More concerning than the possible embarrassment of singing on camera, however, was the question of what my next video should be. Itneeded to be something good. And I couldn’t concentrate, because my husband hadn’t bothered to come home the night before.
How I could be so upset about the outcome I’d wanted, I would never know. I was living the Facebook status “It’s Complicated.”
When Abi texted saying to meet her and Rachel outside, I launched myself from the couch. Maybe I should take Abi up on her offer of confirming my suspicions that Mitch did, indeed, have a woman. I needed to know. I didn’t want to know. I needed to know.
But then I’d owe Mom a hundred dollars.
God, Vivian, why are you such a mess?
We met in the cul-de-sac, not bothering with chairs for this impromptu meeting. Tomorrow would be the night we relaxed with our wine.
“What’s up?” I asked, as much out of curiosity as a way to keep from asking,Can you see if my husband has a woman on the side?
“It’s Tuesday,” Abi said.
“And?”
Rachel groaned. “It’s HOA night.”
I felt the wince crumple my face. “Nuh-uh. I went last month.”
“You don’t want to earn your Homeowners’ Association Meeting Badge?” asked Abi with faux incredulity. “I thought it might make a nice video.”
I shook my head. “No one wants that badge.”
“Well, I have lesson plans to do,” Rachel said.
“And I’m behind on background checks,” added Abi.
“But my husband’s leaving me, remember?” I blurted.
The next few minutes were a group hug with murmured apologies.
“Glad that’s settled,” I said, heading for my house.
“Oh, no,” Abi said. “We settle this like we always do with rock, paper, scissors. Maybe you could use the distraction, after all.”
I groaned.
Rachel gave a little clap. She was exceptional at the game, probably because she spent so much of her time in an elementary school where such shenanigans belonged.
“Fine.” I’d take my chances. As of late, Rachel had been picking scissors every time. I was pretty sure I had her figured out.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” Abi and Rachel said together as they moved their hands into the various shapes. This time Abi’s scissors cut Rachel’s paper, so the teacher turned to me. She’d already used paper, an anomaly. It had to be scissors again.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!” we said together as I chose rock to crush Rachel’s scissors as well as her spirit, but she chose paper again, which covered my rock.
“Dammit! But you always choose scissors!”
“No I don’t!”
“Yes you do!”
“Ladies,” Abi said. “The storied tradition of rock, paper, scissors has solved this dispute. Vivian will take one for the team and attend the HOA meeting.”
“Divorce papers and an HOA meeting in the same week? This is too much.Youknow all the statutes!”
“Exactly why I shouldn’t have to go,” Abi said.
