CHAPTER 25
About that time, Jason Valdez sat down, holding Evan's hand stiffly. They had gone to the hospital for the third-week checkup, and though the doctor confirmed all was well, he had insisted on seeing them both. While seated, awaiting his arrival, Jason had reached over to hold her hands when he saw her shaking. She smiled at him. The smile she gave him was forced. He could tell now since he had seen her deep smile and heard her laughter at their LA tour. The memory of that day had stayed with him all week. The doctor was tidying up and was yet to give the news. He hoped nothing was wrong with the baby and the mother too. "So, what is it, Doc?' He asked the instant doctor. Tom walked in.
"Oh, it's nothing serious." The doctor dismissed, and Evangeline released her breath. Doctor Tom smiled at her, "Relax, Evan. You are doing great. So is the baby. I just need you to still slow down for me. The first trimester is where the real work is. After that, you are in the clear."
"Is that all?" Evan asked, hoping that was really it.
"Yes. That will be all." The doctor said. He shook hands with Jason and asked about the business. While they chatted, Evangeline packed her items from the table, her phone and her new baby key holder, and they left.
In the car, Jason asked if she wanted to come to his home for dinner. She nodded, and he started the car. "Spence?" He called his android.
"Even here?" Evan asked curiously.
"Yes. Spence is connected to my phone." He explained, "Inform Cora to set the table. I'm coming in with a guest." The drive home was silent. So was dinner. After the meal, he suddenly brought out a wrapped box.
"What's with everyone and wrapped gifts?" She asked, collecting the box.
"Someone beat me to it already!"
"Yes. The twins."
"Well, that's fair. What did they give you? Wait, the baby-shoe key holder."
"You saw that, huh."
"It's the perfect fit for what I got you." He told her while nudging her to open the box.
Evangeline sat down to undo the wrap. Inside was a glistening diamond chain set with matching earrings. It was pure diamonds. "Wow!" she exclaimed. Another box was in the wrap. Curious, she brought that out and opened it. In it was a key.
A car key. "Oh my God!!" She exclaimed, looking outside. He laughed and walked her out to the garage where a ROVERS was parked.
"What?" she ran towards it, opened the car and got in. "It's beautiful." She said and ran to hug him. She came down and went back to the car, started it and drove it around the compound. Then she parked it and got down.
Jason noticed her changed mood, "What's wrong?"
"I like the car. Really. But I don't think I can accept this."
"Why?"
"I told you not to pay me for carrying this child."
"Our child, you said. I remember" then he moved closer to her. "But we agreed I could give gifts. Remember?"
"Big gifts." She said. She did remember. "Thank you." She hugged him again. As they hugged, Jason pulled her closer, and she leaned on him, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. Something had changed between them, Evan noticed. They were more relaxed around each other. Suddenly, he pulled back. She looked at him, alarmed. Then he pulled her closer again, tilted her head to meet his and kissed her. It was a chaste kiss, but it made her heart flutter in a foot off the ground loving way.
******
It was a very troubled Adriana who picked her kids from school and drove home to an empty house. Having the home alone to herself was a welcome relief. She discarded her clothes on the floor and laid on the bed naked. Breathing in rapidly, she soaked in the serenity and silence. But the twins soon finished their homework, and they rushed to her room.
She managed to get them out of her room for a quick nap trick before the tears began to fall. Ethan woke up earlier and to find her in tears. And that ended whatever tranquility she had been craving for. The two curled in bed and were that way till later in the evening. She somehow managed to let him know she had been crying when he came in because she was stressed at work.
"You can quit, Mom." He hugged her then said. "I thought grandma owns the company. Just tell her you need a break.
Adriana couldn't stop laughing at that. "Okay, we should try that now, don't we?" And she pulled the boy closer while she continues to cry silently. If only it was that easy to just take the break.
Later, Evangeline soon walked in too. But whatever she had been about to say skipped her mind on sighting her sister's puffy eyes. "What's wrong?" She asked, picking up the tussled clothes.
"Mom's been crying all day." Ethan said. Even his mother had thought she'd fooled the little boy. He must have heard her silent sobs.
Evangeline moved the little boy to the living room, fed him then carried him to his room. She rocked him to bed and checked on his sister, who was very much sound asleep. She quietly stepped out of their room.
"You think dad's okay?" The boy asked as she was about to close the door.
"He'll be fine. Your mom will be alright by morning too, okay? Trust me, and have a good night." she said. Evan went to her sister's room to find her still curled in bed when she got back. She removed her shoes and got in bed with her. "You're still on it. Want to tell me what this is about?"
A few more sobs escaped her throat and she leaned on Evangeline who hushed her and told her everything was going to be okay. "Mom thinks Noah is stealing from the company."
"What? How can she say that? And you let her get away with it?" She kept quiet when her sister gave her a sad look, "What? There's more?"
"There is proof. Pieces of evidence I'm trying to overlook. But it's all there." She started crying again. "Can you believe that?"
"Don't listen to mother. You should still do your investigation. I have a good PI that you can trust on sensitive issues like this."
"I told mom already to give me time to find the evidence myself. The company's PI is mom's paid man. I could use a PI with no attachment to the company. Send me his contact."
Evangeline sent her PI's contact to her. "Done." She told her sister. "In the meantime, I want you to relax. Don't act strangely around him. It might be a false alarm."
"I desperately hope it is."
And they stayed that way till they both fell asleep. Morning found them both lazing around till the twins came into the room. Adriana was still in a very bad state. Evangeline prepared the kids for school and made light breakfast while their mother dressed up
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