Chapter 35: Thirty-Five

Evangeline turned to him as soon as she heard his voice, forgetting all about her ice cream. Gabriella stared at Henry as if he had grown two heads full of snakes. Her blood flushed out of her face as he stopped in front of them, with Darryl and Josh right behind him.

“Daddy!” Eve squeaked in happiness, raising her arms to him.

“Hello, muffin.” His tone was soft and endearing when he addressed the little girl. One would never think it was the same man walking on the shore. He got her in his arms and hugged her tight, planting kisses all over her little face.

“It tickles, daddy!” She giggled, hugging him back.

“What’s going on?” Gabriela asked with a shaken voice, staring at all of them.

“Darryl, take her to my house. She has a lot to explain.” With Eve in his arms, Henry walked back to the car when Gabriella cursed at them, making him turn back and stared at her with cold eyes. “I advise you to go with them quietly.” Then he stared at Darryl. “If she gives you a hard time, you know what to do.” He headed to the car, not caring about the struggling woman he left behind.

Henry buckled up Evangeline in the back seat and drove to the house. He thought to take the girl to Melina, but she was all busy trying to save the cats, and it was better to give her some more time. He would deal with Gabriella first and then take the girl to her. Gabriella. She was Melina’s best friend. What was her part in all this? All this situation didn’t add up. Something was at play, and he hated to feel clueless about it. He liked to be in control, but since he found Melina again, he let his guard down. He wasn’t a rookie to make stupid mistakes.

“Muffin, why were you at the beach with Auntie Gabriella? Weren’t you supposed to be at home?”

“Socks and Lina had tummy aches, and then we heard a kitty crying.” She fell into silence and lowered her face. Henry was peeking at her by the rearview mirror. “The kitty needed help, and I wanted to help, but Lina said she wasn’t feeling good. I heard her throw up.”

“What happened then?”

“The kitty was crying loud, and… and I followed the meow. Are you angry with me?” Eve whined with tearful eyes.

“No muffin, I’m not, but mommy got worried. How did you end up with Gabriella?”

“I got lost, and I got scared, daddy. But aunty Gabs found me.”

“Okay, Eve. Giagiá is waiting for you. Mommy is at the clinic, making Socks and Lina better. Daddy will talk to Gabriella and take you to mommy afterwards.” He parked the car by the house, and Giagiá was there at the steps waiting for them. Her face brightened up at the sight of Evangeline in his arms.

“I was certain you’d find her, son. Thank you.” She embraced both. Then got Eve to her.

“I need to take care of an issue, but I’ll be back in a while to take Eve down to Melina. Eli will keep you two safe.”

Henry walked to his house with large and hurried strides. He wanted to get to the bottom of this. He wasn’t about to deny it. When he saw Gabriella at ease on that beach while their life was catching on fire, he wanted to jump on her neck and finish her off. If what Evangeline told was true, why didn’t she bring the girl back, or at least called to let them know they were together.

When he entered the house, his vision zoomed on the distressed woman pacing back and forth in his living room. Darryl was by the door leading to the kitchen and Josh the front one. She had no way out and a lot to explain for herself. The room seemed to shrink once she turned to him.

“How dare you treat me like a criminal, you bastard!” She advanced on him, but he gripped tight at her wrists, giving her a sharp shake and making her meet his murderous gaze.

“Watch it. I’m a shit away from snapping. The cats were poisoned, Eve was missing, Melina is way out of her mind, even though she’s at the clinic trying to save their lives.” He sneered at her face, tightening his grip on her. “So it’s better you give me your version of the facts, or I swear I’ll get it out of you.” Gabriella fell on the couch with wide eyes and as white as a sheet of paper once he let go of her.

“I was coming to check on Melina when I found Eve down the hill. She was looking for a kitten and got lost. The poor girl was so distressed I thought to calm her down before bringing her back to Melina.” Her shaky voice followed the sudden trembling assaulting her body.

“Didn’t you think of a message, call her? Are you this careless?”

“Do you think I’m crazy, of course I did! The reason I don’t understand all this commotion. I tried to call, she didn’t pick up, and I left a voice message, and also a text in case she didn’t hear it.”

Henry went to his kitchen, Melina’s cell phone was forgotten on his dining table all together with breakfast. He snatched it, walking back to the living room. He opened it in front of her, checking all the missed calls, messages, everything in it.

“Here, check for yourself, there’s nothing coming from you.” He gave her the phone and stood tall in front of her, menacing.

“This is impossible.” She looked through it and when she found nothing, she got her own cell looking for proof that Eve was with her. “No! Something is wrong!” She screamed, tears burning in the back of her eyes. “Everything disappeared from my phone!”

“I don’t care. The point is, you should have brought her home as soon as you found her!” He yelled at her. Anger getting the better of him.

“I’m sorry, okay. I made a mistake and didn’t know my actions would cause all this trouble. Sorry!” Gabriella yelled back, going out of her mind.

“Do you know someone is threatening Melina to get back at me?” He delivered the news, watching her reaction like a hawk.

“Since when? She never told me about it.” Concern rushed to her face, and it didn’t pass unnoticed by Henry. “You can’t possibly think I have anything to do with it. She’s my best friend!”

Gabriella was too distressed, and her tone of voice showed she told the truth. He didn’t believe she had a part in a shady scheme, since they didn’t know each other and she had no reason to go against him. The actual player used the situation in his favor or it was a tremendous coincidence what just happened.

“Not even a word about this to anyone. Don’t make me turn into the monster Melina thinks of me. Understood? Come back tomorrow evening and explain yourself to your best friend.”

***

It was a hell of a morning. She almost lost the cats, and the possibility wasn’t over yet. Melina suspected rat poison, but it was hard to say. She did her best to flush the poison out of their systems and administered binding agents to prevent it from being absorbed by the body. Both were in fluid therapy and the only thing she could do was to wait, and if they survived, she’d pray they had no neurological problems.

The rush of adrenaline waned down and reality sank in. Tremors assuaged her body and Melina rested her back against the wall for leverage, but her knees gave out under her and she plopped to the flood like a rotten fruit. Never in her life she could imagine going through a situation like this one, never. Her baby was lost somewhere, or even worse, in the hands of someone dangerous.

She had so many mixed feelings, and all of them were fighting inside her and tearing her apart. Concern for Evangeline corroded her heart. She wanted her baby back into her arms. Anger towards Henry for crashing down the safe life she had built for the two of them. Disappointment at him for putting them in peril because of his way of life. Doubts about who he really was and if all he had told her was true. Giagiá words about him and the memories of a delirious Henry saying things he didn’t even remember flooded her mind again just to make her more confused.

The problem was her heart. The romantic organ wanted to believe and give him a chance. Henry had goodness in him. He proved to her on more than one occasion. All the little details, the caring way he made love to her, and left her wanting more of him. Melina felt so lost and confused, but the only thing certain was the safety of Evangeline. She wanted to get her daughter and disappear again. Maybe this time she would be smart enough to vanish for real. She pulled her legs to her chest, hiding her face on her knees as her body shook and a loud sob broke out in the clinic's silence.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

Gleeful shouts filled the room. Melina was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t listen to them approaching. She raised her head to see the most beautiful view. Henry walking to her with Eve by the hand. He let go of the little girl who dashed away to her and Melina received her with open arms. She nestled her baby in her chest, embracing her so tight almost squeezing the life out of Eve. Little arms hugged her back, and Melina didn’t hold the painful tears anymore.