"Oh, Kate, you really hit the jackpot!" Irene took a sip of coffee from her snow-white porcelain cup and smiled at her friend. "Who would've thought all those dreams would come true, right? Remember when we were college students, splitting one fashion magazine between us and skipping lunch to save a few bucks?"
Kate shrugged.
"That was then, Irene. But you're right, we really can't complain."
The friends were sitting on the terrace of a sprawling suburban estate belonging to Kate's husband, Ethan Vance, a highly successful plastic surgeon.
Ethan earned a small fortune; his surgery schedule was usually booked six months in advance. Kate had her own small business—a boutique chain of floral shops. It brought in a steady income that she was free to spend entirely on herself. Irene, after graduating, had stayed at the university to pursue a career in academia. It soon became clear that research wasn't exactly her forte, but as an administrator, Irene proved to be exceptional. Now, twenty-some years later, she was the Vice Provost of the business school where they had once studied.
Today, the friends had decided to meet up for a chat and a break from the daily grind. Besides, they had an excellent reason to celebrate.
Two months ago, Irene had become a mother for the second time, giving birth to another girl. Many were surprised she had decided to have children with such a significant age gap; her oldest, Maya, had recently turned fifteen. But Irene just laughed off questions about "late-life" motherhood or told people it was strictly between her and her husband.
"How's Ethan doing? Still a total workaholic?" Irene asked.
"Same as always," Kate sighed. "I only see him late at night or early in the morning. He promised we'd go to the Hamptons this summer, but I'm afraid it'll fall through again. People are flying in from all over the country just to have him operate. And he never says no."
Irene smirked.
"He's right not to say no. While you're young, you have to make your money. There'll be time to rest later."
"I guess you're right. Want more coffee? Wait, are you allowed to have it?" Kate checked.
Irene nodded.
"I can. I'm not breastfeeding. I did it with Maya and it was such a struggle; this one is strictly on formula. Let anyone try to tell me I'm a bad mother!"
"You're a great mother," Kate said, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Really wonderful. And how you feed her is your business."
For a while, the friends sat in silence in their deep wicker chairs, enjoying the fresh air and the pleasant scent of the flowers recently bloomed in Kate's garden. Irene sighed, running a hand through her short chestnut hair, and said quietly:
"Life is such a strange thing, isn't it? You never know where it's going to take you."
"What do you mean?" Kate looked away from a sprawling apple tree and glanced at her friend in surprise.
"Just thinking out loud, Kate. Anyway, let's have one more coffee and head to the mall. After all the stress of having Christina, I want to update my wardrobe—actually feel like a woman again."
"And how can you leave such a tiny thing with a nanny? I remember with Maya, you wouldn't leave her side for a second—you practically carried her in your teeth," Kate asked with a hint of judgment in her voice.
"That's exactly why I leave her—because I got smarter. We only live once. If I want to go shopping, I'm going shopping. Nothing is going to happen to the baby!"
It seemed to Kate that Irene said this with a strange, slightly aggressive edge. But she didn't dwell on it.
"Alright, grab your bag, let's go! I wanted to get a manicure too," Kate said, stretching and standing up abruptly. "We can be done in three hours."
***
Kate and Irene had become friends during their freshman year of college. The girls were bonded by the fact that they both came from struggling families. Kate was raised by a single mother who worked double shifts as a nurse at the city hospital. Irene's family was "complete," but her father was a heavy drinker, making life miserable for her and her mother. From childhood, Irene had learned a simple truth: you can't be sure of anything. Her father could come home drunk and aggressive or sober and kind. He could drink away his paycheck the day he got it or proudly bring it home and set it on the table during dinner. Irene grew up with that feeling—that the world was a dangerous, unpredictable place where you could only rely on yourself.
Despite having no money or connections, Irene and Kate managed to get into a prestigious business school. It wasn't easy. Their classmates were the children of wealthy parents, used to getting the best of everything with the snap of a finger. They made fun of how Kate and Irene dressed, the fact that they took the bus instead of driving their own cars... Often, the two friends would cry bitterly in the campus bathrooms.
But they would pull themselves together, return to class as if nothing had happened, take their notes, and impress the professors with their answers. Kate and Irene quickly showed they deserved respect. They were straight-A students. The "trust fund kids" on campus eventually stopped mocking them and started asking for help. Naturally, the girls dreamed of a better life. They saw people who didn't count pennies and could afford everything: nice clothes, fast cars, travel. They often dreamed that one day they, too, would make it big and get rich.
"I'm so sick of this," Kate declared one day as they walked home after class. "The worst part is the stained wallpaper. You know, we never have money for repairs. Right behind the chairs, there are these greasy spots. I can't stand looking at them. When I start making good money, I'm going to have the best interior designer and a housekeeper."
"And I hate pasta," Irene admitted. "That's all we ever have. Pasta with sugar, pasta with butter, pasta with those cheap hot dogs."
Suddenly, Kate stopped and looked Irene piercingly in the eyes.
"Listen, let's make a pact right now! Today, October 10th!"
"A pact for what?" Irene asked.
"That we will live well. We won't be like our parents. We'll do whatever it takes to be wealthy, so our children aren't ashamed of us, so they have the best of everything... so they don't have to mop floors at the university just to make an extra dime like I do... so they don't have to stay up all night writing other people's papers for cash!"
"Kate, take it easy," Irene said, unsettled by the feverish look in her friend's eyes. "Of course we'll live well; we'll have great degrees, and everyone will want to hire us!"
"No, let's swear it!" Kate wasn't backing down, and Irene gave in. "Give me your hand!"
Kate took her friend's hand, closed her eyes, and said:
"I swear I'll be rich, I'll live in a big house, I'll have a handsome husband and lots and lots of money! Now you!"
Irene shrugged.
"I swear I'll earn a great living and have a perfect family that no one will ever have a bad word to say about!"
Irene couldn't help but pour her own pain into the oath, which she hadn't taken seriously at first. She knew the neighbors and classmates gossiped about her alcoholic father. She was ashamed of him and dreamed of an "ideal" family that everyone would envy.
Kate, of course, also dreamed of a stable home and a husband who was both handsome and successful. Years later, Kate would remember that day with a bitter smile. It's funny how dreams really do have a way of coming true—though not always in the way we expect. After graduation, Kate got a job in the finance department of a large private clinic. She loved her work. She loved being in a place where people were made healthier and more beautiful. She loved talking to the doctors (a remnant of her childhood dream to go to med school). Kate even loved the hospital atmosphere and the crisp scent of antiseptic.
After a while, Kate met her match. It was a young, promising plastic surgeon named Ethan Vance. He immediately "had eyes" for the new employee, often dropping by the finance office just to "chat," bringing Kate chocolates given to him by patients, and paying her compliments. Her colleagues noticed right away that Ethan was smitten.
"It's amazing," they'd say. "He's usually so indifferent to the staff, but he's all over you."
Kate would just laugh and shrug.
"I don't know, maybe it's just true love!"
Truthfully, Kate knew there were rumors about Ethan at the hospital. People wondered why a man like him was still single at thirty. Kate was convinced the reason was simply his devotion to his work. Indeed, Ethan spent all his time at the clinic, often taking extra shifts. He had plenty of female patients; he was famous for his responsibility and the "magic hands" that performed wonders.
Kate quickly realized she was falling for Ethan and began looking forward to every moment he stepped into her office. Sensing this, Ethan asked her out. She couldn't say no.
Six months later, Ethan and Kate were married. She couldn't believe her luck. Everything she had dreamed of had come true. She had a handsome, successful husband who already owned a spacious suburban home, a condo downtown, and several cars.
Irene was a little envious. Her personal life hadn't come together as easily. She had dated a cute physics grad student, but he clearly wasn't interested in marriage or starting a family. And he certainly wasn't rich. Irene stayed with him just to avoid being lonely while keeping her eyes open for a more promising suitor. Soon, he appeared on the horizon. His own business, several properties, accounts in offshore banks...
Irene met Simon by chance; he was the father of one of the students at the university where she worked. Even though Simon was much older than Irene, he began to pursue her. He met her after work, gave her expensive gifts, and suggested flying to Paris for the weekend... His intensity scared Irene a little. But she knew that playing hard to get was risky. The chances of finding a wealthier admirer than Simon were slim.
A whirlwind romance began. Irene was certain Simon would marry her. She was young, smart, and stunning. She looked like a model: tall, long legs, a tiny waist, and striking blue eyes. No one was surprised Simon was interested.
But it all ended abruptly, in a single moment: when Irene realized she was pregnant. She hadn't expected Simon's reaction. Upon hearing about the positive test, Simon simply hung up the phone. He stopped answering her calls. Ten minutes later, a large sum of money was deposited into her account, followed by a text: "I don't want a kid. You don't either. This is for the procedure. Let me know when the problem is solved." Irene cried for two days straight. She had actually started to love Simon; she had pictured a future together. And he had betrayed her... and the baby.
Irene didn't go through with it. She couldn't. She actually went to the clinic but fled after five minutes, barely knowing what she was doing. Walking home, Irene stroked her stomach—which hadn't even begun to show—and told herself, "It's going to be okay, we're going to be fine." Kate supported her decision. When she found out Irene was pregnant, she said:
"If you need anything, just ask. Ethan has connections; you'll have the best doctors at your disposal."
Irene gratefully accepted. Fortunately, she didn't need much medical help; the pregnancy was perfect. Irene joyfully waited for the baby, seemingly forgetting about Simon forever. However, she noticed that Kate seemed envious whenever she saw Irene's growing belly. And when the two went shopping for baby gear, Kate would turn dark and somber.
"Kate, what is it? What's going on?" Irene asked one day. "Is something wrong?"
Kate forced a smile.
"No, it's fine. Everything's fine. It's just... Ethan and I are having some issues... and I want a baby so badly!"
Irene, made highly emotional by the pregnancy, felt tears of pity well up.
"Kate, it'll happen! It'll work out!" she said, giving her friend a tight squeeze.
But that episode was quickly forgotten. Irene prepared for motherhood and seemed to glow with happiness. She accepted that she would be a single mother. She was young, had a great job, and wanted for nothing; she would give her child the best. She was going to be happy!
Perhaps it was this inner light that caught the attention of a professor at the university, Arthur Sterling. Arthur was fifteen years older than Irene and had a failed marriage behind him. He fell in love with Irene's smile and the dreamy, thoughtful way she would stroke her belly. Arthur started offering help: driving her home after work, helping with groceries... At first, Irene thought he was just being sympathetic. But then she realized it was something more. A week before her due date, she called him out for a serious talk.
"Arthur, can I ask why you've been so attentive lately?" she asked with a gentle smile.
She didn't want to hurt or embarrass him. Arthur hesitated.
"Of course... I'm probably acting strange. But you see, I like you. I like you very much. Irene, I think about you all the time," he took her hand and looked into her eyes. "Is there any chance you might feel the same way one day?"
Irene laughed—not at Arthur, but at the situation.
"Arthur, look at me, I'm about to pop! I'm having a baby any day now! You're a wonderful man, but for the next year, a romance is the last thing on my mind!"
Arthur smiled and squeezed her hands.
"I completely understand. And if you'll let me, I'd like to be there for you. Financially, physically—whatever you need. I want to prove how much you mean to me!"
Irene shrugged.
"We'll see, Arthur. I feel awkward asking for help. I'm not in love with you yet, I won't lie. But things could change."
Irene gave birth to a daughter on schedule and named her Maya. Arthur came to pick them up from the hospital, which surprised Irene's mother quite a bit. The man kept his word. He visited often, handled repairs around the house, and bought high-end groceries. Irene realized she was falling for him. She didn't need a rich man anymore; she needed someone who was a rock, someone she could rely on to protect her and Maya. She found that person in Arthur.
Meanwhile, Kate was building her career. She left the clinic and started her floral business. It took off.
Kate moved away from tired, traditional bouquets and offered something fresh. She looked to European trends, hired young florists who were ready to experiment, and soon left her competitors in the dust.
Ethan continued to excel in his field as well. He attended conferences, honed his skills, and his mastery grew every day. Soon, he was the highest-paid plastic surgeon in the city. Now Kate and Ethan really could afford everything they had ever dreamed of. They bought a massive estate, traveled abroad regularly. Kate could fly to London for a shopping weekend without a second thought.
But Irene noticed that her friend wasn't truly happy. She would look at Maya with a certain longing whenever Irene brought her over.
"Kate, is there really nothing that can be done?" Irene would sometimes ask. "Ethan can find the best specialists in the world. People with all sorts of conditions are having babies these days."
"No, it doesn't help. Irene, I know you want to help, but I don't want to talk about it," Kate would always shut the conversation down.
Irene was understanding and didn't push. But deep down, she worried and hoped that sooner or later, Kate would become a mother or decide to adopt.
***
Life went on. Maya grew from a little girl into a young teenager. Arthur became the head of his department. And Irene, to Kate's surprise, decided to have a second child.
It happened unexpectedly for everyone. Irene vanished for a while. She stopped calling, texting, and didn't visit Kate for six months. Kate was worried, but Irene insisted everything was fine—she was just exhausted from work, and Maya was having trouble at school... Finally, Irene called Kate with some joyful news.
"Well, you can congratulate me!"
"What happened?" Kate asked, a bit startled.
"I had the baby. Another girl. We named her Christina."
Kate was speechless.
"But... you didn't say a word! Not about being pregnant, not about your plans! Are you kidding?"
"No, no joke. There were just some major complications, a high risk of losing the baby. I didn't want to tell anyone I was pregnant so I wouldn't have to explain if something went wrong. But everything is fine now."
Kate still couldn't get over the shock.
"Irene, you're unbelievable! Come over soon. Bring Maya if you want!"
Irene was silent for a moment.
"Maya is away right now. She's at a boarding school in Switzerland. We decided to send her there for a year or two to focus on her studies. She was getting a bit rebellious—didn't want to listen to me or Arthur."
"Irene, aren't you worried she'll feel like she's not needed? Like, the new baby arrived and you... sent her away?" Kate asked tentatively.
"She won't, Kate. She understands perfectly. We'll talk about Maya later, I'm not ready yet," Irene's voice trembled.
But she quickly composed herself.
"So, should we meet up? I've missed you!"
"Of course, come over. Is the baby with a nanny?"
"Yeah, with a nanny. And let's hit the shops; I haven't felt like a woman in forever," Irene added dreamily.
"Alright, talk to you soon."
***
Kate and Irene finished their shopping. Kate offered to drive her friend home, and Irene gladly accepted. For a while, the two tired women drove in silence. Then Irene spoke up.
"We're having the christening next Friday. I want to invite you. You and Ethan."
Kate nodded, keeping her eyes on the road.
"Yeah, I'll be there. Ethan probably won't; he has at least three surgeries a day."
Irene sighed.
"He's a hard worker. Making the big bucks... I can't complain, of course... but Arthur isn't exactly a millionaire."
"At least you see him. You get to hug him. You sleep in the same bed. You have a baby. Our house... it's not a marriage, it's a simulation," Kate sighed heavily. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I'm just so tired of it all. Let's talk about something happy. Show me photos of Christina, I still haven't seen her!"
Irene drummed her fingers on the handbag sitting in her lap.
"I don't have any photos yet. I haven't really been taking any."
Kate was stunned.
"Are you serious? She's almost two months old! Not a single picture? Irene, what is wrong with you?"
"Oh, Kate, I'm a grown woman, I'm past all that sentimental stuff. Why are you so surprised? Anyway, we're here! Thanks for the ride! Call me soon!"
Irene hopped out of the car, grabbing her colorful shopping bags. Kate sat there for a while, thinking about what she'd said. Doesn't every mother think her baby is the most beautiful thing in the universe? Doesn't she want to take a thousand photos and show them to everyone? Something was off. Then again, a lot was off in her own marriage, too. Everyone has skeletons in their closet. Sometimes you don't even share them with your best friends.
Irene had invited Kate over for a small gathering for the christening.
"Just a warm family circle, only the people closest to us," she promised.
Kate offered to come early to help with the preparations. The party was to be held at Arthur and Irene's apartment, so the help was appreciated. Irene happily agreed. Two hours before the guests were due, Kate was already there. The women went to the kitchen. Arthur wasn't home yet; Christina was sleeping in the nursery under the nanny's watch.
"She's so sweet, like a little doll," Kate noted with a smile, drying a plate. "She looks just like Maya did."
"Yeah, she does," Irene's voice was distant. "Not surprising, they're closely related."
"Irene, you're being really weird, honestly."
Kate set the plate on the table and reached for another. Irene just shrugged.
"Why am I weird?"
"Well, the way you talk about Christina... it's like she's not even yours. Forgive me for saying this, but maybe you should see a therapist? Postpartum is a real thing."
Suddenly, Irene choked back a sob, her eyes glistening. But she quickly pulled herself together.
"No, it's fine, Kate. Truly. She is mine. It's just... I haven't gotten used to it yet."
The front door opened. Two male voices drifted in—one was Arthur's, the other was unfamiliar to Kate. Irene suddenly went pale, and the plate she was holding slipped from her hands, shattering on the floor.
"Irene, what's going on?" Kate cried.
But Irene, like a sleepwalker, slowly walked out of the kitchen toward the hallway. Kate followed, confused. Arthur had indeed not come alone. With him was a man in his late thirties or early forties. The man held a bouquet of flowers and a large gift bag with a teddy bear's head peeking out. Seeing Irene, the man froze. Arthur said quietly:
"Irene, don't. He has a right."
"A right to what?" Irene hissed. "He has no rights! How dare you! You piece of trash! You come into my home?"
The man's face turned bright red. He looked at Irene in silence, then spoke:
"She is my daughter. I want to see her. That is my right."
"Just leave. Leave and never come back. Victor, I'm warning you. If you ever show your face here again, I will kill you. With my own hands."
Arthur took a step toward Irene, but she looked at him with such hatred that he stopped.
"And you... you allowed this. You stayed silent. I hate you. And him. All of you. I hate you!"
Irene's voice broke into a scream. She was shaking. Kate rushed to her friend and grabbed her shoulders. In the other room, the baby started crying. Arthur said something to the man—Victor—and both of them quickly retreated out the door. Kate led her sobbing friend back to the kitchen, sat her down, and gave her some water. Irene was hysterical. Kate was starting to think she should call an ambulance; it looked like a total nervous breakdown. But Irene managed to find her voice.
"I'm sorry, Kate. Really, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."
Kate knelt in front of her friend and looked into her tear-stained eyes.
"Irene, what is happening? I don't understand anything. You disappear, then suddenly there's a baby, now this. You're scaring me. What are these secrets?"
Irene leaned back in the chair and gave a grim, hollow smile.
"What's happening is that my 'perfect family' isn't so perfect. And I've been trying to keep up appearances while everything is falling apart. It's all ruined. I don't know how to keep going."
"Tell me. I'll help you," Kate said, holding Irene's shoulders.
And so, Irene began her story.
Victor had been Arthur's best friend. They had been close since college. Victor was a frequent guest at their home. Being single, he was always very attentive to Maya. Irene thought he just had a lot of untapped affection that he was giving to his friend's daughter. As Maya grew into a teenager, she adored "Uncle Victor." He reciprocated. Irene used to joke that Maya was in love with Arthur's friend. Arthur would just shrug; Maya would sometimes blush and run to her room. Irene figured it was just a harmless crush. Who doesn't crush on a teacher or a charismatic family friend? That's what Irene thought, until she noticed the changes in Maya's behavior. Maya became incredibly withdrawn. Usually cheerful and open, she stopped sharing her news and worries. Then, Irene made a horrifying discovery. One morning at breakfast, Maya bolted to the bathroom. When she came back, Irene looked her in the eye and asked:
"Maya, what's going on? Tell me, I won't be angry. Just tell me what's happening, honey, and we'll figure it out together."
At first, Maya tried to lie, saying she'd just had a bad burger. But eventually, she broke down and confessed. She had missed her period for three months. She had taken several tests, and all of them were positive.
"Who's the father, Maya?" Irene asked, stroking her daughter's hair.
"Mom... Mom, please don't be mad... it's Victor..."
Irene didn't even process it at first. She thought of a classmate or a boy from her sports team... when the realization hit, she was speechless.
"But how? Maya, he's... he's nearly thirty years older than you! How could he?"
"Mom, it just happened. Remember when we went to Victor's cabin? You and Dad went fishing, and we stayed behind. And... well, it only happened three or four times, that's all."
Maya started sobbing into her mother's shoulder again. Once the shock wore off, Irene took action. Arthur didn't believe it at first, but then he spoke to his friend himself and confirmed it was true.
"I'm sorry, Arthur, but I really love her... I couldn't help myself," Victor had said. "It was like a switch flipped in my head!"
"I'll flip a switch on your life!" Arthur had screamed. "I will personally make sure you go to prison for the rest of your life!"
At first, Irene and Arthur were going to press charges. But Maya begged them not to. She threatened to hurt herself if she found out Victor was in jail. Irene had to give in, though it was the hardest thing she'd ever done. The family decided that Maya would give birth in a different city, at a private clinic. Irene would adopt the baby. Using their money and connections, they made it look as though Irene was the biological mother.
"I won't tell you how we pulled it off," Irene told her friend. "But we did. The money we spent could have bought a second house, honestly. But we didn't see any other way."
Once Maya recovered from the birth, they sent her to the boarding school. Irene decided she had to be as far away from Victor as possible. Maya had cried and begged not to be sent away, but eventually, she complied. And now Irene was the "mother" of her own granddaughter, having lost all faith in people and in her husband, who had brought the man who ruined Maya's life into their home.
"So, that's the perfect family. And you were jealous of me because I had a baby and you didn't," Irene finished sadly.
"I should be the one jealous of you. At least you're living a real life with Arthur. I'm thinking I need to leave Ethan. Let him deal with it. Maya is grown; she'll have her own life... I can't do this anymore. I'm done."
As Irene said those words, Kate's expression changed. A dark shadow seemed to cross her face. She sighed heavily.
"Jealous? Of me? Irene, you think you're miserable, but you have a daughter, a granddaughter... a husband who loves you. Don't blame him, Irene; he didn't know. Don't get a divorce, don't burn your bridges! You... you don't understand how lucky you are. And I..."
"Kate, what is it? What could possibly be wrong with your life?" Irene searched her best friend's face.
Kate suddenly let out a loud, hollow laugh.
"You know why I don't have children? And why I never will? No, I'm not sick! I'm as healthy as a horse! It's just that Ethan, you see, doesn't touch me. We had a few times during the first year of marriage, and that was it!"
"What are you talking about?" Irene's eyes widened.
"Ethan isn't interested in women. I'm his cover. He gave me the money to start my business, he finances everything—I could buy a private jet or an Arabian stallion on his dime! But he likes men, Irene. Do you understand? It's a deal. I don't cheat, we look like the perfect couple. Otherwise, he'd lose his practice. He's the handsome, successful doctor; women want him to operate on them because his reputation is flawless. If his secret came out, what would happen? Irene, I would give everything just to have a husband who loved me and to have children! I'm almost forty, I have piles of money, and I am completely alone!"
Kate burst into tears. Irene hugged her, and soon her own shoulders were shaking with sobs. For a while, the two women sat on the floor, clinging to each other, trying to cry out their grief, their loneliness, and their disappointment.
When Arthur returned, Kate and Irene had calmed down and had almost finished setting the table. The christening went on in a warm atmosphere. Only the baby's grandparents came (who had no idea they were actually great-grandparents) and a few colleagues from work.
That evening, Arthur offered to drive the guests home. Kate and Irene were left alone once more.
"So what are you going to do? Just keep living like that? With Ethan?" Irene asked quietly, putting dishes away.
"You know, Irene, sometimes life gives us lessons that we either reject or accept. I'm going to accept this one. I want a family. A real one. And I'm going to build it. Without Ethan. I want a child, too. I want a man by my side, not an ATM. I'm finally going to file for divorce and let the chips fall where they may. I still have time. Better to be alone than to be a prop. And I can always adopt."
Irene looked at her friend.
"And what about me? Do I forgive them? Arthur, and Maya? I can't, Kate. I just can't!"
Kate walked over and gave her friend a massive hug.
"You can do anything. For Christina and for Maya. You have to decide: do you want to be alone now, or do you want to save your family? No matter how messy it is. They're your family, and you love them. I have no one to love. Not yet..."
The women stood there for a long time, holding each other. And each of them, that evening, made the only right decision.
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