The setting sun was casting its rays through the window but that didn’t bother Tara who knew the show so well, it didn’t matter if there was a glare on the television. Her eyelids drooped to the drone of the television as she settled in under the blanket and the couch sagged under her….

Click.

She snapped awake at the sound of Jason unlocking the front door. Before she could sit up and hide the evidence, the remote fell to the floor and her cover was busted. She winced. “Of course,” she heard from the entryway, “you’re planted at the tv again.”

“I’m sorry” she got out before slipping her hand on the blanket as she hastily attempted to rise from the couch. “It was only for a few minutes, Kacy just fell asleep.”

“Sure,” said Jason sarcastically, stepping inside and moving towards the bedroom. “Any mail came for me today?”

“No,” she said, folding the blanket neatly and trashing her snack leftovers from the coffee table. “How was work?”

“It was all right” he said, walking down the hallway. Tara braces herself, knowing what’s coming. Immediately she heard, “Seriously, you couldn’t do ANY laundry? You’ve been home all day and you couldn’t throw in a load?”

She set down the blanket, stiffening. “I’m sorry I was in and out of Zoom rooms all day and—”

“Tara, I’m not stupid. You and I both know that most of those meetings are a bunch of nonsense anyway.”

“Normally, I suppose but today’s the last day before the product launch and I needed to help coordinate-”

“What’s for dinner?” He sniffed as he walked back to the living room. “Did you defrost anything? I’m in a good mood, maybe I can do your job for you tonight since you were sooo busy today” he jeered.

She takes a deep breath. Through clenched teeth: “What do you mean by ‘my job’?”

“Come on, honey, I’m messing with you” he chuckled.

“I don’t find that particularly funny.” She straightened up, gaining her footing. “My job is to ensure consistency across branding. That is my job. Just like you’re job is to ensure New Yorkers get electricity,” she insisted.

As he turned towards the kitchen, he scoffed: “Well, someone has to take care of the house and you’re home all day-”

“I am home all day watching our child and working full time and-“

He turned on his heels as he retorted, “oh please, you only have Kacy for the last hour of your workday. What are you doing the rest of the day, huh? While I’m out there breaking my back to provide for you, you’re in here taking meetings from your bed.”

Knowing this battle was lost, Tara remained silent—unsure how to respond. He had a point after all, she conceded in her mind. They share responsibilities—that’s what they agreed to. He fixes things around the house and cleans the bathroom. She does…everything else. She is at home after all, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to throw in a load once in a while or—

Tara became aware of the theme song blaring from the television. Finding the remote on the cushions, she turned it off and set the remote on the table.

Jason watched her from the doorframe with arms crossed and a smirk on his face. “No comebacks now, huh? Tell you what, I’ll cook dinner tonight since sitting at the kitchen table for 8 hours drained you so much.” He walked out into the kitchen where defrosted chicken lay in the sink.

With a newfound impetus, she pulled out a piece of looseleaf from the bookshelf, sat on the edge of the couch, and began quietly writing a to-do list for the next day. For her job. The one she signed up for when she got married. When she became a mother. Her second job— no. Her duty.

As she slowly wrote the words “To-Do” on the header, she heard Kacy crying from the other room.

He’s awake, she thought. She got up.