Christmas Eva (7 page)

“Yes, you do. We're going out for coffee.” Matthew hung his coat, scarf and hat on the back of her chair. Without another word, he pushed her into the hallway. “Which coat is yours?”

“Black one.”

He tossed it to her. “Put it on while I find your shoes.”

She shook her head. “No.”

“No isn't in my vocabulary. Where are your shoes?”

“In my wardrobe. But my room's a mess, and I haven't made my bed…”

“
Pfft…
It can't be any worse than my brother's bedroom when we were kids. Couldn't even see the floor.” He vanished down the hall.

Eva closed her eyes. She couldn't believe this was happening. The actor she had a crush on, was bullying her. Was bullying the right word? Strong arming her into doing something she didn't want to do, but she wasn't putting up much of a fight. Every part of her shouted no, but her arms slid into her coat, and her fingers fastened the zip.

Matthew knelt at her feet and slid her shoes on. “You know, if you got Velcro ones, you'd be able to fasten them yourself. And don't tell me there isn't a point. I've seen you in church, so I know you do go out sometimes.” He finished tying the laces. “There. Oh, I got you something.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a paper bag.

“What is it?”

“Open it and find out.” He put on his coat and bent to pick his hat and scarf from the floor.

Eva opened the bag and pulled out the contents. Yellow leather fingerless cycling gloves fell into her lap.

Matthew smiled. “To protect your hands.”

“Thank you.”

“Not that you'll need them now, because I intend to push you.” He moved to the front door and opened it.

Terror flooded Eva. Her heart pounded and a lump stuck in her throat. “No…”

“Yes,” he said. He put her bag on her lap. “I assume you have a door key.”

She jerked her head in response, her whole body shaking. “It's raining.”

He tossed her the umbrella from the shoe rack. “So use this.” He tugged his cap over his eyes. “Ready?”

“No…” It came out more of a strangled gasp than the firm answer she wanted.

“Too bad.” He began pushing the chair to the door.

“Matthew, don't, I can't…” Tears filled her eyes and panic completely took over. She closed her eyes tightly as fresh air and cold rain assailed her. “No…”

Matthew stopped and put up the umbrella. “I suggest you hold it, or you'll get wet.” He closed her hand around the handle.

“I don't want to do this… I can't do this.”

“No such word as can't. It's an excuse not to try.”

She closed her eyes tightly as the chair began moving again. Breathing got increasingly difficult and for a moment she thought she was going to faint. Then she slowly became aware of a paper bag over her mouth and a hand lightly resting on her back.

“Breathe into the bag, Eva.”

Slowly the panic subsided and breathing became easier. She opened her eyes to find Matthew on a bench in front of her.

“Better?”

She nodded slowly.

“Good. Now we're going to carry on, only you're keeping your eyes open.”

“I can't—”

“Yes, you can.” He grabbed both her hands and closed his eyes. “
Lord, Eva is really scared right now. She'd rather be anywhere than outside, in the rain, which reminds her so much of what happened the night of the accident. Give her the strength she needs right now to do this, and assure her that she isn't alone.”

Eva bit her lip as he smiled at her. “I can't do this…I'm terrified of the rain and outside and…”

“I know how scared you are, because you're freaking out, and yes, facing your fear like this
is
scary, but it isn't going to kill you,” he said gently, squeezing her hands. “Even if it feels like it, it won't. Because I'm right here, and I'm not going to leave your side.”

“'K,” she whispered.

“So, how about we just give this a try? If it's too much, we can turn around and go home, I promise. I need that coffee. I don't know about you, though. Caffeine might just aggravate the panic.”

“S—sounds good.”

He leaned back on the bench, not letting go of her. “Hey, look at that. Very seasonal.”

She followed his other hand and looked at the robin sitting in the holly bush. “Shame it isn't snowing. That would look even prettier.”

“Not as pretty as you.”

“What are you doing?” she asked. He'd changed the subject so fast she was having trouble keeping up.

“Going for coffee, you know that. With the prettiest girl in town. Who so far has done nothing but complain since I went to get her coat. Not to mention have a panic attack.”

“That's because I don't do outside, and I don't do rain. You know that.”

He smiled, his fingers caressing the back of her hand. “Well, I could be wrong, but right now, it looks like you're doing both. You have sat calmly and chatted for a good ten minutes now. I'm changing the subject to keep you distracted and it seems to be working.”

“Matthew…”

“It's Harry,” he said, holding her gaze.

“I thought your name was Matthew.”

He winked. “Actually it's Harold Matthew Lyell. Matthew is my stage name. My friends call me Harry. And I hope you're a friend. One that I would like to spend a lot more time with over the coming weeks.”

Eva looked at him, acutely aware of the honor he'd just given her. And for some reason, whether it was his prayer, or just his physical presence and touch, she wasn't quite so scared anymore. “Harry,” she said. “And I'd like to spend time with you, as well.”

He smiled, and raised her hand to his lips, his light touch soft against her cold skin. Ripples ran down her fingers, up her arm and filled her with warmth. “So, are we going for coffee or just going to sit here and get wet?”

“I have an umbrella,” she said. “But I'd like coffee.”

He kissed her fingers, sending her stomach somersaulting with emotions she really didn't understand. “Then let's go. I fancy one of those Christmas coffees I've heard about on the radio.”

“The gingerbread latte is good. As is the black forest hot chocolate.”

Harry stood. “Then I'll have one of each. You get something with not quite so much caffeine in. Maybe decaffeinated coffee.”

“What's the point in that?” Eva smiled. “And having two drinks to yourself is cheating.”

“Not if I'm paying,” he laughed. “Oh, and I'm turning the tree lights on in the precinct tomorrow, along with Miss Battle. I was hoping you'd come with me? It's between shows.”

“I'll try.”

“That's all I ask,” he replied, as he began pushing her again. “So if you don't like the rain, what weather do you prefer?”

This time, Eva kept her eyes open, concentrating on the sound of his voice and not the sound of the rain.

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

Eva was up, bathed, and dressed the following morning without help, and appeared for breakfast. It was far easier than she'd imagined it would be. The hardest part had been going from bath to floor to chair, but the handles her father had installed in the downstairs bathroom had helped her manage alone. Yes, she'd been terrified, but the panic attack she'd half been expecting hadn't materialized. Perhaps because she was doing this herself and had been able to control the level of water in the bath and length of time she'd been in it.

She even allowed herself a small smile at the victory. She'd never need help in the bathroom again. And the grins on her family's face when she told them, made her want to grin as well.

Her mother looked at her. “To what do we owe this honor?” she teased. “I haven't had to come in and drag you out of bed yet.”

“I have plans,” she said quietly. The look between her parents and Felicity didn't go unmissed. “What?”

“Nothing,” Felicity said quickly. “Just nice to see you up and almost happy. Whatever did Matthew say to you yesterday?”

Her cheeks burned. “What makes you think he said anything?”

“Just wondered. He said he'd seen you and you'd gone for coffee, that's all. Gone
out
for coffee, in the
rain
, I might add.”

“I had an umbrella.” Eva tried to appear nonchalant. “Do you and he talk about me often?”

Felicity laughed. “Yeah, he's always asking about you.” She nodded at Eva's hands. “What are those?”

“He bought me gloves so I don't get sore hands pushing the wheels on this thing.”

“Neat. Let me see.” Felicity leaned toward her.

Eva held out her hands as her sister grabbed them, turning them over. “What do you think?”

“These are way cool. Why didn't we think of this?”

“Harry said his gran is in a chair so he knows this kind of stuff.”

“Harry?”

Eva grinned at the confusion crossing her sister's face. “That's Matthew's real name. Says it's what his friends call him.”

Felicity elbowed her. “Friends, is it? More than friends? Has he kissed you?”

Eva's face burned, and she looked down.

“He has, hasn't he?” Felicity lifted Eva's head and gazed at her. “Tell me.”

“Just my hand, but…”

Felicity squealed. “Tell me more.”

Eva shrugged. “Nothing more to say. Except he's taking me to the tree lighting this afternoon. And he did say he might be over this morning at some point.”

“You dark horse you.” She hugged Eva tightly and jumped up. “This calls for bacon. Anyone else want some?”

Dad grinned. “Why not? You do the bacon, and I'll do the eggs.”

Eva sat back in her chair, watching the others.

Felicity tossed her the bread. “Don't just sit there, make the toast.”

Eva pushed the chair over to the side. “It's not going to make things hard for you at work, is it? Me seeing Harry?”

“Don't see why it should. After all, I work with a Matthew, and you're dating a Harry.”

“Not dating…” she objected. “We're just friends and…”

“
Psst!
” Felicity grinned. “You're up, dressed, and I can smell that fancy bubble bath I gave you for your birthday. You never use that just for us, so I reckon it must be for someone else.” She grabbed her phone as it rang and dashed into the hall to answer it.

Eva sighed and shoved more bread into the toaster. She'd never hear the end of it now. She could hear Felicity getting irate on the phone and listened to the heavy footsteps returning. “What's up?”

“That was April. We've got problems at work. The head makeup woman has walked out over this issue with Matthew, and no one else will touch him, in case he decides to sue.” She looked at Eva. “Please…you are a great makeup artist. You've worked with this stuff before. You know what to do. Please, help out at least just until the panto is finished if you don't want a permanent job. April says she'll give you the going hourly rate for a makeup artist, and you'll only have to do Matthew.”

Eva hesitated.

“I'll drive you there and back. Unless Matthew does. You won't get wet, well, not unless it's pouring between here and the car, because the theatre has an underground car park for staff, and we need you. Please. And no, she doesn't know you two know each other. Not yet anyway.”

“OK. As it's Harry. However, there is one condition.”

“Name it.”

“I want to use my own makeup set. I'll need new brushes, pads, the works. Stuff I know he won't come out in a rash with or that's had other makeup on it in the past.”

“I don't see why your own brushes and so on should be a problem. We already have the hypoallergenic makeup, and it makes sense to use new brushes as well. Let me call April back and ask. Can you get it in town?”

Eva nodded. “Yeah.”

“Watch the bacon while I ring her.” She picked up her phone and moved over to the side of the room.

Eva rolled her eyes. “As well as the toast?”

Dad laughed. “Your mother keeps telling me all women can multitask.” He paused. “You've got the twinkle back in your eyes, Eva. Is it the thought of going back to work or working with a certain actor?”

“I don't know,” she said honestly. “It's like I'm slowly waking from a dream or walking from a pitch dark room into bright sunshine. It's almost too much to take in all at once.”

“Little steps, Evie,” he said as the doorbell rang. “I'll get it.”

Felicity put down her phone. “April says buy what you need and give her the receipt when you go in later. I'll take you shopping, and we have to be in work by one thirty. It'll be a tight schedule this afty. Matthew finishes the show at four-thirty, has to be changed and in town for the tree lighting at five, and then back on stage at seven thirty.”

“We'll manage.” A familiar voice spoke from the doorway. “Though I don't much fancy the idea of someone changing me. I'd rather do that myself, thank you.”

Eva turned. “Harry…”

Harry moved over to the chair and squeezed her shoulder in greeting. “I'm not interrupting anything, am I?”

“We're just about to eat, but I'm sure there's enough if…” She looked at her father.

“Your dad already asked me on the doorstep if I was hungry and I never turn down bacon,” Harry said. He sat next to her, shrugging his coat over the back of the chair. “How are you this morning?”

“Doing OK. I just got offered a job. And I accepted.”

His eyes clouded for an instant, then he smiled. “That's great. Doing what?”

She tilted her head. “Makeup at one of the local theatres. Haven't signed anything yet, but I start this afternoon.”