In ninth grade, four-eyed Gina decided to become popular. She studied and emulated Dani and friends. She straightened her hair like them, wore earrings and slinky tops she’d stolen from the mall, rehearsed conversations and facial expressions in front of the bathroom mirror, and memorized dozens of song lyrics. Sure, she gave up her number-two singles position on the high school tennis team to make time for these social studies, but by tenth grade she had a boyfriend and Dani.
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Twelve years later, Gina brought Maurits, whom she had met the week before, to Dani and Scott’s engagement party. After introducing Maurits and his pole-shaped body and bushy eyebrows to Dani, Gina followed Dani through the restaurant and called after her, “He’s only a date.” But blue-eyed Dani, in her white, off-shoulder sculptured mini dress and white Manolo pumps, leaned into Gina and whispered, “I bet he does magic with those plump lips.”
Maurits, who sat at the bar sipping red wine, suddenly looked desirable.
After Dani and Scott married, Gina equated being single with standing alone on the shore of a deserted island. A potential husband would be a rescue boat. But, should she climb aboard the first to arrive, even if it were a tugboat with a wheezing engine and peeling paint? Or should she hold off in case a yacht anchored in a year or two?
The morning Gina married a tugboat, she asked Dani, “Do you think Maurits is good looking?”
“Sure!”
Gina watched Dani’s reflection in the mirror as she zipped her gown. “But do you think we would’ve liked him in high school?”
Dani looked up and tilted her head.
They laughed and posed for selfies Gina posted on Facebook.
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Since she was still childless, Gina volunteered to travel again for her and Dani’s biannual BFF visit. Maurits waved goodbye from their front stoop and then continued reading his poetry book as she started her engine.
Three hours later, Scott hollered “Hey, Good Looking!” from his BMW idling beside the train platform. “Dani’s feeding the baby, so I’m your chauffeur.” Scott had a dimple and perfect teeth.
The car’s interior was warm and smelled new. The heated seat relaxed Gina and, after a short highway ride, aroused her. She nearly leaned over and put her mouth in Scott’s lap. It wouldn’t have been the first time. She’d been with Scott in high school. They–Dani’s popular crowd that is–had all been with one another. Sometimes at the same time.
Over the next few days at Dani’s, Gina discovered an unexpected interest in diaper genies, homemade baby food, and breast pumps. On their last night together, after sharing a bottle of pinot grigio, Gina’s emotional elisions caught up with her. She should’ve been more honest with herself before she had married Maurits. She was better than him. Prettier. Popular in high school. A medical assistant, practically a doctor. She blurted, “I don’t love Maurits.”
Dani held Gina’s shoulders at arm’s distance. “You just need to have a baby.”
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