Jon glanced at Savannah. She met his eyes and tilted her head. “Why don’t you pass the phone to me, Jon,” she said sweetly. “Let me talk to your wife?”
Jon swallowed. There was one way out of this. It might not work, but Savannah was handing it to him on a plate. It was worth a try.
“Susan…there’s something I have to tell you,” he said into the phone, skirting around Savannah and moving out to the hall.
“What? This is Greta.”
Jon glanced back at Savannah through the open kitchen doorway. He was nearly sure she couldn’t hear Greta’s side of the conversation, only his.
“Susan, I’ve been seeing someone else, and…and I know we said we’d keep it discreet if we did, but she wants me to tell you.”
“Jon, are you drunk?”
He keeps going.This won’t work. It has to work. “Her name is Savannah, she lives at the other 26 Oakpark, where your internet shopping sometimes goes.”
Silence now.
“Savannah’s just found out we’re married and she insisted I tell you, or she would. I’m here with her now in her house in Oakpark.” He darted a look at Savannah, who was still standing in the kitchen, arms folded, glowering at him. “I’ve tried to explain that we’re pretty much living separate lives and that you’re OK with me seeing other people…”
When Greta spoke, she was incredulous and furious all at once.
“Jon, you absolute fucker. You’ve been cheating on Susan?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately.” She snorted. “And this woman is threatening to tell her?”
“Yes.”
“It will break her.”
“I know. That’s why I’m telling you now.”
“She thinks I’m Susan? That you’re confessing on the phone?”
“Yes, she wanted to go to see you right now at our house.”
“OK. And why hasn’t she?”
“Because I’m telling you now on the phone. And I’ve explained that we pretty much have an open marriage.” He lowered his voice. “And I have her keys.”
“Jesus. Jon. What have you got yourself into?”
“I know.” He raised his voice slightly again. “Susan, I’m sorry for the early-morning drama, I’ll see you at home later.”
He disconnected the call.
Leaning against the kitchen doorjamb, Savannah held up an index finger.
“No way. You don’t get off that easily. For all I know, you disconnected that call before you said the ‘seeing someone else’ part. Here, give me the phone. I’ll call her back.”
She held out her hand. Jon shoved the phone in his pocket and backed toward the front door.
“Fine.”A furious look. “Then I’m still going over there. Susan and I can compare notes.”
Oh god. Why wasn’t she listening to reason? If only he’d never met her. If only he hadn’t been so stupid. If Susan found out…it didn’t bear thinking about. He still had Savannah’s keys, but she could get a taxi, like she said. Or go tomorrow if she didn’t go today. What was he going to do, keep her prisoner here for ever? No, he needed to calm her down, make her see sense, buy himself some time…an idea struck. Would it work? Probably not. But he was desperate.
He pulled the phone out again and hit Greta’s number.
