For Better or Worse

Note: If you haven't read the original story "Strange Turn of Events" you might want to do that before reading this conclusion.

So her husband loved another woman? That thought hadn't quite sunk through, much less the fact that he chose to tell her on their 25^th wedding anniversary. Genevieve hadn't known what to say. That's why she had just walked away and locked herself in the bathroom.

She opened the medicine cabinet and poured herself a glass of water. Then she sat on the toilet staring at the cabinet's contents. What was she planning? The truth was she wasn't sure.

She looked at her husband's razor and thought about using it to shred all the clothes in his closet. Then she examined the pills in the cabinet. Was she thinking of taking them? No, she knew she would never do that.

Her husband continued to bang on the bathroom door. "Genevieve please. Let's talk about this. I didn't mean to hurt you. You've got to know that."

Genevieve tried to block out his words so that she could think. He loved another woman. He wanted to be with her. Did that mean he no longer wanted to be with her? She hadn't asked him that. She hadn't asked him anything. Maybe it was time she did.

She unlocked the door and opened it. Then she stared right into the eyes of the only man she had ever loved. What she saw there shocked her. They were filled with unabashed love.

"You didn't let me finish explaining before. Genevieve, I don't want to leave you for another woman. I want to fix what I broke. When I said that I wanted you to have tonight before I said anything, it wasn't because I planned to tell you we were over. I planned to come clean. I didn't want our marriage to go on with a lie hanging between us."

"So what are you saying, Joe? Are you saying that you love both her and me; that you want to be with both of us? You can't think that is even possible?"

"No, that isn't what I mean at all. You asked me if I loved her and wanted to be with her. I told you the truth. I love how she makes me feel - - young and vibrant. That makes me want to be around her.

What I didn't get a chance to say is that I would never act on my feelings for her because I love you more than anything in the world. You are everything to me. I can't believe I let the whole thing get this far. You have to know that I never . . . . "

"Slept with her?" Genevieve spit out the words like poison. "Is that supposed to matter? You said you love her. That's the real problem here, Joe. It would be easier to forgive your sleeping with her. Love is the real betrayal."

"I'm explaining this poorly." The big burly man flopped down on the bed, clearly frustrated with himself. "That is why I wanted to suggest marriage counseling. Clearly I need help here and you need to understand what I did so you can decide whether or not you can forgive me.

I know you didn't do anything wrong Genevieve. I was me. It was all me. I just dared to hope you might be willing to let me try and fix it. I can't stand the thought of losing you."

For the first time Genevieve caught a glimpse of the boy she fell in love with in the first place. He had been flawed then. She had been flawed as well. She certainly couldn't say that she had never flirted with another man; never been tempted to cheat. She liked it when other men found her attractive.

Sitting on the bed next to her husband, Genevieve finally took a hold of his hand. "I don't know what the future holds, Joe. I don't know if I can forgive you. I just know this. I love you. I've always loved you and I don't want to lose you either."

Together the couple sat and cried until there were no more tears left to shed. Genevieve turned to look at her husband. "Our vows said 'for better or worse.' We've had our fair share of the better, so I guess we're due a little worse. I'm game to try and fix this if you are."

Joe looked into his wife's beautiful blue eyes and gasped like it was the very first time he saw her. She was so beautiful; such a miracle in his life. The gravity of what he'd done hit him once again. In that moment he knew one thing. If it took the rest of his life, he would do whatever he could to make it up to her.

"For better or worse," he whispered. "Till death do us part."