NOVEMBER 14, 1991. OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON.
THE INCENSE IS burning, the records are spinning, and Evie is behind the counter with her customer service face on. It's been a little over a week since Dave left and it hasn't been any easier not having him around. She's been trying to push through the lonely nights in Seattle rather than escaping back home to Olympia. Evie is becoming more aware of the fact that she needs to become fully comfortable with the fact that she and Dave are operating in a practically long-distance relationship now.
The bell rings on the door, signalling another customer. Evie looks to see the faces of Ruby and Josh. She's not sure if it's in her head, but they both seem to eye her with a distant look of unfamiliarity. It's been way too long since she saw them both.
"Hey," Evie says.
She can feel envy resting in her heart as she looks at the smiles on their faces and their hands which are clasped together.
"Hi," they say together, nearly in harmony.
They make their way around the counter and Evie gives them both a hug hello. They can feel the numbness that is exuding from her. She is nowhere near her usual, loving, vibrant self, and is struggling to find the strength to turn it on for people, even if it's just a façade.
"How are you guys," Evie asks, she smiles but her eyes hold no real feeling of happiness.
Ruby looks to Josh and takes a breath, "We're good."
"How are you Eves," Ruby asks soberly.
"I'm alright. I'm coping," she laughs lightly.
"Are you?" Ruby asks again.
"As best as I can," Evie gives a tight-lipped smile. As much as she loves Josh, she doesn't feel like having this conversation in front of him.
"I've been thinking about you. Mom said she visited the house the other day," Ruby says.
"Yeah, she did. It was nice of her," Evie nods, looking at her feet.
Truthfully, she's felt kind of abandoned by Ruby. She is fully aware of what Evie has been going through and hasn't really shown any semblance of support. She hasn't called, hasn't visited. Seeing Lori, Ruby's mom the other day show up at the house was the most she's felt any support from someone other than Dave or Luke considering everything that's going on with John.
"Are you looking after yourself?" Ruby asks and Evie can't help but let a laugh slip out of her mouth.
"What does that even mean? Every time someone says that to me, I have no idea what they could be talking about," Evie says, getting snappy.
"I just mean with everything with your Dad and Lily's birthday coming up-," Ruby begins
"What does it matter? I don't mean to be rude, but If you really care maybe, you'd try contacting me on your own," Evie says.
"Eves, give her a break," Josh says which only pushes Evie further over the edge.
"Really?" Evie scoffs.
"Just leave please, I don't have the energy to have this conversation right now. Ruby if you care about me, you have my number and you know where I live. Don't hide behind your boyfriend because you know I'm annoyed at you," Evie says finally.
"Okay," Ruby shrugs, "If you want us to go, we'll go."
Ruby swiftly moves out of the shop and begins walking up the street, Josh follows slowly in her footsteps before turning to look back at Evie.
"You can't push people away like this," he says, looking at Evie with sad eyes.
Evie just looks at him, expressionless before he turns to follow Ruby's path. As soon as he moves out of sight up the block Evie exhales deeply, feeling the emotion spill out. Her body is wracked with sobs as she curls into the chair behind the counter.
That feeling she gets is back. The darkness that hangs inside of her annually. The whisper in her mind that tells her that this life isn't worth living anymore. She closes up the shop early and drives to Ruby's house. She knows she might have been acting irrationally, she's not thinking straight lately.
She knocks quickly on their front door and is met with the smiling face of Rick Grafton. A man who was much of a second father figure to her growing up. Rick taught her how to swim and took her horse riding. He even accompanied her to a Daddy Daughter dance while John was away for work once. The sight of his face brings on another emotional response.
It's impossible to hold back tears once she feels them coming, so she lets them out and Rick opens his arms to hold her.
"Hey, it's going to be okay," Rick says soothingly, patting Evie softly on the back.
Lori must hear her cries because she comes running through the house.
"Oh, Evie," she can hear Lori's voice cracking as she takes in the sight.
Evie steps back and wipes her tears away.
"Is Ruby here?" Evie asks and they both shake their head no.
"I was just pretty rude to her. I wanted to come apologise," Evie explains through choked breaths.
"I'm sure she understands honey," Lori says, smoothing down Evie's mousy brown hair.
"No. I was mean, and she was just trying to look out for me," Evie can help but cry even more.
"Come in sweetheart," Lori says, "Rick, go get a glass of water please."
Lori walks Evie into the living room and sits down with her at the couch. Evie takes some deep breaths and tries to collect herself. As soon as she comes back to her senses, she feels an overwhelming guilt for coming here and acting this way in front of Rick and Lori. Once again, she is burdening others with her issues.
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm doing this," Evie begins shaking her head.
"It's okay, don't apologise," Lori says as Rick enters the room with a glass of water.
"Drink this Eves," Rick says.
"Thank you. I'm okay, really. I'm just having a bad day," Evie says, wiping the moisture off her cheeks and swallowing down the water, hoping it will suppress the guilt she is feeling at seeing Lori and Rick eye her so sympathetically.
"You can sit here as long as you need and talk about whatever you want," Lori assures Evie.
"I'm sorry," Evie laughs, "This is so stupid. I'm an idiot," she reprimands herself.
"No, you're not. It's okay to be upset," Lori says.
"What's got you down honey?" Lori asks.
You mean besides seeing my Dad fighting for his life and my dead Mom's birthday coming up? Evie thinks.
"It's just this time of year," Evie says simply. It's a lot more than that, but this answer is palatable for Lori and Rick.
"I thought so," Lori nods.
Evie sits in their living room while Lori gives some words of advice and loving care. Soon Evie comes up with an excuse about having to be back home for dinner with her Dad and Mia.
"Come by whenever Evie. We love seeing you," Lori says as Evie walks out the door.
"Thank you for everything," Evie smiles before waving goodbye and hopping into her car.
In the privacy of her car, she can't help but let out a guttural scream. She can't believe how she just acted. She drives back to Seattle and makes it in one piece which is honestly shocking considering how distracted her mind was on her drive.
She pushes open the door into the empty house and sees the light flashing on the receiver. A new message. Evie thinks for a moment it might be Ruby, maybe she got home just after she had left, and her parents told her about what happened now Ruby was calling to talk.
When Evie presses play on the message it's not Ruby's voice but Dave's.
"Hey Eves. I've got some news, call me as soon as you get this. It's important," he says before hanging up. Evie can hear the excitement in his voice, and she thinks maybe speaking to Dave will be the one thing that could turn this shitty day around.
She presses dial on the number and waits on the line for Dave's voice to cut through.
"Hey, Evie?" Dave asks as he picks up.
"It's me, hi," she says, happy to hear his gentle voice which manages to engulf her like a hug of support.
"Hey! Okay so I've got something to propose. I know it sounds crazy, but keep an open mind," Dave begins, and Evie furrows her brows.
"Okay. . ." she draws out through the phone.
"What would you think about flying out here in four days and meeting us in Italy?" Dave says, holding onto his breath.
"You're nuts," Evie says.
"I'm nuts and I love you and want you with me in the city of love, is that too much to ask?" Dave says and Evie laughs.
"First of all, the city of love is Paris, and Italy isn't a city. Second, I love you, but you're crazy," Evie laughs.
"Evie, all expenses paid. You fly out of Seattle and get here on the 18th. You stay with us for four days until we leave for Belgium. You have a great time with your awesome boyfriend. What more could you want?" Dave works his hand at convincing.
Maybe this is the little escape she needs away from her life in Seattle which seems to be moving in a downward spiral.
"Okay," Evie says plainly.
"Okay!?" Dave questions her response.
"That sounds amazing, but I'm going to need more details, flight times, airport pickup situations, I need to know the whole plan," Evie says.
"This is why I love you," Dave says.
"I will get you a full itinerary by tomorrow," he promises.
"Alright," Evie smiles genuinely for the first time in a few days.
"We're going to be in Italy together," Dave says, and the security of this statement brings tears to the brim of Evie's eyes.
"I can't wait."