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Chapter 137 — A Loop Of Time
"Daddy, when my mommy comes back?"
"She's not come back, son."
"I want her back. I want back to my mommy."
"Forget it. And be a good boy."
"And if I'm a good boy, my mommy coming back?"
"How many times I should say it, Mason, your mother is gone forever!"
"Mason?" He started because Mary put her hand on his shoulder, and reached for another portion of brandy. "How are you?"
"Could be better," Mason grimly answered. In his mind was spinning his childhood memories and today Charlie's cries "Mommy, don't go!"
"Can I help you?"
"No. No one can. I'm sorry, Mary, but I want to be alone."
She's sighs, looking at his pale face and decides not insist. She's better to walk in the garden than to try to take Mason out of his frozen state.
Mary went through the balcony door out and shivered from the cool of night air. She slowly walks the garden path, trying to banish from her mind the terrible scene happened in Capwell's house for a few hours earlier. Yes, she could not even image Mason's mother like this. Pamela's so rude met Sophie then turned her anger to Charlie, the young boy who just suffers because he's missing for the mother... And Mason... Until Charlie's coming she had no idea how painful sounds Pamela's name for Mason. And her returning became not a salvation, but a nightmare. Mason again turned into his ice state, and now she even doubted whether he's need be warm. If the ice melts it becomes painful for him, very painful... Does she have the right to rob him of that protection? For a moment she tried to image how her own mother abandons her or Christie like Pamela did to Mason. That her mother leaves her to the stranger. To her father who she never met before... No, she knew her father, of course, but she remembers Willard... Mary winced. No, Mason's father is no Willard Bassett. And not his son Steve. Her arguments were deadlocked. She could not imagine such a situation like had Mason or Charlie. She could only image how it hurts for both of them.
"Mary..." the ominous whisper suddenly comes out and someone's hand with the iron grip clamped over her mouth.
She gasped; a terror gripped all of her body, but after a few seconds the idea that the voice sounds familiar leaking in her mind.
"Say that you'll not scream."
She nodded and the hand slowly let her go.
Mary turned around and saw the man who attacked her.
"M-mark--"
"Yes, it's me."
He looked at her without much anger. Just watched.
"W-what... ar-re you doing here?"
She so wants to back home. Her heart still beating irregularly, she's breathless, her hands trembling.
"Just come to see you after all. I guess you may be tired with Capwell?"
Mary silently shook her head and quietly took a step back.
"Wait a minute," he grabbed her arm. "Do not worry, I would not hold you for long time. I'll be in the town for a couple of days. I just wanted to know what you are doing here."
"What do you want? Why you attacked me?"
"I did not want to let you make any noisy panic. You're not be afraid me."
"I'm not afraid you," Mary rose up her head. "So say what you want now or I'm leaving now."
"Are you fed up with this shyster yet?"
"I and Mason love each other. We have the strong family," Mary steps back even further.
"That's like today when he do not parts with his brandy," Mark chuckled.
"Were you spied?" Mary blushed with the thought that he peeked in the window at them.
"For a while," Mark nodded. "I just did wait until you're staying alone."
"Mark, leave us alone, okay? I am more than happy be Mason's wife."
"Are you sure?" He approached very close to her. "Or may be you want to try some of this?"
He pushed her against the tree and painfully pressed his mouth against her lips. His taste and his smell wrapped Mary, she's stunned. It seemed to her that she was back in the past that she thought was deeply buried for long time. No, no! Not that again!
The memory helpfully reminded what was followed after his kisses, and Mary felt a rising wave of nausea. Her urge was so strong that Mark drew back and cursed. Mary pressed her palm to her lips, trembling all over.
"You'll be sorry!" Mark furiously threw and disappeared into the darkness.
After a few seconds the car's lights came on and the engine roared. Mary could not move. She stared at the toy hung on the rear window. The little pink Bunny Rabbit. It was very similar to the toy that she saw only a few hours ago. Mark and--Pamela? Impossible!
The car raced past her at great speed. Mary walks back to the house. She feels her legs stiff like wooden ones. Before her eyes stood Mark's face... she almost vomited at the thought of his kiss. Today's accident and the nightmare of the house guest were merging in her mind. Lord, she feels herself so dirty!
She slowly opens the balcony door and comes in the drawing room. The feeling of relief and safety was making her legs weak. Thank God! Her eyes filling with tears.
"Mary?" Mason raised his head and put down the tumbler of brandy.
She just could not answer, feeling a lump in her throat.
Mason comes to his feet and just glancing at her face immediately turned around.
"Mary, what is wrong? What is it?"
She finally breaks down and sobs. His soothing hands wounds around her on both sides. Now these moments in the garden it seemed to her just like a dream. A nightmare.
"Mary, Mary... you're scaring me. What is happened?"
"Mark..." Mary hardly utters. "He was... here."
Mason stunned.
"He doesn't take it out now," Mason snapped though his teeth and lunged for the door, but Mary grabbed his arm.
"Don't... it's not necessary. He is... not there anymore. He's gone away!"
"Didn't he something bad to you? Mary, look at me, please! Did he hurt you in anyway?"
Mary allows Mason to gently lead her to the couch and sit down. The shock began to fade, Mary's trembling. Mason put his jacket on her shoulders, and she nearly burst into tears again — the jacket radiated Mason's warmth and scent.
Mason sits next to her, cupping her lovely face and makes her to look up.
"Tell me what's happened," he asked.
"I'm walking in the garden and see Mark... he was there, he wanted to talk to me... Mason, he spied us! He's spied though our windows for the whole evening."
"Bastard!" Mason's lips pressed in the thin line. "Mary, he did... hurt you?"
"No. He... he just scared me. And he tried to--"
"What?" Mason shakes his head.
"... to kiss me," Mary completed and then admitted: "I almost threw up him and that he did not like it. He got in his car and drove away."
"Thank God, he did not touch you," Mason carefully pulled Mary closer like she was a crystal vase. "Tomorrow I'll take the restraining order so he no longer dares to come near you."
"Do you think it stop him?" Mary suddenly gives a sob. "But he is not going to stay here."
"What he did want from you?"
"Find out if I'd tired of you," Mary pressed her face in his shirt, trying to banish feelings of helplessness and disgust out of her mind.
"And you?" Mason could feel her how she's trembling and does his best to restrain his anger at McCormick.
"Not tired," Mary managed to smile weakly.
"And you told him it?"
"Yes. And asked to leave. And he--"
"Do not think about it. Tomorrow I'll talk to Cruz, we'll try to something. No one allows hurt my wife and even more to kiss her."
Mary knew that it would not protect her from Mark, but she felt better. Mason immediately felt the change of her condition.
"Do you feel better? Maybe we should call the doctor?"
"No, of course, not. When you're stay with me, I need no doctors." She felt as he stiffened.
"What?"
"I was not with you when that bastard--"
"Mason, you cannot be with me for 24 hours of day. Do not blame yourself."
"I can not help," he smiled wryly. "I had to protect you. And I'll do."
Mary nestles at his side.
"Of course, you'll."
"Everything will be fine," Mason firmly promised. "And now go upstairs. It's already after midnight and you really need a rest. Are you sure that I do not have to call the doctor?"
"I'm sure," Mary stands up. "I'm OK. He scared me, that's all."
"McCormick is dangerous," Mason said. "He must be isolated from the society."
Mary said nothing and goes upstairs. She does not want to discuss what's happened but she probably has to say Mason about the toy on the back window of Mark's car. If her supposition is correct he finds out it in any case if he starts to dig up on Mark. And she knew that he will. And she had no drop of pity for her former friend now. She must tell all to Mason but not today. Now she wanted to feel safe in the warm embrace of Mason.
She found the strength to look at older children, and then came to the nursery and changed Mickey and goes in the bedroom.
Upon entering, she felt a delightful floral fragrance. The room was dim, just candles lit.
"How you can manage it? You had no more than quarter of an hour!" She was amazed.
"For you I can do anything."
Mason approached her and takes her hand. He had bare feet, his shirt was unbuttoned. His eyes glittered in the candlelight. He smiled a little hesitant smile to Mary.
"You're beautiful," she said overwhelming by the ineffable feeling of affection. She felt loved, adored and unique. "I love you."
"I love you," like an echo said Mason and takes her to the bed. "And I want to show you how much I love you.
"Show me," Mary whispered. "It's not a dream, is not?"
"No, it's reality, my love. Come to me--"
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