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Chapter 113 — Life Goes On
Mary and Mason are driving home in silence.
"Are you going to charge this guy, McLean?" Mary finally asked.
"No, I will not. I want to see further actions."
"Do you think it would be so bad?"
"I do not know," Mason turns away from the road and looks at her. "Do not worry. Everything will be fine."
"Mason, he did kidnap you! I do not understand why you had not charged him as the kidnapper yet. You do aware his name."
"I thought he was really connected with Mark."
Mary raised her eyebrows.
"Do not tell me that you do feel sorry for Mark's brother."
"No, of course. But then newspapers would pull out the story of rape, with your claim in court. Once I brought you up... that you went on that roof. I never will repeat this mistake."
"Yes, then you are forced me to go in the court, but Mason, it was the accident. Don't blame yourself."
"You went there because of me."
Mary shook her head.
"No. Because of me. I was in despair--"
"I'm sorry; I was not supposed to remind you."
"I want to leave it in the past," Mary whispered. And added a little louder: "But fate does not give us such a chance." She paused. "So you're ready to forgive your own kidnapping for me?"
"Do not forgive. But I fear that we still need to charge against McLean... Mary, do you think if your uncle will give me reports of his detective eye for the trial?"
Mary becomes straight with the unexpected question.
"Probably. Do you want to ask him?" Mason did not answer. "By the way, if we talking about forgiveness... Do you forgive him for everything that he done to us?"
"No," Mason sharply answered. "And I'll never forgive."
"Really? And it seemed to me that the way by you did talk to him--"
"He is your relative. I'm just trying to be polite. And do not ask me for something bigger. I feel that you are inclined to forgive him. As Christian."
"Stop it. No. I did not forgive him. He almost killed you. But we have something that unites us — my dad."
"If Larry reminds your father for you?"
"Someway," Mary accepted after a pause. "They are still very alike... visually."
Again there was a pause in the talking, and soon they can see their home in distance. Mary looked at the car window as they approach.
"Do you say something?" she suddenly turned to Mason.
"No," he was surprised. "What?"
Mary did not answer. She did not take her eyes from the house, but her ears heard mumbling voices. Louder and louder.
"... Do not jump, baby... Daddy, I want pizza! Left turn... no, he said Gaskell... Really?"
"What's wrong with me?" Mary thought. "Who are these people?"
"Mary, what's the matter?" Mason asked, concerned about her tense face.
She shuddered. But not because it appealed to Mason. Voice... the familiar voice... called her by name.
"... Look, Mary. Do you see this house? Your daddy does everything that we could live in it."
"When?" she heard the squeaky childish voice. Her own.
"Later. But it will be ours."
"Do you promise?"
"I promise... "
"Stop it!" cried Mary.
"What?"
"Stop it!
Mason hit the brakes. Mary jumped out of the car and ran away, almost without seeing around because of her tears. But it's were just a few. Her soul twisted by soundless sobs--
Neither the Uncle Larry, her father's diary... his Golden Boy... could not do what suddenly did her early memories. It's so unbearably painful to hear the voice of her daddy... They had everything, and just at once they lost everything.
Earlier Mary felt that she mourned her father for long time and she was able to come to terms with his death... Monastery helped her find peace of her soul. But now she realized that the pain is not disappeared. And now the wound to start bleeding again.
"Mary!" She heard the shaky voice of running Mason. "Mary, what's the matter? Do you feel bad?"
She nodded her head, fearing that once again burst into tears if she started to reply him.
Mason approached, touched her shoulder. Mary brought her shoulders, quickly pulled away.
"It's because of me? Did I upset you?""
Mary tried to calm down, even breathing, but the pain and anguish choked her, not yielding control. Lord, how to deal with!
"Mary--"
Mason went back to her, tried to turn her to him, but then just hugged with both hands. Mary shuddered, feeling that she was losing the lasts of her self-control, but Mason did not let her go, and she giving in. She cried, pushing him away and then pressed his whole body. So they stood for a long time, until Mary was not exhausted from crying.
Finally she lifted her head. Mason looked anxiously at her, and seemed relieved.
"Are you better?"
She nodded.
"I'm sorry. I guess I scared you," her voice still trembling.
"It's not the word! What is happened?"
"I can not explain right now," Mary squeezed, feeling that the tears rose in my throat again. "I'll later."
"OK, OK. All right. Come home?"
"Yes.
They return to the car and reaching the house in silence. Trying not to think that this house was the last dream of her father, Mary opened the front door. There was turn on the TV in the living room, and just in front of it were sleeping Jimmy, Christie, Chip and Samantha, laying in the side by side. Mary quickly went to the crib where sleeps Mickey, and Mason turn on the upper light and proclaimed:
"Wake up!"
Stunned Jimmy sat on the floor, Christie rose on one elbow. Mary made sure that Mickey is dry and well fed, and angrily turned to her sister.
"Well you know! I'm paying you money not for you're relaxing in front of TV!"
"Yes, we just..." Christie confused. "Do not be angry, everyone is all right."
"And if Chip or Sammi would wake up?"
"I would never miss them, I swear!"
Silent Mary took Mickey to the nursery. Mason picks up Samantha and carried her in her and Chip's room. His daughter mumbled something and arched her back. He grabbed her under back, wondering to himself how quickly she growing up.
Upstairs Mason put her in the bed and gently tuck up. Then he's walks to the door, planning to do the same thing with Chip, but on the threshold he bumps in Jimmy, who carried the sleepy boy. Mason took his son and put in the bed.
"Daddy?" the boy sleepily muttered.
"Sleep," Mason whispered, taking off his sandals. "It's time to go to sleep for Super Cowboy Dan."
"I'm not Dan, I'm Ben!" Chip protested.
"For Super cowboy Ben, all the more."
Mason takes a fluffy dog of strange colors, the favorite toy his boy, and put in the Chip's bed. Chip sleepy sniffed very soon.
Mason went back to the bedroom. Mary sat on the bed, hugging myself for my knees, and stared ahead.
"How are you?"
"All right." Her voice was quiet, but more or less peacefully. "Let's go to sleep."
After taking off her clothes and showering, Mason went to his side of their bed. Lay down for a few moments. Mary still sitting in the same position. Then Mason sat up and gently ran his fingers down her spine. Mary pulled together her shoulders and turned to him.
Mason paused with the serious expression.
"I love you," he said then. "Do you believe me?"
Mary swallowed a lump in her throat and then nodded.
"Then do not cry," he touched her face. "All will be fine."
"Yes," Mary uttered, not knowing whether to believe it or not. "All of us will survive."
"Mary... do you hidden something from me?"
"No. And let's sleep. I'm awfully tired."
Mary leaned back on the pillow, then shifted and moved to Mason. He pressed his face to her hair.
"Sleep," he mumbled. "I will let happen nothing bad to you."
Mary clung to the idea as in a safe haven. Mason is all of her life. They have three children, their home... they went through all the borders... He is here right now. But even Mason was unable to return to her father to her.
Damn, she was no longer a little girl! It's been more than twenty years since his death! Why did she suddenly feel so painful as if he died recently?
Mary clung to Mason and told herself to sleep. Mason fell asleep; gently running his finger down her arm, causing her feels a strange tenderness. She suddenly remembered how her mother touched his face at the cemetery. Like making him the part of the family. The boy with the bicycle? Her husband? Love of whole her life? He stole her heart with the very first meeting--
Mason is deeply asleep. Mary took his hand and touched her lips. She smiled, remembering how she did like this earlier — it seems that in a past life! And left the mark of her lipstick on the back of his palm. Then she closed her eyes and tried longer keep that feeling... a life is a God's gift. She aware it more then most of people!
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