Page 17 of Pity Play

“I still want to know about him.” At this point, I start to worry she might stand up and walk out the door. In fact, for several moments she seems to be considering that very thing.

My friend finally picks up her drink and slams it back in one go before signaling the server for another. That’s when I know she’s planning on staying. She inhales deeply before announcing, “Brett and I met in business school. We both wanted the same things.”

“Which were …” I prompt.

“We wanted a family and careers that would supply a significant income so that when our children arrived, I could take time off and stay home with them until they started school.”

“You both had good jobs, right? I mean, I know you worked at a publishing house. That had to pay decent money. What did Brett do?”

“He was a day trader specializing in crypto currency.”

“That sounds pretty profitable.”

She nods her head. “We did fine financially.”

“What was the problem then?”

The server arrives and delivers two more lemon drops. “Oh, I’m not …”

I’m about to tell her that I don’t want another but Allie interrupts. “You’re going to need it.” Then she turns her attention to the server and asks for the beer batter fish with extra tartar sauce and coleslaw.

“I’d like the mushroom burger,” I tell her. “With onion rings, please.”

After our server leaves, I turn my attention back to Allie. “Why am I going to need another drink?”

She takes a moment to unroll her silverware from the confines of its paper napkin before laying it down in a proper setting. “Three years ago, Brett and I agreed to start trying for a family. It didn’t go well.”

“You couldn’t get pregnant?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “Getting pregnant wasn’t the problem. Keeping the baby was.”

Oh, dear. I’m not quite sure what to say about that. I decide to go with, “How many times were you pregnant?”

“Three.”Poor Allie!

“Do you know why you kept losing the pregnancies?”

“After the second, my doctor asked us to both get tested for any problems. I happily went in because I hoped they would find something we could fix. Brett did not.”

“Because?”

“I thought it was because during that time we found out we were pregnant for the third time, and he thought there was no reason to. But then we miscarried again, and he told me he was sure he wasn’t the problem.”

“Because he’s also a medical doctor?” I can’t hide the disdain from my voice.

“More like because his precious ego couldn’t handle thinking he might be responsible.”

I finish my first drink with gusto, before starting my second. “So, what happened after the third time?”

“Brett declared that he wanted a family more than anything, and as much as he claimed to love me, he realized I wasn’t up to the task.” She practically growls the next part. “Up to the task,like I was some kind of paid employee.”

My mouth hangs open like a mounted sea bass. I try to force myself to say something but really, what can I say? I ultimately go with, “He left you for that? What about adoption? What about fostering?”

“Brett would have never considered either of those things. He thought adoption made it look like there was something wrong with us. As far as fostering, there’s no way he would have ever willingly helped raise a child who he considered from ‘lesser’ stock.”

“Was he a Nazi?” I blurt this out a little louder than I’d planned to, but I’m seriously that horrified.

Allie smiles sadly. “He was just very particular.”

---