I’m not sure of the exact date my marriage started to crumble, but I know that everything changed the day Rachel walked into my life… 

Chapter 1

“Mia, really?” My husband of eleven years was on my case again. “Can’t you skip your girl time and help me put together this furniture?”

John glanced at me from over the pile of IKEA melamine panel and particle boards. His brow glistened with sweat while his warm brown eyes looked into mine. He was building a desk for our son, and the thing had more pieces than a jigsaw puzzle. It was a rare Saturday where we didn’t have any obligations, so I'd made a movie date with my friends. There was no chance I was going to bail on them to help build this desk. Almost certainly I’d be directed how to twist a screw and listen to my husband curse all day. My stomach was still hurting from the last argument we’d had over what comprised quality time. I needed some fun.

“John, you’ve got this. Last time we tried to build that armoire together I thought you might end up divorcing me.” I smiled at him, hoping to win him over. “I don’t know why you didn’t just order a desk from Crate & Barrel, or another store that delivers assembled furniture. You’d save yourself half a day!”

He looked at me like I was insane. I remembered when he used to look at me with lust in his eyes. It felt like ages ago.

“Crate and Barrel? I’m not wasting hundreds of dollars on a desk which looks the same, but costs more. No, Mia, you know that’s not wise.”

The fact that my spouse was being frugal irritated me today. We were doing well financially, and could afford to send some Pottery Barn’s way. John was now making great money in his career, yet even after his obscene commission check, he was still buying Groupons, and pressuring me to grocery shop at Walmart. John always loved to save a buck, and I used to appreciate this about him. Lately, however, it seemed those quirks we used to love about each other had become annoyances. I had encouraged him to go for the better quality desk our son had really wanted, but he’d refused.

“Babe, I’m already late,” I used the pet name we’d so easily become accustomed to. “I’ll be back for dinner. The kids are at the neighbor’s, so you’ll have peace.” I grabbed my Michael Kors purse, hoisted it onto my shoulder, and smoothed my chestnut hair.

He looked defeated. “Maybe I want to see your cute face while I’m working,” he stated. “Who’s going to bring me a sandwich?” He winked.

His attempt to convince me with humor wouldn’t work today. Although he was looking sexy amidst all the hardware and random tools. I wished we could turn back the clock a few years, to when we’d been less uptight.

I’d been trying to get some quality time with my husband for months but he always seemed busy with work. Lately we were like ships passing in the night. I felt we were heading towards trouble, but today wasn’t the day to analyze. My girlfriends were waiting, and I needed a break from my mommy duties.

“You’re really going?” He asked again as he picked up the included miniature hammer which closely resembled one of our son’s toys.

I sighed, feeling a tinge of guilt. “Yes. I’m sure you’ll have it all done by the time I’m back. We can catch up on Property Brothers tonight when the twins are asleep.”

Slightly mollified by my offer, he grunted agreement before banging away on the desktop again. “Maybe, but I have some work to do.”

I sighed. This shouldn’t have surprised me, as John often prioritized his career.

“Okay, love you,” I called out over the hammering.

John simply glared at me, and didn’t say it back. My heart tugged, while a slight feeling of fear rose inside me. Maybe I wasn’t making the right choice. Although it was just an afternoon rendezvous with my girlfriends at the movies. We married moms needed to have some freedom and fun. Before I started the engine, I shot the group a quick text.

On my way…

I turned the key in the ignition, and I backed out of the garage. While my car idled in the driveway, I heard the ping. Checking my phone to see who’d replied, I saw the brief message from my favorite friend. Simple, but meaningful: three red hearts.

My own heart did a little zip. I was making the right choice. My friendships, and the occasional bottle of wine, were what I counted on to temporarily escape the monotony of married life in the suburbs.

Copyright Laura Lombardo 2022