SincemovingtoMountainTown,Ihavehosted manyvisitorscuriousaboutmynewmountain life.Oneofthosewasmyformerneighbor,who neededabreakfromcaringforfourchildren whileherhusband’sworktookhimawayforlong periods.Ialwayswonderedifhewassomekindof mercenary,butfeltitwasbestnottoask questions.
FromtheminuteSerenalandedshewasaballof energy!Readytopartyandmingleinanew environmentfarawayfromhome.Shewasinawe ofthelifethatIcreatedandwhatastarkcontrast itwasfrommyworldthatsheexperiencednext door.
Ihadoftengonetoheraskingforadviceabout mymarriageorjusttogetawayfromthe suffocationthatIfeltduringthoselastmonthsof sortingouttheseparation.Shewasagood distractionformeandwasalwaysopento includingmeinheractivities.Ihadseenhow overwhelmedshewastryingtodoitallwhileher husbandwasaway.AndIwantedtomakesure thatshewasabletorelaxandenjoyhervisit.
Serenamentionedthatshewaswearingsupport hoseaftergettingsurgerytoremovevaricose veins.Ididn’tthinkanythingofit.AndIwas proudofherfordoingsomethingtomakeherself feelbetter.
Oncewegotsettledin,westartedtogetreadyfor ourfirstnightoutonthetown.Charliehad startedhangingoutwiththebounceratthe SaddlebackSaloonandheinvitedustoalocal partyfilledwithathletes.HewasaformerUSSki Teamaerialistandheandhisfriendshada condowithafantasticviewoftheWasatch Range.
Whenwearrived,itbecameapparentthatwe weretheonlygirlsattheparty.Wordhadgotten outthatJoshandIbrokeupandtheboyswere notwastinganytime.Eventhoughtheywere cool,good-lookingguys,Iwaswaryofgettinginto anotherrelationship
Charlie’s“friend”EthangreetedherandAbby. Youcouldtellhewasreallyintoher,butCharlie wasnotinterestedinanythingserious.
SerenawascorneredbyalocalMountainTown characternamedWayne.Hewasharmlessandcould bequiteentertaining,butSerenawasclearlynot enjoyingherself.
“Whydoyougetallthecuteguys?”shesaid.Iwasa bitperplexedbythisquestion. “Serena,maybeitisbecauseyouaremarried.And theseguysknowusfromaroundtown.”
“WhydoyoukeeptellingpeoplethatIammarried?”
“Ididn’trealizethatwasasecret?”Isaidwitha surprisedexpression. “IneedtolosethisguyWayne.He’sblockingmy game.”
ThenextmorningSerenabounceddownthestairs withahugesmileonherface.
“Goodmorning!Youlookbrightandshinytoday. Didyouhavefuntherestofthenight?“Iasked.
Serena,Charlie,andAbbyhadcontinuedtothe SaddlebackSaloonaftertheparty.Iwasnotinthe moodanddecidedtogohomeandhangoutwith Ryley.
“Yes!Thistownisamazing.Imetaguyatthe Saddlebackandwentbacktohisplace.Wefooled aroundbutImadehimtakemehomebecausehis placewassogross.Thebathroomwasdisgusting, andheonlyhadonesheetonhisbed.”
“Whowasthisguy?Whathappenedtoyour supporthose?Ithoughtyoucouldn’ttakethem off?”
“No,theywerestillon.Itwasfine.Theyarethigh highs.Hewasabletogettotheimportantplaces.” shesaidasshegrinnedmischievously. HereIamobsessingaboutnewdimplesonthe backofmythighsandthisgirlishookingupwith supporthoseon!
“Icoulddothis.Icouldlivehere.”Serenasaidas shelookedaroundmyhouse. Ok…..Ithoughttomyself.Idecidednottosay anythingandjustassumedthatshewas dreamingoutloud.
Serenacamewithmetoworkforaquicktourand thentookmyjeepfortherestoftheday.Igave hermycreditcardtobuyafewthingstospruce upmyplace.IhavebeensobusywithworkthatI havenothadanytimetodecorate.AndSerena hasimpeccabletaste.Herhomeisbeautifully decoratedandItrustedhertocomebackwith somegreatideasforthemountainhouse.
SinceSerenahadmycar,Phoebeofferedtogive mearidehome.
ItookthisopportunitytodiscussSerena’s behaviorandaskPhoebetoweighin.
“Shestillhadhersupporthoseon?”Phoebesaid indisbelief.
“Ofcoursethatiswhatyoutakeawayfromthis, insteadofthefactthatherpurposeforvisiting meistohaveanaffair.Ormultiple.”
“I
amsurethatisnottrue.Sheseemedhappyto behangingoutwithyou.Canyoublameher?I cannotimaginehavingfourkids!”
WhenIgotbacktothehouse,Iwaspresented withmultiplegoodiesthatSerenapurchased whileIwasatwork.Thenewcowhide-covered barstoolsweremyfavoriteaddition,alongwith thetexturedandsouthwesternthrowpillows. “Ryley”Icalled.Usually,hewouldberightatmy feetbynow.
“Ryley!”Icalledagainlouder.Wherewashe?I couldhearhisfaintcriesasIwalkedaroundthe house,whichgotlouderwhenIgottothelaundry room.Iopenedthedoor.Heshotoutoftherelike acannonball.Thenhestarted“talking”tomelike hedoeswhenheisexcitedorupset. DidSerenalockhiminthereallday?
Igrabbedhisleashandbroughthimoutfora walk.Poorguypeedforasolid3minutes.When wegotback,heranstraightupstairs.
Serenawalkedinshortlyafterward.
“Hiroomie!”shesaid.Onceagain,shedoesnotlive here,butIdidn’twanttoburstherbubble.
“DoyoujustLOVEthestools???Aren’tthey fabulous?”
“Yes,theyaremyfavorite,andthepillows!Thanks forbeingmydecorator,Serena.Ireallyappreciateit. Bytheway,didyoulockRyleyinthelaundryroom?”
“What?Nooooo.Washeinthere?Iwasdoing laundryandmusthavelockedhiminthereby accident.”
“Youdidn’tnoticethathewasmissing?”
“Ihavebeensobusyshoppingandmeetingmy friendsforlunch.Theywantedtotakearideinmy Jeep.”
Friends?“My”Jeep?Shehasbeenhereexactlyone day. Iamstartingtogetconcernedthatshemightknock meoverthebackofthehead,dyeherhairblonde, andassumemyidentity.AndthatKatewouldn’teven notice.
“Olivia!!!”Serenascreamedfromupstairs. “Hepoopedinmysuitcase.Allovermy clothes!”
“OhmyGod!Ryleyyyy.Downstairsnow.Iam sosorrySerena.”
Oncewegotdownstairs,IgaveRyleyatreat. Afterall,shedidlockhiminaroomallday.She kindofdeservedthat.
Serenawentouttomeetupwithher“friends” again,whileRyleyandIhadaquietnightat home.Iusuallylovehavingguests,butIwas alreadydrainedfromSerena’svisit.
ThenextdayIsuggestedthatwespendsometime innature.IdroppedRyleyoffwithCharlieand herdogBruceforaplaydate.Heneededabreak fromSerena,andIneededabreakfromanymore mishaps. SerenaandIdroveforaboutanhourviawinding roads,eventuallyclimbinguptooneofmy favoriteplacesnearMountainTown,Sundance Resort. Itwasacrispyetwarmday,withbeautifulblue skies.SerenaandIrodethechairlifttothetopof thetrailandthenhikeddowntogether.Serena wassurprisinglyathleticandabletokeepupwith mypaceasInavigatedthetwistsandturnsofthe path. “See,Icandothis.Icouldlivehere.Thealtitudeis notbotheringmeonebit!”sheexclaimed.
Maybethiswasn’tthebestidea,Ithought.This wouldbetheperfectsettingtogetridofmeby shovingmeoffthecliff.
Ifinallymusteredupthecouragetoaskthe obviousquestion.
“Areyouthinkingofgettingadivorce Serena?” Sheturnedtomewithalookofdisbeliefonher face.
“What???Nooo!Whywouldyouaskthat??”
“Well,youkeeptalkingaboutlivinghere,and thenyouhookedupwiththatguytheother night.“
“Oh,thatwasnothing.”shesaidwaving.
“AndIcouldlivehereandhavethislife.”
Ididn’thavethehearttotellherthatshe couldn’t.
Serenahasneverworkedadayinherlife.And livingmylifecostsmoney.Unlesssheplansto findsomeonetofundherbiglifechange,it’snot happening.Butmaybethathasbeenherplanall along.
Abbycalledtoseeifwewantedtomeetup.Her boyfriendgotcalledintoworkandshehad someunexpectedfreetime.WemetattheSt. RegisHotelbackinMountainTown.Thegirls andIlovetogothereonweekends.Theyhave themostuniquehappyhourcocktailsandthe locationisspectacular.
Jaywasbartendingthatday.Hemovedto MountainTownabout15yearsagoafter leavingWallStreet.Heisacharismaticguyand afixtureintown.EveryoneknowsJay.Hejust wontheannualcocktailcontestforhisversion ofthePimm’sCup.Whichalsohappenedtobe Serena’sfavoritedrink.
AfteratoasttofriendshipandthePimm’sCup, wemovedontothedeckoverlookingthe mountains.Asthesunsetcastawarmglowon thepeaksandvalleys,Jayperformedthenightly ritualofsaberingabottleofchampagne.Once thespraysettled,hepouredeachofusaglass.
AbbyandIchattedwhilewetookinthebeauty beforeus.SerenahadbeensidlinguptoJayall nightandtookthisopportunitytoexchange numbers.
Serenawasgiddy,talkingabouttheplansthat shehadmadewithJayforthatevening.Even thoughIshouldhavequestionedthischoice,I wasrelievedtobeabletohavesomealonetime.
Exhaustedandtipsy,Idecidedtogotobed early.Suddenly,Iwasstartledfromadead sleepbythesoundofRyleygrowlingand barkingatthetopofthestairs.Iquicklyjumped outofbed,grabbedthelamp,andpreparedfor theintruderapproaching.
“RYLEY!“IheardSerenascream.Iglancedpast thedoortoseeSerenaandJaystumblingupthe stairs.
“Whatareyouguysdoinghere?”
“Myroommatesarehome,andSerenafeltmore comfortablecominghome.”Jaysaid. “Ibetshedid!”Isaidandslammedthe bedroomdoorbehindme.
Serena’sflightwasthenextmorningandshewas stillinbedwithJay.
“Serena!”IyelledasIknockedonthedoor.“Youare goingtomissyourflight.”
“Iamgoingtocatchthenextone.”
“NoSerena.Itdoesn’tworkthatway.Youneedtoget uprightnow,getdressed,andpack.Weareleaving intwentyminutes.YoutooJay!“Ihadreachedmy limit,andIwasnotplayingaround.
Tohercredit,Serenawasreadyexactlytwenty minuteslater,withJaytrailingbehindhercarrying herbags.
Aswegotintothecar,Jaystartedroughhousing withRyley.RyleywascompletelyfallingforJay’s charms. “RYLEY,”Iscreamed.Traitor,Ithought.“Settle down.YoutooJay.”
WedroppedJayoffathisplaceandyoucouldheara pindropinthesilencethatfollowed.
“Iknowthatyouaremadatme,”saidSerenaasshe startedtocry. “Youhavenoideawhatitisliketobe practicallyasinglemomoffourkids.Larrydoesn’t understandorliftafingertohelp.”
“IamnotmadSerena.Iamdisappointed.Itisclear thatyoucameherewithanagenda,anditwasn’tto spendtimewithme.Iknowhowstressfulitmustbefor youtoraisefourkids,whichiswhyIwaslooking forwardtoyourvisit.Ithoughtthatwewouldrelax andcatchup.Notbeonthehuntforyournext conquest.Iamtryingnottojudge,butalsocan’thelp butwonderwhatyouwerethinking?”
“IwasthinkingIwantedtobewhoIwasbeforeIwasa wifeandmother.”
Wereachedtheairportshortlyafterthisstatement.I huggedSerenagoodbyeandwatchedherwalkback intoheroldlife.AsangryasIwaswithherselfish behavior,apartofmefeltincrediblysadforherasI watchedhersilhouettefadeintothedistance.
