One of the Guys

by Jessica Strassner

  “Smart move, baby,” her dad said.

  “But she needs to date, too. Do you go out any dates anymore? What about that one guy from awhile back? Brian, I think?” She turned a burner off, took the pot of broccoli to the sink, and drained it.

  “He’s married.” Kate giggled as her father made a face behind her mother’s back. “I don’t feel like dating anyone right now. I work a lot. I’m busy.”

  “Don’t think I didn’t see that, Bob. Katie, how are you going to ever get married if you don’t date anybody?” Karen asked, dropping a couple oversized pats of butter into the bowl of broccoli and placing it on the table.

  “It’s not 1952, Mom. I don’t have to run out and get married right this second.”

  “But you’re not even looking!”

  Having had enough of the dating discussion, her father excused himself to leave Kate and her mother in the kitchen. He paused behind Kate’s chair to lean down and whisper in her ear,

  “Don’t rush. The right guy will come along when you least expect it.”

  The words gave her goosebumps. Lucy had said the very same thing. And awhile back, so had Julia. Everyone was saying that. Maybe she really did just need to cool things for awhile.

  “I just want you to be happy,” Karen said, going to a cabinet and handing her a stack of plates. Kate got to her feet and set the table.

  “I am happy,” she insisted. She retrieved silverware from the drawer and placed the forks and knives on the table as her mother pulled the potatoes out of the oven and rested the hot casserole dish on a folded-up dishtowel. Then she plated the pork chops and announced that dinner was ready.

  Kate took her seat again and hoped that they could talk about other things over dinner. As her mom split and buttered corn muffins for everyone, Kate spooned scalloped potatoes on her plate. Then she eyed the huge pork chops and wondered how she was supposed to eat all of this food. “This is the biggest pork chop I’ve ever seen,” she remarked.

  “That’s dinner,” her dad replied.

  Kate lo oked at him quizzically as she speared a pork chop and put it on her plate. She cut it into several pieces and then heaped some broccoli onto her plate as well.

  “He’s not kidding,” Karen said. “That’s dinner.”

  Kate didn’t know what her parents were talking about, but the pork chop was delicious.

  She quickly gobbled up a few bites and then helped herself to a big mouthful of scalloped

  potatoes. Her parents were looking at her and quietly eating.

  Finally, Bob broke the silence. “The pig.”

  Kate paused, her fork in midair. She looked at her dad, and then at the breaded piece of meat on the end of her fork.

  “That pork chop is Dinner. The pig.”

  Kate gasped.

  “We shouldn’t have told her,” Karen said. “Now she won’t eat it.”

  Both parents waited for her reaction. Kate erupted into giggles, and then finally, full laughter. Her parents joined in, as well. “Dinner’s pretty good, right?” her father grinned.

  “This is Dinner?” she asked, looking at her fork. She shook her head, thinking back to how worried she’d been about her parents’ pigs and what could have happened if they wandered off the property and out onto the road. Dinner, the biggest of the pigs, had just been happy to flop around in the mud puddle he’d found. Kate of course, hadn’t been happy to land in the puddle with him.

  “Dinner is pretty good,” she agreed, sticking her fork in her mouth.

  *

  Later that night, after sitting on the porch and having a few more beers with her dad, Kate found herself sitting on the swing by herself, wrapped in a blanket. The woods around her parents’ little house were extremely quiet. She could see why her parents liked it up here; she just wasn’t sure that she could live here all the time.

  She fumbled under the blanket to reach the phone in her pocket. She slid it out and peered at the bright screen. No phone calls, no text messages. It was unusual for her not to hear from anybody when she traveled to visit her parents.

  She imagined that Lucy and Jackson were probably busy planning the first of many joint-family holiday get-togethers. Max was probably with the blonde girl. Chris was… Oh, who cares?

  *

  When Kate returned to her house the day after Thanksgiving, she was struck by how quiet everything was. She was used to Lucy hanging around the house during school holidays, grading papers and working on lesson plans. Now Lucy and all of her stuff was all moved in to her new house, and the house seemed empty.

  Kate dropped her things off in the bedroom and then carried the cooler of leftovers that her mom had packed into the kitchen. She started putting the containers of turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy away when the phone rang.

  “Hello?” she said, tucking the phone into her shoulder.

  “Oh, hey. You’re home. It’s Kevin.”

  “Hey,” she replied. “I just got in. What’s up?”

  “I was thinking about seeing if the guys wanted to go out tonight. I just didn’t know if anybody was doing anything. What do you think? You want to do something?”

  Kate finished putting the last of the leftovers away and considered Kevin’s invitation. She didn’t really feel like hanging out with Max or Chris. She also had to get up early the next day for work. “I think I’m going to have to pass,” she said.

  “Okay,” Kevin said. “Just thought I’d ask. Are you in for poker tomorrow tonight?”

  “Umm,” Kate chewed her lip. “Tomorrow’s actually a really busy day, and I have an evening wedding that might run kind of late. Probably not. Maybe next weekend.”

  She and Kevin chatted for a few more minutes and then they said goodbye. Kate felt somewhat relieved that she wouldn’t have to see Max or Chris for a few days.

  She changed into a pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt, deciding that she would do some cleaning, and maybe even get some Christmas decorations down out of the attic. She turned the radio on and turned the volume up high.

  Throughout the afternoon, she ran the dishwasher, did a few loads of laundry, vacuumed, and cleaned both bathrooms. When the dishwasher cycle was finished, she emptied it and then thoroughly wiped down all of the countertops in the kitchen. She collapsed on the couch, thinking that she should’ve poured herself a glass of wine when she was in the kitchen.

  She dozed off for a few minutes, only to be awakened by the distant ringing of her cell phone. She stumbled into her bedroom to grab the phone out of her purse, and plopped down on the bed. “Hello?”

  “Kate? It’s Julia.”

  Kate immediately sat up and whirled around, looking at the clock on her night stand. Had she forgotten an appointment? Was she supposed to be doing something? “Hello?”

  “I’m sorry to be bugging you…” Julia began.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything is… Fine. I just… Do you think you could meet me somewhere?”

  “Yeah, sure. No problem. Where? When?”

  “How about Vintage in, say, half an hour?”

  Kate agreed and hung up the phone, wondering why in the world her boss wanted to meet her at such short notice. She hoped everything was okay. She hurried into the bathroom and scraped her hair back into a neater ponytail. She did her makeup in a flash and then found herself staring at the clothes hanging in her closet. She decided on a pair of black leggings and a long, charcoal gray sweater. She added some earrings and pulled on a pair of slouchy black boots. Pleased with how she looked, she grabbed her purse and headed for the door.

  When Kate arrived at Vintage, the place was packed and the mood was very festive. Pine garlands and twinkle lights were strung back and forth across the ceiling and red and green candles dotted all of the little tables. She spotted Julia sitting at the corner of the bar with a glass of red wine in front of her. She hurried over and Julia moved her purse and coat from the bar stool next to her, so that she could sit down. “Is everything okay
?” Kate asked, loosening her scarf. She waved to the waiter and pointed to Julia’s wine glass, indicating that she’d like one for herself.

  Julia sighed. “I just needed to get out of the house.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I know it’s terrible, but I had to get out of there. And I didn’t know who else to call.”

  “So you… called me?” Kate asked, reaching for the wine glass the bartender handed her.

  “I invented a ‘work emergency.’” Julia grinned.

  Kate giggled. “You mean, so you would have an excuse to get out of the house? Why? What’s going on?”

  Julia shook her head. “It’s nothing, really. Alex’s parents are in town for Thanksgiving and while they’re great people, it is so frustrating to listen to them talk to Alex about his job. All these years later, and they still think he should’ve gone into medicine like everyone else in the family.”

  “They don’t like that Alex is a teacher?”

  Julia shook her head. “And I really think that they hate the fact that I’m kind of the sole breadwinner. I think that bugs them.”

  Kate exhaled. “That sucks.”

  “And of course, they don’t like the fact that we had Allie before we got married. Sometimes I wonder if they like anything about us.” Julia took a long sip from her wine glass.

  Kate looked at Julia with surprise. “I didn’t know all that. I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry to dump that on you,” Julia said, screwing up the corner of her mouth as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. “I just had to get away for a little while, and when I was trying to decide where to go, I realized that I didn’t have anyone to call who might understand. And it’s not just that – I realized that I didn’t have anyone to call who might be free.”

  Kate giggled. “Well, usually if I’m not working, I’m free.”

  “You are so lucky.”

  “Me?”

  “To be single. To be unattached. To be able to get up and go do whatever you want without having to make up stories about work problems. To not have to deal with your in-laws.”

  “You’re the lucky one. Married to a great guy. With a sweet kid.”

  Julia shrugged. “Sometimes I wonder…”

  “Oh, don’t say stuff like that!” Kate said. “Don’t ruin the dream for the old single lady!”

  Julia sighed. “Seriously, though… Thank you so much for coming out here.”

  “Not a problem,” Kate said. “I was just thinking about opening a bottle of wine and taking a bath and watching a movie or something. What an exciting Friday night, right?”

  “Oh, God, that sounds so great.”

  Kate laughed. “Great? Sounds boring to me.”

  Julia drained her wine glass. “Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve been able to do something like that? Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve gone to a bar like this?”

  Kate shook her head and gestured to the bartender for another glass of wine for Julia. “Then we should do this more often!” Kate said. “We always say we’re going to go out and we never do.”

  “I know, I know.” Julia smiled. “It would be really nice to go out with a friend and not always have to talk about the in-laws, pre-school, and who got who sick this week…”

  “For me, it would be really nice to hang out with a girl,” Kate admitted. “I mean, I have my friend Lucy and everything, but she’s the one who’s getting married…”

  Julia nodded. “Things are different?”

  “Not yet…” Kate said slowly. “But I’m sure they will be. She’s my only girl friend. Everybody else that I hang out with is a guy. And I love the guys… But it would be nice to have more girl friends to spend time with.”

  “Weren’t you dating one of these guys or something?”

  “Kind of. But not anymore. Just friends.”

  “Friends and dating. That hardly ever works out.”

  “Tell me about it,” Kate said.

  *

  Kate and Lucy sat on the floor, looking up at the massive Christmas tree that now took up one corner of Lucy and Jackson’s living room. Lucy and Jackson were all moved in, furniture had been purchased and delivered, and all of their things had been unpacked and combined to fill the house and make it into their home.

  Lucy had decided to wait until New Year’s Eve to have a party rather than try to have everyone over for Christmas. People were too busy shopping, traveling, and visiting, and Lucy and Jackson had been so busy getting moved in, that she decided that it would be better just to wait. However, she couldn’t wait to decorate the house for the holidays, so while Jackson tackled putting the lights up outside, she and Kate decorated the tree.

  Now that she’d had some time to get used to the idea, Kate didn’t feel so bad about Lucy and Jackson’s engagement anymore. She’d spent enough time with the two of them to know that their friendship would remain the same.

  “More wine?” Lucy asked, getting to her feet.

  “Yes, please.” Kate handed Lucy her glass and adjusted an ornament that had twisted around backwards on one of the bottom branches of the tree. Jackson came into the room and sank into the couch, kicking off his shoes. “All done outside?” she asked him.

  “Yeah. I think Lucy will be pretty happy,” he said.

  Lucy rejoined them in the living room. She bent and gave Jackson a big kiss. “The lights look great outside,” she said. She handed Kate her glass of wine, and sat down cross-legged on the floor in front of the tree again.

  “Should I order dinner?” Jackson asked.

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  “I get dinner, too?” Kate asked. “Thanks.”

  Lucy smiled. “Get extra egg rolls,” she said to Jackson.

  The two girls sat admiring the tree and making adjustments to the ornaments that were in reach while Jackson called and ordered Chinese food. “A honey garlic chicken, an orange chicken, an order of Szechuan beef, chicken fried rice, a couple orders of spring rolls… and egg rolls. Yes. Yes. Chicken fried rice instead of white rice…”

  Overhearing Jackson’s order, Kate nudged Lucy. “Why is he ordering so much? You know how Chinese food is. The three of us could split an order of garlic chicken and we’d be fine.”

  Lucy took a sip of her wine. “I think he said the guys are coming over, too. To watch some football game or something.”

  “Oh.” Kate groaned inwardly.

  For the past few weeks, she’d managed to avoid the guys. She’d been very busy at work, she’d had several evening weddings, and last weekend, she’d even managed to convince Julia to meet her for drinks again after they both finished the weddings they were overseeing. Anything to avoid seeing all of the guys at poker. Of course, she’d have to see them eventually.

  With the food order placed, Jackson got up to get the dishes and silverware. Lucy got back to her feet and started adjusting a few ornaments higher up on the tree. Kate thought about going to check her appearance in the bathroom, but it was too late. The doorbell rang and in came Max, Chris, and Kevin. They all hovered in the kitchen for awhile with Jackson, drinking beer and talking loudly about whatever game they were going to watch on TV.

  Lucy went into the kitchen to greet everyone, but Kate remained on the floor with her glass of wine.

  “The tree looks nice.”

  Kate looked up just as Chris crouched down next to her. “Hey,” she said.

  “Hey, yourself. Where have you been lately? I haven’t seen you at poker in forever.”

  Kate shrugged. “Busy, I guess.”

  Chris narrowed his eyes. “Busy, or did I piss you off?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.

  “Is it because I wouldn’t spend the night at your house like you wanted?” he asked.

  “Lower your voice!” she said.

  “Do you know why I didn’t want to spend the night with you?”

  Kate glared up at him, not sure she wanted to
hear what he was going to say.

  “There are several reasons. One, because apparently you were dating Max. Two, because Max always said you didn’t want to get serious with him because you were looking for a real relationship. So yeah, that makes three, that I was afraid that we were going to get too serious, too fast, and that it would ruin our friendship.”

  Kate sat staring at him, feeling like a little child being scolded.

  “So which is it?”

  “Which… What?”

  “Who are you dating? Are you dating Max? Are you dating me? What’s going on?”

  “I’m not dating anybody. I thought Max and I had a deal. I thought you and I could be a couple. That didn’t seem like it was working. So I’m not dating anybody.”

  “That’s it, then? We’re done? Just like that?”

  “What’s the point? You just said you didn’t want things to get too serious. So, there you go. You’re off the hook. You don’t have to worry about it.” With that, Kate got to her feet, grabbed her wine glass, and headed for the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks when her eyes met Max’s. He’d told Jackson. He’d told Chris…

  In the kitchen, Jackson put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Can I fill up your glass?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  “There she is! Hey, Kate! You haven’t been at poker lately. Jackson says you’ve been really busy with work!” Kevin said, digging into a bowl of chips as Lucy shook them out of the bag.

  Kate nodded. “Everybody’s starting to plan their summer weddings…”

  “Which reminds me!” Lucy shrieked. “I need to show you something. Come upstairs!”

  Although she was relieved, Kate raised her hands in a gesture as if to say, “See what I mean?” and allowed Lucy to grab her by the wrist and pull her out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

  “What’s this all about?” Kate asked, sitting down on the edge of Lucy and Jackson’s bed.

  “I found my wedding dress.”

  Kate gasped. “What? I thought we were going to go shopping together after Christmas.”