Evvie

Chapter 3 - The Johnsons

"Evvie. What a pretty name for a pretty child. Is it short for something? Maybe Evangeline or Eva?"

Evvie lowered her eyes and blushed prettily, "No ma'am. It's just Evvie."

"Well Evvie, I am Celeste Johnson and this", she gestured at the man standing behind her, "is my husband, Jarrod Johnson."

With a big smile, Mr. Johnson held out his hand to Evvie, "It's a pleasure to meet you, my dear! A great pleasure indeed!"

Evvie held his hand and shook it. Mr. Johnson thought to himself, what a beautiful child! So like his wife in features! Pale blond hair and big beautiful blue eyes! He himself had dark, almost black hair, aquiline nose (which at times tends to point quite haughtily in the air when he was displeased!) and a tanned complexion. His violet eyes, which were the bane of his existence, as most people tend to describe them as "pretty" (a description insulting to a man of his stature and position!), roamed over the slight frame of the child.

"We must have this child!", he thought to himself. "My Celeste has been longing for a child our entire married life and I have failed her! No matter what the cost we must have Evvie!"

He and Celeste have been married for almost 5 years. He mused at the carefree and happy young woman she was when he met her at a cotillion held by her Grandmother for all the debutants of New Orleans, which was where she grew up. He fell in love with her the minute he saw her and married her three months after. For Mr. Johnson was the type of man who when he sees something he wants, ensures that he gets it. He wanted Celeste LaFortune' and he made sure he left New Orleans with her as his wife.

Unfortunately as with all things, not everything Mr. Johnson can control. Two weeks after their honeymoon he got the mumps and afterwards, discovered he would never be able to bear children. This was a devastating blow to a man who always wanted a son or daughter to carry on his many businesses, for he was a very successful and wealthy man. He would always regret using protection on his honeymoon for he knew, had he not been selfish in his estimation of not wanting his wife to put on weight and get fat for at least two years, he would have most likely had a child as a result of that honeymoon. Not that he thought it was selfish of him at the time of course!
They came to the Willows with the hope of being able to adopt a child with little delay, as it is rumored that the warden was easily influenced and adoption is faster at this particular orphanage. Mr. Johnson is a man who despite what, thinks immediacy is the way to go in any venture. He is not one for time wasting as most of his employees are quite aware. He came to England with the express purpose of "killing many birds with one stone". He had calculated that it shouldn't take more than a week to adopt a child (with him greasing the wheels of course!) and a week is what it is going to take if he has any say on the matter.
Granted, he had came with the intention of adopting a boy, a son to carry on the business for him, but after seeing Evvie, he was completely awed by her. He still scanned the faces of the eager children standing around, yet his gaze kept coming back to Evvie. Despite her obvious youth (which he calculated to be around the age of 10 years) he saw something in her eyes that told him she's not much of a pushover as she appears on the surface. In fact he could have sworn a couple of times he saw a flash of cunning in her blue eyes. But of course he is completely wrong, "I mean look at her!" He mused to himself, "Pure innocence! I must need glasses." He frowned at that thought and Evvie's eyes widen at him, without guile. He quickly smiled a gentle smile to reassure he he was not frowning at her.

Suddenly the boisterous man who had challenged the warden, pushed his way roughly in between the Johnsons and spoke to Evvie.

"Why hello there Evvie! I'm Frederick Jefferson of Jefferson's Railway, Docks and Airlines! I think you are the child me and my wife Maeve," flinging his meaty hand in the general direction of a mousy looking woman with timid eyes and stature, " the child we want as ours! What do you say? Come with us and you will never suffer a hungry day in your life! You look like you could use some meat on those bones of yours", as he grab hold of Evvie's arm and attempted to escort her over to his wife.

Evvie let out a whimper and tossed her other arm out to Celeste Johnson in a plea for help. Mrs. Johnson gasped and held on to Evvie's hand. Several gasps was heard among the children and visitors for the sight of Mr. Jefferson's huge meaty hand around the thin, frail looking arm of Evvie was a disturbing sight to see. Of course Mr. Jefferson meant her no harm, but in his enthusiasm of finding the "right kid" he might've forgotten that he has an intimidating stature in his hurry to expedite his "find".

Mr. Johnson quickly stepped in front of Mr. Jefferson, haunting his progress. Mr. Jefferson narrowed his eyes and frown at being stopped.

"Oye mate, you're in my way."

"I know. Take your hands off the child". Mr. Johnson calmly stated.

"What's it to you?! This here's gonna be my kid."

"We saw her first!" Celeste sputtered, then blushed a fiery red at how ridiculous she sounded. She cast an apologetic look at Evvie and smiled weakly.

Mr. Jefferson sputtered angrily. "See here now! I laid claim to her while you both gabbered at her! 'Tis not my fault you were slow on the uptake! You snoozed you lose!"

Mr. Johnson glared coldly at Mr. Jefferson who had a smirk on his face. "Have you no honor? You saw us talking to the child yet you burst in and grabbed her and dragged her away like the sordid caveman you are! Unhand her this instant, you ignorant piece of sh*t!"

"Why you...."

"Enough!", came a loud and assertive voice that needed no introduction. "Mr. Jefferson! Let go of Evvie this minute. Mr. Johnson take care of your words in the presence of these children. I will have no fighting on this property. Do not make me cancel this visit.", Jessica MacGregor, the warden said slowly, her tone ice cold.

Mr. Jefferson released Evvie's arm instantly and she rushed back into the arms of Mrs. Johnson. Mr. Johnson stepped back with a sharp breath.

"Visitors. Do mingle among the children. Evvie, please come with me."

Only Evvie could hear the underlying plea in the tone of the warden's voice. She smirked slightly then decided she would see what Jessica wanted. This should be interesting, she thought and gently disengaged from Celeste's arms giving her a sweet smile and followed the warden inside.

The warden headed to the kitchen which was empty and turned around and looked at Evvie.

"Evvie, I begging you to please stay away from the rest of the visit."

"Begging now Jessica?" Evvie laughed and seated herself at the kitchen table and turned around to watch the warden.
"My word Jessica, I am disappointed in you. I never thought you would stoop so low as to beg me!", she laughed maliciously, "unless it was for your life!"

Jessica looked at Evvie with pure hatred. "You see what you are doing out there! You have people fighting over you! The children can get hurt!"

"So?", Evvie smiled at Jessica. "They are only human you know. Humans are weak. They get hurt, they die. That's how it works! Don't expect me to care about the stupid humans."

Jessica took a deep breath and looked at the blond haired demon in the chair.
"One day you will pay. Maybe not today or tomorrow but one day I will destroy you. Don't you ever forget that. " and she headed out of the room.

Evvie laughed and said, "I'd like to see you try Jessica. You know I can kill you before you even take another step." She paused. Then added with a voice that shook with anger. Her eyes blazed red. "Don't you ever threaten me again".

Jessica took a deep breath and turned around and looked at Evvie.

"Don't ever give me a reason to." And she turned away.

Her eyes were blazing a bright, fiery red.

(Ha! Didn't see that one coming did you? Vote, fan and comment! Sorry for taking so long to upload but I have and I will upload even more often now. I won't say when but look out for it! :D lol!)

<<<Picture on the side is of the Johnsons.