My Fair Ladies

How Long Have You Known You Were Leaving?

AN: We have borrowed a line from Will's book Alibi for today's chapter. If you haven't read Alibi yet, you are missing out. Go read it today!

Autumn

Autumn stood in the car park watching her drive away. Her heart sunk. She wanted to stick to their plan, but when Marjorie's hand brushed against her's, it was like electricity went through her. Even still, she hadn't intended to kiss her again, but staring into her dark blue eyes just drew her right back in. She shook the thought from her head. She needed to get back to Winter.

As she drove the few minutes back to the house, she thought about their talk and their plan. She was just going to have to dig in; be cold if she had to. She owed it to Wint. They had already lost too much.

She pulled into the drive and slipped through the front door quietly. He was in the kitchen. She stopped at the bathroom and washed her face. She hadn't had any makeup on in a few days, but Marjorie was wearing her usual lipstick. She had to make sure there wasn't evidence of it on her lips. She took the time to still herself before entering the kitchen.

He was bent over, apparently pulling something from the oven when she saw his phone illuminate on the counter. She paid it no attention. "Hello, my sweet, I am back. It is cool and breezy out tonight." He turned toward her. His face seemed different somehow. "Wint what are you doing with the oven?" He gave her a half smile. "Cleaning it actually. I fell asleep after you left and forgot our dinner. It burnt, but I've already ordered a pizza."

When the doorbell sounded, she answered it and got the pizza. She quickly paid the tip and made her way back to the kitchen. They sat and ate in silence again. She didn't have much of an appetite, so she just picked at the cheese. Between the silence and her disinterest in the meal, she decided to just clear her plate. As she got to the sink, she saw his phone illuminate again. Without thinking she looked down.

W – First midwife's appointment is Friday at 3PM – S – xoxo

At first, she thought it must be some kind of mistake. Then she looked at the name. "Winter, why is Sara texting you about a midwife's appointment?" He didn't immediately answer but instead pinched the bridge of his nose. "Winter?"

He didn't want to lie to her. He didn't want to hurt her. He wanted more time. More time he wasn't going to get now. "I didn't fall asleep. She texted earlier. She needed to see me." He fell silent.

"She needed to see you. Why?" She already knew in her heart. It was her head that couldn't believe it. "How long Winter? How long has it been going on?" He was silent at first. Then he looked at her. "Since shortly after the first time."

"Oh, for Christ's sake, Winter, are you serious?" She had no idea why her brain couldn't accept it, but as he nodded, she saw it go. Her suspended disbelief had turned to acceptance. "How long have you known you were leaving?"

His head shot upward and for the first time in days he looked her in the eye. His watery pale blue eyes questioning and yet accepting. "Aut. She is pregnant. I never ..." She cut him off. "Winter, I don't need your fucking pity! Don't you fucking dare look at me like that! I fucking came home tonight feeling guilty because I fucking kissed someone, and you have been having an affair for months." She started laughing or crying or laugh-crying hysterically.

"Aut, you kissed someone?" Her head snapped up. "You have got to be kidding me? You don't get to ask about that. You don't get to ask me anything anymore, Winter. Just go! Go to Sara! To your baby." Her voice broke at the word, and he reached out for her. "Winter, don't you fucking dare touch me."

He turned and picked up a bag she hadn't noticed there before. She watched as he walked down the hallway and out the door pulling it softly closed behind him.

Marjorie

Marjorie walked across the car park to her car. As she reached it, she took a fleeting glance back at Autumn. Feeling a little less conflicted, Marjorie thought she knew what she had to do. As Marjorie pulled into the driveway of Reece's house, she noticed that Reece still wasn't home. He had said he may be late due to being with Autumn, but she had just left her. So, she knew he wasn't with her.

As Marjorie let herself in, she felt a little suffocated. She went straight to the bedroom to change into comfier clothes, if she was going to talk with Reece, she needed to breathe and to be as relaxed as possible. She knew this would hurt him, but she couldn't lie to herself anymore. She loved him, but she was falling in love with Autumn. Even if Autumn couldn't or wouldn't reciprocate, she couldn't stay with him. He had lived that with Mia, and she wouldn't do that to him. She was in the kitchen making herself a coffee when she heard the key turn in the front door. Taking a deep breath, she thought to herself, "here goes." She walked into the hallway to greet him. "Hi darling, how was your day?" Marjorie pulled Reece into a hug inhaling his scent. It was something that had always been a comfort to her, and she hoped now, as much as she was about to break his heart, it would bring her enough comfort to get her through it. Reece reciprocated the hug pulling her in even tighter. "It's been ok, gorgeous. I spent all day with Aut. I've not long left her and Winter." Marjorie was the first to break from the embrace.

As Marjorie and Reece moved into the living room, they both sat at separate ends of the couch. Both feeling tense, Reece was the first to break the awkward silence. "Gorgeous what's wrong? You're not yourself." He reached for one of her hands, but she pulled away from him. She felt like her heart was going to burst from her chest with how fast it was beating. She wiped her sweaty hands on her oversized sweatshirt. Marjorie tried to steady her breathing before she spoke. Looking into Reece's eyes, she tried to plan exactly how to tell him. Reece looked back into her eyes and could see that the sparkle had gone. It was replaced with sadness. Reece knew what was coming. He had seen it before with Mia. They had loved each other once. Even if it was easier to pretend that they hadn't. With a sharp exhale he looked away. He wasn't sure he could face her. "How long have you known you were leaving?" Marjorie tried to reach for Reece's hand. She still wanted to comfort him, but she did want to cause him any more pain. "Reece I'm so sorry." Reece pulled his hand away. He got up and walked into the kitchen. He just needed to put a little space between them so he could think.

Marjorie sat crying. As hard as this was, she knew she couldn't stay with Reece. She wasn't in love with him anymore, and even if she couldn't be with Autumn she still wouldn't stay. She was falling in love with Autumn, but she would have to live with her choice to stay with Winter. She wouldn't do anything to break up their relationship.

Reece came back into the living room. "Why, Marjorie? I just need to know. Why? He took a seat at the opposite side of the room. He maintained eye contact with her, but he didn't want to be anywhere near her right now. As much as that hurt him too. "I'm so sorry Reece. I've only known I was leaving since earlier this evening. I love you, but I am not in love with you anymore. It would not be fair to either one of us to stay together." Marjorie lowered her gaze as she spoke the last words for the fear of seeing the heart break on Reece's face.

Reece waited for her to look at him again before he spoke. What he needed to say he hoped would ease some of her pain, but either way he had to be honest. "I have something to tell you. I need you to know that I've been feeling the same recently. I love you, Marjorie. I just don't think I am in love with you anymore" Marjorie looked into Reece's eyes realising for the first time; the spark had gone from his eyes as well. How had she missed it? How had they gotten here?

He dropped his head into his hands covering his face, and she cautiously moved towards him. As she placed her hand on his shoulder, he muttered, "I kissed Charlotte."