Eve - Chapter 40

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Eve  

Chapter 40
(Revised)

 

Simon Jones is Eve Jones. But she didn't know.

 

 
Previously:
 
It's the morning after the twin's joint 17th birthday party, hijacked by the engagement celebration
 
Now the story continues.
 
 
Eve Chapter 40
 
 

Saturday morning arrived very quickly, I'd lost every stitch of clothing on the way to Claire's bed and there was a trail on the floor. Somehow my dress was hanging up, I don't remember doing that for myself. Claire woke up at the same time, probably sensing me moving.

"Morning lover."

"Morning sweetie."

I was shoved out of bed with Claire right behind me, we grabbed our gowns, I now had my own in Clarie's room. The two of us reached the bathroom door as Sharon shouted up the stairs.

"Eve, your mum has sent some clothes over, I'll put them on the bed. Jenny phoned, she'll be here in forty-five minutes. Don't spend too long in the shower."

Why was Jenny coming over? I'm sure she'd said something but I couldn't remember, never mind, Claire switched the shower on and we both jumped in. Fifteen minutes later we declared ourselves clean, but we'd had to make certain. There were indeed some clothes on the bed, a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, along with the necessaries.

Downstairs we managed egg and soldiers, don't ask why, before I took my LBD home. A quick inspection saw it needed cleaning, a check of the label said it was dry clean only. I phoned Claire and told her to bring hers across, we'd get a discount for both dresses in one job, I'd sort that out early next week.

Jenny arrived with her mum and us girls were pushed out the door with instructions to be gone for hours. Annie, for some reason, had already left.

The three of us decided against staying in town so rode the bus to the bus station then took the first bus out of town, it didn't matter where it was going so long as there were decent shops there. We bought all day bus tickets, just in case.

The journey took forty-five minutes to cover the twenty miles, pretty typical, we were sat on the long back seat, remembering last night, both the meal and after we got back. Most of the passengers near us moved a few row forward, particularly when we skirted around Claire's and my love life, I'm sure there were some 'tut tuts' from the forward seats.

When we got off we were only a few hundred metres from the absolute centre of town. This town was built almost 2000 years ago and had a third century Roman wall that severely restricted traffic into the centre, it also meant that most of the shops within the walls were small, the larger shops were close to the bus station outside the walls.

The first job, as ever was a coffee shop. There was a delightful one in the small town square, where today there was a market. We sat inside and a waitress in a smart uniform walked over.

"Good morning, what can I get you?"

"Three skinny lattes please. Can you recommend any good clothes shops?"

"There's 'Underground' that specialises in off-beat stuff, 'Delight' with the more expensive one-offs and 'Dash' that does end-of-line discounted stock from the catalogue and web shops."

"Thanks, how far are they?"

"Not more than twenty or thirty metres from here."

She went off to the back of the shop to pass on our order then returned to serve an older couple who'd walked in. I recognised them as passengers off our bus. There were a couple of glances in our direction but no obvious comments. A minute later our coffees arrived and we concentrated on the long frothy glasses. The drinks cost less than I thought, perhaps a sign of the recession. Outside the town was not very busy, unusual for a Saturday morning anywhere.

We looked around the town square and saw 'Delight' directly across. We'd finished the lattes so wandered across the square, we weren't in a hurry. The waitress hadn't been kidding about her description of the shop, all the dresses in the window cost over £100, with one over £400. Inside we were treated to a wonderland. I mentioned to Claire that we had tickets to the ballet in a fortnight and she needed a dress. She looked but knew she couldn't afford any of them, a suggestion that I paid was shot down, she didn't want me paying for the occasion of my birthday. Jenny asked out loud about the ballet but I suggested her mum spoke to mine as I had nothing to do with the tickets.

We finally left after fifteen minutes, the proprietor didn't bother trying to help us, after all how could three schoolgirls afford her clothes? We looked around the square and then started looking along the side streets. There were more antiques shops than I've seen before, plus plenty of estate agencies trying to sell houses that no-one wanted to buy. There were also several boarded up shops, a distinct sign of the hard economic times.

Next we took a look around the market, it was the usual collection of fresh veg, fishmonger, pirate DVDs, duff electronic bits, and leather goods. Jenny and me bought new shoulder bags, Claire a wide white belt.

We eventually found the discount shop. Most of it was very plain out of season stuff, but I picked up a new bikini, my first bikini! There were also some one piece swimsuits but I doubt if they had even been in fashion. In the end we bought some everyday tops and shorts, they would be fine for the late spring and summer.

We never did find the Underground shop, which disappointed Jenny, she'd hoped for some Goth bits and pieces. I got the feeling that it was one of those economic victims we'd passed. We walked back towards the bus station and the larger shops. There were a couple of factory outlet stores, the 'direct from manufacturer' type plus a Primark.

We headed straight for Primark, it was bedlum! Obviously the quiet in the town centre was offset by the seemingly two hundred folk in here. There were bargains to be had, but the rails were all mixed up and some of the stock was on the floor. I found a long gypsy skirt, Jenny grabbed a denim skirt that was barely wider that Claire's belt.

We spent another hour going round the other stores; we tried plenty of tops and bottoms but bought nothing more. Hunger then dictated our next move, various lunch options were considered but in the end we headed for the nearest pizza restaurant.

Half an hour later we were refreshed, so we took another walk around and still didn't buy anything. By two thirty we were back at the bus station waiting for the next bus home. We each had several bags and just had to put them down and wait, even if it was another twenty minutes until the bus, twenty minutes of valuable retail therapy wasted.

The bus was five minutes late and already quite full, we ended up sat apart so had a very boring ride home. Back in town we caught a local bus that stopped at the end of our road. We finally walked back into my house just after four, straight into the kitchen.

"You're back early."

"We've been gone for six hours, isn't that long enough?"

"Long enough for what?"

"For whatever you've been up to."

My aunt and Sharon walked into the kitchen, that completed the set of our mothers, there was a definite look of conspiracy on their faces. Jenny, being the one who doesn't know what a secret is, had told me a few weeks ago they were planning to decorate my room. The question was, could three single mothers achieve anything close to the makeovers they show on the telly?

"Why don't you go and see a film?"

"Still want to get rid of us? It'll cost you."

Three ten pound notes suddenly appeared, far too quickly. Did I mention a conspiracy? It would pay for the tickets but not the refreshments. I decided to try for more.

"There's another tenner, no more. Now, get moving and don't come back before six."

We left our shopping bags on the kitchen floor where they'd been dropped and wandered back to the bus stop. It was the same driver, he'd reached the end of the route a few stops from us and had turned around to head back into town. We exited at the bus station and caught another local bus to the multiscreen the other side of town.

We decided on 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus', but don't ask me why. There were posters for Avatar but it hadn't opened yet. Two hours later I still didn't know why we'd chosen this movie, but Claire and I had enjoyed a two hour long cuddle, much to Jenny's faked disgust. We'd bought drinks, at silly prices, but couldn't finish them, a waste. If only there had been a smaller size.

We got out at six fifteen and just made a bus into town. One quick change later and we arrived home. It was dark, we were cold and hungry. If it had been suggested that we went back out then we'd have mutinied, as it was we walked into a kitchen that smelt of garlic. I spotted some pasta, a bolognaise sauce and garlic bread, all sins were instantly forgiven.

The seven of us ate, Annie had got back just before us but I never did find out where she'd been. After dinner I was asked to pop upstairs to put my purchases away. I played along, no need to let them know, and walked up to my room.

Not only had the curtains and bedding changed, the entire room was different. My bed was now in the middle of the room, not jammed against one wall. There was extra hanging and drawer space plus a couple of mirrors and a dressing table. It had everything a girl could want, except I'd only been a girl for six or seven weeks so wasn't too sure. Anyway, I loved it.

"Claire, come up here!"

Claire came running up the stairs, almost tripping herself in the process.

"Wow!" She was a little short on words. "I love it."

I looked around the room again, previously the walls had been cream in colour, now they were lilac, the curtains were mauve. The bedding matched, everything just felt right. Claire grabbed me and gave me such a kiss that my knees buckled, we fell onto the bed.

"So I take it you like it?"

I looked around, still locked to Claire. The comment had come from mum but the others were stood there as well. I waved them away, mum closed the door and they retreated.

The two of us made it back downstairs after nine, only mum now remained. We'd put gowns on but hadn't worried about PJs, we wouldn't need them later. I thanked mum for their hard work then went to the kitchen for two hot chocolates. We went back up fifteen minutes later, fully intent on furthering our relationship, but fell asleep.

On Sunday morning we woke at the same time and turned to smile, followed by a passionate kiss. Unfortunately, my bladder rang its little bell and I dashed to the bathroom. I hadn't locked the door and Claire walked in as I sat there. I was dragged, kicking and screaming, I jest, into the shower.

When we walked downstairs half an hour later our hair was still damp but at least we were dressed. I looked at the clock, it was nearly ten.

"Good afternoon you two."

"Thanks mum, it's not that late."

"No, but you've missed breakfast. I'm making a coffee but how about some brunch?"

"Sounds good, I take we'll not bother with lunch."

"That's the idea, I need to go shopping for the next few days and I suggest you come with me. You can come too, Claire, if you want to."

"Mum wants Annie and me to help her so I'll pass if you don't mind."

We sat and had our unhealthy cooked breakfast, filling the dishwasher with the plates and pans. I gave Claire a long kiss and smacked her rear as she headed for the door. You should have seen the look I got for that.

Mum and I went to Tesco and, as quickly as possible, gathered food for the next few days. Somehow we ignored the clothing section but I lingered in the TV department, looking at the small wall-mounted ones. Maybe another time.

As we were at the checkout, mum noticed the instant photo booth and sent me to get my picture taken. I found her five minutes later with a set of four passport-sized mugshots, but wasn't quite sure why.

Back home we stowed the food, I was about to go upstairs to tackle my homework, but mum stopped me.

"Eve, I've filled in the form for you, you need to check it and sign."

It was an application for a provisional driving licence. My birthday was two weeks from now and I couldn't drive before then, but I could apply for the licence. I signed and went up to my room.

I took a look at the coursework, it wasn't as bad as it seemed. I sorted the work into piles of easy, difficult and impossible. By four o'clock the easy pile was gone and I was an hour short of finishing the difficult pile. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water, the smell was wonderful.

"Mum, how long until dinner?"

"Not before six."

"I'm getting hungry."

"You can manage, have a banana if you must have something."

I took my glass and a banana upstairs then settled down to finish the second pile. By five thirty I had the first impossible item started but I was feeling weary. I'd spent far too long in front of my laptop, I printed off the work I'd finished then closed it down and headed back down.

"That's good timing."

"Why?"

"I brought dinner forward, it'll be ready in five minutes. As it's just the two of us we'll eat in the kitchen, can you set the table?"

I got the table prepared as mum dished up the dinner. If the aroma was good before, it was stunning now.

We stacked the now empty plates in the dishwasher and set it going. A few pots didn't fit so we quickly washed them up at the sink.

"Eve, I had Sharon countersign your photo and I've put the form in the post with one of Dr Preston's letter."

We sat in the lounge after the meal, I was ready to surrender to whoever was willing to accept it, but somehow found the energy to take my homework over to Annie. Claire got a quick kiss then I walked back.

I was in bed by nine, shattered.

***

I started Monday with good intentions, really. I finished the second impossible item of coursework by eleven and, after a coffee, started the final one. I actually got as far as opening a blank file and saving it with a relevant name.

I walked back downstairs, my eyes just couldn't take it any more, perhaps I needed them checked? Mum wasn't indoors, or in the garden, so I parked myself in the lounge and put the telly on. Although I'd seen daytime TV before I was still amazed that firstly they could actually make this tripe and, secondly, that anyone would watch it.

I pressed the most useful button on the TV remote and wandered back into the kitchen. I'd finished that coffee and now I was truly bored.

There was still no sign of mum so I bagged up the two LBDs from Friday night, picked up my purse and locked up the house. I thought about cycling but it wasn't practical with two frocks so I walked to the bus stop. I had a ping of inspiration when the bus arrived and bought a weekly ticket.

In town I found the dry cleaners and swapped the dresses for a ticket. I went next door to the bakery and picked up some bread rolls. That done, I'm now stuck for ideas. I caught another bus and got off near the canal. I walked through the picnic area and down to the water, stopping where Claire and I had first explored ourselves, several weeks earlier.

Half an hour later I was back indoors, it would have been quicker by bike. I almost regretted going home.

"Where have you been!" It wasn't a whisper.

"I went to the dry cleaners."

"You didn't tell me."

"You weren't here."

"I told you where I was."

"No you didn't."

"Don't contradict me, Eve."

"Mum, you never told me. I was upstairs behind a closed door with music on. You never told me."

I could see her face going red so I tried something different.

"Mum, let's be sensible. I'll make a coffee and some lunch. I bought some fresh rolls."

I wasn't certain what would happen next so I took a step backwards, knocking over a chair. That caused mum to laugh, I never knew she was a fan of slapstick. She picked up the chair then hugged me.

"At least you're back."

"Mum I'm sorry, I should have left a note."

"Yes, but I think I tried to tell you where I was going by talking up the stairs to a closed door. We're both at fault."

We were both in tears, then I had a light-bulb moment.

"Mum, why don't we put a small whiteboard by the back door? Then we can write a note to each other."

"Good idea. Now, get that lunch done so we can go shopping."

Two hours later we'd bought that whiteboard plus a ton of other stuff from one of those discount warehouses. I somewhow forced myself back upstairs to that coursework but my heart wasn't in it.

Claire dropped by when she came home from school, we had a cuddle as we sat on my bed but that was all. I was getting a headache and wasn't with it. Claire thought I was ignoring her then she saw something was wrong. She put her hand on my forehead.

"You're burning!"

Mum was the next one up, then Sharon. The verdict was that I had a virus, that earned me a smack from Claire.

"If you've got it then I'll get it!"

Claire threw everyone else out of the room then got me undressed and into a nightie, finally making sure I was comfortable in the bed. I got a kiss this time.

I must have fallen asleep as it was dark when I next looked. There was a glass of water next to the bed, plus a strip of paracetamol. I took one and a swig of water, then forced myself to the bathroom.

"Eve, is that you?"

"(croak) Yes mum."

"what are you doing out of bed?"

"Weeeeeee."

"I'll be up in a minute."

I never saw her again before there was light shining through the window. My entire body ached, there was no way I was going anywhere today, except the toilet. How I reached that small room and safely made it back to my room I'll never know. I swallowed another pill and some water and must have fallen asleep again.

"Eve, Eve, wake up."

"Errr"

"Eve, wake up."

"What?"

"I've got to go to see Dr Masters, will you be okay?"

Daft question, if you ask me, I just nodded and rolled over.

***

The next thing I remember is mum stood next to me, crying.

"Mum, what's the matter?"

She just kept crying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

I got out of bed and hugged her, it probably wasn't the best of ideas given my infection, but this was more important.

"Mum, whatever it is, we'll work it out."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

I put on my gown and led mum to the kitchen, I sat her on a seat and put the kettle on.

"Mum, tell me, what's wrong?"

"I told him."

"Told him what."

"I told him everything, everything, everything."

"What did you tell him?"

"Everything."

Mum was sobbing loudly and her head was on the table, I didn't know what to do so I called Sharon but she was out. I tried Doctor Masters but he was unavailable, his secretary wouldn't put me through. I finally rang Dr Fox on her mobile.

"Yes Eve."

"It's mum, she's just got back from Dr Masters but she's distressed and I can't get anything from her."

"You should call Dr Masters."

"I tried, his secretary is a brick wall."

"Leave it with me, don't go anywhere." As if.

She rang off, a minute later my mobile rang, number withheld.

"Hello, Miss Jones? This is Dr Masters."

"Doctor, it's mum. She's distressed, I can't get anything from her, what did she say to you?"

"I'm sorry that's Doctor Patient confidentiality."

"Rubbish, I need to know or are you going to get here? If I call an ambulance then I'll make sure they know it's a result of your session with her."

"Give me ten minutes, I'll be with you."

"You'd better."

I did my best to comfort mum but she was still blubbing, saying "sorry" every now and again. I still didn't know what was going on, why was she like this? What did she have to be sorry about? Sure, there had been issues but we'd talked about them already.

I made a pot of tea and tried to get her to drink, but she was in danger of sending it flying so that didn't work. I tried talking softly, I hugged her but was pushed away.

The doorbell rang, I rushed to the door and let Dr Masters in. He tried talking to her but she became hysterical. He asked me to hold her while her prepared a hypodermic and injected her with a sedative. It took ten or twenty seconds but she finally relaxed. We helped her to the couch and laid her out, moving the coffee table as a precaution.

We sat in the lounge to keep an eye on her while I talked to Dr Masters, after he'd made a call.

"Doctor, what happened? Don't give me that confidentiality rubbish, this is my mother we're talking about. I have a right!"

"Miss Jones, Eve, no you don't have a right but now is not the time to worry about it. I can see why you were concerned about your mother. I persuaded her to face her demons, the session went well and I thought I didn't need to see her again more than once."

"Plainly that wasn't correct."

"No, but hindsight is not a good diagnostic tool."

"So, what did she say?"

"We covered everything that you're familiar with then we concentrated on her post natal depression. She eventually told me that you had a twin, a girl, who was stillborn."

"She's never told me that."

"No, it was a deeply suppressed memory, she told me that she wanted a girl and, when she lost her, she hated herself. Your father knew she was expecting twins and they had chosen names, Eve and Simon, but as you know your father died just before your birth."

"What else?"

"She discharged herself against medical advice and took you home. You were supposed to have been brought back to hospital for checks because the paediatrician later found that your twin had unstated problems that weren't connected to the still birth, but your mother refused and there was no follow up. There's no record of your twin having been collected for burial."

"Another hospital foul-up."

"Yes."

"So what now?"

"I want to take her in, I have to now I've given her a sedative, but it would be useful if you came with me."

"I can't, I have a viral infection."

"Damn."

"Is there an alternative?"

"I don't think so."

"Then I'll have to call my aunt, mum's sister."

"You do that and I'll arrange an ambulance."

We both made calls, I asked my aunt to come here so she could ride in the ambulance. I went back to sit with Dr Masters, who moved the subject to me.

"Have you been checked, physically?"

"Yes, multiple scans, I've got a procedure booked for next month. I hope to find out for myself then."

"Who's doing it?"

"Doctor Roberts."

"Right, I'll pass this information onto him as it is relevant."

"Very relevant, probably."

The ambulance arrived on blue lights a few minutes later, thankfully there was no siren. Sharon came running, Aunt Sue was not far behind, Jenny would drive her car to the hospital separately. I gave Sharon and Aunt Sue a summary, apparently neither knew that I was a twin.

Sharon sat with me after the ambulance left, mum had been taken out of the door strapped to a stretcher, something for the other neighbours to talk about. Doctor Fox then rang, Dr Masters had given her a potted summary, she said she was on her way over to me. You wait all year for one psychiatrist and two come along on the same day.

"Eve, have you had any lunch?"

"No, but I haven't had much of an appetite."

"How about some soup?"

"I'll try it."

"Annie's due home any minute, I'll ask her to warm some up, I just bought it. There's some fresh rolls as well."

"Thanks."

Sharon made herself a coffee, I got a hot blackcurrant and two paracetamol, apparently my temperature was coming down but I still needed to take them. Annie, finding no-one in her house, popped her head into mine and received the lunch order.

I was sipping the hot soup when Dr Fox arrived. Sharon excused herself and left me with my shrink.

"How do you feel, Eve?" Start with a meaningless question?

"My body feels lousy and I've just discovered I was a twin, how would you feel?"

"Point taken. What's your take on this news?"

"That's an interesting way to put it. It reeks of hospital foul-up again, except we're talking nearly seventeen years ago."

"Even if that's true, what about your mum?"

"She's already admitted to post natal depression but she explained it was due to my father dying, if she also lost a daughter that would explain a lot of her actions since."

"It would, Eve, but is it the whole story?"

"What else could there be? Am I the result of alien insemination? Call Mulder and Scully!"

She tried to keep a straight face. "No, I'm talking about her behaviour. Hopefully that will become apparent now she's admitted to herself that you were her surrogate daughter."

"But that doesn't explain these?" I cupped my unsupported breasts. I was, after all, still in my nightwear.

"No, but it could go some way towards that."

Doctor Fox left shortly afterwards and I went back to bed, sleeping until late afternoon. Sharon came up to see me. "Eve, you have to come across, I can't leave you here on your own."

"But I'm might be infectious."

"That isn't something to worry about, Claire's been sent home with the same bug."

"Oh."

"Put on a clean pair of knickers and PJ's then come across. Bring fresh clothes in case you need them."

I locked the house up a few minutes later and dragged myself across the short distance between our houses. I sat in the kitchen and tried some food but my appetite wasn't back. I took myself upstairs to Claire's bed, she was already there, asleep. Cuddling was off the menu.

The following day, Wednesday, was almost a repeat of Tuesday but without the hysterics and ambulance. Of course there was the added extra of a poorly Claire.

I was finally up on Thursday morning feeling capable of getting some work done, but Claire was still moaning to everyone. I showered and put on the clothes that I'd taken over a few days earlier. Aunt Sue had been going to see mum, who was in a private room. I'm not sure who arranged that but I was grateful. She wasn't violent but had been kept on a mild sedative while she talked through her issues with Dr Preston. As it affected me as well, Dr Fox was present for many of the sessions and kept me informed by phone.

After breakfast I rang the hospital and spoke to the ward sister.

"Can you give me an update?"

"She's being discharged later this morning."

"Right." I hadn't been informed, but then my aunt had been the main contact at the hospital. "Is my aunt aware?"

"Yes, she's coming to collect your mum at eleven. Dr Preston is seeing your mum at ten."

I went across to our house to tidy up the lounge. I stripped my bed and got that in the washing machine before remaking it. A quick vacuum around the ground floor made it a bit more presentable. Finally I wiped down all the worktops in the kitchen.

Mum had finally told us those lock-away secrets from the time of my birth, and raised more hospital screw-ups into the bargain. I was now ready for her return home.
 

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Comments

Kudos!

A well written series that leaves the reader at a point where they'll want to read the next series of stories to at least find out what has gone on in Eve's past.

This such an intriguing story

This such an intriguing story, I am very happy there is a book 2 coming. Eve's life is definitely interesting.

I hope the series develops futher

mysteries in Eves early life still need explaining and how her new life develops

You've got me hooked.

WillowD's picture

Like your other novels you have me hooked and wanting to know what happened next. Woo hoo. Shiraz, you write good stories.

Yet more twists and turns!

Suppressed memories - this time, from mum; more medical malpractice - this time, from Eve's birth, and a viral infection that turns out to be a red herring (given Claire caught it as well). Phew!


As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!