Why did men make everything so difficult?

Estee looked at her phone; Ayala had just texted her asking her out on another coffee date.

Really need to talk to someone, she’d written. See, she wasn’t pretending she cared about onion dip; she was coming right out and saying that she was in pain.

Estee was flattered Ayala valued her insight, but the truth was, she didn’t really want to be that person for Ayala. She wasn’t comfortable with it.

In high school and sem, her friends were either super wholesome, uncomplicated people, or else they pretended to be. There was none of this “let me wear my heart on my sleeve” going on. And frankly, she preferred it that way. But she had zero married friends, and Ayala really was a fun, smart girl when she wasn’t griping about her five minutes of marriage.

Sure, Cookie Corner for waffles at two?

It’s a date 🙂

She sat herself at her computer and stared at the website. Gita’s gallery looked amazing, so did Tammy’s. She’d uploaded the original photo, and decided it actually gave her website an edge. But what she needed now were clients — real, paying ones.

She needed to send the ad from the copywriter to local papers and magazines, but that was expensive.

“Yons, how do you feel about standing on the street corner wearing a sandwich board?” she called out.

He poked his head in. “Would I get to wear a cool hat?”

She grinned. “Obviously.”

“Need to drum up business?”

She needed advice, but she didn’t want to confide in him. She still didn’t feel supported. She wasn’t shutting him out; she just wasn’t ready to be vulnerable with someone who possibly wasn’t on her side. “Eh, it’s going okay.”

His phone rang just then.

“Hello?”

He raised his eyebrows at her. “Oh, hellloooo, Tanta Breiny! How are you? How’s Uncle Morry? Oy vey, I’m so sorry to hear. That sounds terrible. Refuah sheleimah!

“My parents… yes, Tuesday. Ahh… I hear… you know what, Tanta Breiny, let me speak to my wife, and I’ll get back to you. Okay. Be well.”

He put his phone down. “Wife, let’s discuss.”

She closed her laptop. “Apparently, it has to do with Tanta Breiny.”

“And Uncle Morry,” he reminded her.

“Of course. So what’s up?”

“Bad hip. She doesn’t feel up to hosting my parents for dinner, but she really wants to see them. So, instead of brunch, can we host everyone at us for a barbecue? I know it’s a huge thing to ask….”

No, you don’t, she thought. You think it’s a one-off big ask of me. You don’t realize this is setting a precedent for the next 50 years — us, your parents, and Tanta Breiny and Uncle Morry — brunches, cozy evening get-togethers, maybe even Shabbos meals, all hosted by yours truly.

“Sure,” she said, smiling.

“Wow, amazing. Estee, you’re the best.” He walked off to call back Tanta Breiny, while she panic-dialed her mother.

Mrs. Lefkowitz was not impressed. “He asked you to do what? Estee, you’re already stretched too thin, you almost made yourself sick after the last photo shoot. And the way that woman attacked you for editing the photo… you have a lot on your plate. How on earth are you hosting a barbecue for almost ten people?”

Estee thought about this. Her mother was right. She was stretched very thin.

“I think Yonah is wonderful,” her mother continued, “but I think he’s taking advantage of how sweet you are. Not on purpose, of course, but he doesn’t realize how hard it is for you to say no.”

Estee’s back stiffened. Was her mother right? Was Yonah subconsciously taking advantage of her niceness?

“…potato salad and grilled vegetables, okay?” her mother was still talking. “Two things off your plate.”

“Omigosh, Ma, no! I can swing it…”

Estee imagined Yonah’s reaction if he thought her mother was overstepping again.

But her mother wouldn’t take no for an answer. “I’m making them. You can pick them up the morning of,” she said shrewdly.

Two fewer things for her to make? Estee’s resolve crumbled.

“Thanks, Ma, you’re the best.”

Pinny came over again that night. This time, Estee left the windows open because there was such a nice cross breeze coming in. Also, coincidentally, she could now hear everything being said on the patio.

More car and bike talk, which was incredibly boring, a funny conversation about men cooking, and then it happened. Just as Estee was starting to get annoyed at the mosquitos flying around and considered closing the windows, Pinny cleared his throat.

“You guys are married for six months already.”

She assumed Yonah was nodding.

“That’s great. Ayala and I are having our second-month anniversary tomorrow. Um… the thing is… I’m not sure she actually likes me.”

Estee dropped the broom she was holding. Say something smart, she begged Yonah telepathically.

Apparently, their telepathy machine was broken, because Yonah laughed and said, “Don’t be nuts, Pin, she married you, didn’t she?”

Oh, he’s not the one being nuts, Estee thought sadly.

She went around closing all the windows. She’d heard enough for one night.

To be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1025)