Iris Johansen - Eve

“The pink one,” Eve said. “Be yourself. To hell with being serious. There’s going to be enough of that in our lives.”

AFTER SHE FINISHED WITH THE guidance counselor, she left her mother at the apartment and took a bus to the restaurant. She went directly to the office.

George Kimble looked up at her entrance. “You’re looking pretty good. Teresa said you were sick. Flu?”

“I feel okay.” She drew a deep breath. “But it’s not flu. I’m pregnant.”

“So?” He looked her up and down. “You don’t look far along. Are you resigning?”

“No. I’m asking for more hours. I just quit school, and I need the work.”

“And I don’t need someone who gets sick all the time and has to go home. You put me in a bad spot last night.”

“It won’t happen again.”

He leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Who was it? That kid who kept coming in here and picking you up?”

“Yes.”

“Won’t he help you out?”

“I’m not asking.”

He wearily shook his head. “You kids. You could have the whole world at your feet, and you throw it away. I like you, Eve. I thought you had your head in the right place.”

“I guess I didn’t. I do now. Will you give me those hours?”

“It’s not good business. I couldn’t rely on you.”

“You can rely on me.” She put her hands on the desk and leaned toward him. “I want a twelve-hour shift. I’ll be here every day, without fail. If someone else doesn’t show up, I’ll work a double. I’ll be the most valuable employee you have, Mr. Kimble. Yes, I may get sick, but I won’t let it interfere. I’ll be here. Most of the time, it doesn’t last during the entire pregnancy. I’ll work through it.”

“So you say.”

“Look at me.” She held his eyes. “I made a mistake, but I’m not going to let it hold me down. I’ll be working on my GED, but having a baby isn’t cheap, and I need that money. Afterward, I’m going to hold you to your word about working around my hours while I go to college. I’m not asking for charity. You’re going to get your money’s worth, more than your money’s worth. Now do I get my twelve-hour shift?”

He didn’t speak for a moment. “You get it. Show up tomorrow at 1 P.M. ” He looked down at the papers on his desk. “Now get out of here.”

She turned to go.

“Eve.”

She looked back at him.

“If you think I’m going to be soft on you, forget it. I’m going to work your ass off.”

She nodded and walked out of the office.

It had been easier than she’d thought it would be. But that didn’t mean that Mr. Kimble wouldn’t toss her out if she didn’t follow through.

She would follow through.

“You okay?” Teresa asked, her gaze on the office door. “Did he fire you?”

“No. He gave me extra hours. I start tomorrow.”

“Really? Then do you want to see Linda’s doctor?”

“No, I’m going to have the baby.” She turned toward the door. “It’s going to be all right, Teresa.”

“Yeah, sure.”

She couldn’t convince Teresa when she had to work everything out for herself. “I have to leave now. The doctor gave me all kinds of vitamins and stuff to pick up from the drugstore.” She opened the door. “I’ve got to have everything set up before I start working full-time. See you tomorrow.”

She started toward the bus stop down the block. Then she stopped. It was ten blocks from here to the housing development. The doctor had said she needed exercise. It would save money if she walked it whenever possible. She was going to need every penny. Sandra had said she’d get a job, but she couldn’t count on her promises. She had to keep on relying only on herself as she’d always done.

She turned and started down Peachtree Street. Every step was a confirmation that this was the route she had to go. She had to build her strength if she was going to keep to the schedule she’d set for herself. She had to build her strength to keep the baby strong. She had to find ways to do both. Challenge herself to get through this and come out with all the prizes.

Very grand, she thought ruefully. The only prize she was after was to get home and hope that Sandra was still there and had not flitted off as she usually did.

A small prize, a small step, but she would take it. She would work on the giant steps later.

Six months later

“There’s a man downstairs who wants to talk to you,” Rosa said, when Eve opened the door. “I left him on my bench in the yard. Nice man. He said he’d come upstairs, but he has a bad back.”

“Who is he?” Eve asked. She didn’t really have time to talk to anyone. She had to finish this paper for her English class before she left for work. “Salesman?”

“I don’t think so.” She frowned. “He doesn’t have that slick look. I didn’t get his name. He sort of reminds me of someone.”

“That’s a help.” She came out on the landing and started down the steps. “Look, Rosa, you were supposed to be studying with me this morning and not sitting with the baby on that bench.”

“But he needs the sunshine.”

“And you need your GED. And you’re going to get it. I want you here tomorrow morning.”

“Okay.” She made a face. “You didn’t used to be so bossy.”

“Yes, I was. I just didn’t have time to concentrate on it.” She called back to her, “Now I make the time.”

Rosa leaned over the railing. “Your baby is going to come out of you cracking a whip.”

She grinned as she opened the front door. “I’ll take the chance. That will be two of us to nag you.”

She was still smiling as she turned to the man sitting on the bench. “Hello, I’m Eve Duncan. What can-” She inhaled sharply.

He sort of reminds me of someone.

He was a thin man in his late forties or early fifties, with thinning gray-brown hair and olive skin and dark eyes.

John Gallo’s eyes.

“How do you do? I’m Ted Danner.” The man got to his feet with an effort. “I’m sorry to make you come down. I just couldn’t face those flights of stairs. John may have told you that I have back problems.”

“You’re his uncle Ted.” She moistened her lips, trying to recover from the shock. “Yes, he said you injured it while you were in the service.”

“I thought he’d tell you about me. We’re very close.” He smiled gently. “He’s like my own son. He’s a good boy.”

“Why are you here?”

“He asked me to come.”

Another shock. “What?”

“Well, actually, he asked me to keep an eye on you when he left for basic. He said that I shouldn’t approach you, that you’d resent it.”

“But you’re here.”

“I tried to keep myself from coming. But I had to talk to you.” He looked at the front of her maternity smock. “I saw you on the street three weeks ago, and I was… surprised. How far are you along?”

“Eight months.”

“And it’s John’s child?”

“No, it’s my child.”

“But John fathered him?”

She nodded. “But you don’t have to worry. I’m not going to claim him as the father.” She paused. “I prefer he not know. You should agree to that. John said you were eager that he have a career in the military. A baby would just get in his way.” Her lips tightened. “Don’t tell him.”

Ted Danner shook his head. “You poor child. You’re so alone.”

“The hell I am. I’m doing fine. Don’t tell him.”

“I don’t have a choice at the moment. I can’t write to him. I don’t know where he is.”

She stared at him, stunned. “What?”

“Right after basic and Ranger school, he was sent overseas. I heard from him from Tokyo right after he arrived, then nothing.”