Natalie

"I thought we agreed to a few family and friends!" I said firmly, standing in front of his desk, full of blueprints. "Not all of Southern California!" What was with him? There's nothing wrong with a sweet, small celebration at Charlie's place.

"I just invited a few extra people, don't worry about it" He used a dismissive tone,

"There are several RSVPs on our machine!" I had checked the messages from the office as I was waiting for a call. Alan knew that I rarely checked the machine unless I was home.

"They're neighbors..." he tried to assure me.

"Neighbors???" A part of me groaned. I didn't get along with some of the moms. Two of them had very spoiled kids. My anger grew when I remembered something else. "Those weren't the only calls I got on the machine!!"

"Nat..." he used that tone again.

"What next? You're gonna tell me that the Blue man group is gonna perform at the party?" I snapped.

"I just wanted to make it a special day" Alan threw up his hands.

"We don't need to turn Charlie's backyard into a fairyland, or hire people to play pixies to make it a special day!" I countered.

"She's gonna love it!"

"Why did you make all of these arrangements behind my back???" I asked angrily.

"You left it all to me!" he claimed.

"To make the arrangements! That's what you're good at! We were to both share the decisions!" Damn it! "

"I just made some extra arrangements, Nat. Rach shouldn't be deprived of a good party just because you're antisocial." He commented calmly. It seemed like the longer we were together, the more the fact I wasn't' as outgoing as he was became an issue.

Icily, I retorted "And she shouldn't have an age inappropriate birthday bash because of her father's ego and guilt!" Being a youngest, I knew how this worked. He probably couldn't afford fancy bashes for the boys when they were kids, so now that he's got a chance, he wants to make up for it!

"Ego and guilt??" he glared at me.

"Yeah, Alan!"

"Come to think of it, you've got no right to complain" his tone got colder and calmer.

"What the hell are you talking about??"

"You never bothered to look into it, or think about what our daughter wants"

"Look into it? I just wanted a nice family dinner, with her, us, the boys, and my family with a nice cake and some presents. Besides, does she even know what a fairy is???" I can't believe him!!

"She loves to try new things, be with other kids, play...Just because you've put yourself in this bubble, doesn't mean she has to be in it." Alan continued. It's amazing how a fight about party plans can turn into about our issues about each other.

"Bubble?"

"yeah...bubble, Natalie. Did you know that sometimes I have to refuse invitations from friends because of you?"

"Becuase of me?" Great...now he's doing the matyr thing. "I've never asked you to to do that!!"

"Not in so many words...but you hardly say anything, and don't mix very well."

"If I embarass you, go alone!" I snorted. The wives of his friends mostly regarded me as a trophy wife.

"And you hardly socialize with the neighbors!"

"Enough about me! Cancel the magical mystery land!" I ordered.

"Can't...already made the deposit" he did a shrug, but it wasn't a chagrined one, but a shrug of 'tough luck'

"Which you got from our joint account!"

"I've got a meeting in Westwood" he got up from his desk, put his shoulder bag on it, and organized his things. "And you've probably got some appointment." This was the man's way of saying 'It's over. I've won'.

"We're not done talking Alan..."

He ignored me and went out the door.

Taking a few deep breaths, I went back to work and made an extra effort to focus on my patients. After my last appointment, I went to pick up Rach from the sitter, who thanked me for the invitation.

I went to the store with her in tow. Not in a hurry to go home, I dawdled, read a magazine article or two, scanned a novel, and got toys for the pets. Rach pointed at a few things and made sounds, of wanting them but I scolded her. Once the stuff was paid for, we went home.

TBC