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A Chance at Motherhood

The highly educated, but conservative housewife with three kids, is talking on the phone to her older sister that's a high powered lawyer about why she would rather be a mom than a hard working lawyer.

"So how's life in the big cit sis? - No Tommy, put that down."
"Well it's going fine. Are you sure you want to talk now? It sounds like you've got a lot on your plate right now."
"Teresa, I'm fine, really. The kids are just in the other room."
Teresa heard her sister shut a door and the phone became quiet with nothing but small inaudible background noise. "Are you hiding in the bathroom again."
"Yes - but before you say anything, you should know it's a good escape from the chaos."
"May, you need help with these monstrous children. Where's Derek?"
May heard one of her children knock on the bathroom door, but she ignored it. "He's out again." She dug through the contents of a full drawer and pulled out a box of cookies.
"Well, I still say you're lucky to have your little monsters, no matter how fussy they are." She heard her sister munching on something very loudly, but continued talking. "Just think, when they're older and have successful jobs, you'll have raised three accomplished human beings."
"I guess." May said between bites.
Teresa crossed her legs under her desk and sighed. "The new firm is a bit more stiff than my last office. However it pays beautifully. Also, I'm getting cases everyday! Some short and some long, but I never feel overworked, which is nice."
May felt as though she could cry when she heard the word "overworked". She had felt so sleep deprived these past few years with her kids. Her husband Derek was almost no help but she couldn't confront him, she had no time. "Teresa, you say you've always wanted to be a mother right?"
"Yes, but I'm not sure if I could handle three. Maybe one."
"What if you came for a visit this Christmas? It's only a week or so away, I'm sure that's plenty of time to book a plane ticket." Teresa opened her mouth to refuse but May continued. "And don't worry about a hotel room; I insist you stay with us."
Teresa bit her lip. She was unsure of her recurring dream of settling down and starting a family. May always made it sound so horrible, but still, something about family-life was appealing.
She looked out the window of her lonely office and sighed. "So how are the kids?" May began to drone on about random facts regarding her kids which allowed Teresa to think and not have to respond to her sister's comments until later.
Teresa had always wanted to go to law school. It had been her dream to be a lawyer; serving her country by giving out justice. But the job wore her down. The cases she was getting seemed more and more depressing as the years went on. Her opponents were looking younger. The judges looked older.
She thought by joining a new firm in a new town her mind would forget about its troubles, but it hadn't. Now she was stuck as another ruthless prosecutor at another stone-faced firm. She set the phone on her desk and walked around the room. May was still speaking but was on the topic of the recent sickness of her oldest child.
"Just a cough, I'm sure. What do you think, Teresa?"
Teresa wasn't there. She had circled the room like a vulture before leaving the room. She saw an intern walking frantically down the hall carrying three trays of coffee. He rushed by without another word.
Other lawyers were cooped up in their own officials. Though many blinds were shut over the windows which looked into their offices. The closed blinds made her sad. What could be so serious they needed full seclusion? Teresa knew - maybe a murder case, or maybe a case of illegal pirating. What if a drug lord were on trial? May's life seemed so much simpler than Teresa's dealing with children seem much more fun then dealing with murders.
Teresa walked back to her apartment with none of her things. She decided she'd call work to say she didn't feel well, but she realized her phone was still at her office. She reached her apartment and shut the heavy door behind her as she stepped inside. She used the age-old landline to call her colleague at work to bring her things by the next day.
Kicking off her shoes, she collapsed on the couch and thought. Her landline interrupted her thoughts with a loud ring. She picked up the phone, not knowing or caring who it was.
"Teresa?" May's voice came clearly through the phone in a worried tone. "What happened?"
"Just, lost in thought, is all."
"Well, I hope you don't mind, but the reason I brought up your visit was because, well..." she hesitated. "Just open your email."
May hung up the phone leaving Teresa confused, and alone with her thoughts once again. Though she did as her sister said. She pulled out her laptop and opened her email. This was her personal email rather than her work email. It was full of emails since she never opened it. There was one new email in her inbox, and it was from May. The email read:
"I've bought you a plane ticket to fly home, to me. I hope you'll accept. The link is attached here."
Teresa was shocked. she was thankful and at the same time it meant a lot of her that May did this. Her troubles felt like they had melted away.