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Dakota wrapped her arm around Journey’s shoulders. “He’s not leaving. He might be a little upset now, but he’d be miserable without you. We know that, and he does, too. Just talk to him. You guys can come up with some type of compromise and then get back on track.”
“We’ve tried, Dee. This is all on me. He does his part. I’m the one who can’t seem to get my act together.”
“Same,” Zenobia piped in. “I don’t have half as many responsibilities as the rest of you, and there are days when I don’t feel like I know what I’m doing. And now that we’re having a baby, I’m scared to death that I’m going to screw everything up.”
“Wait!”
“What?”
“You’re pregnant?”
“You sneaky little….”
Everyone spoke up at once, laughing and hugging her, genuinely thrilled for her and Angelo. The ladies lost it all over again when they learned that the couple was having twins.
Their Supreme family was growing. Seemed every year someone was having a baby.
London reached over and squeezed Zenobia’s hand when the woman looked as if she was going to break down.
“You’re going to be an amazing mommy, and when life gets tough, and it will, you have all of us to lean on.”
“And just think, you already have built-in aunties and babysitters,” Journey said, hugging Zen again.
“They’re right,” Egypt said. “You can always count on us to have your back. As far as feeling as if you don’t know what you’re doing, we’ve all been there, sometimes on a weekly basis,” she said with a laugh. “But no one ever said adulting would be easy. Then you add in parenting and trying to have a successful career, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. All you can do is hang in there, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
“And don’t feel like you have to be perfect,” Dakota added. “That’s when shit really hits the fan.”
They all laughed as they reclaimed their seats.
More of the tension and stress Journey had been feeling for the last few months continued to wane. She had to remember that she wasn’t some superwoman who could or had to do it all. There were times when she should’ve asked for help, especially at work, but didn’t.
Yep, there were definitely going to be some changes. She just had to figure out where to start.
“I’m so glad you guys are saying all of this. I can totally relate,” Dani said as they went back to eating and drinking. “After two broken engagements, I had given up on the idea of marriage and having a family. I thought that opening my heart to Ashton was the scariest thing I’d ever do, but when the kids came along, I knew I was wrong. Caring for two preschoolers and running a business is scary as hell.”
Again, laughter floated around the room as they all shared mommy stories. As Journey listened, she realized that she definitely wasn’t alone. They all experienced moments of being overwhelmed and dropping balls that they were juggling. Still, she didn’t have the answers she needed to know what to do next.
“I don’t know how to pull my marriage back together,” she blurted.
In addition to her law degree, she had a degree in public affairs. Yet, she couldn’t keep her husband happy and her marriage together.
Journey lifted her glass of wine to her mouth but stopped. “It’s hard to be home by five with dinner on the table and attend family events when I sometimes put in eighty-hour work weeks.”
“Why do you do it?” Zenobia asked.
‘Why do I do what? Work?”
“Why do you feel like you have to put in eighty hours? I can’t even imagine what all goes into trying cases, but is it worth it?”
Journey stared at her friend, then blinked several times before setting her glass back on the table as she pondered the question.
“While you’re thinking about that, think about what’s most important to you in your life,” Egypt said.
“My family is my life,” Journey said without hesitation, even surprising herself. It was a no-brainer. She couldn’t imagine living without Laz and Arielle, as well as her immediate family and those around the table.
“Then you know what you have to do,” Dakota said, filling shot glasses with the tequila that no one had touched.
Journey looked at her friend, wondering if she was saying what she thought she was saying.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Dakota said, handing everyone except Zen a glass. “You don’t need us to tell you that you work too damn much. I get that you want to be the best at your job. Hell, you are the best, but Journey, at some point, you have to ask yourself. Is it worth it? Is putting in an obscene amount of hours at work worth it in the big scheme of things?”
“I remember when I decided to give up touring,” Zenobia said, holding up her water glass for Dakota to refill it. “I loved making music, and I loved my fans, but the stress that went with being in the public’s eye and touring was too much. It was either continue doing it or live a miserable life. I chose happiness.” Though Zen no longer put out records, she still performed on occasion and wrote songs for other musical artists.
“In the words of Geneva….” London said, and everyone laugh-groaned. “Fuck that job! You need to go home and take care of your man.”
Everyone burst out laughing, and Journey swatted London’s arm. It wasn’t just that she had Gen’s words down pat, but she even sounded like her.
Journey knew what she had to do. First, she needed to regain her husband’s attention…and his trust.
