The Improbable Page 6

  “Here we are my friends. I present to you, the field.” Timmy announced as we entered a massive clearing in the woods. The moonlight streamed down, illuminating the entire field. It was a sight to see.

  “As our first timer, I believe that you do deserve the first drink my friend.” Chris said in a dramatic tone as he handed me a beer.

  “Good lookin’ out,” I thanked him.

  “Oh he doesn’t deserve a thing.” Kathryn snorted, opening her own can of alcohol. Timmy was out of earshot to hear how his girlfriend was acting.

  I had to remember to keep control of myself when I spoke to her. “Kathryn –”

  “It’s Kate.” She told me dryly.

  “Kate.” I corrected myself. “Did I do something to you to make you hate me?”

  She exhaled loudly after taking a long sip from her can. “How do I explain this?” Kate came a few steps closer to me. “I know who your best friend is.”

  I wondered where she was going with her explanation. “Of course you do…you’re dating him.”

  “Okay. If I hurt him you wouldn’t be so fond of me, now would ya?” She asked.

  “No I suppose not.” I answered.

  “Exactly. Mr. Finley, do you know who my best friend is?” She eyed me.

  Everything began to click in my mind as I remembered Timmy telling me that Kate was Eva-Marie’s best friend. I nodded in understanding. “I see what you’re getting at.”

  Kate took another sip and sighed. “I just don’t understand why you’ve gotta be so rude, David. I had faith in you after you saved her life!”

  I shrugged. “I’m working on myself…What do you mean you had faith in me?”

  She held her index finger. “That’s beside the point. What I’m gettin’ at is you both are in our group of friends. Y’all are gonna have to get over it at some point. Whatever ‘it’ is.”

  I looked down at her blue eyes that looked truly concerned. “I know.”

  Kate squealed and hopped up and down excitedly. “Thank you for bein’ so understanding my darlin’! It’s too bad she won’t be here tonight…” She trailed off.

  “Why not?” I asked.

  Kate raised her eyebrows and didn’t say anything or look at me.

  I sighed. “Is it because of me?”

  “Oh I may have mentioned you were comin’…”

  “Does she hate me that much?” I wondered.

  “Well I don’t know but you must’ve really hurt her feelings, David.” Kate shrugged. “But for the time bein’, why don’t you come socialize with the rest of her friends?”

  I followed Kate back towards Rita and Sarah. The girls showered me with questions about the night I saved Eva-Marie from drowning. None of the others knew about the animosity between Eva-Marie and I besides Kate and for that I was thankful. I wouldn’t have been able to handle three women with attitudes similar to Kate’s. As I told the story I wanted to laugh when I thought about how I turned such a good deed into ice cold tension. Once they began smoking, I wandered a few feet away and plopped down onto the grass and looked up at the stars. They began cheering in the distance but I didn’t bother to see what it was about, I was in too much of a trance staring at the sky.

  I stared and wondered how different my life would’ve been if my mom was still alive. Would I still turn out as such an angry person? Was it actually her death that turned me into such a cold person? Or was it the fact that to get any reaction out of my father I had to do what made him happy and not myself? Was it so much to want to be treated like his son that he…loved? I felt a little silly what with me being the age of twenty-four and still feeling hurt by the fact that my father never wanted to get closer with me. I sighed and chugged the rest of my beer. The snapping of twigs on the ground behind me startled me, making me turn around to check and see what it was. Or who.

  There coming toward me, as cautious and as graceful as a dainty doe with the moonlight shining down on her, was the breath-taking Eva-Marie. She held her hands up in a surrendering gesture with a slight smile on her face. “Don’t worry, I come waving the white flag.”

  Instinctively, a grin spread across my face. An actual, genuine grin. Funny I had forgotten how that felt. “As do I,” I said to her.

  She reached me and looked down on me with her deep eyes. “May I sit?” Eva-Marie looked at me hopefully.

  I nodded and patted the grass next to me.

  She exhaled loudly as she sat down and handed me a bottle before twisting her own open. “David, David, David. What’s going on?” Her tone made it obvious she was talking about the situation between us.

  I sighed. “Look Eva-Marie –”

  “Please, call me Eva. The only person that calls me Eva-Marie is my father and that’s mostly when he’s angry.” She shook her head.

  These females and their names. “Eva,” I corrected.

  She nodded with a sweet smile. “Yes, Mr. Finley?”

  “For everything that has happened between us, everything that I’ve said to you…and called you, I am genuinely sorry. As you can see I tried to apologize at the city club and let my temper get in the way, and I’m sorry I acted that way in front of you.” I looked over at her but she wasn’t looking at me. She was staring out into the field and smiling and nodding while she took a sip from her bottle.

  “I accept your apology Mr. Finley,” Eva looked at me and smiled. “As I should’ve that day at the city club…had you given me the chance before blowing up on me.” She began giggling.

  “What’s so funny?” I was slightly laughing myself, realizing her laughs and smiles were quite contagious.

  “You were just like a…grumpy old man.” She let out her heavenly laughter. “All I could think was that constant fuming was gonna give you an early aneurism!”

  I laughed and shook my head. “I can’t argue with you there.” I twisted my bottle open and downed my drink. “But on a serious note, Eva, you didn’t deserve the way I acted toward you. Not in the slightest bit.”

  Eva nodded slowly in understanding, staring at me.

  She may not have known it, but her eyes made me…nervous! I felt like I had the world’s greatest spotlight on me. But that didn’t stop me from giving her a great compliment that was well deserved. “And any woman with your magnitude of breathtaking beauty, and I must say you really are the only woman who’s ever taken my breath away, doesn’t need to be treated in such a way. And I don’t know how I could ever make it up to you.”

  That surely brought a smile to her face that she tried to conceal, revealing faint dimples on her cheeks. She giggled and looked away. Oh Lord, she was flawless! “Why thank you David I really appreciate that. You aren’t so bad yourself, I must say.” She turned and gave me a half-smile.

  “You’re very welcome Miss Eva-Marie. I just wanted to apologize for being the ‘world’s biggest pain in the ass’.” I gave her a crooked smile.

  Eva threw her head back and laughed but caught herself. “No! Shhh! Shhh!” She put her slender index finger to my lips and shook her head.

  Was it bad that I wanted her to keep her finger there?

  “No more talk of apologies or how badly we spoke to each other. It’s behind us, do I make myself clear Mr. Finley?”

  “You have,” I said against her soft finger.

  She grinned and removed her finger. “Good.” Eva held her bottle up for a toast and I clinked my bottle against hers. “Now I must ask, what’re you doin’ over here all by yourself? My friends told me they thought you were a bit of an odd ball.” Eva snorted.

  “Uh, I don’t smoke. I just wanted some fresh air and some space.” I shrugged.

  “Neither do I, so I guess it’s a good thing I joined you huh?” She looked at me out of the corner of her eye.

  “It is actually, you saved me from my own thoughts.” I told her.

  “Then it’s definitely a good thing I came over here…you might’ve driven yourself crazy and killed us all.” Eva laughed at her own joke.

&n
bsp; I didn’t mind that she was making fun of me. I enjoyed hearing her laugh, it seemed to lift my spirits and made me laugh as well. “Not everyone…just the women.”

  “Oh my goodness, am I going to have to call the police Mr. Finley?” She dramatically put her hand over her mouth.

  I was going to have to get used to hearing everyone use my fake last name and refraining from letting others know that I was really an undercover police officer. “No need for all that,” I rolled my eyes and snorted.

  “You see this, David? We could’ve been friends all along.” Eva nudged me with her shoulder and giggled.

  I nodded. “I agree.”

  “Give me your pinky,” Eva instructed as she held out her own.

  I looked at her funny, thrown off. “For what?”

  She huffed with fake exasperation. “Oh just give it to me, David.”

  I held my pinky finger out to hers and she locked hers around mine.

  “This is us calling a truce and agreeing to move forward as friends.” She announced. “So truce?”

  I laughed and smiled, shaking my head. She was much different from any girl I’d ever spoken too but I liked it. “Truce.”

  Eva smiled with satisfaction. “And then there was peace.”

  I had agreed to the truce as friends but something felt off. Eva had awakened something inside of me and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Testosterone that hadn’t been shaken up in way too long? I couldn’t tell, but whatever it was, it made me very unsure of how long I could stay just ‘friends’ with her.

  9. Secrets and Scandals

  I wearily walked up to the second floor of Ace Cigars.

  It had been an extremely busy day for the company so I was glad to have it be after hours with no one else in the building, besides my father who was waiting for me in the warehouse-level garage. He had pulled me aside earlier in the day and asked if I wanted to ride with him after work because he wanted to speak to me. Physically I said ‘yes’ but in my mind I didn’t want to hear what he had to talk about. I tried to finish my work early and get home before him but my mother had taken my car to drive herself home. I was trapped! I closed the door to my father’s office and began changing my clothes, knowing I wasn’t allowed to attend a drop-off in my everyday clothes due to the fact that someone could recognize me. Mentally, I had to prepare myself for the last task of the day: ride with my father to make a delivery.

  Along with owning Ace Cigars, my parents were also the producers of an extremely popular drug called Trioxytin. They began producing it when I was only six years old but back then I didn’t have a clue as to what was going on. As their business grew they began to hire people to produce the drug, leaving the delivering up to my parents. When I turned seventeen, I would hate being left at home while my parents were out and demanded to get into the action. My parents of course, were not on board with my idea which is why they gave me a job as the secretary at Ace Cigars. When I worked late I would always go with my father to make deliveries and collect money. Yes, I knew what my family was doing was wrong because the drug killed people…and because my father had men that killed people. However, I also knew that it was and had been part of the family for the past thirteen years. Nothing was going to change.

  “Sweetheart are you in here?” Ray’s voice bust through the door of my father’s office as I was changing my shirt.

  “Oh my goodness!” I jumped, and tried to cover my chest because I was only wearing a bra. “Ray what are you doing here? It’s after hours and we’re closed!” I hissed.

  Ray chuckled and entered the office anyways, sitting on my father’s desk. “Your mother told me I could find you here.”

  I rushed putting my shirt on, feeling uncomfortable with his eyes glued to my bare skin. “The building is locked, Ray.”

  “She gave me a key,” He told me in a matter-of-fact tone. “You know you shouldn’t be ashamed to show me your body…” Ray’s hands reached out and touched the skin of my stomach where I hadn’t yet buttoned my shirt. “It’ll all be mine soon anyways.”

  I swatted his hand away and continued to dress myself.

  “Suit yourself,” He snorted and kept his hands to himself. “I came to remind you that I’ll be taking you to the New Members’ Ball at the city club.”

  “You couldn’t wait until tomorrow to tell me that? I don’t want to go with you anyways, Ray. I’m going with my friends. I don’t know if I haven’t made this clear yet but Ray I really don’t want to be with you. I’ll never ‘belong’ to you. I thought you’d get it by now, I’m just doing this to keep my parents off my back.” I shook my head with my back to him as I adjusted my suspenders.

  Ray was silent for a few moments. “I know your family’s secret.”

  “I know that you know,” I said as I shuffled into my jacket and turned to face him. What was he getting at?

  “I’m the only person that knows.” Ray continued.

  “Okay Ray.”

  “And I had a very interesting discussion about you with your mother the other day. Ah yes, it was just her and I and our cups of tea.” He informed me.

  My interest grew. What could they be discussing about me?

  Ray read the curiosity on my face. “I take it you don’t know, as a matter of fact no one, not even your father knows about me and Mary’s little discussion. More so a deal, I might say.”

  “What are you talking about?” I folded my arms across my chest and squinted at him.

  “I can only tell you if you can keep a secret. Your father or anyone else isn’t supposed to know about this, Eva-Marie. It would break Percy’s dear old heart if he knew. Though, I shouldn’t worry…I know you of all people know how to keep a secret.” He smiled deviously at me.

  “Continue,” I urged him to go on, the curiosity burning.

  “Now Eva, you keep insisting that you’ll never belong to me. However, that’s where you’re wrong. When your mother took me out for tea the other day, she appeared very distraught. Quite a mess, actually. She asked me what it would take to ensure that I never opened my mouth about you all’s little secret. Of course it didn’t take long for me to make up my mind.” Ray reached out and grabbed my folded arms, pulling me closer to him. “And I chose you, my dear, I told your mother that I want to marry you. Surprisingly the woman said we had a deal, though I knew it wouldn’t take much given how stressed out she was. Poor thing.”

  “What?” I breathed. My mouth had gone dry. A lump formed in my throat. Dozens of emotions flitted through me at once. Hurt. Shock. I felt betrayed by my own mother! Who could I tell? I couldn’t tell anyone, not even my own father! As much as I hated to admit it, Ray was right, my father would be devastated to know that my mother had done such a thing. I felt like such a prisoner in my own life…

  “Don’t worry, dear. I’ll give it some time before I fully propose.” Ray looked at my expression. “Everything will be okay, Eva, you’re with me now.”

  His words echoed inside of my head multiple times to the point where I began to feel anxious. I needed to get away from him, it was hard taking in the fact that he was what I was doomed to for the rest of my life. I felt as if I was going to be sick. I felt as if the walls were closing in on me. But I had to keep it together, I had my father waiting for me.

  “I have to go,” I mumbled, trying not to let my tears and sobs escape.

  “I’m glad we could have this talk, Eva.” He grabbed my chin and forced me to make eye contact.

  “Daddy’s waiting downstairs, make sure you lock the front door.” I grabbed my things and exited the office with Ray behind me.

  “Goodnight Eva, I may be at the house for lunch tomorrow to discuss our attire for the ball!” Ray called to me before exiting.

  I didn’t bother to respond to him. I had nothing to say. As I entered the freight elevator, I wanted to break down. I wanted to cry and scream. I wanted to kick and punch at the walls. However, I knew I couldn’t do that with my father on the floor below. He woul
d wonder what had upset me. Or who had upset me. And I couldn’t tell him. I took a deep breath to compose myself before I went off the edge.

  “Goodness Eva-Marie, took ya a damn hour just to change.” My father snorted once I was in the car.

  “Oh don’t be over exaggerating, Daddy.” I said quietly.

  He laughed lightly. “You know how I am, baby.” After I didn’t respond he quietly informed the driver of our destination. “I have a meeting with some fellas and I won’t be able to make this one. Do you think you could make the delivery to Nicholas Brandy?”

  “Yes sir,” I nodded.

  “Thanks baby, it means a lot. He’s our best dealer.” Daddy sighed as he realized I wasn’t up for any conversation.

  I sat quietly and stared out the window as we drove.

  “Your mother came and talked to me today,” Daddy broke the silence.

  I raised my eyebrow, trying to fake interest. I did not care for that woman at the moment. “Is that so? What’d she have to say?”

  A smile came to his face. “She was so happy. Told me you came and told her you were finally accepting Ray and that he made you really happy.” He reached over and rubbed my back. “That made me so thankful, Eva-Marie. You know the first few times I could see you didn’t like him much and I was gonna cut the boy loose. But now I’m glad you’re warming up to him, it gives me peace of mind.” Daddy smiled warmly at me.

  It was extremely difficult to stifle my reaction when I found out that my mother had blatantly lied to my father and put those words in my mouth! I felt like a shaken bottle of soda just ready to explode! I tried to smile but it ended up as an awkward turn of my lips. How in the hell was I supposed to respond to that? “Yeah, that Ray…he’s alright.”