CHAPTER 16
"Logan!" Evangeline yelled as she rushed into his apartment. The annoying brute smiled on seeing her.
"The heck was that for? Who sent you to my mother?"
"I thought she should know and speak sense into you since you're bent on dining with the devil" He replied standoffishly. He had been reading a file when she came in. Though he expected a visit, he hadn't prepared for this early attack. Evan had been aloof lately and unbothered. He was happy to see her fight him now. There was a little spark of hope there. That he could exploit. He pocketed his hands and stared at her, coolly.
Evan noticed the stance he took and got further angry, "What do you mean, the devil?" She laughed in derision, "Even if he is, why care?"
"There are things about Jason Valdez you need to know. If only you'll seat and let me explain."
Did he know something? Unsure, she eyed him warily, "I don't need to listen to you" She started to leave. Logan ran after her and held her back.
"You should know he is as brutal as they come. Jason is no gentle man. He's a cheat and a psychopath."
He noticed Evan flinched, but continued. He was past caring. "Why would you want to be tangled with such a man?" He threw his hands up in frustration.
"I wish you hadn't done that. If there was any hope of us getting back, this bold move you made ends it."
In a smooth stride, he pulled her to himself and crushed his lips on her. Evan hit him and tried to free herself. He didn't let her go. He continued to kiss her in the most brutal way. She bites him hard and he let her go. Shocked at the force with which she bites. He could taste his blood.
"Try this again and I'll be pressing charges." She threatened and left. At the door, she almost stumbled into Mary. The look on her face was pure hatred. For someone who had betrayed a friend, she definitely didn't look remorseful. She tried to get it. It was pointless talking to her. Mary was in no way ready and neither was she.
Forcing Evan back into the room, she asked. "What's going on here?" She noticed the blood stain on Logan's lips, and the implications wasn't lost on her.
Still, she taunted her friend, "Was she forcing herself on you?" She smirked at Evan, obviously twisting the narrative to hurt her friend.
Oh, two can play this game. "You mean he...." She stressed the word 'he' for emphasis and said it again, "He forced himself on me," then turned to her betrayal of a friend, "It appears you haven't been giving him what he wants."
Logan watched both women throw shades at each other. Helplessly, he tried to stay in the middle. Mary stood blocking the entrance and wouldn't let Evan get out.
"Keep your filthy self from my man." Mary warned.
"Your man!" She smiled wickedly, "I wonder why he bothers me so much then. He even travelled to Miami to meet my mom." Seeing the last punch worked, she forced her way out grinning from ear to ear. Mary watched from Logan to Evan's retrieving back.
"And what do you want now you she-demon. This is all your fault." Logan turned to Mary. The look in his eyes were pure disgust. Mary cowered back, hating that look he had on.
"So you went to Mama Swiss huh!" She said mustering up enough strength the face him. She knew he was angry. Yet she needed him to understand she was in this with him.
Logan stepped closer with an intimidating stance. She didn't let that deter her. She stepped in his front and placed a leg on the table, irritated.
"Why don't you leave that bitch and let's keep what we have going?" She bit out.
"Nothing is going on between us. Nothing ever will." He barked at her and left her standing. Mary stewed as he walked away. She was in no way done with him. Now, she decided she needed to make Evan hurt more.
"I don't need to take you through the procedure again. Do I?" Asked Doctor Tom. He pointed at the chair so she could sit. He was casually dressed in pant and cheered shirt and looked relaxed, contrasting Evan, who looked worried.
Evangeline nodded in affirmative, "I think we covered all the basics the last time." Even her voice was failing her.
"It's not a big deal, relax." She found that amusing.
"Then let's do this." Said the excited Doctor. "First, we test your eggs for viability, then we check your womb to be sure it's in good shape for the incoming fetus. Which of course, shouldn't be any problem, considering you're young and the womb hasn't carried any child before. Still, the test has to be done to be certain."
He walked her to the Test room, where some tests were carried out. Her vials were taken alongside blood and urine sample. Evan allowed her mind to wander off as the tests were done. She had agreed to have Doctor Tom do the procedure and stay the first trimester in Miami. While the doctor runs the basic tests, she intended to go house hunting. Though Adriana had asked her to stay with her, she had always been one to want some privacy. The family had an old cottage which she could use instead. Thankfully too, it was close to Adriana's. But it's been a long since anyone used the place. So, she would be checking that place first. If everything worked right, there might be no need for house hunting. Adriana had volunteered to go there with her. It was obvious, though, that her sister was fishing for some talk time and information, not interested in the house hunt. She also wanted to discuss Logan's visit in details.
"All done here." The doctor announced and she stood up, ready to leave. She pulled down her clinging gown that had worked its way up when she sat down.
"I'll have the results ready tomorrow. I'll be needing you to rest. I'll give you some food preferences to take and what to avoid for the time being. Then we can begin the actual procedure next week."
"Okay, Doc, thank you." She said as he walked her to the door. He bid her farewell and went back to his office. Done with one phase, she called her sister for the ride to their old cottage. Adriana asked to be picked up at the company's parking lot. Their mother had gone home and wouldn't spot Evan. She had left series of annoying messages and calls for her younger daughter. She had even threatened to visit if she didn't return her calls. But Evan was past caring, and Swiss probably know better than to visit.
"The look on mom's face was divine. You should have seen it." Adriana told her sister as soon as she picked her up from the company. Earlier she had left the twins with their mother, who didn't suspect the reason she was playing grandmother was so her daughters could bitch about her. She wasn't even aware her youngest was in town.
"Belt, please." Evan scolded her sister. "I honestly don't care what she looks like. It's no surprise there. I expected worse." She started the car, and they began their journey to the cottage.
"Like fainting? She had me there too."
Sighing, Evan complained bitterly, "She threatened to visit. Like what the hell? She didn't visit when I moved out. Why now?"
"Well, this is something scary for her. Being old and all. She must think you're doing the most despicable act of all. Like sin."
Her laugh made Evan chuckled, "She sees it as you having a child outside marriage. I'm not sure she realizes this is the 21st century, where things are done differently. She still thinks everything follows the normal pattern."
"Imagine?"
"Still, you need to talk to her. Okay?"
She shrugged, not willing to make peace with her mother just yet. After a while, she commented dryly about Logan's role in all this, "And Logan... I expected more, you know. He's always been cool-headed. But something about Valdez just brings out this new stranger in him. It beats me." she told her sister, sliding her a quick look before turning back to the road.
"Seeing him with mom." She hit her head for effect, "Shocked me." Then remembering how he looked, "He had this menace about him. Wait, you took the wrong turn." Adriana cautioned her sister. "The cottage's turning is the next. Not this."
Stopping the car at a safe parking spot, Evan sighed, "I might have to reverse then." As she backed the car a few distances, she was able to get back on the road. The drive to the cottage continued with a few bantering here and there. Then they got to the cabin. The place looked anything but inviting. "It's so old. You think anything works here?"
Stepping down, Adriana replied casually, "Only one way to find out."
The minute they stepped into the cottage, Evan knew this wasn't going to work. The door creaked loudly as they opened it. She tried unsuccessfully to flip the light, but even that wasn't working. They had to use their phone's flashlight to navigate around. Everywhere was dusty, and the metals were rusty.
"Even the heating system is gone." She complained. "I'll probably just freeze to death here."
"We can get someone to work on it, though. I'm sure a couple of dollars will get it up and running." Adriana teased wickedly, "So you can have your privacy."
"Don't be so excited about this. I'm going to look for another." She stepped on metal and jumped, "You're right, though. We can pay to have this old building running again. And we should. Why leave it to rust?"
"I still think you can have better." Her sister insisted as they ascended the stairs. Everything in the upper room seemed okay. The rooms were dirty, of course, but not so bad. The lights flipped, and they could see everywhere. "You can stay here." She laughed.
Evangeline pulled a cloth cover to throw at her. The dust that brought on made both ladies dash out.
The two women came out coughing. There wasn't much to salvage from the building. Nothing seems to be in good condition.
"Will you stay with us now?"
"Ad, I don't know. I just don't want to bother you and Noah. The twins too."
"You know none of us minds. We're family, Evan." They entered the car and sat down to talk. She didn't start the vehicle. "I still don't know why you can't stay with Mr. Valdez for the first trimester anyway. Since he offered."
"That's not even an option."
"Why not? He's going to be the father. He might as well see why he's putting you through."
"Aside from being the sperm donor, there's nothing."
"He's going to be your baby's daddy. The sooner you let that sink in, the better. And then again, he's single." She shrugged, "Why to be a surrogate for him when you can have..."
"Don't even complete that sentence, Ad." She cut in, "He's just lost his wife. A widower is what he is."
"Still, nothing stops you both from coming into each other's life. His wife wouldn't mind since she insisted on this in the first place."
Evangeline started the car, "I say we go house hunting, puh-lease."
Adriana laughed, "And he's your type too, tall, brownish, sexy hooded blue eyes, and. ... Just saying." She ended seeing as Evan eyed her warily. She watched her sister meaningfully as they drove off. She was proud of her in so many ways. Evan, unlike her, had always been so strong and resilient. She was always the way to take bold steps. "Can't believe you're having a baby." She commented awry after a while.
"I can't believe it either."
For hours, they looked from house to house. Nothing was good enough. There was something either wrong with the house or the neighborhood, sometimes even the neighbor. Eventually, they had to give up. Adriana thanked the Realtor, and both went back home tired. "Do you still want to stay away from us?"
"I think I'll just stay with you guys. If you'll have me."
Sarcastically, she replied, "Of course, I'm glad it didn't take you long to figure that out."
