Is there a [universal] way to invoke a default action after calling event.preventDefault()?

Take a look at this one:

You could try

if(!event.mySecretVariableName) {
   event.preventDefault();
} else {
   return; // do nothing, let the event go
}

// your handling code goes here
event.originalEvent.mySecretVariableName = "i handled it";

if (document.createEvent) {
   this.dispatchEvent(event.originalEvent);
} else {
    this.fireEvent(event.originalEvent.eventType, event.originalEvent);
}

Using this answer: How to trigger event in JavaScript? and the jQuery event reference: http://api.jquery.com/category/events/event-object/

Tag the event object you receive so if you receive it again you don't loop.

Don't call preventDefault() in the first place. Then the default action will happen after your event handler.