CHAPTER 22
The following day, Adriana was able to drag her sister out in the evening. Evangeline had been about turning in for the night ,even though it was barely six in the evening. She was feeling sleepy these days. Her sister had noted how much she eats and sleeps. When she complained to Adriana about it, she had said it was all part of being pregnant.
But this evening, Ad had scolded her, saying it was too early to be that way. So, it was a surprise when she said sleeping this early was so wrong. She then gave her pep talk on why she should resist sleep and go for a stroll. A stroll when she wasn't even two weeks gone. Imagine! Still, being the first time pregnant woman, she listened to the voice of reason and followed her out. The twins had hopped into the car, too, but Noah dragged them out, insisting he had a chore for them. The twins grumbled but went with their dad.
"Okay, you guys are weird." Evan said to her sister. "They want to come. Let them."
"I can't handle their excesses. Moreover, they stay with me all day when Noah travels. When he's home, I let him have at them. That way, they can catch up on the lost time. It's cool for both of us." She adjusted her seat belt then leaned over to help Evan with hers.
Evan slapped her hand away. "I can do my seat belt, mother." She teased, "You've been acting all mother hen around me. Back off."
Her sister threw her hands off in mock surrender and started the car. "Now, where do we go?"
"Let's eat." Evan said excitedly. The thought of food already making her feel excited.
Perfect! "Let's go to the Kicks." She started the car. The drive to the restaurant where Jason was waiting was long. But it had to be there. He had called earlier to say that he was there already. That was when she had noticed her sister about to go to bed so early.
"Why are we going so far away? Are you trying to make me lose my appetite too?" She started to complain after a long drive.
"No. Here, we're there already." She swerved the car into the restaurant's parking space and turned off the engine. As they walked in, a waitress took their coats and hung them on the hanger while another showed them to a table. Jason Valdez spotted them instantly. He waved.
Adriana smiled widely. "Oh, fancy running into you here." She said, deliberately stressing about their meeting being coincidental.
Evan looked at her, acting weird and knew instantly that this was planned. "You conniving ..."
"Watch it." Adriana cautioned. "You can spend the night outside if you make me angry."
"See why I insisted on getting my own space." She lamented and eyed her as Jason came to their table.
"I should take my leave now. Noah just texted. The twins are a handful. I should go home."
"Don't you dare leave me with him." Evan muttered under her breathe. Jason was already at their table. He sat down on the seat Adriana had pulled out. She told him she had to leave for something urgent. "Ad." Evan called again through gritted teeth
"I'm worried about how she's going to get home. I drove us here."
"Not to worry. I'll get her home and safe." Jason promised her.
"Oh, thank you." She said, kissed her sister who was pouting, then whisper. "Be nice." And she was gone.
In between sitting and trying to get her sister not to leave, Jason had ordered some wine and appetizers. The waiter brought the order and began to set the table. "Would you like to order the main course now?" He asked, looking at Evan. She nodded, not sure what she should order yet. The appetizers would jumpstart that. Maybe she would be able to work up something she craved after these. "Bon appetite." He said and left them to it.
The moment they were alone, Jason greeted her. "Hey."
She didn't bother looking at him, "Hello." She replied and stuffed her mouth with the sweet cake on the table. It was lovely, so she reached for another and another, forgetting she wasn't alone. Then she ate the broccoli and meatballs.
Jason watched her eat. Her appetite was infectious. He immediately signaled the waiter and asked him to bring his order. He had placed his order before she came in with her sister, and from what he remembered, she was going to love this. Evan continued to eat and had finished all the appetizers in less than a minute. Done, she lifted her head. Embarrassment made her blush. "I'm sorry. I totally forgot it wasn't for me alone." She apologized.
His smile made her more embarrassed. "It's okay. I had my fill earlier too. I loved them. It's why I asked him for another."
"So, they were mine."
"Yes. Would you eat now? I ordered while you were eating."
"I didn't see anyone here." She started to say, then remembered he had been here a while. "Before we came in."
The waiter brought over their food. Fettuccine Carbonara served with chicken and mushroom Ravioli and tomato sauce.
"I hope you don't mind Italian?"
"No." She said, already going for the cutlery. She ate enthusiastically for a while. And he watched her eat. Satisfied, she relaxed back to notice he had barely touched his. "Why?" She asked, then nodded at his plate when he looked confused.
"I dunno. Watching you stole my appetite." He joked.
"Then let me remedy that. Eat while I watch."
Laughing, he started to eat. She continued her meal too. They ate in total silence. Jason waited for the table to be cleared before saying anything. "I haven't congratulated you...."
"Us." She corrected. "We are going to be parents."
"Congratulations to us then." He said, raising his glass. She picked hers, clinked with his and took a sip. "Should you be drinking?"
"I checked. It's safe."
"I intentionally ordered it. Zero alcohol."
She relaxed back in her seat and eyed him warily, "From the long silence, one would think you haven't been paying attention."
"Oh, I have. And I am so sorry for staying away."
"I get it." She dismissed casually even though she didn't get it. Sudden rain patter made her look up. "Rain?"
"So it seems."
"We should head home. It's late already." She said, standing up. He stood up too and called his driver to bring the car around while he sorted the bill. As they stepped out, both turned back in. This wasn't any rain patter. It was heavy rain. Sighing, she went back to sit down while Jason told his driver to hold on. "I wanted a boy." She said suddenly. "Doctor Tom says we're having a boy. But then again, who knows?"
"I don't mind any. I just want a child. My own." Jason replied her sincerely.
"I want you in his life, like his father. I don't think I want all this silence and distances. I don't think I can cope with that."
"I will be in his life. I promise. I'm sorry for not calling earlier. I was overwhelmed by it all. It was something Ellen, and I wanted for years. And we do now...easily too."
She nodded. Her sister had said that could be the reason for his not being involved. She rubbed her stomach casually, longing for the bump to be visible. Aside from sleeping and eating much, nothing seems to have changed. Both sat in companionable silence, waiting for the rain to stop. Other customers were becoming restless too.
"Do you think we can head out too?" She asked, seeing they were the only ones left. He nodded, and they both stepped out. But the rain wasn't easing up. "Adriana's house is quite far from here." she yelled so he could hear her.
"Mine is closer. We should go there so you don't catch a cold." He said and called his driver to bring the car over. They hopped into the car, and he offered her a handkerchief his driver had passed him to clean off while the car zoomed off in the rain. The driver had to make quick stops here and there in the flooded area until they were in Jason's house. Once in, the driver stepped down with an umbrella and helped Evan into the house while Jason ignored his order to get him an umbrella.
"Warm tea, please." Jason called to Cora, the chef. In few minutes, the tea was served while they had both managed to get out of their wet clothes. Evan took the tea thankfully and slowly sipped. She was warm immediately. Jason came in to announce her room was ready.
"I need to call Adriana."
"Already sorted out. I called her when I went to get your room ready" He walked her to the room. It was a master suite-his room. The room was linked to another room painted in white. From what she saw, it looked very feminine. It was Ellen's.
"Is this yours?" She asked, looking back at him.
"Yes. This room is the only one adjourning to the other room. I thought it would be better in case you need help with anything at night. The guest rooms are downstairs. Too far for me to get to you quickly."
"Well then, will you be comfortable in the other room? I'd hate to...."
"It's fine." He said, "I left a nightdress for you." He saw the concerned look on her face. "No, it's new." He clarified. "All Ellen's clothes have been moved to the guest room by her sister immediately after the funeral."
"I didn't mean any offence." She pleaded
"None taken." He started to leave. "I'll be in the other room. Just call if you need anything."
"Okay. Good night."
"Night." He responded and gently closed the door.
Evangeline changed into night clothe and went to bed. She was so tired she was soundly asleep the instant she hit the bed. The rain continued to fall heavily then the torrent started to reduce. Evangeline thought she heard a sound. She jerked awake instantly. Something wasn't right. Something cold held her hands.
Scared, she tried to withdraw her hands. The room was so dark. "So dark." She murmured. Whatever held her hands pressed tighter, forcing her to open her eyes. "Ellen?" she called the dark hooded creature sitting beside her bed. "Ellen." She whispered. The creature was saying something. Evan moved closer to catch what she was saying, "Ellen." She whispered again, trying to tell her to speak louder. It was freezing. Evan shivered at the coldness.
Jason walked into the room to find Evangeline sitting up and shivering. The bed cover had dropped, and she was muttering his late wife's name. Strange, he thought, stepping into the room. He moved to the bed and sat down with her. Gently he made her lie back down and covered her up. She was so cold. She shivered again.
"Shh, it's only a dream." He cooed. Feeling the warmth radiating from him, Evan held him and curled over him while she drifted off to sleep. He was trapped beneath her. He shifted until he found a comfortable position and so dozed off too.
The next morning, Evan woke up to find herself curled over Jason. She stood up immediately, almost tripping backwards. Jason caught her hand. "It's okay." He told while trying to get himself up. "Good morning."
"I'm sorry to ...."
"I told you, it's okay." He said, gently rubbing her hand.
Suddenly feeling warm on the spot he rubbed, she withdrew her hand. "Let me wash up and get home."
"Audrey called while you were asleep. She says she's left you a message. You have an urgent meeting scheduled for this morning. So, I think you should bathe and get dressed here. My jet will take you. I'll be with you all through the meeting and get you back in Miami in no time."
Evangeline sighed, "I didn't know about schedule any meeting. Who could it be?"
"Your PA said it was a last-minute schedule she had missed last week. The meeting is in 5hours." He said, looking at the time. "You barely have time. Cora is fetching breakfast."
"I still need to get my cloth." She realized
"I got you a dress." He pointed to the hanger. A curvy wine colored jewel-neck gown hung in an exotic way on the hanger.
She went over to touch the fluffy material. "But you couldn't move." She pointed out, remembering how he had been trapped underneath her.
"My PA is on speed dial." Then, raising his voice, He said. "Spence, where is James now?" His android replied instantly that the PI was standing right in the living room.
"Okay..." Evan noted.
"He called James for me, and I did everything from here." He explained further. "You should bath. He said, leaving the room, "I'll be right back."
While she dressed, Evan wondered who it could be that wanted a face time so urgently. Then why was Jason staying with her again? She showered fast and dressed up. Aside from the cloth, he had gotten her favorites body spray; Deja, underwear and some slip-on.
"Detailed." She noted and was in time to see him seated at the dining. He was dressed in white pant with a black dotted shirt. He looked every bit of a billionaire. Her gaze fell on his shiny black shoe. "Nicey." She commented.
"Thank you. You look breathtaking in that." His gaze slowly rolled down her body in the most appraising way. Evangeline felt her face heat up.
"Thank you. It's a perfect fit." She loved the way the material clung to her body. They both settled down to eat. Breakfast was a simple dish of Parmesan Pasta, Bacon and Broccoli. They ate and were ready to leave.
"Shall we?" He said while taking her to the plane pad at his rooftop. The pilot was already waiting. They stepped in, fastened their belt and were on air.
$CHAPTER
