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

“Yes.” Dawn stopped and clasped her hands together. “Exactly like hers. What’s the story with Eve? You told me it was a long one. Well, I’m here now. I’d . . . I’d really like to know.”

“Stay right here.”

Janet disappeared behind the swinging doors. The rain outside began to come down harder, roaring as it pounded against the stairs and sidewalk. A crack of lightning was soon followed by a clap of thunder that rattled the building. The boom startled Leo, sending the cat scurrying into the back room.

Dawn leaned against the counter and tried to see where the cat went. The swinging doors were barely three feet tall and positioned in the middle of the doorway, allowing her to see small sections of the storage room. All she could make out were shelves packed with boxes. Another rumble from outside made the lights flicker briefly.

Janet appeared behind the door, smiling. The hinges squeaked as she pushed her way through and back to the front of the store. In her hand was a five-by-seven camel-colored leather-bound book. She placed it on the counter in front of Dawn.

The edges were stitched, and the corners frayed. The soft leather was worn and distorted. Tiny black patches that looked like burn marks were smeared across the front cover.

Dawn stared at the thin book with curiosity. She asked, “What is it?”

“It was Eve’s.” Janet slid the book closer to Dawn.

Dawn cautiously picked it up and opened the book. Although the binder was half an inch thick, many of the pages were missing, obviously ripped away. She was surprised to see each page was handwritten. The creamy paper had a heft to it, and the deckled edges made it easy to flip through the contents.

“This looks like a diary,” Dawn said. She looked at Janet as she closed the book and placed it onto the countertop. “Eve’s diary?”

Janet nodded, lowered her glasses, and gently spun the book so that it faced her. She stared at the diary longingly and said, “It’s incomplete.” Janet opened the book and flipped through the contents, running her fingers across the wording inside. “If you want to know Eve, then read this.”

“Is . . . is it about the doll? Or . . . or a girl named Eve? I’m not sure I understand.”

Janet pushed the diary closer to Dawn. “Just read it.”

Dawn picked the book up and studied the front and back. Other than the wear and tear, there were no markings. She liked how soft the leather felt in her hands. “How much?”

“There’s no charge. Come back when you’re done.”

“Oh, okay.” Dawn smiled as she ran her fingers across the diary. “Are you sure?”

“Eve chose you. She’d want you to have it.”

Dawn slid the book into her front pocket. She grabbed her umbrella and opened the front door. The rain had stopped. Rays of sunlight were bursting through the nearby trees. Dawn looked back at Janet and nodded before stepping outside.

The walk back to Gansevoort Street gave Dawn too much time to think about the diary thumping against her thigh. She kept one hand in her pocket, holding the book as she walked. She wondered if the book was about Eve, why hadn’t Janet given it to her earlier? And did someone named Eve write about her life? And if so, what role did the doll play?

These questions continued to spin in Dawn’s head as she made her way north along the High Line. The rain from earlier caused the cool, damp air to weigh heavily on her. The elevated walkway was quiet, the stormy weather causing most people to seek shelter. By the time Dawn reached the bleachers at 10th Avenue, she couldn’t take the suspense that was filling her. She stopped and leaned back against the railing. Dawn pulled the diary from her pocket and opened it to the first page, dated February 12, 2012.

∞∞∞

Dawn left her damp umbrella in the foyer outside her apartment door. Once inside, she made herself a cup of herbal tea. The thundery weather had returned just prior to her arrival at the Spire. Lightning bolts could be seen dancing across the New Jersey skyline, seemingly igniting the Hudson River. The dark skies made noontime feel as if it were closer to dusk.

With her mug of tea in one hand and the diary tucked beneath her arm, Dawn made her way up the spiral staircase to the second floor. The curtains in the nursery were open, and the lights were off. Flashes of lightning reflected against the furniture. The recently replenished lavender-scented gel beads filled the air with a floral scent. Dawn smiled as she walked past the cradle and over to the dresser. She flicked on the projector nightlight and selected the white and red combination nebula display.

“Look what I have,” Dawn whispered as she leaned into the crib. Eve, wrapped deep inside the white cotton blanket, looked peaceful with its eyes closed. The doll’s porcelain face seemed to glow, highlighted by the dusty cheeks, red eyebrows, and pink lips. “It’s your diary.”

Dawn placed her tea and the book on the small table beside the rocking chair. She returned to the crib and rolled the blanket back from the doll. She gently brought Eve back to the rocking chair and sat down. Eve’s eyes clicked open.

“I started to read your diary. Just the beginning about Anna’s birthday.” Dawn sipped her hot tea briefly and then picked up the book and opened it. “Why so many missing pages?” She flipped through until she got to where she’d left off earlier. Dawn read a bit of it to herself and frowned. “This looks like it’s another birthday, from May 2012–the same year as Anna’s.”

Dawn sighed and glanced up at the ceiling. The red ribbons of the nightlight danced across the dim room as the lightning outside continued to ignite the dark sky. The legs of the chair creaked as Dawn rocked back and forth. She leaned