It Happens In Threes

Chapter 5

I did a quick clean of the apartment since the girls would be coming over for Self-care Sundays, where we drank sparkling wine, did each other's toes, and gossiped. Self-care Sundays shouldn't be confused with Happy Hour.

Just like every week, Lindsey came on time with a bottle of expensive wine, French bread, and fancy cheeses. As she set up in the kitchen I put on our old high school jam playlist, which was full of old bands that we don't listen to anymore. As she platted the cheeses, I called Amber, who said that she was finding parking.

"Dollar bet she hasn't even left the house yet," Lindsey said putting the smorgasbord on my coffee table. I laughed as I took out my manicure and pedicure kit.

"I wouldn't put it passed her," I said as Lindsey sat down on my floor cushion. The annoying thing about being a tight-knit group of three is you don't want to say something to one friend, just to repeat to another friend later. We vowed in college to always share big news when we were all together. Judging by both of our silences we both had news.

So Lindsey and I sat on the floor cushions and made small talk. "How are the kids?", "How's the blog?", "Did you see Kathren Ryan's Netflix special?", "Why is Trump still president?" you know, just casual conversation.

Just like Lindsey predicted, Amber arrived thirty minutes later. Lindsey promptly sent me a Venmo request for a dollar. I buzzed Amber in and she joined us in my apartment. She bought homemade face masks, lemon pound cake from Starbucks, and sparkling wine.

"Just finding parking?" I said once Amber sat down with us.

"Listen," she said before grabbing a piece of cheese.

"Okay, now that we officially begin," Lindsey said popping the bottle of sparkling wine she bought. She always bought the good shit. "Mark and I shopped around for a marriage counselor. We found this woman, Doctor Kim. She's been a marriage counselor for years and everyone swears by her". Lindsey poured us a glass of wine as Amber mixed up her face mask concoction. Amber was the queen of skincare. She always bought the good shit. "We meet with her tomorrow and I'm a little nervous," Lindsey continued.

"Why?" I asked and Amber nodded.

"Well, Mark and I never really sat down and talked about all the things that bother us. I would say I wanted something and he would through money at it until I got it. But since we're separated and starting this new chapter, I've been thinking," Lindsey paused. "When I got pregnant after college, I didn't really get to work, we chose for me to stay home and be with the kids. At first, I was fine with it, you know, being with the kids, hanging out with you all but now, I think I'm finally realizing what I gave up and what he gave up too."

"What did Mark give up?" Amber asked, almost defensively. As much as we love Lindsey and Mark, we warned her that being a stay at home mom might be a mistake.

"Well, he gave up being home. We're a single-income household. He had to work late nights and give up family vacations. I gave up getting my master's degree and a level of independence." Lindsey finished with a sigh.

Amber and I looked at each other. Almost a lost for words.

"Well, you're only twenty-nine. It's not like you're out of time. Can you apply for schools?" Amber said.

"Yeah, I'm looking into Columbia and New York U. I'm seeing if I can start with online classes and work my way from there," Lindsey said proudly.

"I'm glad, you've always wanted to start a business," I said smiling at her.

"I know, it's been nice taking the last couple of years off, but I think I'm finally ready to start moving forward."

"What does Mark think about all this?" Amber said.