Ripples

CHAPTER ONE

The groceries

The house was too hot for an autumn afternoon; it was too hot and much too quiet for Evelyn. She pretended to herself in being busy with her patchwork, but after the fourth draw of blood from her fingers, she set aside her embroidery-an attempt at a field of flowers, with a sigh. Maybe she should have stayed outside by the porch, but even at that moment, a hot balmy breeze sweeping up the curtain spoke of how the outside must be. Maybe I should go take a nap. Yes, that would be good. Yet still, she sat, unwilling to venture anywhere around her own home. She smiled self depreciatively; I am now like a fearful child, afraid of being alone by myself. Well, that decides it. She rose up in search of her wide straw hat. She'd take her basket with her and come down the hill, greet some neighbours she'd been avoiding, get some groceries, and generally be in the presence of other bodies. Just until Harry comes home... just for this afternoon.

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'My words! If that isn't Evelyn Beckett, then I don't know who it is'. Sitting in her rocking chair on her porch was Jeannette Casper, renowned town's gossiper and whose home was, unfortunately, the first to come across when coming down into town.
'Hello Mrs. Casper. How are you this afternoon?' Evelyn gripped her basket, an inkling of regret growing .
'I'm alright. But aren't you a sight for sore eyes? What's set you out from your solitude?' She leaned forward, her eyes twinkling.
'I'm doing good, Mrs. Casper, I just thought I'd come down for some grocery shopping. We've run out of - why am I explaining myself? 'Well that's it'.
'S that so? Why, poor Harry's been doing all them "groceries" shopping for the past 3 years. Something wrong with poor Harry? Why don't I watch out for him when he comes back -'
'Don't! Please. I-I should get going, Mrs. Casper; the sun's pretty unrelenting this afternoon'. Dark clouds hung over Evelyn's brow, and she pulled her hat further down to cover her twisted expression.
'Oh! Well, why don't you come in for a spell -'
'Oh no, Mrs. Casper, I really have to go now'. She'd had enough. She couldn't even understand this woman's problem. From the corner of her eyes, Evelyn saw Jeanette set back into her chair with a smile. She felt like a silly school girl again, or a teenager; or a confused young adult under Jeanette Casper's mocking gaze. Tears pressed against her lids. What an asshole! And what was with the "poor" she always added to Harry's name?
'Why? You've got something cooking at home?'
'Yes'. Evelyn spat out, already marching away. 'Good afternoon'. She added on an afterthought.

As Evelyn meandered down the street towards the grocery store, everything seemed just as she remembered them. Theirs was a small town nestled by the countryside, and life just seemed to go slowly here. Many things were left as they were, few new faces and few new things, maybe a new gate and repainted walls here and there but nothing to turn her head. To her eyes, the place was just as it was, nicely placed almost identical houses; shops here and there, and just around the corner would be Cowley's grocery store. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door. You're just getting groceries. Get it done and get out. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to face another Mrs. Casper.

*** *** *** ***

The evenings in autumn grew dark faster. Evelyn stood in front of the window facing down the hill in the direction of the town. The heavy silence was made more solid by the constant ticking of the clock in the hallway. Darkness slipped through the windows in a flutter of cold night breeze. Evelyn shivered and hurried to find the cord to pull on the light in the living room. The bulb glowed, its little yellow light flickering, then gutted out. 'Seriously?' she muttered, her hand gripping the wall. Almost frantically, she searched for the oil lamp; hitting down things from the mantle as she staggered towards the kitchen.
With a strike, the wick caught, and the light burst in a warm glow, driving away the encroaching darkness. Evelyn sat stiffly in one of the dining chairs, her breath caught in her throat and her mind unconsciously counting along with the second hand of the ticking clock. Tic...tic... tic. It sounded so loud in her head that she couldn't hear anything else. Tic... tic... tic... tic...tic...tic tic tic tic ticticticticccc....... 'Eve?'
'O my God'! Evelyn sprung up, twirled around, and tripped over her feet.
'Easy there'. Strong arms caught her before she face-planted unto the hard wooden table. 'You ok? Eve?' She was sitting again, his hands gripped down on her shoulders. She looked into her husband's eyes. Sometimes, she hated looking into his eyes. It reminded her of a dead fishes'-like the one she had cut up for their dinner , black and bottomless - and like her son's; lifeless eyes wide open and his wet, cold body lying limply in her arms.
But now those eyes were filled with worry and tiredness. She smiled widely. 'Yeah'. Feign happiness. He stared at her suspiciously. 'Really?', He asked, His hands tightened on her shoulders infinitesimally. Okay, too fake.
'Yeah', she laughed. 'I was planning something. You kind of startled me'. He was still staring at her, although she couldn't really see his expression, the light casting shadows across his countenance. With one last press on her shoulders, he let his hands drop to his sides. A concession. 'Does it have anything to do with me?' She gave a little laugh again. 'Maybe'.
The curtain danced along with the wind, displaying the night sky and its millions of stars. Evelyn lay in bed, staring lazily at the familiar scene. The bathroom door opened along with a whoosh of heat. The sheet rustled, the bed dipped, and only the loud croaking of frogs outside filled the quietness. Evelyn turned over to face her husband, her gaze trailing along his face; down the tip of his nose to the sprinkling of beards turned a rusty-brown under the warm glow of the lamp.
'I went down the hill today', she whispered. He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her, surprise in his eyes. She smiled wispily, trailing a finger between their head space. 'You're surprised? Haven't I become the talk of town yet?' He turned over slowly, the bed spring creaking along with his movement. Now, they lay face to face. 'I work on the other side of town, you know, news don't travel that fast'. He let his finger follow alongside hers. 'Trust me; it'd be old news by tomorrow'. He laughed and yawned, turning back over to his back. 'You think too highly of yourself'.
'Ex-cues me'! She punched his arm, protesting between giggles. The air was filled with their breathy laughter, fading into a comfortable silence.
'You did well'.
Evelyn closed her eyes with a sigh. Maybe tomorrow after breakfast, Harry would suggest they go into town together. She smiled. It took just a step; just a little step, and they were already on their way to the way things were - before the accident.

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Harry walked down the stairs, following the waft of aroma to the dining where a spread was laid across the table. He pulled back a seat and sat, just as Evelyn walked into the room holding two steaming mugs.
'Good morning. The weather has been all over the place lately'. She sat down and passed a mug of tea over to him. 'Drink it while it's hot'.
'Thanks'. He took a sip, set it down, and stabbed his fork in the plate, munching four bacons in a go. 'Delicious'.
'Thanks'. Her eyes twinkled as she watched him breathe in the food. Her lips pulled into a smile.
In no time, he was done and had his plate and cup the sink. He came round back with his jacket and stopped by the door. She rose up to meet him, and he bent to kiss her on the head. 'See you at 6', he murmured, then he was gone. Her eyes followed him across the lane, down the hill until he was blocked by the waving hands of the crops in the field. He never asked if she'd go with him.
Finally, she went inside, sat back on her seat, and took a sip of her now lukewarm tea.