by Morgan Henry
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you, or do I have to play some bizarre guessing game?” Karen finally demanded, her hand gripping the fork as though it was a weapon revealing her impatience.
Mary didn’t answer and fidgeted some more. Breakfast was delivered, and Mary fussed with cutting up her pancakes. She poured a generous amount of maple syrup over everything on her plate and shoved half a sausage in her mouth. How’s that for a stall tactic?
Karen waited, and Mary could see in her eyes that Karen was running out of patience.
“I’m not going to marry Bob,” Mary blurted out.
There was an eerie silence at the table for almost a full minute. Mary thought if she poked Karen gently with a finger she would topple to the floor.
“Holy shit.” Karen’s voice was the epitome of quiet awe.
“I know.” Mary downed another mouth of pancakes, and she noted that her hand trembled just a tiny bit. She chewed and swallowed. She rushed ahead, trying to get out the words before Karen could disagree or argue. “Our parents are snobs, and I’m tired of pleasing them. And Bob’s an ass.”
Karen ate a bite of waffle.
Mary continued, trying hard not to break into tears. “I always thought I hated you for going your own way. Your crazy colourful clothes, quitting university and heading to college, opening your own business… I was sure you were doing it just to piss everyone off. Then I realized you were being true to yourself. You were living the life you wanted for you, and even though it didn’t fit in with our parents’ expectations, it wasn’t bad. At that point, I realized I was jealous. And I was ashamed at the way I treated you.”
“I didn’t…” Karen hesitated and then restarted. “You never made me think you hated me. Just that I couldn’t measure up, you know? Like Mom and Dad did. Do.”
Mary suddenly felt as if she was going to lose the pancakes. What kind of an ass makes their own sister feel like that? She had a lot of amends to make. But she needed to tell Karen the rest of the story first.
“So, you get a hospital trip for having some fun,” Mary gestured at Karen’s hand. “I got a hospital trip for a bleeding ulcer.”
“What?”
“I was so wound up in trying to please everyone that I worried myself into an ulcer. Work, Bob, parents—you name it, I was trying to please it. Everyone and everything but myself. I never did want a corporate accounting job or to live in the city. And really, I’m not even sure I had any desire to date Bob, but Mom introduced him so I felt like I had to. What a pathetic wreck, eh?” Mary concentrated on worrying her napkin to bits.
“Wait a minute, you were in the hospital? When was this? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was a few months ago. I was only there for a night then home on rest for a few days. I’m better now, honest.” Mary reached across and patted Karen’s hand. “And Mom didn’t tell you because having a stress ulcer is such a dirty secret.” She rolled her eyes, her voice as bitter as the orange rind left on her plate.
“I don’t even know what to ask next,” Karen said softly. “Are you sure it’s healed now? You’re not still sick?”
Mary gave a slightly sour laugh. “I wouldn’t be sucking back this coffee if I was. Actually, I went to therapy, and I’m on some anti-depressants and am sooo much better now. I’m in the middle of making some changes to make my life better for me. And I need your help.”
Mary looked into Karen’s eyes, pleading, desperately hoping for forgiveness. “I know I don’t deserve it, but I’m asking. No, begging.”
“Of course I’ll help you. What do you need?”
Tears welled in Mary’s eyes, and she gave a little choked sob. She hastily blotted her eyes on the napkin and took a drink of coffee. She wished she could be as decent and forgiving as her sister. “Is there any way Sammy and I can stay with you for a bit?”
The question floated between them for a second, and Mary rushed on, telling her sister of her long-term goals. “I’m quitting my job, selling the condo, and I want to find a town where I can be an accountant for small businesses like yours, but it will take a bit of time to figure out where that might be—”
“Stop.” Karen held up her hand to get Mary to stop talking. “Yes, you can stay at the apartment. When do you need to move in?”
“As soon as I can.”
“Well, you happen to be in luck. I’m sort of staying with friends who are helping me while this splint is on. If you don’t mind helping me, I can let them off the hook. You can bring Sammy, but he can’t ever get downstairs or I’ll be cited for health code violations and they could fine me or shut me down, okay?”
“No problem. Can I spend the day helping at the store and the night there?” At Karen’s nod she continued. “I’ll go back and start packing up my stuff tomorrow.” Relief and gratitude filled Mary, completely overwhelming her for a moment.
“Of course. Don’t worry. We’ll sort it out. But you have to tell me. Did Bob ever find out Sammy pissed on his shoes?”
Mary blinked at her then burst out laughing, breaking the somber mood that had settled on the two. The last time they had seen each other Mary had told Karen that Sammy peed on Bob’s shoes and she was trying to hide it from him.
“He was so friggin’ mad! It was kind of the last straw. Even though I had them cleaned, and they were perfect, he said he could never wear them again. And that if I knew what was good for our relationship I would get rid of the ‘stinking fur ball.’ I wrote him a check for the ridiculously expensive shoes and told him I valued my relationship with Sammy more than the one with him. I thought he was going to have a coronary right there.”
“I hate to ask, but do Mom and Dad know?”
“They do now. I called late last night and told them the whole deal. Well, that I was breaking up with Bob and quit my job. I didn’t tell them I was asking you for help. I didn’t want to get you in shit for something that you hadn’t agreed to.” She grimaced. “I guess I’ve made more trouble for you with them. Sorry.”
Karen waved her bum hand dismissively. “No more than I get into on my own. How bad was it?”
“Not bad at all, actually.” Mary cocked her head to one side. “Of course, I didn’t give them a chance to say much, and they were so totally bowled over their brains didn’t have much time to engage with their mouths. I’ll pay later, I’m sure.” She took a deep breath. “But for now, I feel free for the first time in a long time, and I’m going to savor it.”
Chapter 4
“All right, Mom, yes, it’s technically a leave of absence. But the reality is I’m not likely to go back. I don’t want to go back. I don’t even want to be in Toronto anymore.” Mary paced around her living room as she spoke to her mother on her cell.
“This is utterly ridiculous. People just don’t throw away their lives like you seem to be set on doing.” Her mother was angry, and her words snapped at Mary through the cell. “You have so much potential to do well there, to have a secure future.”
“I’m throwing away what I don’t want or need—”
“Like a great job? Like a wonderful fiancé? Like a safe place to live? I don’t know what’s gotten into you.”
“I can get another job, Bob will make someone else a wonderful”—Mary almost choked on the next word—“fiancé. And I’m thinking of renting out the condo for now.”
“You need to use this leave of absence to update your credentials somehow. Become more valuable to the firm. You need to show them that your little illness was nothing and that you can come back stronger and more confident in your abilities. Can’t you take some continuing education somewhere?”
“Mom, I need time to think. Maybe I will take a course. Maybe I’ll go back, but I can’t decide that right now.” Mary could feel herself wavering. She did have a good job. A great job actually. It paid really well, she helped with interesting cases, and it had good benefits. But it was a huge amount of stress and office politics, and she just didn’t like it.
&
nbsp; “I don’t understand you. You have worked hard to get where you are in that firm. Is this your sister’s doing? You’ve been letting her influence you, haven’t you?”
Mary had enough. “I need to do this for me. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” She hit the disconnect button on her cell.
Mary slumped on the couch. She was all packed to head to Karen’s tomorrow morning. There was just enough for her to shower and put on clean clothes in the morning.
She had emptied the fridge and cupboards, covered most of her furniture with sheets. Even Sammy’s stuff was packed, and he was wondering what the hell was up, stalking around the covered furniture and leaping onto the sheets chasing imaginary mice.
Her cell rang again. She checked her caller ID. It was Bob.
She couldn’t do it. She chickened out and ignored it.
Their last meeting had not been pleasant, devolving into shouting and four-letter insults on Bob’s part. Mary wasn’t proud of her conduct either. She had cried and pleaded for him to understand and eventually capitulated into saying that, at some point in the future, she might reconsider, but for now, they were done. At least she had gotten her keys back from him. And they had been relatively private, choosing to scream at each other in his apartment.
He left a message.
“You’re a fool to throw away your life,” he slurred. “You’re not strong enough to handle things without me and your parents. And Karen won’t be able to help you much. You’ll see.” “Much” sounded like “mush.”
Mary hated it when Bob got drunk. It didn’t happen too often, maybe more so lately, but when he did, he was a total jerk. He said stupid things, sometimes… things that really hurt, but he didn’t even remember them the next day. He once told her she was a pathetic fiancée who was crappy in bed and he only stayed with her because her parents would give them a great inheritance. He denied it the next day and apologized up and down, buying her flowers and jewelry.
She didn’t know why she had taken him back after that.
Mary picked at her order of Singapore noodles from her favourite takeout place. She guessed it would be the last time she’d have it for a while.
The next morning she arrived at Karen’s store to find her sister’s worst nightmare. The store had been broken into and was in ruins.
It was supposed to be a great day for her sister. She was supposed to be trading in her big cast for a smaller one and they were going to order pizza and spend the night being sisters.
Instead, her beautiful store was a mess of melting ice cream, smashed glass, and squished chocolates. Whoever had broken in had taken great pains to ruin as much as possible.
Karen’s friends had rallied around her within hours.
Hanna, her long-time friend who worked at the vet clinic, was there. Allan and Zander, two men who were obviously more than friends, were stuck to Karen like burrs on a fox. Hanna’s fiancés, Kent and Carter, had helped out too.
That was a revelation to Mary.
Apparently, Hardwick Bay was a mecca of ménage relationships and other interesting adult relationships as well. Hanna had given her a quick rundown on the town’s unofficial policy on less-than-conventional relationships.
Ménage was common, as were homosexual and Dominant/submissive relationships and various combinations thereof. Basically, if it was consenting by all parties, it was okay. Adultery, non-consent, abuse, and intolerance weren’t acceptable. Neither was trumpeting their lifestyles to the tourists.
Mary could live with that.
In fact, the idea of a ménage had her really curious. She would have to get some info from her sister since things were obviously heading in that direction for Karen.
Mary spent the day helping Karen and the insurance adjustor get her claim started. After all, she was good with numbers and details.
Hanna, Kent, and Carter put most of Mary’s stuff in Karen’s apartment and settled Sammy up there. Hanna was wonderful. She knew just what to do with Sammy and his stuff. Mary was quite sure Sammy got some snuggles and treats from Hanna.
Mary went to Allan and Zander’s home with Karen. Though she was quite happy to stay in the little apartment above the store, apparently there was no way anyone in town was going to let her stay there alone.
Mary was pretty sure that Karen needed to be with Allan and Zander. They obviously loved her, and if Mary had stayed in the apartment, Karen would have stayed with her. Mary didn’t want that. So, Mary shut her mouth and went with the three of them.
It was a tough evening.
Karen wound up crying. Mary hadn’t seen her sister cry in eons.
Karen was tough and optimistic. She rolled through life and handled whatever came along.
Mary was the one who worried and obsessed, planned and organized. She was the pessimist who assumed the worst would show up.
It tore her apart to see Karen so upset, but she was happy there were two men who loved her to take care of her.
Their caring extended even to Mary. Before he went up to bed to comfort Karen some more, Allan stopped by to see if Mary was okay.
Allan leaned on the door to the beautiful guest room they had put Mary in and sighed.
“Well?” enquired Mary, shutting her laptop and turning from the desk to face him.
“She’s asleep. Zander is with her right now. I’ll go up later. She won’t wake up alone.” He scrubbed his face with his hand. Mary thought he looked exhausted already.
“I don’t think I’ve seen her cry in years.” Mary was pretty emotional herself, and she could feel the tears of sympathy for Karen trying to escape.
“I love how strong she is. And I know she’ll get through this, but it was a lot to take today. She was so upset she was talking about getting another job.”
Mary snorted. “The personal assistant job at my ex-firm. Our parents have been pressuring her to apply for weeks. Not that she’d get it now. Bob would blackball her for sure.” She rolled her eyes. “The prick.”
“Is he going to cause problems for you?”
“Nah. He’s a jerk, but he’s not a total nutjob.” Mary hoped her voice sounded confident. Bob was a prick, and he could do some damage to her at the firm, but he wouldn’t actually come to Hardwick Bay and cause trouble. She hoped.
“Do you have everything you need? Are you sure you don’t want to bring Sammy over?”
“I think it’s a little too much to ask of Sammy to get used to a couple of different houses in the same day. He’ll be fine. He has everything he needs, and there’s enough of my stuff there that he should feel secure. Hanna brought over something you plug into the wall that releases happy cat smells to make him feel even better.” She smiled at him. Allan really was being sweet. “I know where everything is, and I’m good. Go be with my sister. I know that’s what you want.”
Allan couldn’t deny that. “I’m going to get us a drink then head back upstairs. Do you want anything while I’m in the kitchen?”
“Nope, I’m good.”
The next morning, Mary headed downstairs. She was pretty interested to see what would happen. With a few texts and calls, Allan and Zander had rounded up a team of friends to help Karen clean up the store and start repairs. She couldn’t believe that was all it took to start getting her sister’s business back on track. That kind of help just wouldn’t have been so instantly available in her world in the city.
She slipped into the kitchen to find Karen already awake and working on her laptop.
Karen jumped in her chair, and her ass planted itself on the floor. “Jeez, Mary, you scared the shit out of me. I forgot you were staying here tonight.”
“Sorry.” Mary helped herself to coffee and poured Karen one, too. She joined her at the table. “What ya doin?”
“Updating my resume and sending out cover letters.” Karen’s voice sounded bitter.
“Why on earth would you do that?” Mary blinked at her. Surely he sister wasn’t considering that horrid job at her firm.
“Bec
ause my hand is broken and my business is in tatters and I have nothing holding me here.”
Wow, thought Mary, she’s in some state. Especially if Karen didn’t think Allan and Zander weren’t going to do their best to hold on to the woman they so obviously loved.
“That’s not true. You love this town, and you have plenty of friends here,” Mary pointed out, keeping her voice gentle and trying to get her sister to see reason.
“Yeah, well, someone seems to want me out of business. And they picked a damn fine time to wreck the store. Makes me think it was someone from around here, and that’s just beyond horrible. Why would I want to stay around people who would do that?”
“Look, let’s go to the apartment and feed Sammy. I’ll make you some breakfast, and we can talk.” Mary put a little sarcasm into voice and asked, “Maybe pretend to be sisters?”
“Okay.” Karen shut her computer.
Sammy was overjoyed to be let out of the bedroom to explore the rest of the apartment. He was an affectionate little orange cat, shorthaired and sleek. He busied himself rubbing his cheek on every piece of furniture between rubbing on Karen and Mary. He would come over, knead some bread on one lap or the other, then head off to explore the next bit of space.
Mary made pancakes for them, knowing they were Karen’s favourite. She loaded them with blueberries and found some whipped cream in a can in the fridge. “I’m surprised you have this fake stuff,” she observed to her sister.
“I didn’t buy it. Maybe the boys did.”
Mary could feel her eyes widening. Her thoughts went to all sorts of naughty activities involving whipped cream. “Were they having whipped cream parties on your body?”
Karen blushed deeply. “Ah no, no whipped cream…”
“That blush tells me you’re lying. Or at least not telling the whole truth.” Mary pointed her spatula at Karen. “Talk.”