. About fifteen minutes had to have passed when I heard the rustling of papers, my breath catching in my throat when I saw David taking out a small stack of envelopes. The smile on my mother’s face made
me nauseous.
He proceeded to hand each of us an envelope with our names written in the unmistakable cursive of Nana's. A sad smile formed on my lips as my fingers traced her handwriting. I wondered how long before her death she'd written this and closed my eyes, a single tear rolling down my cheek. Faintly, I heard the envelopes around me being opened but I couldn't bring myself to open mine.
Nathan opened his envelope and a genuine smile formed on his lips as read whatever was written in it. Carter was the same, though I could tell the nostalgia was still very much present in his features. When I glanced over to my mom, however, she was fuming. Hannah looked like she had just received the worst news ever and my dad was glaring at me.
“Is this it?” My mom asked David, throwing down her envelope on the desk. “Because that can't be it.”
“I'm afraid that's it, Elizabeth.” David looked over at me, giving me a small smile. “We can ask everyone to leave if you want to open the envelope on your own.”
“Do I have to do it here?” I asked quietly.
“Of course not, you can do it whenever you feel ready.”
“Are you kidding me?” Hannah hissed, shaking her head. “We need to know what her letter says.”
“If you needed to know what it says, your grandmother would have left it addressed to all of you, don't you think?” Carter's voice caught everyone off guard, the tone foreign for his usually calm demeanor.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” My dad asked, outraged that Carter dared say something.
“I'm the man who saw Anne tearing herself apart for selfish people such as you,” Carter spit. I'd never seen him so angry in my life. My dad looked like he was about to lunge but my mom held him back, trying to keep a calm appearance in front of David.
“Could you just open the damn envelope?” Hannah asked, desperate to know what it held.
“No,” I said shaking my head. “I want to do it at home, Hannah…It's the only thing Nana left and I want to read it in peace.” I hoped she'd give me the little bit of understanding I was asking for but instead, she grew more frustrated.
“You're unbelievable, Evelyn. You're making this damn difficult.”
“Jesus, just leave her alone,” Nathan hissed, fury lacing his words. “All you fucking do is drill her with the same damned thing. She'll open it when she's ready.”
It was then that the world started to spin around me. I started to feel nauseous and their voices just seemed to grow distant, even though by the look on their blurry face the argument had only intensified. Finding my voice was futile and as my heart beat became quicker, I knew I needed to get away from everyone.
I stood up in an attempt to get out of the constricting office but as I did the spinning only intensified and I ended up surrounded by darkness.
***
“Okay, she's just being dramatic.”
“Would you get the fuck out if you don't care?”
My head was pounding with the voices yelling around me. I felt a gentle hand at the back of my head and a cold compress pressed against the area. I whimpered when I felt piercing pain there, and then another hand on my cheek.
“Evie, can you hear me?”
The voices quieted down and my eyes opened only to find several of them staring back at me. Some in worry, some in annoyance.
“Oh, thank God,” Nathan said relieved, kissing my forehead. Carter was leaning down next to him, his eyes full of fatherly concerned.
I groaned when I felt the sharp pain in my head once again.
“You hit yourself on the edge of the wooden table, dear,” Carter explained, taking hold of my hand. “You fainted. Are you okay?”
“I'm fine,” I replied, trying to push myself up. Nathan shook his head, quickly stopping me from any further movement.
I leaned back, sighing at his silent command. He probably wasn't going to let me move until he was sure I was strong enough to walk. Jenna rushed into the office with a glass of water, handing it over to Nathan so that he could help me drink. The cool water felt nice on my dry lips and I sighed, content to have something to soothe my throat.
“Help me up,” I said quietly to Nathan.
Though hesitant, he wrapped an arm around my waist and helped me to my feet, careful about not doing it too fast. I held on to him, still feeling a little weak.
“That's it,” he said with a small smile. He led me to a sofa in the office and I leaned back in an attempt to relax my muscles. “We need to get you to a doctor.”
“I agree,” Jenna said with a frown. “Evie, you haven't been eating well and you're dehydrated—”
“That's nothing a little bit of water can't help,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“Does that mean you can open that envelope now?”
I groaned. My sister was unbelievable.
“Get her out of here,” I said to Jenna. She smiled proudly.
“With pleasure.” David shot his daughter a look that was meant to be serious, but the gratefulness couldn't be hidden.
“Listen, Evelyn, you're not alone, okay?” He said in a gentle voice. “We've watched you grow up and your Nana knew what she was doing so if you need any advice, be sure to come to us. We have nothing but your best interest at heart.”
I nodded, closing my eyes. Going to the doctor seemed like a good idea, but what I wanted to do the most at that moment was sleep. Everyone was right; the whole situation was starting to take a toll on my body. I was hardly even functioning.
“We'll go to the doctor tomorrow,” I whispered. “I just want to rest now. Can we do that?”
Nathan pressed a kiss to my temple. “Of course. I need to get you out of here though, Evie. They're literally making you sick.”
“Spend the night at my place,” Carter chimed in. I smiled; the idea had even brightened the sound of his voice. “I have an extra room and it would be nice to have some company. I can also help Nathan keep an eye on you then.”
“What do you think?” Nathan asked.
I hummed, leaning my head on his shoulder. “You're just going to have to carry me all the way there,” I smiled.
“Not a problem.”
CHAPTER 30
Evelyn
“There,” I said, setting my phone down on the dinner table. After a series of long, and by long I mean long conversations, I finally gave up my phone. My parents wouldn't stop calling to voice their disappointment, and Hannah kept leaving messages threatening to tell them about my relationship with Nathan.
Nathan and Carter had insisted that in order for me to relax and actually rest I needed to tune out the rest of the world. Listening to my mom's voicemail proved them right.
“It smells delicious,” I said with a smile.
“Thank the small Chinese place around the corner.” He winked.
That was the happiest I'd seen him since Nana passed. I studied the old man while Nathan and he served the food on disposable plates. He'd spent most of his life working with my family, most of the time raising my sister and me since my parents had never been around. He was the closest thing to a father I knew.
And I was glad.
Somewhere along the lines the values Carter and Nana had instilled stuck, and for that I was thankful. I was different from my family but that difference was good.
Nate set a plate in front of me, the one with the most food, and I glared.
“I'm not going to finish all this,” I said with a shriek.
“Yes, you are,” he countered with a smile. “Go on, start.”
It took the first bite for me to realize how hungry I truly was. Nathan and Carter made conversation while we ate, but I was so focused on the food that I could hardly listen to what they said. That was until the word divorce came up.
“What?” I asked, eyes widening when I heard the word.
Nathan took my hand, squeezing it gently. “Hannah is being served divorce papers now.”
“What?” I asked once again. “Now?”
Nathan nodded
with a smile. I laughed happily, it seemed like it was all coming to an end.
“It's almost over,” Nathan comforted, leaning in and pressing a kiss on my cheek. I giggled, leaning into his touch. He turned his attention to Carter, smiling at the man who'd been a lot like a father to him for the past years. “We're leaving Pennsylvania,” he stated.
Carter's eyes widened in alarm and though he tried to mask it, the sadness was still visible. “Oh. When will that be?”
“As soon as the divorce papers are signed,” Nathan said. He glanced my way, seeking my approval and I gave him a single nod, eager to see Carter's reaction. “We want you to come with us,” Nathan stated.
I thought it impossible, but his eyes widened even more, this time with pure joy.
“What about this house? And your grandma's?”
“Keep it,” I said. “Everything will stay as is in case we come to visit. Or you can sell your house. Whatever you want, Carter. But I don't want you to be alone.”
I stood up and sat next to him, taking his hand in mine; hands that had worked hard to make an honest living, hands that had held me when I was just a child, comforted me when I'd scraped a knee.
“Evelyn, you don't have to do that,” he said with a warm smile. “I'm an old man and your life with Nathan is just now starting. I've lived, it's only fair I let you two live in peace.”
Shaking my head, I looked back at the man staring at me with tear-filled eyes. “You've done a lot for me, Carter,” I replied. “It's only fair that now I do something for you.”
“I won't be a bother?” Carter asked, this time asking Nathan.
“Not at all, Carter. We'd be honored to have you with us.”
Carter sniffled, eyes shining with tears of happiness.
