Shadows in the Dark

Chapter 23

Mason had missed all the excitement, because he was busy packing. School started earlier in the south, so he was leaving in the morning for their long drive home. By the time he went to fetch Maribelle from Melissa, all the excitement was over. He listened to the story in disbelief.

"The poor woman, I hope her husband is a good man." Mason said, as if in deep thought.

"So are you definitely going to divorce Ruby?"

He nodded. "If this summer taught me anything it's I deserve more. I want..."

She shook her head and very softly, as if it took too much energy to say the words, she said, "I'm not ready. I'm going home to Jeremy."

Mason nodded. "If you change your mind, you need to know I love you."

She shook her head, but her tears gave her away. "Can you just leave? I really can't."

"Can I come back tonight?" Just to say goodbye?"

"No. Please don't."

After watching his daughter's tearful goodbye with her friend, Mason reluctantly walked away from the woman he loved holding little Maribelle's hand.

He looked down at her. "So my little sea urchin are you ready to go home?"

She cried, "No!"

"Neither am I." He whispered. "Neither am I."

Tensions at the Pelletier house only became worse. Marie had been so embarrassed about Judy catching Drew, she stayed home all afternoon and made sure Drew did too. When Ed came home he would have to talk to his son about responsibilities.

It was a bit awkward when Marie was still angry with Ed for going to see the whore. Ed still refused to discuss it with her. He kept repeating, "I told you the truth but you won't believe me."

The minute he walked in the door, she approached him. He automatically put his hand up to stop her. She ignored him.

"You need to talk to Drew. Judy caught him with Maddie and..."

Ed's eyes turn a shade darker. "Was she certain?"

Marie nodded. "They were in the act."

Ed walk by her and stormed up the stairs. "Drew!"

Megan came into the kitchen. "Mom, why is everyone so angry?"

"Your brother is in trouble."

"Is Daddy too?"

"We're having a disagreement."

The phone rang and seeing it was Kelly, she refused to answer it. She knew the whole Point would know about her son. She hated being the subject of rumors. Never had she wished for summer to end, as she did at that moment.

When Ed came downstairs, he just sighed and looked at Megan. She didn't need to be dragged into it.

"What's going on and don't tell me I'm too little, because I'm almost in eighth grade!"

"Your brother got in trouble. That's all," Ed said.

"Well, why is Mom mad at you?"

Ed sighed. "Because I tried to help someone that she didn't think I should help."

"Why?"

"Because it's someone that she doesn't like."

"Who?"

Marie was losing patience and about to send her to her room. She blurted out, "That English woman!"

Megan frowned. "You mean Wendy? Why don't you like Wendy? She's so nice. She told me how she had questions and daddy answered them. She didn't say what questions, just that she needed a lawyer. Jen and I overheard Alice and she said she thinks Wendy is having a baby. I think she'll be a good mother."

"A baby!"

Suddenly Marie felt better, because news of her promiscuity resulting in pregnancy would definitely drown out any rumors about her son. She needed to make sure word got out and decided it was time to call Kelly back.

Kelly answered right away. "Oh Marie, did you hear what happened to that poor woman?"

'Poor woman', did she mean Maddie or Judy for walking in on them?

"That man attacked her!" Kelly said in a frantic voice.

"What are you talking about?"

"Wendy was attacked in her apartment by a lobsterman. Nora heard her screams and called for Todd. It was the worst thing that has happened since poor Mr. Blake's heart attack."

"Is she alright?" Marie asked suddenly concerned.

"I think so. Not to make light of the attack, but it's interesting she was taken to the hospital by a man everyone says is her husband. Maybe she was still married and you know looking for advice from Ed, after all."

Marie turned to Ed who was showing interest in her animated conversation. "Kelly, I need to go. Let me know if you hear anything else."

"What was that all about?"

"Did she say why she was divorcing her husband?"

Ed shooked his head. "I think she was hurt, but if I was a betting man I would say she still loves him."

"Well... me too. It's been an eventful day on The Point."

Ed looked at her. "Does this mean you suddenly believe me?" She nodded. "What made you change your mind?"

Luckily, Megan had lost interest when Marie had called Kelly and went into the den to watch TV. Marie told Ed what she had just learned. When she was done, she asked, "What are we going to do about Drew?"

"We can't ground him for a year. Let's hope he doesn't do anything stupid before he goes off to Harvard a year from now."

"You know he has no plans to go to Harvard. Just let him make his own choices." Marie pleaded.

"If today, proved anything it's that he's too immature to make his own decisions."