Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid

The leaves were starting to turn and you could feel the change in the wind, fall was definitely here. Mary Jane stared out of the bay window as she sat in the kitchen of her best friend's house, wondering if she is doing the right thing. Beth had to run upstairs to check on the baby and would return any minute, was this really a good idea? Mary Jane and Beth had always agreed that they would tell each other the truth, no matter what.

Beth came downstairs looking a bit exhausted " Hey girl, what brings you over so early, want some coffee? I've been up all night with the baby again" she said.

"Just had some errands to run" Mary Jane said as she took her coffee. I just thought since I was in the area we could spend a little time together to talk". Beth sensed something was amiss, her friend was typically a straight shooter and it seemed to her that she was dancing around something pretty important. "Okay girl, how long have we known each other for? Beth asked. Mary Jane smiled "Ever since grade school don't cha know! We are thicker than thieves and you are like my sister, you know that, right?"

Beth poured herself a cup of coffee and came to sit down next to Mary Jane and looked at her square into the eyes and said "Right!, so you still haven't told me what's up buttercup, what's with the hedging?

Mary Jane took a deep breath and looked at her best friend, "Remember when our friend Robin's husband was cheating on her and we wanted to say something to her but our husbands told us to mind our business?" "Yes I remember" Beth said slowly. "And remember when we promised that we would tell each other if something like that happened to one of us?" Mary Jane said swallowing hard. "What are you implying dear? Are you actually implying what I think you are implying?" Beth said with a bit of a icy tone. Beth stared into her friends eyes searching for punchline to a bad joke but there was none to find. She knew her friend was solid and loyal and only wanted the best for her.

"Well I guess I remember now", Beth said sarcastically, "So tell me everything you know now before the baby wakes up again." she begged.

Mary Jane took Beth's hand , took a deep breath and began. "Do you recall a few weeks back when I told you that I was going to drive over to the new Wegman's that opened up and had asked you if you needed anything while I was going there?" she started. "I mean, I barely remember what I made for dinner last night Mary Jane! Beth said and laughed. "It was kind of late since I was coming home from work and it was on my way home, so I figured I would check it out". "Well", Mary Jane paused, "Well what?! Beth demanded. "Okay, okay. After putting my groceries in my car I ended up going out the wrong way in the parking lot. So I drove around to the other side and noticed that there was a pub on the side of the building and I was about to drive out on that side until I came to a dead stop." Mary Jane said. "I am listening, go ahead Mary Jane tell me what you saw, I need to know everything." Beth pleaded, her eyes welling with tears. It was James, as clear as I am seeing you now, and he wasn't alone. He was with a younger woman with red hair, dressed provocatively." Mary Jane didn't know how much more she should say but she had come this far and she wanted her best friend to know what she saw. Beth continued to shake her head back and forth and held her face in her hands.

"So I parked and turned my headlights off to make sure I wasn't seeing things and I watched them walk from the pub hand in hand to her car". "I will kill him, he will never get away with this, that cheating, lying -----.!" Beth yelled.

Mary Jane tried to calm Beth down but it would take more than words to calm her down now. "How long were they in the car for?!" Beth demanded to know. " Maybe 5 or 10 minutes, I couldn't take it any longer. I wanted to walk up to him and ask him what the hell he thought he was doing, but instead I drove away and it's been on my heart this entire time what to say and do". Mary Jane said while studying her friend's response at this discovery.

"Do you think she was a prostitute or call girl?" Beth asked now getting up from the table and pacing. "She could have passed for either by what I saw, but does it matter because it is still cheating?!"

"I know, I know...so what should I do short of murdering him"? Beth asked. "Why didn't you take a picture for Pete's sake Mary Jane? You know that would have been admissible in court ya know, real evidence, not hear-say!" Beth exclaimed. "Hey, why are you getting mad at me? I couldn't think straight enough to execute taking a picture of your husband stepping out on you, it was enough to see it with my own eyes!" Mary Jane retorted.

It was only 10:00 in the morning now but Beth had now decided based upon this days recent news that a bottle of wine might be a better choice than coffee. "Is that really a good idea with the baby about to wake up?" Mary Jane asked timidly. "Are you kidding me? If ever a time was right to start drinking it would be now Mary Jane, thank you very much. Ya know it's not often that a gal gets told by her best friend no less, that her husband is stepping out on her with a slut!" Beth was angry and hurt as she had every right to be, but she was about to do something even she had not prepared herself for. Mary Jane got up and went to give Beth a hug and explain that it would probably be best if she gave her some space to cool down and think things through but Beth would have none of it. She insisted that Mary Jane sit down and have a glass of wine with her and share in her misery, after all she was the messenger wasn't she? "You know Mary Jane I find all of this quite fascinating, very curious really when you think about it. I mean first of all I find it quite coincidental that you just happen to go to the same shopping center the same time you claim my husband was there. Beth took a long sip of her wine and continued, secondly it's quite odd that you have no photos of this said rendezvous, convenient don't you think?" "Beth why are you turning this on me like I am the bad guy here?" I knew I should not have said anything to you. Mary Jane said upset. "Another thing I thought of, and it is pretty pathetic but possible, is that you just simply made this entire story up.!" "Beth! how could you think that?!" Mary Jane cried. "Oh cut the act Mary Jane, you have always had the hots for James from the moment we were dating, always catching you looking his way." Beth sneered. "You are not yourself Beth, clearly this is upsetting news and if I didn't know that we were the best of friends and couldn't get past anything I would never have said a word to you." Mary Jane insisted. "You got that right, I am not myself, I just had a baby three months ago, I don't recognize my body anymore as my own and barely sleep and to hear this news from my best friend is just the cherry on top, so excuse me Mary Jane if I have my concerns!" Beth exclaimed. Mary Jane got up once again and feeling so regretful for thinking that she was doing the right thing by telling her best friend. She would want to know if her husband had been cheating on her and she would want only Beth to tell her. Clearly it had been a mistake to tell her. This was supposed to be a new chapter in their lives starting a family together and all it took was a dishonest action from a spouse and an honest friend to reveal it, to throw the blame elsewhere. Mary Jane thought as she walked towards the door. "Just for the record", Beth started "this conversation didn't happen, whatever you think you saw did not happen, it was a figment of your imagination in hopes to steal James away from me because it's no secret how miserable you and Steve are in your marriage and have been. " Beth spewed. "Beth, when you come to your senses give me a call, until then I will not tell you another thing." Mary Jane shut the door behind her and as she walked towards her car she drove home and was surprised to find Steve home so early. That evening she and Steve made passionate love all night and she never spoke of that morning's conversation with Beth and what she had seen with Steve or anyone else again.