Author's Notes: First and foremost, Always Faithful is a work of fiction; no characters depict any known persons. To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no women's clothing manufacturer by the name of Business Lady. Chapter 4.4 ended with Laura's second birthday and anniversary date with Greg and a hint of a new direction.
FOUR -- YEAR OF TURMOIL -- 4.5 LAURA LEAVES DAN AND MOVES IN WITH GREG
The weather was perfect for brunch on the patio the Sunday after Greg's birthday. "Dan, I have made a decision about my relationship with Greg. We need to talk about it."
Dan felt a chill up his spine. "You have made a decision, but we still have to talk. Is it talk time or tell time, Laura?"
"We need to talk. I have made my decision, but I haven't said anything to anyone yet. I haven't talked to Greg about my decision. My decision isn't irrevocable."
"Will Greg accept your decision?"
"Yes, I think so."
"You talked about it on your birthday date, didn't you? That is where your decision came from."
"No, not quite. I started serious thinking then, but it has been in my mind for a while."
"Are you leaving me for Greg; is that the decision you want to talk about?"
"No, I am not leaving you for Greg, not exactly."
"What does not exactly mean; do you think I am going to agree with your decision the same way your big, fat cock, lover will agree?" Laura paused; she knew she had to be absolutely honest and very careful explaining what she wanted or her marriage was over.
"No, I do not think you will agree as readily as Greg agrees. I think I will have a hard time convincing you to agree with what I want, what I have decided. I want you to listen to me, I want you to talk with me; I want you to seriously consider what I am suggesting."
"Consider what you have decided, correct?"
"Yes, what I have decided."
"Why do we have to talk, why do we have to agree if you have decided already?"
Laura poured each another glass of champagne before she said, "We must; I need you to agree, at least understand, if not accept."
"You are leaving me; that is what you are trying to tell me. Have you seen a lawyer? There are probably good divorce lawyers at your firm. Am I about to be served, is that what you are avoiding telling me?"
"I am not going to divorce you; I have no intention of seeing a lawyer for a divorce. You are not about to be served any papers by me." It took Dan only a short moment to realize Laura had not refuted every point. He glared but remained silent. I need to just get it out, Laura thought. "I have decided I want to live with Greg until the end of the year. That is the decision we have been talking around."
"Are you out of your mind? You want a six, no seven, month divorce slash separation so you can play married with Greg. Do you think you can do a fair comparison? Seven months with Greg will be equal to the years we had together." Tears rolled down Laura's cheeks. She was crying because she had done such a poor job of presenting her case. She might lose husband and lover if she couldn't do better.
"Baby, let me try to give a better explanation. I may sound cruel, but that isn't what I am trying to be. I love you; I could never be cruel to you."
"Hah! That is a pile of bullshit. You have bragged about being cruel to me for no reason except your affair demands it. Have you forgotten some of those conversations? Do we need to go back and revisit them?"
"Baby, the separation I want has something in it for me and something for you; can't we try to talk it through? We are adults, aren't we?"
Dan glared and breathed hard for a few minutes before answering. "Wait right there; I'll be back in a minute."
Ten minutes later Dan returned with two very stout vodka tonics. "Okay! I love you. I trust you because I know you are honest, and I know you do love me. Even if it sure doesn't seem that way right now, I accept that your love for me hasn't changed." Laura breathed a sigh of relief, but no smile bent her lips. Dan hasn't agreed to anything but listening; she understood that much. "What's in this decision of yours for me? You said there was something for both of us. What do I get?"
"You have three women you have a relationship with now not counting me. I am talking about a relationship that is more than casual, and does have a sexual element to the relationship. Maybe Mrs. Patron's friend is casual, but Artsy and Mrs. Patron are both significant. What's in it for you is the time, and the freedom, to develop those relationships more fully. You can make them more meaningful. Who knows, you might appreciate me more when I come back to you."
Dan thought about what his wife suggested. He knew he would never have pursued either Artsy or Mrs. Patron if he hadn't used his art world as diversion when Laura was off with Greg. Both women added a level of enrichment to his life, and that enrichment carried over to his life with Laura. "Okay, that's me; what is in it for you that you don't have now? Why do you need seven more months?"