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feeling. But she was reaching out, and it was important that Eve be there for her.
She dropped down on the couch and rubbed her eyes. Too many things to think about. Too many needs to be met. Stop whining. At least things were moving forward.
'You asleep?'
She opened her eyes. Jane stood before her with a tray. 'No, just resting my eyes. I didn’t get much sleep last night.'
Jane set the tray down on the coffee table. 'I brought my sandwich too, but I guess you don’t feel like company.'
It was Jane who never admitted the need for companionship. 'I was just thinking I was a little lonely. Sit down.'
Jane curled up on the far end of the couch. 'Aren’t you going to eat?' Eve asked. 'Yeah, sure.'
She picked up her sandwich and nibbled at it. 'You’re lonely a lot, aren’t you?'
'It happens.'
'But you’ve got your mother and Joe and Mr. Logan.'
'That’s true.' She took a bite of her sandwich. 'Are you lonely sometimes, Jane?' She lifted her chin. 'No, of course not.'
'I just wondered. You haven’t asked about Mike lately.'
'You said that your mother was trying to get him taken away from his father. He’ll be okay if they do that.' She suddenly looked at Eve. 'Why? Is something wrong? Did that lawyer toss him out and—'
'No, Mom says they’re becoming buddies. Nothing’s wrong.' Not with Mike, but she was beginning to think something was wrong with Jane. 'It’s hard being far away from friends, and I know you like Mike. I’ve always found loneliness sometimes sort of ambushes you.'
'Not me.'
Try another road. 'I’m surprised you’re not with Monty. I’m sure he needs you.' A silence. 'He doesn’t need me. Sarah said I was helping, but he needs only her.
He barely knows I’m there.'
Ah, there was the pain. 'I’m sure he does.'
She shook her head. 'He’s her dog. He belongs to her.' She didn’t look at Eve. 'I wanted him to belong to me. I thought if I loved him enough, he’d love me more than Sarah.' She added The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
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defiantly, 'I wanted to take him away from Sarah.'
'I see.'
'Aren’t you going to tell me how bad that is?”
“No.'
'It was bad. I… like Sarah. But I love Monty. I wanted him to belong to me.' Her hands balled into fists. 'I wanted something to belong to me.'
'He does belong to you. He just belongs to Sarah more. It’s natural. She was first in his life.'
'Like Bonnie was first in yours?'
Shock rippled through her. 'I thought we were talking about Monty. How did we get to Bonnie?'
'She belonged to you. That’s why you’re helping me, isn’t it? It’s for Bonnie, not me.'
'Bonnie’s dead, Jane.'
'But she still belongs to you. She’s still first.' She took a bite of her sandwich. 'Not that I care.
Why should I care? It’s nothing to me. I just thought it was funny.'
My God, her eyes were glistening with tears. 'Jane.'
'I don’t care. I really don’t care.'
'Well, I do.' She slid across the couch and pulled Jane into her arms. 'I’m helping you because you’re a very special person and that’s the only reason.'
Jane’s body was ramrod stiff in her arms. 'And you like me?”
“Yes.' Christ, she’d almost forgotten how small and dear a child’s body felt. 'I like you very much.'
'I… like you too.' Jane slowly relaxed against her. 'It’s okay. I know I can’t be first, but maybe we can be friends. You don’t belong to anyone like Monty does. I’d like to—' She stopped.
'Maybe we can,' Eve said. Jane was breaking her heart. So defensive, so resistant, and yet so in need. 'I don’t see why not, do you?'
'No.' Jane lay still against her for a moment, and then she pushed her away. 'Okay. That’s settled.' She stood up and hurried to the door. 'I’m going to get Monty some food and then I’m going to bed.' The moment of softness was clearly over. Now Jane was eager to escape a situation that must have made her uneasy.
