Chapter 19
Eva had stopped shaking in anger by the time she reached her house. Who did Johnny think he was, saying things like that to her? He was nothing, a low class moron.
But as she walked up the path, Eva knew she had other thinks to worry about. Ralph would want to know all about her stay over at Ruth's.
She let herself in quietly, hoping that her husband might be asleep. It appeared that she was lucky at that. There was no light in the living room. Eva tiptoed into the bedroom and waited for her eyes to become adjusted to the dimness. When they did she realized there was no one in Ralph's bed.
Eva switched on the light, the truth dawning on her. Ralph wasn't home. Now that was odd, she thought. One thing about her husband was his regularity. He was usually in bed and reading by eleven.
She moved through the house to see if there was any clue as to where he could be. The same dirty dishes she'd left behind the morning before were still in the sink. It was obvious he'd been here since then because a half-made pot of coffee was on the stove. Eva turned on the flame beneath it.
It was Thursday night wasn't it, she asked herself. It was, she decided.
Maybe Ruth would know. Eva picked up the phone and called her sister. The voice that answered wasn't Ruth's "May I speak to Ruth please," Eva said.
"She isn't here," the party said.
Now that was even odder, Eva thought. Ruth of all people never ventured out at night. The amusing reflection came to her that perhaps her sister had a date. But she dismissed the thought as being too ridiculous. "Thank you," she said into the instrument and hung up.
As she did, Eva heard the coffee boiling in the kitchen. She made herself a cup and wandered through the empty house studying it, trying to make some sense from the mystery.
Twenty minutes later Eva was no closer to a solution. She couldn't express it in thought but something about his not being here bothered her.
When the phone rang Eva jumped a foot. That would be Ralph, she decided, picking up the instrument. And just when she was giving him credit for doing something unusual.
Eva was understandably surprised when the voice on the other end turned out to be Martin. He sounded strange and excited, running his words together in his anxiety to get them out.
"When can you be ready to leave?"
Eva caught her breath, not sure she heard him correctly. "With you?"
"That's right."
"You tell me," Eva said happily. "Anytime."
"Fine," Martin agreed. "I'll be over in less than an hour."
"But Martin," Eva said. "How long will we be gone? Where are we going?"
"Don't ask so many questions. I can tell you one thing, we won't be back here."
"Your wife?"
"That's right." He didn't sound convincing.
"Ralph isn't here," Eva said. "So you can come right up to the front door. But on the other hand he might return. Supposing I meet you at the cab stand."
"Ralph went to the mountains," Martin explained. "He told me at dinner that he'd taken tomorrow off in order to have a long weekend."
That solved the mystery. "In that case I'll leave the front door open," Eva said. "When you get here you come right in."
"There won't be much time."
"There'll be enough," Eva said softly. Humming to herself, Eva packed quickly and laid out the clothes she intended to wear. She could never remember being so happy. It was as if this was her wedding night all over again.
She debated whether to leave Ralph a note and decided against it. He'd find out in time.
There were other small nagging worries that she couldn't see solutions for. Wha did Martin intend doing about his business if he left town so abruptly? And why had he decided to leave at this hour of the night?
Eva scolded herself for being silly. Those were his problems and she was certain that he was quite capable of solving them himself. The important thing was that they were getting away so quickly. It was far more than she'd ever hoped for.
Eva straightened up from her packing and looked around the house she'd come to detest. She had absolutely no regrets about going. She smiled to herself, reflecting that she was leaving behind enough gossip material to last for years. The nosy neghbors should give her a medal. The block might become famous. But time was passing too quickly and she still had so much to do. Eve undressed rapidly and showered. When she was finished she picked out her most attractive negligee and put it on, fastening the material at the neck only and studying the effect in the mirror.
Eva had to admit that it was striking. A four inch gap of womanhood was exposed from her neck to the hem, not that much more was covered by the filmy nylon.
At that point Eva realized there was someone standing in the doorway. She spun around and saw Martin grinning at her. Eva's response was spontaneous. She threw herself into his arms and began crying in happiness.
"Here here," he scolded, pushing her gently away. "That will never do."
"Is it really true?" Eva sobbed. "Are we going away together?"
He chucked her beneath the chin. "It is."
"Tonight?"
"As soon as you get dressed."
Eva threw all of her joy into a single kiss, feeling the roughness of his clothing against her bare skin. She pulled away briefly, looking deeply into his eyes. "Make love to me, darling," she pleaded. "Make me scream so that all our neighbors will know what's happening. I want these women to know what they've been missing."
He set the small attache case he was carrying carefully on a chair. "There isn't time," he said regretfully.
"Make time," Eva pouted. "Look what you're missing," she smiled.
Martin slid his arms about her. "You're something," he grinned.
Martin made time.
A short time later, Martin sat in the chair watching Eva put the final touches to her hair. Finished, she reached for the clothing she'd previously laid out on the bed. As she picked up the bra and panties, Martin shook his head. Eva shrugged and threw them in the suitcase. He did the same for the slip. Now only a sweater and skirt were left.
"You're terrible," she scolded, pulling on the remaining cloth. "I'll catch my death of cold."
"I wouldn't bet on it," he grinned.
Eva laughed and snapped the suitcase shut. "You're really awful."
He glanced at his watch for the fifth time since he'd entered the room. "We'd better hurry," he suggested, picking up her case, along with the one he'd brought in.
Although Eva was happy beyond description and her body was still warm from his, she hadn't lost her head completely. The words of his wife came back to her. She put her hand on his arm. "Don't be angry, darling," she said slowly, trying to choose her words carefully. "But are we leaving the city broke? Have you given Helen everything as she said you'd have to?"
Instead of being annoyed, Martin laughed. "Don't be silly," he scoffed. "I'm not that crazy." He lay the attache case on the bed. "Open it," he suggested, handing her the key.
Eva did as he asked. When the cover folded back she gasped. It was filled with nothing but hundred dollar bills.
"I liquidated my share of the firm," he explained. "We'll let Helen fight out her own share of problems."
Now Eva was completely content. It was very obvious that she was a very wealthy woman.
As Martin started the engine of the Caddy, Eva took a last look at the house. A load lifted from her shoulders as they moved slowly down the street and the building vanished from her sight. It was like leaving a bit of the ugly past behind.
They were well on their way out of the valley before Eva asked where they were going.
Martin looked across the seat at her. "Las Vegas," he said.
Eva clapped her hands happily. "I've always wanted to go there, she said.
"Don't get too excited," Martin warned. "We'll only be there a short time. We're catching a plane to South America."
Could this be happening to her, Eva thought? It was a dream. Surely it had to be. She'd always wanted to travel and now the wish was coming true, with a man at her side who was capable of taking care of her. And at the same time she thought of something. "Why don't we go directly to South America from here?" she asked.
Martin shook his head, keeping his eyes on the busy San Fernando road. "I just thought a brief vacation would do us both good."
Eva squeezed his arm. "You're wonderful," she sighed.
By two in the morning they were again on the desert road they'd taken previously back from the mountains. Only this time they passed the cut-off and kept going on towards Victorville and Barstow.
Eva had never been frightened in a car before. But this time Martin's driving left her uneasy. As the desert floor rocketed past them she caught the speedometer needle on 100....She looked up to say something but his grim face prevented it. Every now and then he'd look behind them, as if he expected someone to be following. But Eva knew that at this speed he wouldn't be looking for the police. He'd be inviting them. It was four when Martin finally relaxed as they came to the outskirts of Barstow. He glanced across at Eva. '"Care for something to eat?"
Eva knew she had no business getting out in public the way she was dressed but anything to get away from the car for a short time.
And when the light of the small cafe struck her, Eva was certain she shouldn't have come in. Her body did interesting things as they moved towards a booth, stopping all conversation among the assembled truck drivers.
Eva tried to ignore the stares and keep her own eyes on Martin. "Where will we be married?"' she asked.
"We have to get a divorce first," he answered. "This can be done in South America. After that we'll be married."
"How long will we stay down there? I'd like to go to New York too. They have wonderful clothes."
He patted her hand. "Be patient," he smiled. "We'll cover the world before we're through." He stopped talking and his face paled slightly as his eyes left hers and looked across her shoulder.
Eva twisted around and saw two highway patrolmen settling down at the counter for coffee. "They can't arrest you for sitting here," she smiled. "It was on the highway that you were speeding."
"Yeah, I know," he said, the frown remaining. Martin threw some money on the table and got to his feet. "We'd better be going."
Eva sensed that there was something in the air. But whatever it was she was sure it didn't concern her.