by Faye Sonja
For the last two months, Eve had held true to her bargain with Robert. She’d put down her guard, which allowed him to do the same. They’d worked well together. Robert had been keeping true to his promise of treating her like an equal. Whatever Eve didn’t like didn’t happen, but the changes Robert had made seemed to open them up to more money. Robert had created a separate division at the paper for things that people like Mr. Wright would approve of. He’d published Bess Wright’s book on manners for young woman in the west. The book, after heavy editing, had actually done well. Eve read it with humor, as she knew many other people probably did as well, but the book was also heavily received as the perfect coming-of-age gift for a young woman’s birthday.
Robert didn’t make any moves without Eve’s okay and vice versa. They worked great together; better than Eve had ever worked with anyone else. Robert didn’t have to be as nice as he was being, but he was. Or at least, he had been, until this morning.
Eve looked at Robert’s face, which had slowly descended from a smile upon seeing her, to an expression that was completely neutral by the time she’d made her way over. Robert wore a white button down shirt with the arms rolled up to the elbows. His pants were black. A black and red bowtie was around his neck; a much darker red than his hair. His skin had started to tan, which had only made him more beautiful. He looked nice and refreshed. A red mug of coffee was in his hands.
Eve stepped closer to him so that Ben and Florence wouldn’t hear her. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
Robert’s face didn’t flinch. “You seemed tired. I was letting you rest.”
Eve narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure it had nothing to do with your plans?”
Robert brought the mug up to his lips. “What plans?”
Eve drew her brows together. Florence cut in. “I think we should put the ad for the circus going to Kansas City on the front.”
Ben shook his head. “No, Kansas City is secondary to Haines city’s best interests. We should advertise local events first.”
Florence turned to Eve. “What do you think?” Florence did more than just illustrate the cover art and pictures in the books that Haines Press sold. Sometimes, she did the drawing for the local ads as well.
Eve had so much going on in her head that she found it hard to even concentrate. She didn’t want to go off in front of her employees, but she could feel the heat begin to rush through her veins. She turned to Robert who was still sipping from his mug. She smoothed a hand down her white sports suit. The outfit had a black lining and cuffs. She wore a red hat. She realized that she and Robert matched. She looked up at him and found him looking at her outfit too. His smile brightened. Eve crossed her arms. “What did you tell them to do with the advertisement?”
Robert put his mug down and then slipped his hands into his pants. “I only made a suggestion, but told them to do nothing until you got here.”
Eve turned to Florence for confirmation. Florence crossed her arms and sighed. “No, he hasn’t told us to do anything.”
Eve turned back to Robert who was still standing in front of her with his hands in his pockets. She looked to Florence and then Ben, then back at Robert, who was still just standing there, looking innocent as always. Eve shook her head. Robert was good, but now, she knew the snake that he was.
Robert shook his head. “If you’re looking for something negative, you’ll soon find it.”
Eve dropped her shoulders. “What’s that mean?”
“You’re waiting for me to mess up so you can catch me going back on my word.”
Eve felt an ache in her heart. She crossed her arms. “But you have messed up.”
Robert took his hands out of his pockets and detangled Eve’s arms. He took her hand and then led her away from the group; and the eyes of everyone else that was watching. Robert spoke low. “You have to trust me, Eve.”
“Why?” She asked. His face was so close to hers. Too close. She took a step back.
Robert sighed. “Eve.”
Eve crossed her arms and looked away. Robert sighed and then took her hand and led her toward their office. Adam Haines’ name still sat on the window. Eve waited for Robert to open the door and then walked inside.
The door closed behind her. Eve turned. “I heard a rumor.”
“What rumor?” Robert made his way across the room and took a seat on the edge of the desk. He crossed his arms. “What are you hearing?”
“That you were selling your shares of the company.”
Robert’s brows flew up, but he didn’t say anything.
Eve shook her head. “So, it’s true.”
Robert unfolded his arms and placed them on the table behind him. “Where’d you hear this?”
“One of the church ladies came up to me before I reached the building. Is it true?”
Robert sighed. “Eve, you’re going to have to trust me.”
“No!” Eve stomped across the room. She didn’t stop until she had a finger dug into Robert’s chest. “You tell me the truth, right now!”
Robert grabbed her hand. “Trust me, Eve.”
“No.”
Robert shook his head. “You have to trust me.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t, we’ll never be happy.”
Eve began to shake her head. “Happy is a fleeting feeling, Robert. It’s not real.”
Robert’s brows drew together. “Have I not made you happy?”
Eve backed away from him until her foot touched the back of a chair. She reached back a hand to stop herself from falling into it. She straightened herself. “Until I have complete control of my father’s company, I don’t think I can be happy.”
Robert walked over to Eve until their shoes touched. He brought up a hand and placed it under her chin. Eve’s eyes stayed averted for as long as they could until the pull from his dark orbs called to her. Robert’s voice, when he spoke, was at a whisper. “If I were to leave you today and simply give you the company, would you be happy?”
Eve looked away. Her breathing quickened. She didn’t want that.
Robert sighed. “The fact that you didn’t immediately say ‘yes’ gives me hope.”
Eve looked up at his handsome face again. “I didn’t say ‘no’, either.”
Robert gave a sad smile. “Eve, I need you to believe that I would never do anything to purposefully hurt you.”
“So, the rumor?”
“Trust me.”
Eve shook her head and kept shaking it until Robert was cupping her cheeks in his hands. He forced her to meet his eyes once more. “Trust me, Eve.”
Eve released a shaky breath. “Okay.” She’d said okay, because deep down, Eve knew she’d had no other choice. Robert had found the hole in her heart and had managed to bury himself there. Losing him now would hurt. So, Eve would put her faith in a man one last time.
* * *
10
Chapter TEN
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“ Whether I am or have ever been married
is no longer any of your concern.”
Surprised by the princess’ knowledge, the prince turned to her and said, “I tried to slay the dragon for you, but you said ‘no’. I tried to slay the crab for you, but you said ‘no’. I tried to slay the lion for you, but you said ‘no’. So, if you were awake, why did you not fight in the other battles as well? Princess Evelyn smiled at the prince and said, “Because, fighting for me in the day, only proves yourself to be a fighter, but fighting for me at night proves yourself to be my friend.”
A few days later, Eve was at Clara’s. Florence was there. Robert and Ben had decided to take Lewis and Clark fishing; a bonding activity, leaving Eve some free time to spend with the girls. It had been a long time since she’d been able to do that. Since her father’s death, Eve hadn’t had anyone who’d she’d trusted to watch the boys when she made plans with Clara and F
lorence. If the boys weren’t with her then they were with one of the two women in front of her. So, for the first time in over half a year, Eve had the afternoon to be with her friends.
The friends had done some shopping earlier in the day, but now they were at Clara’s house. It was here that Robert would pick her up once the festivities of the day were done.
Eve looked at her surroundings. “This place looks nothing like it did when Cynthia lived here.” The sitting room they were in was done like no place Eve had ever seen before. She’d felt as though she’d been transported to another place in another time. Ancient China was the theme. The wallpaper was a deep red with golden drawings of flowers done throughout. A large fan sat on one wall. Two swords that crossed in the middle sat on another. A short dark wooden table sat on the floor in front of them. Eve and the other two women sat on pillows around it. Clara had been collecting things from China since The War that had just ended four years ago. They’d fought on America’s side, so the room wasn’t done up in bad taste. In fact, it was quite inspiring. Eve could now see why Clara never gotten rid of things. Everything she’d collected over the years now had a place. “I really like this.”
Clara smiled over her china tea cup. “Thank you, darling.” Clara’s eyes fluttered closed as she took a sip of the hot liquid. Eve took a sip of her own tea. It was good, really good.
“Where’d you get these leaves?” Florence asked just before Eve had the chance to ask.
Clara brightened up, and her deep blue-green eyes danced with mischief. “My little secret.” She winked.
Florence smiled, her own lavender eyes sparkling. “Well, now I’ll just have to come over here whenever I want a good cup of tea then.”
Clara put her cup down. “Or, you could leave Eddie and move in.” She was serious now.
Florence moved a hand through the back of her pale blond waves. “Do we always have to go back to this conversation?”
Clara turned to Eve. “How’s your marriage doing these days, anyway?”
Eve’s eyes widen. “Uh… nice?”
Clara tilted her head. A red flower sat pinned in the side of her black hair. It matched the red lining in her black cheongsam that she was wearing. The silk dress fit her form perfectly. It was so like Clara to be in theme. “How nice? How is Robert treating you?”
Eve looked down at her tea cup. “Great, actually.” But the event a few days ago was still shaking her up. Robert had told her to trust him and Eve was trying harder than she had ever tried with anyone.
Clara said, “Hm.” Then shrugged.
Florence put her cup down. “That’s it?”
Clara’s eyes flew to Florence’s. “What do you mean?”
Florence looked between the two women. “A few months ago, you were threatening to boycott. Now, you’re okay with Robert?”
Clara shrugged and took another sip of her tea. “He seems alright.”
Florence narrowed her eyes. “What is it that has made you change your mind?”
Eve looked at Clara, thinking it was a good question. If anyone hated men more, it was Clara. Florence was right to question the change in attitude. Clara smoothed a hand over the hair on her hand that hadn’t moved out of place. Not even by an inch. “Oh, I don’t know, Robert seems like an alright guy, that’s all.”
“But why?” Florence pressed.
Clara sighed. “Because he’s been good to the writers at Haines Press.” Clara threw a hand Eve’s way. “And Eve says he’s been great. So, maybe the man is alright.”
Florence sighed. “Well that’s true. He hasn’t changed anything that everyone at the company hasn’t loved thus far. He’s not censoring us like Mr. Wright wanted.” Florence looked over at Eve. “And he’s made a show of asking your opinion on everything. If you didn’t like it, he didn’t do it.”
Eve smiled. “Yeah, he does do that.” At this point, Eve would rather grab hold of any of Robert’s finer qualities than to dwell on the dragging feeling that he was going to pull the wool over her head and reveal himself to be the Big Bad Wolf that he was.
Florence crossed her arms and looked at Clara. “Yeah, it could be that Robert’s playing fair, but still…” There was silence for a moment and then Florence said, “I have the feeling that there is something else.”
Clara laughed. “Florence, please.”
Florence narrowed her eyes. “This change wouldn’t have anything to do with Joe Dawson, would it?”
Clara went very still. “No.”
Florence’s eyes went wide. “What happened? You have to tell me!”
Eve stared at the other woman. Clara glanced her way and Eve’s mouth dropped. “What aren’t you telling us, Clara?”
Clara rolled her eyes. “You’re both being dramatic.”
Florence and Eve shared a look. The Queen of Drama, as they lovingly called Clara, was what they were both thinking at the moment. They both turned on her at the same time; firing questions. Clara threw her hands up. “Joe wrote to C.C. Reed.”
Florence’s eyes went wider. “What did he say?”
Clara swallowed. She looked down at the table. “Nothing really. He just had questions about the author, wondering if I was truly going to stop writing the books.”
Eve nodded. “Oh, he must have been checking up on the little ‘rumor’ that you brought up a few months back.”
Florence turned to Eve. “What rumor?”
What rumor? Such a good question, but Eve shared the story about the breakfast they’d had a few months ago. When the story was done, Florence turned to Clara. “Clara is in love.”
“Am not.”
“Are to.”
Eve narrowed her eyes at Clara and watched the woman flutter her hands around the table; wiping away the dust that wasn’t there. Clara was nervous, but why? “The letters weren’t just about the rumors, where they?”
Clara’s eyes widened.
A knock came to the door. Clara sighed and got up. “I’ll get it.” She rushed from the room before either of the other women could say anything. She came back with the man who, despite keeping secrets, still had the ability to make Eve’s heart stop.
Eve stood and walked over to Robert. He was wearing a white shirt that was open at the collar, and a pair of beige pants. His clothes and hair were damp. What had happened on the fishing trip? Eve took his hand. It was moist, but warm. She didn’t let it go. Robert rubbed a thumb over the back of her hand.
“Oh, wow.”
Eve turned around to see Florence looking at her with wide eyes. Eve turned back to Robert. He was smiling at her. She couldn’t help but return a smile herself. Robert spoke to the group. “Have a good evening, ladies.” The group said their goodbyes and then Eve and Robert left.
Outside, the weather was perfect. Not too hot and not too cold; just right. The sun would be setting soon, which would mean that the city would be closing down for the night. Haines didn’t really have a nightlife. There was no gambling or drinking halls.
Robert opened the car door for Eve and she slid into the interior. A car? Really, it was nothing more than a black box on wheels. It reminded Eve of a coach without the horses. Instead, a motor made it move. Invented by Mr. Henry Ford. By this time, cars had only been around for about two years. But in the first year alone, the inventor had sold more than one million of the things. Apparently, Robert being a city guy, was a customer. He had it sent by train all the way from his place in New York and it was the first one that Eve had ever rode in. The town was so small, that most of the time, if Eve wasn’t walking, she rode a bike, but Robert’s car was nice.
Robert rounded the car and got in on the other side. “How was your day?” he asked as he drove away.
Eve looked over at him. “I should be asking you that. Why are you wet? Where are the boys?”
Robert smiled. “The boys are fine. Ben took them home.”
“What happened?”
“We fell out of the boat.”
They were riding down
the road now. “How?”
Robert shrugged. A grin appeared on his handsome face. “It was a challenge to see if the boys could tip us over, versus Ben and I keeping us afloat.”
Eve shook her head, but she was smiling. “A challenge? Sounds like you and Ben came up with that.”
Robert smiled as he pulled into their driveway. It really was a short ride. He leaned over and gently placed a kiss on Eve’s lips. Robert pulled away. “I really missed you today.”
Eve wondered when the heat that seemed to spread over her face would cease. “Hmm,” was all she said.
He smiled, kissed her again, and then got out the car. He came around and opened the door for her. Eve stepped out and took his hand. He led her up the steps and opened the door. Eve made it into the main room, but then paused. There were tall red drapes hanging from the balcony and blocking the view of the rest of the room. A single chair sat in front of it. “What’s going on?”
“You’ll see.”
Eve turned to him. “What do you mean?”
Robert’s smile widened, but he didn’t say anything else. Instead, he led Eve by the hand and helped her take the only seat in the room. Then Robert left her side and walked through the curtains. Eve narrowed her eyes as she concentrated on the giggling that was coming from the other side of the curtain. “Lewis?” Another giggle came. “Clark?”
Then the curtains opened and Eve gasped. Someone had thrown a printing paper up on the back of the wall. A sunny day sat on one side while a full mooned night lay on the other. Cardboard had been taped to the couch in the shape of a boat. And there was Clark. A mustache drawn on his face and a sword in one hand. He was standing on the couch in a pose that made him look mighty. One arm thrust to the sky, the other on his hip. “I’m off to find the treasure lands!” he shouted.
Eve laughed, in spite of the fact that Clark was wearing boots on her white couch. She’d have to clean the couch later. But none of that mattered. At the moment, Eve could do nothing but cry. Clark was pretending to be a story from one of her father’s story books. Who had thought of this?
