“Not much.” I shrug. “We don’t really talk.”
“Well, maybe you should.” My mother pushes her chair back and yells at a surprisingly loud volume: “Okay! Everyone is on cleanup crew except Jen and Nina.” There are a lot of groans from the living room and basement.
“Come on. Many hands make light work.”
Everyone drags themselves into the dining room.
“Do what Nana says or she’ll make you say the rosary afterward,” I warn everyone. Suddenly the pace picks up noticeably.
“Oh, we’ll be saying the rosary anyway,” my mother assures me. That elicits even more groans.
Nina and I grab the rest of the wine and our glasses and head into the living room.
“Your mama just gave you a spanking, my friend.” Nina smirks.
“I know, right? What’s her deal with Garth?”
Nina shrugs. “So how is my class mom doing?”
“Oh, you know, living the dream.” I start to tell her about the drama surrounding scheduling the parent/teacher conferences.
“I don’t know if Kim Fancy ever got that stupid time slot. I’m hoping Sasha Lewicki stuck with it.”
“Who?” Nina asks from behind her wineglass.
“Sasha Lewicki. Her daughter is Nadine?”
“Never heard of her.”
“Oh, my God. Does that mean I actually know someone you don’t?” I’m sort of kidding, but not really. Nina makes it a point to know everyone because, as she says, “You never know where you’ll find a good lead.” As a freelance graphic designer, she is always looking for new clients. How she does it without pissing people off is beyond me.
“They must be new.” She lowers her voice. “Still crushing on the old flame?”
“Trying not to. But it’s kind of fun, you know?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do know.” She laughs.
“Really?”
She nods. “There is a dad in Chyna’s class who would be shocked to know the things I think about him.”
“Stop it!” I never would have guessed.
She nods. “But he never looks twice at me. You need to be careful. Old flames like to reignite.”
“He’s not an old flame. I had a crush on him. It wasn’t mutual.”
“Uh-huh.” She looks down at her belly and groans. “Why do I always overeat when I come here? Look at this shit!” She shows me a handful of stomach.
“Wanna try Garth? He comes to your house.”
“Maybe in the new year. I’ve got another month of overeating to get through first.”
9
* * *
To: Parents
From: JDixon
Date: 12/5
Subject: Miss Ward’s class is having a bash!
To Be Sung to the Tune of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
10
Garth has me doing jumping jacks downstairs in Ron’s Gym and Tan.
I’ve noticed that, since having Max, I don’t do them with the same abandon I used to. Things just aren’t as tight down there, if you know what I mean.
When I asked him to step up my cardio, I had visions of jogging on a treadmill. But this works, too, I guess. I definitely don’t huff and puff when I run up the stairs anymore.
“… ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred. Good job, Jen! Nice form. Get some water.”
“I have to cut it short today,” I tell him between gasps and gulps of water. “We have a party to go to tonight, and I’m actually going to get a manicure.”
“Oh, fun! I love holiday parties.”
I smile at Garth. He’s always so enthusiastic. When I tell him I need to get my car washed, he’ll say, “Isn’t a clean car just the best?” I wish I could rub some of his positive energy off on Nina. She has gone to the dark place since our night out. When I can get her on the phone, all she does is moan. I went to her house yesterday to bring her Chick-fil-A (her favorite) and she was a mess. She even asked me to take Chyna for the weekend, which I gladly did under the pretense that I needed a babysitter for both Friday and Saturday nights. It’s half true: I’m going to leave Max with Chyna when we go to the Fancys’ shindig tonight. I didn’t really need her last night, but Ron and I took the opportunity to go see an early movie. It had real people and sex and swearing. I had forgotten movies like that existed.
I’m roused from my thoughts by Garth snapping his fingers in front of my face.
“Hello? Where did you go? I said get some water, not some shut-eye!”
“Sorry. Just thinking about tonight.”
“Well, give me twenty push-ups and tell me all about it.”
I drop to my knees on the mat and get into position.
“Oh, I think we can skip the girly push-ups.”
I give him a frantic look.
“Come on. Let’s try some real push-ups. Give me as many as you can.”
I put myself into plank position and ease into it.
“One, two…”
“I’ll count. You just work. So, where’s the party?”
“At the home of some parents in Max’s class.”
Garth nods. “I’m guessing they’re not friends.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, if they were your friends you’d say the party is at a friend’s house.”
I don’t know why I think this is so funny, but I can’t stop laughing. Clearly, the endorphins are getting me high.
“Well, I hope you’re wearing something sleeveless, giddy girl. Your arms are looking great.”
“You know what? I think I will. What about you? Got a hot date tonight?”
Garth smiles. “I wish! I think my dating days are over.”
I think about my mother’s reprimand at Thanksgiving.
“Well, if you don’t have any plans for Christmas, we’d love to have you for dinner. My parents will be here, too.”
“Oh, that’s so kind of you. Can I let you know?”
“Of course.” I’m a little surprised that I didn’t get a yes immediately, but whatever.
Garth extends his hand to me. “Okay, that’s it for today. Have a great time tonight, hot mama.”
“From your lips,” I mutter.
*
“So, what is this couple’s name, again?” Ron asks as we are driving to the Fancys’ neighborhood.
“Kim and David. Daughter is Nancy.”
“And what does he do for a living?”
“No idea,” I reply. “They’re from New York, so something in finance maybe? Wow. Is that their house?” I point to the one at the end of the street. Sure enough, it matches the address I have written on a piece of paper in front of me.
“I’m guessing finance,” Ron says.
The Fancy house is impressive. It takes up what looks like two standard-sized lots and has two driveways. That’s a lot even for Overland Park.
I look down at what I’m wearing. I have abandoned the mom uniform for tonight and gone with a black sleeveless silk top, black skirt, and some ridiculous black heels that Laura made me buy when we were Black Friday shopping. I thought all black would help me blend in, but now I’m wondering if I should have worn my wedding dress. It’s the fanciest thing I own.
“I’ve always wanted to see the inside of this house,” Ron muses as we park on the street.
“You’ve seen it before?” I’m surprised.
“Cindy’s parents live a block away. I used to take a lot of walks in the neighborhood to escape the insanity. I remember when they were just building this place.”
“Who owned it back then?” I ask.
“Some AT&T bigwig.” Ron shrugs.
“Oh, God,” I sigh. “We should have brought a nicer bottle of wine.”