This chapter should be closer to regular past tense writing.
Afternoon Delight
Logan came in the door and heard Rory in the kitchen.
"Baby, how are you feeling?"
I love this woman so much, maybe too much.
Rory came around the corner of the room naked except for an apron and smiling, her pregnant belly peeked out.
"There's my little nympho, good thing I didn't bring home guests for lunch," he said as he smiled and held out his arms for her to come into. He pulled her toward the living room.
"Wait we already christened the couch," she said.
She looked around the room with the delight of a child, then took his hand and led him to the half bath behind the kitchen.
"That's my kinky girl," he said as he shut them in the tiny room.
--
Just five months ago things weren't as happy at the Huntzberger household and Rory had been distressed at finding out she was pregnant. After a two month honeymoon in Europe Logan and Rory returned to New England and Logan had begun work at the publishing company fulltime. Despite the Huntzbergers doubts about Rory, Logan was still the heir to the fortune; but they were watching their every move. Rory was interning at a local paper but still best friends with Paris who was married to Blake Van Allen, a rich older man that she met after college. They lived in an estate on the outskirts of New York City. Paris was a resident at a local hospital, though she didn't have to work any more than Rory had too.
---
Work for Rory was fun and fascinating often she worked late or would go by the realtor's office afterward to check on listings, since they were actively looking for a house. Logan had begun to complain that she was spending very little time at home. So she cut back her hours and they began to spend nights out with his friends and Paris and Blake. This actually brought Paris and Rory closer together, since the men always congregated after the meal to talk shop or smoke cigars; the women would talk of clothes and spas neither of which really interested Paris or Rory. The two of them still preferred to talk about current events and their jobs.
---
Paris was the first person to hear of Rory's indiscretion. After work they met for a bite since Logan often worked late himself. Rory was distracted when she showed up to meet Paris.
"I accept your apology," Paris said.
"I am so sorry," she replied as she sat down while looking around the restaurant.
When the orders were taken Rory straightened her skirt and refused to look at Paris, she actually looked like she might cry.
"Rory."
"Paris, I screwed up big time."
Paris leaned in to hear the story though Rory was slow getting started.
"I'm married how I could be so stupi?"
Paris' eyes widened as Rory began her story.
---
She had seen Jess downtown at a coffee shop and they had talked for several hours about old times. It was great it had been so long since they had seen one another. So they set up a time and met at a different coffee shop later that week, time just passed so fast when they were together. Each time she had lied to Logan about her whereabouts. She hated lying, especially to her husband, her new husband no less. She wondered why she had lied; why not just tell him she saw an old friend. The first two meetings had been right after her honeymoon and very innocent .
--
But a few weeks ago they met at his apartment since she had a suspicion that Logan's father may have been having her watched; or maybe it was her guilty conscience, she was uncertain of which. That night has begun as innocent; they had coffee and talked about books they both loved. He sat beside her on the couch with his hand loosely on her shoulder. She had decided it was time for her to leave but he stopped her and she allowed herself to be convinced it was okay for her betray her husband just as she had participated in allowing Dean to betray his wife.
---
She made a bad decision that night; Jess and her had sex and in the passion of the moment and she believed it would help her to be done with him. She told him it could never happen again; she left and prayed her heart would let him go for good.
"Paris, I love Logan, how could I do that to him?" she added,"To us?"
Paris let her keep talking without commenting. When she found out later that month that she was pregnant she was devastated. Her greatest fear was that is wasn't Logan's; she knew several times they hadn't used protection because they were too tired or just lazy. But after being with Jess she was afraid it was his baby despite the fact that they had used protection. She was in mental torment and had been since that night.
---
"Rory, you have to confess to your husband, and take the consequences, otherwise your stress will hurt the baby,"
"I'm so afraid of what he will do," she said,
"Think of the baby, you are keeping it right?"
"Of course, I plan to," she added hesitantly.
---
As expected Logan was livid when she explained the situation. He slammed the door and left the house after telling her, "You slut, how could you?"
"Logan I am so sorry, I …," she stuttered.
"I can't do this right now; I can't look at you,"
---
On the way out of the building Logan phoned Paris, who was at work, and asked her to come by and talk to Rory he was concerned for her welfare. He then caught a cab and went to see Blake at home. When he arrived he was not sure what he should say after Blake offered him a seat and an open ear. Blake has been a good friend to Logan and Rory since they met him through Paris. He chose Blake for advice because he believed he was older and wiser than either Finn or Colin, at least in marriage matters.
"How am I supposed to feel about my wife sleeping with another man?" he asked with a tortured look on his face. He continued, "I never expected this from her and I love her so much, Blake, I haven't wanted anyone else since the first time I met her,".
"The two main things to keep in mind are that love and your vows, and let's not forget the "little one".
"That may not be mine," Logan said as he raked his hands through his hair.
"But Rory is yours and you may be angry now and with good cause, but true love covers a multitude of sins."
---
Blake explained how God sees all sins as the same, adultery is equal to a lie and we as people should learn to hate the sin and not the one who sins. Logan seemed to be calming down so Blake asked him a question.
"Do you want to give up on your life with Rory over this incident?"
"No," was Logan's emphatic reply, "I just need time away from her for a while, I feel betrayed."
Blake offered to let Logan stay as long as he wanted and Logan accepted before then called to ask Paris if she would to stay the night with Rory. He was very concerned that she not be stressed out. Paris agreed for the sake of her friend, Rory. Who had already phoned upset before Logan had called her the first time.
---
Blake expressed to Logan that in his same position he did not know how he would react to the same news. He hoped he would be gracious to his wife but he hoped he never had to experience it. He could see that Logan was in pain but he saw hope in the fact that Logan was so concerned about Rory and the baby. That showed Blake that he really wanted to work out things despite his hurting.
---
He watched Logan put the sheets on the couch for the night and he seems to be doing well so he leaves him to go to his room. When Logan knows Blake was gone he kneels beside the couch and tries to communicate with a God he has had little time for over the years.
"If you are there please help up through this, God, I want to truly forgive her, can you please help me?"
---
Two days later Logan showed up at Rory's job with red roses at the end of the day to pick her up. He apologized for over reacting. He decided that he would forgive her and give her a second chance and he refused to stress her out to protect the baby she was carrying.
---
In the car, Logan clarifies what he was feeling.
"I don't know how long it will take before I feel I can trust you again."
"I understand that," she said with downcast eyes.
"After three years of dating, and six months of marriage this so unlike you, even knowing about the incident with Dean," he said shaking his head.
He told her how much he adored her and how he hoped that he hadn't somehow been the reason for what she had done.
"You are the love of my life, I have no excuse for what happened, but I understand why trusting me maybe hard for a while," she added.
---
Over time the incident has been relegated to the past, though the baby continues to grow as a reminder of her bad decision; but maybe it was their future growing inside of her. Either way a child will be born to the Huntzberger's blood or not it will be raised that way.
TBC