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. The last section, chapter 4.5 ended with Laura, having left her husband until the end of the year, contemplating holiday plans with her family, and with Greg. This is the end of part 4, Year of Turmoil.
Four -- Year of Turmoil -- 4.6 Laura's ultimate betrayal of marriage
Laura's holiday plans were still somewhat ambiguous as she sat next to Dan flying off to visit their parents this year. Fortunately, this was a year for Thursday dinner at Laura's parents, and Sunday dinner with Dan's. Dan still didn't realize he would be having Sunday dinner with his parents without Laura at his side; Laura did not intend to break that news until the last minute. She did not plan to have a blow up with Dan in front of their parents if she could avoid one, but she had a Saturday morning flight to Burlington, Vermont. Laura had at least six weeks left of her I am with Greg period, and she intended on having this weekend on the ski slopes at Stowe.
Dan had similar thoughts going through his mind. He wasn't at all sure that a family Thanksgiving wasn't a complete farce this year. When Laura raised the subject, his initial thought was to tell the truth. He had tentatively accepted an offer to have Thanksgiving dinner with Mrs. Patron and her friend. Even now, he wished he had said no to their traditional family get together. The best adjective Dan could conceive was awkward. He had no idea what Laura planned, but he feared the worst.
"Dan, how good to see you. Thank you for your note; yours was far more than my daughter decided her parents were worth." Dan hugged his mother-in-law and shook hands with father-in-law.
Laura's greeting to her parents was only slightly warmer. When mother had a moment alone with daughter, she pried for information. "Mother, can't you just accept Dan's explanation; that we are going through some changes? Let us work things out."
"You have barely said a word to him; something is going on. What is it; I am still your mother?" Laura gave a silent stare; what version of what truth should she tell?
"All right, you want to know what is going on. Here it is; I have been living with my lover for the past six months as husband and wife. That may be why Dan and I seem a little distant. I have spent more time with him on the plane coming here and the few hours we've been here than we have been together for six months. Furthermore, I will be living with my lover for another two months."
"You have a lover; a lover you live with; are you and Dan getting a divorce? I don't understand."
"Yes to answer your first two questions, and a resounding no to, are Dan and I getting a divorce? At least I don't think so; I hope not."
Thanksgiving dinner with all of Laura's family seated around the table was awkward. Laura talked only of her new job with Business Lady. Dan talked mostly about his art in the office project. Other diners had been cautioned to steer clear of their marriage as a topic of polite conversation. All of the men at the table passed on dessert, for now, to gather at the television. Football and favorite teams is always a good men's topic. Laura didn't have the same refuge; the women began clean up, moving between dining room and kitchen.
Laura's sister-in-law finally cornered her and her sister joined them; she was a kitten treed by two barking dogs, so to speak. "Not here, tomorrow; tomorrow we can go shopping and stop for lunch. I will fill you in then." Eventually she confessed to having a long term affair with her former boss. As she explained her status, it was the exact opposite of a trial separation. "Greg and I are going through a trial marriage before I go back to being married to Dan."
People in the restaurant turned heads when two of the women whooped at a remark of the third. "Let's find a bar for a drink or two; there is a lot more to this story and I want to hear it all."
Dan escaped interrogation, although his mother tried to ask questions when he visited Friday morning. He knew nothing about the girl's activities that day; as far as Dan was concerned the holidays were going better than expected. That illusion was shattered as they prepared for bed Friday night. Laura gave him the news she shared with her sisters over drinks. "Dan, you are going to have to face your family alone Sunday; my sister is taking me to the airport tomorrow morning. I am going to spend the rest of the holiday with Greg skiing at Stowe."
"What the fuck . . .?"
"You heard me right; it is still part of my until-the-end-of-the-year time with Greg, and I intend to spend the rest of the holiday with him."
"You have got to be kidding. You are the one who suggested we keep our normal Thanksgiving with family routine. I sent a note saying we would pass this year; you brought it up. This was always a set-up to fuck Dan over once again." Laura just stared; she knew there wasn't much more she could say; there was no good way to tell Dan she wanted everything her way at the expense of Dan, his family, or hers.
"How long have you had your ticket, did you buy it before we bought the tickets to come here?"
"No, I don't think so, but it doesn't matter. I was always planning to go to Stowe with Greg. I probably should have told you sooner."
"Do you want to go downstairs, drag your family out of bed, and announce our divorce now? I can tell mine tomorrow."
"Dan, we will do no such thing. I said nothing about divorce; I am just going skiing."
"That's not what I heard; I must have something wrong with my hearing. I heard that you have always planned to be with Greg. Well go be with Greg; I hope you end up with a ski pole up your ass."
Laura sat and listened to Dan's diatribe. She knew she could have handled this a little better, maybe she had been a bit unfair to Dan. "My sister will take me to the airport; you don't have to go with me."
"Will Greg have your ski clothes waiting?"
