Page 137 of Power Move

“You are about to give birth. This is what happens.”

“Not to me! Not right now. I’m not… it doesn’t matter. You won’t fucking care.”

“You know that isn’t true.”

“I am a walking incubator. So, what if I went to London? You’d only be sad because you couldn’t talk to my stomach and reorganize the hospital bag. I am useful. I can be, anyhow. I know that place. I know the players and the regulators. And…”

Tears rolled, but she couldn’t finish.

“Eva, I respect you. I see you as a human. Yes, you had a life, butthisis your life now.”

“Yes. I’m just the little mother I’m?—"

“Youarea mother, though. Is that so bad?”

“It is not all of me. Damn it, David! That is what I am telling you. You just want me to ignore everything before—the stress, the move, the new job, and all of this—and move on. I cannot talk to you about anything without it coming back to the babies.”

“Can I not be excited? Can’t we just focus on them? Do you really thing work is more important than our babies?”

Eva glared. “David, I never said that. Stop putting words in my mouth!”

She slipped into a pair of fluffy boots and strode to the door. “I don’t have to choose.”

“I know,” I relented. “But there is so much to do. Can you not just give it a rest, stay home, and focus on?—”

“No,” Eva shook her head. “That’s not me. And you should want this. This company is your baby. It is what you worked tirelessly to acquire. I am doing this for both of us.”

“I don’t need you to?—”

“I am motivated. Sorry if you’re not!” Eva said, annoyed. “If I wasn’t tied down right now and stuck, I’d already be in the air. Just let me do this!”

She pulled her maternity coat on, but it didn’t button. It was a waste. She was so cute, but I knew everything got to her these days. I didn’t want to point out how much I loved soaking up these moments where she was so different than the woman I’d met. I wanted to do anything but fight, but her words got under my skin.

How had she been so docile an hour early—putty in my hands as I took her from behind. Could we not go back to cuddling and joking about the most recent flubs made by our governor? No. That would be too simple. That wasn’t Eva. What I didn’t understand was why she was so whipped up out of nowhere. Why was she in such a hurry?

“I love you,” I called as she boarded the elevator.

She glared. I wondered if she knew how much it hurt me for her to go to this place and ignore me. Wounded, I turned back to sorting the nursery’s mountain of clothes. I got a text from Daphne an hour later asking if I wanted help. I knew she’d spoken with Eva but didn’t want to be alone. I gave in.

Daphne arrived, noting Cal was home with the baby. She dug in, sorting clothes on the floor by me.

“I went in. Eva is a mess. I hope this brings her closure,” Daphne said.

“What?” I asked.

“Well, her dog died, you know? And her ex is in town handing over half of the ashes.”

Confusion struck.

“Oh, sorry. You didn’t know,” Daphne said. “She didn’t tell you?”

We’d discussed this to death. If you need something, tell me. And if you meet with an ex, youhaveto say something, right? That was never explicitly said, but it was the kindness she extended previously. Had she given up?

“Not about the dog. Not about Mona, no,” I said. “I need to call?—”

“Davey, she has reasons, I am sure.”

“She lied and said she had to deal with the situation in London. She wants to be boots on the ground but cannot be there!” I pulled out my phone, worried I knew what went on. “She lied.”