Eve inhaled, looking from the building to the car to Agent Yu. I may as well find out more about why these people have been watching me. "Fine."
***
She read through the first pages of the packet, while Agent Yu sipped coffee and watched her. She slid her index finger along line after line on the page and stopped at a sentence near the bottom of the third page. "This salary...this is monthly?" she asked, hoping no drool was dangling from her mouth. With this kind of money, I could pay the property tax bill in one month.
"Yes, the salary is monthly during the initial six-month FIO training period."
Eve cast her a quizzical look.
"Field Intelligence Operative training. After your training, you'll be assigned as an FIO, which results in an immediate salary increase. If the amount noted isn't acceptable, I'm willing to negotiate," said Agent Yu, pouring sugar into her coffee. "New FIO training begins the first week of October."
"Next Monday?"
"Yes, nine days from now. So you'll need to wrap up your affairs at the school in that time."
Eve closed the document and fixed her gaze on the woman. "I haven't accepted." She paused as the waiter arrived with a pitcher.
"More coffee, miss?" he asked Agent Yu.
She shook her head, and he gave her a curt nod before leaving them alone again.
"The problem," said Eve, glancing around before turning to Agent Yu, "is I don't trust this. I don't trust you."
Agent Yu smiled and sipped lukewarm coffee. "I would be worried if you did, Miss Cooper."
"You see, saying things like that isn't the way to inspire confidence in a person."
"All right. Look, the truth is people like you are few and far, and it's exactly why I'm certain you'll excel at SPI."
"People like me? What does that mean?"
She regarded Eve with an inscrutable expression. "You didn't honestly believe you were the only one with gifts, did you?"
Eve sunk a little in her chair. She often had wondered whether there were others like her and whether they, too, had passed through the world as ‘normal’. How many others had spent their entire lives hiding this big secret, dreading ever being discovered? As her mind swam with these thoughts, the waiter returned with their orders and refilled her glass of water. "I always knew I couldn't be the only one, that there had to be others. But..." she muttered, peering at her plate.
"But you've never met another?"
"No. At least, I don't think so."
"That must be lonely."
"You've no idea." She spooned potatoes into her mouth.
"Go on," said Agent Yu. "Tell me more about your life up till now."
"I'm pretty sure you already know everything there is to know about me."
She sipped the water and wiped her mouth. "Technically, yes. But I'm particularly curious about why a woman with your gifts settled for being a teacher, why you never used your gift."
"I didn't 'settle'. Being a teacher was my calling."
"Was?"
"Is my calling. Teaching is my calling." Eve stared at her plate, at the potatoes and peppered bacon. ”And I figured if I ever used my ‘gift’ it would blow up in my face. I’d be a freak, an outcast.”
"Because you thought you were the only one?”
Eve nodded.
“So this..." said Agent Yu, in between chewing, "mediocrity...is the life you envisioned for yourself instead?"
"You know what? I'm not interested in the offer. I'm good," she replied, rising and gathering her purse.
"I'm sorry. That was rude. I shouldn't have said that. Please have a seat, Miss Cooper."
"I don't want the job," said Eve, turning toward the exit.
"So you're going to walk away from this? From a chance to do something extraordinary? From a salary that would allow you to save your family's home?"
"How do you know about—"
"Like you said—we already know everything there is to know about you." Agent Yu wiped her mouth with the napkin. "Now, please sit and let me start over."
Eve glanced around the empty diner, exhaled, and resumed her seat.
2
Eve retrieved three plates from the cabinet, humming and swaying her hips to the electronic dance music blaring from the television's speakers. She finished setting the table, placing the plates alongside empty glasses and silverware. After filling each glass with lemon water, Eve looked at the table.
Once she returned the water pitcher to the refrigerator, she grabbed the half-empty wine glass from the kitchen counter and turned it up. The song changed, and she closed her eyes as it washed over her. Her arms followed the thrusts of her hips, responding to the bass of the melody. Losing herself in the solace of dance, her mind drifted back to the conversation with Agent Yu and a smile curled her lips.
Just as the vocalist cut in and matched the pleading tone of the melody, a light knock at the door distracted her from the song, and she opened her eyes. She took a quick sip of wine, sat the glass on the kitchen counter, patted her hair, and checked her reflection in the glass of the microwave door. Sparing another glance at the table, she inhaled and hurried to the front door.
When Eve opened the door, Zoey and Gabriel greeted her with bright smiles. Gabriel, a lean man with large brown eyes, was holding a small red vase of dahlias. "What are the flowers for?" asked Eve, looking from him to Zoey.
"Zoey saw them at the store during our grocery run earlier and said they reminded her of you," he replied, grinning at his wife.
"Aren't they beautiful?" said Zoey.
Eve's face flushed as she stepped aside for them to enter. "I remind you of dahlias?"
"I read somewhere that they symbolize strength," said Zoey.
"Actually, in the Victorian era they symbolized an important bond. Probably why they often use them for weddings nowadays," said Gabriel.
Shutting the door, Eve chuckled. "You two are like walking encyclopedias."
They laughed.
"Anyway, I could use a little color in this room," said Eve, looking around. "I think they'll go nicely over there on the window."
"Over there?" Gabriel pointed, and she nodded. He placed the vase on the window ledge and remarked, "They should keep for over a week. Flowers from Whole Foods last a while."
"They're pretty. Thanks, you guys," said Eve. She was about to switch the topic to dinner, but Zoey interjected.
"Eve, I don't know if I'm imagining it, but you're glowing. You look positively...happy."
"Are you saying I usually look miserable, Zoey?"
Zoey laughed. "No. But I've never seen you looking like this. Not to mention you invited us both to dinner out of the blue, and from the looks of it—the music, the wine glass over there—you're in here basically partying by yourself. Something's up."
"Well," said Eve, walking to the kitchen to retrieve her wine glass. "I have good news, actually. But first..." She filled two wine glasses and handed them to Zoey and Gabriel.
Silently, they sipped their wine while watching her finish off the wine in her glass and pour herself more. "So..." said Zoey, approaching Eve, "are you going to tell us?" She closed the space between them and sat her glass on the counter behind Eve. "Or are you going to keep us in suspense all evening?"
Eve's heart quickened as Zoey's lips brushed against the crevice of her neck. Soon, Zoey's mouth met hers.
"I don't mind a little suspense," Zoey whispered.
Eve looked over Zoey's shoulder and extended her hand to Gabriel, who was standing nearby. He came forward and took her hand as she met his gaze. Looking into his eyes, Eve asked, "Is this okay with you?"
"As long as it's okay with you. Is it?"
As Zoey kissed her shoulders, Eve breathed in and kept her eyes fixed on Gabriel. She brought his hand to her lips. "Yes."
"All right," Zoey whispered, kissing Eve's chest, "now that you two have settled that..." She lifted Eve's shirt and brought it over her head, gently undressing her until she was left in nothing
but lace panties.
For what seemed like the fiftieth time already, Eve blushed. Zoey and Gabriel were kissing her shoulders, and their hands were wandering everywhere, and she knew if heaven existed, she was there now.
***
"Hey," said Eve, sitting up, and pulling the sheet over her naked body. She smiled at her lovers—Zoey was resting against Gabriel, who was running his fingers through her hair. "This isn't...you know I've never done anything like this before."
"A threesome?" Zoey caressed Eve's cheek. "It was the first time for us, too. Not that we hadn’t thought about it. But Gabe insisted we leave that ball in your court."
Gabriel planted a kiss on the side of Zoey’s forehead and clasped Eve’s hand. “Look, you two have a closeness that’s special. I accepted that before Zoey and I married. I wasn’t going to get in the middle of it, unless invited.”
"How very feminist of you,” Eve teased and glanced between them. “So, what do we do now?”
"We can start with the dinner you prepared," said Zoey.
"You know what I mean."
"Yes." Zoey kissed her lips. "I know what you mean. We can do whatever we want. But, first, we should eat." She got up, fully nude, and looked around for her clothes.
Gabriel scooted toward Eve and reached for her hand. He squeezed it gently and met her gaze. "We'll figure it out together. I'm guessing Zoey already mentioned that you can live with us, right?"
"Yeah," said Eve and glanced at Zoey, who was half-dressed now. "I just don't want to be a third wheel, you know."
Zoey laughed, pulling the shirt over her head. "You underestimate yourself, Eve, and how much we love you. It's endearing but sometimes kind of annoying." She sat in front of Eve and gazed at her two lovers before shaking her head and smiling. "I really am the luckiest woman in the world."
For a while, there was silence as they sat on Eve's bed and enjoyed what could only be described as a moment of pure happiness. Moments that were rare for Eve. The last time she'd felt anything akin to this was when she first met Zoey during her senior year of college—that night they'd shared a kiss at a New Year's celebration. They’d been friends and frequent lovers ever since, no matter Zoey’s marriage to Gabriel after college or Eve’s flings with other women. She wasn’t sure if she believed in soul mates, but she assumed Zoey was as close as she’d get to finding one.
"Well, before we eat, are you going to tell us why you invited us here tonight?" asked Zoey.
"Oh, right," Eve replied. "You know that weird job offer?"
"The CIA job?"
"Actually, it's the Special Procurements Initiative. But, yeah, that one. I met with the woman who'd contacted me, and she gave me more details." Eve paused. "I start next Monday."
Zoey's eyes widened. "Wait...what? You accepted?"
"Yeah," said Eve, grinning. "It's a chance for me to make a difference in the world. Instead of wasting away at CPS where they're laying off teachers left and right and barely paying the ones they keep. I mean, I love teaching—and I’m going to miss my kids—but I’m tired of struggling to pay bills. This opportunity...it's once in a lifetime, you know. And the salary is amazing compared to my CPS salary."
"Wow," said Zoey. "That's awesome. I'm proud of you for taking the leap."
She frowned as she watched Zoey's expression go from shocked to concerned. "But? There's a 'but' written all over your face right now."
Zoey stood again and paced a few times before facing Eve. "Are you sure you’re not having a quarter-life crisis? As long as I’ve known you, all you ever wanted to do was teach. It seems so sudden, this change. Also, I'm a little confused about what made them interested in recruiting a schoolteacher."
She silently chastised herself for not realizing that Zoey might ask this question.
"Eve?"
"What does it matter? It's a legitimate opportunity to do something meaningful with my life, to make a decent income for a change."
"But I don't under—"
"Zoey," Gabriel began. "I'm sure Eve made the decision she felt was right for her."
Eve appreciated his support but also wanted to assuage Zoey's concerns. "And you checked out the place yourself, Zoey. It's legit."
"I'm not saying it's not legit. I'm saying I don't understand what makes them so interested in you, considering that nothing on your resume equips you to work at an intelligence agency."
Eve averted her eyes. I can't tell them. "Zoey, you're my best friend. But there are things you don't know about me."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Zoey, please drop it," said Gabriel. "Everyone has secrets."
Eve sighed and stared at Zoey. "It just means you should trust me not to make this decision without thinking it through. I know what I'm doing." Clutching the sheet against her, she stood and approached Zoey, who turned away, folding her arms across her chest. "Look at me, please."
"Why do I feel like you're hiding a big secret from me? Like you're afraid I can't handle it or something," said Zoey.
"It's not whether you can handle it. It's whether I can handle you knowing." With her free hand, Eve lifted Zoey's chin and kissed her lips. "I promise I'll tell you when I'm ready. I promise."
"Is it that bad, Eve?"
She shook her head and smiled. "It's not bad at all."
"Then why—"
"You have to trust me. Okay?"
At last, Zoey nodded. "You promise you'll tell me."
"I swear. In time."
"All right, fine." Zoey smiled brightly. "I mean, the thought of you having some big secret is kind of sexy, actually. If I'm honest it's turning me on again. So I suggest we go eat now before I get something started again."
Eve laughed. "Everything is always about sex with you, isn't it?"
"And what? That's a problem?" Zoey scoffed and winked.
"I'm not complaining," said Eve.
"Me neither," Gabriel added.
***
As she walked into Martin Delaney High School on Monday, she headed straight for the principal's office. It was best to start the day off with her resignation instead of delaying it, she'd decided. She'd rehearsed her speech the night before.
"Hey, Miss Cooper!" yelled a lanky student from her third period English class.
She waved at him and, at once, experienced a surge of guilt. The first surge of guilt she'd felt since deciding to take the SPI job. Her students were the only thing that made the job worth it, even if they drove her near the edge of sanity some days. How would she explain her decision to them? "Hey, Pierce. Hope you memorized that poem. You know I'll be calling on you this afternoon."
"I got you, Miss Cooper. I got you."
"All right then," she said, chuckling as she opened the door to the administrative office.
"Is Don in yet?" she asked the secretary, who pointed her toward his office.
"He has ten minutes or so before his meeting."
"Thanks," she replied, wondering why she'd never committed the woman's name to memory. She turned the corner toward Principal Gray's office and knocked twice.
"Come in," said a deep, commanding voice. His face lit up when she opened the door. "Eve, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm great. I just need a quick word..."
"No problem. What can I do for you?"
She sat across from him and smiled some more. Recalling her rehearsed speech, she launched into a long monologue about how much she'd enjoyed working at Martin Delaney but that she'd found a "calling" elsewhere. As she said it, she hoped she didn't sound as disingenuous as she felt saying it. After all, she couldn't quite consider the job at SPI a "calling"—in light of Zoey's reaction, she still wondered if she'd made a mistake in accepting the offer—but she knew that word would resonate with him. What she'd wanted to say was simpler: that he and the district didn't pay enough for anyone to live on, and she couldn't tolerate living like a pauper much longer. But she figured it was wiser to resign on a positive note instead of pissing in the water. Neve
r know when I might need to come back to this place.
When she was done, he leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "I don't know what to say. We won't be able to replace you, that's for sure."
If I'm so irreplaceable, why didn't you pay me more? She fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"But a calling can't be ignored," he went on.
She smiled.
He glimpsed his watch and stood. "Well, I would like to discuss the process of your transition, but unfortunately, I have a meeting in a minute. Can you plan to stop by again at lunch?"
Eve rose and gathered her purse. "No problem. I'll see you at lunch."
He walked her to the door and, before she left, said, "Eve, congrats. I look forward to hearing more about the new job."
She nodded and exited his office. Breathing a sigh of relief, she hurried to her first period class.
***
After school, she lounged under a gazebo at the lakefront and peered at the teal blue expanse and closed her eyes. Silent and still, Eve shut her eyes. Images from her childhood flickered in her mind. Like an old film roll, the images flashed across her mind. There she was, sitting on the porch while her mother braided her hair, helping her mother pick cherry tomatoes from the tiny backyard garden, stepping in between her parents during one of their many fights, hanging upside on the monkey bars at the playground during recess until the boys approached...
The boys shoved her around the circle while shouting and laughing. Two girls with pigtails watched, one of them frowning and the other wearing an excited expression that matched the ones on the boys' faces. Eve covered her face with her arms as they pushed her to the rocky ground and kicked her stomach and legs. Something that tasted metallic filled her mouth, and when she coughed, she saw red flecks on the ground beneath her. Anger flooded through her like a tsunami as she recoiled from the kicks.
Not sure why or how she did it, she reached out and grabbed a foot as it was about to connect with her face. She yanked the boy's foot with all her strength. This caused everyone to gasp and retreat as the boy came tumbling next to her. In a flash, she got on top of him and squeezed his throat with both hands.
As she squeezed harder, he wheezed and clutched at her hands, the whites of his eyes turning red.
Eve and the Faders Page 3
