Chapter 6
Eva lay back on the bed, listening to the birds chattering their morning song out in the yard. Shafts of sunlight cut through the partially closed Venetian blinds, falling across the rumpled bedroom. In the distance somebody was cutting his lawn. The persistant buzz of the machine filled the otherwise quiet of the new day.
She stirred and looked at the clock on the bedstand. Only seven. If only she could sleep longer, Eva thought. It was such a blessing, washing out all other thoughts.
But the moment she awakened, they started all over again, crowding each other in her mind for room.
In the silence of the early morning Eva was usually honest with herself. And so it was today. Laying on the cool sheet, feeling some of the days heat begin to invade the room, Eva wondered about her life as she had so often before. Mostly it concerned what had happened to her in the past six years.
When she and Ralph had been married, she'd held high hopes for the future. She was rid of the slums forever. But it hadn't been long before she'd discovered how mistaken she was. Ralph had bought this house in Sunny dale Acres shortly after their honeymoon. It wasn't too long before Eva found out that this was no different than Boyle Heights. The fancy facade had fooled her for a while. But deep down, the subdivision was the same. Kids still played on the streets, men got drunk and beat up their wives ... and worst of all, poverty was just as stark. Oh, it was a different kind of poorness. Here people went hungry while watching television ... or riding in a car that was three months behind in payments. But the hunger was just as intense, if not worse. Now Eva had been able to see what money would buy. As in Boyle Heights, the dollar was still king and there weren't enough of them.
But worse than anything else had been the discovery she'd made two years after their marriage. Up until that time Ralph had performed his duties as a husband nobly. It was about then he'd grown cold for no apparent reason. Every night there was a different excuse. He was tired or he had a headache, anything to stay out of bed with her. For a while she was hurt and confused.
But something new had entered her life around then. It had begun when she hadn't made love with her husband for almost a month. First the headache, the strange desire every time she looked at a man. She'd fought against it a long time, telling herself that she was being shameless.
The odd feeling had grown worse until she found herself wearing less and less clothes, hoping that a man would take advantage of her, praying that he wouldn't.
It was inevitable that something would happen. And it did. He was just one of many salesmen that came regularly to the door. Eva couldn't even recall his name ... but she remembered what he'd done to her. When it was over she was sick and ashamed. However, she felt better than she had in weeks.
Eva snuffed out her cigarette, thinking back on how she felt when she discovered that her husband was no longer necessary to her physical satisfaction. Then she'd known the truth. Ralph had been a conquest, no more.
After the first time Eva hadn't needed a man for almost two months. In between, Ralph had made love to her. But it was almost as if he'd become a clumsy stranger, unable to give her what she desired. Rapidly she grew to hating his touch on her body.
And so that was the way it had gone, Eva thought. The first few affairs had been strained but always filled with the satisfaction she desired. The time between them varied and gradually grew less until the want, persisted in staying around. She found herself in the past year barely ending one flirtation before she was thinking of another.
In the cold light of the new day, Eva had to admit that she had grown afraid. Something drove at her, forcing her to give herself freely in order to remain satisfied. Where in the beginning, she was choosy as to the type of man she sought, now that had changed. Sam yesterday was a good example. He had none of the qualities that she wanted and yet she'd freely allowed him to take off her clothes.
Why had this happened to her? Eva swung her feet over the edge of the bed and looked dourly out into the yard. It was Ralph's fault. If he'd been any kind of a man she never would have gotten started looking for sex on the outside.
What would happen to her? Eva shook her head, not knowing the answer. Ralph was dumb but he'd be bound to find out someday. She'd thought of leaving him but Eva was practical enough to know where she'd wind up. There were houses in L.A. filled with girls who made a profession out of charging for what she gave away free. Eva had no intention of winding up like them.
At least her husband fed her. It was his duty to do as much. But that didn't prevent Eva from hating every minute she spent in this house, hoarding every dime he managed to bring in.
Things might be different if she could see some future for her husband. Were he heading for big successes she could find it worth her while to pretend that she loved him. It would be only fair that he share all of his rewards with her after what he'd put her through.
But the frustrating part was that there wasn't to be a future ... beyond this house and crummy neighborhood.
Eva paced the small bedroom, smoking a second cigarette. She was a very confused girl, unable to make any sense from the tangle of her life.
And she was lonely. This time it wasn't for a man but anybody that she could talk to. Eva knew the attitude of the neighbors. They all looked the other way when she walked down the street.
The thought of spending the day alone in the house frightened Eva. And yet she didn't dare go out. The remains of her unfulfilled want still with her. It wouldn't take much to pick her up ... and she hadn't been reduced to that, not yet anyway.
Eva made a decision, moving to the other room and picking up a phone. She'd call her sister and have her come over. So they'd quarelled yesterday. It wasn't the first fight.
Someone answered on the third ring. "Let me speak to Ruth," Eva said.
The unfamiliar voice at the other end of the wire answered. "She isn't here, She's gone for a few days." Would you like to leave a message?"
"No," Eva said, suddenly dejected. "You might just tell her that her sister called."
The voice was suddenly chilly. "All right," it snapped and hung up.
Eva did the same. For a moment she looked at the phone, wondering who that had been. She knew that Eva lived in a rooming house just a short distance away. What kind of lies had she been spreading?
Eva shrugged it off and made herself a cup of coffee. She sat in the front room drinking it, listening to the sounds of the neighborhood waking up. Every sound made her cringe. She'd never hated a place so thoroughly in her life. A bunch of stupid little people with snotty nosed-brats, all minding each other's business.
Eva returned to her old dreams of being rich and going to all those fancy places she'd never seen. Here Hollywood was only ten minutes away and yet it might as well be on the other side of the world.
She crushed out her cigarette. Damned Ralph. It was all his fault. If he hadn't come along she might have married someone more worthy of her.
Eva got to her feet and stood for a moment in front of the full length mirror in the hall. Look what she had to offer a man in return for excitement, she thought. There was plenty and it all stared back at her from the glass. The full, young body, now barely covered by the light robe was ripe with loveliness. Eva had to laugh. Even after all she'd been through, she still looked like the virgin she'd been on her wedding night.
And it was all wasted on Ralph, Eva thought bitterly. She'd been a damned fool and now she was stuck with her mistake.
The ringing of the doorbell startled the young girl in front of the mirror. She stood immobile for a moment, wondering who could be at the door.
Well, there was one way to find out. Eva moved across the room and opened the panel carefully. For a moment she didn't recognize the figure on the other side.
"Hi," he said, smiling.
It was the casual clothing that had fooled her. Eva remembered Martin Sellers as she'd met him yesterday, dressed in a stiff suit. But now he had on a pair of light colored slacks and sports shirt. As recognition came, her heart began jumping around.
He mistook her hesitation as suspicion and hastened to put her at ease. "I hope I didn't startle you," he grinned. "I know it's awfully early."
Eva came out of her shock quickly. She swung the door open, at the same time realizing she wasn't overly dressed for company. The light robe formed a deep V to her waist, running down the sides of the breasts. She automatically pulled the material together. And at the same time she was strangely disappointed in the man. He was turning out like all the rest. One day he got an eyefull, the next he returned to take advantage of the situation. "I've been up for an hour," she lied.
Martin took a step towards the threshold. "May I come in '.
Eva nodded. She'd wanted company, she thought, well she had it, even if Martin Sellers wasn't turning into the silver knight she'd thought him to be. "Have you had your coffee?" she asked as they moved into the room.
Martin grinned. "With two boys I usually have to get up pretty early. "I've had three cups ... but I could use another."
Eva poured a cup and handed it to him. She made a mental bet with herself as to how long it would take him to really get down to the business of his coming. Oddly enough, she felt no excitement at the prospect.
"I suppose you think I'm pretty bold coming here at this hour," Martin said, sipping the steaming brew.
He added, "Particularly with your husband away."
Eva nodded. "You're right," she said truthfully.
He found a cigarette and lighted it with what seemed like deliberate slowness. "After I left yesterday I got to thinking. Just where is this cabin of your husband's?"
"Up near Big Bear."
Martin consulted his watch. "That's about two hours ride from here."
"More or less."
"Do you know where the place is?"
"I think that I could find it," Eva agreed, wondering just what he was driving at. "I haven't been there in years."
Martin leaned forward intently. "Would you take me there? I'd compensate you for your trouble."
He was so serious that Eva almost laughed in his face. And at the same time she was relieved. She had to admit that he'd come up with an awfully good excuse for seeing her again. But what was his idea of compensation? She hoped it was what she thought it might be. Out loud she said, "You really are anxious to see him."
"It would mean a healthy loss to our company if the bank decided to cut off our credit. And they might if Ralph hands them the report he made out Friday night. It really is urgent that I contact him." Martin reached into his pocket and withdrew his wallet, starting to take out some money.
Eva placed her hand on his, shaking her head. "Don't be silly," she laughed. "It's such a nice day I think I'd like to take a ride. And I couldn't charge you for having a good time, could I?"
"You haven't had it yet," he grinned.
Eva kept her hand on his arm for a longer time than was necessary under the circumstances. "I will," she said.