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He was going home

Forty-Three

Maryellen stepped out of the shower, hair still wet It was the afternoon of Charlotte and Ben's wedding She'd ood ter with her

He also refused to discuss his parents He reht they slept side by side without touching, without talking Her beautiful home felt like a prison and Maryellen couldn't bear it

Being pregnant didn't help She hadn't told Jon yet She'd planned to, knowing she should, but as tie, she realized it was a hopeless situation

After dressing and blow-drying her hair, she got out an overnight bag and packed as much as it would hold She added several extra pieces of clothing to Katie's diaper bag, as well When she was finished, she carried both to the car

Maryellen was on the verge of tears She loved Jon and hoped they would be able to resolve their probleun to fear that wasn't possible Her husband no longer trusted her He felt she'd betrayed him He couldn't understand or accept that she'd only been trying to help hihter's

With a sleeping Katie over her shoulder, Maryellen gently tapped on the door of the darkroo film Whenever he was in the house at the same time as she was, he found a way to avoid her If she was upstairs, he had soer downstairs Meals were a painful experience They sat across from each other and made polite conversation, but Maryellen simply couldn't connect with him

"What is it?" Jon called i now"

"All right"

Maryellen hesitated "Are you sure you can't come with us?"

"I'm sure"

"Okay" Disappointment settled heavily on her shoulders

"Give the needs my best"

"I will" Maryellen sed painfully "Listen, Jon, I'"

"What?"

"I talked to Moht with her"

"Hold on a minute," he said and opened the door

Maryellen stepped back nervously as Jon's gaze held hers "You're going to your ht?"

She nodded

"Why?"

Maryellen shrugged "I need tied

"I can't live like this," she whispered, breaking eye contact

He didn't respond

"I'm sorry, Jon, sorrier than you know" Her voice cracked, and she turned away and left the house

To her surprise, he followed her to the car When she'd placed Katie in the car seat, she straightened Jon stood with his hands in his pockets, staring down at the ground

"Are you co back tomorrow?" he asked as she walked around to the driver's seat

"Do you want me to?"

He didn't answer

"That says it all, doesn't it?" She cliine and drove to the end of the driveway Her heart was about to break Hands clenching the steering wheel hard, she lowered her forehead and drew in a deep breath

The minute Maryellen arrived at her"You'd better tell s

"We'll discuss everything after the wedding," Maryellen insisted,to be fine"

Her htly so Maryellen didn't believe it herself

The wedding was lovely Standing beside her mother, Maryellen battled tears Only fiveand vowed to love Jon for the rest of her life It had only taken her five e Five months That had to be some kind of record outside of Hollywood

The church was nearly full Charlotte's dearest friends crowded the front peearing red hats and purple boas Olivia and her family took up ts So many people had wanted to share in the couple's happiness Unfortunately, neither of Ben's sons had been able to come; both he and Charlotte must have been disappointed

Despite the jubilant mood, Maryellen felt a sense of hopelessness and inner turan to sway Maryellen sat down, taking several deep breaths, fearing she was about to faint

"Maryellen?" Grace sat down beside her

She offered her nant"

Her mother smiled from ear to ear and squeezed her hand

"Jon doesn't know"

"I think it's time for you to tell him, don't you?"

Maryellen couldn't answer