The Birth Of Eve (3 page)

“We can do this Tara, no rent to pay either think how cashed
up we will be, and it will be fab once we have it full of our own things.” After
exploring the gardens Eve made some calls on her phone, she found a cleaning
company to come out and freshen it up. She also arranged for a local charity to
take away some of the furniture and the two beds from upstairs. Then they set
off back home to sort out packing boxes in preparation. The move was arranged
for two weeks’ time and they were both looking forward to it. A fresh start was
what she had hoped for, and that’s what it looked like Eve was finally going to
get. Her father owed her and this was the least she deserved.

The plans for their move were in place, they gave notice to
the landlord and preparations were under way. The weekend had been a hive of
activity, the girl’s had bought a ton of magnolia paint, rollers and ordered a
new pair of curtains for every room. Eve would go alone each day whilst Tara
was working then she would join her after to help.

The first day alone in the house, Eve wandered around trying
to get a feel for the place. The cleaners had been and gone; and the whole
place was gleaming. Standing in the kitchen Eve decided all it needed was fresh
paint to brighten up the cupboard doors, it looked so much better now it was
clean. The tiled floor looked like new, the oven too. The worktops just needed
sanding and oiling to bring the wood back up to good condition.

Eve vaguely recalled her mother being possessive about her
kitchen, no one was allowed to cook but her. Eve used to chop the veg and
Isabella peeled the potatoes. Smiling she rubbed her hand along the wooden
worktops; remembering her mum shouting if she didn’t use the chopping board. There
were only happy memories in this room; in fact so far in the house she couldn’t
recall a bad one. Going up stairs slowly she wandered into her old bedroom; she
pushed the door and stepped inside. She looked fondly at the faded shapes of
little pony’s beneath the cream paint. Her father had surprised her with the
new décor; it was her seventh birthday. Eve had just come home from school; her
father was standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for her hands on hips;

“Eve we have decided a big girl like you should have
something pretty in her bedroom. Do you want to see what I have been doing
today for you?” Eve nodded excitedly as he took her hand and led her to her
bedroom. Eve stood staring at her bran new room; there were new curtains
covered in sparkling stars, a pink carpet and pink walls with a My Little Pony
Border. Her new duvet cover matched the curtains and there were three
beautifully wrapped gifts on the bed. That was the best birthday Eve had ever
had.

 Tears were running down her cheeks at the recollection, she
walked back down the stairs and sat on the bottom step. All her memories were
happy ones so why did they send her away, her tears stopped as she had a sudden
flashback to the last time she had sat on this step. She recalled the whispered
conversation and the plan for Isabella to take her away and hide. They were
supposed to let her know when they could come home but they never did.

Gasping at the sudden recollection Eve had the urge to hunt
for answers, odd so far she found no personal effects from her family. She rang
the solicitor and spoke to the secretary; apparently they had cleared the house
ready for a sale in case no relative was found. All Mr Purnell’s personal
belongings were boxed away in the garage. Eve practically ran outside unlocking
the side door and took stock of the enormous pile of boxes before her.

 There was no way she was doing this now, it could take
forever, and she calmed herself down. Sixteen years and she may solve the
puzzle but there was no rush, her priority was making the house liveable. Once
they were living here she would go through one box at a time whilst Tara was working.
Happy with her plan she closed the door and went back to her painting. Half
past four came and Tara pulled up outside, she had brought old clothes with
her. Grabbing a roller she joined Eve in the main bedroom.

“Hey Eve, you have done well, I will start my room if you
like, looks like you are almost done in here” Eve had also painted her old bedroom
which would make a decent size guest bedroom.

“I have a plumber coming tomorrow to put a new suite in the
main bathroom. The tiles have cleaned up fine so it should only take him a
couple of days” Tara was thrilled, the house had improved vastly in a week;
just the clean-up and fresh paint had made a huge difference.

By the end of the following week the place was totally
transformed, new curtains and pictures had been hung. Eve had colour washed the
kitchen cupboards and sanded the worktops waxing them up like new. She had also
replaced the carpets, so the 1970’s horror that had graced the downstairs,
landing and staircase was finally gone. Now it was a contemporary light and
airy cottage with a fresh clean aroma thanks to the pot pourri in every room.
Once their beds and possessions arrived tomorrow it would finally be home.

 Moving day was hectic but one large truck had sufficed for
all their belongings. It was a smooth operation thanks to Tara’s OCD while
packing. Every box was clearly labelled and beautifully organised; the removal
men were very impressed. Standing in their kitchen with a glass of bubbly in
hand the girls made a toast.

“Well it’s midnight we have moved in and our beds are made,
frankly that is where I am going as soon as I down this. Tara welcome to Lilac
Cottage, our new home. May we have years of fun and a happy life rent free!
Thanks dad for finally doing something nice for your daughter.” The girls
clinked glasses knocked the cool liquid back then crawled straight to bed
exhausted.

Eve was asleep in seconds, her hair still damp from her
shower; before long she was tossing and turning. Eve usually slept soundly
dream free, tonight was a different story. Her mother was in her dream; exactly
as she remembered her. Long dark hair flowing but with a terrified expression
on her face.

“Eve help me, please Eve I want to get out of here, I am so
glad you came back to see me I love you Eve” Eve sat up the sweat was pouring
off her, she shuddered her mother’s voice had felt so real. Turning the light
on she noticed a glowing light from outside; getting up she peered out of the
window and saw that her garage light was on.

Eve hadn’t been in the garage since Monday, she didn’t even
recall putting the light on. It must have been left on by the people who
cleared the house. Grabbing her robe she put her shoes on and crept outside. The
lock on the side door was really sticky; it took a lot of wrestling to finally
turn the key. Pulling the door open she looked around for the light switch, it
was on the left hand wall as she stretched inside to switch it off something
fell out of one of the boxes to the floor. Her heart thumping she bent down to
pick up a necklace of beads, it was a rosary by the looks of it. The cross had
a letter I inscribed; must have been Isabella’s. Eve rolled the beads in her
fingers a gust of wind slammed the door shut behind her.

“Shit” Eve shoved against it and it creaked back open, her
heart was thudding she wanted out of this garage now. Her hairs were standing
on end, Eve wasn’t easily scared but this place was definitely giving her
chills. Placing the beads back into a box she turned off the light and hurried back
to bed.

Tara was up early for work the following Monday morning. They
had spent the day Sunday finishing off all the painting so Eve could finally
relax today. Tara brought her a cup of tea before she left; Eve heard her car
pull away and sat herself up in bed. Today she was going to start on the boxes
in the garage, she still felt nervous after Saturdays strange happenings.

After getting dressed, feeding the cat and wolfing down some
toast Eve went outside. The garage door was ajar again; she really needed to
get the lock changed. Stepping inside she felt the same prickling down her back.
Grabbing the first box she laid her hand on; she carried it back into the
conservatory to go through the contents.

Files and paper work, a very boring first box her dad was a
salesman; Windows and conservatories and the first box was full of his sales
brochures and clients order forms. She put the entire contents in the paper
recycling; once she made sure there was nothing of interest hidden in there.
Out in the garage there were another three boxes full of the same. There was
too much for her small recycling container; so instead she loaded them in her
car to take to the tip later.

There was more room in the garage now and actually she
thought it had potential to be turned into a gym. She could buy a running
machine, exercise bike and maybe some weights. Tara hated the gym because she
was conscious of her slender boyish figure, being flat chested was not a good
look in Lycra. Eve always tried to reassure her to no avail, so this way at
least she could stay in shape privately. There were only three boxes left, as
another two were just full of more sales leaflets. Next she lifted the box that
had the rosary beads inside; this box was more personal. She found all their
birth certificates apart from hers; she wondered whether social services had
sent for it? She discovered her mother had been born Leila Sharps born in
Brighton to a Gordon and Marie Sharps. Perhaps she could look them up,
grandparents would be nice, and she already knew her father’s parents were dead
as he had told them about a car crash when she was little.

The box also contained small leather bound bibles that
looked well worn. Also a box of her mother’s jewellery; nothing valuable but
Eve put the box on her dresser, it was the only thing she had of hers. Lastly
there was a collection of books that she put on her bookshelves. Her love of
British literature must have been inherited from Leila; Thomas Hardy, Jane
Austin and one strange find a book on Dante. Tara will be intrigued Dante’ was
her specialised subject at university. Eve thought it weird and a bit deep for
her tastes; Tara however was obsessed with Beatrice and Dante’s relationship.

The second to last box was full of her father’s clothes so
she bagged them up for charity. It was almost four o’clock already so she left
the last box for tomorrow. Washing her hands she set about making a chilli for
their tea, Tara hated kidney beans so she always left them out. After laying
the table she heard Tara’s car pull up outside. Opening a bottle of beer for
them she went to welcome her at the door;

“Hey working girl how was your day?” Tara laughed dropped
her bag, grabbed the beer and scooped the kitten up off the floor for a cuddle.

“Oh Eve tell me that is chilli you have made, I could smell
it outside” She was delighted when Eve dragged her to the table and handed her
a bowl full. After third helpings, they retired to the lounge to watch some
television feeling bloated but happy.

“I love it here Eve thank you for letting me move in with
you” Her friend had so little self-esteem, even less than Eve. As if Eve would
ever let her be alone after supporting her throughout her time at Holly Tree.
Eve’s mind drifted back to her teenage years and the events that brought the
two girls together.

Rory was the alpha male in the home, he chose his friends
wisely, his girlfriends too. He had set his sights on Eve the minute he noticed
her blossom into womanhood. She was fifteen and he was four years her senior; Eve
found his attentions flattering. Tara her quiet shy roommate was scared of him
and tried to warn her off; Eve however revelled in his adoration. It wasn’t
long before he talked her into his bedroom. Eve began wearing revealing clothes
and more make up to please him she even experimented with class c drugs. Tara
backed off from her friend, trouble was coming and she would be there when it
did but for now she wanted none of it. The trouble came when Eve found herself
pregnant, Rory was furious and as she was underage he took her to a back street
clinic for an abortion. Dumping her back at the house he said his goodbyes and
disappeared, Eve never saw him again.

Two days after the abortion Eve still didn’t feel well
enough to get out of bed. Tara was concerned and when Eve finally confessed to
the abortion she asked the house warden to check her over. Eve had a fever and
stomach cramps; Steve didn’t need to ask what was wrong, he had already
suspected Rory had a reason for running away. An ambulance came and Eve was in
surgery within the hour. After a three hour operation doctors had cleared her
of the massive infection but with devastating consequences. Tara sat with her
while she was pumped full of antibiotics, and held her hand. Eve began to get
stronger, the doctors wanted to talk to her but Tara convinced them she was the
one to tell her friend the sad news.

Eve had such a severe infection that the surgeon had to
perform a full hysterectomy, Eve could never have children. Eve took the news
better than Tara thought, but at fifteen the fact she would never have periods
was kind of cool. It was a couple of years later the reality hit her, in the
dark nights she lay crying. Tara would crawl into bed with her and dry her
eyes. Eve had felt abandoned as a child; her one hope to make up for it was to
be the best mother ever when the time came. Now Eve had a life time on hormones
and no chance of ever redeeming her mother’s failings. From that time the girls
had been inseparable, the secret they shared had never gone beyond the two of
them. This was why Eve hid her beauty, if a man fell in love with her he would
be disappointed, no one would want a barren woman.

She lay in bed that night feeling calmer than she had done;
the house was feeling like it had accepted her now. The small items of her
parent’s history gave her some comfort; she still had no idea why they gave her
away. Maybe it was time to let go, she would never have the answers she was
searching for. Disturbed by something Eve sat up in bed, the curtains were
glowing with an outside light yet again.

“Damn it I must have left that light on again” Creeping down
stairs she hesitated; the garage had felt okay these past couple of days but in
the dark it still felt sinister. The door creaked as she tried to reach for the
light switch, stretching her arm and feeling along the wall to avoid entering.
A crash came from inside that made her squeal. Peeking in she saw that the last
box had tipped all over the floor, debating whether to leave it or not she was
startled by Freud rubbing round her ankles.