The Chosen Path

Chapter Nine

They arrived on time for their dinner invitation at the Airheart residence on Friday night.

Jake had avoided Emily as much as he could for the week. She left him alone though and didn't approach him as to what was bothering him.

He dreaded this night seeing Brian and Emily together in the sanctity of the man's home.

Emily pulled Tony's black SUV up to a large Spanish style home. The walls were tan stucco and the roof an orange tile.

There was a multicolored plastic playground in the corner of the yard proving that Brian did have at least one child. Jake closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against them, trying to rub out the images of the evidence against Emily and Brian's betrayal to his family.

They walked up to the door, and Emily rang the doorbell.

A pretty woman with shoulder length dark brown hair opened the door and smiled at them.

"Hi, come on in," she said. She kissed Emily on the cheek when she walked through the door.

"I'm Megan," the woman said to Jake as he walked in. She extended her hand to him in welcome.

"Jake," he said softly, shaking her hand.

He couldn't believe that Brian would cheat on such a beautiful and friendly woman. Sure, Emily was also those things but at least Megan was Brian's age and he had made a commitment to her.

"It's wonderful to meet you, Jake," she said, smiling at him. "I have heard nice things about you."

Jake frowned. "You have?"

Brian came down the stairs carrying a baby and holding a bottle to its mouth. "Hey, everyone. Come on in."

Jake felt like punching the guy on behalf of his wife and kids. His wife seemed very genuine and nice.

"Is she sleeping?" Emily asked in awe, coming over to them.

"No, still awake," Brian said yawning.

Emily took the baby from his arms. "Hey, Joy," she cooed to the baby.

Raven went over to the baby and took her tiny hand. "She's so soft."

"Emily!" A little girl of maybe five came running down the stairs. She hugged Emily.

"Hi, Hope," Emily said, kissing the girl's cheek.

Raven stroked Hope's long brown hair. "What about me?" Raven asked her. Hope hugged Raven.

"What are we chopped liver?" Ray asked.

Hope ran over and hugged Ray and then George. She stopped in front of Jake.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her brown eyes studying Jake.

Jake looked at her. If it wasn't for her brown hair and brown eyes, Jake would have thought she was a younger Aurora. Her features were so similar it was shocking.

"I'm Jake," he answered, kneeling down to her level to study her.

Hope grabbed his hand and shook it formally. "I'm Hope," she said enthusiastically.

"Hi, Hope," he said, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. He spun her around. She laughed hysterically. Jake set her down, smiling.

He looked up, and saw Brian was smiling too. "Why don't you go help your mother set the table, Hope," Brian said to her.

"Okay, daddy," she said, running into the kitchen.

"Can I help you with something, Megan?" Emily called to her.