Page 81 of For Eva

Eva,

I wanted to find an exciting postcard to send, but apparently everything in this state says Virginia is for Lovers, so, hey, here you go. :) Hope you’re doing okay. I’ve called a couple times and gotten the machine. I know it’s impossible to call me back, so I’ll keep trying and hopefully catch you soon. The shows have been insane so far—sellout crowds, can you believe it?! Not the same without you here, though.

Love,

Eric

March 22, 1991

Eva,

On the road to Chicago and thinking about you. Picked up this postcard in Cleveland—the skyline at night made me think about the time we ate Chinese on that hotel rooftop. I know we were both high as fucking kites, but do you remember it? You stole the last crab rangoon and told me about your tattoo. I miss that night. I miss you.

Love,

Eric

FORTY-THREE

Eva

June 1991

“Sorry I can’t help you pack,” Denise said from the couch where she laid with her feet propped up, cradling her belly. “But you know…doctor’s orders.”

I snorted from the kitchen as I wrapped dinner plates in newspaper. “The doctor said you couldn’t put dishes into a box?”

“Shespecificallysaid that. It was the weirdest thing.”

“I’m questioning our friendship,” I called, pulling down another plate.

Denise scoffed. “Hey, I was cooped up on an airplane for over four hours in order to be here for your wedding week. And I’m sure you don’t need to be reminded I did this nearlyseven months preggers. My feet are no longer feet, Eva. They’re fucking sausages.” She paused as I crouched to dig pots and pans out of a cabinet. “It’s crazy you’re packing this week, anyway. Shouldn’t we be getting spa treatments?”

“We absolutely will do that. I’ve made appointments for Thursday. But we close on the house tomorrow, and my landlordhas someone moving in here literally the day after we get back from our honeymoon. So, I need to have everything ready to go.”

“A new house and a wedding in one week. You’re a machine, babe.”

I closed the box I’d been working on and wiped beads of sweat from my forehead as I padded into the living room. “I know it’s crazy and definitely not something we planned. But when we saw the place was for sale, we knew we had to move fast. It’s the most perfect brownstone right in Lincoln Park, Denise. I can’t wait for you to see it.”

I plopped on the end of the couch and began to massage her feet, which had, indeed, swollen to the size of sausages.

“Oh my God, please don’t ever stop doing that,” she moaned.

“I’m not the only crazy one here, you know,” I began. “You got married to someone two weeks after he asked you. Good thing I like him.”

“I didn’t want to be ridiculously pregnant in my wedding dress. Plus, that was a strategic business decision, Eva. My father didn’t work his ass off to build one of the most successful independent film financing companies in the country for nothing. When he retires, the plan is for me to take over. And I need Marcos by my side. He’s the sharpest person we’ve got. Besides me, of course,” she added with a wink.

“That guy has been in love with you since your father hired him,” I said. “Plus, he worships the ground you walk on. I think you've just been fighting the idea of being with him because he wasn’texcitingenough for you. But now you see how wonderful a nice,stableman can be.”

“Speaking of…”

I gave her foot a final squeeze. “What?”

Denise hoisted herself up so her back was against the armrest. “Everything’s good with Aaron?”

I blinked. “What do you mean, ‘good’? Of course, it’s good. I’m marrying him in five days.”

“But you’re marrying him because you love him. Not because he’s not, you know,Danny.” She said his name in a hushed tone, the way one might whisper the wordhemorrhoidorcancer.

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