Devastating Secret™

The Nightmares Begin

There was no consoling Eva. She was a shell. She did her duties during the day and cried herself to sleep at night. Waking up screaming for her father. After her first scream, Noah had to inform the Secret Service that she was having nightmares and that she had them before and they were back. It was only a partial lie.

Her lack of sleep was beginning to affect her otherwise flawless appearance. Dark circles formed around eyes that were perpetually red-rimmed from crying and she wasn't eating properly. To combat this, Noah had many family mealtimes, so she had to eat in front of them. She always harped to the kids about eating properly and cleaning their plates, so now she had to do the same.

Noah was also glad he wasn't returning to the Oval office. The way Eva was behaving they needed to be more low key. He planned a family trip to visit the Decker's for Christmas and invited Ethan along. He needed all the help he could get, and Eva would have the support she needed.

He couldn't wait for the elections to be over. Eric ate up the attention like a pro. There was no doubt he was winning; the competition had assumed they'd be going up against Noah and didn't bother to put up much of a fight. The switch shocked them, and they were unprepared, giving Eric a better chance.

In a month he would be out of this political nightmare and could focus on his wife and kids. God, he missed Eva. Even though she slept next to him, it was like she was on another planet. She cried silently whenever she thought she was alone until her grief was building a wall between them.

He held her when she allowed him to and tried to offer comfort as best he could, but she continued to pull away. Noah knew why too. She thought she would hurt them. She thought she was a monster. Fucking Welker! Shit...his name was Green wasn't it? He gave Eva his real last name. Why didn't he just talk to her? No, that would've been something he would do. Any attention he showed her would've seemed like a show of weakness and he wouldn't want anyone to know he cared that much about her. He protected her but didn't let her know he cared and as a result, she didn't.

What a mess! It never ends. The man was dead and still they couldn't get out from under his shadow. He wished he killed him or arrested him at least, then Eva wouldn't be in this state right now. How were they going to get over this one? Noah really hoped the family trip would show her she had a lot to live for and her father was the problem, not her. They should leave him where he is dead and buried.

"That's it," Noah cried out. He would take her to her father's grave. Maybe she'll get to apologize in person and finally get closure. He called Suzanna, "Moss I need to use the ME van. We're making another cemetery trip."

"I already put Gwendolyn back..."

"No. Not for that. Hopefully, we're going to bury Eva's father once and for all."

"Is something wrong? She hasn't returned any of my calls."

"Very, but I'm hoping a trip to see her father will close the door on all his demons."

"He's been dead almost four years. What damage could he possibly do?"

"You'd be surprised," Noah responded drolly, "Can tomorrow night work for you?"

"It's died down over here since you had us busting heads left and right. Probably the calm before the storm...so tomorrow is fine."

"Glad to know it worked," Noah replied before repeating, "Tomorrow at 1 then. Thanks."

"Tomorrow," Moss repeated and hung up.

He really hoped this worked because he had no more ideas. Just once he'd like them to catch a break. Their life was a roller coaster that they never wanted to ride, but somehow ended up on and now they can't seem to get off the damn thing! Just when he thought it was over and they could enjoy their life together some crap happened. Eva was right, he should've left things alone, but the agent in him never liked loose ends and Welker was one huge loose end. Well, he finally got his answers, at the expense of his wife's sanity.