It started out innocent enough...a couple conversations between friends. In the two years since Charlotte and Sadie had first met at their Mommy and Me classes, they were finally bridging the gap between casual acquaintances to close confidantes.
Both women were young and pretty. They actually resembled each other and often were mistaken for sisters when in each other's company. They had both shared the histories of good-for-nothing ex-husbands, custody battles and evil ex-mothers-in-law. Now, they were both happy enough, with significant others, but as many women so recently divorced, a little gun-shy. Still, both shared a little bit of a wild streak, and that nagging yearning for freedom felt by those almost, but not yet 30.
Charlotte had been the first to bring up the taboo topic of infidelity. She had been abandoned by her older husband for a newer model. Body issues after having 3 stair-step children, and being left for someone younger while still in your 20's, seemed to increase her sense of being stifled exponentially.
"I'm going to tell you something, but you can't be all judgy on me...and you have to swear not to tell anyone else."
"Ummm," Sadie giggled. "Ok...and since when am I ever judgy?"
"I know, I know, but I'm just saying...this has to go nowhere. I haven't told this to a soul."
"Alright...pinky swear? I mean who am I really going to tell? You're like my only friend here," Sadie affirmed.
"So, Brock's cousin, Jonah, that lives in upstate New York- you remember me telling him about you, right?"
Sadie nods, tossing her dark bangs into her sage green eyes. She absently wipes them away, anticipating her friend's revelation.
"Well, we've had these conversations...like really long conversations...as in stay-up-all-night soul-baring conversations."
"And?"
Charlotte leans into Sadie, licking her full, pink lips, nervously surveying the park, taking stock; unconsciously counting her 3 little ducklings, before starting again.
"Well, they've sometimes not been super appropriate." Charlotte bites her lip and looks down at her French manicure.
Sadie's eyes widen. "So, number 1, does Brock know, and 2, what exactly are the nature of these conversations?"
"Well...hmmm...it started out as joking, and then kinda turned into something a little more."
"Charlie, out with it! How much more? You're killing me!"
"I don't think Brock has a clue...but Jonah and I have had phone sex a couple times." She cringes, for a second and then faces Sadie.
"Wow...how do you feel about that?"
"What are you, my shrink? Umm, well, I liked it. He turned me on. We are so in sync; it makes me wonder if I picked the wrong person. He's coming on the 22nd, and staying the week to visit family."
"Holy. Shit. That's in 2 days. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Brock has arranged for me to pick Jonah up at the airport and entertain him while he's at work."
Charlotte's boyfriend Brock was vanilla. He was average looking. He had an average job, managing a chain grocery store. He was good to her kids, and was stable, safe and above all: predictable. She loved him, just wasn't convinced she was in love with him.
He came over Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. They went out every Saturday. According to Charlotte, they were stuck leading the same life, with two very different perspectives. Brock was thinking marriage and more children, while Charlotte was feeling backed into a corner.
Finally, on the morning of Jonah's arrival, Charlotte arrives at the airport, nervous energy making a monkey knot of her insides. Sadie's words ringing in her ears "Do what's best for you. You deserve it."
"Damn right, I do," she reinforces out loud, as if there were someone externally arguing with her. "I've been thru enough shit in my life that I shouldn't have to make excuses to be insanely happy."
