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Chapter 53 — The Old House
However after hour and half they get a chance to go out from the house. News about Mason's "death" diffusing around with a light's speed and condolences poured as an unceasing flow. Then Capwell's Residence was occupied by journalists, and Mason and Mary can do nothing but wait until Capwell's guards will turn out these newsmakers.
Finally they managed to go out and drive out from Capwell's garage one of the old CC's cars. Mason wanted to take limo, but shocked Mary look at him and asked if really he thinks that limos are absolutely an ordinary thing in Ventura where her mother living. So, the limo was rejected. However after climb in the car Mason realized that Mary didn't joke about back sitting. He had nothing to object her, so he takes a medicine. When they drive in to Theda's house, she absolutely surprised them as run out of the house as soon as she seen that Mary climb out of the car.
"My little girl! What disaster!" she cried, and Mary hardly fall down though a ground, but Mason praised himself that he prudent did not climb out earlier than there will clear around.
Mary hardly manage to force Theda reduce her sobs on two tones down and lead her in house. Already on threshold she gesture Mason by her hand that meant that he can come in after several minutes.
Mason waited even little more because he is afraid that wails of his future mother-in-law wake up everybody around. But Theda's neighbors clearly got over more worse so they absolutely paid no attention to new noises and cries.
When Mason come in the house there are Mary quietly talking with her mother and Theda have been nodded.
"Hi!" Mason awkwardly said.
Ted raised her eyes, and in throat something cheeped. Then she rolled over eyes and climb down with chair as she faint.
"My God!" frightened Mason manages to catch her. "Mary, I thought that you told her!"
"I have not time to," Mary afraid too but not so powerfully then Mason. Her mother's behavior was not unusual for her.
Two together they brought to life Theda, and Mary quickly explained her that Mason's "death" was only spoof. Ted very mistrustful taken this information, and else long time looked at Mason so as if his "resurrection" was a fool mistake. But Mary's explanation about that why they arrived, she attentively listened.
"But sweetie, I absolutely do not know how you can get any help by this house. Where you are going to search for? And what?"
"We else themselves do not know," Mason with curiosity looked over the house of Mary's childhood. "Mrs. Bassett--"
"Duvall," corrected Theda. "Now I have this last name again."
Surprised Mary looked at her.
"Bassett's name was too discredited," she justified. "And I decide... I loved your father with all my heart after all."
Mason decides that now the most suitable moment to question her about her first husband. He looked at Mary, and she caught his tip-off.
"I'll get coffee for us," she said and escaped to the kitchen.
Mason think how better to begin the talking when Theda herself continued the subject that was so interesting for him.
"Ah, Kennett!" she theatrical sighed. "How I sorry that you are already cannot be among us! You surely do the best for your little sweet girl!"
"Was Mary the fair-hared girl of her father?" Mason asked. Aside from desire to solve the secret he really was interesting in. He was interested all that was concerned Mary before their first meeting.
"Yes, she was! He played with her for days, when she was baby. But Mary looks at him as if he was God. She did not leave far then steps, when he was at home... Kenneth worked as traveling salesman," she answered to Mason's questioning look. "He often need be to leave, but adored our girls and tried to be with them each his free minute." Theda paused. "He had only one weakness," she said then with strange tone. "His love spread to his children, but also to the rest of relatives."
"About whom you talk?" Mary asked, coming in the room and putting on table tray with cups and the coffeepot. "Who is the relative about you speaking?"
"Yes, about his Larry, about whom else!" Theda sniffed. "Who did love nobody except his owns precious self!"
"But who is Larry?" Mary asked surprised. She cannot understand about who speaks her mother, but the pronounced name seem her as familiar.
"Sweetie, actually you do not remember him? Larry is your father's brother." Mary and Mason exchanged glances, but Theda continued: "Larry absolutely does not like late Kennett. Though he was the way by I first met Kennett. Can you see how my situation was?! I need be to choose my fiancee from the set of identical twins!"
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