Losing Eva (The Eva Series Book 2)

by Jennifer Sivec

  “Where has she been?” Tricia said barely able to speak. “Where has she been all this time? Does she know about Ellie? About Eva?”

  “She’s been living in a small town called Sullivan. A few hours south of home. Honey, she doesn’t even know who she is. She has no idea.” John was desperately rubbing his temple in that way that he did when he was baffled by something.

  “What are you going to do?” Tricia asked, her voice stunned and shaking.

  “I’m already on it with lawyers and with everyone else,” John said matter-of-factly.

  Tricia’s heart warmed. She knew that her husband would have already gotten the ball rolling. He amazed her with his efficiency.

  “Can you bring her home?” Tricia asked. “Is she in good shape?”

  “She looks great. But she’s older and she can’t remember anything. She has no idea who I am, and she doesn’t remember what happened to James. She doesn’t even remember James.” John was trying to disguise the frustration in his voice. He was happy that he found her, but wished more than anything that she could remember what happened to his mentor and his friend.

  John hung up the phone and felt better. The sound of Tricia’s voice always soothed him. Sometimes she didn’t even need to say anything; he just needed her to listen. He turned around, and he walked back to Noah and Amy.

  He already had people working on getting her and Noah released from the home. The arrangements were being made to have the Harper House cleaned up and prepared for Noah and Amy to return. And he was working on getting Kelly hired on at the Harper House full time. Three short conversations had gotten the ball rolling, and John felt himself breathing easier.

  Now he had to convince Noah and Amy to return with him.

  He made the short walk back to Noah and Amy, and sat down on a bench next to Noah. Noah and Amy were engrossed in a competitive game of checkers. John could tell that Noah was concentrating so he waited patiently, pretending to be engrossed in the game.

  “Yes!” Noah jumped up, raising both hands in the air in victory.

  John high fived him and jumped up and down with him.

  Noah was basking in the glory of his win as he sat back down. Amy was smiling, happy for Noah’s win. He had been trying to beat her for a week, and it was well deserved.

  “Well done, young man!” Amy said pretending to curtsy to him, as she sat in her wheelchair.

  “Thank you for teaching me how to play.” Noah said happily.

  John looked at both them, surprised by their bond. “I have a proposal.”

  “A proposal?!” Amy said suspiciously.

  “What’s a proposal?” Noah asked, curious.

  Kelly stared at John, fearful. Noah was unpredictable, and with the news about his mother, Kelly wasn’t sure how he was going to react.

  “A proposal is when I ask you a question and you have to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” John said, clearing his throat. Maybe I should wait. Maybe they aren’t ready yet. Maybe I should just hold off on this.

  Noah and Amy looked at John, waiting for him to talk.

  “I would like you to come live in the Harper House,” John said, getting to the point quickly.

  Noah looked at him, waiting for him to say more. “What is the Harper House?” Noah said finally.

  “It’s a big house where your mommy lived when she was a girl. And…” he said looking at Amy, “You lived there, too.”

  “I don’t remember, and I’m not going anywhere,” Amy said stubbornly.

  “Don’t say ‘no’ yet,” John said quickly. “Maybe you could come see it and then you’ll remember.”

  Amy looked at John angrily, as she backed her wheelchair away from him as quickly as she could, knocking over the checkerboard. “I don’t know you. I’m not going anywhere with you!”

  Amy started to wheel herself away and stopped suddenly.

  “Carly!” John looked past the wheelchair, and he saw a man and a woman coming toward Amy. He immediately noticed how massive the man was—his chest large and shoulders wide with gigantic hands. The kind of hands that could squeeze a man’s head in, John thought uneasily.

  John, Kelly, and Noah were all frozen where Amy had left them, checkers strewn all over the pavement and the grass. Noah was visibly upset by Amy’s sudden departure, and he looked up to Kelly helplessly.

  The man and woman froze realizing that they had an audience.

  “Carly, don’t leave!” Noah said suddenly, jumping up. Amy looked at the man and woman and looked back at Noah, confusion written all over her still-very pretty face.

  “Lily, Petey. I want you to meet my friends,” she said gesturing to the man and the woman who looked like they wanted to do anything but.

  They walked slowly toward her wheelchair and, at her urging, turned her around and pushed her toward the little group.

  “I would like you to meet my friends,” Amy said, pointedly to Noah. “This is Lily and Petey.”

  “Hi,” Noah mumbled, not hiding his jealousy. He wanted Carly all to himself. He didn’t care who these stupid people were.

  “...and these,” Amy said to Lily and Petey “...are my friends, Noah and Kelly.”

  John noticed that she intentionally omitted him out of the introductions.

  “Hi,” he said stepping forward and offering his hand. “I’m John Palmer. I actually am her friend. I’ve been her friend for a long time.”

  The big man looked worried, his big feet shuffling back and forth.

  “What do you mean, a long time?” the woman asked calmly, staring at John with even gray eyes. John looked at her for a long moment before he spoke. She seemed genuinely concerned about Amy, and her tone even seemed protective.

  “I mean, I know her as someone other than Carly. I know her as Amy. Amy Harper,” John searched her face for a hint of recognition, as she continued to stare at him evenly. He could see out of the corner of his eye that the big man was backing away slowly.

  Suddenly, there was a thunderous sound of feet running on the pavement, and within a second, Lily and the big man were face down on the ground. Men were flashing badges, and there was the audible sound of handcuffs clicking closed. Noah looked on in awe, his big green eyes wide as he clung tight to Kelly.

  “Lily! Petey!” Amy was beside herself, wheeling herself as close to them as she could. “Where are you taking them? Petey. Petey! Where are you taking my husband?”

  John ran to Petey and grabbed his collar as hard as he could. “What did you do to him? Where is James? What did you do?”

  The officer shoved John aside. “Sir, we’ll take care of it. We’ll find out what happened. Back off!”

  John was desperate. Once he realized who Amy was, one of the phone calls he made was to the police. He knew that somehow the people who kidnapped her were bound to show up. They wouldn’t have put her in a place like this if they didn’t care about her. And if they cared about her, he figured they would come to see her. He just didn’t realize it would happen so quickly.

  The big man looked down at John, unfazed by John’s sudden outburst. John was surprised by the sadness in the big man’s eyes as he gestured for him to come closer. John immediately felt foolish, realizing that there was nothing about him that would intimidate this giant. He walked close to him slowly, feeling sheepish.

  “Please,” the big man said his voice low and gentle. “Please take care of her. I never hurt her. I would never hurt her. Please, make sure that she is happy.” The officers jerked him away and they were gone as quickly as they had arrived, leaving the little group to themselves.

  John was stunned. It was clear that Petey loved Amy. He looked back at Amy, her eyes following Petey until he disappeared, tears flowing uncontrollably down her cheeks.

  “Sir,” an older officer stood next to John and tapped him on the shoulder, startling him. John was caught up and didn’t realize that there was anyone standing next to him. “We will need to talk to her. When you are settled down, and can make arrange
ments, I will need her. Sooner rather than later.”

  John nodded, not taking his eyes off Amy. She looked broken and sad, and it broke his heart. What have they done to her? Did they brainwash her?

  John looked over at Noah and Kelly, who were stunned by the sudden turn of events that had just taken place. “Are you okay?”

  They nodded without speaking.

  “Are you still taking me? To the big house?” Noah asked after a few minutes, breaking the silence.

  “Yes,” John said, putting his hand on his shoulder. “Yes, I am.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Intruder

  ADAM WOKE UP, his head splitting, his body aching. It was a familiar feeling, but something was different. The bed he was laying on was comfortable, soft. He closed his eyes and sunk into it. He knew this bed so well. It was his and Brynn’s bed. He had missed it.

  His head was fuzzy as he tried to remember every detail from the night before. His mind flashed images of Brynn in the bathtub with him, her clothes coming off easily, piece by piece. She was soaked, and she didn’t care. He had never seen her so free in her nakedness before. She excited him in a way that he couldn’t remember her exciting him before. They couldn’t get close enough to one another, both of them clinging desperately, breathlessly, intensely.

  He had missed the softness of her skin, and running his fingers up and down the bumpiness of her scars. He loved her scars as much as he loved her; they were a part of her that he couldn’t deny.

  Where is she? He wondered, realizing that she wasn’t lying next to him.

  He stood up uneasily, waiting for the throbbing in his head to intensify as the blood started to flow. He took a deep breath and started to walk around the house. He caught his reflection in the mirror, his dark thick hair standing up in messy waves. He grinned, his dark blue eyes lighting up. He was home.

  He wandered around the house aimlessly looking for Brynn, looking in all of the usual spots. He didn’t see Maxie anywhere either, but wherever Brynn was he would surely find Maxie. That dog loved Brynn, and rightfully so. She was good to Maxie. She had been good to Adam, too. But Adam had left her twice now. How will she ever take me back?

  Brynn, Brynn, Brynn. He walked up and down the halls all over the house. She’s gone!

  He sat on the steps, his heart sinking.

  Adam decided that he wasn’t leaving. He wasn’t going anywhere ever again. Living without her wasn’t living, and he was tired of being miserable, tired of the constant shifting of his heart. Even Jessie knew that his heart wasn’t complete without Brynn, and she had grown tired of it. Adam couldn’t blame her. I tried, Jessie. Honest to God, I tried.

  I’ll call the realtor, and I’ll call off the sale. I’ll tell them that we are keeping the house, and we are going to live here forever. I’ll tell them that it was an awful mistake. Adam needed aspirin. He padded around the house getting water, aspirin, looking out the windows. Where did she go? She didn’t even leave a note! I hope she is okay.

  Adam was getting worried. She probably just went to the restaurant.

  He was hungry. I’ll text her and see where she is.

  B~Where are you?

  Adam waited, but Brynn didn’t answer. After an hour, he gave up and made a bowl of cereal. Maybe she’s freaked out. Maybe she hates me, and she is waiting for me to leave.

  The house was quiet, too quiet. He hated it. He walked around the house and pictured it the way it used to be. He remembered painting the walls with Brynn, laying the flooring with his own hands. He remembered the first fight they got into about the color of the sitting room, and how she thought the house was too big the first time she saw it. He remembered walking out of it the first time, believing he would never return. And then he remembered coming back and planning to have a baby with her, painting the baby’s room, and watching Brynn’s belly grow.

  The nightmares. The terrible nightmares. He thought about finding Brynn hiding under the bed, in the closet, behind doors, and locked in the bathroom. Night terrors from Thomas and from when she was abandoned. Adam lay awake almost every night, the guilt tearing at him, knowing that Brynn was probably having another night terror and that he wasn’t there to help her, to soothe her. He hated himself.

  His parents weren’t talking to him, and Adam was completely alone. Even Jessie had abandoned him, all because they knew what he had been refusing to acknowledge. Adam loved Brynn. Adam belonged with Brynn.

  Adam walked up to the room he had been avoiding. The room with the door closed, that neither of them talked about. Sophie’s room.

  He opened the door and sucked his breath in. The room was untouched. It looked as it did the day they finished it. The walls were a pale pink, with delicate white butterflies painted whimsically all around the room. The crib sat quiet and isolated, white and pink and pretty. Adam looked around, breathing in the smell of talcum powder. He sat down in the rocking chair and imagined that Brynn often did the same, rocking and remembering the last time they held their tiny baby.

  Adam choked back tears.

  He remembered standing in this very room drunk and screaming at Brynn who cowered before him. “It’s your fault Sophie is gone. You never wanted to be a mother! You never wanted to have children! You’re a damaged, broken, useless bitch, and I hate you!”

  Adam sunk to the floor from the chair and huddled in the fetal position, the shame, and the guilt washing over him in waves. How could I? How? I am a disgusting person. Adam held himself to the floor as tight as he could. He wanted to sink into it, to disappear. The carpet was soft, barely touched, and he never wanted to leave this room.

  I need a drink. I need a fucking drink.

  Adam hated the thought that crept into his mind a hundred times a day. He never used to drink because he hated what Thomas’ drinking did to Brynn. But when they lost Sophie, something inside of him snapped, and he started drinking every day, all day. And now that little voice was telling him he needed a drink, even when he would already be drinking. He wanted to kill that little voice.

  I’m not drinking again! I’m not! Not here, not ever. He felt like he had violated Sophie’s room just by thinking about it. Her room felt like a sanctuary to him.

  How can I ever leave this house again? How can I ever walk away from it? This is Sophie’s room, her home, and Brynn’s home.

  Adam didn’t realize that Brynn wasn’t in the house. He stopped searching for her, lost in his thoughts as he lay on the floor of Sophie’s room.

  Brynn had gotten out of the house as quickly as she could in the morning, and drove around searching for clarity. She had never been with another man besides Adam, and despite the night before, all she could think about was Nick. It was strange how spending the night with Adam brought her a sense of closure. Brynn finally felt as though she could move on.

  She realized that the only thing she wanted was to talk to Nick. Brynn fumbled for her cell phone and called him. She knew that it was early, but she decided that he would understand once she told him that she needed to hear his voice and to hear his laugh. She couldn’t wait to talk to him, couldn’t wait to make plans to see him again.

  “Hello?” a female voice said sleepily.

  “Hello?” Brynn said before she could stop herself. She pulled the phone away from her ear to see if had dialed the right number. His picture danced in front of her face, and she knew that it was no mistake.

  “Who is this?” the female voice said, suddenly sounding very awake.

  “Um, who is this?” Brynn said suddenly feeling on guard, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. Who is answering Nick’s phone this early in the morning?

  “This is his wife!” The voice said swearing at Brynn.

  Brynn didn’t continue to listen; she simply hung up the phone and sat stunned.

  She didn’t need Adam. She didn’t need anyone. Everyone in Brynn’s life who was meant to protect, watch over, love, and listen to her had abandoned her. She couldn’t believe that she
ever imagined Nick to be any different.

  Brynn looked sadly at Maxie who had been sitting quietly in the back seat. You’re the only one who loves me. You’re the only who has ever been true, who has loved me unconditionally. Maxie leapt up and licked her face and the tears that were starting to fall.

  Brynn was embarrassed, she felt stupid. His wife! Brynn couldn’t believe it.

  Brynn sped home as quickly as she could with a sudden need to be completely alone. She needed Adam to leave. When she walked in the house, it was quiet, too quiet. Maxie’s nails clicked on the floor behind her as Brynn started searching the rooms for Adam. He was nowhere to be found, but she knew that he was still there. She saw his wallet and keys on the side table when she came in.

  She walked up to the room where she always kept the door closed and realized that it was wide open. She saw Adam lying in the middle of the floor, a silent trespasser. Brynn never went into that room. She wanted it to remain untainted, untouched. She couldn’t bear the thought of anyone disturbing anything.

  Adam didn’t hear the footsteps walking into the bedroom.

  Brynn’s voice was low. He could barely hear it. “What are you doing in here?”

  Adam jumped, “Brynn!”

  “What are you doing in Sophie’s room?” Brynn’s voice was louder, and Adam realized that she didn’t sound happy.

  “I-I-I just wanted to see it.” Adam suddenly felt as if he were trespassing.

  “I don’t want you in here. Get out!” Brynn’s voice was rising. Her face was contorted in anger as she pointed to the door. “Get out! You have no right to be in here.”

  “No right? How can I not have a right to be here?” Brynn had touched a nerve with Adam.

  “This isn’t your home any longer. You didn’t want to live here. You don’t have a right to be here. Get out!” Adam had never heard Brynn’s voice sound like this before. It was high, and shrill, and had a hysterical edge to it. He stared at her in disbelief.

  “I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere. This is my house. I love you. I want to come back to you. I was a fool to leave. And I know you love me. If you didn’t love me, you never would have been with me last night.” Adam was pleading. He knew that he was begging, but he didn’t care. He would give anything not to leave again.