When Life Gives You Lululemons

Karolina and Emily attend a Pilates class. Afterward, they get coffee and discuss Emily’s plans to reinvent Karolina. Emily thinks Karolina needs a more maternal look, suggesting she cut her hair, gain a few pounds, and dress differently. She also underscores the importance of attending a short rehabilitation program. Karolina feels “helpless and alone” (162), but she agrees because of Harry. Then Emily presses her for dirt on Graham. Karolina has one secret, but she withholds it from Emily for fear of ruining both Graham and Harry.

Emily leaves Miriam at home to attend a party with Ashley and Eric at a couple called Zachanda’s, or Zach and Amanda’s house. They are local multi-millionaires famous for their extravagant parties.

Emily is impressed by Zachanda’s mansion but quickly gets bored with the guests. Then she runs into Alistair. They chat, flirt, smoke, and drink together. Overwhelmed, Emily dismisses herself to the upstairs bathroom. Alistair shows up, too. Emily wants to kiss him but as soon as their mouths touch, she remembers Miles and feels guilty. She pulls away and insists she isn’t interested.

Outside the bathroom, she and Alistair trip over Eric and a young woman having sex on the floor in the dark. Eric begs Emily not to tell Ashley; Emily insists she doesn’t care about Eric’s marriage and heads out. Outside, she runs into Ashley, who is disappointed Emily is leaving but pleased when Emily thanks her for the invitation.

Miriam takes her children to their friends’ birthday party. She feels overwhelmed and irritated when she witnesses her children putting on makeup and dancing promiscuously to pop music. She distracts herself by talking to Ashley, who is crying over Eric; she suspects he’s cheating.

Miriam privately wonders if this is what Paul is up to, too. Miriam’s children end the party in tears. On the way home, she wonders if this life is right for them after all. Back at home, she is horrified to see that Paul has purchased a brand-new Maserati.

Emily convinces Karolina to check herself into a ritzy desert resort for a few days, promising to pass it off as rehab to the media. The women invite Miriam, too, and the three women drive through the desert together. That evening, the friends discuss their lives and relationships over dinner, served to them by a handsome man named Tim. Later that evening, Tim knocks on Karolina’s door under the guise of helping her kill a bug. They have sex. Karolina feels happy, relieved, and confident afterwards.

Emily, Miriam, and Karolina read headlines announcing Graham and Regan’s relationship. They discuss the unlikelihood of Regan and Harry connecting. They also wonder if Graham chose Regan over Karolina because she couldn’t get pregnant. Emily encourages her not to lose hope, promising to bring Graham down and reunite Karolina and Harry.

Later that evening, Miles texts Emily to say another of their friends is having a baby. He suggests they start trying, too. Emily doesn’t want children but has never told Miles. She sends back a picture of herself holding a pack of cigarettes; feeling guilty, she follows it up with a photo of her breasts. He doesn’t respond. Deflated, Emily edits the photo and sends it to Alistair.

Miriam spends the day in the city. She sits at a café reviewing “Karolina’s bills and statements” to help her case while waiting for Paul to pick her up (214). An old colleague named Stephanie shows up, surprising Miriam and making her uncomfortable. She returns to her work after Stephanie leaves.

When she notices a few odd statements, she calls a doctor’s office and learns that Graham had a vasectomy five years ago. Stunned, she calls Emily, who insists they have to tell Karolina together. Paul arrives early to collect Miriam, and she feels irritated on the way home. Paul’s music is too loud, and it’s too cold driving with the top down. Back at home, Paul declines to eat with Miriam to work instead.

Emily calls Miriam to come to Karolina’s immediately. Fearing an emergency, Miriam races out. At the house, she realizes Emily has cornered her into telling Karolina about the vasectomy. A furious Karolina insists she wants to destroy Graham.

Karolina, Miriam, and Emily stay up late talking about how to get revenge on Graham. Finally, Karolina reveals Graham’s secret: He killed a four-year-old girl with his car when he was in high school. She insists it was just an accident, but Emily believes his family covered it up. She then reveals that she hired an ex-police officer to seduce Graham at his new gym. The scheme will prove his infidelity. Karolina isn’t sure but goes to bed feeling hopeful that at least she might have a baby someday.

Emily does a workout at home, but a call from an unknown number interrupts her. It is Graham; he found out about the ex-police officer and demands she leave him alone. In need of a drink afterward, Emily texts Karolina for a bar suggestion. At the bar, she runs into Alistair, who is on a date. Alistair mentions Miles, embarrassing Emily.

After Emily gets home that night, Miles shows up unexpectedly. He returned home early and found Emily’s location via Karolina. They return to the house to have sex. Emily feels guilty for having underestimated her marriage.