Compounding Julia's irritation was the fact that Mark and Jennifer were the parents of one of Sam's friends, and thought of Jacob and Julia as their friends, and wanted to have a coffee after to "catch up." Julia liked them and, insofar as she could muster enthusiasm for extrafamilial relations, considered them friends. But she couldn't muster much. At least not until she could catch up with herself.
Julia felt increasingly frustrated by the situation, particularly because Mark and Jennifer, the parents of one of Sam's friends, viewed her and Jacob as friends as well. They were eager to connect over coffee to chat and catch up. Although Julia appreciated their friendship, her ability to engage felt limited. She struggled to feel enthusiastic about socializing outside her family circle.
Despite her fondness for Mark and Jennifer, Julia found it challenging to muster the energy needed for such interactions. She realized that until she could process her own feelings and regain her footing, engaging with friends would be difficult. Catching up with herself seemed to take precedence over catching up with others.
