Meant To Be by Karen Stivali Read Free Book Online

Whatever. That’s up to you two. You want to walk, walk. Personally, I’d drive.”
    Marienne already knew that. Frank liked to do things his way and on his own schedule. It was what he hated about commuting. At least on the train he could get some work done. He’d been thrilled to meet Daniel, because when Daniel drove them in Frank could avoid the train and still accomplish something on the ride.
    “I bet it drives Justine crazy,” Frank said.
    “What does?” Marienne cut the leafy tops off the berries.
    “Daniel. Always wanting to walk everywhere and preferring to take the train. Justine’s into efficiency. I bet it makes her nuts that he’s so laid back.”
    Marienne agreed that Daniel could be laid back, but not in a bad way. “I guess they have different priorities.”
    “That’s one way of putting it. Justine wants to rule the world. Daniel won’t even get to rule his own household. But hey, when a woman looks like Justine, does it matter? I don’t care what laws she lays down, any way you slice it the guys a lucky bastard. I bet she fucks his brains out every night.”
    Marienne gaped at Frank. Why does he have to be so crude? She answered her own question. All men are like that. A tiny voice in her head whispered, except Daniel . She ignored the voice, assuming that once she got to know Daniel better she’d find out just as much jerky stuff about him. That’s how things had always worked out in the past.
    Besides, the one thing Frank was right about was that Daniel was married to Justine, a gorgeous woman who probably did fuck his brains out every night. That thought made Marienne feel better, safe and confident that a friendship with him could really work. There’d be no threat of it going too far or becoming inappropriate, because he had Justine to go home to every night. She felt a hint of disappointment with the realization, but ignored it.
    After all, I have Frank.
    Frank got up and kissed her goodbye, leaving his breakfast dishes. Marienne ate her strawberries and glanced out her kitchen window, at Justine and Daniel’s house. She wondered what their breakfast talk had been like. She wished it was Monday, so she could go back to the theater. And she definitely didn’t plan on driving there.
    ****
    “You got home awfully late,” Justine said to Daniel as she packed her briefcase. She sipped her orange juice.
    “Yeah.” Daniel wondered if she was annoyed. He waited, but she didn’t say anything further. “I walked home with Marienne and we stopped at the park. It was such a clear night. We wanted to look at the stars. I really missed that when we lived in the city. You could never see the stars.”
    Justine grimaced, barely looking up from her papers. “It figures Marienne would share your fascination with stargazing. I swear I don’t know what Frank sees in her.”
    “What do you mean?” It was more than apparent that Justine was not the slightest bit jealous. That was an issue in itself, but the fact that she was questioning why Frank would like Marienne threw him. How could anyone not like Marienne?
    “Well, look at them,” Justine said, as if that should clarify things.
    Daniel gestured for her to continue, not having the slightest idea where she was going.
    Justine sighed. “Frank is a go-getter. He’s tough and aggressive, and he’s got that edge to him, that hunger. Marienne is shy and artsy. Look at the way she dresses. I’d expect a guy like Frank to have a flashy trophy wife, or no wife, for that matter. Honestly, he seems like a player. And I’d think Marienne would have gone for an artist or brooding musician. Whatever. Obviously they illustrate the whole opposites attract thing.”
    Daniel understood what Justine was saying, and she had a point. Frank and Marienne were quite different, in all the ways she listed. He still couldn’t see how any of it made Marienne unappealing in any way, to anyone. She was sweet and funny, and he loved the quirky way she dressed.