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Chapter 129 — Midnight Monsters
When Mason and Cruz came back to Capwell's house they found out here all of Capwells. The whole family was gathered there except for young children.
Mary rushes to Mason, hugging him and buries her face in his shirt.
"What's up to you...? I did not come back from a war."
"The lead thing that you just came back," Mary sneakily wiped her tears. She did not understand why she's so scared.
"Of course, I did."
"Mason, did you get it? Don't make us to wait any longer," Kelly could not wait.
"Yes," he nodded. "I did."
"Did tell McDermott all of it?"
"Turn on the record, Cruz. Let's old Ross tell the whole story. I hope you excuse me."
Mason threw in brandy in the tumbler and went out the garden. The dust was falling; the fresh cool breeze is blowing. The meeting was unpleasant, but now it was all over. He felt very tired.
"Mason," he heard Mary's quiet voice. "Go to us. We did finish listening."
He turned around, in one gulp drinking his brandy and returned to the living room.
"'It was the story!" Kelly shrugged her shoulders.
Eden put her arms around her sister's shoulders and nodded.
"I can not believe he is the terrible monster. He was a boy then!"
"He was the murderer," CC protractedly said. "By the way I seem can remember his father. He was the hard man, very hard."
"By the way I may guess that he was the person who advised you to send me to The Great Valley School," Mason said.
The living room was silent. CC nodded. "Yes, he did," he accepted.
"But Ross appeared in the school after me."
"Ross is the youngest son and the eldest one studied there all of years."
"And what happened to him?" Eden asked.
"I do not know, I'd never interested. Why you're all looking at me like this? I wanted to put Mason in the school with strict discipline and McDermott advised me one with fit terms."
"Yeah, he advised how advised," Mason could not resist and then looked at Sophia. "Thank you. You saved my life."
"You just can not imagine how glad I did," she hugged him. "I had no idea that I played so big role in the story."
"Me too," Mason admitted. "This story was not at all similar to the one that I thought was true."
"And what are you going to do now?" Mary asked.
"Give Mr. Stewart the copy of this record. I think it will remove all of his claims."
"Do you apply the claim for defamation?"
"I'll think about."
"If Ross has 10 years in prison how he can set fire the school building?" Kelly thoughtfully wonders.
"Given his tendencies I do not think that it was difficult to find the hand for it."
Kelly nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I guess so."
* * *
"Very tired?" Mary gently asked when they'd driven on the way back.
"The trip to San Quentin was exhausted."
"Do you think about Ross now?"
"Yeah--"
"He got what he deserved, right?"
Mason said nothing. Mary's heart sank. He did close in his shell again. What she suppose to do?
Upon returning home Mason immediately locked himself in his study. At this time Mary did not go after him guessing that she should give him privacy. She went to bed alone. For a while she tossed in the unusually large bed, and then finally fell asleep. But in midnight she was woken by Mason.
"What's happened?" She sat up. "Mickey? Children?"
"No, it's just me."
"What is it?" She reached out to light the lamp, but Mason grabbed her arm.
"Do not."
"Why? What's happened?"
"I need you--"
Mary instinctively hugged him and felt that he was trembling all over.
"I'm here, I'm with you..." She stroked him on the back and realized that he was still fully clothed. "Did you not go to bed?"
"No".
Mary hugged his head, feeling that he is on the edge. So it took several minutes Mason gradually stop to trembling and then drew back.
Mary firmly turns on the bedside lamp and looked into his eyes.
"What happened to you?" she quietly asked. "Did you tell me not all about Ross' story?"
"Not all? Was it too little of thrill for you?"
"It's too much of it for me. Why do you snapping?"
"From self-defense," Mason sighed.
"Do you think I'm accusing you of something?"
"No, just too good thinking about me."
Mary bit her lower lip.
"Nonsense. Do I do not know enough about you?"
"Mary--"
"Tell me what exactly I do not know about you and get it over."
"I can not."
"Do you do not trust me? Remember once you've tried to hide from me his alleged guilt for my father's condition. Would I turn away you then?"
"Do you mean that you already know that you're married to the monster?"
"Stop it. What else have you done?"
"Nothing. Just..." He paused and then continued with an effort: "When I'd listening to Ross I learned myself in his words. If you only knew how I hated my father when I was a boy! Today I looked at my mirror reflection."
Mary sighed and pulled the legs off the bed.
"I knew it," Mason quietly said.
"Well, of course it was not difficult to guess what I want to make you the cup of hot tea."
"Mary?"
"Let's go to the kitchen. There I will tell you the difference between Ross McDermott and Mason Capwell."
Mary put on her robe and without looking back went downstairs. Mason went after her.
She put the tea-kettle on the cooker and sat down at the table against Mason.
"Ross is a criminal and parricide," Mary sharply said looking directly into his eyes. "And you, Mason are a wonderful man. Whatever feelings you're experiencing for your father. Do you understand me?"
"Between me and Ross is almost no difference, can not you see?"
"I see. Have you ever tried to hurt your father?"
"Do you aware that my father fell into a coma because of my doings."
"And also I aware that you did not know about his illness then. Mason, between feelings and acts is a chasm. Even if you thought like he is you never made his actions.
"I could have done."
"But you did not. My God, Mason, you're so fond of your father! I never seen Ross, but his voice was anger and contempt when he talked about his. You and he are not equal, do you hear me? Do not you dare even think like this!"
"You always thought I was better than I actually was."
"You are the best. You're the best man in the world," she smiled.
"I sometimes think that it's a mistake. What do you suddenly see me as a monster and leave away."
"I do not see and do not go away. Mason, it seems to me that you do change in some way. Is there something more than your anguish because it's Ross?"
"Why did you asking?" He raised his eyebrow.
"You woke me up now. Do not overbuild ice walls around your heart and just open yourself to me."
She pushes the cup of hot tea in his hands. Mason automatically swallowed and winced.
"What is it?"
"Chamomile tea. Excellent help with stress."
Mason quietly pushed away his cup.
"Yes," he accepted. "Today I'd some changed." Mary looked at him questioningly. "I wanted to add a couple of walls to my heart defense but I suddenly realized that I'm even feels empty and cold with these that I already have. And unbearably lonely. You did melt the ice shield of my heart and now it refuses to be alone."
"Mason, but it's great!"
"I do not know--"
"It's good you're just not used to it. Trust me, okay?"
He did not answer.
"Okay, then just listen to your heart. And do not freeze it anymore."
"I will not," Mason said and drew Mary closer. "I think it's time to go in the bedroom."
"I think the same thing," Mary giggled, and they went upstairs together.
Chamomile tea was destined to cool off in solitude.
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