Page 64 of Hidden Gem
Chapter 30
Jason stared at thespread of continental breakfast on the small dining table. Marnie had insisted on cooking for him. He loved the gesture but hated the despair that lingered in her eyes. Something had happened, and she wouldn’t talk about it. After that phone call, she’d prepared breakfast in silence, her face drawn.
“I’m sorry, I can’t do poached eggs, so I always go for scrambled. And they had beans, so...” She handed him a ladle.
Jason filled his plate. Despite the heavy atmosphere, his mouth filled with saliva. “I love scrambled eggs. This looks amazing.”
She nodded and watched him eat, hardly touching her own plate.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’m not feeling well.”
“What was that phone call about? Was it Kathleen?”
She nodded again.
“What is it? Talk to me!”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she dropped her chin, staring at her plate. “I’m so sorry. Kathleen’s found out about us and is threatening to go public. I think I sowed enough doubt to make her think it might have been someone else, and told her I could do worse by going to the media and giving a statement. But I don’t want to do that. I don’t want you tainted by this.”
Jason slammed the table. “She’s gone too far!”
“Don’t worry, she agreed to back down, for now. It’s okay. We’ll just keep a really low profile.”
“No. We can manage this. We can go public on our own terms, if you just trust me. We can—”
Marnie hung her head. “No, we can’t. Those stories have been written already, and they’re not good.”
“No, Marnie. Look at me! We won’t let anyone else tell our story!”
Finally, she looked up. There was so much pain and sorrow in her eyes it stole his breath away. “I love you, Jason. But I’m not right for you. I’m sick. I’m old.”
A blast of fury filled Jason’s chest. “You’re not a can of beans, woman! If you have a fucking expiry date, show it to me! Where is it?”
He sprang up, propelled by the sheer force of his own words. They burned like acid going up his throat, but he couldn’t stop, slamming the table for emphasis.
Marnie startled off her seat, her eyes huge. Did she think he was going to hurt her?
Jason launched forward. Too late. She was already on the stairs, running upstairs.
“I’m sorry! Marnie! Where’re you going?” He noticed his tight fists and tried to relax his hands. He wanted to follow her, but maybe it was best to give her a minute.
