Free Loving Sofia by Alina Man

boring being home all day.
    Today was one of those boring days.  With nothing really to do , I decided to pack some lunch for Mark and his crew and drive to the job site to see for myself what all the hype was about. Just as I was getting ready to take the preparations for lunch out of the fridge, I heard the doorbell.  The moment the door opens, Mona throws her arms around my neck, tears all over her porcelain face.  “I don’t think I can do this,” she says between sobs. 
    I take her by the shoulders and together we walk toward the kitchen. “Ok babe what’s going on?  Did Jon do something?”
    “Come on Birdie, you have known Jon for how long?  You know he would never do anything to make me cry. It’s not that.  I just can’t take all this wedding preparation shit.  Between my mom and his, I feel like I’m going crazy.”
    Let the drama begin , I think.  This is why I always said when the time comes, I’ll just elope.
    “Did you try to talk to your mom about it?”  I’ve never seen her look like this.  I mean this girl never cries.  She doesn’t believe in tears.  If something doesn’t work , she’ll find a way to fix it or just walk away.  But she never cries.
    “They have so many lists that it no longer feels like a wedding . More like a movie production.  I mean, who wants to have five hundred strangers at her wedding?  Not me. They are sucking the fun out of it.” Sob, sob, cry, cry. 
    “Mona you need to talk to your mom.  We all thought you wanted a big wedding.  You always made such a big deal out of it.  I know she just wants you to be happy.”
    “Birdie I just want my family and friends there.  Not my father’s clients for fuck sake.”
    “We can always go to Vegas,” I laugh and wink at her.  “Just give me a few days heads-up since I’ll probably have to take the Greyhound. I can’t afford a plane ticket right now.” She laughs at this and I know she’ll be ok. 
    “Oh my gosh girly, I can’t believe I forgot all about that.  Here you are without a job, and I’m crying like a spoiled bitch about the stupid wedding.  I’ve been a sucky friend, haven’t I? By the way, what’s it like living with Mark?  Have you guys done you know what?”
    And she’s back. “Cochina. We are not like that.  He was just nice enough to help me out. So how come you’re here?  I mean , I’m happy to see you, but I thought you’d be at your mom’s.”  I pull the meats and cheeses out and start making sandwiches.  “Do you want something to eat?”
    “Nah I’m ok. I was with Mom the whole week, and I just couldn’t take it anymore.  You know I love Jon, but what if I’m not ready to be a wife? Shit Birdie, I don’t cook, or clean, and I can’t even imagine popping out a kid through my vagina.  What can I possibly offer him?”
    “Are you for real?  Seriously , don’t have a nervous meltdown because I don’t think I can help you.  I’ve been feeling sorry for myself for the past few weeks too, so you’re crying on the wrong shoulder.  How can you sit there and think like that?  Jon loves you for you and, trust me, by now he knows what you do and don’t do.  I don’t think he wants to marry you for your cooking. I mean, remember when you tried to make us breakfast?”
    We start laughing like two idiots remembering that morning.  Ah good times. I finish making the sandwiches while she talks about the wedding some more.  The tears are long forgotten and my old friend is back to her true self. I put the lunches in a big cooler and together we walk to my car.
    “Thank you, girly, for always being there for me.” We say our goodbyes then go our separate ways.
    The “barn” as Mark calls it , is looking more like a big villa now.  I can see all the big windows are in place on both floors, and I know that the whole place is almost finished.  I get out of the car and decide to leave the cooler there and get Mark to help me. He spots me immediately