How High a Price: Counterfeit

Susan's voice started to crack as she struggled to keep things under control. "I had it all planned out on how to repay John for his kindness, then come home and be here for you and then I could have done everything and no one get hurt." Susan looked at Early with teary eyes. "But you came home early"

"I mean, I had already figured out that John didn't need me there. No one would bemoan a single man for coming across country alone for a dinner. I was just there to entertain the wives and the few successful women. All the time I could have been at home, with you it turns out." Susan's body shook with regret.

"I was out and about and didn't need you or you permission. But I never did, did I? You never doubted me, and this is how I treated you."

"Susan what would you have done if Thursday when I asked about the lonely bed, after you answered me I had said 'yes it is lonely here Susan…just like it's been since I came home'?"

Susan's eyes got wide in fear at Early. Her lower jaw trembled and her body shook. "I… I… never thought about that. I had convinced myself that you'd never find out. That you, that I…." Susan hung her head in shame, "I never thought beyond what I wanted to do."

Both sat alone with their thoughts. After several minutes, Early spoke up. "Susan I think we both…."

"I'll quit my job, I'll go in Monday and…." Susan blurted out before he could finish.

Early's heart began to beat harder and his face became flushed. "No, Susan you have worked too hard and too long for this partnership. John told me that it was in the bag for you."

"You talked to John?" Susan couldn't keep the fear out of her voice.

"After I left toni… well last night now, I went driving, ended up at his house. He did the one thing that you weren't able or willing to do. He told me the truth. He told me about Jennifer and the new job and you helping him out."

"Now he could have been lying, you two could have come up with a plan to cover your tracks. I could believe that you, John and Jennifer all are in this conspiracy against me. I could hold you to a standard where you can't prove your innocence…"

Early's words cut Susan to the core, she knew that there was nothing she could do. Every argument had a counter; ever bit of proof could be explained away. She began to feel weak as hope faded in her heart.

"But I won't" Early sighed, "I have to start to learn to trust you but you hav…."

Early was cut off by a screech from Susan as she realized what her husband was saying. She launched herself across the room into his lap, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

Eventually Early was able to extract himself enough from her tearful grasp. Holding her in his arms he looked in her tear and joy filled eyes.

"This doesn't mean we are alright, we have problems. I should have told you I was home. But you shouldn't have lied. We have to work on this."

"Any," sniff "thing Early. Oh thank," sniff, "you"

"Susan," Early said almost as a sigh, "I think we need counseling together. We've both let things other than our love get involved in our marriage. But, first I need you to get up."

A blast of worry crossed Susan's face, "But… but we... you... we."

"Susan there is nothing major wrong, but I haven't been to the bathroom yet and it's been a long night. And when you hopped into my lap…."

Susan started to giggle then laugh as she got up…soon her laughter infected Early as he rushed to the restroom in the dawn's light.

"Well how's the proud man?" Early turned to see who was speaking. John Stickler was heading towards Early out of a side door to the church.

"Oh not bad, Susan is the proud one, an entire baptism and not one peep out of the little angel."

"Not like Michael's, huh?" Jennifer jokingly asked as she pulled up next to her husband.

"No Jennifer, no it wasn't" Early said as he gave John's wife a friendly hug.

"If you don't mind Early I'd like to see little Jen for myself. Pictures are good, but," John shrugged to an understanding Early as he walked over to Susan and the baby.

"It's been an interesting few years, huh Early?" Jenn asked.

"Yes it has. It took some work, and some determination but I think Susan and I came out better than we were before."

"Yes you did, but can I ask you something? What made you decide to trust Susan again?"

Early got a far away look on his face before he answered. "The reaction on her face when I asked her what if I had told her that I was home while she was away. She couldn't think of what to do. She was afraid, afraid of losing our marriage and me. I knew that I should try to save our marriage then."

"That's strangely romantic. I was hoping it was something I did, since you named you little girl after me and named me godmother." Jennifer giggled.

Early let out a laugh. "No that is so we could remember who to blame."

"Blame!?!" Jennifer exclaimed.

"Yes blame. If you hadn't have gotten sick, then Susan would have never left, I would have never found out, Susan would have never gone over to your house to talk with you. If she hadn't done that she would have never gotten sick from you. She wouldn't have been on antibiotics when we… well… when we started sharing a bed again. And they wouldn't have interfered with her birth control so…."

"So it's all my fault?" Jennifer asked in mock indignation.

"Yup… and for punishment you have to be the best godmother ever known."

"I think I can do that Early" Jennifer said watching Susan play with her eight month old daughter while Michael, Susan and Early's three old son watched on.

"That's a price I'd be willing to pay."

Well that's it. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Want to hang me? TELL ME! Operators are standing by. Think you can do better? WRITE IT. I would LOVE to read another author's take on the "Susan didn't cheat" Theme.