FRIENDS

The One With the Divorce

YEAR: 2013

"Hey, is everything okay?" Chris asked as Sophie walked back into the shop.
"Yeah, everything's fine," she said.
"Soph-"
"I'm fine," she insisted. "Stop worrying about me."

***

The day was slow and uneventful. Around seven, everyone had finally gotten out of work, and huddled on their couch in Timberyard again. Everyone in the friend group was smiling, talking, and getting along. Everyone except Louise.

"Hey," Dan whispered. "You okay?"
"No, actually, I'm not," she replied.
"What's wrong?" everyone asked.
"I, um," she teared up. "I'm-"
"I know I'm a little late, but I got her to sleep, so I thought you wouldn't mind," Matt mumbled.

He had stormed into the shop and set Darcy's stroller next to Louise's seat. He dropped Darcy's belongings on the floor and stormed out without another word.

"Thanks," she whispered as he left.
"What were you gonna tell us?" Phil asked.
"It's not important," she said.

She took Darcy out of her stroller and handed her over to Dan. Dan started smiling from ear to ear as the now awake toddler looked around the shop. Darcy took ahold of Phil's hands and started clapping them together. Everyone gushed at the two boys playing with the happy toddler—everyone except Louise. She sat in her chair, face dug inside her hand as tears stained her cheeks, but no one noticed.

"I'm gonna head out for a bit. Would you guys mind watching her for a while?" Louise sniffed, standing up from her chair.
"Yeah, sure," Dan smiled.
"I'll be back later, sweetie," she whispered to Darcy.
"Bye-Bye," she giggled.
"Bye," she mumbled as she walked out.
"What's up with her?" PJ asked.
"I don't know," Dan smiled at the little girl. "I think Phil and I should head home."
"Why?" Phil asked. "I like hanging out with our friends."
"But we could entertain Darcy a bit more at home, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I guess," he sighed. "I'll grab the bag, you can grab the stroller."
"Fine by me."

The two stood up from the couch, got all of Darcy's belongings together, and headed for the door. Everyone else just sat there in a slightly awkward silence.

"What do you guys think is wrong with Louise?" PJ asked again.
"I don't know, but she's been acting like this for a while," Chris said.
"Do you think she's dying?" PJ chuckled.
"I sure hope not," Sophie said.
"Yeah, that would suck," Chris said.
"When do you think she'll tell us what's up?" Sophie asked.
"I don't know," PJ sighed. "I hope she tells us soon."

***

"Darcy, honey, what's that?" Phil asked.

He pointed to a well drawn rabbit in an old animal book his grandmother used to read to him. Darcy giggled as pointed to the animals on the page.

"Bunny!" she yelled.
"Yeah, good job," Phil cheered. "What's that?" He pointed to a fly.
"Fly!"
"Yeah," he laughed.
"What are you guys doing?" Dan asked, joining them on the couch.
"Looking at pictures of animals," Phil said.
"Why?"
"Why not?" Phil shrugged. "She's so smart," Phil whispered.
"What was that?"
"I said that she's smart," he repeated.
"TV!" She made grabby hands at the television.
"You wanna watch tv?" Dan asked.
"Yes," she smiled.
"Think she deserves it," Phil said. "She's read an awful lot."
"Okay," Dan sighed. "What's on, that she can watch?"
"I don't know," he replied.
"There we are," he mumbled, turning it to a random cartoon. Dan leaned back and smiled at his cute fiancé with the toddler on his lap. "Hey," he whispered.
"Yeah?" Phil whispered back.
"I just realized that we never really talked about kids and stuff."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when we were dating, we never talked about how we feel about kids and whether or not we would have them."
"We can't physically have them, Dan," Phil chuckled.
"Shut up, loser," Dan laughed as he nudged Phil's shoulder. "I know we can't physically have them! But you know what I mean."
"I do," he smirked.
"So?"
"So what?"
"Would you ever want kids?"
"Yeah, one day," Phil smiled at Darcy. "You?"
"Yeah, I would."
"You almost had one," Phil teased.
"Oh, shut up," he giggled. "Do you think I would have been a good dad? Y'know, if Jess' kid actually lived and it was actually mine?"
"I think you would have been a great dad."
"You mean it?"
"I do," Phil whispered as he kissed Dan. "I love you..."
"I love you too..."

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Are we expecting anyone?" Dan asked.
"I don't think so," Phil replied.

Dan shrugged as he got up from the couch. He made his way down to the front door to see who was knocking.

"Hey," Matt sighed. "I heard Darcy was here. May I come in?"
"Yeah, of course," Dan said. "Hey, um, Matt?" Dan asked as he closed the door.
"Yeah?"
"Do you know what's been up with Louise, lately?"
"She still hasn't told you guys?" he raised a brow.
"Told us what?"
"I'll take that as a no," he rolled his eyes. "Lou and I are getting a divorce."
"You're what?" Dan gasped.
"Yeah." Matt pursed his lips as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Anyway, where's Darcy?"
"U-Upstairs with Phil..."
"Thanks," he said.

The two walked back upstairs and joined Phil in the living room.

"Daddy!" Darcy cheered.
"Hi, pretty girl! Are you ready to go home?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"Come on, then." He picked Darcy up from Phil's lap and held her on his hip.
"Everything's in the backpack," Dan said. "I'll help you carry the stroller down, if you want," he offered.
"That'd be helpful, thanks," Matt mumbled.

Dan helped Matt carry Darcy's belongings downstairs so they could head home. Once Dan made his way back upstairs, he plopped down next to Phil and let out a sigh.

"I can't believe Louise is getting divorced..." he uttered.
"I know," Phil replied. "Poor Darcy had to go through all that custody crap."
"Matt's gonna have to find a new place to live."
"Unless he takes the house," Phil said.
"Oh god... I feel so bad for her..." Dan mumbled.
"What do you think she's gonna do when she finds out that we know?"
"Nothing, hopefully..." he sighed as he took out his phone.
"Dan, what are you doing?"
"Nothing," he lied.
"Dan..."
"What?" Dan started typing. 
"Give me your phone."
"Too late," he smugly smiled.
"What in god's name did you do?"

Phil snatched Dan's phone from his hands and read through the message he had just sent.

Dan: Hey Lou... we know...