"Hum-dee-dum-hum..." , I sing to myself as I pick out a gorgeous set of diamond embroidered gold earings. "Katelyn will love it," I explain with glee to Angela , who stands by me with a hesitant look on her face. She looks me meekly in the eyes but doesn't say anything. "What?" I ask , partly annoyed .608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTDJko823l
"Don't get me wrong Janice..." she finally blurts, "but don't you think this is a bit extreme? Why don't you gift her a designer dress or watch like the rest of us? It's the thought that counts , not the price."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66TBNTwIah
"Well my thoughts say that this will look beautiful on her, and that's why I want to buy it." I mutter back. "Besides, it is my best friend's birthday!" That's why I earn so much, so I get to spend it for my loved ones."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MaqImb7py
"Janice," Angela says as we head to the checkout counter , "did you check with Josh?"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRzb5Wcayy
"Come on Angela! You know how we are, I don't need to check with him. We are spouses, not each other's finance managers." 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3KXPqNwIK
"But Janice... I have a feeling he won't be happy about this. He would have to make his peace with it."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLyuvnHcsh
"I don't dictate what he does with his 'hard earned money'", I reply as the girl's scanner goes beep on the tag. Angela sighs . 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDLGY3OCQq
"Anyway , I thought I was YOUR best friend" , she says sarcastically. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79GKpNB98E
"You are too," I wink at her. "I love you all equally." Angela utters another sigh as the girl thanks us for shopping at StarJewels . 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVAi3odU7t
"You are so immature sometime, Janice."
Katelyn's face glows up like the December Christmas lights as she opens up my gift. "Janice , this is beautiful!" She launches herself onto me with a full-fledged hug. "Oh My God, this is more beautiful than Trot's gift. This must have cost you a fortune . I am surprised Josh agreed to it! Thank him for me , would'ya." Katelyn frees me from her tight hug. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9YrA7HiWI
"He doesn't know," Angela blurts out from behind. I eye her angrily. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ488K0lKc8s
"Janice, are you insane ! Josh is going to be so pissed," Katelyn screams. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRBbU65ukA
"It's okay , Kate, we have it figured out," I reassure her. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9kGYJ03rL
"Ladies and ... more ladies!" Trot enters with a beer crate. "It's time to hit the floor, Let the party begin!"
Three hours later , I hit the beanbag completely drunk . My short white Flinfora dress has beer stains and mustard all over it. Trot helps me out of the dress and into his sweatpants and sweatshirt. "Hey sweetie, Josh will be here to pick you up in an hour." He then goes back to Kate, still composed and tidy.
15 minutes later Angela walks in, followed by Kate. I am in a much better position now, the alcohol slowly waning off, replaced by an unbearable headache . "Janice, we wanted to talk to you."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eO1YZYGr3
"Fire away," I say, obviously still a bit trippy. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG62YR4fQo
"Don't you ever wonder if we should start having our birthday parties in some upstate restaurants from now on?"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyXc36cosP
"What, Why?" I mutter, flustered. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonLi81vLC4
"Well Trot isn't exactly happy with me behaving like a 20 year old anymore." Says Katelyn. "And he shouldn't be, now that we are preparing for a baby and everything."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lOiNk2v9P
"What are you talking about Kate? He goes to the bar every Saturday!"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrzmRvKg0P
"Yes, Jane, I understand, but he's trying too. He didn't go last week."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WY1slUTQG
"Yes, he did. I saw him," I say. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4UFUpGgOq
"Look Janice," Angela takes over, "being married is a lot of responsibility . You may feel .... shackled ... sometimes . You just have to accept it. Free spirited to a point is fine, but you really should think more when it comes to ... decisions which may affect your marriage."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI9U8QSDOa
"And what are these decisions, Ang? Buying a gift for my friend or celebrating her birthday? I understand your worries. You are my friends and want the best for me. I get it, but Josh and I are fine! He does his thing, and I do mine. He's okay with it. We have talked about this, and he has no problem with my shopping or partying or travelling. That's one of the reasons I married him. He loves me for who I am; he enjoys my free spiritedness. And I am in no way 'shackled,' Angela. Trust me." 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq93WRkLzU
"Sometimes the chains aren't visible, Jan." Angela whispers back, probably scared of saying too much. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH85nbOaZf
"Hey," I draw Angela into an embrace, "We are fine! You guys have to trust me , I know Josh. There is nothing to be worried about. He knows it's my money I'm spending, and that my life doesn't necessarily have to overlap with his in all spheres. Listen to me. I got the best husband in the world." 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7Xt63Rqbe
"Well if all of this is true, then I think you do." Kate says, joining in on the embrace. As if on cue, the car horn sounds. "Josh is here," says Kate, "come on."
"Hey Kate," Josh plants a kiss on her cheek, followed by the same for Angela. Trot comes in, and they both fist bump. "What happened to that beautiful white dress?" Josh exclaims. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVmpe83qvM
"I had to change--beer stains and mustard," I smile at him. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLqkuV4Siv
"You and your drinking," he rolls his eyes. I slap him playfully.
We say our goodbyes and make way to our car. The ride home was a silent one. Solitude and serenity-- what we do require at the end of the day. I unlock the house and change into my pajamas. I take an aspirin for that unbearing headache. I sit at the couch and rest my eyes, allowing the aspirin to take over. Josh joins me. I open my eyes and look at him. However, today, I notice something I never noticed before. Something that had long been hiding in his eyes, and showed itself only today. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EwmxwkBmu
"Janice, I love you honey, but you have to stop."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhQII63l1p
"Stop what?" I ask, treading. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3EAPOd8f6
"This nonsense."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9ESu4ecxY
"Nonsense?"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIXTW6nHxG
"The drinking and partying," he says, a hint of impatience in his voice. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdZeAEXFr9
"You drink and party." 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbDxHSHtwr
"That is different."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa3sHeMtvf
"How?"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUKKLsO3iH
"You won't understand."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHclgYMfBg
"Try me."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DECQns5Pp
"Forget it. I'd love it if for once you'd say ' OK I understand.'"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSA88sSAW9
"I don't understand."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpSu5b8a76
"Why are you always so stubborn," he says, his voice still soft. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCfvwrW8fF
"I thought you liked that about me. Remember, you always used to say that my not giving in was what made you pursue me even more." He looks into my eyes, but doesn't say anything. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCfkEo9UIx
"Josh," I caress his face in my hands, my voice almost a whisper, "you've changed."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrZwQoj4jW
"No," he says, "I haven't. Katelyn and Trot are preparing for a baby, but what are we doing? Getting drunk and letting stranger men change our clothes?"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48jcTTkGqu
"Trot isn't a stranger," my hand withdrawing. "And we talked about the baby thing. I have work commitments, and promotional jobs are in a year..."608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsljW4NUp2x
"So?" He shouts, irritated. "Wouldn't it be just easier to pretend that you're barren?!"608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPCugyx5Tb
"Josh," I say, almost in tears, "I want kids too, but..." I break off, covering my face with my hand. 608Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ks1poRtkM
"I'd much rather get a divorce than deal with this everyday." He shouts, or mutters, and walks out on me. I hear the bedroom door open and shut. That does it. The word. DIVORCE . I raise my hands. They are shackled. I pull at my hair and wring my hands. The words "No, you haven't " echo in my mind again and again. I wipe my tears and make my way to the bedroom. Josh has drifted off. I write a note on a piece of paper and place it on his bedside table.
"I understand. I am sorry for hurting you . We'll talk in the morning".
I plant a kiss on his cheek and go to sleep. He doesn't move.
ns 15.158.61.18da2
