Mary, Mary

by Lesley Crewe

  Mary’s day wasn’t over when she got home. Two people had made appointments to see the apartment after work, and her mother didn’t want the hassle of interviewing anyone, so she left that job to the youngest in the family.

  “You know the drill: no winos, drug dealers, or perverts.”

  Mary ate her last bite of tuna sandwich. “How am I supposed to figure out who’s a pervert?”

  Her mom crushed out her cigarette in the overflowing ashtray. “They have shifty eyes. Everyone knows that.”

  “You watch too much television.”

  “And make sure they ain’t holy rollers!” Gran shouted from the living room. “Nothing gets rid of them pests.”

  Was it possible Mary’s stork got the wrong address? Why did she belong to these people?

  The first person asking about the apartment was obviously a wino, drug dealer, and pervert all rolled into one. Mary told him she’d get back to him.

  When the doorbell rang a second time, Mary was on edge. Please let it be a nice old lady. Instead it was a young man with long hair pulled back in a bun and a backpack slung over his shoulder. He looked like he’d slept in his car. A very dour young woman was at his side, looking like she’d rather be elsewhere.

  “Hi. Mary?” He smiled.

  “Yes. How do you know my name?”

  “My grandmother knew you very well…Mrs. Aucoin. I’m Daniel Hennessy.”

  Mary took a step back before she stuck out her hand and shook his. “Oh my goodness. I loved your grandmother.”

  “I know. She talked a lot about you. My mother pointed you out to me at the funeral, but you were gone before I had a chance to thank you…you know…for being there.”

  “I felt so helpless.”

  “I can imagine.”

  The girl beside him sighed. “Is this Old Home Week?”

  “Oh, sorry. This is my girlfriend, Amber.”

  Mary smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Please come in,” said Mary.

  They stepped into the porch, which was very small. The first thing Mary noticed was how good Daniel smelled, despite his rumpled appearance. She stammered, “Are you thinking of renting this place? Silly question. I guess you are if you’re here.”

  “We’ve decided to move in together to save on rent. This was the first place I thought of.”

  “Come up and I’ll show you around.” Mary started up the stairs and realized she was wearing her old ratty sweater that made her look like a butterball. Amber was in skinny leather pants.

  The pair followed her upstairs. “I do know what it looks like. I use to visit BeaBea—that’s what I called her—but not as much as I should have…and now it’s too late.”

  As they walked through the apartment, Mary wanted him to feel better, because he looked increasingly guilty and sad. “Mrs. Aucoin always said she had the best grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the world…that she had so many she forgot their names!”

  He smiled. “That sounds like something she’d say.”

  “This place is a bit of a dump.” Amber wandered around the kitchen. “What’s the rent?”

  “It’s seven hundred, nothing included.”

  Daniel frowned. “It’s not a dump; it’s clean. My grandmother was happy here.”

  “I am not your grandmother.”

  Mary looked at Amber, trying to figure out what Daniel saw in this girl. “Why don’t I leave you two alone to discuss things? I’ll be downstairs.”

  She waited on the last step inside the front door. Mary heard them wander around. Amber did all the talking. As nice as it would be to have one of Mrs. Aucoin’s relatives upstairs, she wasn’t sure about the girlfriend. Still: money was money.

  The couple eventually trooped downstairs and said they’d take it. They gave her two months’ rent in cash, and a security deposit besides. They looked like the last people who would be carrying large wads of cash.

  Mary shook Daniel’s hand. “I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

  Amber glared at her. “He’s taken.”

  “I know that….” Mary gulped.

  Daniel steered Amber down off the porch. “See ya.”

  Mary decided she didn’t like Amber, so when her mom and Gran asked her how it went, she said, “The girl thinks it’s a dump.”

  “A dump! The nerve!” Carole shouted. “Where is she?”

  “They left.” Mary showed them the fistful of money. “But they’re taking it.”

  Gran grabbed the money out of Mary’s hand. Carole grabbed it back.

  “And get this. The guy, Daniel Hennessy, is Mrs. Aucoin’s grandson.”

  “You mean to tell me he’s related to that jackass son of hers?” Gran grumbled. “I thought we finally got rid of that guy.”

  “What does Daniel do?” Carole asked.

  “I don’t have a clue. Don’t know what she does either. Maybe they rob banks. It would explain the money.”

  “Hope they aren’t drug dealers,” Carole said.

  “If they are, it’ll be really convenient for me, won’t it? Nighty-night.”

  One afternoon a few weeks later, Drew showed up at Sheena’s house unannounced. She was delighted to see him. She’d forgiven him for the fiasco at his house. “I thought you were at work.”

  Drew took her hand and led her into the comfy family room. “Is your mom home?”

  “No.”

  “Good.”

  She put her arms around his neck. “Is that…an invitation?”

  He smiled. “Not yet. A much bigger surprise! I have to move to Halifax. Can we move the wedding date up? Say to the first of April?”

  Sheena’s eyes went wide with horror. “What the—”

  Drew shook her shoulders in excitement. “Dad wants me to run the new dealership there, and it’s an opportunity I can’t turn down. I thought he’d be asking my older brother, but he wants me. It’s for our future, babe.”

  “You mean the venues I’ve booked for next summer are going to have to be cancelled?”

  “I guess.”

  “And how do you know I want to move to Halifax? Did you even ask me first?”

  Drew looked puzzled. “Doesn’t everyone want to get out of here? It’s Halifax.”

  Sheena wiggled out of his embrace and stared at him. “I’m supposed to leave my life and ride off into the sunset with you?”

  “That’s what getting married is all about. You planned on leaving your parents to live with me. What difference does it make if it’s here or there?”

  “It’s like starting over! I could kill you!”

  Drew put his hand through his hair and gave her an incredulous look. “You know, I was stoked about this promotion. Keep the wedding as it is, then, since that’s the only thing you’re concerned about,” he said, his voice rising. “I’ll go live in Halifax for the year and you can stay here. How’s that sound?”

  Sheena put her hands on her hips. “Stop being such a jerk! You can’t just come in here and expect me to be happy,” she said desperately. “You have to give me time to think about it.”

  “You can think about it all you want. I’m going.”

  “Going where?”

  “To get a two-four. After that I’m going to Halifax.” Drew banged the front door as he left. Sheena picked up a Dalton figurine and threw it against the wall. When it shattered, she began to sob. Everything was ruined. By the time her mom came home and found her in the kitchen, her eyes were bloodshot and her face blotchy.

  Peggy dropped her parcels on the floor. “What’s wrong? Is it Daddy?”

  “Drew wants the wedding in six weeks! He’s moving to Halifax with or without me! He has to run his dad’s new dealership.”

  “Is he out of his mind? We’re never going to get a v
enue on such short notice! What are we supposed to do about the reception?”

  “I have no clue. Have it here?”

  “Here?” Peggy reached over and put her hand on Sheena’s forehead. “You’re delirious.”

  Sheena swatted her mother’s hand away. “Mother, I’m as upset as you are, but if I want a wedding it looks like I have no choice. We’ll invite fewer people. I suppose it doesn’t matter where I am. Everyone’s going to be looking at me anyway, whether it’s at the Keltic Lodge or here.”

  Peggy was speechless. And then she wasn’t.

  “You’ve waited your whole life to plan your wedding and suddenly you’re doing it on the fly? This is worse than if you eloped! Oh, my God. Someone stick a knife in me. I’m done!”

  Sheena turned away and stomped up to her bedroom and slammed the door. She threw herself on the bed and groaned.

  Peggy stewed in the kitchen. She picked up the phone to call Ted at his office and then remembered he wasn’t there. Goddammit. She tore up the stairs and barged into Sheena’s room without knocking. “You can’t have it in six weeks. Your father won’t be here to walk you down the aisle.”

  Sheena sat up. “Can’t he fly home for a few days?”

  Peggy smacked her own forehead. “He’s signed a contract, you silly girl. He can’t just leave at a moment’s notice. And then there’s the other thing.”

  “What other thing?”

  “I didn’t want to worry you. There’s something going on between the rebels and local authorities. I don’t know all the details.”

  “Oh, my God. Is he being held hostage?”

  “No! This sort of thing happens all the time. Your father said he’d be quite safe at the clinic until things calm down.”

  “And when will that be?”

  Peggy threw her hands in the air. “Who knows! The rebels certainly aren’t interested in your wedding and whether your dad makes it here or not. They have more pressing things to worry about, like overthrowing the government.”

  Sheena flopped back on the bed. “This is a catastrophe.”

  Her mother dropped down beside her. “I’ve just thought of something else. What about your dress? You told me alterations could take months.”

  “I’ll buy one off the rack.”

  “This from the girl who had wedding dress cakes for all her birthday parties?”

  “Mom, you’re going to have to suck it up. And I guess you’ll have to walk me down the aisle too.”

  Peggy shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. All my hopes and dreams are dashed.”

  Sheena turned around and grabbed her mother’s shoulders. “This is my wedding. It’s not yours!”

  “It’s not only yours either!”

  “Look, can’t you see I’m upset? I need your support, Mom. I can’t do this if you’re shouting!”

  Peggy got off the bed and went to the window. “Why the sudden change? His father knew about the wedding at Christmas. He never mentioned the possibility of Drew moving.”

  “I have a terrible feeling his mother had something to do with this. She doesn’t like me. She never even talked to me when I was there waiting for Drew. She just turned her nose up and left the room.”

  “That miserable woman. Who does she think she is? I’m not putting up with this.” She left the bedroom and went to get her cellphone. “What’s Drew’s number?”

  Sheena ran after her. “No, you can’t call her! I’d be mortified! Don’t you dare let her know this bothers us. That’s what she wants. Once Drew and I are married, I never have to see the woman again.”

  “That’s a bit unrealistic, sweetheart. When you marry the man, you marry the family.”

  “We never see Dad’s family.”

  “Well, they’re idiots.”

  Peggy had to take her mother to the doctor; Carole was busy with clients. At least, that’s what Carole always said, but never mind. Peggy’s long-standing guilt about her sister taking care of their mother surfaced about once a month. Today was one of those days.

  Her mother was waiting in the kitchen with her coat and hat on. “Where were you? We’re going to be late.”

  Carole showed up at the kitchen door with a bottle of Fanci-full hair dye in her hand. “I hope you two will be awhile. Take her to lunch or something. I need a break from her nibs.”

  Peggy put out her hand for her mother to lean on. “Do you need anything in town, Carole?”

  “I need a tummy tuck.” She disappeared back into the salon.

  As Peggy escorted her mom to the car, she realized with a pang that her mother was getting smaller all the time. She had never taken care of herself, and it was a miracle she was still alive. But because she was, Peggy felt reassured. Didn’t matter that Ethel was an alcoholic and as lazy as sin.

  As they waited in the crowded doctor’s office, Peggy told her mother about Sheena’s fiasco. “So the plans have suddenly changed.”

  “Ya know his mother’s against the wedding. Sounds like she convinced hubby to do something about it. I bet she thinks Sheena won’t want to go to Halifax and she’ll call the wedding off. Poor misguided fool. If only she knew Sheena’d get married in the midst of a tsunami.”

  “Why do you insist on making snide remarks about Sheena? She’s your granddaughter.”

  Ethel patted Peggy’s hand. “I love the kid. It’s not her fault. It’s yours.”

  Mothers. God.

  Fortunately, Ethel turned her attention to the old lady sitting next to her. As they discussed their various ailments, Peggy tuned out. Is this what life will be like in twenty-five years? She wondered. Comparing ointments for toe fungus? And now that Sheena was moving away, what would Peggy do? Life just seemed to be a blank space stretching into the future. All at once, Peggy knew she was going to cry. Right here in front of all these strangers, and even worse: in front of her mom. She jumped up.

  “Where the hell are ya goin’?” Ethel demanded. “You need to come into the doc’s office with me so you’ll remember what he says.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Mom. You never listen to him anyway. I’ll be right back.”

  Once locked inside the bathroom, Peggy let her tears fall silently into the sink. Good lord. What was she going to do? A husband who didn’t want to be home with her, a daughter who was moving away, a mother who was a temperamental souse, and a sister who moaned and bitched about everything. Right now, Mary was the only person Peggy liked.

  Peggy powdered her nose and under her eyes before heading back out. The doctor said what he always said: Ethel’s health was not good. She had high blood pressure and high cholesterol and was borderline malnourished.

  “Are you a tea and toast kind of person, Ethel?” he asked. “That kind of diet isn’t doing you any favours.”

  “Malnourished? Since when?” Peggy felt like this was a slight on her. “What are you eating, Mom?”

  “What I always eat: Kraft Dinner and hot dogs.”

  “Perhaps you can persuade your mom to spruce up her diet. She also needs to be on Ensure. I’ll write a prescription for vitamins.”

  “I’ll do my best, Doctor, but my mother doesn’t live with me. It’s hard to control her eating habits from across town.”

  The doctor handed her the prescription. “Try.”

  Great. Now she was being reprimanded by a snotty youngster. What a dreadful day.

  It became worse when she tried to get Ethel to eat a healthy lunch. Peggy took her to Wentworth Perk, hoping the delicious food would entice her, but she was worse than a toddler. “It’s a salad, Mom. You’re supposed to eat things like this.”

  “Looks like my front lawn on a plate. It’s all bullshit. I can eat what I want, and I want cheesecake and a brownie.”

  Peggy ended up ordering two slices of cheesecake and two brownies with their tea. It hel
ped a lot.

  When Mary got home, she was in for a surprise. Aunt Peggy and Sheena were sitting with Mom and Gran. Boxes of Chinese food littered the kitchen table. Mary was starving, so this was good news. She grabbed a plate and tucked in, but not before giving Roscoe some choice pieces of chicken.

  “Why are you guys here?”

  “I have to get married in six weeks. Drew and I are moving to Halifax.”

  Mary stared. “And everyone is okay with this? I thought—”

  “Don’t say it,” Sheena said. “I know it’s too soon and I really don’t want to move to Halifax, but I have no choice.”

  Mary thought she was hearing things. “And everyone is all right with this?”

  “Of course we’re not all right with it,” Peggy almost shouted. “But since this is what Sheena wants, this is what we’ll do.”

  “But she just said she didn’t want to go to Halifax,” said Mary, looking around the room for clarification. “How is this doing what she wants?”

  Carole lit a cigarette and shook her head. “Don’t try and talk to them, Mary. You can’t make any sense out of either of them. I think it’s insane, but no one’s listening to me.”

  Mary reached for another egg roll. “What does your dad say about this?”

  “He doesn’t know.” Sheena looked at her plate. “I’m not sure I should tell him. I should just let him come home and find me married and gone. Since he can’t leave, there’s no sense in upsetting him until he gets back.”

  Ethel grunted her disgust. “Just call the wedding off. It was doomed from the start anyway.”

  “Thanks a lot, Gran.” Sheena stood up. “It’s hard enough to make these changes without having my family tell me what a disaster it is. I’m in love with the guy. What’s wrong with that?”

  “Are you sure you’re in love with him? I’m not going through this if it’s not for life,” Peggy said.

  “Of course I am, Mom, God! I have to go.” She grabbed the car keys and her coat and was out the door before anyone could object.

  “Great, now I need a ride home.” Peggy burst into tears and ran to the bathroom.