“Okey dokey.Let’s get this done.”
Going back to my kids, I put my arm around each of them and applied slight pressure since they refused to move forward.“It’s only for the weekend.You’ll be back tomorrow night.”
My voice hitched a little, but I slammed a lid on the tears that wanted to come out.“You can call me whenever you want.”
This was directed at my monogamy-challenged husband, who neither denied nor confirmed he’d let them call.I held his stare for a moment before kissing my girls, then pulling them as close as I could without crushing them.“I’ll miss you so much.Have fun with your dad.I love you.”
Both of them clung to me as if we wouldn’t see each other ever again.We’d never been separated for a night.And their dad was an unknown entity since he’d never watched them on his own.
My husband’s walking accessory clapped her hands, rushing up to the girls and pulling them into her ample fake chest.I hoped they’d be able to breathe, their little faces squashed while the human bling rocked them back and forth.“We’re going to have so much fun.”
Handing their bags to Cockalorum, I stepped back, clutching my hands in front of my body, my fingernails digging into my palms so I wouldn’t reach out and drag my babies back into the house.
The walking accessory took their hands, leading them to the car.Their stunned little faces stared back at me wide-eyed.
Don’t grab them and run back inside.It’ll be fine.They’ll have fun.
The car door slammed shut behind them, and then they were off.I waved until they rounded the corner, my feet refusing to move.
Well, that sucked.
Doing the right thing was for the birds.Especially when it resulted in a cheating husband, a homicidal cat, a narcoleptic dog, and no way to pay my mortgage.And now I also had to spend the weekend by myself.
So, with nothing else to do, I went inside and deep-cleaned the house.I also washed every piece of clothing that had so much as touched the floor.I stripped all the beds.I dusted behind the TV.
And when even my windows sparkled, I got ready for dinner.At least I’d successfully kept myself busy all day.
Slipping into the little black dress I hadn’t worn in at least ten years, I noticed it was loose not only around my middle but also around my chest area.I hadn’t consciously been losing weight, but the stress of the last year had clearly gotten to me.
I wasn’t sold on this new heroine-chic look I was rocking.But since I wouldn’t magically gain the ten pounds I needed to look healthy again, I finished my makeup by applying mascara, having already done my eyes a smoky black.
I never wore much makeup, but tonight called for it.I’d even put lip gloss on.Leaving my hair falling down my back in loose curls, I grabbed my stilettos from the back of the closet.
Getting my small going-out handbag, I put my keys, wallet, and gloss inside, making sure all the lights but the one on the porch were off.Electricity was expensive, and I was one missed installment away from being cut off.
Sitting on the top porch step, I put on my black heels.They had a strap that wound around my ankle, then tied into a pretty little bow.I hadn’t worn them much in the last few years, but they happily welcomed me back into their painful embrace.I used to adore wearing heels of all shapes and sizes, but Cockalorum had attended all functions by himself and always went out with his friends without me.Now I knew why.
Something else that hadn’t happened in almost six years was that I was on time.
Luckily, so was my ride.
Malena pulled into my driveway with a big grin, Keely in the passenger seat and Linny in the back.
Getting in next to Linny, I buckled up.“Where’s Nora?”
Keely turned around in her seat while Malena backed out onto the road.“In Italy.”
“Did you say Italy?As in Europe?”
She nodded.“That too-good-to-be-true man of hers took her and the kids on a surprise trip.”
I was happy for my friend.She’d found the one in a million.And so had Malena.Which meant the odds for the rest of us were slim to none.After all, there weren’t too many good ones out there.
Linny rested her hand on her swollen belly.“Carson would never take me on a trip.”
We all nodded since we knew that to be true.Her husband was nothing if not frugal.He was also traditional, and this was Linny’s fourth pregnancy in as many years.I couldn’t work out if he loved kids or if he kept her pregnant so she couldn’t run away.
But Linny loved him, and their relationship seemed to work.And I wasn’t one to judge, especially not after my own failed marriage.
