Dawn of Eve, MJ Howson [lightweight ebook reader TXT] 📗

said, “I’m not my mother.” She leaned closer to his ear and whispered, “And I’m no longer Dawn.”

Forty Six

The Vessel

Dawn paused at the edge of Hudson Yard’s expansive public plaza, her thick leather hood rippling in the wind. Looming dozens of yards away stood the Vessel. The architectural wonder appeared dark and haunted, the sun slowly falling below the horizon. An orange glow reflected off the structure’s copper edging. Dawn removed her sunglasses and glanced at her watch–4:55 p.m. She took a deep breath and began to walk across the plaza.

A familiar figure caught Dawn’s eye. Joe stood several yards away, decked out in his security guard uniform. Dawn slowly lowered her crimson hood, walked up behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder. Joe spun around and gave her a confused look.

“Hi, Joe,” Dawn said.

The confusion on Joe’s face slowly faded away as he looked Dawn up and down. He leaned closer and squinted his eyes. “Miss Easton?” Joe took a small step back and smiled. “I . . . I can’t believe it’s you.”

“I’ve been getting a lot of that lately.”

“You look like a new woman.”

“I am.” Dawn smiled and shoved her hands into her pockets, allowing her right hand to grasp the sheathed dagger. She was surprised by how comfortable it felt in her grip. “I’m done with my doctor. And soon, Jacob.”

“No stroller today?”

“Not anymore. I’ve moved on. Eve’s . . . in a better place now.” Dawn briefly closed her eyes and nodded approvingly. “How are you?”

“Cold. But, it’s the first day of winter.”

“Right. The twenty-first is the winter solstice.” Dawn reached beneath her jacket and allowed her fingers to run across the locket clinging to her neck. “Such a special day.”

“Are you okay?” Joe’s smile faded as he looked on with genuine concern.

“Never better.” Dawn turned and looked up at the Vessel. There seemed to be very few people spread across the multiple levels. “All these trips here, and I’ve never been inside.”

“I seem to recall someone being afraid of heights.”

“I was a different person then.”

“Well, I have to say, you certainly have changed.” Joe nodded as he looked Dawn up and down. “That’s a good hair color on you.”

“Thanks.” Dawn let go of the locket and placed her hand back into her coat pocket. “You once told me a little pop of color wouldn’t kill me.”

“I did?” Joe scratched his chin and smiled. “That’s right. I did.”

Dawn grinned and nodded. Just as she was about to recount the story, Dawn noticed Jacob appear in the far corner of the plaza. She ran her fingers along the brown leather sheath in her pocket. The frayed edges reminded her of the diary. Dawn looked up at Joe and said, “You’re a good man, Joe.”

“Thanks, Miss Easton.”

“You take care.”

Dawn walked away, her eyes focused on Jacob in the distance. Jacob’s head spun as he searched the sparsely populated plaza. He glanced at Dawn a few times but otherwise ignored her. Dawn grinned as she got within a few yards of Jacob. He finally stopped and stared at her.

“Hello, Jacob,” Dawn said. Her greeting was both warm and inviting.

“Dawn?” Jacob replied. His jaw fell open as he walked toward her. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks.”

“I love your hair.” Jacob leaned forward and gently kissed Dawn on her cheek. “Red looks good on you.”

“I know.”

“Look, Dawn, I feel I should be up-front with you. If you asked me here to win me back–”

“I haven’t.”

“Oh.” Jacob’s one-word response couldn’t mask his surprise.

“Like I said earlier, this is about payback.” Dawn nodded toward the Vessel as she removed her phone from her purse. “Shall we go inside?”

“You don’t want to talk here?”

“No. Let’s go.” As they headed across the plaza, Dawn added, “I hear the unobstructed views from the top are amazing.”

Navigating the Vessel could at times look to be a daunting task. The eight levels consisted of eighty landings connected by over one hundred and fifty separate flights of stairs. Once inside, Dawn led Jacob up to the second level and then the third. They stopped briefly to admire the view.

“So, how’s the new apartment?” Dawn asked. “You said you were moving today.”

“Oh. Right.” Jacob shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded. “I found a place near Central Park. I think it’s going to work out.” Jacob reached out and gently ran his fingers through Dawn’s hair. “I can’t believe how different you look. Why red?”

“You told me I lived in a world of black and white. Remember?”

Dawn smiled and coyly lowered her head. She turned and walked to the next set of stairs and proceeded up one level. Jacob followed, venting about his bartending and dwindling gym clients. She found his self-absorption to be rather annoying and wondered if he’d always been this way. As they ascended the Vessel, Dawn kept her focus on the handful of people on each level. Jacob’s endless blabbering became nothing but background noise. Dawn knew he was only here for the money.

With each flight of stairs they took, the wind grew in intensity and bitterness. It took a few minutes until they navigated the maze and arrived at the top level. Dawn looked around, relieved to see they were alone. The sub-freezing wind and late hour had kept all but the most diehard tourists away.

Jacob flicked the collar of his wool jacket up to shield the wind. He buried his hands deep within his pockets, looked at Dawn, and asked, “Did we really have to come all the way to the top? It’s freezing up here.”

“I’ve never been. Heights once frightened me.”

“Dawn, you live in a penthouse with two huge patios.”

“I know, but . . . . I’m doing things I never thought I’d do.”

“Really?” Jacob turned his back toward the Hudson, keeping the wind from his face. “Is that part of your therapy?”

“My therapy?” Dawn smiled and chuckled briefly. “No. For what it’s worth, I’m done with the doctor.”

“Why? Dawn, I know you threw those pills away.