Page 22 of Dating Goals
“Now we’re lucky if we can stay awake past nine,” Maja laughs.
The feeling of being adrift hasn’t subsided even as conversations shift toward everyone’s new lives.
“How’s Zürich treating you?” Lisa asks Maja, who launches into a detailed account of her family’s move from Basel.
“The commute is worth it for the schools,” she explains. “And Daniel’s firm has been so accommodating with my flexible schedule.”
“Same with Geneva,” Sarah adds. “The banking sector there offers much better maternity benefits than I had in Lausanne.”
I nod and smile at appropriate intervals, amazed at how scattered we’ve become across Switzerland, yet they’ve all maintained this shared rhythm of life…marriages, mortgages, babies. Everyone seems to have built these sophisticated lives in bigger cities, while I’ve stayed rooted in our little alpine village, running Papa’s pub.
Ivy and James start opening presents, exclaiming over tiny clothes, toys, and practical items like a breast pump that makes James blush furiously. Ivy unwraps another pastel-colored onesie to exclamations of delight.
I’d spent hours picking out a handcrafted wooden music box from an artisan in my village. Ivy seems genuinely touched when she opens it.
“Oh, Anika, it’s beautiful!” She runs her fingers over the carved forest animals. “This is so special.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I say, relieved in some way. I wanted to give the baby something unique that will last for years. Maybe even pass it down as an heirloom.
The games start next. I try to look engaged during “Guess the Baby Food” and “Measure Mama’s Belly,” but my smile feels increasingly stiff. I manage to win the “Baby Word Scramble” and receive a scented candle as my prize.
By four o’clock, people begin checking watches and mentioning drive times.
“We should hit the road before it gets dark,” Maja announces, gathering her designer handbag. “It’s a long drive back to Geneva.”
“We should go too,” Heidi says, kissing Ivy’s cheek. “This one gets cranky in the car.” She nods toward her husband, who playfully rolls his eyes.
One by one, they gather diaper bags and purses, exchanging promises to meet up again soon, though we all know it might be months before schedules align. I remain behind, stacking plates and gathering champagne flutes as the apartment empties.
“You don’t have to clean up, Anika,” Ivy protests, but looks relieved when I insist.
With just the three of us left, the apartment feels spacious again. James collects torn wrapping paper while I gather stray napkins and deflate balloons, grateful for something to do with my hands.
We work quietly for a few minutes, the soft clink of dishes and rustle of garbage bags the only sounds until the apartment looks presentable again.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Ivy asks, sinking onto the sofa with a sigh of relief, hands resting on her belly.
“It was lovely,” I say, sitting across from her on a soft armchair. “Everyone seems to be doing so well.”
James emerges from the kitchen with three mugs of tea. “They all talk so bloody fast. I caught maybe half of what everyone was saying.”
“You’re getting better,” I assure him, accepting the steaming mug. “At least you’ve mastered ‘Grüezi’ without sounding like a complete tourist.”
Speaking of tourists, a flash of that Canadian hockey player’s face comes into my mind’s eye. I immediately push that way down.
We settle into a comfortable silence, the kind only possible with old friends. Ivy kicks off her shoes and props her swollen feet on the coffee table.
Then Ivy and James exchange one of those married-couple glances, the kind that contains an entire conversation.
“So, Anika,” Ivy begins, with an attempted casualness that immediately puts me on alert. “We’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
James sits beside Ivy, their shoulders touching. “My colleague Thomas is moving to Switzerland next month,” he says. “British bloke, about our age, very nice.”
“Very handsome,” Ivy adds with a significant look.
“Oh no.” I set my mug down carefully. “I know where this is going.”
“He’s brilliant,” Ivy adds eagerly. “He’s a landscape architect, loves hiking and skiing. Totally your type.”
