Just Keeps Getting Better -19

Jeremy did not look forward to Eva’s arrival. He preferred a hurricane. it was less destructive.

He tried to get as much sleep as he could because he knew the kid would cry every 4 hours. Even if it was Eva doing all the work, he'd be awoken, whether by the baby or her clumsy movements.

He wished that being nearly eight months old, Max would be on a bottle or eating crushed food as had his own daughter at that age. But knowing Eva, he assumed Max would be on her breast until he was five years old.

As Jeremy waited for arrivals at the airport he had a nauseating deja vu of the first
time he’d seen Eva plodding into the hall. .. two years ago; precisely two years ago
she’d come into this country, into his life.

She'd come in, self important and smug, cold and hard, and why didn't he do everything in his ability to keep her that way?

How did he wind up in a relationship with her?

And there she is.

There is Eva. Fatter, clumsier, with that enormous baby strapped to her chest.

Jeremy didn’t show emotion or smile. He led them to the car hoping the public assumed he was merely the chauffeur for these strangers.

Ironically, he hadn't wanted to be seen as a chauffeur the first time, now, he wished he was safe in his uniform. He led them to the car, assuming people would not connect him to this woman, to that baby.

Once in the car Eva grabbed him and kissed him and when the baby yowled, she pulled away and out came that huge breast and into the kid’s mouth.

He thought he'd vomit, but instead, got the car into traffic. They arrived at the set of flats Diane had suggested.

As he parked he could see Eva’s disdain.

“I want a home here for us. A place where we live not ... stop over...” she said.

“Eva, I don’t make that kind of money.” he retorted.

“Oh no no no! I wasn’t thinking you paying all of it! OH NO No NOOO!” She said gripping his arm, staring up into his face.

He got away from her, to the rooms they would occupy. She began babbling, he looked at the two small beds. She could barely fit on one.. and no doubt with the baby...who started his bawling and out came the breast.

Jeremy never imagined he could find a woman's breast disgusting.

Eva nursed the baby thinking her behavior repulsive. Maybe Jeremy wanted to do something for them. Maybe he chose this small place because that was what he could afford.

She had behaved horribly. She almost cried, but caught herself, and turned the discussion to food.

The baby, fed and quiet, they returned to the car. As they went to drive to the supermarket, Diane Robinson drove in. She greeted Jeremy who had no choice but to introduce her to Eva.

Eva remembered the name, this was the lawyer. She would somehow speak to her without Jeremy and find out about the divorce.

Jeremy drove to the supermarket, where Eva loaded the cart, never glancing at a price. She paid for everything with a credit card, and they drove back.

At the flat she arranged the goods while Jeremy took a nap as did Max.

Jeremy was happy he had to go in on a Saturday. He would escape his 'family.'

Taking the opportunity, Eva went to visit Diane.

A question and a half and it was pretty clear Jeremy hadn't the money to pay the lawyer.

Eva paid a portion. It seemed, although the lawyer didn't say anything, that this was the first money that had changed hands in relation to the divorce.

Eva didn't speak about it. She kept the conversation bright. She decided to befriend Diane.

Days, weeks passed.

Her relationship with Jeremy was between cordial and cold. Soon it was time for Eva to leave. Jeremy would visit in a few months.

Eva stood in the departure lounge, looking at her son's father, then turned away.
She held Max a little tighter.

Sitting in the First Class cabin holding her son, feeling the plane rise, oddly, Eva didn't feel that she was leaving anything behind.