Jane got very upset. My father maintained his usual calm, though I could see the wheels turning. He nodded at Jane and rubbed her shoulder. She left the room, tears streaming down her face when he asked her to let us to talk.
‘I’m sorry I upset Jane,’ I apologized.
My father didn’t speak for a moment. ‘How long has this been going on?’ he asked pointedly.
‘Mike has been trying to get pregnant since November,’ I answered.
‘That’s not what I mean, Jonas. How long have you been sleeping with Michelle?’ he asked. ‘Your living arrangements have always been . . . unusual. I must admit I’ve had some questions, but I didn’t think it was likely that you and Michelle would be . . . involved while living with your wife.’
‘It’s both more and less complicated than that,’ I answered hesitantly. ‘Do you really want to get into a discussion about this subject?’ I asked. I didn’t and suspected my father didn’t really want to either.
‘I suppose not. When are you going to tell Michelle’s parents? How about Gwen’s?’ he asked. ‘You can’t keep it a secret long, Jonas.’
‘Michelle is wrapping up some things at work and then we’re all going to Massachusetts for a while. We plan to tell them when we get there,’ I answered. ‘I’m not looking forward to it.’
‘You shouldn’t be. Ian Kenrick has a temper. He’ll consider this a betrayal of his daughter. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes for that conversation. I imagine it will break Edith’s heart. I don’t know Michelle’s parents that well. But I can’t imagine they’ll be happy, either.’ My father hesitated for a moment. ‘Why did you do this, Jonas? You do understand what people will think?’
‘I did it because Mike asked me to. She and Gwen had already discussed it extensively before they approached me. But the short answer is because Gwen and I love Mike and want her to be happy.’
‘I’ve never seen or heard of her seeing anyone. Does she date?’ he asked.
‘Not anymore. She told us she has what she wants with us.’ My father shuddered briefly when he heard that. It was the first time I ever saw a reaction that suggested something truly upset him.
‘You should go home. I’ll try to explain this to Jane. It might be better if you’re not here,’ my father told me.
I left for home immediately. Seth and Sara were napping. Gwen was busy packing clothes for the twins for the drive to Massachusetts. ‘Mike called earlier. She’ll be done at work tomorrow afternoon. She said there’s nothing on her schedule for the foreseeable future. We can leave Thursday morning if you’re ready to go.’
I kissed Gwen and left again to go the bank to get some cash and to the post office to have our mail forwarded to the country house. Mike was home when I returned and had begun getting organized to pack.
Gwen called her parents to tell them when we’d be leaving. Mike called hers and did the same. We left after breakfast Thursday morning. The drive to Massachusetts was mostly uneventful. Until the third day on the road. The five of us were in a diner when the news of the North Korean invasion of South Korea was announced on the radio. We were all aware of the unsettled political situation in the Koreas but only vaguely. It was far away. None of thought there was an appetite for another war after the carnage of WWII.