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Wilson let himself into his house quietly. He was trying to sneak inside so that Corey wouldn't see him, and he could at least get to sleep on the couch. Just as he was about the creep down the hallway, he saw a dark shadow lurking in the background. He stopped, shoulders slumped down, and didn't move. He thought, why he was unsure, that maybe it was best if he let her say something. But she didn't. She didn't say anything for a while. Corey and Wilson had a "stare down" in the dark when they couldn't even see each other's eyes.
"Are you waiting for me to talk?" Wilson said, finally cracking under the pressure.
"Maybe."
"Well, I was waiting for you." She still didn't say anything. "Um, I'm sorry."
"For?"
"For talking to Mary. I understand."
"No you don't. That's why I'm so mad. I know I'm your second wife, and I have to grapple with that every day, and now if you are sneaking around behind my back tomcatting around with her then-"
"I'm not sneaking. I'm not doing anything. And what, what does Becca have to do with this?"
"I'm not your first," she conceded.
"I wasn't your first either. We both had kids with other people. We knew all of that coming into this marriage."
"That's not what I meant. I wasn't talking about sex. I was talking about spouses. I was never engaged before you. I'm your second wife and you were engaged to Mary."
"So?" Wilson finally reached to turn on the light. He had to see Corey's face. Maybe that would help him understand where she was coming from. Or, maybe that would stop her from this rambling, since he knew this wasn't leading anywhere good. He sat on the couch in the living room and patted the space on the cushion next to him. "Sit. Explain. I'm not following you."
"There's this inferiority complex that comes with being second. I-"
"I get that. You have a history with Bernadette's father, too. You'll always have this space for him no matter how much of a jerk you think he is or how much you hate him."
She sighed. "I guess. But that's not it."
"Then what is it?"
She sighed. "Nothing. Forget it. I'm just being stupid."
"Are you sure?"
She smiled, trying to reassure him, and herself, that she was. "Yes."
"OK."
"But," she said, "I'm still mad at you. You're sleeping here tonight."
"Oh, come on. After I sat here and tried to be all sensitive you're kicking me out?"
"Yup. You were on the ground with her, Wilson!"
"Fine. I just want to get some sleep. Today has been such a long day."
Corey walked away without saying good night. Wilson laid down on the couch and rolled over onto his side. He couldn't believe that Corey was jealous of Mary. She had no reason to be. Sure, he had loved Mary at one time, but he didn't anymore. He'd always felt a strong loyalty to the person he was with. Even if things were shaky, and even if things were shaky with Mary and her husband, Wilson would never cheat on Corey. He loved her too much to do that. And, quite frankly, he never saw the appeal.
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The next morning, Wilson decided that the right thing to do would be to call Mary. The more he thought about it, he more he realized that he pretty much pushed her out of his car and drove off. No friend should do that, even if that friend was afraid of the power of his wife waiting for him at home. After about four rings, she answered.
"Hello?" her voice was hoarse and she seemed groggy.
"Hey Mary. It's Wilson."
She groaned. "Shh."
He laughed at her, but a quiet laugh. "Sorry." He lowered the volume of his voice. "How are you doing?"
"Um," she rubbed her hand over her face, "not good."
"That's what I figured. I just wanted to check on you."
"Whatever."
"All right, well, have a good day."
"Uh huh," and she hung up.
Wilson sat there, wondering if she was still drinking. Then he thought about where she was. She said she didn't want to go home. Maybe she hadn't. He didn't know what it was, and he didn't know why he thought so, but something wasn't right with Mary. He sat there, thinking about what to do next. This whole thing was beginning to go horribly wrong. Wilson reached into his wallet and checked to see how much cash he had on him. Nine dollars, perfect. He'd have just enough to get some cheap bouquet of flowers at the grocery store on his way home from work for Corey. For some reason, he felt he needed to get them. Maybe not for last night, but for future nights to come.
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After dinner that night, the doorbell rang. A feeling of fright went through Wilson, especially when Corey went to answer the door. When she opened it, Wilson could feel the chill from the outside charge through the room.
"Oh, Mary. Hi."
"Hi Corey. Is Wilson home?"
"Yes, he is, but he's busy right now."
Mary shook her head as she saw Wilson come to the door from the back.
"Hi Mary."
"Hi. Could I come in? I wanted to talk to you, both of you."
Wilson looked back at Corey, who was glaring at Mary. He hated being this torn, and really was starting to develop some resentment toward Mary for constantly making him feel this way. "Yeah, I guess. Come in."
Mary made herself comfortable, sitting on the couch that Wilson had to sleep on the night prior because of her. She waited for Wilson and Corey to join her. Corey refused to sit on the couch with the woman who made her so afraid, and Wilson knew that he wasn't allowed to sit unless Corey did. Mary swished around in her seat, waiting and waiting.
"Going to join me? Anyone?"
Corey glared at Wilson and then finally sat. Wilson followed suit. "So?" Corey said. Wilson nudged her with his foot. He didn't like her being rude.
"I wanted to apologize for what I did last night. Not that I did anything," Mary said, desperately trying to save her name, at least in her own mind.
"If I accept, will you be done with us?"
"Fine. Whatever," Mary said. "I did what I was told to do."
"What?" Wilson said.
Just then, rumblings were heard behind the adults. They could clearly make out Bernadette and Billy grumbling behind them, fighting over something that stepsiblings would squabble about.
Corey turned around. "Kids, come on. Back to your room. This isn't for you." She got up to usher the kids back to their room. She didn't want them knowing that Mary was here or getting any crazy ideas in their head.
Wilson was relieved that Corey left. "What did you say? Who told you to come and apologize? Because you didn't need to."
"Yes, I did."
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did," Mary maintained.
"Why?" Wilson finally asked.
"Because."
"You're driving me nuts."
She smiled. "I know."
"So?"
"OK. I know this is going to sound really stupid, but..."
"Yes?" Wilson found himself actually being a bit frightened of what she was about to say next.
"I was sitting in my backyard... I mean, in my parents' backyard," she slowly corrected, "just staring at the grass, when I saw a bird in the corner."
"A bird?"
"Yeah, a bird. And do you know what it said to me?"
"Um, what?"
"It said that I should apologize to you and Corey. I intruded on your life and you two have no obligation to deal with my mess."
"I see," was all he could say.
"So, I guess you could say a little birdie told me."
Wilson laughed along with Mary, just to make it seem as if he didn't think she was completely nuts. "Ha, yeah."
"All right, well, I think I'll go now. That's all I came to say. Besides, it seems like Corey wants me out, and I don't want to cause any problems for you. Or for her either, really."
"OK, if that's what you want."
"I do." Mary stood up, smoothed out her shirt, and waited for Wilson to stand beside her. "I guess I'll see you around or something, since I always see you around it seems."
"Yes. I'm sure we'll meet again."
"You can count on it." Mary smiled at Wilson, nodded her head, and then left the house, leaving Wilson to wonder. A bird talked to her? Was there even a bird actually in the backyard? Was she really in the backyard to begin with? This was starting to cross over to the realm of ridiculous.
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A/N: With the introduction of the bird, I want to make my readers aware that this is not going to be just a typical "Wilson helps Mary" story. Carlos isn't going to come back and fix everything. There is something else… something else dumb. The last line of this chapter is more of a personal comment to myself than anything else.
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Let's all go to the 'realm of the ridiculous.' Please review.
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