Loving Eliza (21 page)

“But-”

“There’s no need to thank me.
” The woman turned to leave the kitchen.  “When you get back from the restaurant, we’ll discuss wha
t chore needs to be done next.”

***

On her way home after six, she decided to skip supper.  In a short while, she could go to sleep and it was easy to forget her hunger then.  She clutched her stomach as she passed the restaurant.  The aroma of steak and chicken never smelled so good.  She hurried across the
street so she could get away from it.  When she reached the boarding house, she stopped and groaned.  Why was John there?  Why wasn’t he over at Charity’s residence so he could be with Daphne?  Didn’t he kno
w he was only prolonging her
pain?

Her stomach rumbled.  Where was she supposed to go?  She didn’t have the strength to confront hi
m.  She sighed as she thought over her options.  W
here
could she go and not be found?
  Finally, she decided to go to the restaurant.  She ordered the cheapest thing she could find and took her time in picking at her rolls.  At least it settled the nagging hunger in her stomach, but she was too busy calculating how much money she h
ad left so she couldn’t enjoy them
.  If she didn’t have to eat, she’d be doing just fine right about now.

“Good evening, Eliza!”

Eliza glanced up and saw Addy.  “Good evening.  Are you planning to grab a bite to eat?”

“No.  I happened to see you from outside and thought I’d come in to see how you’re doing.  I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since last week.”

She took a sip of water while her friend sat across from her.  “I’m doing fine.”

“That’s good.  John’s been by three times since I last saw you.  He’s worried about you.”

Eliza suspected that Addy was worried too.  “I said I’m fine.  I have shelter and a job and food.”

“Well, if you need anything—anything at all, please let me know.”

If she did that, she’d have to admit she couldn’
t make it on her own, and that was
the last thing she wanted to do.  Her entir
e life was spent
relying on others.  This time she had a chance to make it on her own.  In the future, she just wouldn’t let Troy or Willy help her at work, and then she could get the full $5.  Then she’d be fine.

“Eliza,” Addy continued, “Jo
hn
loves you.  Why do you keep
rejecting him?  He’s a good man.  He’d make a fine husband and father.”

She sighed and finished her last roll.  Glancing around the room, she caught sight of Alan Gray as he paid for his meal.  She nearly fell out of her chair when she saw all the money in his wallet.  Why didn’t he own a house?  He looked like he could afford it
.

“He’s not going to marry Daphne,” Addy softly stated.

It took Eliza a moment to realize she was talking about John.  “Haven’t the two of them talked so they could get to know each other?”

“I don’t understand why this
means so much to you.  Daphne doesn’t mind if you’re with him.”

Of course, Addy couldn’t understand.  What could Eliza do?  Say,
“I was a prostitute for thirteen
years”? 
Finally, she decided on saying, “It’s complicated.”

Addy laughed.  “Why is it that unmarried women assume that everything is complicated when it comes to love?”

Why is it that everyone assumes an
unmarried woman never stepped
foot into a whorehouse? 
“I better go home.  I’m tired.”

Addy stood with her.  “The offer is open anytime you need it.  Don’t let pride get in the way of asking for help.”

Eliza placed the coin on the table and looked at her friend.  Did Addy know...or suspect that Eliza did need help or was she just saying that because it was one of those things friends said to each other?

“The least I can do is walk back with you.  The boarding house is on the way to the general store.
”

Eliza nodded.  That sounded simple enough.

After they were outside and Addy glanced around, she whispered, “You’re not sweet on Troy, are you?”

“Goodness, no!”

“I’m sorry but I had to ask.  He’s been talking as if he’s courting someone.  He hasn’t mentioned names but he says it’s a matter of time before he makes it official.”

Eliza cringed.  She didn’t know why Troy gave her the creeps but he did.  “I try to avoid him whenever I can.  I assure you that I don’t encourage him.”

“That’s good.  There’s no sense in sending the wrong message.  Troy is alright I guess.  I don’t really know him.  The only reason I know John as well as I do is because he does business with Frank.  He made the tables and counters and shelves in the general store, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know.” But it made sense since John was the only one in town who did that kind of thing.

“John took over his father’s business.  His father taught him the trade.  None of the other boys were interested.”

“It’s good someone does this in town.”

“Yes.  Otherwise, we’d be in trouble.” Addy chuckled.

They stopped in front of the boarding house, and Eliza breathed a sigh of relief.  John wasn’t there anymore.  “I’ll see you around.”

Addy smiled.  “Remember, I’m here to help...should you need it.”

“I know.  Thank you.” Then she turned and went up the steps, glad to be done with another day.

E
liza
’s stomach growled so she closed her eyes as she walked past the restaurant. 
If I don’t think about food, I won’t be hungry.
A week had passed, and she was out of money for food.  Harriet refused to pay her more than $3 this time because
Harriet  accused her of “shoddy work”.  “This will teach you a strong work ethic,” Harriet had concluded, looking as if she had just performed a good deed.

Eliza knew it was wrong but she purposely gave Harriet day old coffee the next day.  To her surprise, Harriet liked it.  So Eliza didn’t do that again.  It was wrong to look for ways to irritate her employer, especially since the only other job that opened up paid $2.50 a week, but a part of her wanted to do something to
get even with the woman for
cheating her out of her fair wages.  Eliza was, after all, doing the best she could.

When she made it home that evening, she climbed the stairs, feeling weak.  She had to pay Molly the rent, but she’d do that in the morning.  She was out of money, and since she’d accepted the invitation to eat at Addy’s place three times already, she didn’t feel right about going over there and hoping for another invite.  She couldn’t take advantage of her friend who’d already done so much for her.

She reached the top of the steps and took a deep breath to quell her nausea.  Averting her eyes from the staircase because a glance down made her dizzy, she focused on the kerosene lamp on the small table in the hallway.  As soon as she could trust herself to not heave, she lumbered toward her room.  She’d go to Addy’s tomorrow.  She had to.  It’d been a full day since she’d eaten anything and she had to
manage through another ten hours at Harriet’s.

A door from behind her opened.  She turned and saw Alan emerge from his room.  Recalling the money in his wallet, she bit her lower lip.  He was a man, and since he hadn’t been with a
woman since his wife
died
...
 
Even as the thought came to her, she hated it.  She gulped the lump in her throat.  Oh, she couldn’t.  Not when she struggled so hard to make her life right.  Not when God had given her a second chance.

But he has money.  Money that can buy food.
  Her stomach growled again and her mouth watered.  Molly had made supper.  Pot roast from the smell of it.

“Good evening, Miss Sweet,” Alan said as he closed the door.  “Will you be going to supper tonight?”

She hesitated.  She knew what the going rate would be if they struck a deal, and depending on how long she could talk him into staying in her room, she might be able to make a dollar.  That would give her a full week’s worth of food here at the boarding house or maybe even two weeks if she was careful at the restaurant.

She wiped the tears from
her eyes, glad the dim light hid
her tears from him.  When she could trust herself to speak, she lowered her trembling hand. 
“I...um...” She took another deep breath.  “I already ate.”

“Is something wrong?” he asked, coming closer.

She steadied herself against the wall. 
Stay back.  You’re the mouse and I’m the snake.
  She took a step away from him
.  “No.  I’m fine.  You should go to supper.” She prayed he didn’t hear her stomach rumble.  “I just need to lie down.”

He came closer to her.  “Are you sure you’re not ill?  I can help you into your room if you’d like.”

He had no idea what he was doing, she realized. 
He didn’t have the experienced look about him, and that made him an easy target.

Just one time...to get you through one or two weeks until Harriet pays the wages she rightfully owes you.

“Your
room is this one, isn’t it?” he asked, pointing to it.

“Well...yes,” she slowly replied.  Her heart sped up with a mixture of fear and hope.  She hated this.  She didn’t want to even consider it.  Temptation was a terrible monster.  A hunger pain shot through her
stomach, causing her to bite
her tongue.

He gently took her by the arm and led her to the door.  “You look like you’re going to pass out.  Lean on me if you have to.”

“Do you miss your wife?” she asked, ashamed of the question
, for she knew where the conversation was leading...what she was leading him into.

“I do.  She was a good woman.”

“I’m sure she was happy with you.  You seem like a good man.”
She moved closer to him and placed her hand on his.  “It must get lonely.”

They stopped in front of her door, and he nodded.  “It does.  A part of me went with her.” He opened the door.

“I haven’t been married,” she whispered, purposely moving so that they stood inches apart, allowing parts of her body to touch his.  She knew what such proximity did to men.  Leaning forward, she let her lips brush against his cheek.  “But I often think it’s a shame when a man has to spend his nights alone.”

As soon as she said the words, she regretted them.  This wasn’t right.  She pulled back and
crossed the threshold of the room, cursing herself for leading him into a trap.  It was a trap.  God help her withstand temptation!  She hurried to the window and opened it, letting a light breeze cool the hot sting of the tears that trickled down her cheeks.

“Miss Sweet, I was wondering...
 
Well, that is to say that I think we might get along.  Would it be too fo
rward if I asked to call on you
sometime?  I could take you for a walk or we could go
to
the restaurant.”

Placing her hands over her face, she allowed the tears to fall with greater freedom.  Here she was thinking of a night of sinful pleasure and he was thinking of doing the right thing.  He really had no idea what she’d brought him to her room for.  “I can’t.  I’m sorry.  You see, I...” What could sh
e tell him?  I’m a prostitute?  No.  But an idea came to her.  Turning to him in the dark, she asked, “Do you know Bethany Grooms?”

He blinked.  “No, but I’ve seen her in church.”

“She lost her husband five years ago.  She’s a lovely woman.  I think you two would do well together.” Bethany would never think to lure a man to her bed for the sole purpose of making money from him.  She’d make him a good wife, and she was just as lonely as him
.  The two would get along
right away.  “Let me introduce you
to her
tomorrow morning on my way to Mrs. Lube’s.”

“She is agreeable to look at.  Alright.”

Her stomach growled but she held her hands over her abdomen and took another deep breath.
  The room seemed to tilt to the side, but she knew it was another wave of dizziness kicking in so she ignored it.