Love Her

You slide down to her, sitting next to her. You pull your bawling, straying wife against you, wrapping your arms around her shoulders. She leans against your chest and cries and cries.
"I'm....*hic* so....*hic*....sorry..."
"I know, baby. I love you. I'm not happy, but I love you." She turns and throws her arms around you, straddling your lap. "You came to your senses before it got too bad. That means something. I'm not going to throw away over 20 years together over a mistake. We're all human."
"I can't stand the thought of losing you baby.{if HowBad = 1}I'll never be that stupid again.{endif}"
You hold her for a few more minutes until she calms down. "This doesn't mean that I'm not pissed." You say, but gently.
"I know. I understand." She won't stop holding you tight. It's as if she had been pitched into the ocean from a boat, and had suddenly found the boat again, and wasn't letting go.
"...but we all make mistakes." You pull her to face you. "So what are you going to do now?"
She takes a few shuddering breaths. "Tell Jason in no uncertain terms to stop texting me. Block his number."
"Why don't you let me handle that." You say in a flat voice.
"James...don't do anything..." she looks into your eyes with fear, "I don't want you to get hurt or arrested for ****."
"Don't worry Jenna. I won't."
She glances over at the clock. "I...I've got to get to the store! Christ! I'm a mess! I guess life doesn't wait for crises." She slides off the bed, running into the bathroom to wash her face and put on makeup.
While she's doing that, you send Jason a little text.

James: Hi. This is James Sinclair. Jenna's my wife. We need to have a little chat.

After about 20 seconds.

Jason: Actually, I think I get the message. She won't be hearing from me again.
James: Good.
Jason: Fwiw, she was into it, bro. Didn't take much convincing.
James: We aren't bros. Get lost.
Jason: Np.

You end the conversation as Jenna comes back in.
"I'm going to get the groceries. I'll grab Jared and Zoe and take them with me. Do...do you mind making sure the pool, and everything...is ready...here?" She seems hesitant to give you instructions or ask for favors. You suppose not being dragged along to the grocery store is a small silver lining.
"Of course, Jen." She throws her arms around you, fiercely hugging you.
"You...are the most...wonderful... amazing... husband in the world. I'm so.... so very lucky." She squeezes you tight. As she starts to release, though, you reach into her hair and grip a fistful of it, close the scalp, bringing her ear close to your mouth.
"Don't think you aren't getting punished for this later, by the way. You belong to me, Jenna. You got that?" You pull back to look into her face, and she's biting her underlip, and nodding.
"Yes..." she's looking up at you through her lashes now. You release her.
"Get your naughty ass to the store."

After she leaves, you put the situation out of your mind by busying yourself with the business of getting everything ready for the arrival. You check the chlorine in the pool, the jets in the hot tub, you take the cover off your Javelin and check the oil. Tara pops up here and there, not sure what to do with just you and her in the house, but you just ignore her. At one point, you retrieve your phone and notice 3 missed calls from Kayla at work, but the last was over 45 minutes ago, and you can't be bothered to deal with whatever she's bitching about.

Around 11:15, Jenna returns with Jared, and Zoe trails her in her own car. They must have stopped off for Zoe to retrieve it, and a few more items. You all pitch in together to put away the groceries and liquor, and as the last item is placed in the fridge, you hear the twin honks of horns as two vehicles pull into the driveway.