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Chapter 107 — Looks All Wrong
In the morning Mary wakes up and found out that Mason already is out. She read his note that was placed on the pillow.
Sorry, I had to leave early. I love you.
Mason.
Mary sighed, and smoothed the piece of paper between her fingers. He still doesn't believe that no one blames him. In any case, not completed. Mickey demandingly cried out, she stood up to him. Changed and fed her son, Mary went down, have him on hands. Downstairs Christie feeding with breakfast their older children.
"Good morning!" her sister stopped and hugs Mary.
"Good morning!" Mary put Mickey in the crib in the living room and began to prepare the breakfast for her and Christy.
Although Christie worked as their nanny, they all lived as one big family. May be just Jimmy was seen here infrequent because he was some shy.
"How long time Mason was gone away?" Mary asked, making the toast.
"About an hour ago--" Christie wiped Chip's face and pulled him out of the chair, putting down on the floor. He rushed to his favorite toys. "I thought that he was upset about something. Did you quarrel?"
"No--" Mary launched the coffee machine and absently watched the dodges of Samantha whom Christie trying to wiping also. "It's because of our father. Do you know this story? Mason knew him when he was a teenager."
"Yes, mom told me. Marvelous," Christy put Sammy down on the floor, but Mary did not let her escape to her toys — she caught her daughter, wiped her cheeks from the meal, and only then let her go.
"Careless," she shook her finger at Christie.
"Come on, there was quite a drop. So what about Mason? Displeased he that his friend found out is our father?"
"No, he feels guilty for his death. And think that we all — me, mom and you — blaming him."
"Blaming him?" Christy thoughtfully looked at Mary. "Do you mean that he took by his friendship the time that dad could be used for treatment?"
Mary shocked looked at her younger sister.
"You're... Do you mean that you blame him for the death of dad?"
"No," Christie shrugged. "Just trying to understand him. Probably, I would have felt uncomfortable if I was on his place."
"Mason did not do anything wrong to our father," Mary sharply told.
"I know. Why are you angry?"
Mary said nothing. Christie deeply thought.
"You may want to talk with mom," she finally said. "I and you were just children, but her words may be able to change it to Mason."
Mary hesitantly glanced at her sister. She was not sure in Theda's reaction. Christy immediately realized it.
"Telling me about dad and Mason, mom said that now she looks at him with new eyes."
Mary remembered the words of Mason that her mother had changed her position to him.
"Are she upset to him?" Mary asked being unsure that she wants to know the answer.
"Not at all. She so sadly said it as if she was sorry for him. She was not upset anyway. Mary, talk to her. Somehow I think that mom will be able to find the right words."
"I'll think about it," Mary said. Words of Christie were the point. But first she had to talk with mom.
Leaving Chip and Sami with her younger sister, Mary took Mickey and drove in Ventura.
Theda was happy to see her older daughter although at first she gets worried that Mary can be quarrel with Mason. Mary assured her that they were all good, and then raised the subject of Mason and Chris.
"How is the strange twist of the fate," Theda slowly said. She and Mary sat on the porch of their old house, where Mary spent all her childhood and adolescence. Mickey snuffling in the baby carriage. "The Golden Boy grew up and married his older daughter. Kenneth's dream actually become to alive--"
"What you mean with "his dream"?" Mary confused. "My father even had not dreamed to meet me and Mason."
"No, of course. I am sure that it's never came in his mind."
"Then what's you mean?"
Theda looked at Mickey, then at Mary, but said nothing.
"You do not blame Mason for his friendship with dad, are you?" Mary could think only in one direction.
"Me? Blame him?" Theda looked at her with shocked face. "No, of course. Mary, baby, I thought that you're already realized it. Your father was alive in the last few months just because of your Mason."
"Because?"
"Yes... Of course, he had me, and you and Christina, but the Golden Boy had a special place in his heart."
"How do you get knew? Were you discussed it with dad?"
"A little. But, unfortunately, most of his thoughts I learned from his diary."
"Diary? My father had the diary? You never told me," Mary suddenly felt that she is jealous. Why she knew nothing about the diary of her own father?
"At first you were too young, but later it just never entered the conversation. Yes, and I found it not at once. A few years after the death of Kenneth."
"Where? Where did you find it?" Mary felt that her palms become damp.
"By pure chance, along with his clothes in the attic."
"And you read it?"
"Not right then. I was not sure that Kenneth would ready to show me it. But after reading, I'm sure that I did the right thing. And Kenneth wanted me to know his thoughts, he wrote in his diary about that also."
"But he can just tell you what he thinks? I do not understand."
"I think you'll understand if you read it yourself."
"Where it is now?" Mary got up. "You saved the diary?"
"Of course, I saved it. How could I do not? I loved your father. And his diary is in my bedroom. Do you want me to bring it?"
"Yes. Please."
Waiting Theda's return Mary sat down again on the steps. What wrote her father in his diary? Mentioned her? Judging by the reaction of Theda, he mentioned Mason. And did not blame him. Why she so long?!
But Theda returned with the sizable book in hardcover. Mary takes the diary and was about to open, but the mother is not allowed it.
"It is better to take home and read it there. Believe me, it would be better."
"What is it?" escaped from Mary.
"Many things. And good and bad. Your father had the wonderful style. Even if this diary just dethrones him, there is nothing that could throw him out."
Mary winced a bit; these words reminded her that she heard as a teenager. Theda said her that she idealizes her father and opposes all earth people. Mary took the diary and drove home. Her mother was right. She wanted to read the diary at home and alone. And then she decides whether to show it to Mason.
* * *
Mason's day in court was just a disaster. His case hopelessly tied up in objections of gloating attorney, the judge for no good reason to get up on his side, and Mason could hardly force himself to concentrate. This day had only positive quality — it has approached the end.
Spotting the father Sammi and Chip rejoiced and hung Mason from two sides. Mason picked Chip up and Sami instantly cling to his leg. Christie appeared from the living room.
"Hi!" She took his displeased Chip, and Mason unhooked Sammi from his trousers. He straightened up with his little girl on hands and was surprised to realize that Mary never showed up. Usually she met him just after the children. "Where's Mary?"
"Upstairs," Christie replied. "Today she went to see mom."
Mason slowly lowered Sammi down and goes upstairs, loosening his tie.
Looking into the empty bedroom and finding there nobody, Mason went to his study. Mary was coming here but very rare. Usually, it's meant that she was upset by something. Mason could only guess that Theda told her about him--
Mason opened the door. Mary was on the window seat. She's embracing herself for her knees and stared out the window.
"You are here--"
Mary turned her head, straightened her knees and pulled down one foot.
"Mason?" from her place she could see the door only his figure. "It's you?"
"Who else could it be?" He took a few steps into the room. Mary got up and met him halfway.
"Are you crying?" He probably felt it in her voice, than he saw his face.
"A little. I had my reasons."
"Christie's said that you met Theda. I told you that she blames me--"
Mary raised her head.
"She blames you nothing. Instead... wait, it is better I will not say anything."
"Why?" Mason thought that she was trying to takes away. Offence's stirred him.
"Because it's better than he tell you everything, not me."
"Who is he?"
"My father."
"Are you kidding?" Mason stepped back, stepped aside and bowed his head, rubbing his neck.
"No. Yes, today I visited the house of his childhood and talked with my mother. And I learned from her that my father had the diary that he filled in last months of his life."
"The diary?" Mason suddenly became very cold and a little lonely.
"I never knew about it. I think my mother wanted to saves it for herself. But today she gave it me."
"And did you read it?"
"From first to last word. And now your turn."
Mason shook his head.
"It's too private thing."
"No. You'll understand when you read it to the end."
"Did he mention me?" Mason clutching at straws, hoping for the negative answer. It did not work.
"Mentions more than once. Take it, The Golden Boy," the first time, calling him with this nickname, Mary put the diary into his hands and left the room. Mason was left alone with the thing that could either kill him or save him.
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