October 4, Sunday

I stick my head in Sónia’s kitchen door. “Hey, I’m going to deliver the big cake order to the Sousa family, be back soon.”

“Okay, thanks!” she hollers from the back bedroom.

It’s a huge sheet cake for a birthday party, and the Sousas live a few blocks away so I have to walk carefully. We’ve had a lot more orders for cakes and canapés for parties recently, now that things have calmed down and people feel confident celebrating and don’t have to worry about prices constantly going up. The generals haven’t been all bad when it comes to how things are going in the country.

When I arrive at their house, Senhor Sousa is busy putting up balloons to mark the occasion, and holds the gate to invite me in. “Eva, perfect timing. Let’s put the cake on the table here on the veranda.”

“Certainly. What festive decorations! Ana Paula must be so excited.” I wrote her name on the cake, so I remember it. Carlos proudly supervised me to make sure I got it right. I’m usually fine with writing but I’d hate to mess up a whole cake.

“Yes, ten years old. A big milestone.” He smiles and pulls out a chair for me to sit. “Can I get you something to drink? A glass of water?”

“I’m okay, Senhor Sousa. No need to fuss over me.” But he insists I sit down while he goes to get the money to pay me.

“Here you go, Eva. You’ve done a beautiful job as usual. Ana Paula will be thrilled with the pink roses, and she loves chocolate.”

“I’ll be very glad if she is pleased; thank you.” I start to get up but he seems to want to talk with me, so I wait.

“Eva, you know I supervise the kitchen crew for the generals’ dining room.”

I nod my head. The generals are said to dine on only the finest gourmet dishes prepared by a chef trained in Paris. There is an elite group of sous chefs and Senhor Sousa supervises the lower-level workers, who prep ingredients, wash dishes and serve at table.

“Well, I believe I will have an entry-level position coming open after the holidays. Usually they require an examination to evaluate candidates, but I have enough influence to hire someone who is especially promising.” He looks at me over the top of his horn-rimmed glasses. “When is your baby due?”

My heart is beating a little fast but I smile and take a breath. “The baby is supposed to be a Christmas present.”

“The timing could be good, then. I would like to have someone who could start in April. That is, of course, if you are interested?” He tilts his head as he asks the question.

“Senhor Sousa, of course I am interested! In fact, it would be a dream come true. I love to cook and I love to learn and I would work very hard to be worthy of your faith in me.”

He smiles in a fatherly way. “Eva, you have a wonderful reputation from the laundry. And I have seen ample evidence of your culinary skills. I have no doubt you will work hard and move up in the ranks, learning as you go.”

“Oh my goodness, thank you, Senhor Sousa. I don’t know what to say.” I can feel myself blushing and I wish I wasn’t.

“Just say yes, and I will make it happen. For now, just concentrate on your health and that of your baby, and keep me posted. You may consider the position yours, but please don’t tell anyone besides your husband.”

“Oh yes, Senhor Sousa, I won’t say a word to anyone else. Thank you, I am very excited. Thank you!”

“You are very welcome, Eva. We will keep in touch.” He opens the gate and waves goodbye as I head back home with a spring in my step I can barely suppress. I can’t wait to tell Luiz the good news.

Luiz is on the back veranda when I get home, and I give him a nod toward the bedroom. He raises his eyebrows but follows me, and I close the door behind us.

He grins wickedly at me. “Querida, the middle of the day? Let’s go!”

I laugh and shake my head. “I just have to tell you something and we can’t tell anybody else. Senhor Sousa is going to hire me for the generals’ dining-room staff. I’ll start in April when I go back to work after the baby. I’m so excited!”

He looks at me but doesn’t smile. “Working for the generals?”

“Yes! It will pay much better than the laundry. I’ll start out in the lowest tier of the kitchen crew, but I know I can work my way up quickly. And I’ll learn how to make a lot of fancy French dishes. It will be good for us.”

He sits down on the bed, but doesn’t say anything for a while, then looks up at me. “I’m sorry, querida, I know I should be happy for you. And of course you deserve to be recognized for your skills and hard work. It’s just that you know how I feel about the military. They are criminals who have stolen our country.”

My excitement is gone now, and I don’t want to have a gulf between us. “If you don’t want me to accept it, I’ll tell Senhor Sousa I’ve changed my mind. I wouldn’t have said yes if I thought you’d object.”

He takes my hand. “It’s okay, Eva. You go ahead and take the position. It’s not your fault what’s happening in our country. Hopefully there will be new elections soon. Come here.”

He gently pulls me down to sit on his lap, wrapping his arms around me and the baby.