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“I was really hoping to—” I cut myself off.
All I want to do is scream, yell in frustration. But taking everything out on Eve’s mom would be unfair.
I was really hoping to see her.
But she said she doesn’t want to see me.
I have to respect her wishes.
Mrs. Lee pats me on the arm. “Thank you, but don’t worry. Eve a strong girl.”
I manage the tiniest of smiles. “I know she is.”
“And I am with her. I make sure she get well soon.”
Maybe space is what we need.
“Okay, Mrs. Lee. Will you at least tell her I stopped by?”
“I will, I will. You such a good friend.”
I don’t know why, but her words make my stomach lurch.
Friend.
Is that what we are?
Up until the confrontation with Mother, Eve and I were in a pretty good place. For the first time since being in Haven, I wasn’t eagerly counting the days until I got to return home. Whenever I was with Eve, she drowned out all other concerns. In a matter of weeks, she’d transformed into something more meaningful to me. She isn’t just an old high school sweetheart I left behind. She isn’t just some woman I hooked up with in Haven because I was bored. Eve’s so much more than that.
What exactly, I couldn’t be certain.
Maybe nothing now.
“Do you know which way to billing?” Mrs. Lee asks.
“Billing? I’m not sure. I can help you find it, though.”
She reaches up and pinches my cheeks. Even though I’m a grown-ass man, I find it kind of endearing. God knows it’s more affection than my own mother has ever shown me. If more people acted like Mrs. Lee, I think the world would be a better place. Be like Mrs. Lee.
“Such a gentleman,” she all but coos as she slips her arm through mine.
I’m not going to lie. I’m unaccustomed to chaperoning mothers around. The concern that I might say something stupid and offend Eve’s mother looms over me. It’s clear that Mrs. Lee doesn’t know about me and Eve. Given how shitty things have been lately, it’s probably best if I don’t mention anything at all.
We find the billing department on the basement floor of the hospital. It’s dark and dingy down here. I’m fairly certain the morgue is at the very end of the hall.
Talk about depressing.
There’s a line of people filing out of the billing office, so Mrs. Lee and I take up our spot in the queue.
“Don’t have to wait with me,” she says. “I’m okay now.”
I smile softly at her. “I don’t mind keeping you company.”
She giggles. “You too sweet. I think you up to something.”
“Me? Of course not.”
“You want to stay and see A-Ying.”
“A-Ying?”
“Oh, Eve. I mean Eve.”
“I didn’t know she had another name.”
She never told me.
“Ah, I try call her Eve. It’s prettier.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek, shuffling forward with Mrs. Lee as the line moves up little by little.
There’s a lot about Eve I don’t know. But I want to know. Even the tiniest, stupidest things like what her favorite season is, or what her favorite color is, or if she’s got a lucky number. I didn’t realize just how much I want to learn, to truly get to know her, until now.
“Who came up with Eve? For her name, I mean. You, or her father?”
Mrs. Lee’s bottom lip stiffens slightly. I wonder if I’ve overstepped some kind of boundary.
Probably.
Should have just put my foot in my mouth.
“Her father,” she answers eventually.
We’re about three people away from getting to the front of the line. There are several booths for billing employees, but only two of them are open. Things are slow going. Somewhere in the back of the office, a phone’s ringing off the hook. Nobody seems to make a move to answer it.
“Evangeline,” Mrs. Lee mumbles fondly. “Pretty, ah?”
I smile. “Yes. Beautiful, in fact.”
“The only good thing her father give me was her. Then he take off when she two-year-old.”
I frown at this enlightening fact. “Why on earth would he do that?”
Mrs. Lee scoffs, rolls her eyes. It’s the closest I’ve ever seen her to being condescending. “Some men don’t want responsibility. Raising child too much for him. Good riddance, I say.”
A part of me pities her. I can’t imagine what it’s like trying to work and raise a little girl all by yourself. On the other hand, I also feel an odd sense of gratitude for Mrs. Lee. It’s all thanks to her that Eve’s grown into such a gorgeous, kind, and funny woman.
A woman I turned away from.
I should have stuck up for her when I had the chance.
“For what it’s worth, I think you raised Eve very well.”
“Ah, you too polite.”
I chuckle. “I’m serious. You should be very proud of her.”
“Of course I proud. She my daughter. Going to be number one prima ballerina one day.”
