Evvie at Sixteen

  “She doesn’t have to,” Evvie replied. “She knows how to use the truth instead.”

  “It’s a gift,” Schyler said. “You’ll talk to Clark, too, tell him what a fine young man I am and how I treated you like a lady, but the sparks just never flew?”

  “It will be my pleasure,” Evvie said. She kissed Schyler on the cheek and stood up.

  “Go for it, Evvie,” Schyler said. “Do it for Yolanda.”

  “I’ll try,” Evvie said. She smiled at Schyler and left him lying on the beach, absorbing the sun, daydreaming about his upcoming conquests.

  Evvie entered the cottage through the kitchen. “Hello, Mrs. Baker,” she said. “Is my aunt awake?”

  “I heard her stirring a few minutes ago,” Mrs. Baker replied. “Do you want me to check on her for you?”

  “I’ll go straight up myself,” Evvie said. “Thank you.” She smiled at Mrs. Baker and went upstairs.

  “Stupid kitten,” Aunt Grace was muttering as Evvie walked into her room. Trouble was standing on her shoulder, swatting at Grace’s nose.

  Evvie laughed, picked Trouble up, and put him on the floor.

  “Damned kitten,” Grace said. “Is it too old to be drowned?”

  “Much too old,” Evvie said.

  “Shame,” Grace said. “Drowning is such a sensible solution. You’re back early.”

  “I left Schyler on the beach,” Evvie said.

  “Fine boy,” Aunt Grace said. “Fine family.”

  “They’re going to have to be fine without me,” Evvie said. “We’ve decided not to see each other anymore.”

  “And why is that?” Aunt Grace asked. Even Trouble stopped running around as if to hear Evvie’s response.

  “Because I’d rather see Sam,” Evvie replied. “And I’d also rather you didn’t interfere.”

  “Interfere?” Grace said. “And how have I done that, stuck in this room all summer long, crippled and helpless.”

  “You have your ways,” Evvie said. “Aunt Grace, I want you to understand I don’t care what my father’s real name is, or what Sam’s parents did. None of that matters. So you can stop playing your games and accept me for who I am. And I’ll try to do the same for you.”

  “Very noble of you,” Grace said. “I’ve done nothing I’m ashamed of, Evvie. I presented you with facts you had every right to know.”

  “Maybe not every right,” Evvie said. “But I’m not going to argue with you about it. I’m going to pick some flowers instead, bring them to Sam, and see if I can explain to him why I stopped seeing him and why I intend to start seeing him again.”

  “You’re not going to seduce him with my flowers,” Grace declared.

  “I’ll be careful not to pick any from your garden,” Evvie said.

  Aunt Grace shook her head. “You won’t be careful,” she said. “No more than Margaret was. You’re her daughter through and through, determined to love the man who’s going to bring you the most pain.”

  “You’re wrong,” Evvie said. “Megs would have died with Clark, or anyone like him. Boredom would have killed her. And Sam isn’t going to hurt me, either. Not the way someone like Schyler could.”

  “You think you know so much,” Grace said.

  “I know more than I used to,” Evvie said. “Thanks in no small part to you.”

  “Very well,” Grace said. “Go to your precious Sam. Just promise me you won’t marry him in my lifetime. I’m an old woman and I’ll be dead soon enough. Wait until then. That’s all I ask.”

  “I’ll try,” Evvie said. “But with my luck you’ll live forever.” She grinned at her aunt and scurried away. She ran down the stairs, left the house, and promptly found a patch of daisies just waiting to be picked. When she had created a good-sized bouquet, she started the long walk into town. By the time she got there, quite a few of the daisies had lost their petals answering whether he loved her or loved her not.

  The bookstore was closed, so she rang the bell to the Steinmetz house. She could hear footsteps coming downstairs, and soon Sam was opening the door.

  “I brought flowers,” Evvie said.

  “He can’t have them,” Sam replied. “He’s in intensive care.”

  “What are you talking about?” Evvie asked. “Sam, what’s going on?”

  “Lou had a heart attack,” Sam said. “You didn’t know?”

  Evvie shook her head. “I came here to see you,” she said. “To tell you what a fool I’ve been. What happened? How is he?”

  “He’s going to die,” Sam said. “You can tell that’s what the doctors think.” He looked away from Evvie and swallowed hard. “It happened last night. Belle’s there now. She won’t leave, so I came back to get some stuff for her. A change of clothes. Maybe a book. Do you think she’d read it if I brought her a book?”

  “If she doesn’t want to read it, she won’t,” Evvie replied. “Were you there all night, too?”

  Sam nodded. “I slept some,” he said. “The doctors kept telling us we should go home, but Belle wouldn’t leave, and I couldn’t leave her there all alone. She was napping when I left, but I’ve got to get back right away.”

  “I won’t keep you,” Evvie said. “I just came to bring you these flowers and tell you I love you and tell you I’m sorry for deserting you in Boston.”

  “I figured you had your reasons,” Sam said. “And when you were ready to tell me them, you would.”

  “I will,” Evvie said. “When we have time. I just wish you had told me about Lou last night, so I could have helped.”

  “I didn’t know if I should,” Sam replied. “I didn’t know how. I’m not used to telling things to people I love.”

  Evvie nodded. “We’ll figure it out together,” she said. “That and everything else.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  It took Lou four days to die. He was unconscious almost all of that time, hooked up to wires and machines, lying there, Sam said, as though he were already gone but had left his body behind by mistake.

  Evvie did what she could to help during those days. She spent afternoons at the bookstore, so it could stay open at least part-time. When customers came in and asked where Lou and Belle were, Evvie explained. She didn’t bother to say who she was; things were complicated enough.

  Nor did she ask Grace’s permission for her afternoons out, and Grace made no effort to stop her. Grace didn’t encourage her, either. She simply ignored the issue. That was fine with Evvie. A supportive Aunt Grace was as unappealing a prospect as a disapproving one.

  Sam’s aunt Ronnie flew in from Oregon. Evvie was surprised to discover Sam had an aunt. For all she felt she knew him, there was still a lot of unexplored territory.

  “My father’s younger sister,” Sam told her, as he prepared to drive to Boston to pick up his aunt. “She was seventeen when my father died, so she couldn’t take me.”

  “Do you want to live with her now?” Evvie asked.

  Sam shook his head. “That would be just one more disruption,” he said. “Everyone’s done their best. I have no complaints.”

  Evvie wished that were true, but whatever complaints Sam might have, he wasn’t about to express them while Lou was dying. Instead he did everything he could, spending endless hours at the hospital, by Lou’s side when he was allowed, with his grandmother, and then with Ronnie. In those four days, Evvie hardly saw him, yet she felt closer to him than she did to any other human being she knew.

  Lou died early Monday morning. Sam called Evvie after breakfast to let her know.

  “What can I do?” she asked immediately.

  “Nothing,” Sam said. “We’ll keep the store closed for the week.”

  “Can I help with the arrangements?” Evvie asked. She knew nothing about arrangements, but felt she ought to ask.

  “The funeral will be sometime tomorrow,” Sam told her. “If you feel like coming, come. But you don’t have to.”

  “Of course I’ll come,” Evvie said. “Sam, if you need to talk, call me. Or you
could just come on over. Anytime.”

  “Thanks, Evvie,” Sam said. “But I won’t need to.”

  Evvie hung up the phone. At first she felt relief that the ordeal was over. There had never been any chance of recovery, so it was best for Lou and his family that he was finally at peace.

  But then Evvie remembered her single conversation with him, how awkward she’d felt until she’d started joking with him. She remembered how they were going to discuss sinuses, and it was such a silly idea, and now they never would. And she found herself in her room crying because a man she hardly knew had died, crying because there was now a gash cut into Sam that would never fully heal.

  When she calmed down, she dried her eyes, blew her nose, washed her face with cold water, and went in to see Aunt Grace.

  “I’ve changed my mind,” Evvie told her. “I want you to live forever.”

  “Why?” Aunt Grace asked. “So you’ll never find out you’ve been disinherited?”

  “Sure,” Evvie replied. “That’s as good a reason as any.”

  The funeral was scheduled for three o’clock on Tuesday. Evvie went through her wardrobe and realized she had brought nothing appropriate to wear. Not knowing who else to turn to, she called Clark.

  “No problem,” he said, sounding exactly as she knew he would. “Go to Talbott’s, that’s the clothing store in town, and pick out a complete outfit. I’ll call them and tell them you’re coming and you can charge what you need to me. And buy what’s right, Evvie. Don’t settle for something just to save me a few dollars.”

  “I’ll pay you back, Clark,” Evvie said. “I promise.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Clark replied. He was silent for a moment. “And, Evvie, I’m sorry if you feel I pushed you and Schyler together.”

  “It’s all right,” Evvie said. “I like Schyler. He treated me like a lady. But Sam means more to me.”

  “The way Nick immediately did to Meg,” Clark said. “History strikes again. Oh, well. There’s something reassuring about watching the same mistakes happen over and over again. It makes you realize you’re not the only fool.”

  “You’re nobody’s fool,” Evvie said.

  “True enough,” Clark replied. “I belong lock, stock, and barrel to Meg and Nick.”

  Evvie would have denied it but there was no point. Instead she thanked him again, walked to Talbott’s, and bought a navy blue dress, shoes, and stockings.

  She thought about stopping at the Steinmetzes’ on her way home, but she decided she’d be out of place there. She’d go to the funeral, and that would be enough.

  Mr. Baker drove her to the funeral parlor the next afternoon. Evvie was surprised at how many people were there. A lot of them she recognized as being townspeople. Most of the rest were Lou’s age, so she assumed they were old friends. One couple, sitting behind Sam, looked so uncomfortable Evvie instinctively knew they were the Greenes. She wished she could sit with Sam, but instead took a seat toward the back. After sitting alone for a few moments, she was joined by Schyler.

  “Clark suggested I come,” he said. “He didn’t want you to be alone.”

  “Thanks,” Evvie said. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “That makes one of us,” Schyler said, but he smiled.

  Somewhere, the Steinmetzes had located a rabbi. The service was brief, and exotic to Evvie. The eulogy was given by an old friend of Lou’s, and he talked about Lou’s commitment to the movement, and the sacrifice of his son. Evvie glanced at the Greenes, but they were staring straight ahead, not showing any emotion at all. Evvie tried to think about the loss both families had suffered, and how terribly important Sam must have been to them. But she found that was more emotion than she cared to deal with, and she put the thoughts aside.

  “I’m going now,” Schyler said when the service ended. “Sam doesn’t need to see me here.”

  “Thanks for coming,” Evvie said.

  “I’d like to think we’re friends,” Schyler replied. He gave her a quick kiss and left.

  Evvie felt uncomfortable standing by herself, so she walked over toward the Greenes.

  “I say we should take him home now,” she heard Mrs. Greene say. “Right after supper tonight. Get him home, away from here.”

  “Shush, Miriam,” Dr. Greene replied. “You know we can’t. And Sammy would never agree to it.”

  “This is no place …” Mrs. Greene whispered, and Evvie moved on. She’d rather stand alone than witness more fracturing of Sam’s life.

  She watched people go up to the Steinmetzes and offer their condolences, and finally she joined the line, extended her hand to Belle and Ronnie, and simply looked at Sam, wanting to kiss him, and not knowing if she should.

  “This will be over in a few minutes,” Sam said to her. “The actual burial isn’t going to be in Eastgate, so that’s not happening until tomorrow. There’s a gathering at our house, though, once we get out of here.”

  “I’ll be waiting for you,” Evvie said.

  Sam nodded, and Evvie walked away. She couldn’t bear the thought of a gathering, but if that was where Sam was going to be, then that was where she was going.

  She stood outside for a few minutes, and was surprised when Ronnie Steinmetz joined her.

  “It’s a pretty day,” Ronnie said, shielding her eyes from the sun. “The weather’s nice here in Eastgate.”

  “Do you get here often?” Evvie asked. Ronnie shook her head. “Once or twice a year,” she said. “My mother and I fight a lot. We try to keep our visits short and infrequent.”

  “A lot of people came,” Evvie said. “There was a nice turnout.”

  “A lot of the old crowd,” Ronnie said. “And people from town. They didn’t like Lou, Lou didn’t like them, but I guess they figure they have an obligation. And, of course, the FBI’s here.”

  “You’re kidding,” Evvie said.

  “No,” Ronnie said. “Those two men over there.” She pointed them out. “Definitely FBI. You spend fifteen years being tailed by those suckers, you can spot one a mile off.”

  “But how would they know?” Evvie asked.

  “All our phones are tapped,” Ronnie replied. “They’re here in case Sam’s mother shows. Not very likely, but the FBI never gives up hope. It’s one of their charms. Sam’s crazy about you, you know.”

  Evvie nodded. “I’m crazy about him,” she said.

  “Good,” Ronnie said. “He deserves some happiness. I mean, my first seventeen years were a misery, but that was just normal growing-up-in-a-totally-insane-family stuff. Sam’s had every bad break in the book, and you’d never know it, the way he behaves. He’s such a good kid. Must take after the Greenes.”

  Evvie shrugged. The Greenes didn’t seem like much of an improvement to her.

  “Anyway, you seem really nice yourself,” Ronnie said. “We all appreciate the way you’ve been helping out at the store, and not throwing yourself at Sam the past few days. My mother would never say anything, it’s against her religion to be polite, but I’ve noticed, and Sam certainly has. So thank you.”

  “Like I said, I’m crazy about him,” Evvie said.

  Ronnie smiled. “I’m glad,” she said. “He’s going to need you even more than he knows. I know it’s a burden, but anything you can do would help.”

  “I’ll do what I can,” Evvie promised.

  Ronnie gave her a kiss and walked off. Evvie stood there for a while, until she saw the people moving toward the Steinmetz home. She followed them in, and soon she was serving people cake and coffee, overhearing bits of conversation, trying to be helpful and inconspicuous. The FBI agents, she was glad to see, hadn’t come into the house.

  “I’m getting out of here,” Sam whispered to her after she poured someone his fourth cup of coffee. “I can’t take another minute of this.”

  “I’m going with you,” Evvie said. She put the coffeepot down, grabbed her bag, and ran after him.

  They flew down the stairs, and once they were outside, Sam kept run
ning. Evvie did her best to keep up with him, but her shoes had heels, and Sam was going full speed. So she slowed down, kept him in sight, and let him have a few minutes by himself on the beach before she joined him.

  Sam was sitting in the sand, staring out at the ocean. He didn’t seem to care that his suit was getting sand on it, so Evvie decided not to worry about her dress. She sat down next to him and waited for him to speak.

  “Did you see the FBI?” he asked. “All dressed up for the occasion.”

  “Ronnie pointed them out to me,” Evvie said. “I wouldn’t have known who they were otherwise.”

  “Be prepared,” Sam said. “They’re a part of my life. They’ll be a part of yours. They even came to my bar mitzvah. Two of them. You have no idea how dumb FBI agents look in yarmulkes.”

  “Do you ever talk to them?” Evvie asked. “Tell them to leave you alone?”

  “No, that’s not part of the game,” Sam said. “We ignore them, and they check out the guest list. It’s old home week for the radical left at Lou and Belle’s right now. Things’ll heat up soon, fifty-year-old fights will be renewed. Lots of screaming, name-calling. Ronnie can’t stand it. Usually I don’t mind, but today, especially with Gran and Granddad there, I just had to get out.”

  “It was nice of them to come,” Evvie said.

  “I wish they hadn’t,” Sam said. “They want me to go home with them, spend the rest of the summer on Long Island.”

  “Are you going to?” Evvie asked. She hated the thought of Sam leaving her, but if it was what he wanted, she knew she should be happy for him.

  Sam shook his head. “I can’t do that to Belle,” he replied. “If I stay here, she can keep the store open all summer. And she needs the summer business. It’s what keeps them going for the rest of the year.”

  “Do you think she’ll keep the store?” Evvie asked.

  “She hasn’t decided yet,” Sam said. “God, she looks so old. It isn’t like this was a surprise. Lou’s been sick for months now, but you never really think it’s going to happen. I don’t know what Belle’s going to do. She can’t move to Portland—she and Ronnie would kill each other within a week. She has a sister in New York, but they don’t get along well, either. And Aunt Sophie isn’t so young herself. Maybe she’ll stay here. It isn’t like she likes Eastgate, but at least it’s home. It just makes me feel so helpless.”