Crossroad to Love (Fab Five Series) - By Anna Kristell Page 0,56

and dine me before you go back upstairs to her? Really, Jon, do you think I am that stupid?”

Jon’s heart fell as he realized what she was saying, and it felt as if all the breath had been suddenly stolen from his lungs. She must have seen Jennifer in the lobby. He answered her in a solemn voice, “Honey, I have no one waiting for me in a room upstairs. I would never do that to you. What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you ‘honey’ me, you cheating bastard. You must think I am really pathetic. I know all about your affair with the little blonde lab tech. Don’t look so surprised, I’ve known for a while now. I was going to confront you about it when I got back home. Now, I guess I won’t have to do that. You have seen to it that it is all out in the open. But how in the world could you parade her in front of my friends like that? How could you be so cruel? Do you hate me that much?” A tear had made a trail down her cheek.

“Marianne, I don’t hate you. I love you.” Jon started toward her.

She held her hand up to stop him. “Don’t come near me. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”

“Well, you’re going to hear what I have to say.”

“No, Jon, actions speak louder than words. I don’t need to hear it.” Marianne turned away from him.

“Dammit, Mari, there is no affair. There never was.”

“And what makes you think I’d believe that?”

“I can’t believe you think I would cheat on you after all these years.”

“Don’t pull that innocent crap on me, Jon. I am not stupid. Julie saw you with her at the lab one night after hours. How do you think I found out?”

“That must have been the night she cornered me, and there was a kiss, which she initiated and I stopped. Marianne, believe me, nothing ever happened. She has been chasing me relentlessly. I don’t want her. I want you. I came here tonight to surprise you girls and take you out to dinner. You know I’m fond of your friends. I wanted to see all of them while they were in town.”

“I think you should leave now, Jon. We won’t be having dinner with you.”

“Marianne, you need to listen to what I am saying. I don’t have her stashed in a suite anywhere. I came here to be with you. I have never cheated on you, I don’t appreciate being called a bastard and I certainly would never embarrass you in front of your friends.”

“Leave or I will call security and have you thrown out,” she replied coldly.

Jon turned sadly toward the door. “I know you somehow think I’ve screwed up badly here, but you have to believe me. I love you and I want only you. Please think about that.” He walked out the door, closing it softly behind him.

After he left, Marianne collapsed on the couch in tears. She had held them back for as long as she could. Lizzie came out of the bedroom as Katy was coming in the door.

“Was that Jon I just saw getting on the elevator?” she asked as she looked from Marianne to Lizzie. “Oh, my God, what happened?”

Angie walked out of the bedroom. She was feeling better after her nap. She and Lizzie had talked while Jon and Marianne were doing battle in the living room.

“All hell has broken loose, that’s what happened. Jon and Mari’s issues have suddenly come to a head,” Angie answered Katy’s question as she looked at Marianne sobbing on the couch.

“My marriage is over. He tried to make excuses and deny the affair. He is such a liar. I’ve lived with that man for years and raised his children. I supported him while he was in med school. We struggled as he got his practice off the ground. And through it all, I’ve never once questioned our love. Now, just when we finally have the life we’ve always dreamed of, I find out it was all a lie. He’s probably been screwing around on me for years. I’m such a fool. The whole hospital has probably been laughing behind my back all this time.” She collapsed into sobs again.

Her friends looked at each other helplessly.

“Tell us what he said, maybe we can help,” Lizzie offered.

Angie poured a glass of wine for all of them, handed one to each of her friends and