Loving Evelyn: Leaving Evelyn

Evelyn Greene is on the warpath. She was raised as Amanda Spencer by her father and stepmother. Hers was not a happy childhood. She learned much about her place in society and "her people". She also learned early to hate Eva Greene, her biological mother, believing that she abandoned her to serve her own selfish purposes. Eva Greene has suffered much during her period of separation from her child including being arrested for the crime of kidnapping her own child. Grieving mightily Eva’s career choices helps her to maintain her mental equilibrium. Her recreational pursuits also keep her balance—adult dancing for hire. When Evelyn arrives with her burden of anger, Eva is eager and a little apprehensive. Evelyn brought two friends along for her reunion with her mother. They expected the reunion to be friendly. It missed the mark and Eva is driven to the brink of what her friends and psychiatrist called “suicide” and she called escaping the pain. That being prevented, Eva has a new focus in life—herself instead of her greatly missed and grieved for child. Still she is open to Evelyn Greene who seesaws between being lovable Evelyn and caustic Amanda. A tenacious relationship develops as mother and daughter see separate psychiatrists. Still Evelyn struggles with the good life she is living and her early conditioning. After months of therapy Evelyn’s psychiatrist understands that the unhappy child who still lives in the adult Evelyn just might kill Eva.