Linda Lee - Eva's Deadline

Eva raised an eyebrow. “So that’s the main objective—keeping me busy?”

Mark ran a hand through his hair. “Come on, Eva. This is tough for both of us. You’ve given me the impression you don’t want to become involved while you’re here, that you’re only marking time until your year is over.” He studied her closely. “Am I off base on that?”

Eva looked away. “No, you’re not.”

“I’m trying to make the year as easy for you as I can. You want some other assignment, okay, you pick it.”

“Never mind,” she said. “I’ll do the column.”

They spent the next few minutes going over various routines and procedures. At last, Mark leaned back and said, “That about covers it. Any questions?”

“No. I’ll go to my cubicle now.”

“June’s files are all there. They should help you get in the groove.”

Before she could make her escape, voices sounded in the hallway, and a little girl burst into the room. Except for her white sandals, she was dressed all in pink: blouse, skirt and tights. Looped over one arm was a pink plastic purse with a large daisy stuck to the side.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Arms outstretched, she ran to Mark.

He swiveled away from his desk just in time for her to jump into his lap. “Hey, sweetheart! I didn’t expect a visit from you today.”

An older woman, presumably Sasha’s caretaker, hurried into the office. “We’re on our way to our ballet lesson,” she said. “And she insisted on visiting first. She’s her daddy’s girl, that one.”

“I’m always glad to see my girl.” Mark bestowed a kiss on the child’s forehead.

Eva had little experience with children, but judging by her impression of Sasha at Seb’s memorial, the child was a charmer. She obviously had her father twisted around her little finger.

Eileen turned to Eva. “Your first day on the job, I bet. I’m Eileen.”

Eva smiled. “Nice to meet you. I’m Eva.”

“Heard you rented Lola Halsey’s place. Seems strange, when you could be staying in Seb’s house.”

Eileen reached up to her topknot and adjusted the chopsticks, or whatever they were, that were stuck through it.

“I’ll be getting the house ready to put on the market,” Eva said.

“If you need an agent, see Morgan’s Realty on Main Street. Jeb’s my cousin. Tell him I sent you.”

Eva smiled indulgently. “Thanks, Eileen, I’ll make a note of that.”

Mark turned Sasha around to face Eva. “You remember Eva from Mr. Seb’s memorial, don’t you, honey?”

Sasha beamed her luminous blue eyes on Eva. “Yes, I ’member.”

“I remember you, too,” Eva said. “How are you today?”

“Fine. I have a new purse.” She pointed to the purse hanging over her arm.

“Very nice. It matches your outfit. I bet pink’s your favorite color.”

“Uh-huh.” Sasha grinned shyly.

“She always has to be color-coordinated.” Eileen favored her charge with a smile. “Not like me,” she added, pointing to her orange blouse and red cardigan sweater.

“I like my outfits to match, too.” Eva gestured at her brown shirt and slacks.

“You look pretty,” Sasha said.

“Why, thank you.”

“Hey, Sasha, I thought I heard your voice.”

April Hensen, clutching a piece of paper in her hand, entered the room. Her flip-flops slapped across the floor as she headed for Mark’s desk. Leaning down, she gave Sasha a hug.

As April straightened, her free hand brushed Mark’s shoulder in a gesture that seemed intentional, rather than accidental. April always seemed to hover around Mark. Were they more than boss and employee?

Mark and April’s relationship was no business, or concern, of hers.

“Here’s the flyer for the picnic.” April laid the paper on Mark’s desk. She looked around wide-eyed. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“No problem, April.” Mark lowered Sasha to the floor and turned his attention to the paper April had brought.

Sasha danced over to Eva. “Are you coming to the picnic?”

“What picnic is that?”

“The Fourth of July picnic. Huh, Daddy?” Sasha looked to Mark for confirmation.

Mark sat back in his chair. “Right, sweetie.” He looked at Eva. “It’s at the City Park and sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. The entire town is invited. We’re including these flyers in the next edition of the paper.” He tapped the sheet in front of him. “We’re covering the event, of course.”

“You have to come,” Sasha said. “There are games and prizes and fireworks!”

Eva didn’t want to spend the Fourth of July—or any holiday—in Willow Beach. This occasion would be a good time to take Susan up on her invitation to stay in Seattle. “Yes, the picnic’s always been a popular celebration. It sounds like fun, but I plan to go home that weekend.”

Sasha’s brow wrinkled. “Home?”

“To Seattle. That’s where I really live.”

“Eva’s only here in Willow Beach for a year,” Mark said. “Then she’s going back to her home in Seattle.” He turned back to Eva. “But about the picnic—you’re writing the Our Town column, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“And doesn’t the picnic sound like an event for your column?”

“Ordinarily. But it’s the Fourth of July. Won’t that rate a front-page feature? And wouldn’t that be you?”

She glanced at the others. Eileen and April had their gazes glued to Mark, anticipating his answer. Even Sasha, who’d been fussing with her purse, was now focused on her father.

Mark folded his arms and glared at Eva. She set her jaw and glared back.

Seconds passed. Finally, he shrugged. “Go to Seattle. We’ll get along just fine without you.” He turned away and shuffled some papers on his desk.

“I’d already made plans before I knew about the picnic,” she felt obliged to say. True enough, even though she hadn’t yet checked with Susan to see if that weekend would work for her, too. But Susan had said to come anytime, hadn’t she?

“I wish you could come to the picnic,” Sasha said.

“Never mind, honey.” April patted Sasha’s shoulder. “We’ll have a good time.”

Eileen grasped Sasha’s hand. “We need to go, honey. We don’t want to be late for your ballet lesson.”

“Bye, Sasha.” Eva waved. “Nice to see you again.”

“Bye.”

After Sasha and Eileen left, Mark turned to April. “Was there something else, April?”

“I need to talk to you.” She rolled her eyes and tipped her head in Eva’s direction.

Seizing the blatant hint as a chance to escape, Eva stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get to work.”

* * *

“HAVE A SEAT, April.” Mark nodded at the chair Eva had vacated.

April sidled to the chair and perched on the edge. The slight flush to her normally pale complexion sent tension rippling across his shoulders.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked.

“I, um, thought you and Sasha might want to come to my place for dinner tonight. I’m making spaghetti, and my housemate has a night class at the junior college.”

Yep, as he’d suspected, her reason for lingering was personal. “That’s nice of you, April, but I’ll be working late. I’ll only have time to grab a bite at the deli.”

April’s forehead wrinkled. “Sasha could come, though, couldn’t she? She and I always have fun together.”

“Sorry, I’ve already arranged for her to have dinner at Eileen’s.”

April lowered her gaze and shifted in her chair. “I hope things between us won’t change now that Eva is here,” she said in a low voice.

At the mention of an “us,” Mark inwardly cringed. A few months ago, he and April had seen each other at a concert on the beach, and he’d invited her for a bite to eat afterward. Since then, she’d had the idea he was personally interested in her. As gently as he could, he’d tried to make it clear that wasn’t the case. She was a valued employee and a good friend only, and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.