would her boyfriend be called?”
“Since I highly doubt there are any female players who are anywhere near good enough for that, I don’t think that’s something we need to worry about,” Rachel said.
“Fine, then what about a gay player? The term WAGs is completely heteronormative. Don’t we want something more inclusive?”
“What exactly do you suggest?” Rachel asked.
“How about spouses and partners?”
Rachel paused for a moment and then said, “That would make us SAPs.”
“You’re right. It sure would.” Thea stood and picked up her plate. “I think I’ll check on the kids. Anyone need anything?”
Thea walked out of the silent dining room and around the corner. It wasn’t long before Gavin appeared. “What the hell was that?” he asked.
“That,” Thea said, setting down her plate, “was the kind of bullshit I’ve had to put up with from Rachel and her friends the entire time we’ve been married. I just decided to stand up to her for a change.”
“She always treats you like that?”
Thea snorted. “Um, yeah. From day one.”
His eyes pinched at the corners. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why didn’t you know?”
Gavin shook his head, opened his mouth to say something, and then apparently thought better of it. He swallowed instead.
“Don’t worry about it,” Thea snapped. “It won’t be a problem much longer, anyway.”
She spun on her heels and left him standing there. And she spent the rest of the day with the kids, carefully avoiding his every attempt to get her alone.
Ava started complaining about a stomachache around six o’clock, so Gavin made their excuses. Nessa dished up some leftovers into a tower of plastic containers and carried them out to the car while Gavin got the girls ready to leave.
“It will get better,” Nessa said quietly, loading containers in the back of the car.
Thea sighed. “Thanks, but I don’t think Rachel is ever going to like me.”
“I’m talking about you and Gavin.”
Thea looked up.
“Give it a chance to get better, Thea,” Nessa said.
The front door opened, and Gavin walked out carrying Ava. Amelia scampered ahead of them. Nessa squeezed Thea’s arm and lowered her voice. “Call me anytime.”
Thea shut the door to the trunk as Nessa walked up the sidewalk. She paused to kiss the girls goodbye and give a one-armed hug to Gavin. Thea opened the door to Ava’s side and took her from Gavin without meeting his eyes.
“I’ll buckle Amelia in,” he said.
The drive home was as silent as the trip there. Gavin clenched the steering wheel. Thea stared out her window, watching other families in other cars. Smiling, laughing families. Did those husbands and wives start their holiday arguing about masturbation? The thought brought an absurd burst of hysterical laughter from her mouth, which quickly became a frustrated sigh. She felt more than saw Gavin’s head turn in her direction, but she kept her eyes locked on the passing scenery. The lifeless, gray sky matched her mood.
By the time they got home, Thea practically threw herself from the car. She unbuckled Ava and carried her to the porch, fumbling at the door with the key. Butter greeted them in the foyer with excited barks.
“Mommy, I don’t feel good,” Ava whined.
“I know, honey. Let’s get your coat off—”
Vomit covered the floor before she could finish her sentence. Ava began to cry. Butter began to sniff.
“Butter, no!” Thea grabbed the dog’s collar just as Ava heaved again. Another round of what-the-hell-did-she-eat splashed onto the floor. Behind her at the door, Gavin let out a quiet curse, and Amelia yelled, “Gross!”
Gavin rushed in and took Butter’s collar.
“I’ll clean this up,” Thea said. “Can you take her up and start a bath?”
“No!” Ava cried. “I want Mommy.”
“I’ll clean it up,” Gavin said. “Amelia, honey, just stay back for a second.”
Too late. Ava turned and heaved all over her sister. Amelia shrieked. Gavin cussed out loud this time. Butter barked like he’d found his own particular heaven and tried to start licking Amelia clean.
“Butter! Stop it! Girls, come on. Let’s get upstairs,” Thea soothed. “Ava, hold it if you can until we get to the bathroom.”
Both girls crying, Thea followed them upstairs and into their bathroom. Kneeling, she told them to put their arms up and then peeled their shirts from their bodies. She’d be lucky if she could salvage either garment. She told them to finish getting undressed as she started the bath. Downstairs, Gavin said something particularly unkind to Butter before presumably putting the dog out back.
“Mommy, I don’t feel good,” Amelia hiccupped, her face pale.
Oh, no. Thea took