This, like any other day had started the same, but I had no idea it was going to be the beginning of the end. I had my life completely figured out – I lived down the street from my brother, his son and wife happily in my home with my husband Shane, I was settled; the world was not.
"Lo, Logan!" I could hear Shane's voice fill the room; Carl was sleeping on the couch beside me while Lori and Rick were arguing in the kitchen over yams or turkey; I wasn't sure anymore - they argued all the damn time, probably more than Shane and I - and that was saying something.
"Shane shut up; Carl's sleeping," I muttered underneath my breath, I didn't want him to be quiet because Carl was sleeping; I wanted him to be quite because I wanted to hear Lori and Rick fighting.
Shane and I moved into Rick's house after ours had major flood damage – the contractors were currently ripping our house apart and I ceased the opportunity to undergo major renovations that Shane insisted were unnecessary but he let me have my way… he always let me have my own way.
"Did you hear anything I just said?" Shane snapped, my head shaking back and forth.
"I didn't."
"Girl, you are too nosey for your own good."
I laughed; this was no surprise to Shane.
"You married me knowing I am a gossip. We live in a small town Shane."
He wrapped his arm around me, and I felt at peace. Everything was right.
"Well, what I was trying to say; the contractor's just called and we can go back home Friday."
"You mean I have to miss out on all of this excitement? Can we just stay a little while longer?"
Truth be told I was elated to be going back home - having sex in my brothers home wasn't ideal; considering Shane and I had been sharing a wall with Carl. And as much as I loved being up on my brother's business with Lori, the arguments were becoming mundane, and I was losing track of what they were even fighting about - I don't even think they knew anymore.
"Logan" Lori's hand landed on my shoulder; I knew it was time for dinner. "Can you wake Carl; dinner will be ready any second."
Happiness was dinner at Rick and Lori's. The table was filled with food, love and laughter; it appeared that whatever Rick and Lori had been fighting about ceased to exist. A piece of me wondered if it was because Shane and I were over staying out boundaries and it was beginning to wear on Lori; she and I were never the best of friends. This year everything seemed different, Rick looked angry; Lori looked as if she had a million things she would rather do and Shane wasn't engaging in conversation.
Dinner wrapped up and I was never more thankful to be finished a dinner than right now.
"Rick and I will clean up Lori, you can go relax." As the words slipped from my lips I watched my brother walk into the kitchen. I quickly followed behind him.
"Are you okay?"
"Logan, Lori slept with Shane."
"Well, fuck." I turned away from Rick's glare, I leaned over the garbage as the overwhelming urge to vomit washed over me.