Page 13 of The Breaking Point

I look down at my wine. “So, you stayed out of pity.”

She doesn’t even blink. “I stayed out of concern. Because you were seven months pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy, and you had a one-year-old who’d just started walking. And because, if we’re being honest, a virtual stranger cared more about your wellbeing than the father of your children.”

The truth of it lands hard. I try to laugh it off, but nothing comes out.

“I'm not saying this to be mean,” she adds. “But back then, Aiden pulled this shit a lot. Remember what I told you at your bridal shower, the one he insisted you let his mother throw.”

“I can get rid of her body.” Quinn did not like his Mary.

She laughs, “No. About how you didn’t have to marry him just because he was the only choice.”

I shrug, don’t really remember it. I have two kids; the memory bank is kind of full.

“Well, I did and you answered,” she imitates what I'm guessing is my squeaky voice. “I’m marrying him because he’s the right choice.” Then in her normal voice she says, “I remember it because I thought you were crazy, blinded by love but then you came back from your honeymoon. And he was different. More involved, more caring.”

“You’re saying that was guilt?”

“No. I'm saying maybe he… realised that he did not want to lose you. And I know that it’s not fair or right. But he’s a man. And call me a cynic but all men cheat.” Quinn’s dad did, several times with several women.

“Markus didn’t cheat.” Her husband is a literal hero of our country.

She looks away, “That doesn’t matter. What matters is that, Aiden made the world’s biggest mistake, but that mistake doesn’t have to be the end of your marriage.

“You’re saying I should forgive him.”

“I’m saying I’m behind you one hundred percent. You want a divorce, I’ll find you the most cutthroat lawyer. You want to burn his clothes, I’ll light the fucking match. And if you want to forgive him, then I’ll support you in that too.”

“You can’t just tell me what to do? You’re studying psychology, don’t you have all the answers?”

“No, sweetie. All I can do is give you the tools. How you use them is up to you.”

“What tools?” I ask.

“Well, there’s therapy; couples and individual. There’s trial separation. There’s dating. Support groups. All that.”

She pauses, then adds, “But can I suggest something that’s not in the curriculum?”

I look at her.

“If you decide to forgive him, make him work for it. Make him grovel at your feet. Make him declare his love in front of strangers. Just… don’t make it easy.”

“I never thought I’d be here,” I say quietly, staring down at my glass. “Trying to decide whether or not to forgive my husband for infidelity.”

Chapter 6

“Okay. Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m making a list.”

Quinn raises an eyebrow. “A list of what?”

“A list of all the reasons to stay in this marriage… or to leave.”

She exhales hard, crossing her arms. “You can’t decide the fate of your marriage with a list.”

“Why not? I make every big decision that way. Pros and cons. Why not this?”

“Because it’s… you just don’t do that. This isn’t about what car to buy or which job to take.”

“If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”

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