by Jessica Gray
Evelyn pushed against his shoulders, trying to find the will to fight him. The feel of him so close to her once again won the fight. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders she gave in to the sensations flooding her body and kissed him back. There was a hint of desperation in her kiss, as if she might never have this opportunity again.
Michael could sense the emotions running through her and ran his hands up and down her back in a soothing gesture. She tasted good and felt perfect in his arms. Moving his mouth along her jawline, he murmured, “It’s going to be alright, Evie. You’ll see. I’ll help you work things out.”
As his words registered, Evelyn was brought back to the problem she currently faced and it had the effect of a cold bucket of water being poured on her head. Pushing at Michael’s shoulders, she removed herself from his arms and took several steps backward, putting some distance between her and him. “It won’t work out Michael unless I do what my father has planned for me.”
Reaching for her again, and not liking it when she moved another step away from him, he turned and walked to the other side of the room. He needed to make her see that she didn’t have to solve this problem. “Again, this is not your problem. It’s your father’s and he needs to deal with it on his own.”
Evelyn shook her head, “Michael, you know I can’t do that to him.”
“Why not?!!” Michael drew in a deep breath and counted to ten, trying to calm himself down. “You don’t even know this guy and your dad expects you to marry him in four days?”
Shrugging, she said, “The timing was Mr. Taylor’s. He wants his son to grow up, rather sooner than later.”
“Well, if you can’t tell your dad no, call Mr. Taylor and tell him. You can’t honestly be thinking of going through with this.” Turning to face her once again, “Tell me you’re not really thinking of doing this?”
“What other choice do I have?”
“You have me.”
Evelyn shook her head, “No I don’t. We’re friends, remember. And you and Victor have the company to think about…”
Michael stopped and stared right at her, “What do you mean, ‘Victor and I have the company to think about?’ Did you happen to hit your head at lunch and forget that you are part of that company as well?”
Evelyn started crying again and hated her lack of control, “No, I didn’t forget. But Mr. Taylor expects me to spend the first month of my marriage to his son at his property in Spain, getting to know Henry.”
Michael began shaking his head at the absurdity of what her father and Mr. Taylor had put together, “Evie, listen to what you’re saying. Not only are they expecting you to get married to a guy you’ve never met, they then want you to spend a month in another country with the same guy. That’s ridiculous.”
“That’s what I told my father. Mr. Taylor made it clear to my father that the timing is non-negotiable and the wedding has to happen this Saturday.”
“You’re talking as if it’s going to occur. This is crazy. Call your dad and tell him to figure out another way to clear his debt.” Saying this, Michael walked over and handed her the phone. “Do it. Call your dad and tell him you’re not marrying Harry.”
“Henry.”
“What?!!”
“His name is Henry, not Harry.”
“I don’t care if he’s the damn Pope, you’re not marrying him in four day, or four weeks.” Michael continued to hold the phone out to her, demanding that she call her father and decline his offer.
Evelyn looked at the phone, everything in her wanting to reach out and take it. She could make a thirty-second phone call and put this all behind her. Unfortunately, the other voice in her head reminded her that making that phone call would also be destroying her father and potentially Davenport Shipping.
Looking up she met Michael’s eyes and slowly shook her head. “I can’t.”
Michael stared at her, angry with her father for putting her in this situation, but also angry with her for not having the backbone to stand up and take something for herself. Angry that she wouldn’t stand up and fight for what the two of them might have.
Thrusting the phone in her direction one more time, he said, “You can. One phone call, Evie, and this will all be behind you and we can focus on the company and us. I care about you and I know we could make things work between us. Give us a chance. Make the phone call.”
Evelyn stared at Michael and knew that the decision she made in the next few seconds would forever change her life, one way or another. If she made the call, she would have no further excuse to avoid Michael. If they found they couldn’t make a relationship work, she would lose him, most likely his friendship and ultimately Victor and their company as well. She would have already lost her father and would be left with nothing.
If she didn’t make the phone call, she would definitely hurt Michael and lose the company. She would have to work hard to make up for hurting Michael, but he would eventually get over it. She would still have Victor. She would still have her father, and maybe this Henry guy and she would be able to find a way to co-exist in peace.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her eyes back up to Michael’s and whispered, “I can’t make the call. I can’t willingly destroy my father just to save myself from the unknown. I know you don’t understand, but all of my life I’ve been taking care of him. I can’t just stop being his daughter. “
Michael dropped the hand holding out the phone. He could see the resignation on her face; she meant to get married on Saturday to save her father’s sorry ass, once again. Shaking his head, “I can’t believe you’re going to let your dad steal your life and dreams away from you. When are you going to learn? He’s the one who should have been taking care of you all those years, not the other way around. I can’t believe your willing to throw away the company and our relationship over this.”
Evelyn had heard enough, “Michael, you keep referring to ‘us’, but there is no us…”
“Not for lack of trying on my part!” he shot back.
“That may be,” Evelyn conceded with a nod, “But can you blame me. Your friendship meant more to me than any date and I just couldn’t risk it.”
Michael looked at her, sorrow making his words harsh and cruel, “Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing now?”
Evelyn took a step towards him, “Please don’t say that. I need your friendship more now than ever.”
Michael shook his head at her, “Don’t ask me to be your friend and help you throw your life away. I won’t do it.”
Evelyn stared at him in shock. It had never occurred to her that if she married Henry she would lose Michael’s friendship immediately. Michael looked at her and mourned for what might have been. He hadn’t wanted to admit it to himself, but he was half-way in love with Evelyn and had been since they were in high school. He had never acted on it because he always felt that she would be there when he was ready to settle down. He had taken her for granted and now it was coming back to bite him in the butt. Knowing how he really felt about her, there was no way he would be able to watch her marry someone else and build a life without him. He just couldn’t do it.
“Well, I guess you said what you came here to say. Maybe you should go.” Michael needed to get her away from him before he lost control of his emotions. He wasn’t a crier, but the urge to give in to the tears clogging his throat was growing stronger with each passing minute. “Call Victor. Maybe he can talk some sense into you.”
“You’re throwing me out?” Evelyn asked, the hurt evident in her voice.
“I don’t see any reason for you to stick around. You’ve made up your mind and there’s nothing left for us to say to one another. Have a good life.” Michael turned and headed back towards his bedroom. She could see herself out.
Evelyn started crying again as she watched him walk away. Michael had never spoken to her so coldly before. The realization that she had just destroyed their friendship hit her hard, she wrapped her arms around herself and she slowly wandered back o
ut to her car. She had never felt so much pain, it was as if a piece of her had just been ripped away, leaving a gaping wound.
Getting into her car, she started to drive home, hoping that Victor would be there to help pull her back together and bandage her wounds enough to help her get through the next several days.
Michael watched Evelyn get back into her car and drive away. The tears ran down his cheeks unchecked as he watched his dreams of happily ever after fade away. There was no way he could stay around and watch her get married to someone else. He just couldn’t do it.
Acting on a whim, he grabbed his cell phone and called a buddy from college working down in Venezuela. He had been offered an internship helping to oversee a large construction project down there several months ago. If there was any chance the position was still open, he was on the next plane out of town. Evelyn could save her father, marry Harry .. Henry.. whatever his name was, but Michael was getting on with his life.
The Decision
Victor pulled into his driveway and noticed that Evelyn’s car was parked in front as well. After retrieving the newspaper, he turned to head into his side of the duplex when movement inside her car caught his attention. Puzzled, he walked across the yard and found himself hurrying his step when he realized Evelyn still sat in her car, hunched over the steering wheel. Was she sick?
“Evelyn?” Victor asked, rapping his knuckles gently on the window.
Evelyn picked her head up slowly and squinted through her tears to see who was standing outside her car. Spotting Victor, she pushed open the door and almost fell out in her attempt to get to him.
Victor caught her before her knees could hit the sidewalk, and gently gathered her up in his arms. He had seen Evelyn cry before, but the heart wrenching sobs coming from her were new and kind of scary. Something was seriously wrong.
“Evelyn, tell me what’s wrong. Are you sick? Is somebody hurt?”
He gently walked her inside her house and sat her down on the couch. She still had to answer his questions; she was crying so hard he wasn’t even sure if she had heard them. Filling a glass with water from the kitchen sink, he returned to the living room and sat down beside her. “Here, take a drink and get control of yourself so we can talk.”
Evelyn took the offered glass and drank half of it before handing it back. “Thanks.” It took several more minutes before she was finally able to gain control. Victor sat patiently by, handing her tissues and rubbing a hand soothingly across her shoulders.
Taking another deep calming breath, Evelyn looked up at him and she wiped her eyes, “Thanks.”
Giving her a gentle smile, Victor replied, “You already said that. Now, tell me what has you so upset that I feel like Niagara Falls just moved locations.”
“I love him.”
Puzzled, Victor asked clarification, “Who are we talking about here?”
“Michael. I love him.” That statement started another round of tears.
“Whoa. Okay, so you finally figured out that you love Michael. I don’t see why you need so many tears over this revelation.”
“I lost him.”
Victor was really puzzled now. How did you lose a full-grown man? “What do you mean you lost him? Did you two go someplace this afternoon?”
Evelyn shook her head; Victor wasn’t paying attention. “I lost him and he’s never going to speak to me again. He kicked me out of his house.”
Victor sat up straight at this news and knew he had definitely missed something this afternoon. “Let’s back up for a minute because, girl, I’m completely lost right now. Michael and I went to the deli for lunch and brought you back a sandwich, but you were already gone when we got to the office. Where did you go?”
“My dad called. He took me to lunch.”
This was new. Evelyn’s dad didn’t do things like take his only daughter to lunch; not without some strings attached. “So you went to lunch with your dad? Did something happen during lunch to upset you?”
Evelyn nodded. When she made no effort to elaborate he pushed, “Evelyn, what happened at lunch that upset you?”
Evelyn wasn’t sure she could go through this all again. Once she started talking, the entire story came out in one big rush, “He told me that I had to get married to the guy, on Saturday… He owed Mr. Taylor a bunch of money and if I marry Henry then my dad won’t be destroyed…and everything will be okay…except I have to marry some guy I’ve never met…and Michael hates me…and I have to go to Spain for a month…”
Victor was starting to get an idea of what had transpired this afternoon, but the longer he let her speak, the more upset she was becoming. Pulling her into his shoulder with one arm, he hushed her, “Evelyn, stop. It’s okay. Take a deep breath…That’s it. Now another one… Good girl.
“Okay. Let me see if I understand what happened. Your dad’s been gambling again and lost a lot of money to a Mr. Taylor?” When Evelyn nodded, he went on, “Mr. Taylor has a son named Henry, and wants you to marry him?” At her nod, he continued, “If you don’t marry his son, he’s going to destroy your father financially?” Evelyn nodded and grabbed another tissue.
“Michael hates me. He doesn’t understand why I have to save my dad…”
“To be honest, neither do I, but let me make sure I have this afternoon’s events clear before we tackle that issue.” When Evelyn nodded her agreement, he continued, “You went to see Michael and told him what had happened and he got upset?”
“He wanted me to call my dad and tell him I wasn’t going to go through with it. When I wouldn’t take the phone, he got really upset and told me that I needed to put ‘us’ first. I didn’t know there was an ‘us.’”
“Evelyn, that’s not entirely true and you know it. You’ve been in love with Michael for years.”
“But that was only in my dreams. I knew it would never become reality and I didn’t want to lose his friendship.” That started the tears all over again.
Victor gave her a few minutes to gain her control back before he continued, “You have to know how Michael feels about you. He’s been trying to get you out on a date with him since your graduation party. And before you deny it, I saw the two of you in the parking lot. The chemistry between you two is nuclear. You’ve just been too afraid to act on it.”
Evelyn blushed at the thought of Victor having witnessed her and Michael’s parking lot kiss. Shaking her head in despair, “Well, it doesn’t matter now. After Saturday, I won’t even be stateside for an entire month. “
Victor gave her shoulders another squeeze before letting her go and moving back a few inches. “That’s the part that I really don’t get here. Why would you willingly sacrifice your entire life, your dreams, our company, your friendship with Michael for a man who’s never been there for you? Who has taken and trampled upon your feelings your entire life? Who won’t stop his gambling, even if you make this sacrifice?”
Evelyn stopped and stared at Victor. He was right. Marrying Henry wouldn’t stop her father from gambling. In fact, it might even trigger more as there would be no personal consequences for having lost so much. Now, as she began to think it through, he didn’t care that he was asking her to sacrifice all of her dreams and hopes to marry this guy. He just didn’t want to face the consequences himself.
Victor watched the emotions cross Evelyn’s face. She was starting to think more clearly and realize that her sacrifice would not make the root of the problem go away. He stayed silent and allowed her to work things out in her own head. She would talk when she was ready.
Evelyn continued to roll things around and then remembered that safeguards had been put in place years ago to prevent Davenport Shipping from ever being taken out of the Davenport family portfolio. Changes had been made that prevented anyone not directly related to the family, from being able to vote more than 50% of their shares. The board had been afraid something like this might happen one day and had taken steps to ensure the future of the company when it did. It wouldn’t matter how much stock
Mr. Taylor acquired, he would never have more than a 50% say in company actions. Evelyn still owned 25% of the stock, and knew the board of directors would back her wishes. Her father would lose all but a token interest in the company’s stock, but Davenport Shipping would be safe.
She felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders as she came to the realization that she didn’t have to marry Henry Taylor and her father would finally have to face the consequences of his own actions. Maybe he would even consent to some sort of rehab or counseling.
Michael. She needed to tell Michael. Jumping off the couch, she was startled to find Victor was still there, calmly watching her work things out. Grabbing him up and giving him a big hug, she gave him a beautiful smile and ran out the door. Getting into her car, she immediately headed back to Michael’s apartment.
