But there he was, smiling, cheerful. "No sweat suit today, honey. Get dressed up. Go shopping. Go get a facial. Relax. Do whatever you want. I'm going to take care of the kids today."
"But the house is a mess."
"Don't worry about it. I'll figure something out. Go. Enjoy."
Had I missed a press release about the new movie, The Stepford Husbands? No matter. The next time I got this opportunity might be never. "Okay, I will."
I hummed as I looked for an especially appealing outfit. I was going on a date – with myself.
What to do? Too many choices. I was accustomed to having only one choice. Now, I could do almost anything. It was nearly overwhelming. Paul had made two good suggestions. Facial and shopping. Come to think of it, there was no reason I couldn't do both. I could do both and see a movie. I could have a lunch I didn't have to make or clean up. I could relax on a bench by the river and watch families having fun, bikers, skaters, runners, rowers practicing on the river, ducks looking for leftovers. I could just do nothing, away from family and cleaning and responsibilities. It was delicious.
I decided to try for a facial first. It would be pretty hard to get an appointment on such short notice so the sooner I called, the better. I called Sondra's Salon. My in-laws had given me a gift facial there a few years back. Sondra's had no openings but took my cell number in case somebody cancelled. I needed a cell so Paul or daycare or the parents could contact me at any time with an emergency I needed to attend to before the other things I had to do first. But today Paul wasn't going to call and Sondra's might. I drove to the mall in which it was located. That was as good a place to shop as any and, if an appointment became available, I would be right there.
Shopping was not as much fun as I imagined it would be. I'm too disciplined. There were lots of things I would have loved to buy. But then I might not be able to afford things I needed to buy. Two kids, a mortgage, car loans and a barely furnished living room warned me against profligate spending. I could, however, profligately window shop. And I did. I lusted to my heart's content. The purchases I made in my mind would have required an entourage to carry them to my car. To top it all off, Sondra's called. After indulging my shopping fantasies, I got to relax and be pampered.
My facial was satisfying in another way. As I waited I got to listen to gossip. I didn't know the people, but it was like listening to a soap opera which I never get to do because I'm out working. All the tension fled my body as I lay there and let their secret recipe avocado-cucumber mask slowly dry on my face. I smiled as I remembered the melodramatic tales of woe around me. I thought of my loving husband who had freed me up to have this experience, my wonderful children and the job I loved going to every day. What better birthday gift than to realize how lucky I am to have such a happy life? Not perfect, but very good.
Sadly, they finished with me a little before two. It wasn't sad that it was a little before two, but that they ever finished. I could have lain there forever.
There was still time for lunch. Whatever cleaning needed to be done back at the house could wait until next weekend. I would pretend not to notice. Today was too much fun to spoil by going home early to put the house in order.
I had a chicken ceasar salad. I didn't have to cook the chicken. I didn't have to buy, tear, wash or spin the lettuce. I didn't have to measure the olive oil, crush the garlic, get out the measuring spoon for the lemon juice, measure the parmesan cheese and I didn't have to coddle the egg. I didn't have to clean all that up. My only responsibility was to eat it when it came. While I waited and while I ate it, I could people watch. It was wickedly delightful.
After lunch, I made a few more window-shopping "purchases" before heading home. I felt no disappointment at ending my reverie. The day had exceeded my most exorbitant expectations.
I walked in the front door and the place was quiet. As surprising as that was, I was shocked when I looked at the floor. It had unmistakably been washed. Properly. Not just run over with a mop, but scrubbed where it was needed. Paul wasn't having an affair. Clearly I was in the wrong house.
The kitchen was even more shocking. Not only did the floor sparkle, but every counter top was perfectly clean, as was the table. I didn't think he even knew we had counters, let alone that they could get dirty. The stovetop was clean and there were two pots on it. Then I noticed the smell. I lifted the cover from the heavy pot and confirmed that the aroma was lamb. My favorite. In the other pot was mashed potatoes and kale. We didn't have kale. We didn't have lamb.
I put the lid back on the pot and rushed to the refrigerator and opened the door. Somebody had done the shopping. I didn't care what it had cost, and how many people he had hired to do it. I wanted Paul like I had never wanted him before. More than I had on our honeymoon.
I wandered up to our bedroom in a state of shock and arousal. The floor had been vacuumed. The bed had been made. Incorrectly, but it had been made.
I looked in the bathroom. The towels had been washed and hung up. Incorrectly, but they were hung in the proper place.
If I died this minute, my life would have been complete.
I realized as I awaited the return of my family, that I had nothing to do. There were things I could choose to do. But there was nothing I had to do. It was a bewildering feeling.
I called to catch up with some friends I had not had the time to talk to lately.
At around 5:30, I heard the car pull up outside and went down to greet them as they came in the door. They looked as spent as if they had wintered at Valley Forge with General Washington. That was great for the kids. They would go to bed early and leave me alone with who the hell was this guy anyway.
"Hi, hon. We were at the playground. I'm going to take these guys upstairs and get them cleaned up. I'll set up for dinner when I'm done."
"Just a second." I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a serious kiss.
"Ooo," the girls said in unison. I didn't care if this scarred them for life. It was all I could do to keep my hands off of him.
