Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

I glanced over the spread of snacks laid out in front of me and couldn't help but smile. My favorites, pretzels, potato chips, and a variety of dips, were all there, a sure sign that Ronan had a hand in this. Back in our school days, the three of us would munch on these same treats.

Hannah, ever so observant, didn't miss a beat. She told me she'd be in the kitchen if I needed her and then she was off, leaving me alone with Geneva for some catch-up time.

Turning back to our conversation, I nudged Geneva, "You could consider moving to a new place."

She sighed, a hint of frustration in her voice, "Why bother? It's good enough for now. You wouldn't believe how many times I've butted heads with Noah about this."

"He's not on board?"

"Don't get me started. I've been wanting to move for ages. We've been in that house for more than a decade, surrounded by those government folks. It's suffocating. Maybe it's just my nature to crave something new."

She laughed at herself then continued, "I told him we don't need a mansion, just something a bit bigger, in a nicer location. But Noah won't budge. He says we're settled here, with neighbors who respect his government position. Why rock the boat and invite criticism?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I get it. Those types are always watching, aren't they?"

"Exactly," Geneva said, the weight of the world seeming to press on her shoulders, "If we moved, who knows what they'd start saying behind our backs?"

I couldn't help but challenge her, "Isn't it a shame? He devotes his life to public service and yet he can't even try to better his living situation without people making a fuss about it."

"Noah's just overly cautious, always playing it safe so he doesn't step on the wrong toes," she scoffed, "Janice had it right. To our faces, they call me Mrs. Atwood with a smile. But that's not respect for me, and it's for the bit of power Noah holds. People are so self-serving these days."

I nodded in agreement. She hit the nail on the head.

"But in private? They whisper and judge. Makes me think twice about treating myself to a nice dress," Geneva said, her laugh tinged with irony.

"Is it really that bad?" I asked, incredulous, "That's too much. You have your own business, after all."

"Trust me, they don't see the businesswoman, only the new dress," Geneva said with a harsh dose of reality.

"That's gotta sting," I commiserated.

"Doesn't it?" she said with a sardonic smile, then continued, "On the flip side, if I don't keep up appearances, they talk about how shabby I look. In this neighborhood, it's a constant competition, husbands, kids, houses, money, anything, and everything, even down to who has the prettiest toenails."

I burst into laughter at her hyperbole, "Come on, that's a bit much."

"I'm not exaggerating one bit."

I nodded solemnly, "I've seen it too, especially among women. It's terrifying. I remember a saleswoman back at the company. She barely made any deals, earned a pittance, and still paraded around in designe clothes. She wasn't fooling anyone, and it was clear she was living beyond her means. She can't afford these designer labels by virtue of her income, but she wears them, obviously from the wrong source to the point where everyone understands her vanity."

Geneva nodded, "Exactly. This competitive spirit is suffocating. But in business, we have some leeway. In public service, there's no such freedom."

She leaned in and whispered, "Even if we have the money, we're scared to spend it, to avoid gossip."

"So what?" I countered, "Let them talk. You've got a successful shop, why should you care?"

"Thank goodness for the shop, at least," Geneva admitted, her frustration apparent, "All these years, I've watched others make money while I've had to hold back."

"Noah's a steady guy," I offered, throwing a compliment his way, "He takes care of you, and you two have a good thing going. Be content with that, and it's quite a blessing."

She let out a sigh, "As time goes by, marriage becomes more about companionship than anything else. The spark of romance tends to fade, and when it does, we're just left to navigate life side by side." I sensed the deeper currents in her words and pressed on, eager to explore this vein.