Chapter 12
Eva managed to smother a gasp and maintain a straight face. It wasn't easy, considering the surprise that she'd just been given. "You're crazy," she said.
"No I'm not," Ruth said evenly. "You were seen."
Suddenly Eva remembered the fat woman at the tavern who had called out her name. That was it. But how in the world had she ever told Ruth? "I stayed home all day yesterday," Eva maintained.
Her sister shook her head. "No you didn't, Eva. You're lying. I can tell. Ever since we were children I've known when you were telling a fib."
"All right then," Eva snapped. "So I was up there with Martin. What of it?"
Ruth sighed and settled back against the couch, shaking her head. "You're a sinful person," she said slowly. "I'm ashamed to call you my sister."
Eva found a cigarette and blew reams of smoke through the air. "That goes both ways, sister dear," she sneered. "I'm certainly not proud of you. Every-time you come over I'm afraid the neighbors will think I'm taking in immigrants."
"Since when have you cared what the neighbors thought?" Ruth countered.
Eva let the comment pass. She walked to the window and stood for a moment watching the kids play hopscotch in the street.
Ruth's voice drew her back into the room. "What about Martin?" she said.
"What about him?"
"Are you going to keep seeing him or will he be just another one of your brief conquests?"
"I can't see how that concerns you," Eva said.
"Oh, Eva," Ruth burst out, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. "What's happened to you?"
"I've gotten smart," Eva snapped. "I've found out that the whole world doesn't live in a one bedroom, plaster house on a street filled with noisy kids and nosy neighbors. I've learned that there are nice places in the world that can be had for money." She moved closer to her sister, getting warmed to her subject. "I've discovered that I'm married to a plodding clod who hasn't any brains and can't take care of me physically the way he should. But most important I've found a way to get all of these things ... and I intend to." Eva stopped talking, aware that she'd said too much already.
"Meaning Martin Sellers?" Ruth said, her face drained of all color.
Eva could have bitten her tongue off. Supposing Ruth went to Ralph and told him everything? Just the same, she doubted it. Her sister was a lot of things but she wasn't a gossip. And Eva enjoyed the shock she saw in Ruth's eyes. Out loud she said, "Meaning Martin Sellers."
"You can't do it," Ruth said slowly. "He's a married man."
"So what?" Eva snapped.
"This is a terrible thing you're planning. Besides you've only known Martin since Saturday. How can you be so sure I
"I'm sure all right," ' Eva said. "He has the one thing I've always wanted ... money. On top of that I believe that I'm in love with him."
Ruth kept silent for a moment. She leaned forward and finished her coffee. During the intervening silence a plane flew low over the house, rattling the dishes in the kitchen sink. When the noise had subsided, she said, "How would you know what love is, after all the men you've allowed to come into your life. Besides, what do you know about Martin, other than what he's told you and that he drives an expensive car?"
Eva had to admit that Ruth made some sense. She really didn't know a great deal about the man, not that it would matter anyhow. And at the same time she had a thought. "His company has an account with your bank. What do you know about him?"
Ruth shook her head. "I'm not getting mixed up in this."
"Don't be such a damned prude," Eva snapped. "It's about time that you grew up and learned the facts of life. A woman has to look out for herself in this world. If she doesn't, every man in sight will take advantage of her. Some day even you might accidentally get married. What you've seen me go through should be a good lesson. Pick a rich one, sister dear ... although I doubt you could possibly be that lucky." Eva paced the room, strutting slightly. "It takes brains and beauty to snag a wealthy one."
"Thanks for the compliment," Ruth said wryly. "But you never can tell, I may just fool you."
Eva laughed heartily. Even the idea of her sister being that fortunate was amusing. Just the same she saw the flit of a smile across Ruth's face and it bothered her. But she tried to bring the conversation back on course. "Now," she said, "what do you know about Martin Sellers?"
Ruth shook her head. "Not a great deal. He has a partner and between them they own this diamond business.
During the past several years it really has prospered."
"Good," Evca said eagerly. "How well does he know Ralph?"
"They're good friends," Ruth said. "The partnership has been quite active lately and the bank has been keeping a close look at their books. Ralph of course is in charge of the account and it's been his personal job. He spends at least three days a week over at the firm."
"Anything else?"
Ruth shook her head and rose to her feet. "I shouldn't have told you that much. I feel dirty, being a part of your scheme. I should tell Ralph."
"But you won't, will you," Eva smiled.
Her sister exhaled her resignation. "No," she admitted. "I won't. I've never meddled in your marriage and I don't intend to start now. But that doesn't mean I look on with approval. When that final judgment day comes you'll have to answer for your sins to someone far more important than I. I just pity you, Eva, I really do. There'll come a time when this little house you call a shack will look awful good to you."
Eva laughed. "Don't be silly, sister dear," she said. "I know what I want and I'm going to get it." She pushed Ruth towards the door. "You will hurry along, won't you? I'm expecting a man to call."
Ruth stopped with one hand on the knob and looked into her sister's eyes. You're awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?"
"I am," Eva admitted. She looked at the empty curb in front of the house. "Do you want me to call a cab?"
"No," Ruth said. "I can walk to the boulevard and get one there. I want some fresh air. I need it."
Eva ignored the final comment and slammed the door on her back. Then she hurried to the telephone, confident that Martin would be calling her any minute.
Three days later, Eva was still waiting by the telephone.
And now she wasn't at all sure of herself. With each passing hour her confidence had slid down another notch.
The first day he hadn't contacted her, Eva told herself that he was probably busy. On the second she began to worry. And now it was late afternoon on Wednesday as she paced the floor nervously, stopping at every sound, moving quickly to the window, hoping against hope she'd see the familiar Caddy.
Eva was confused and hurt and frustrated. She'd never believed for a moment what Martin had said about not seeing each other again. But it had slowly come to her that he might actually have meant it.
She told herself over and over that it was impossible, no man would be able to stay away that long ... not after what she'd given him.
But the facts were cold reality. Martin had neither tried to phone nor see her.
Eva snuffed out a cigarette and lighted another one, trying to make some sense out of what had happened. Martin wasn't out of town. She'd been able to pry that much out of Ralph without him suspecting anything.
So why didn't he call? Eva stared at the phone as if it were her worst enemy. "Damn him," she exploded, picking up a vase and smashing it on the floor in anger.
Eva knew all too well that everything she'd planned revolved around Martin. Without him she was still stuck in her rut. With him she'd be somebody.
And more than anything else she'd begun to realize that perhaps she really did love him, that the feeling hadn't been associated only with his use of her body. In truth Eva was miserable. She felt alternately hot and cold just thinking about the man.
She'd tried to drive the feelings away but they wouldn't leave. They were a permanent part of her.
And even worse than anything else was the return of pressure that went with desire. Sunday, Eva had thought that she'd never again be forced to take a man just because her body demanded it. Martin would be able to fullfill everything she needed.
But over the last day Eva had begun to feel the need of a man spread through her system. It was something she'd never understood but it was there just the same.
The pattern never changed. With the single exception of Martin, as soon as she was finished with sex she never wanted to see it again. That lasted for less than twenty four hours. But then she'd catch herself gradually looking at men, feeling a strange surge within her. Eva knew she could fight it for a time. But in the end it usually got the better of her and she had to have sex ... from anyone, despite the chances she had to take.
This had been the way it'd been since her husband had grown cold to her.
Eva shivered, despite the heat of the room. The feeling was back. And it was worse than she could ever remember it. It was almost a fight to keep herself from running out onto the street and pulling in the first man she saw.
How could she feel this way and still love Martin? Eva Eva shook her head hopelessly. She didn't have an answer.
But this time she was determined that it wouldn't lose her the golden oportunity she had with Martin. She knew that he had to be thinking of her. Perhaps he was too ashamed to face her.
Eva stared at the telephone a moment longer then picked up the directory. She'd call him at work. It was a risk but she'd have to take it. Her hands shook as she sought the name of his company. When she didn't find it, the brief fear surged through her that perhaps he'd been lying about being in business.
"Get hold of yourself," Eva snapped. "You're falling apart." Hadn't Ruth told her that Martin owned a diamond business? Didn't Martin come here last Saturday to see Ralph on business?
Why wasn't the name in the book? Then it dawned on Eva that she was looking at the Valley section of the phonebook. She threw it to the floor and picked up the phone to dial information.
As the smooth voice of the operator came from the instrument, Eva suddenly changed her mind. Why call him? Wouldn't it be better if she went downtown and just 'happened' to be near his office when he left for the day?
There was a certain element of risk. Ralph might see her too. But she knew she'd have to take that chance. She meant to see Martin, no matter what the cost.
With that in mind, Eva hung up the phone and went to the bedroom. She'd wear the sexiest clothes she could find. Martin didn't know it yet but he had a date this evening to seduce her.