A few days after her nighttime escapade, Mary had an appointment with Dr. George. When she arrived and was taken into the office, he told her that he would like to run some tests. Mary immediately got scared, and asked if he thought something was wrong, but he told her that there was no reason to be alarmed. This was just a helpful precaution that would give them more insight as to what they were dealing with. That calmed Mary's nerves, but when a bunch of machines were brought in and about every test known to man was performed, she quickly got worried again. It was very possible that George knew more than he was letting on.
George did know more than he was telling, but not about her body or her condition. That was the purpose of these tests, to provide them with some answers. Mary had been undergoing treatment for quiet some time now, and he wanted to see if she was making any progress or improvement. From what he could tell, she had hit a plateau. It was a little early for her to hit a plateau in treatment, but all that could have meant was that they needed to go about this differently or try something else. He felt for her, though, and could understand her anxiety. No one liked tests, whether academic or medical. SAT's and cancer tests could be considered pretty comparable on the nervousness front. George said that when the results came in, he would call her if anything alarmed him even the slightest bit. He said that that would be in about two to four days, depending on how busy the lab was.
After everything was said and done Mary left for home. At the house, along with the questions Mary knew that they thought something was wrong with her- that she was under some sort of emotional stress. She was becoming increasing docile and always kept to herself. Annie and Lucy were the most disturbed by this, and started to make frequent efforts to reach out and comfort her. All they wanted was to know what was going on, or at the very least get a peak inside of Mary's obviously complex world. They also noticed that Mary was still making her nighttime phone calls from her car. Whoever she was talking to had to be someone special, and had to be a guy.
Personally, Mary was getting pretty sick of it all. She just wanted to be normal. She didn't like being sick, or being looked upon with extreme sympathy by all the Camdens. What she really needed was a vacation; even a pseudo vacation. That was about the only thing she was sure of in her life. Everything else was a blur.
Three days later, when Mary was sitting in the kitchen with Lucy in the middle of the afternoon, her cell phone rang. Mary answered it, and her heart began to race when she heard what they person said on the other end.
"Can I speak with Mary Camden?"
"This is she," Mary said, it not registering who it could be on the other end.
"I'm calling from Dr. West's office."
Mary's head was spinning. First off, it wasn't George or Rosa, and that really frightened her. Second, she didn't know whether or not to make a big deal out of this or not. After all, Lucy was sitting two feet in front of her. In the end, she decided to step into the hallway that connected to kitchen to the foyer. "Yes?"
"Dr. West would like you to come to his office."
A lump formed in Mary's throat. "R-right now?"
"Yes."
"Is there something wrong?"
"I am sorry Miss, I don't have any of that information. I was just instructed to call you."
This woman was really starting to annoy Mary. What did she mean she had no information? "OK, I'll be there in ten minutes. Thank you." Mary turned off her phone and took a deep breath, trying to convince herself that everything would be all right. She walked back into the kitchen and out the back door, grabbing her purse from the counter.
"Mary? Is everything OK?" Lucy called out as she ran after her sister.
Mary turned toward Lucy and forced out a very weak smile. "Everything's fine. I have to go somewhere. And I might not be home for dinner. So if I'm not home by seven or something, don't wait up."
Mary got into her car, hands trembling as they turned the key in the ignition. Her mind wandered as she drove down the streets of GlenOak to the hospital, thinking about every conceivable thing that could be wrong with her. She knew that it had to be bad news, because George wouldn't have had her called down if everything was how it expected it to be. It had to be, well, unexpected- something surprising and alarming to a doctor. Maybe she was closer to death's door than she ever imagined, or even closer than he imagined.
As soon as Mary entered the office waiting room, she found the only one who would be doing any waiting today was George on her. He was waiting for her when she walked in. Her heart stopped, just for a second, and she couldn't move another step. The fear had paralyzed her beyond what she ever could have thought it would.
George approached her once he realized she wasn't planning on moving forward. "I didn't mean to scare you all that much. It's just that I didn't have any appointments now, and I thought it would be advantageous to you if we talked now rather than later." She nodded, still too freaked out to say anything.
Dr. George ushered her into the "discussion" room and flipped through Mary's chart as they both sat down. Mary attempted to cross her legs, but quickly uncrossed them due to a sharp pain. George noticed Mary's actions and smiled slightly. "Would you like an explanation for that?"
"That depends," she answered. "Am I going to like the explanation?"
George's tone turned serious very fast. "It seems that you have a pea sized tumor. Now, that might not seem very big, but keep in mind that your cervix isn't that big, either." Mary gulped hard. "It's only about the size of your pinky, or even half that." George held out his finger to show her. "And a pea, compared to that, is pretty big."
"So what are you going to do about that?"
"I want to do surgery, Friday afternoon, to remove it. Friday at 3:30 is the next available time in the OR, and this should be done as soon as possible. You'd have it done Friday, stay overnight, and then depending how you are you'll be released either Saturday morning or Saturday afternoon. Is that all right with you?"
"If that's how we have to do it," she told him, "then it's fine." She waited for a second as she sensed that Dr. George had something else he wanted to tell her regarding the tests. "That's not everything, is it?"
George shook his head. "No, it isn't. Your cancer's progressed despite the radiation we've been doing. It went from Stage I to Stage II. I'm sorry."
"Is that really bad or something?"
"Well…it did happen kind of quickly," he said sincerely. "What that means to you is that we'll have to be tougher with the treatments, that's all. You don't want it progressing too much, especially not at that rate. I'm not too sure what we're going to do just yet, though. I'll think about it, look into some other options for you. But right now, all we're going to focus on is the surgery. The rest of that will come after."
"What other options are there? Like chemo?"
"Possibly, but chemotherapy is severe- very severe for someone of your age. The area of the cancer…chemo can really mess things up for you, for your future. My first priority is to keep you healthy, but with radiation you still have a possibility, a good possibility, of being able to conceive a child. With chemo, that possibility diminishes to almost nothing. I don't want to have to do that to you if it's not necessary."
Mary could tell that George was very passionate about what his line of work. He wasn't speaking in complete sentences, not only to make things sound less serious than they actually were, but because his brain was moving faster than his mouth could spit out the words. He was a very knowledgeable and intelligent man. "So, am I still all right, or should I be really worried now?" Usually, Mary stayed pretty silent, but today she was asking a lot of questions, primarily because of her considerable concern.
He flashed Mary a smile. "You're still fine, but you're lucky we did the tests when we did- nip it in the bud so to speak." He shifted in his seat. "So, Friday at 3:30, I can take the timeslot then?" She nodded. "Good. And don't start getting worked up over this; this surgery isn't that big of a deal. But, if you start becoming stressed or something, or you have any questions, you know that you can call me. I'll be here for you if you need me."
Mary smiled widely as she stood up and slowly crept toward the door. George always made her brought Wilson to mind. Come to think of it, though, she was always thinking of Wilson. "Sometimes you and Wilson can be so alike you scare me."
"Why, what did I do?" he asked her.
"Nothing. It's just that Wilson tells me all the time that if I need him I can call him. It's sweet, on his part and yours. But then again, I bet you tell that to all your patients."
"Nope," he said as he walked her to the door, "just the ones I really, really like. Those special, one of a kind women who I can take home to meet Mom."
She laughed hardily. "Too late, I've already met your mother." She looked back at him then walked out the door, the intensity of what she would have to do prior to their next meeting hitting her full force. "See you Friday," she said with tears in her eyes, and left the office.
***
When Wilson stopped home that night to change out of his suit before picking up Billy at his mother's, he got a little more than he bargained for. In his quest for comfort, he became face to face with a situation that would forever change his life. For on his front steps, Mary sat waiting for him to come home. Her face was tear stricken, her eyes were closed, and she looked so lost and afraid. He walked up his steps and sat down next to her. She knew that he was there, but didn't acknowledge his presence for several minutes. After a little while, once she was good and ready, she turned to him and smiled.
"So?" he finally asked her.
"Help."
It was continually getting dark out, and Wilson wondered whether or not he should bring her inside before he started a conversation with her. Mary looked so flustered, though, that he was afraid to move her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing really. I mean, it's serious, but not that serious I guess. Maybe I am just overreacting to everything."
Wilson looked at Mary sympathetically. "Let me be the judge of that."
She sighed. She had waited for him in front of his apartment for hours with every intention of telling him what was going on, but now that she saw him it almost felt as if she was taking advantage of his kindness. He couldn't really help her all that much, except lend his ears. "George ran some tests a couple of days ago, and he got them back today and called me in. I have a huge tumor and I have to have surgery to remove it." The playfulness drained from Wilson's face immediately. "The surgery itself isn't that big of a deal, or so your brother tells me, but the bad part is I have to stay overnight. How am I going to be able to stay out all night?"
Wilson genuinely pondered her question. "What would happen if you stayed out all night?"
"My parents- the whole family would flip out. They already think something is wrong, and then if I just don't come home one night they will really start asking questions."
"Mary," Wilson said almost mockingly, "you're twenty two. Why can't you stay out all night?"
"Matt stayed out all night when he got engaged to Sarah and they still bring it up at least once a week."
"Oh." For the most part, Wilson understood about Mary's parents. Granted, she could easily solve everything by just telling her family that she has cancer, but since she won't he can see how she would have a legitimate problem on her hands. Still, he figured it was worth another try to convince her into coming clean. "Are you sure you just don't want to tell them? Get everything out in the open?"
A single tear rolled down Mary's cheek. "I can't. I'm not strong enough to tell them and they aren't strong enough to deal with it." Mary closed her eyes as the sadness and stress shook her. Everything was getting so difficult and she didn't know how long she could keep it up for.
"You know," Wilson said quietly, "you're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for, and your family probably is, too."
Mary turned her body fully to face him. "You don't get it. You don't understand." Her words came out angry, but Wilson knew what was happening. Things were coming to a head. Mary was frustrated, tired, and more stressed than she ever should be. She turned her body so that she was facing the street and away from him, and she started to cry her eyes out once more. She didn't have any more energy to be strong, and it felt so wrong to cry in front of him. However, Mary felt no shame in doing it.
Wilson could feel her pain and it was hurting him probably not even half of what it was doing to her, but it was enough. As he let himself emotionally reach out to her, for the first time he allowed himself to physically reach out to her as well. A small step for Wilson, but a giant leap in the right direction. He wrapped his arm around Mary's shoulders and pulled her into him. She leaned her head against him and continued to sob, making Wilson feel better and worse at the same time.
As Mary continued letting out her pent up emotions, Wilson's mind mulled over Mary's situation. There certainly was no easy answer, but he felt that with time he could probably come up with something to help her. He had to; he was the only person she was allowing to get close enough to help her. If he didn't figure out something, all hope could be lost.
After what seemed like an eternity for Mary, she wiped her eyes and pulled herself away from Wilson's reassuring grasp. She looked him in the eyes and he stared back at her; they were both sad. Mary smiled nervously, wanting to break free from the "damsel in distress" image Wilson must have had of her at that moment.
"Look," he said to her, "I'll think about your situation. I'm going to try really hard to come up with something, OK?"
She sniveled. "All right. Thanks Wilson- thanks for listening and thanks for just being here for me. You really are a big help."
"Glad to be of service," he said with a smile. "Speaking of which, when is your surgery on Friday?" Mary told him 3:30. "Are you going to go all by yourself?" She nodded. "That's no fun. I'll see if I can get off work early and I'll go with you, just so you don't have to be alone."
"Oh, you don't have to-"
"I insist. God forbid something happens to you, or you get lonely, or bored, or anything. I want to be there for you."
Mary truthfully smiled for the first time since she left George's office over three hours ago. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, or your sympathy, but thanks. I owe you." Also, she noticed that Wilson knew she didn't like being, or feeling, alone. It made her feel good to know that he paid attention to her when she spoke; he even listened when she wasn't saying anything at all.
"The only thing you owe me is a few more smiles every now and then."
She grinned purposefully, showing off as much of her pearly whites as she possibly could. "I think I can do that."
***
Early the next morning, around 9:30, Mary's cell phone rang. It wasn't really all that early, but it was early enough for Mary who was still sleeping. She absolutely hated when people interrupted her sleep.
"Hello?" she said angrily and groggily.
"I have a solution to you problem." Mary knew that it was Wilson. She would have said his name aloud, but she was at home. If anyone heard her say his name, she would be done for. "I can't talk now because I am at work, but can you meet me at the promenade at noon?"
"What time is it now?" she asked leaning her head against her pillow once more.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you up. It's 9:30. Can you meet me?"
"OK, great. Go back to sleep. Bye."
Wilson hung up his phone and Mary did the same with her. She rolled over in her bed and pulled her comforter up to her ears as she rolled onto her side. After the conversation finally registered in her mind, she smiled. Mary knew that, no matter what, she could always count on Wilson. He was undoubtedly a very good friend to have.
As she drifted back off to sleep, Mary thought about him. Everything about him was so great. The way he helped her, his smile, his eyes, and the way he smelled. She sighed happily, and a few seconds later her eyes sprang open. What was she doing? She had promised herself when they began spending time together that she wouldn't let this relationship progress anywhere beyond friends. Now she was having feelings that she kept telling herself she wasn't allowed to have.
While Mary reprimanded herself, she thought over what would happen if she really were falling for him all over again. What was the worst that could happen? But she couldn't be, because she knew that he definitely wasn't, and she couldn't possibly open herself up right now to that kind of rejection. It was too painful to even think about.
Mary pulled herself out of bed at 11:00, took a shower and got ready to meet Wilson for noon at the promenade. She felt honored that he was meeting her on his lunch break. She pulled into the parking lot at five to twelve, and knowing that Wilson is always early, got out of the car to look for him. Sure enough, she found him wondering around waiting for her. He smiled when he saw her, and she smiled back at him on instinct. They hugged hello, like they often did, but this time the hug lingered longer than it usually did. It seemed as if neither one of them wanted to let go.
"So," she said once they reluctantly pulled away, "what is this plan you have for me?"
"Well, the only way that you're going to be able to stay out all night is if you're not living under their roof, right? That way, no one will know."
Mary sighed disappointedly. "I thought of that, but I don't have the money to move out. I'm making next to nothing."
"Not to be rude, but I figured that. So, there's another step to that plan." He paused for a second, and Mary wondered why that was. Grudgingly, he began to speak again. "You can move in with me."
Mary laughed loudly, so loudly in fact that people nearby stared at her. "You're crazy!"
"Why? I don't see anything crazy about it. You need a place to stay, you don't really have any money, and I know that you don't like being alone. The only thing I would ask from you is money for the food you eat. Everything else I'll take care of."
Mary cocked her head. "You're serious, aren't you?"
"Very serious. I don't know what else you can do." He smiled at her. "Besides, I think it might be fun." His smile melted away any apprehension she might have had. "So, what do you say?"
"Are you absolutely sure?" she asked. "Because if you aren't, I'm sure I could come up with something else. I don't want to do this if you don't want me to."
"I want you to," he said slowly.
"Then I say…OK," she responded enthusiastically. She realized that this would only magnify any problems she was having just being Wilson's friend, but it also made her think that she wasn't alone in her troubles. Maybe he was battling the same demons.
"Great. Today's Wednesday, so you can move in today, or tomorrow, or even Friday; it's up to you. If you come by tonight, I'll give you a key and so you could move in while I'm at work if you wanted to."
Mary had a lot of questions, but didn't ask any of them right now. There was no reason to spoil her fairytale moment. "Sounds fine to me. And thank you Wilson. I…I…I…" Mary stammered for a way to finish her sentence but found none.
Wilson laughed at her floundering. "You're welcome. I've got to get back to work, though, so I'll see you later."
Mary shook her head, reality coming back into focus. She slipped off for a second in a reverie about what her and Wilson living together would be like. "OK. Bye Wilson, and thanks again."
***
Thursday, Mary arrived back home from work and entered the kitchen. Annie smiled when she saw her daughter. She hadn't been able to catch up with Mary for a few days now; either Mary was sleeping, working, or mysteriously sneaking out of the house. Annie decided now was the time to say something to Mary about not seeing her anymore.
"You know," she started, "I'm really glad you're living here Mary, but I still don't think I see enough of you. You're life is still so…mysterious to me. You're my baby and I feel left out of your life, and I think everyone does, too. If you weren't living in this house, we wouldn't ever see you at all."
"Speaking of living in this house…" Mary said to her mother with a disconcerting expression on her face.
"Oh, Mary," Annie said, instantaneously figuring out what her daughter was going to say to her.
"I'm moving out. I love you all, and I'm very grateful that you still let me come back home if I want to, but I need to be out on my own again. Don't worry; I'm staying in GlenOak, just not in this house."
Annie hugged Mary tightly. Once again, Mary was slipping out of her fingers. Ever since Mary wrecked the school gym back in her senior year of high school, she couldn't get a good grasp on Mary. Every time she reached out for her, it seemed that she took off unexpectedly. Tears welled up in Annie's eyes as she held Mary, but she refused to let them fall. Her emotions were not allowed to get the best of her now.
"Is that OK?"
"If that's what you really want to do, then it's fine with me. But promise me that you won't just fade into oblivion; you'll still come around here every so often?"
Now tears welled up in Mary's eyes. "I promise." If only her parent's knew who she was moving in with, how she ran into him again, why they had gotten so close, and everything else that was going on in her life right now. It would blow their minds. Who knew that cancer, a malfunction on the cellular level, could mold and transform everything in her life so much? Her parents did, and that was one of the reasons she was so afraid to tell them. Revenge may be ugly, but fear is dreadful. Excitement, however, is much better. So is anticipation.
A/N: Yeah, I know I promised a "confession", but this was already 8 pages in Word, so I figured I better stop before I completely loose your interest. You will all just have to wait until next chapter, which I promise will be much better plot-wise than this one. A lot of stuff happened in this chapter, mostly because this is about 4 times longer than my average chapter size. I don't necessarily like it, especially the last paragraph, but I had to set all of this up so that the rest of the story would work.
Please review to congratulate me on TEN whole chapters of Mary and Wilson just being friends. I didn't think it was possible. WOO HOO!