Later, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Mary and Wilson are in Simon's room, lying down on the bed together. Matt and Sarah were coming in later today, and the whole house was a buzz; everyone eagerly awaiting their arrival. No one cared that Mary and Wilson were back home, and that upset Mary. To her, it was yet another slap in the face that they did not want her here. With every second that passed, she wondered more and more why she had come back to Glen Oak for Christmas. This was no longer home to her; home was in Ft. Lauderdale with Wilson. The only thing that was getting her through the day was Wilson. The two of them appeared to be joined at the hip- going downstairs for food together, constantly exhibiting public displays of affection throughout the house, lying together in a tangled web arm arms and legs. From the disgusted looks that Mary was getting from the rest of her family members, she could tell they didn't approve of her relationship with Wilson. She knew they all probably thought that they were sleeping together or something, and even more likely still thought that she's pregnant. Wilson was well aware that what they were doing wasn't good. Laying on top of each other all of the time could only lead to trouble. He kind of felt that he was leading Mary on by letting her think that this was all right, but he didn't say anything. He liked being with Mary, and he couldn't do much besides lay here right now, anyways.
Mary tried very hard not to think about everything, though, and to just enjoy her time with Wilson. She squeezes him, bringing them closer together than they were before. Her attempt to clear her head fails, though. Instantly, Lucy ran through her mind. Mary knew that somebody had to be there for her now, but she didn't feel like the right person to fulfill those requirements. She thinks that Lucy probably blames her for everything- for making Kevin go to jail. She couldn't help but blame herself. If she could have controlled her urges with Wilson better, she wouldn't have been upstairs changing for Kevin to find her. Or better yet, if she never came here all together, everything would have been perfect. She didn't come home for herself. She came home for Wilson, to get his mid off of things, but more to get him help. She knew that her father could help him, but now that was out of the question. The whole family hated her, plus Robbie minus Ruthie.
"Are we going to have to go to court?" Mary asks, catching Wilson off guard.
"I, uh, I-I don't know." He tells her, honestly not knowing the answer to her question. After he gets the words out, he lets out a huge yawn.
Mary can't help but giggle. "Are you tired?" Wilson nods. "Its probably from the medication. They said you'd get drowsy." Mary sits upright. "You sleep, I'll go downstairs and mingle."
"Why don't you stay instead?"
"Because then you won't get any sleep, and you need your rest." Mary kisses Wilson ardently.
"Now how do you expect me to sleep after a kiss like that?" Mary blushes, and opens the door. "I won't be down there too long, don't worry."
"Word of advice?" Wilson says, his eyes starting to droop. "When you go to 'mingle', try and be happy. It's Christmas, smile."
Mary grins widely to spite him, and walks out. She walks down the stairs that lead to the kitchen, and finds Ruthie with the twins.
"Hey. What are you guys doing?"
"Where your boyfriend?" Sam asks her.
"Yeah. Where is he?" says David.
"He's upstairs taking a nap. He's really tired." She says in a sweet voice as she sits down in the chair next to Ruthie.
"Is Wilson OK?" Ruthie asks.
"Yeah. He's just drowsy from the medication."
"Well, let me be the first to say that I'm glad you're down here with us rather than up there with Wilson. I mean, he's nice and all, but you're with us for a week, less than that now. You live with him. I want to spend some time with you; I miss having you around."
"Well, its nice to be missed, by someone at least."
"So why don't you spend some time with us and play Candy Land?"
"I'm yellow!" Mary says, reaching across the table for the yellow plastic gingerbread man.
The four of them play for a little while. Mary notices quickly that both Sam and David cheat beyond belief- going 5 boxes when they are only supposed to move two. Mary remembers playing this game with Matt when they were both little. Mary even recalls folding the card with the princess from the top of the board on it. She would always set up the cards herself and count the cards so that she would get that one. More times than not, though, she counted out the cards wrong, and Matt ended up getting it. She and Matt used to have so much fun together. They were crazy when Matt was 5 and Mary was 3, according to her mother.
"When is Matt supposed to get here?"
"His flight gets in at 2:30."
Mary did exactly what Wilson told her to do. She put a smile on her face and a spring in her step, and now she was actually excited to see Matt. Just as Mary was beginning to feel proud of herself, Lucy walked into kitchen.
"Mom wants me to bring the boys upstairs." Lucy says to Ruthie.
"Ok." The two of them respond. Each of them gets up and grabs one of Lucy's hands.
In a split second decision, Mary decides to go for it. "Luce, let me help you bring them upstairs. Then we can talk."
"About what?" she asks, rudely.
"Everything."
"I don't think we have anything to talk about."
Mary tries to remain calm. "Well, then can you listen to me talk? I have a couple of things I'd like to bounce off you."
"Why me and not Wilson?"
"Because you're my sister." Mary says smiling on the outside. On the inside, though, she was breaking. Her worst fear was coming true, and she did not like it one bit.
"Mary, please, don't make this harder than it already it." Lucy says, turning around and walking up the stairs with the twins.
"She didn't mean that." Ruthie says, trying to console her.
"Yeah," Mary says, trying to humor her little sister. "She's probably just really upset." Just because Mary felt farther away from her family than she had ever been does not mean that she had to make Ruthie feel awful as well. Mary sits there for two minutes next to Ruthie saying nothing, not moving, barely breathing. She felt lower than low, worse than she has ever felt in her life. Her mother comes down the stairs, and walks over to the two of them. Peculiarly, she hugs Ruthie tightly for no reason.
"My little girl." Annie says, clutching her daughter. "I love you, you know that, right?"
"Yes." Ruthie answers, "and I love you too."
Annie then walks over to the fridge. Mary has to bite her tongue to refrain from screaming out "Where's my hug?". She says nothing though, because she figures it would make her sound like she is three again. Oh, what she would give to be the little girl she used to be, playing Candy Land with her older brother. But now, She's an adult woman, with a boyfriend. A screw up, no good adult with a boyfriend, but an adult nonetheless.
Mary gets up with saying a word, and walks upstairs to check on Wilson. At the top of the stairs, she runs into Lucy. The two stare at each other, before walking past. Mary opens the door to Simon's room, and looks in on Wilson. He is fast asleep, and looks so peaceful. She walks in and kisses Wilson's forehead, hoping he would come to. He doesn't, so she leaves.
Mary walks downstairs and outside to the back porch. She sits down, leaning against the pillar. She feels so awful, and begins to sob uncontrollably. More time goes by then she realizes, though, and the back door opens and Matt sits down next to Mary.
"Hey." He says to her.
Quickly, she wipes her eyes. "Hi," she says with a sniffle. "How was your flight?"
"Not bad. What are you doing out here?"
"Nothing, just thinking."
"About what?"
"Everything."
"Like…"
"No offense, but I'm really not in the mood for a lecture."
"OK." He replies. "Then why don't you come inside and say hello to Sarah."
"Is everyone else inside?"
"No, just Sarah and Ruthie."
Mary stands, and so does Matt. The two of them walk inside together. Upon seeing Mary, Sarah greets her with a hug. Sarah's arm pushes up against the cut on Mary's arm, and she winces in pain.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch." She repeats.
Sarah pulls back. "Did I hurt you?" She asks confused.
"Well you kind of touched my arm."
"Yeah, and?"
"Oh, you guys don't know?"
"Know what?" Matt asks.
"About Kevin and-"
"We know that, but what's wrong with your arm?" Matt inquires.
"Oh, its nothing, never mind."
Matt touches Mary's arm where Sarah did before.
"Ow! What did you do that for?" Mary says, stepping away from him.
"Its not nothing. Tell me."
"The bullet went through Wilson's arm and then grazed mine before hitting into the wall."
"Wilson, that's your boyfriend, right?" Sarah asks her.
"Yeah."
"Where is he?"
"He's upstairs taking a nap. He's sleepy from the pain medication they gave him at the hospital."
"Oh." Sarah responds. "Well, when he wakes up I would love to meet him."
"You know what, he's been sleeping for a while. And if I know Wilson, he's probably up by now. Let me go see, I'll be right back." Mary says.