Rules of the Friend Group

Dress accordingly
Dine at elegant eateries
Haute couture shopping is expected
Outside friends are frowned upon
Group discussions are exclusive
No unapproved pregnancies

I wanted to be a mother for as long as I could remember, so when my first child died of SIDS, I was devastated, and the thought of it happening with another pregnancy kept me in a dark place. I’m better now, and Jake and I are ready to try again. But as it happened, life threw us a curveball. Jake received a promotion at his company, a fantastic opportunity for both of us, except it required we relocate to Thailand.

I was utterly lost as a newly minted ex-pat in a foreign country. Even a simple task like buying groceries had become an ordeal. That is until I met Vivian. She introduced me to Ginnie and Vineta. Those three women took me under their wings and helped me successfully navigate my new life. They’d become my besties.

I soon learned I’d been accepted into the premier friend group. We were the envy of the ex-pat community and treated like royalty. I experienced privilege beyond my wildest dreams. And it would only get better as I’d discovered I was pregnant.

For once, I felt everything in my life was going the right way until I learned I’d taken a seat on a revolving chair. There were others before me, but they left the group, never to be heard from again. Vivian smiled and told me not to worry about that.

Of course, I’d heard the chatter outside the group: Break a rule, and you’ll be reminded with a courteous smile. Break two, and you’ll disappear.

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