“I…uh…” I couldn’t really remember what I needed. Bridget’s perkiness coming from my husband’s personal phone had completely messed with my mind.
“Oh, and Bridget,” Michael’s muffled voice echoed through the phone as if he had a hand covering the speaker. “While you’re out, will you stop by Starbucks for me?”
“Absolutely, Mr. Thomas” she cooed.
God, I hated her.
“Do you want your usual?”
He has a usual?
“Definitely. Thanks, babe. Love ya, mean it.”
Thanks babe? Love ya, mean it? What the hell?! Heat coursed through my veins as I struggled to contain my rage.
“Sorry, about that,” Michael’s voice rang clear as he dropped his hand from the phone speaker, indicating that, once again, he was speaking to me. “Did you need something, Kaitlyn?”
Yeah, I need that tramp to get fired.
“Yeah, I just wanted to remind you that Eli’s tee ball game is tonight at six.”
Michael sighed. “Sorry, I have to work late tonight.”
“Of course you do.” I said snidely.
“What was that for?” Michael snapped.
“Thanks, babe. Love ya, mean it” I mocked him in the same pouty voice Bridget used to get his attention. “What the hell, Michael?”
“What? It’s totally innocent. Bridget knows that. I just say junk like that so she’ll bring me my coffee. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Right. I guess that’s why when I fix your coffee for you every morning you barely take time to thank me, much less tell me you love me.”
Michael huffed. “I don’t have time to argue, Kaitlyn. I’m sorry. If it makes you feel better, I won’t say it again. Bridget knows I’m teasing her. It’s nothing. I swear.”
“Ok, Michael. Whatever. I guess we’ll see you after the game.”
“Fine. See you later.”
Michael disconnected, and I gripped the phone angrily as if taking my frustration out on the electronic device would somehow rectify the situation.
“Love you too,” I muttered, as the words ‘thanks babe’ and ‘love ya, mean it’ bounced around in my mind like tiny wooden balls tumbling in a bingo cage.
“Who’s ready for a night on the town?” Shannon called from the bathroom as she stood in front of the mirror adding the final touches of her makeup. Shannon had been a stay-at-home mom for the last ten years. The epitome of homemaking, she always left me envious of her organizational skills and her level head. Shannon always seemed to have it all together.
“I know I am!” Tori yelled from the kitchen as she poured some vodka into her glass of orange juice. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve been out with the girls!” Without a doubt, Tori could claim to be the most physically fit mom of our group. Almost nothing prevented her from keeping her strict workout schedule at the local YMCA. She had muscle definition in places I couldn’t even imagine having muscles at all.
Together, we were excited to have a few nights of fun without catering to the needs of our families.
…………………
I sat with my back to the stage. I had immersed myself so deeply in the conversation that I barely noticed karaoke had ended and a band had started setting up on stage. My friends and I were laughing hysterically at the fools we had made of ourselves during our poor rendition of Aretha Franklin’s song, Respect. Downing a few drinks prior to our performance gave me the courage to embarrass myself on stage.
In the background, a voice emerged from the microphone.
“Testing…one, two, three…Testing…”
The hair on the back of my neck stood upright. My body seemed to recognize the smooth and soothing voice, but my mind could not recall it.
I quickly spun around in my seat and stared at the figure on stage. We sat too far away from the stage, and the terrible lighting in the bar restricted my view.
“What’s the matter, Kaitlyn?” Shannon sounded concerned. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“That voice. It sounds so familiar. I’ve heard it before,” I stammered.