Megan felt like she was running around in circles, never getting anywhere. She knew it was going to be challenging juggling her work and her baby, but she'd never imagined how difficult it would be. Still, lots of people did it every day and managed, but sometimes she wondered how she was going to manage. She sighed, as she let herself and her daughter in her apartment door.
After getting Margot settled, she wearily sat down upon her couch, relieved to be home. Her respite was brief, though, as a knock came at her door. Reluctantly leaving her comfortable couch, she got up to see who it was. Looking through the peephole, she was surprised to see it was Zach.
Opening the door, she let him in.
"Zach, what are you doing here? Don't we spend enough time together at work?", she quizzed him.
"Well, it just seemed to me that you've not been yourself since you came back to work. And I was worried about you. You don't talk to me like you used to and I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Surprised he was concerned, Megan turned to walk back to her couch. She knew that Zach usually had to have all the answers to everything. It shouldn't have surprised her to see him there. He could read her too well.
"Everything's fine, Zach. Just a little harried is all. Going back to work and taking care of Margot has been a little difficult to transition, but I'm fine, I can do it. I'm fine." Megan was trying to tell herself that, as well as him.
"I don't think everything's fine, Megan. I think you need someone to talk to, to help you. You know, you don't have to do this by yourself. Don't you have anyone to give you a hand occasionally?"
"My sister lives a fair distance away. She helps when she can, but she's got a family too. Mom, she tries, but she's still got a full time job, so I'm kind of on my own. Listen, Zach, I'm fine. Motherhood isn't the end of the world, so to speak. It's a little rough right now, but it will be okay."
"I worry about you, Megan. You've tried so hard to keep it together the last few months, I'm afraid you're going to burn out. Let me take you out to dinner. Margot, you, me, give you a chance to get out and relax. I'll even help look after Margot, so you can enjoy yourself."
Megan looked at him closely, trying to figure out why he would do this. Sure, they'd been friendly enough in the time they'd been partners, but it's not like he'd even bothered to visit while she'd been off on maternity leave. So, what was the point now of him showing up like this?
"Why would you want to spend more time with me? Don't you get enough during the day?"
"Don't be so hard on yourself. I like being around you. You have a way of keeping me occupied. I never know what you are going to say next. You're interesting."
"So, I'm what, an experiment? You're here to keep analyzing me?" she said, slightly annoyed.
"No, I don't want to analyze you. I just want to take you out for a dinner. Nothing expected from you except to see you relax. What do you say?"
"I say, if you're paying, let's go. I just have to change Margot and feed her before we do. You aren't in a rush, are you?" Megan replied.
Smiling, happy that he'd gotten his way, Zach simply said, "Nope, no hurry. I've got all the time in the world."
Megan smiled at that, relieved she'd gotten off the merry-go-round of routine for one day.