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    Felix and Eve
    Felix and Eve
    Felix and Eve
    Ebook116 pages1 hour

    Felix and Eve

    By Diane DeVillers

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    About this ebook

    “Felix and Eve”, a fictionalized memoir, is about two people that come together who seem to be the exact opposite of each other. Eve is traveling up the coast of southern Oregon when she answers an ad in the paper to be a live in caregiver. She is 29 and a counterculture woman who is in between a friendly divorce and a stream of ever changing relationships. She is a fierce, self-reliant feminist in a relentless search for what she feels is freedom and the life of a liberated woman making her way toward self actualization.
    Felix and Eve both have strong and unyielding personalities but are forced to find compromises in what turns out to be a humorous summer spent together. Felix and Eve spend the evening’s playing cards by lantern light out on the screened in porch. He tells her the stories about his life and the days when he worked for the notorious Al Capone, when he worked in the illegal breweries during the days of America’s prohibition.
    And what about his mysterious, old Packard that is locked up in the garage like Fort Knox, which Felix forbids anyone from going near it? Eve who has an active imagination thinks the truck of the car could contain some secret; a suitcase of money, or the remains of some unlucky soul from the "good ole days" where people disappeared without a trace?
    Eve is in charge of cooking meals, light housekeeping and running errands for Felix, whom is not in the least excited about living with someone and in no uncertain terms lets her know how he feels about his invasion of privacy. It comes down to whose will is stronger: his bristled, stubborn manner or her independent, free spirited, laid back attitude.
    Eve discovers that Felix dwells mostly in the past, and that he relives his memories by the stories that he sometimes tells her more than once. Felix’s house is literally unchanged since his wife’s death decades ago, and Eve realizes that she must live with the ghost of his wife, down to her clothes still hanging in Eve’s bedroom closet. Both Felix and Eve need to move on in their lives, but for now are adrift in a time between huge life events.
    Felix and Eve, who started out with nothing in common, develop a love for each other that some would say was at times too close, but to them was a love each of them needed from the other, at a time in life they were most vulnerable.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDiane DeVillers
    Release dateSep 6, 2012
    ISBN9781301069712
    Felix and Eve
    Author

    Diane DeVillers

    I first came to Oregon during the early eighties and worked as a forester doing timber inventory in the Wallowa Mountains. I lived in my tent in a camp with five other mismatched timber cruisers. I worked in some of the most remote areas all over Oregon. Some of which were wilderness areas.After five years I went back to my former profession, working with people with disabilities. After twenty years, ironically, I became disabled myself and had to retire early due to symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.It was then that I cleaned out my closet and found my old journals from the days when I first came to Oregon. As I sat there reading my journals, I chucked to myself and thought: this would make a good book. I wrote three books which are in "The Eve Chronicles". It I wouldn't have gotten MS I never would have had the time to write the book.The three books can be found as e books at Smashwords.com and any other place that sells e books.

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      Book preview

      Felix and Eve - Diane DeVillers

      Felix and Eve

      Diane DeVillers

      Copyright 2013 by Diane DeVillers

      Cover design by Marti Dobkins

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to an actual person or events is unintentional.

      Dedicated to

      Mark Alaniz, my beloved

      Table of Contents

      Chapter One: Felix

      Chapter Two: The Ride Home

      Chapter Three: The Bungalow

      Chapter Four: The Room with the Glow in the Dark Jesus

      Chapter Five: Routines and Rituals

      Chapter Six: Umbilical Cords

      Chapter Seven: The Visitor

      Chapter Eight: The Dream

      Chapter Nine: Monica

      Chapter Ten: The Vault Party

      Chapter Eleven: Leo the Lion

      Chapter Twelve: More about Eve

      Chapter Thirteen: The Recovery

      Chapter Fourteen: The Surprise

      Chapter Fifteen: The Visitor on the Beach

      Chapter Sixteen: Nights in White Satin

      Chapter Seventeen: The Dawn

      Chapter One: Felix

      The first time she saw Felix he was sitting in his hospital room wearing a baggy, brown pinstripe suit and an oversized fedora hat that had slipped down over his ears. He looked like a cross between a mafia godfather and Mr. Magoo, with his big round eyes, thick bottle-bottom glasses and sagging, yowled face. Lying across his lap was a yellow cane, which he clutched like a weapon in his hands.

      It’s about time someone came to get me out of this place! he said with the venomous sneer of a prisoner.

      My name is Eve. I’m your new housekeeper. The county nurse sent me over, she said, extending her hand. He ignored it.

      Sure, sure, he said, cutting her off. I know all about you. Come on, let’s get out of here. Using his cane he got up, staggered, then regained his balance enough to shuffle over to his closet. The short distance made him short of breath and she could see he was sweating profusely under his heavy suit. He took a handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed his forehead. His hands had a gnarled, arthritic look about them.

      Here we are! said the nurse as she swept into the room. She had a smiley button on her uniform.

      Oh, no! Not you again, Felix pleaded, holding up his cane as if to protect himself.

      Felix, you’re such a tease, the nurse said, turning to Eve. This poor man has been waiting in that chair since eight o’clock this morning. I told him you were not expected until four this afternoon. But we didn’t listen, now did we, Felix? She told Felix to collect his things so they could discharge him. She reached over to touch him on the shoulder and he pulled away from her. With her eyes she signaled Eve to the hall.

      In the hall the nurse said, I’m so glad you showed up. Otherwise we couldn’t have released him. He’s lost a lot of weight from the operation, so he’s very weak. He needs someone to stay with him for a few months until he recovers from his bypass surgery. And he needs to be reminded to take his medication. She lowered her voice and leaned toward Eve. Let me warn you, he’s a real pip. The county nurse has had more than a few difficulties with him over the years. He is slowly heading toward a nursing home, but he’s so stubborn and insists on living alone.

      Does he have any relatives nearby? Eve asked.

      No, his wife Tillie died a year ago and his nearest relative lives in Chicago. Not that his sister would be any help, she’s older than he is. He has had several live-in companions, but they didn’t last. Either they quit or he fired them within a week. So beware, he’s a real tough cookie. To be honest, she started to whisper again. He nearly drove the nurse’s bananas here, but that’s off the record of course.

      Oh, of course.

      From the doorway Felix yelled, Hey you, whatever your name is. Can we go now already?

      The nurse raised her voice so that Felix could overhear, We even convinced him to give up those disgusting cigars. We’re so proud of him.

      Yeah, that’s what you think. Ever hear of blowing smoke out the bathroom fan? Felix muttered. He threw Eve a secret wink and resumed packing his black carpetbag with all the free merchandise entitled to him; the bedpan, a plastic jug, lotions, blue pads, Kleenex, and even two rolls of toilet paper from the bathroom.

      Prices these hoodlums charge, you think you could take the furniture too, he grumbled.

      On the way out of the hospital a group of nurses made a big fuss over him in a flutter of kisses and hugs. Unable to escape them, Felix sat in his wheelchair and endured the whole unpleasant scene with restrained dignity, and a scowl on his face.

      They found her Cutlass out in the parking lot and she made room for him and his bag by relocating a few boxes and knapsacks into the already crowded back seat. The entire car was crammed to capacity with most of her worldly possessions. The trunk contained her canvas pup tent and the rest of her camping gear. Her mountain bike was strapped with bungee cords onto the back bumper.

      After the nurse finally got Felix inside the car he just slammed the door in her face. Good riddance, nurse nasty and your ship of fools. Free at last.

      As Eve drove her car out of the parking lot and turned onto a tree-lined street, she knew she was in for a very unusual summer. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing.

      Chapter Two: The Ride Home

      The town of Gold Beach lies on the southwestern coast of Oregon and is known for its mild, banana-belt climate. The surrounding hillsides and valleys of lush green forests meet the ocean through grassy peninsulas that sprawl out into the coastline. The seaside mill town is rather under-populated due to the rugged and narrow mountain passes that link it with the eastern interior valleys.

      Felix told Eve to head north toward the Rogue River so she turned the car onto Highway 101 and proceeded through a strip of typical coast town shops. Felix looked dwarfish and somewhat pathetic as he slouched down in the seat. It was warm in the car; the back of Eve’s sleeveless cotton dress was sticking to her back. But she didn’t want to open the window in fear that he’d catch a draft that would chill him.

      She commented briefly about the weather. Felix grunted a few vague responses. They were stranger’s thrust together by some twist of fate, and feeling the uncomfortable pressure of having to make small talk. They drove a few more minutes in silence and then he said, I bought this suit back in 1920. I had it made by the tailor in the Lexington Hotel in Chicago. He fingered the suits lapel. They sure don’t make things the way they used to.

      No, I suppose not, she said. He looked as if

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