Don’t be passive-aggressive. It never works. But what should she tell Danielle, no? That felt rude, although she wasn’t sure why

“There’s a certain healthy degree of selfishness — a person should have a healthy self.” —That’s An Issue, Dr. Michael Herskovics

Interesting idea, Eva thought. She supposed it was smart of Shira; recording her thoughts could help her sort through them without the labor of writing. She should have deleted them, though.

Eva sat up straighter in her wingback chair. She didn’t know what was going on with Shira and Ephraim. Say nothing, do nothing, pretend to see nothing — her duty as a mother-in-law. But she couldn’t help but keep watch. She wasn’t sure if she should take full blame for Ephraim’s self-centeredness. Was it arrogant to think that her son had learned everything about life from her?

Eva took a sip of tea, then looked at her phone. Should she try Shira’s approach? She turned the background music off; she wasn’t sure if it would interfere with the recording.

The red button was a bit daunting. She’d never recorded herself. But today, everyone seemed to be doing it. Even Racheli had recordings of the rudimentary playing she did.

In a quick deliberate stab, she pressed record. Silence. Eva watched as the numbers advanced, filling up the space with nothing. She inhaled deeply and attempted to express herself.

“I’m trying to figure out what do, but first I need to figure out where I’m coming from.”

Eva drummed her fingers on the armrest. She should have tried writing, it felt easier than this. She stopped the recording, took another sip of tea, pressed record again, and closed her eyes.

“I thought I’d finally found a cause that drove me, that spoke to me, that gave me purpose, and individuated me. I also thought that I was perfectly situated to take it on. I have an appreciation of music as well as the financial means to make something meaningful happen. And here I am, with nothing but dwindling ambition. I’m still not sure where I went wrong.”

She paused and took a deep steadying breath.

“I still believe in the cause 100 percent. Music is everything and more.”