For Your Sake (22 page)

And along the way, she met William.  She had attended one of Hancock County Electric’s Christmas parties with her dad at the Wheeling Country Club.  William was the club’s general manager who orchestrated the party full of rowdy, drunk electricians and linemen with finesse and class – in between catching Eva’s eye.  He was the poster child for the college-bred young man with classic good looks, tailored clothing, expensive watch and a ‘new money’ family background which encircled him like a halo.  His father had been a hedge fund expert back when they gained worldwide popularity in the early millennium, but didn’t get seduced by the quick gains.  He played it safe and smart, investing the money he made in other stable securities so when the financial crisis of 2008 hit and the popularity of hedge funds declined, William’s father sat in the thick black.  He took advantage of stocks which took a nose dive because of it, accumulating a lucrative portfolio over the last five years putting him at a net worth of around ten million. 

Eva’s father couldn’t be happier when she and William began to date – and the young man spared no expense.  Though he didn’t live off his father’s rich coattails, he did well for himself at the country club.  Dinners, gifts, day trips to the Amish country to peruse furniture and antique stores, cocktail functions at the club – it was all nice, but seemed more surface than substance.  Though he appeared to be the complete package, she felt something missing.  Not so much something in him, but within herself.  Her parent’s marriage ended in devastation, which left a bad taste in Eva’s mouth.  And even though it wasn’t fair to use their marriage as a measuring stick, she didn’t want to risk getting hurt – or worse, be the one to do the hurting.  Just like her mother.

The mere thought of Carol Sinclair made Eva sick and the pain she brought a good man like her dad made her sicker.  When she realized she didn’t feel the strong, bond of love with William she felt she should’ve, she began to second guess her relationship with him.  It wasn’t so much about what he could give her, but what she wanted to give herself.  Her mother walked out, leaving her dad to take care of her, paid for her tuition when she went to business college, co-signed a business loan and let her move back in after rooming with MaryLynn. She didn’t want to go right into being taken care of by a husband.  She wanted to do something – for herself, by herself. 

Her father dying six months ago was a turning point to where she decided it was best to break it off with William then – rather than hurt him as soon as the ink dried on a marriage certificate.  He was hurt, confused, but, in the end, understood and eventually let her go.  It was when everyone close to her had left that something kicked her inside, spiraling her to throw herself into her business and, eventually, her home.  It nicely filled the gap of something she sacrificed, though scared to embrace – love.

Perhaps she considered Ben safe, despite his association with a motorcycle club.  Bikers aren’t commonly known to be monogamous, especially young, single good-looking guys like Ben.  Maybe she could be one of those women who settled for some hot sex once in a while without emotion getting in the way of her lifestyle.  But last night threw her for a loop.  The way she practically threw herself at Ben, allowing him to suck, kiss and lick almost every inch of her, the comfort level she had during what should’ve been an awkward morning, the advice he offered about Elle, the way he looked at her, spoke her name, his hands, large, warm and rough on her skin – it swirled around her like a cyclone, until she admitted she didn’t want him to leave.

And in her home was where she left him – trusting someone who was still much a stranger to her, inside the very precious thing she owned.  She not only wanted him to not leave, but to stay the day, for dinner later and maybe even, again, the night.

Was she biting off more than she could chew?

She pulled into an available space in front of the store around eleven thirty.  Inside, Marie was inventorying the jewelry while Jen was re-organizing the ‘Him’ and ‘Her’ birthday card section.  “Hey.  Anyone show up yet?”

Marie shook her head.  “Not yet.  Pretty quiet.  Only been open a half hour.  I put aside some selections I think she might like.”

Placing her tote in the office, Eva came back out and went to the party section.  Leaning against the wall, Marie had set aside some matte gold and white design paper tablecloths, napkins, large cups and matching plastic forks and knives.  It was a birthday party for a biker president who didn’t want a fuss so she didn’t think glass or silver flat wear was going to be set out.  Stuff which was going to be used and tossed and Eva wanted to do away with carrying pretty picnic-wear (as she called it) people can either buy in bulk at the supermarket or one of those warehouse chains.

At noon, sharp, the bell jingled over the door and the faint aroma of…….was that Chanel No. 5?......trailed in.  The last time Eva smelled that perfume was on her mother, a half-full bottle of it still left on her dresser after she had left.  She had often taken a whiff of it to remember her, until the day her dad tossed out the remainder of his wife’s things, including the crockpot she cooked her last meal in.

Holding that sick remembrance at bay, Eva heard a rich, female voice speaking to Marie before making herself visible.  It was Elle Connors alright and the woman was downright stunning.  She had one of those short haircuts which looked as if it had been hastily chopped and uneven, but instead framed her heart-shaped face.  The chestnut color tipped with caramel highlights complimented a complexion which belied her actual age.  Dark jeans were tucked into caramel colored boots topped by a plaid shawl in the same muted tones.  She was done up in shades of brown just like Eva.  Maybe that was a good sign.  “Good afternoon, Elle.  Thank you for coming.” 

Elle tugged off her sunglasses, depositing them into her satchel.  “Thank you for seeing me.  She looked around. “I can’t believe I haven’t been in here sooner.  Last several months been consumed vetting people for the mayor’s re-election campaign next year, not to mention all the end of summer functions and putting this business committee together.”

Busy woman.  Busy
involved
woman.  “Not a problem.”

              “So, Eva.  Show me what you have.”

              Eva waved her over.  “This way.  Like I said, I’m getting rid of a good portion of this old stock to make way for a new line.  Was going to mark it down after Halloween, but I’d be happy to extend an early bird discount.  I set this aside.  Solid.  Simple.  Not sure if you’re interested, but we’ve got mylar balloons to match.”

              Elle carefully looked through everything.  “Well, if I’m going to humiliate my husband with a surprise party he doesn’t want, may as well go all the way with balloons. I like the gold.  You’re right, it’s not……”

              “Loud.”

              The older woman snorted.  “Trust me, those men will be loud enough.  What about those back there?”

              The display had the same products, but in different, solid shades – red, green, yellow, blue.  Not the bright primary color, but the same toned down shade as the gold.  “These?”

              “Will that clean you out?”

              “Except for the pastel prints, pretty much.  You want these too?”

              Finger to lips, Elle thought.  The noon sun streamed through the front window, bouncing off a thick, diamond-cut hoop earring.  It also displayed her face better – high cheekbones, delicate chin, slender neck with the faint beginnings of age spots and hairline wrinkles.  “There’s always something going on at town hall.  If someone farts in the wind, they throw a party.  I’ll take all the solids, wrapping paper too, and that pale blue and brown stripe as well.  Don’t think you’ll be able to give away that pastel shit.”

              Eva bit her lip.  She had easily chastised Ben for referring to her merchandise as ‘shit’, but she was taking his advice to be polite and respectful.

              But also not to back down.  However, she had to agree – those pastel prints were hideous.  And with what she was taking, she saved time and money getting everything marked down and re-displayed.

              “Add it up, let me know the damage.”

              The woman was strictly business, not that Eva expected them to break out into town gossip and girl talk.  And about what?  The fact she fucked one of her husband’s men last night?  Pulling out everything Elle wanted, Eva took a calculator and did a quick add, marveling at how overpriced this dated, tacky……shit really was.  “Wow…..three seventy nine, sixty.  I’ll give it all to you for three and a quarter.”

              “Two seventy five.”

              Eva expected a counter.  A woman this shrewd and sure of herself was going for the victory.

             
“……but don’t back down either.”

             
“Three – even.”

              Reaching into her satchel, Elle pulled out her wallet.  “Sold.”   Flipping open an embossed wallet which matched her purse, Elle carefully pulled out three-one hundred dollar bills.  “I trust you have a bag big enough for all that?”

              “Got it covered,” Eva said, waving over Jen.  “Will you please bag all of this up for Mrs. Connors and carry it out to her car for her.”

              The young girl nodded, then went off to do her bidding as Elle stood there looking impressed.  “I appreciate the valet service.”

              “I appreciate you taking this off my hands.”

              Elle paused giving comment, instead giving Eva a quick, appraising comment.  “You live here all your life?”

              “Until I was eighteen.  Went away to business college, then roomed with a girlfriend a few years afterwards.  Then she got married, I bought this business then moved back in with my dad until I bought my own house.”

              “Your dad still in Tippitt?”

              She wished and shook her head.  “Heart attack, six months ago.”

              “Sorry, sweetheart.  What about your mom?”

              So many ways Eva could answer that.  “Not part of my life.”  Honest, without being too honest.

              Elle looked as if she took the hint and nodded.  “So, can I count on seeing you at the committee meeting Tuesday night?”

              The ‘
Shop Small, Save Big’
thing she was putting together for the Thanksgiving through Christmas surge.  Eva knew she had to get more involved in the town, especially as a business owner, as well as branching out socially aside from her monthly lunches with MaryLynn.  Not to mention, with her old stock practically gone and the new stock prepped to ship December first, she needed a different focus during the day while her house reno took up her non-work time.  Which would keep her involved enough to where she wouldn’t obsess about the very same biker who was in said house at this moment, waiting for her to come home.

              “Balloons?”

              “Excuse me?”  The mere thought of Ben caused her to zone out.

              “You mentioned mylar balloons.”

              “Here.”  Eva went to the front, pulling a three-ring binder out from under the counter.  “Same muted gold.  How many do you want?”

              “Enough to piss Vic off.  How many do you have?”

              Eva counted.  “Twenty.”

              “Perfect.”

              “Elle, unless you have a large hatchback, twenty, inflated mylars may not fit.”

              “Not a problem.  Will send someone with a van next Saturday to pick up.”  She pulled her wallet out again.  “What’s the total, sweetheart?”

              If she had Elle Connors shop like this about once a week, those harvest gold appliances would be history by the time Baby Jesus was born.  “Two twenty five each, times twenty, plus tax – forty eight ten.”

              Elle peeled off three twenties.  “Keep the change.  Thanks for your help, Eva.”  She smoothly put her wallet back and slid her sunglasses on while Jen waited by the door with her booty.  “Tuesday night, I better see you there,” she warned before leaving the store.  At this rate, Eva wouldn’t dare denying the woman anything.

              After going over any questions or problem with Marie, Eva left, making her way across the parking lot to Ticker Liquor to get her overnight houseguest some beer.  She never bought beer, even when living with her dad.  Not sure what brand of beer bikers – or guys in general, as William was a Ciroc neat guy – drank, so she just decided to stick to plain, ol’ Bud.  Inside, a girl who looked old enough to still be in high school sat behind the counter.  “Bottled beer?”

              She pointed at the end.  “Coolers in the back.”

              Grabbing a bottle of pinot for herself along the way, Eva found the beer cooler and grabbed one six pack at first before pausing to grab another.   She told herself she wasn’t being presumptuous, but rather he was a thirsty guy who could hold his beer.  A rather loud voice yelling from a back room in what seemed to be Italian made her wince.  It was then followed by a slam and a bit of English she understood.  “
Bastards!  Mother, fucking, bastard bikers
.”

              Swallowing hard, Eva felt herself turn pale before heading quickly to the counter.  She cashed out and headed back to her car, putting the booze in the hatchback.  Getting behind the wheel, she made a mental list what to get at the market, even as those five words she overheard cluttered her head.