“It is better to break your own heart by leaving, rather than having that person break your heart every day you’re with them.” Unknown
Eva parked, got out of the car, and headed to class after she dropped the dogs off at the groomer. She would pick them up after she finished class.
She felt exhilarated and free since Harper was still out of town. He would call her ever so often, and that was fine with her. When he told her that four states had been added to his tour, she couldn’t have been happier. That meant he would be gone an additional two weeks. If she never heard from him again, that would be even better but she needed his money, his influence, and in a crazy sort of way, she needed his power.
Culinary class went smoothly. It was another enjoyable day. The class had begun preparing more simple dishes, and Eva loved it. At the end of class, she lingered and talked with her instructor before leaving for the afternoon. She climbed inside her car, gave the groomers a call to see if the dogs were ready, and then turned the ignition. A knock against her window startled her. It was him.
“Hi. How are you?” Quentin asked when she pushed the power button for the window to go down.
“I’m good. How are you?” she asked. She didn’t know if a smile was plastered on her face or not. She felt like there was because she felt a warm glow flow through her.
“I haven’t seen you since the party.”
“I could say the same for you,” she replied.
His smile was always dashing. “I guess you could. I’ve been looking for you.”
“I’ve been here everyday. Monday through Thursday,” she said.
“Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right,” she responded.
“Would you like to go have a cup of coffee…lunch?” he asked, leaning down in the car.
His cologne was intoxicating. “Sorry, I can’t. I have to go pick up my dogs from the groomer, but thanks for the invite.”
“What about later? We can have dinner.”
“You do recall that I am a married woman, don’t you?”
“Yes, I know you’re married—to Dr. Harper Stenberg, I think,” he said and laughed. “I respect that. I just thought we’d go, learn a little about each other, strictly as friends. No strings attached.”
“Maybe some other time,” she said. “I really need to go. It was nice seeing you, Quentin.” She put the car in Reverse.
“Hold up.”
“Yes?”
“Take my number.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Come on, don’t give a brother a hard time. If you find yourself free and you want to talk or hang out, then give me a call. Plus, I want to talk to you about volunteering at the rescue shelter.”
Eva smiled and looked over her shoulder and across the street at Quentin’s store.
“Volunteer?”
“Yes, see the sign in the window?”
Sure enough, there was a sign in the picture window that read Volunteers Needed. Only Animal Lovers Need Apply.
“Ummm, Okay, I’ll take your number,” she said while putting the car in Park, and removing her cell phone to enter his phone number into her Contacts.
“What days and hours?” she asked.
“It’s flexible. We just need committed volunteers. People who have a heart for animals.”
“Okay, I’ll think about it. Now, really, I have to go.”
Quentin stepped back and away from the car. “Take care, Eva.”
Eva blushed, backed out of the parking space, and maneuvered the car into the busy street.
Quentin walked back toward his establishment. He had found out some things about Eva and Harper through his grandmother that gave him hope. Emma Winters told him everything wasn’t coming up roses like Harper Stenberg expected when he married Eva. She told him about the time he threw Eva out of the house.
Harper had been confiding in Emma Winters for quite some time. He found her to be like his deceased grandmother, energetic, full of life, and Godly wisdom. He gravitated toward the woman when he was troubled or needed advice about a situation. Discussing his struggling marriage with Emma was no exception.
Quentin was intrigued by Eva. He didn’t want to break up a happy home, but if the home wasn’t happy then he might as well try to bring a little joy into Eva Stenberg’s life. He and Harper were not friends, they were more like acquaintances. They traveled in some of the same circles, but Quentin’s scope of friends included other real estate investors, animal activists, and the restaurant world. He was more acquainted with Harper because of his grandmother, who adored Harper for some reason. Quentin thought it might have been because his grandmother often said Harper reminded her of Quentin’s father, her only son.
Emma’s husband died some years back, so it was just her and her two grandsons. She was overjoyed when Quentin made the decision to move back to Adverse City to help take care of her. She was spry and able to do for herself and get around, but she welcomed the company of her grandson, since her other grandson was now married and trying to start a family of his own. It was a tragic day and time when their parents were killed. Emma still grieved for her son though it had been twenty plus years since his and her daughter-in-law’s deaths.
Quentin was a thirty-five year old single, successful biracial male with no kids, but he wasn’t the kind of guy that bedded women for mere pleasure. He liked long-term relationships, getting to know a woman, and spending time with her. He had never been much of the playboy type. His grandmother had taught him better. He casually walked back across the street, confident that he would hear from her again.
Her cell phone rang. “Yes, Harper.”
“Where are you?” he asked without acknowledging her salutation.
“Where I am everyday at this time—leaving school.”
“I’m not sure exactly when I’ll be back. The tour is going so well that they keep adding tour sites. And we’re even doing some filming for the television show. It’s great.”
Eva said nothing but a big smile came across her face at hearing that Harper wouldn’t be home at his original date.
“Are you there?”
“Uh, yes, I’m here,” she said. “Glad your tour is going well. Look, I’m driving, Harper. Is that all you wanted to tell me?” she asked coldly. She was sick of pretending that all was well between them when it was like pure torture everyday she remained Mrs. Harper Stenberg. It was bad enough she had to put on a smiling face in public so behind closed doors she wasn’t going to pretend any longer.
“I’ll call or video chat with you tomorrow.”
“Sure. Whatever.”
“Goodbye, sweetheart,” he said and ended the call.
She waited to see his call disappear from her dash and breathed a heavy sigh of welcome relief. As she drove toward home, she thought about Quentin’s offer. She could consider volunteering at his store. What harm could it do? Then again, if Harper found out, she knew what the backlash would be and it wouldn’t be pretty. She couldn’t take any more beatings, but would he even have to know?
She loved animals and maybe she could bring her dogs to the shelter sometimes, too. They were mild mannered dogs and would probably get along fine with some of the rescues. She would think about it a little longer and if she still felt the same later this evening then she would call Quentin and let him know she wanted to sign up. Maybe I should tell Harper. But if he beat me for dancing with Quentin…. Eva shuttered at the thought.
Harper used to tell her she needed to get a hobby, so this would be the perfect thing. She had long since stopped volunteering at Perfecting Your Faith Ministries since she had the pregnancy scare. Now that she knew Carlton was a charlatan, she surely wasn’t interested in being anywhere that could bring her into his deceitful presence. Poor Meesha. If only she knew who she was married to then she would have hurried to the divorce courts when he was begging to get out of their marriage.
Eva thought about Meesha and questioned whether she was a true friend to Meesha or not. Knowing that Carlton was a cheat, should she have told Meesha what she knew about him. But if she did, then that would mean she would have to spill the beans on his and Avery’s affair. That was the last thing she wanted to do. No way would she ever betray Avery’s trust. Avery had been taken full advantage of by Carlton. She was a helpless victim. Someway, somehow, he had to get what was due him. Just like Harper had to pay the piper, Carlton had to stand in that same line. If only she could devise a way to bring them both down.