Chapter Ten:
…….John gave Evangeline a ride home……
When John dropped Evangeline off at her townhouse, he walked her to the door and carried in her bag for her. As he sat down the bag, he gave her an intense look and then pulled her into a soft, lingering kiss. As their lips parted, he held her in his embrace for a little while longer. He said into her ear as her head lay on his shoulder, "I don’t really want this date to end, but I know you have things to do and so do I."
Evangeline just exhaled a deep breath and said, "Yeah, me either. I wish this date could have lasted even longer."
They stood in their embrace for a little longer and finally, John backed away, said, "See ya later", with a smile and told her that he’d call her tomorrow.
Evangeline stood in the door and just watched him as he walked to his car. She waved goodbye as he backed out of the drive way and then closed the door.
*******************************************************************************************
Over the next few days, Evangeline was really busy getting all her evidence together for Antonio’s evidentiary hearing on that Wednesday. John was busy too and so they didn’t get to see each other; however, they talked every night just to catch up with each other and to hear each other’s voice. Those talks in the late night hours were what each of them looked forward to at the end of the day. Even though neither one expressed it verbally to each other, those talks just made them even closer. They were each other’s calm in the storm, just like they had discussed the first time they were together in John’s room.
*******************************************************************************************
While Evangeline worked on her case to get Antonio exonerated, Tico Santi gathered information on her that he could use if she became more of a nuisance. When he realized that his threatening Judge Hernandez’s grandkids lead to Evangeline losing her first case, he knew she’d be trouble defending Antonio. The investigation he’d had done on her brought up some very interesting information. (1) She had come to town defending Mitch Laurence, the previous owner of his home, Lionheart, and Jessica Buchanan’s biological father. (2) She defended Todd Manning, a convicted rapist, on a second set of rape charges and when it was all over, proved that he was innocent. (3) She went up against Antonio in a custody battle of Jamie and somehow managed to make it where Antonio finally got partial custody of his child. (4) She seems to always back Antonio and help him out. (5) She was involved with RJ for over a year and left him for John McBain, one of RJ’s enemies, along with Antonio and the whole Vega family. He especially noted this last bit of information and thought to himself that he might be able to use that at some point if she gets in the way even more.
*******************************************************************************************Tuesday morning, the day before Antonio’s evidentiary hearing, and Evangeline came walking into the Llanview Police Station. She thought that she might see John and that made her heart skip a little, but she was primarily there to read Tico Santi’s butler’s account of what happened the night of Isabella’s death as it referred to Antonio. She was sitting at a desk going over the report when Jessica Buchanan walked in.
"Hello Evangeline", Jessica said in a snide voice.
"Hi Jessica", Evangeline replied.
Jessica said, "Evangeline, I need you to tell me exactly what’s going on with Antonio and his case."
"I can’t do that", Evangeline said. "Antonio has to be the one to tell you".
That just made Jessica’s blood boil and she spit out, "Either you tell me, or I’ll get John to tell me".
Evangeline looked shocked and stated, "First of all, if you’re implying that I’ve told John anything, you’d be totally wrong. Second of all, it’s Antonio’s information to tell, not mine".
"Oh come on", Jessica said, "You expect me to believe that you’ve told John nothing! Natalie told me that you’re sleeping with John. Also, the fact that Natalie wouldn’t always tell John everything is one of the reasons that they aren’t together today".
At these words, Evangeline started to lose it. She replied, "Jessica, my personal relationship with John is really none of your business and I don’t appreciate you and your sister talking about it. Just what is your problem with me? Would you just tell me already so we can clear the air?"
"Fine", Jessica said. "I just think that if you’d back away from John, he’d go back to Natalie where he belongs. Natalie has broken up with Paul because she realized it was wrong and you are the only thing standing in the way of her and John getting back together".
Evangeline stood stunned by what Jessica had just said. After a few seconds, where she gathered her thoughts, she said, "Jessica, of all people, I can’t believe you just said that to me. For all practical purposes, I’m in the same situation you were in when Keri came back to town. Keri came back to town with Antonio’s baby and all she wanted was for you to back off so that she and Antonio could get back together. Yes, she’d made a mistake by faking her own death, but let’s face it, Antonio had made mistakes too. They may have been a happy family today, but if I remember correctly, not only did you not back off, but everywhere Keri went in town, she saw the two of you together. Now I’m guessing that Antonio told you that it was over with Keri and he wanted to be with you. So, why would you think I should be backing off from John if he’s shown me no indication that he’d rather be with Natalie? Maybe you should take into account your own actions before questioning mine."
Jessica raised her voice and said, "My situation has nothing to do with what you’re doing."
Just at this moment, John walked into the station and noticed the tension between Jessica and Evangeline. He said, "What’s going on here?"
They both turned to look at him and Evangeline said, "I’ve got to go". She turned and walked out of the station.
John was flabbergasted and asked Jessica, "What did you say to her?"
Jessica said, "All I asked was what was going on with Antonio’s case and I told her that you should be with Natalie."
"What? How is my personal life ANY of your business!" he exclaimed. "Also, she can’t tell you anything about Antonio’s case, he has to. How many times do I have to say that to you?"
"Oh come on John", Jessica sarcastically replied. "Just tell me what’s going on with Antonio or I’ll go to my Uncle Bo".
"Go to your Uncle Bo, go to Carlotta, go to Sonia for all I care, just butt out of my business and leave Evangeline alone", was John’s answer as he walked away from Jessica and went into his office and slammed the door.
Jessica was left standing there in a stunned state.
*******************************************************************************************
As Evangeline was walking to her car to go back to her office, she could feel the hair stand up on the back of her neck. "Of all the nerve!" she thought. "Who does Jessica Buchanan think that she is? Why are her words about Natalie bothering me?" She called Nora and asked her to meet her at the Angel Square Public Tennis Courts around 5 pm. She really needed to blow off some steam.
Nora said she’d be there.
*******************************************************************************************
"My God!" John thought as he sat at his desk. "Why is Jessica always all up in my business? What gives her the right? How mad is Evangeline? Why did she walk out of here without talking to me? Should I go find her or let her cool down a little?"
Before he could decide, an officer came in and John had to go out on a case. Even as he worked, thoughts of Evangeline and the look on her face were in the back of his mind.
