Page 78 of The Woman in 3B
“Where’s your friend today?” Dawn asked when the kids were both strapped into the backseat.
I frowned at her question for multiple reasons. First, because she hadn’t bothered to ask before. It also annoyed me that she hadn’t used Anissa’s name. Dawn hadn’t forgotten her name; it hadn’t even been two weeks. Instead, it was another of her passive aggressive moves like when people uncomfortable with your sexuality insist on calling your same-sex partner or spouse a ‘friend.’ But I was more upset because I was the reason Anissa wasn’t there.
“It’s a long story,” I said.
“It’s okay. It’s private,” Dawn said in a rush. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“Iwantto tell you. It just really is a long story,” I said in earnest. “Besides,” I frowned, “I’m kind of the villain in this story.”
I could practically see the gears churning in my sister’s brain. I knew she wanted to say more or had questions to ask or at least had an opinion she wanted to share. But she surprised me with the words she finally settled on: “How about a hug?”
Tears immediately welled in my eyes. I couldn’t get out the words, so I responded with a watery nod.
My sister’s arms surrounded me, and I leaned into the embrace. People continued to pour out of the school gymnasium into the parking lot, but for a rare moment I didn’t care who might be staring at us. I needed that hug.
When we pulled apart, I noticed the tears in my sister’s eyes as well.
“Areyouokay?” I ventured to ask.
“I’m getting a divorce.”
“You’re what?” I exclaimed.
She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hands. “Nothing’s official yet. I haven’t said anything to David, and I definitely haven’t said anything to the kids, but I think it’s only a matter of time.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing—not like one isolated incident, at least,” she said. “But he’s never around anymore, and I didn’t sign up to be a single parent.”
“Work or something else?” I was afraid to ask.
“He says work, but who can tell anymore,” she shrugged. “His phone rings or he gets a text and then he’s out the door with barely a goodbye. That’s probably why I’ve been so hard on you lately. You not being available and putting your job before your family—.” She held up her hand, anticipating my protest. I decided to let her finish her thought before defending myself. “I wasn’t really mad at you; I was frustrated with David.”
I nodded in understanding. “Have you talked to him about it?”
“He’d have to be home long enough for that to happen,” she complained.
“Talk to him,” I insisted. “Even if you have to stalk him at the hospital.”
Tracking Anissa down at baggage claim hadn’t worked out in my favor, but we also didn’t have the relationship history that Dawn and David had.
Dawn nodded, looking serious instead of dismissive. “I should get these two back home. Peter’s taekwondo uniform gets a little ripe after these things.”
“What kind of competition do the kids have next week?” I asked. “Youth soccer? Hip-hop dance troupe? Competitive hot dog eating?”
Dawn laughed. “It’s actually a rare, activity-free weekend for us.”
“Maybe I could come over to your house next Sunday,” I proposed. “Play some boardgames with you and the kids?”
Dawn’s normally pinched features softened. “That sounds perfect.” She touched a comforting hand against my forearm. “And if Anissa decides to forgive you between now and then, tell her I’m making a pineapple pizza just for her.”
Her suggestion and offer nearly had me crying in the parking lot for a second time. I swallowed back the overwhelming emotions.
“I will.”
I returned home later that evening to Honey and an empty apartment. I was no longer on call, and I had the next day off, which meant I could drink as many cocktails, glasses of wine, or bottles of beer as I could handle, but I settled on a seltzer water instead. I made myself a quick dinner and spent the rest of the night lying in bed.
I flipped through the photos and videos I’d recorded on my phone of the day’s activities. Multiple selfies with June, each of us making funny faces; videos of Peter walking through a few of his poses, punches, and kicks; and images of the moment Peter’s taekwondo instructor handed him the coveted yellow belt.
