And then before you know it, all the parties are over, and it’s just you and your new husband, sitting grumpily in a car….

So this is what a breakdown felt like.

She surveyed the kitchen. One counter was covered in recipe books, open to the desired pages, little colored tabbies holding the spots. The other counter had ingredients piled together according to dish. And that was as far as she had gotten in the past hour since returning from work.

She honestly couldn’t believe Yonah. They were hosting. Three weeks after their wedding.

“Nothing major,” he’d said earnestly. “We’re not one of those couples who go overboard and make huge matzavs that the police need to shut down. Just three Treiger boys who are sick of yeshivah food coming on Friday night. And Est, these boys have simple taste buds. Roast potatoes and barbecue chicken and they’re good.”

Roast potatoes and barbecue chicken. Was he crazy? And now, on top of everything, his best friend Pinny had gotten engaged. On a Thursday. Who has the chutzpah to get engaged on a Thursday, when there are asparagus stalks to roast and salamis to hasselback?

She took a deep breath. If she put up the soup and made the mains — a roast and, yes, barbecue chicken — she would then have 40 minutes to get ready for the l’chayim. But then she’d have to stay awake until who knows when making the sides and the tiramisu cups. She didn’t really want to stay up till all hours.

And what about Yonah? Was he supposed to stay awake with her? Peel vegetables? Put on music and schmooze? Or should he go to bed so he could be on time for Shacharis, leaving her alone to work for his friends?

Her phone pings. It was Shani. How’s the four-course dinner going? 

Oh, boy. She’d totally forgotten about supper.

An hour later, Estee was ready to go, but Yonah was still not home. She tried calling him, but his phone went straight to voicemail. To bug him or not to bug him, that was the question.

She decided to send a very chill, very casual, hey.

His reply was instantaneous. Hey you. Running a bit late, just grabbing something for l’chayim. Be home in 20.

Cute, that was so Yonah. He never showed up anywhere empty-handed.

But now she had an extra 20 minutes. Not enough time to check anything off her cooking list, but way too long to watch the clock tick as she waited for Yonah to make his appearance. She sank onto the couch and called Ma.

“Hi, Estee. How are you, sweetheart?”