by Hoy, E. S
“Yes okay I know you are hungry come on” she scooped the fur ball up and carried him down to feed him. The roar of an engine made the kitten shiver in her arms, looking out of the front window she sighed when she saw the Ferrari parked outside. Men and their cars, he was not inconspicuous in that was he? And he was early; she could have been sleeping in. Eve opened the door to find him staring at the yellow crime scene tape across her garage. He looked at her smiling ruefully;
“You weren’t joking where you? There really was a dead body in there?” Eve let him inside noting his gaze lingering on her chest; she blushed at his obvious appreciation of her. He stroked a finger along her cheek, sighing she led him into the kitchen where she put the kettle on. Nathan leant against the worktop taking in his surroundings.
“Nice cottage, it’s a shame about the body though, any ideas whose it was?” Frowning at him Eve answered knowing she would shock him
“It was my mother’s body” That got his attention, Nathan flushed with remorse
“Jesus Eve I am sorry I had no idea, what about your dad? Is he still around?” Eve took him to the lounge and they sat down. She told him her story, from the day she was given away until now, leaving out the Rory part of course. Nathan looked suitably sombre;
“Hey I feel terrible, I was blessed with amazing parents and a sister who I love to bits, I have no concept of what your life was like. It explains something to me though, about you.” Eve raised her eyebrow waiting for his revelation
“You have this defiant look, like you are daring people to try and get close to you. Just so you can push them away again.” Eve was astounded at his accurate summary of her persona. He was spot on of course, she did want people to like her and yes she wanted to then prove she no longer needed them. Tara was the only exception to that, she looked over at her new friend; maybe Nathan could be another exception.
“You think you have me figured out do you? Tell me this do you believe in the afterlife?” Nathan didn’t laugh her off but sat thinking
“I would like to think that this wasn’t all we get, 90 years and gone; why do you ask?” Eve explained all the odd happenings in the garage and her strange dreams he looked disturbed.
“So the house is haunted too? Blimey I wish I had listened to you last night! I am usually sceptical but it sounds to me like you were being drawn to her body. Maybe you should visit the local church I passed it on the way, if anyone has the answers it will be the big man upstairs” Eve smiled yes good idea, maybe she would call in tomorrow. Eve made them both some lunch, Nathan was watching her hungrily she felt his eyes burning into her. Handing him a sandwich he ate standing up so she did the same. They both ate in silence, watching each other surreptitiously. After lunch they decided to walk over to the pub for a drink, Nathan wore his baseball hat so he would not be recognised. Eve teased him that not many Cheshire folk watched Game of Thrones. He laughed but still kept the hat on; the pub was empty so they sat in a quiet corner.
Eve told him some funny stories about growing up in care, it wasn’t all bad and she didn’t want him to pity her. Eve’s life had made her what she was and she couldn’t have regrets. None of her situation had been in her control and thanks to Sue and Tara she had her own tight circle. Nathan told her a little about his own family, they lived in Los Angeles and his sister was a fashion designer. Nathan had lived a privileged life, maybe he’d never be able to empathise with hers. Could two people from opposite backgrounds ever unite successfully? Eve was surprised at herself for wanting the answer to be yes.
Nathan left later that afternoon and despite the desire that had been bubbling around between them, Eve was grateful he hadn’t acted on it. Nathan Matheson a gentleman, she would never have guessed that about him. Tara approved when she heard about their day
“He sounds lovely, just what you need, Eve why don’t you give him a chance? You have had so many opportunities and most of your choices I haven’t been a fan of, but Nathan is a chance for you to be happy. Every relationship is a risk, you can never predict longevity; you need to take a risk for once.” Was Tara right? Should she take a chance on him? At this moment her answer was more yes than no. They had left it that he would come over at the weekend and meet Tara too; he was going to take them both for lunch. Tara’s approval meant a lot to Eve, Nathan seemed to be attuned to her and appeared to know exactly what would be the right thing to do.
Eve slept peacefully that night for the first time since moving in, despite recent events. It was Wednesday today and Eve planned to walk down to the church. She hoped the vicar wasn’t an old school vicar; if he was there was no way he could relate to her. She also needed to arrange some kind of funeral for when her mother’s body was released that is of course once she is formally identified. She was about to leave the house when she noticed Detective Newton pulling up, talk of the devil! The Detective smiled kindly at her and followed her inside he declined a drink, sitting himself down he took out his notebook.
“Miss Purnell, we have confirmation the remains found in your garage are that of Mrs Leila Purnell. The pathologist felt due to a large crack in her skull the most likely cause of death was blunt force trauma” Eve had watched enough CSI’s to know this meant hit with a heavy object on the head.
“Is it possible she fell and injured her skull that way?” The Detective shook his head
“The angle and position suggests she was struck from the front by a left handed individual, the blow would have been made with some force so we are assuming a man. Was your father left handed do you recall?” Eve tried to think back
“I’m not sure to be honest, is there any way to tell?” Detective Newton explained as he was now dead and they couldn’t find anyone who knew him. Then they would be making assumptions only based on the fact he was the main suspect.
“It looks possible that your father was the killer and covered his tracks very well it seems. Unfortunately for us it means we can’t bring anyone to justice, so it looks like he got away with it. The time of death seems to coincide with the time you left, any idea what was happening around the time you were sent away?” Eve told him that as far as she knew they were a happy family her murder was as confusing to her as her being sent away. Detective Newton left giving her permission to plan Leila’s funeral, so as soon he drove away she headed for the stone church.
Churches always felt unwelcoming and cold to Eve, she didn’t remember coming here as a child despite finding the rosary and bibles it seemed her family worshipped in private. Walking inside the first thing that hit her was the cold despite the warm spring day outside. The building was empty apart from a man she presumed was the preacher, he was lighting candles around the pulpit. Eve didn’t want to intrude so sat on a pew and spent some time digesting the past week. She must have been miles away as the vicar was suddenly sat beside her without her realising.
“Sorry to startle you, you look very peaceful. I’m Father Michael, and I am covering for the regular vicar as he has taken ill. I haven’t seen you here before are you from the area?” Eve decided he was in his early fifties, very attractive for a religious man and he had lovely green eyes.
“I live along the railway in Lilac Cottage my friend and I moved in last week” His face changed
“I heard the house was occupied again, I haven’t been past for a while, I have visited this village for over twenty years.vThis parish was my first posting when I was first ordained how are you settling?” Eve wondered if he had known her father.
“I am getting used to being here again, I lived in the cottage years ago with my family but my father died last year and I was the only relative they could trace” The vicar stared at her puzzled. A micro expression that made her blood run cold drifted over his face. Eve couldn’t put her finger on what it was; fear, hatred guilt? It was too fleeting for her to get a read on him.
“What is your name?” He asked as if dreading her answer Eve hesitated before telling him,
“Eve Purnell” The man stood u
p gasping shaking his head mumbling under his breath, Eve was wishing she had asked Nathan to come with her yesterday instead. She was getting ready to leave when he sat back down and grasped her hand really tightly.
“Your parents are Ian and Leila Purnell?” Eve nodded warily, he stood again muttering something about Africa and he should have stayed, “What year were you born?”
“I was born in the summer of 1989, why? did you know my parents?” He sat back down trying to contain his bubbling emotions; there were tears in his eyes
“Eve, I was very close to your mother, and I spent a lot of time with your family. Your dad was always working, and unfortunately Leila turned to me for attention. We eventually fell in love” The breath Eve had been holding shot out in a gust, she was desperate for him to continue but at the same time wanted him to shut up;
“I left Acton Bridge in 1989. We ended our affair; Leila decided it wasn’t fair on your sister. Isabella was a sensitive child and Leila wanted to make her family work for her sake. Ian was a drinker but not a bad man, so I decided to do the right thing for my flock and I left. I took missionary work for almost ten years. I returned hoping Isabella had become independent and perhaps Leila would be ready to love me again. Instead I found Ian alone, he was drunk and very bitter; he told me Isabella had grown up and moved away and that Leila had left him. So sadly I went back to Africa thinking I would never see her again. Ian did not mention you at all, maybe he had guessed about our affair” Eve had no idea what he was talking about, but the timing of his last visit would interest Detective Newton.
“Eve have you noticed my eyes are the same colour as yours are?” Eve’s hand stilled and she looked at the man in front of her, his eyes were green yes. Something stirred in her brain, his eyes were the same and so was his mouth. She knew what he was inferring and she didn’t want to hear it, not now, not here.
“Stop it please, stop it” Eve couldn’t hear anymore and ran from the church in a panic, she could hear Michael shouting after her but she kept going until she was almost home. Pulling out her phone she dialled Nathan, she had no idea why she chose to call him but he was the one she wanted at that moment. Nathan answered instantly;
“Eve hi I am please you rang I wanted to surprise you. I am outside your house” Eve couldn’t be happier and ran towards the cottage to see him, he was right in front of her and she was in his arms before he could react.
“Eve? What is it are you okay?” She held on to him as though he was a life ring. The security she felt in his embrace began restoring her equilibrium.
“Let’s get you inside, then you can tell me what has happened” She didn’t let go of him as she unlocked the door, closing it behind him he wrapped both arms around her and rested his head on hers. They remained that way until she felt balanced again, once seated together on the sofa, she held his hand and told him about Michael.
“Do you think he could be your father Eve? It is a massive thing if he is; you definitely need to tell the police. This could be their missing motive; if your father found out you were not his daughter it could be what tipped him over the edge.” Eve took out her phone and called Detective Newton; he was very intrigued and set out to talk to father Michael immediately. Eve suddenly remembered the reason she had needed to see the vicar in the first place.
“I needed to arrange my mum’s funeral today, I never got the chance. Oh Nathan, Michael doesn’t even know she is dead. He didn’t know I had moved in here, should I go back and tell him?” Nathan thought it would be better coming from the police.
“Sorry about the hysteria back there, why did you come today? Not that I mind at all but I wasn’t expecting you until the weekend” He smiled pulling her into his side
“I love hysteria if it drives you into my arms; I am doing a play in the West End next week so have to leave Friday night. I confess to wanting to see as much of you as I could before I leave.” Eve didn’t mind at all
“I am glad you were here, I don’t know why I called you but at that moment you were the person I needed most.” Nathan turned her towards him running his finger down her cheek he bent forwards and gently kissed her lips. Eve responded with a groan and the kiss soon became heated.
“Stop Eve, now is not the right time to lose my control” He backed off a little, twitching uncomfortably in his seat.
“You are tempting me but I don’t want you to be just a conquest; I want a relationship with you. I want to spend time knowing you first.” He caught a look of rejection on Eve’s face so he remedied it with another assault on her mouth.
“See what you are doing to me? Don’t think it is easy for me to not take you here and now.” Eve could see the evidence of his arousal quite clearly so felt mollified. Eve did not want to rush things either; he needed to know about Rory before they got involved emotionally. When did you tell a man something like that; yes I want a future with you but hey I am barren? A conversation was required but not until Eve was sure of him and that may take a while.
Chapter 6
Nathan spent the rest of the day listening as Eve poured out her fears and theories about her mother. She also wanted his opinion on her gymnasium idea. The police had removed the tape from her garage now so she was free to do whatever she wanted with it. Tara was due home any minute so when someone knocked at the door she assumed her friend had forgotten her keys. Standing on the step was Michael;
“Come in Michael, I am sorry I left so abruptly. I guess the police have been so you know about Leila now?” Michael stepped inside, he looked visibly shaken, and he followed her into the front room stopping abruptly when he noticed Nathan.
“Michael this is Nathan Matheson, he is an actor and very good friend of mine.” The two men appraised each other and Eve noticed tension wafting from both of them. Michael sat on the opposite sofa to the couple and there was an awkward silence.
“Michael I am sorry you had to hear about my mum from the police, I told them you had visited Ian around the time she was killed” He nodded sadly
“I kept wondering after they left, whether she was dead already or my turning up is what caused him to lose it.” Eve shook her head
“We can’t possibly know exactly when she died, don’t torment yourself.” Nathan was really on edge; and Eve was worried Michael would feel unwelcome. If this man could possibly be her dad she wanted a chance to get to know him. Freud wandered in from the kitchen; Michael bent down to stroke him. Freud hissed and arched his back wandering straight to Nathan to jump on his lap for a cuddle. Nathan raised his eyebrows at Michael; Eve knew he was scoring a point.
“I am so sorry to have upset you this afternoon Eve; I do think there is a large chance that you are my daughter, would you object to a DNA test? They are straightforward now a hair sample would do it” Eve nodded; she didn’t dare hope it could be true so a test would at least diminish any doubts. Tara walked in at that moment looking totally shocked by our visitors. Nathan stood to greet her still holding the kitten which made Tara warm to him immediately.
“Nathan hello I am so pleased to finally meet you,” she turned round to the other sofa “So who is our other visitor?” Tara’s obsession with theology drew her attention to Michaels attire instantly, Eve noticed her blush slightly.
“Tara this is Father Michael, he is currently posted at our local church, after spending most of the past twenty years doing missionary work in Africa.” Tara was suitably impressed, the two of them began discussing his work in Africa and Eve took the opportunity to drag Nathan to the kitchen to put the kettle on.
“Nathan I know you are protective of me but stop being so hostile to him. He could end up being my father so behave” Nathan drew her into him; she relaxed against him as he stared down into her eyes. Lost for a moment she forgot she was meant to be admonishing him, and then he kissed her and her mind went blank.
“Nathan behave” she gasped as she pulled away “You can’t distract me you know, what is your issue with him?” his face became serious all o
f a sudden
“I saw how upset he made you, naturally I’m wary, and also there is something about him that feels off. Listen before you go off at me, I am concerned for you that is all, once you have the test done it will be a different story. He looks at you strangely, not the way I would expect, I can’t explain sorry. Maybe it is the fact he interrupted my alone time with you that annoyed me” Eve smiled touched by his words, she allowed him to kiss her until the kettle boiled.
When they carried the drinks through; Tara and Michael were deep in conversation, they had a lot in common despite the twentyish year age gap. Michael drank his tea then excused himself and stood ready to leave. Eve walked him to the gate; he turned to clasp her by the shoulders.
“I will be back with a test kit Eve; we will get an answer and then see where we can go from there. I will pray for the right answer the fact she called you Eve should be a sign. The lords first creation, a message from her don’t you think?” Eve wasn’t sure what he was meaning but nodded anyway. She watched him walk away accepting she too had misgivings about him, maybe his religious lifestyle was the thing that unsettled her. Eve had never known a man of the cloth or anyone with a strong faith, so she put it down to that.
Nathan left an hour later; promising to phone every day from London. She was sad to see him go, he was certainly surprising her more and more. The next time he would see her would be the premier, which was a couple of weeks away. Time was going to drag so she made it her goal to get Tony back to finish the garage.
A week later they had sent away the DNA test kits, now all they could do was wait. Michael became a regular visitor; Tara had really taken to him; she had been visiting him after work to discuss Dante’ as her class were currently on that module of their course. Tara came home every night full of it; she had finally found a like-minded person to pour out her love of theology and philosophy to.
Michael spent most of that following weekend with the girls, Eve was still a little tentative with him, and part of her didn’t want to let him too close. Rejection was something she couldn’t risk again, and he still raved about his work in Africa. It would only be a matter of time before he deserted her especially if the test was negative. Michael was smitten with the two girls and was keen on spending as much time with them as possible. They had arranged a small funeral for Leila which would be next week. There was no one to invite, Eve had written to the Australian address she had found of her grandparents but had no response. Michael had offered to give her a hand in the garage the next day, clearing out the tools before Tony started working in there on Monday.