Peter was working on his computer whenElizabeth arrived home from the PTA meeting. It was set up on thedining room table, along with all of his other work paraphernalia.His brown hair was disheveled and was starting to show its curlynature. Peter often ran his hands through his hair when he wasconcentrating, so it had a tendency to stand up on end. For thisreason, he liked to keep it short, but his schedule had been hecticlately, and he was in desperate need of a haircut. His hair madeElizabeth smile because it made him look like a young boy. Despiteall the hard feelings and all of the difficult times, Elizabethstill had a very soft spot in her heart for Peter when he lookedlike this. Probably because when she looked at him all she saw wasTeddy.
She sat down across from him at the dining roomtable and waited until he broke concentration and acknowledged herpresence. She hesitantly began, "Nancy Beemer invited me to a booksigning next Thursday night. I know it's my night with the kids,but I would really like to go. Is there any possibility that youcould switch one night with me next week?"
"Getting invited out by Nancy Beemer," Petersaid in an amused voice. "Sounds like you finally hit the bigtime." He was smiling and that seemed like a good sign toElizabeth.
"I have to admit I was a little surprisedmyself. Apparently it's a private affair. I guess her ex boyfriendor husband or something, John's father anyway, is an author.Normally, he writes books for the tween set, but I think this is anadult book. Nancy seemed a little, I don't know, nervous, maybeabout the whole thing. Which, actually, is very unlikeher."
"Yeah, nothing seems to faze that woman.Frankly, she kind of scares me."
Elizabeth laughed, "She scares me too. But Iwant to be just like her."
"Nah, you don't want to be just like her. She'stoo hard. You want to be just like you."
Elizabeth smiled at her husband, and he smiledback. It was a truly tender moment, the kind that was still rare inthe Zurlo household. "So does this mean I can go?"
"I guess. But what's the deal with her? Shecan't be as perfect as she seems. Nobody is."
"Actually, I do think Nancy really is just thatperfect. Thanks for swapping with me. What night would like me totake for you?"
"Don't worry about it. I got thiscovered."
"Really?" Elizabeth seemedskeptical.
Peter blushed, refusing to meet her eyes."Well, I, um, actually, have to go away the week after next anyway.I have to present this to the Grand Rapids crew," he said,gesturing to the clutter on the table. "The schedule is going toget all messed up then anyway. This is the least I cando."
"Does your boss not realize that you can onlygo away every other day?" Elizabeth teased. "No, that's fine. Iunderstand that the travel is still part of your job. I just thinkthis arrangement has helped us get a little bit more balance in ourlives. That's what I needed. The balance has really helped me tryand find the best me so that I can be the best wife and mother. Ireally do think that I resent you less. In fact I know I do. Ofcourse, having someone come in once a month to help me clean hasmade all the difference in the world. I feel like for the firsttime in a long time, I know who I am now. And while I hate thatSydney got so sick and had to have three operations, part of mewill always be glad that that happened, because I think we're somuch better now. Like my grandmother always said, 'When you don'tlisten to God whispering in your ear, He will hit you over the headwith a two-by-four.'"
But Elizabeth had been talking too long and hadlost Peter's attention. He was back focusing on his work project.Like she had said, the arrangement had helped, but it had by nomeans made things perfect. Although Peter seemed to noticeElizabeth slightly more, and seemed to appreciate what she did withthe kids, it was still not the kind of attention Elizabeth wantedfrom him. Elizabeth got up and went upstairs, and Peter neverlooked up from his computer. She started looking through hercloset, trying to figure out what one would wear to a book releaseparty. Perhaps, if there was a little bit of time before nextThursday, she would go shopping. She picked up her iPhone andtexted Julia, "I'm in for next week. What do you think you'llwear?" While she waited for Julia to respond, she went in thebathroom and washed her face. While her daily routine was longer,including more make-up and moisturizer twice a day, Elizabeth hadto admit she was happy with the results. She looked younger thanshe had in years, and when she looked better, she felt better. Sheput her pajamas on, brushed her teeth, and once again fell asleepreading about the romantic exploits of others.
CHAPTER SIX: May 22, 2012
"Okay, so this is the dirt that I've gotten sofar," Julia whispered as they entered the gymnasium of the civiccenter for yoga class. They had to keep their voices down, becauseit seemed everyone in their small community knew Nancy. "I guessthe book, from some of the advanced reviews, is pretty racy. Nancytold Theresa Johnson who told Kristy Spurns that her ex had been ina lot of contact with her while writing the book. I guess he askedher for access to her Facebook account and called her a lot to askher opinions on things. She's pretty sure that the book is abouther, which is why she's nervous."
"Like, about her in a sexual way?" Elizabethcouldn't believe it. How would it be to
