DECEMBER 2020
"I propose a toast," Larry Bloom said, raising his wine glass. He turned to his side and looked at Piper. "To Piper Chapman, who has made me ridiculously happy these past two years, and" – he turned his gaze to the other side of the table – "to perseverance and respect; two traits that have kept our passion alive during some, uh, rather tough times."
"Hear, hear," Cal Chapman spoke up from next to Piper. He looked at both of them admiringly. "I couldn't imagine anybody more deserving of my sister than you, man".
Piper felt her cheeks heating as her eyes met Larry's. She quickly raised her glass. "Cheers!" she said brightly, as the others raised their own glasses and clinked them together.
Two years.
Two apathetic years of married life; another fifty or so to go. It was exactly how Piper pictured the married life to be: predictable and repetitive. Ever since her long-awaited release from Litchfield Correctional Facility, Larry had been by Piper's side through the thick and thin; even through the "tough times". She truly loved him, but was tired of the monotony of their lives. Every time a person offhandedly asked whether she was expecting, she felt like jumping in front of a double-decker bus. Were these questions the only interesting facets of her life?
"I'm bored," Piper sensually whispered in Larry's ear.
Larry looked at her, his face puzzled. "Pipes, it's our anniversary dinner. Just, you know, be happy."
"Bathroom. Let's go," Piper mumbled, her right hand caressing his left thigh.
"Piper! We can't just walk out and do, whatever you're thinking. Jesus!" insisted Larry, purposely pushing her hands off his leg.
"Fuck," Piper muttered under her breath, pushing her seat back behind her and rising to her feet.
"Uh, I'd like to thank you all for coming to our little gathering, but I'm feeling a bit under the weather so I better head off," she exclaimed, dropping her napkin on the table and storming out of the room, her heels clicking and clacking against the hardwood floor.
As silence ensured, Larry rose, wiping the crumbs off the sleeves of his blazer. "Wow. Um, yeah, I should go after her," quipped Larry, his face reddening.
Bill and Carol Chapman exchanged glances. "Is everything okay with you two? Please don't tell me another divorce is on the cards," Carol croaked, motioning to Polly.
"No. Oh, God. No. Never!" Larry laughed, awkwardly combing his hair with his hands.
"Holy shit! She's pregnant isn't she?" beamed Polly, accidentally knocking her glass off the table.
"What? No," he scoffed, turning his back on his friends and family, walking down the narrow hallway into the brisk New York air.