Ever Since Eve (The Keeping Secrets Series, Book 1) by Browning Pamela

Author:Browning, Pamela [Browning, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2013-06-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Her cell phone rang bright and early on this Saturday morning. Eve, who had been awake since seven and had just come in from retrieving the newspaper from its accustomed place beneath the boxwood hedge, took the call.

"Eve?"

She recognized the male voice immediately. "Doug! I haven't talked with you in weeks!"

"We're going to remedy that. How about dinner tonight?"

"Nothing's wrong, is there? Al's not sick?"

"No, he's looking chipper. Living at Nell's house agrees with him. Do I need an excuse to see an old friend?"

Eve sank down on the bottom step, then regretted it. How would she get up again?

"Eve?"

"You don't need an excuse to see me, Doug, but I'm very pregnant. I'm not sure—"

"I have nothing more strenuous in mind than sitting in a quiet restaurant and lifting forks to our faces."

"Since you put it that way, how can I refuse?" She smiled into the phone. She'd like to see him.

"I'll pick you up, say, at seven?"

"Could we go earlier? Since I've been pregnant, I don't like to eat that late. I mean, would you mind?"

Doug's voice was warm, caring. "Have I ever minded adjusting my plans for you? Remember the time I gave up a junior high school track meet to stay home and help you nurse a sick hamster? I was a sure bet to win the hurdles, too."

"I remember, all right. The hamster gave birth to a fine, healthy litter." Doug had been so genuinely interested that day. He hadn't changed a bit.

"So after I gave up a track meet, picking you up at six o'clock instead of seven seems minor. I'll see you then, Eve."

"Okay," she said before clicking off.

"How's this for a casual weekend at home?"

Eve looked backward up the staircase to see Derek descending with a sheepish grin on his face. He wore a charcoal-gray fleece pullover with a white T-shirt under it.

"Very nice," she murmured approvingly. "Are you wearing that to work?"

Derek noticed that Eve, perched on the bottom step, looked strangely reflective. Something leaped inside his chest, and for a moment it threatened to distract him. But he recovered when he recognized the warm interest in Eve's eyes.

"I," he announced, parading in front of her and giving his reflection in the hall mirror a thorough once-over, "am not going to work today."

"You always work on Saturdays," she pointed out, trying in vain to lurch off the bottom stair to a standing position.

"Yes, but not today. It's my favorite month of the year. And it's time for Oktoberfest. You and Aunt May are going with me. Aren't you, Aunt May?"

"What's that?" Aunt May said, wandering in from the kitchen.

"Oktoberfest," Derek replied loudly. "I've invited you and Eve to go with me."

Aunt May made a face. "That big German festival in the park? Where they have a band blaring away so that I have to turn off my hearing aid and where everyone drinks beer? Derek, you should know by now that beer isn't my cup of tea." She fluttered her fingers in distaste and tottered through the living room toward the sun room.

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