Marianne looked at each of her friends in disbelief. “You
have got to be kidding me. What in the world did you do?”
“After I picked my jaw up off the floor and stammered a
little, I acted like the professional career lady that I am and conducted the
meeting, of course. He really had some wonderful ideas and I think I’ll like
working with him, actually. On a professional level, of course,” she quickly
added.
“What about on a personal level?” Marianne ventured to ask.
“That remains to be seen. We had dinner together last night.
He is still single in answer to your next question,” Angie offered.
“Wow, you didn’t waste any time, now did you?” Marianne
looked at her friend warily.
“Now what is that supposed to mean? It was a friendly
business dinner. That is all.”
“Sure it was. Honey, we all know that you never got over the
man. Why you ever let him go in the first place is beyond me. You guys were
great together. You should never have let your careers get in the way. You
could have made it work, lots of couples have high-powered careers and stay
married. They lead successful lives and do just fine.” Marianne had finally put
into words what they all had been thinking.
“But, at the time, it just didn’t seem to be working. You
are right about one thing, though, and I never thought I would ever admit it. I
never got over the man, plain and simple fact. And I probably never will.”
“Well, now is your chance to rectify the mistake of letting
him go in the first place. You may never get another chance like it,” Lizzie,
who had been listening intently, added.
“But so much time has passed.”
“Did he act interested?” Katy asked, knowing full well that
he was.
“Maybe, I just don’t know what to think. I have to work with
the man for the next several months.”
“There’s that work thing getting in the way again,” Marianne
replied.
“You have got to find a way to work with him and a way to
get to know him all over again. You might just like the man he has become even
more than the Michael you fell in love with all those years ago,” Katy said.
“You are both established in your careers now, sounds like
you are both doing well for yourselves. You are both available and obviously
neither of you has found anyone else, which should be telling you something. It
may be destiny’s way of stepping in where you two have been too stubborn to
go,” Lizzie offered.
“I agree,” said Marianne, who had always been a great
believer in fate and destiny.
“Well, I do feel better after talking with you guys. I knew
I would. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens from here, I guess.
Enough about me, who wants to go next?” Angie was glad to get the conversation
going in another direction. They did not know everything about her breakup with
Michael. She had never told them. She had never confided the most personal thing
in her life to her best friends in all the years since it happened. Actually,
she had never even told Michael the real reason she had set him free.
“I’ll go next,” Katy offered. The others leaned forward to
listen, eager to hear as she began.
“Well, you all know that Alex has gone off to college. It
has been wonderful raising him, even though we were very lonely at times. Now, it’s
been ten years and it’s time for me to decide what I am going to do with the
rest of my life. Bill would want me to move on and be happy. I need to decide
on a job, for starters, and then who knows what will happen next? It has been
so many years, I just don’t know if I can do the whole dating thing again. And
things are so different now from when Bill and I got together. I mean, we were
high school sweethearts, for God’s sake. I thought I could gain a little
perspective this week while I’m here.” Katy was very serious now.
“Well, Katy, I think you’re right, the time has come for you
to start the rest of your life. It won’t be easy, I’m sure, but something or
someone will come along when you least expect it and just like with Angie, it
will be meant to be,” Lizzie said with a smile for her friend.
“She’s right, you know. You need to see what happens. What
kind of job are you thinking about?” Angie asked.
“I really don’t know. I’ve always been interested in
interior design, you know. I took those classes after high school and worked
for a decorator before I had Bree.”
“Well, maybe you could start a business of your own. I think
it’s great you are thinking about doing something like that. Maybe you could
work on some ideas for my project at the hotel. That would be a start for you.
Let you get your feet wet and see if this is really your thing.”
“I think that’s an excellent idea, Angie. That is so like
you to think of something like that,” Marianne said.
“Wow, I knew you guys would have ideas for me, but I never
expected anything like this. Thank you, Angie, I would love to work on
something for you. Let’s set a time this week to talk about it some more.” Katy
was excited at the prospect of working with Angie.
“Okay, two down and two to go. Whose problem do we solve
next?” Angie laughed.
This is great, being with the three of them again
.
She wondered how many other people could say that they had friendships that had
stood the test of time like this.
“Well, mine is not really a problem.” It was Lizzie’s turn
to speak. “It’s just me being silly. I have been at loose ends since the twins
have moved on with their own lives. Cara still lives at home, but she is super
busy with her job and her guy. I’m expecting to hear that she will be either
moving out or getting married any day now. And Colt has already moved out. He
still comes over for the occasional home-cooked meal, but less and less often.
He’s started a new job, which has been hard for Rex. He wanted Colt to come
into the business with him right out of college. But Colt had other ideas. He
wanted to test the waters first and try a job on his own. We’re still hoping
that he will eventually change his mind, which brings me to Rex. He is still my
sweet, charming, teddy bear Rex, don’t get me wrong, but he is so busy now that
the agency has taken off. He is hardly ever home and when he is, he is
exhausted. This should be a time in our lives when we are doing things
together. Instead, we never see each other. I am really having a bad case of
the empty nest syndrome, I’m afraid.” Lizzie sighed as she told her story to
the group.
It’s not silly, sounds to me like your dilemma is similar to
Katy’s. Have you thought about going to work?” Angie asked with a smile.
“Well, that brings me to an idea I had while having
breakfast with Rex this morning. I want to run it by you guys and see what you
think.” Lizzie went on to explain her brainstorm to the group and was met with
approval all around.
“And you think he would be against it?” Angie asked.
“I just don’t know how he will react to me wanting to work
with him. You would have thought he would have suggested it, but he hasn’t even
given me a clue that he has thought about it. Maybe he doesn’t think I have the
ability anymore or maybe he simply does not want me in the office every day,”
Lizzie said with a worried look on her face.
“Well, there is only one way to find out,” Angie was quick
to reply. “When you get back to Columbus, you need to sit that man of yours
down and have a real heart to heart. You need to tell him everything you have
told us. I bet you’ll be surprised at his reaction. Maybe he has never given it
a thought that you would even want to work, let alone with him. And if he says
no, you convince him to give it a try. You have the ability. You know that and
we know that. Your writing won you so many awards in school. And you have
marketing experience. That was how you two met. And if he has forgotten that,
then he is just getting senile and you need to prove to him that you can be an
asset to the company.”
“Okay, as always, you present a good case. I’ll talk to Rex
when I get home. I will let you all know how it goes.” Lizzie felt better
already.
“Well, we all seem to be solving our problems on the first
day of the trip. Now the rest of the week can be spent reminiscing and having a
good time,” Angie added.
“Marianne, you’ve been awfully quiet. It’s your turn. What
can we help you with today?” Katy looked at her friend with concern. The
half-empty wine bottle had not gone unnoticed by her keen eye.
Much to the surprise of the other three, Marianne burst into
tears. “I think you all had better pour yourselves another glass of wine for this
one. Your problems are all a piece of cake to what I am about to tell you. I’ve
been sitting here listening to all of you. Katy is beginning a new life, Lizzie
may be starting an exciting new career, and Angie is embarking on the greatest
thing she has ever done in her career, not to mention the fact that she is
probably going to get back together with the love of her life when all is said
and done. I just don’t think any of you can solve my problem. And it is a true
problem.” Marianne looked solemnly at the group gathered around her.
“Sweetie, what in the world is it? We all thought you had it
all, great part-time nursing job, beautiful house, two great kids, plenty of
money, and the most handsome, successful husband in the world. What could
possibly be wrong in your world?” Lizzie asked in awe.
“Looks can be deceiving, you know. Up until a short time
ago, I thought I had it all, too. How quickly that can change. My world came
crashing down around me in a heartbeat.” Marianne burst into fresh tears.
Her three friends were at a total loss. None of them knew
what to do or say next. Marianne seemed to be in such a fragile state, which
was not the Marianne they all knew.
Lizzie was the first to speak. She broke the silence by
asking gently, “Can you tell us what happened? Just take your time, catch your
breath, and tell us slowly everything that happened. You know that whatever it
is, we are all here for you, one hundred and ten percent.”
The other two nodded in agreement. Whatever was bothering
Marianne had certainly unnerved her. And how many glasses of wine had she had
already? Something was really wrong in her life. And for the first time in all
the years they had been friends, would they even be able to help her through
it?
Marianne took a deep breath, took a sip of the wine still in
her glass and began telling her story. She told them about what Julie had seen.
She told them about how distraught she had been. And then she told them about
how loving Jon had been before she left for the hotel.
“I am at my wit’s end. I don’t know what to think, I don’t
know what to do. All I know is that I have got to make a decision this week,
once and for all. I can’t go on like this. I am drinking way too much, but I
just don’t seem to care anymore.”
“Oh, honey, we are here for you, whatever you need. You know
that. Even if life seems to be against you, you will always have us.” Lizzie
put her arms around her friend.
“The snake, how can he do this to you, after you put him
through med school, gave him two wonderful sons, and catered to his every need
all these years? I guess it was all too good to be true. Maybe I had the right
idea after all, getting rid of the man in my life years ago.” Angie was livid.
“Now, now, Ang, calm down, your situation with Michael was
completely different. He loved you with every fiber of his being.” Katy went
on, “I know we are all upset with Jon right now, but maybe there is more to
this. Maybe Julie was mistaken. You really need to get Jon’s side of the story.
Does he even know that you suspect anything?”
“I don’t think Julie would lie to me. She has been through
this herself,” Marianne answered as the tears rolled down her cheeks once
again.
“Well, Marianne, there is just one thing you can do,” Katy
said. “When the week is over, you’ll go home, confront Jon and get everything
out in the open. You get his side of the story and go from there. He may break
your heart. You may split up. You may stay together. There is no use fretting
about it or ruining your health because of it. I know this sounds harsh, but it
is your only option. You cannot walk out on him after all these years without
at least hearing him out. Do the boys know anything, by the way?”
“No, I haven’t had the heart to tell them. I have been
trying to keep things as normal as possible so they don’t suspect a problem.
Jackson was home from school last weekend. And Jordan is so busy with football
and school and girls, he wouldn’t notice if anything were amiss anyway, I don’t
think.”
“Let’s not let this ruin our week. You need to put it out of
your mind, as much as you can anyway, and relax. Enjoy this time we have
together. Then, next week, you need to deal with the problem head on, once and
for all.” Angie gently patted Marianne’s hand as she spoke. “I shouldn’t have
spouted off like I did before. This has been hard enough for you as it is,
without me going off at the mouth like that. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings,
Mari.”
“You didn’t say anything I haven’t thought a thousand times
over, Angie. And I agree. I need to enjoy this week. I have needed this break
for a while now and I am not going to let Jon ruin it for me too.”
“Now you’re talking. The ‘Fab Four’ are together again.
Let’s move on to important issues. Like, where are we going for dinner?” Lizzie
tried to lighten the mood.
And with that choice to make, the four of them all began
chattering at once, trying to decide whether to go out on the town or to order
in and have one of their good old-fashioned slumber parties like in the old
days. They unanimously voted on the latter and the party began.
The girls decided to have pizza and ice cream sent up to
their room. After changing into their pajamas and putting their problems aside
for the night, they began the age-old ritual of reminiscing.