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<\/p>\nWhen Rachel invites her new friend Mary over for dinner, the night takes an unexpected turn. The moment Mary sees Rachel\u2019s husband, she flies into a rage and makes a shocking accusation. Stunned and caught between her friend and her husband, Rachel\u2019s perfect life begins to unravel.<\/p>\n
On paper, Dan and I are that annoyingly perfect suburban family \u2013 you know the type. I\u2019ve got the marketing manager gig, Dan\u2019s killing it as a software developer, and we live with our gorgeous four-year-old, Ethan, in one of those houses with the manicured lawns and the neighborhood BBQs.<\/p>\n
But lately, I\u2019d been feeling like something was missing, even though I couldn\u2019t put my finger on what. So I did what any self-respecting millennial does when faced with an existential crisis: I joined a fitness class.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s where I met Mary.<\/p>\n
Mary was different. In a good way. She was our instructor, all toned muscles and infectious energy. Single mom to a sweet little girl named Cindy. From day one, we just clicked.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, Rachel!\u201d she\u2019d yell during burpees, grinning like a maniac. \u201cYou\u2019ve got this! Channel that boardroom boss energy!\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019d be lying if I said her enthusiasm wasn\u2019t a little terrifying at first. But soon enough, I found myself looking forward to our sessions, and not just for the endorphin high.<\/p>\n
After class one day, as I was chugging water and trying not to collapse, Mary plopped down next to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d she said, her eyes twinkling. \u201cLunch tomorrow? There\u2019s this new place downtown that does amazing salads. And before you say no, remember, we earned it!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And just like that, we fell into a rhythm. Workouts, lunches, shopping trips where we\u2019d try on ridiculous outfits and laugh until our sides hurt. It felt like being in college again, having a best friend to share everything with.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod, I needed this,\u201d I told her one day over sushi. \u201cDon\u2019t get me wrong, I love my family, but sometimes\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Mary nodded, popping a California roll into her mouth. \u201cSometimes you need to remember you\u2019re more than just \u2018mom\u2019 or \u2018wife,\u2019 right? I get it. Being Cindy\u2019s mom is the best thing that ever happened to me, but it\u2019s nice to be just Mary sometimes, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t have said it better myself.<\/p>\n
Weeks flew by, and suddenly Mary wasn\u2019t just my trainer or my friend, she was family. Which is why, on that fateful Tuesday, I decided it was time for her to meet my actual family.<\/p>\n
\u201cDinner at our place this weekend?\u201d I asked as we cooled down after a particularly brutal HIIT session. \u201cYou can bring Cindy. Ethan would love a playmate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mary\u2019s face lit up. \u201cSeriously? That sounds amazing! I\u2019ll bring dessert. I hope your hubby likes apple pie!\u201d<\/p>\n
I spent all of Saturday in a cleaning frenzy, much to Dan\u2019s amusement.<\/p>\n
\u201cBabe, it\u2019s just dinner with a friend,\u201d he said, watching me scrub the kitchen counter for the third time. \u201cNot a visit from the Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes. \u201cI want everything to be perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dan held up his hands in surrender, but I caught the smile on his face. He was happy for me, I knew. I\u2019d been talking about Mary non-stop for weeks.<\/p>\n
By six o\u2019clock, the house smelled amazing (if I do say so myself), and I was putting the finishing touches on the table when the doorbell rang.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got it!\u201d I called out, smoothing my dress as I headed for the door. With a deep breath and a bright smile, I swung it open.<\/p>\n
There stood Mary, looking gorgeous in a flowy summer dress, Cindy peeking out shyly from behind her legs. In Mary\u2019s hands were a bottle of wine and what I assumed was the promised apple pie.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, you made it!\u201d I said, ushering them in. \u201cCome on in, let me take that.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s when everything went straight to hell.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"