Dawn of Eve - MJ Howson (read full novel .txt) 📗

“Jacob, these are gorgeous.”

“They’re your favorite.”

Dawn looked up from her bouquet and noticed Jacob had one hand behind his back. She glanced at his reflection in the mirror and asked, “What are you hiding?”

Jacob revealed a single red rose. Dawn took it and brushed it against her pale cheek. She fought back tears as the sweet aroma from the flowers enveloped her.

“You’re so sweet.” Dawn clutched the sapphire pendant around her neck. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever. I’m . . . I’m sorry.”

“For what? I’m the one with the crazy schedule.”

“My outburst at the restaurant. It’s just that–”

“Stop. It’s all in the past. That’s why I bought these.” Jacob leaned forward and kissed Dawn’s lips. “You look good.”

“I’m glad you noticed.” Dawn slid her arm around Jacob and led him toward the kitchen. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry. Would you like a glass of wine?”

“Sure.” Jacob leaned against the kitchen counter and surveyed the food spread in front of him. “You didn’t need to do all of this.”

Jacob kissed Dawn on her cheek. He selected a bottle of merlot and set about pouring himself a glass. Dawn went to the dining room and returned with a white porcelain vase. She grabbed a pair of scissors and began trimming the stems.

“You really do look great,” Jacob said. He placed his hands on Dawn’s trim waist and let them slide along her hips as he pulled her closer. “It’s nice to see you smiling.”

Jacob helped Dawn arrange the flowers in the vase. As he did, he said, “Between the bar and my clients, I never seem to have any free time these days. It’s been a bit overwhelming.”

“It’s okay. I was just worried that, well, maybe you were avoiding me.”

“No. Although, to be honest, I wanted to give you some space, too. I felt like you needed it.”

“Really? Maybe . . . maybe we both did.”

Jacob began to fill the vase with water. When done, he pulled Dawn close and kissed the top of her head. He said, “Let’s just move forward, okay?”

“Sure.”

Dawn followed Jacob to the living room. Together they made a couple of trips to bring the flowers, wine bottles and glasses, and two plates of food. They sat together on the loveseat facing the twinkling fireplace. Dawn buried her head against Jacob’s chest, taking in his scent.

“Do you remember when we met?” Dawn asked.

“Of course. Why?”

“I’ve always believed it was fate.”

“Fate?” Jacob raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Why do you say that?”

“You know what a homebody I am. I never venture out. But when that hotel opened, I simply had to see what the buzz was all about. The Harbor View lounge was the talk of the town. So, I walked over, and there you were, working behind the bar.”

“And you think that’s fate?”

“Jacob, don’t you remember you told me you were supposed to have that night off. Someone called in sick, and you were covering.”

“That’s right.” Jacob took a sip of wine and nodded. “I’d been there less than two weeks and was pissed because I had to cancel on a client. But, I couldn’t risk losing that bartending job.”

Dawn closed her eyes and thought back to the night she walked into that lounge. The place was packed, but Jacob stood out like a statue on a glowing pedestal. His bright white shirt and broad shoulders towered over the crowd. She’d come for the view of the Hudson but ended up sitting at the bar fixated on the handsome, charming bartender. She looked at Jacob and said, “See. Fate.”

“If you say so.” Jacob kissed Dawn on her cheek and draped his arm around her. “I’m more of a make your own future type of guy.” He pulled her closer. “And that’s why you need to get better. Fate won’t make your nightmares go away.”

“I . . . I guess.”

“So, how are your sessions going? With the doctor.”

“They’re okay.” Dawn’s smile faded. She was hoping Jacob wouldn’t try to pry into what she’d been discussing with her therapist. “I . . . I still don’t know if they’re doing much for me.”

“If you aren’t making progress, just find another. New York has plenty of shrinks.”

“He’s fine. He’s just a bit, well, simple.”

“Simple?”

“His office is a bit dowdy. And smells like a litter box.”

“You can afford better. The best. Why this guy?”

“He came highly recommended.”

“By who?”

“My friend Peter. He owns Possedimenti Gallery.”

“An artist?” Jacob rolled his eyes and suppressed a groan. “Well, don’t hesitate to get rid of the doc if you aren’t happy.”

Dawn nodded, frustrated by the conversation.

Jacob pointed at Dawn’s glass of wine. He said, “Why are you drinking? What about your meds?”

“A glass every now and then won’t kill me.”

“Just be sure you follow his advice.”

Dawn smiled and looked at Jacob. She’d spent the evening trying to figure out how to introduce Jacob to Eve. This gave her the perfect opening. “Funny story about the doctor’s advice. So, last week he told me to get a pet. Like a cat.”

“What?”

Dawn laughed and leaned back against the loveseat. “He did! He said it would give me comfort.”

Jacob looked around the apartment and grinned, his scar twisting his upper lip. “If you get one, make sure it isn’t black or white. You’d never find the damn thing.”

“The weird thing is his suggestion led me to something even better.” Dawn stood up and extended her hand to Jacob. He took it and stood up. “I think it was fate. Just like us.”

Dawn led Jacob across the room and over to the spiral staircase. As they ascended the alternating black and white marble steps to the second floor, Dawn recounted the black and white cats that led her to the odd little store on Charles Street. The door to the nursery was open. All the lights were off except for the projector sitting atop the chest on the far side of the room. Ribbons of white flowed across the