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Wilson had a knock on his door that Thursday night a little after he got home from work. He opened the door, not knowing who to expect on the other side, and was slightly shocked at who he saw.
"Just me," the construction manager said to Wilson upon seeing his perplexed look.
Wilson snapped out of it. "Can I help you with something?"
"Oh, no. I just wanted to tell you that we had to shut off the water for your street. We're installing new pipes up ahead. So I wouldn't advise you to take a shower with the missus right about now." Wilson didn't know quite how to respond to that. The man peered into Wilson's house. "Where is she, in back cooking dinner?"
"I'm not married."
"Oh, then who was-"
Wilson had had enough. This man was way too pushy for his own good. "Thank you for the information." With that, Wilson shut the door in the man's face. He had had enough.
When Mary came over later, Wilson asked her if she had seen anyone outside when she came in. She told him no, and Wilson's dropped it. Catering to Mary's fears would be the last thing that Wilson would need. Wilson walked into the kitchen and turned on the faucet. The pipes didn't retch or anything; the water came out fine.
"So…" Mary said, tracing her finger across the back of his neck.
"Yes?"
"I'm not going to be able to come over tomorrow night. My dad is doing this thing with Matt's in-laws and he's making all of us go."
"All right."
"All right?" She spun him around. "You're not supposed to say 'all right'. You're supposed to tell me to skip it and come over and see you because you can't bear to spend a night away from me."
He stared at her seriously. "Mary?"
"Yes?"
"Just go to the thing."
She pouted. "But if you don't protest then I have no reason to make it up to you tonight for going tomorrow."
"Oh. Well, in that case, I don't want you to go."
She laughed and he did, too, placing his forehead against hers. He rubbed the back of her neck and he smiled. "I love you."
"Love you, too."
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Mary rode along with Lucy and Kevin to the event that was going on at Rabbi Glass's synagogue that Friday night. After the regular Sabbath services, the Rabbi had partnered with Reverend Camden to have an interfaith shindig to promote unity, since his congregation had recently expressed their distaste for a new wave of anti-Semitism they felt.
"So…" Kevin said.
"How's work going?" Mary asked, trying to make polite conversation.
"Really good. You?"
When Mary married Carlos, she decided that she didn't want to be a flight attendant anymore. She worked for jetBlue part time during the day and at night finished her associate's degree in paralegal studies by scrounging together the credits she had accumulated over the years and taking the additional required courses. When she finally moved back to GlenOak, she finessed her way into a good job as a legal secretary in one of the top law firms in the area. "Great," she answered. "I love it."
"What exactly do you do?" Lucy asked. "I mean, I know what your title is, but what do you do there all day?"
"Mostly I research things that the lawyers don't have time to do. Mortgages, improper arrests, exact wording of tax laws, stuff like that. And I do the regular secretarial stuff, typing and faxing and those sorts of things."
"Sounds fun," Lucy remarked.
"Well, I like it."
They were running out of safe topics of discussion. Luckily, they had arrived at the synagogue. They got out and went inside, taking a seat next to the rest of the family inside. Richard was going to say something, then Eric probably would, too, and then they would eat. After that, they'd be done and could go home. No one really wanted to be there.
Before the speeches started, Lucy leaned over to Mary. "So, are you going to see Wilson tonight?"
"Luce!"
"No, no. You misunderstand. I just wanted to know if you were going there, that's all."
Mary smiled at Lucy. "Sorry. …No, I'm not going over there tonight. I told him that I had to do this and I'll see him tomorrow."
"Couldn't he have come?"
"Ah, the eternal question."
Lucy looked confused. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"First off, I don't even want to be here, so I doubt that he did. Second, that would turn this into an outing and that wouldn't be good. Everyone would be all over Wilson. He's not more important than Jewish/Christian unity, is he?"
Lucy laughed and laughed. "No, I guess not."
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Mary woke up the next morning bright and early. She decided last night as she listened to her father drone on and on that she was going to get all dolled up to go see Wilson the next morning. She'd gotten up early enough so she would be able to shower and do her hair and makeup exactly the way she wanted and be at his house around 9:30.
Mary picked out her clothes and put them on her bed- a pair of tight jeans and a scoop necked red shirt. She showered and as soon as she went out, she got right to work on her hair. She combed the knots out and then whipped out her blow-dryer. With a flat brush, she blew her hair dry and mostly straight. Then, reaching into the cabinet under the sink, Mary pulled out the Velcro curlers. She pinned up every piece of her hair and then went to get dressed. Next came her makeup, in which she accentuated her eyes, and then after a sprits of hairspray her hair came down.
Mary looked in the full length mirror on the back door of the upstairs bathroom. Satisfied with what she saw, she grabbed her purse and walked downstairs. Annie and Ruthie were both in the kitchen.
"Whoa," Ruthie said. "Why are you all dressed up?"
"Better question," Annie said. "Where are you going looking like that at 9:15 in the morning?"
"Wilson's."
"You've been spending an awful lot of time over there," Annie continued.
"Is that a problem?"
"No." Annie sighed, and then smiled at Mary. She was worried about her, but knew that if she showed it Mary would have a fit. "Have a good time."
Mary loved when she drove to Wilson's house at odd hours. Like now, at 9:30 in the morning on a Saturday. There was no traffic on the road and it gave her time to think. As much as Mary hated feeling lonely, she cherished her alone time just as much, if not more, than the next person.
The closer and closer Mary got to Wilson's house, though, the more that she couldn't focus her thoughts. Her stomach jumped to her throat and her heart started pounding. She had no idea why, but she was getting very scared. Mary had freaked herself out so bad that she went through the construction entrance to the development, something she had stopped doing, just because it was the quickest route to Wilson. She needed to see him.
When Mary turned onto Wilson's street, she saw the same car that she had seen before when she was babysitting Billy. As soon as she pulled into Wilson's driveway, the car drove off. Mary shuddered and fumbled with her purse as she looked for the key to Wilson's house. Eventually she found it and went inside.
Mary rested her purse on a nearby table and called out Wilson's name. Usually he was up and downstairs now, but she did not see him. He always heard her come in and would greet her at the door. Maybe he was busy?
Mary walked into the kitchen and saw no sign of him or Billy. That was odd; both were early risers. She continued to go through the house as she contemplated whether or not she should go upstairs and see about him. She walked past the living room but stopped. The house was too quiet. Something was wrong.
Resisting her urge to go directly up to Wilson's room and see if he was there, she turned to the living room. There, square in the middle of the crisp white carpet, was something Mary never had expected to see in her lifetime. A few feet in front of her were two giant freezer bags zipped up tight. Inside were bloody strips of human flesh. Next to each of the bags was a scalp of hair- one straight and light brown, the other black and wavy.
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A/N: This was Ridiculous Event #1. It was completely unexpected, completely stupid, and completely random. I promise there is a point to this. Why else would I do this? I heart him. Anyway, the point isn't that great, but it exists. Chapter 14 that will show up, maybe 15. I just finished 13 tonight.
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I hope you're all not too lost. Review if you want help.
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