of the year, Claire and Martha were the same age. When she was younger, Claire loved this. She used to torture Martha with it, telling her that she was just as old as she was. Now it didn’t seem that fun.
Martha was concerned that turning thirty would send Claire into a tailspin, and she talked to her often about it. “It seems worse than it is,” she said. “The idea of thirty can be scary but once it happens, you’re totally fine.”
“I’m fine,” Claire repeated over and over again.
Martha thought Claire’s birthday was even more reason to go to therapy with her. Sometimes Claire thought she should just agree to go to shut her up about it.
“You’re probably stressed about things you don’t even know that you’re stressed about. That’s the best part of therapy,” Martha said.
“Martha, I’m going to tell you for the last time. I am not going to therapy with you.” Claire couldn’t help but yell it. That was another reason she had to get out of this house. Each day made her act more and more like a teenager.
“You are being really closed-minded,” Martha said. She yelled a little too.
“Good,” Claire said. She didn’t care if she wasn’t making sense. The two of them left the room and slammed their respective doors. Anytime Weezy looked at them, she just shook her head.
LAINIE TIED BALLOONS TO THE CHAIRS in the backyard and hung an old silver banner that read HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Claire hugged her when she arrived. “This is a big birthday,” Lainie told her. “You should enjoy it.”
Lainie’s boys were all dressed alike, in khaki shorts and light blue polo shirts. When she got there, Jack ran right up to her. “Remember when I was five and you babysat me?” he said. She nodded and he smiled. “That was fun.” He had made her a birthday card and helped her blow out her candles. He seemed to have changed his mind about her. Apparently, they were now the best of friends.
Lainie invited a couple of her sisters, Claire’s whole family, a couple of friends from high school, and Fran, of course. When she brought Claire’s cake out, which was a yellow sheet cake with chocolate frosting she’d made from a box, she said, “I just want to wish my best friend a happy thirtieth birthday. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
It was a funny speech, considering Claire had always thought that Lainie would be just fine without her. She was the one that needed Lainie more. But maybe that was how all friendships were—one person was the littlest bit needier than the other one. And maybe sometimes it switched. Not often, but sometimes.
Fran had shown up at the barbecue wearing a collared shirt and no hat. It looked like he’d made an effort to look nice, and seeing him stand there and talk to her family dressed like that hurt Claire’s heart a little for reasons she couldn’t totally identify.
After Claire blew out her candles, Lainie brought out a cupcake with another candle in it and lit it for Martha. “It’s a few days early,” she said, “but we can’t forget the other birthday girl.”
Martha was pleased, Claire could tell. And Weezy was too. Even Claire felt good about it, and she realized that in every relationship, Martha was the needier one. And she knew that would never change.
MARTHA WAS CLOSING ON A CONDO, which took up a lot of the discussion at the dinner table. Cleo always looked happy to talk about it, since it took the attention away from her and the baby, and actually everyone else also seemed relieved to have another topic to discuss.
“It would make sense to rent out the other bedroom, but it would also be great to have it as a guest room. Cathy was saying that she and Ruth would love to come stay for a few days soon, and I’d love that too. I just have to decide what to do.” Martha sighed, like she’d just been faced with deciding whether or not she should euthanize a puppy.
“I’m starting to apply for jobs in New York,” Claire said. It seemed as good a time as any to let everyone know.
“Already?” Weezy asked.
“I’ve been here for almost a year,” Claire said.
“What sorts of things are you looking for?” Will asked. He took a bite of peas.
“I think the same sort of thing I was doing before … nonprofit stuff.”
“But we’ll miss you,” Cleo said. Claire smiled