Free Mary's Men by Stephanie Beck Page B

the house later this week. My sink is leaking. While you’re there I’ll introduce you to my new neighbor. She’s lovely, renting the house while working as a secretary. I’ve been showing her the ropes of independent living—making her own wage, supporting herself—instead of living off a man who doesn’t make enough to support himself, let alone a wife.”
    The hit didn’t just smack Mary, but all three, whether Helen realized it or not. She set her fork down, truly unable to believe Helen didn’t understand the barb bit all three, Paul the most. From what Mary had gathered, she thought Helen loved her boys very much, that she protected them above all, but maybe things were more complicated than the surface showed.
    Paul caught her eye and gave a slight shake of his head, as though asking her not to make the scene her instincts told her to make. They’d promised to set their mother straight if she insulted her, but so far the insults had been mild in her direction. The ones toward Paul stacked up. But if Paul didn’t make the move, she understood it wasn’t her place…yet.
    “How about some dessert?” Mary stood, not waiting for a reply.
    “I’m afraid dinner isn’t setting well, so I’ll pass,” Helen said. “Thomas, tell me about your new job. It’s so nice to have something to hear about other than cows.”
    “Paul, I need your help please,” Mary called, ready to snap in a way she’d never experienced.
    “Who needs help with dessert?” Helen muttered, but in the small space, every word carried.
    Paul abandoned his plate and joined her, his expression pained and apologetic. “How can I help, honey?”
    She grabbed him by his shirt front and pulled him down until her mouth met his ear. “She’s going to break me. I don’t want her to break me on our first meeting.”
    “She’s usually not this bad,” he whispered. “It’s surprising me how far she’s going. Thomas will wrap things up and we’ll decide on a plan for the future. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.”
    She kissed his cheek and let him loose. Her hands shook with fury, but she channeled that into fixing the pie she’d baked. Apples and cinnamon in a flaky crust should have been the perfect end to the meal, but nothing could save it. Nothing.
    “Hey, Paul? I’m going to walk Mom to her car and follow her into town to check the sink,” Thomas said, already helping Helen into her coat.
    Mary looked down at the slice of pie she had ready for Thomas and realized what else he would do when he went to town. He’d meet the neighbor woman Helen thought was so wonderful. She clenched her teeth together harder. The night had spiraled out of control.
    “Thanks for dinner, Mary.” Thomas didn’t look happy to be going. “I’ll be back before too long.”
    “Why not stay the night?” Helen said. “Pack a bag, no need to interrupt the newlyweds.”
    “Work, Mom,” Thomas said. “I’ll be back. Thanks again.”
    He hustled his mother out the door. Mary didn’t know if the other woman would have said ‘thank you’ or any sort of goodbye, even to Paul, but Thomas closed the door before she could.
    Mary dropped the pie on the counter, disgusted with herself, with Helen, and with the situation.
    “That went pretty well,” Paul said.
    She looked up and he had the good grace to blush.
    “Well, it did. She didn’t hit you or scream for you to leave or anything like that.”
    There were no words. She pushed away from the counter without reply and began clearing the table. Not much food remained, assuring her at least that had been a success. Paul joined her, but didn’t speak. He had to know—had to—that the night hurt her.
    They washed the dishes and cleaned in silence. As the chicken pan soaked, Paul turned on the television and watched the news. Mary sat beside him, but couldn’t enjoy it, couldn’t enjoy him…not when Thomas was away doing only God knew what.
    Mary chewed her thumbnail, checking the door