Lib Novel Page 16
My turn to apologize I guess. Also my mistake for listening to Mom. She’s gonna lose her mind when she finds out you’re having a baby though, so I hope you’re ready for that. Are you planning to bring Nicole home for Thanksgiving or are you not ready to subject her to that yet? If not, I’m happy to meet up with you in town if you let me know the dates you’re available. I’ll set reminders. I want to see you this time. I hope we can make it work. Also—fucking congratulations. One nut wonder.
THREE YEARS LATER
From: [email protected]
Subject: what did I miss?
Who was the woman next to you in the picture Maggie sent me? The one at Stuarts’s birthday party?
From: [email protected]
Subject: re: what did i miss?
That’s my muse. Her name is Jessie. She’s a journalism major at NYU. Maybe she knows some of your old professors if they’re not all retired by now 😉 She’s got a brother who’s a doorman, and I was talking to him thinking it sounded like an easy, cool gig if you can get it. Apparently it’s all about who you know.
And don’t even give me shit about the whole muse thing. I hear enough about that from Maggie. It’s just part of my process, and it keeps me out of trouble.
From: [email protected]
Subject: i hate it here
I wasn’t expecting this to be so hard. FaceTiming with your not yet verbal kid isn’t fun in case anyone ever tries to tell you otherwise. But you know what’s worse? Seeing your wife try to smile even though you can tell she’s been crying as much as the baby has. Am I a terrible person for doing this job when I have a family at home? Don’t answer that.
Did you hear from Gibson?
TWO YEARS LATER
From: [email protected]
Subject: gay love and other important things
So I don’t know if Nicole told you what happened, but the guy I was filling in for at your building? He ran off with the guy who wrote the tell-all. Gay love FTW!! Anyway, I got his job. So if and when you ever do come home, I’ll get the door for you.
From: [email protected]
Subject: re: gay love and other important things
That’s great news, Matty. I hope it gives you more time to work on your art like you want. Are any of these gallery owners showing interest at all? This new penthouse muse you’ve got—surely she has connections. On the one hand I want to tell you not to sleep with the tenants, but on the other hand, like you say—it’s all about who you know. Besides, Gibson wouldn’t care. Have fun, stay safe, congrats on the new gig. Love, Fischer
ONE YEAR LATER
From: [email protected]
Subject: notice of retirement
Nicole pulled the trigger and filed for divorce. I’ll be home next week. Officially retiring from foreign correspondence. I don’t want my son thinking the kind of shit I think about my bio parents. Do you think he’ll even fucking recognize me, or is it too late?