Quadruplets Make Six

“Between work and trying to find a new job, yeah,” I said.

“You’re trying to find a new job? Since when!? Anderson is going to be so upset.”

“Since this past weekend.”

“What happened this past weekend?” she asked.

“My cousin’s wedding, remember?” I asked.

“And how does a wedding translate into you finally taking my advice?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I just… saw people there who had these wonderful lives and happy smiles on their faces. And I want that, you know? I want those smiles and that kind of happiness. I’m content with where I’m at, but I’m not happy I don’t think.”

“Well, it’s about time you started looking for something. Now would you come sit down? Your wine’s getting warm.”

“Give me a second. I’m cleaning up our plates of Chinese takeout.”

“I’ll do that later if you come sit down and tell me all about these new plans of yours,” she said.

I sat the dirty plates into the sink as Joanna held out her glass of wine for me. I took it from her and grinned, then sat down on the couch next to her. I missed this. I missed having these nights with her. She was the only friend I really had, so seeing her was always a treat. But even she was married with a daughter now, which meant significantly less time with her.

Which meant more time to dwell on how everyone seemed to be leaving me behind in their lives.

“So, what kinds of jobs are you applying for?” Joanna asked.

“The plan is to eventually go back and get my Master’s so I can become a social worker, but I figured with my experience in secretarial work and my Bachelor degree in Psychology I could try to fuse the two.”

“Like…?”

“I don’t know. Seeing if social services offices need secretaries? Or representatives of some sort. It would give me a shoe-in towards the job I really want. Or I could become a career counselor at one of the high schools I tutor at. I’ve got connections in there as well I could probably use.”

“Getting you down to one job that would give you what you can make for yourself now would help out with your crazy schedule. Give you a bit more time to yourself,” she said.

“Oh, I’ve got plenty of time to myself. But I don’t feel like my life is progressing forward or anything. I mean, look at you. You’re married with a baby, and happy as can be.”

“You’re not happy, Libby?”

“Like I said, I’m content. I’ve got my little apartment and I’ve got Mozart. But I’ve stalemated.”

“And the wedding helped you to see this,” Joanna said.

“More or less. I got to catch up with some family and see how their lives have changed. How people have moved on or become successful or found their significant others. They chose the path they wanted and they ran with it. Then… there’s me.”

“I had no idea you were feeling this way. Why haven’t you called me?”

“Because you have your own life. A daughter who needs you more than ever and a husband you love dearly. I don’t want to interrupt that. Besides I work for him, I didn’t want to mix business with pleasure.”

“But you’re my Libby. You mean something to me. You know you can call me anytime you need me.”

“And I appreciate it. I’m just telling you all that happened in my mind over the weekend,” I said.

“So, when do you start putting in applications to these places?”

“I did some preliminary research last night and cleaned up my resume. Once I’m in bed again tonight, I’ll apply to some places before I go to sleep.?

??

“You mentioned something that’s stuck with me, though.”