The Friends We Keep

“I’m glad you think so. I know that you love the twins and wanted to be home with them, but you also enjoyed working. Being home alone with little kids all day hasn’t been easy. You’re a very good mother.”


She briefly wondered if she’d made a tactical error in location. His office was too much like his power center. Not that she had a power center of her own. What? They would talk in the kitchen?

At least she had the pets on her side. Boomer lay stretched out next to her, his head on her lap, while Jasmine was on the arm of the sofa. Small comfort, but she was going to take all she could get.

“Thank you.” She smiled, then glanced at her notes. “Andrew, I need to work. I love our girls, but I can’t stay home forever. I need to use my brain. I need challenges that aren’t about keeping the twins busy and teaching colors. I want more than this.”

His dark eyes were warm as he nodded slowly. “I know, Gabby. I’ve thought about this a lot. You’re giving up everything. I wish it were different. I mean that. If I could stay home with Makayla’s baby, I would. It’s my turn, right? But you don’t make anywhere near enough to support our family.”

He sounded so rational, she thought bitterly. So “I’m just like you.”

“Of course I don’t make enough. I was working for a nonprofit when we met and I’ve been out of the job market for five years.” Even if she got a job at a big law firm, she would be starting at the bottom. Andrew was a senior executive at a successful firm. He was well compensated for his expertise.

“I’m simply saying that having me stay home isn’t an option.”

“I get that,” she said bitterly. “You get to be the hero, while I’m the bitch who won’t listen to reason.”

“Gabby! I never said that.”

“No. You don’t have to. It’s like offering your kidney to someone when you know you’re not a match. It sounds amazing and you’re at absolutely no risk.”

“Is that really what you think of me? That I’m more interested in semantics than intent?”

“I think you want to be able to tell everyone you did the right thing.” She leaned toward him. “Why am I the only one expected to suffer in all this? I didn’t get pregnant, but only my life is going to change.”

“I think all of our lives are going to change.”

“You know what I mean. Yes, there will be a baby in the house. That will impact all of us. But if I’m to understand what you’re saying has to happen, Makayla will go on with her life unfettered by her child.”

“That’s not what will happen.”

“Really? So she’ll be the primary caretaker of the baby? Except when she’s in school, she’ll feed it and get up at night with it. She’ll change the diapers and dress it while you or I supervise?”

He frowned. “I haven’t thought it through to that level of detail. Is it really necessary all that gets defined today?”

“Yes, it is. I want to know what you think is going to happen. I want to know what you think I’m going to be responsible for with the baby. How much is me and how much is her.” Because they all knew it wasn’t going to be him. Not that she could say that.

“Will she be expected to come home directly after school to care for the baby? Will she have to give up after-school activities or time with her friends?”

The frown deepened. “You’re angry.”

“You’re just now getting that?” She sucked in a breath. “Please answer the question.”

“I don’t know why you’re insisting on making this baby a punishment for her.”

Gabby stood and crossed to the bookshelves, then turned back to face him. Tears burned but she refused to let them fall.

“I’m not,” she said quietly. “I’m really not trying to punish her, Andrew. But I’m also trying not to punish myself. Makayla made choices. There need to be consequences for her. From what you’re suggesting, the only consequences are mine. That hardly seems fair.”

“The baby will be a part of our family. We’ll all pitch in. I’ll help when I’m home. Makayla will help when she—”

There it was. The truth unfettered by anything pretty. Bold and ugly and real.

Gabby turned on her heel and walked out of the room. She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t have the rational fight. Not right now. Not about this.

Andrew stepped into the hallway. “Gabby? What’s wrong?”

“You said it. You finally said it. I knew, of course. How could I not?”

“I honest to God have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She stopped and turned back toward him. As she gazed into the eyes of the man she would have sworn she loved more than anyone in the world, she wondered if their marriage would survive this.