Chapter 5 - The Celebration Marcus Planned Too Early
Marcus planned an engagement celebration before our divorce was final.
He reserved a private terminal at Northbridge Executive Airport and invited his parents, Celeste, his brother Daniel, his aunt Victoria and his cousin Grant.
Penelope posted photographs of a white dress and diamond earrings online with the caption:
New beginnings deserve beautiful memories.
A mutual friend sent me a screenshot.
I deleted it.
What Marcus did not know was that the same terminal served as Victory Air’s new regional base. Rebecca had scheduled the delivery ceremony for our aircraft on the afternoon the divorce would be finalized.
When she discovered Marcus’s event was taking place at the same airport, she called me.
“We can move the aircraft.”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am tired of rearranging my life so Marcus can avoid discomfort.”
The court hearing was scheduled for ten in the morning. Our flight was planned for noon.
Marcus believed he and Penelope would depart later that afternoon on a chartered aircraft for a weekend in the Bahamas.
There was one problem.
The charter company canceled after discovering that Hale Meridian had failed to settle three overdue invoices.
Marcus called Victory Air for a replacement without realizing who controlled it.
Rebecca forwarded the request to me.
I declined it.
An hour later, Marcus called.
“I need a favor.”
It was the first personal call he had made in days.
“What kind of favor?”
“Our charter was canceled. Do you still have connections at your family’s airline?”
“I do.”
“Can you arrange an aircraft?”
“No.”
He was silent.
“I’m not asking for myself. Penelope cannot remain on her feet for long periods.”
“She is pregnant, Marcus. She is not made of glass.”
“Why are you being difficult?”
“Because you are asking your wife to organize your engagement trip with your mistress.”
“Our divorce will be final by then.”
“Exactly.”
He exhaled sharply.
“You’ve changed.”
“I had to.”
The morning before the hearing, Penelope arrived at the mansion without Marcus.
She appeared exhausted. Her makeup could not hide the shadows beneath her eyes.
“I need to speak to you,” she said.
I allowed her into the sitting room but did not offer coffee.
She remained standing.
“Marcus wants another medical appointment.”
“That sounds reasonable.”
“He says you put doubts in his mind.”
“The dates created the doubts.”
Penelope’s eyes filled with tears.
“You don’t understand how much pressure I was under.”
“Then explain it.”
Before Marcus, Penelope had been involved with a married venture capitalist named Adrian Cole. He had promised to leave his wife but ended the relationship after learning Penelope might be pregnant.
Weeks later, she met Marcus in Denver.
“He was kind to me,” Penelope said. “He talked about wanting another child. When I realized the dates were close, I thought…”
“You thought Marcus would make a better father.”
She lowered her eyes.
“I convinced myself the baby could be his.”
“Does Adrian know?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“He wants nothing to do with us.”
I felt no satisfaction.
Only exhaustion.
“You need to tell Marcus before the hearing.”
“I can’t.”
“You can. You don’t want to.”
“He’ll leave me.”
“That possibility should have occurred to you before you allowed him to end his marriage.”
She flinched.
“Will you tell him?”
“No.”
May you like
Her head lifted in surprise.
“The truth should come from you. But understand this, Penelope: I will not lie for you.”
