Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Here’s to Eve. For being the absolute boss babe that she is.” Jamie raised his mug, filled with cider and rum.
“To Eve!” shouted the others. Lena, Ben, and one of Lena’s friends, April. They drank steadily from their cups and I with them, feeling the sting of the rum and the tang of the cider slide passed my tongue. I put the mug down on the small table between us and smiled. We were huddled in Lena’s living room, which was decorated like the outside, with cobwebs, fake fall leaves, colorful candles, and a sign with a black cat and witch that said Happy Halloween. All in preparation for her party.
“So, when are the print copies coming out? And when do I get the first signed copy?” Jamie asked.
“I call dibs on the second,” Lena blurted.
I grinned. “You’ll all get one, don’t worry. When I get around to publishing it anyway.”
“Better be sooner than later. Did you email Mrs. Conley yet?” Jamie asked.
“As soon as I go over the edits, I will.”
“But the draft is done and that’s a huge step. Congrats, Eve,” said Lena, finishing off her drink in celebration.
It had taken me writing nonstop for several days, but finally, my thesis was complete.
After leaving Liam out by the fire, I went back to my apartment and focused solely on my work. I had all the information I needed so there were no more excuses. It wasn’t until last night that Liam called Jamie to tell me that Emery would be moved early in the morning. It had happened only eight or so hours ago now. Just five hours ago, I finished my thesis. It was strangely fitting.
I imagined Emery was getting close to St. Louis now. Every time I thought about him, I had this sinking feeling, a feeling of sadness mixed with anxiety and guilt that ate at me. I put on a face for my friends, but the emotion still lingered deep within, and I didn’t expect it to leave for a long time.
I didn’t tell them yet that my thesis was more than just a bunch of observations and records of my time with the patient. It was a love letter. An unveiling of what I discovered. I must have been crazy when I wrote it. More than a couple times I was nearly drunk. But the morning after when I reread it, I only deleted maybe a few lines.
I couldn’t help Emery. He took my family from me, and I didn’t owe him anything. Yet, I did this for him anyway, what should have been the justice he deserved instead of my father, brother, uncle, and cousin losing their lives. I did this for the children who didn’t get any justice.
“Alright.” Jamie set his cup on the table. “I guess we better get off our asses and start bringing this monster of a party to life before sundown. Lena, start yelling at us where you want everything to go.”
Lena grinned like a Cheshire cat, rubbing her hands together while laughing maniacally. We helped her back into her wheelchair so she could order us around. We moved tables and chairs, put up last-minute decorations, and set up the patio with the speakers for the DJ—a good friend of hers from out of town who volunteered to play.
We set out snacks and drinks—a whole lot of drinks. Boxes of wine and packs of beer were placed on tables with stacks of cups next to them. Soon, the house looked haunted, cobwebs on the ceiling, fake candles everywhere, and jack-o'-lanterns outside.
It was still several hours till the party started but I was happy to hang out with my friends for at least a little bit before I had to leave. The Martel company banquet was tonight, and I’d decided to make a brief but needed appearance. Then I promised Lena I would return for her party after. It was a lot of driving, but I was used to it by now.
When everything was well in place, Lena had me follow her to her room which had been moved to the first floor.
“I know you don’t have anything but a simple party dress in your closet at home,” she said, wheeling over to her closet. “And that isn’t going to cut it for tonight.”
“Why not?” I said simply. “It works just fine.”
“No, no, no, you gotta look killer for a masquerade party.”
“But I’m not planning to be there that long and—”
She put up her hand to silence me. “Trust me I’ve got you. Thankfully, both you and my sister are about the same body type, kinda lanky. She stuffed some of her theater dresses in here because she doesn’t have any more room in her own damn closet. And can you believe these are her least favorite?” She opened her closet and pulled her clothes aside.
I looked over the dresses and my eyes widened. “Wow, these are…”
“Excessive? I know,” she said.
“I was going to say stunning as hell…but, yeah, maybe a little too much.”
She grinned. “That’s the point. So, pick your poison. Autumn princess?” She lifted the skirt of a deep red dress with velvet leaves stitched along the waistline and across the breasts. “Evil fairy queen?” She showed off a black and green dress with a sequined top and a large skirt with little gray butterflies on the hem. “Or, oh, this one.” She lifted another. This was less ball gown and more sleek. A black number with the skirt flowing longer at the back and a slit to one side at the front. The waist had a leather corset-like belt that pointed down in a V, and above, on the heart-shaped top, it had tiny red flowers stitched together with twisted, thorny vines which were etched along the breast-line flowing down to a point. On the hem of the skirt were more of the same design as if the wildflowers were growing up the dress.
Lena saw my expression and grinned. “Yup, that’s the one. Go on, take it out and try it on.”
I brought it out and set it on her bed. She turned around as I changed out of my black jeans and Evil Dead T-shirt. As I carefully put it on and smoothed out the bottom, she turned back.
“Oh, Eve…” She placed a hand over her heart. “Embrace me, queen of the night.”
“Stop it.” I laughed.
“You are so hot. Eyes will be rolling your way.”
“I don’t know if I want that much attention on me…”
She wheeled closer and gently grabbed one end of the skirt. “I know you’ve got enough of that. But I say fuck ’em. If they're gonna stare and talk, at least you’ll look like the queen you are, and this’ll show ’em you own it.” She let the skirt fall from her fingers. “You know I’m grateful you’re here, and it’s hard…but if anyone gives you shit or tries to ask you about…you know...what happened, they’ll answer to me. And Jamie.”
I smiled and took her hand. “Thank you, Lena.”
“Okay, now a mask. I got a few of those too, courtesy of my sister and the Halloween store.” She lifted a bag by the bed and rifled through it. “I figured some would be good for anyone to wear around the party, but you can definitely borrow one too.” She showed off a few possible choices, weeding out the scary ones for the pretty ones. There were a couple of Mardi Gras masks with green and purple feathers, a domino mask, and a leopard print mask. I tried them on, but none really quite matched.
“How about this one?” Lena said. I turned from the mirror and stilled. In her hand was a rabbit-shaped mask, with little designs around the face.
I let her set it in my hand. I turned it over a few times. I went to the mirror and put it over my face and felt that awful sinking feeling.
Bad…bad little rabbit.
I stared at the mirror for a long second, then brought it away from my face, returning it to Lena. “No, not this one.”
She hummed, searching the bag again. “Ah, okay, how about this?”
She took out a simple, black mask with little onyx jewels in the shape of flowers around the sides. Jewel beads hung underneath the mask below the eyes, the ends shaped like tear drops.
I tried it on, and it fit the best.
Lena called in April and the two were kind enough to help me fix up my hair, curling some of my loose brown waves before pinning them up, freeing a couple strands on either side of my face to cover my ears.
I probably did look like a vampire queen. Even my Doc Martens didn’t take away from the elegance of my getup. Lena’s shoes would have been too big for me anyway.
I decided to keep the dress on and stay a little longer instead of heading to my apartment before the banquet. Jamie oohed and ahhed at me, then left to grab us real food. The sun was sinking fast, and I knew the banquet started at dusk. After I ate a few slices of pizza, making sure not to get anything on the dress, I said goodbye and threw on my coat.
“Drive safe,” Lena said. “And make sure you get your ass back here!”
“I will.” I gave her a hug before turning for the door. Jamie followed me out to my car.
“You sure you don’t want me to go with you?” he asked. “Make sure your uncle doesn’t step out of line?”
I shook my head. “Thank you but that’s okay. You should have fun here instead.”
“You know you could just call him. Forget going all the way over there to tell him you're going to basically ruin your dad’s company.”
I looked past him at the house. “He helped take care of me after I lost everyone. He’s…he’s not my dad but he deserves better than a phone call. I’ll have to get what things I left at his house eventually so I can’t avoid him forever.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, guess so.”
“Also, someone was helping to fund all the horrible shit my father and his company were up to. If I go…”
“You’ll see all the potential donors. Shit, Eve.” He took a hold of my shoulders. “Just be careful. I know you're trying to do the right thing. But you’ve already fallen into dangerous territory. Don’t slip further in.”
“I know. I just want to see, that’s all.”
“You mess up your dad’s company and who knows who’ll come after you.”
“That’s why I want to meet them first.”
“Man, I love you,” he said. “Keeping it one step ahead.” He pulled me into a hug. “See you soon.”