As Maureen stroked his cheek, Mark felt a twinge of guilt as she brushed the newly fallen tear off his face. "Don't cry, I'm sorry, I know you think that I'm going to leave you, but I promise, I won't." Maureen repented. She sat on the couch above him while he sat on the floor in front of the sofa. Maureen started to rub his neck and shoulders as a way to beg for forgiveness. After about half an hour, Maureen, with aching arms and fingers, and Mark, with a loose neck and shoulders, made up and made out once again.
"Mo? Not every night, alright?" Mark glanced at Maureen to check her facial expression. Her face was as easy to read as an open children's book. She was not happy, but agreeing with him. "Okay," she sighed.
"Let's eat! I'm starving!" Mark jumped off the floor and started taking food out of the grocery bags that were still sitting on the table. Maureen said that she wanted pasta and salad. So Mark gave his princess pasta and salad. He taught Maureen how to boil water, how to cook the pasta and figure out when it's done, and how to mix a salad. Maureen set the table as best she could, with the utensils on the wrong side of the plate and the napkin under the wrong silverware. Mark noticed her frustration from his position at the sink and walked over to Maureen.
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Maureen turned her head, pecked Mark lightly on the lips, and said, "How'd I do, baby?" Mark laughed and told her how to change the utensils around so they were in the right spots. He walked back over to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses. Pulling a bottle of red wine out of one of the bags, Maureen squealed and clapped her hands. She loved red wine. Mark poured two glasses. He made sure to monitor both Maureen and the bottle all night, not wanting her to do anything reckless.
The dinner was very enjoyable. The two talked like old friends, gossiping a bit about Roger and Mimi a few weeks ago in the bar. Mimi had had four apple martinis and Roger was freaking out because she was going crazy, falling over every five steps. They talked about Collins' success at NYU, and then Angel came into the conversation.
"Collins really misses her, doesn't he?" Maureen asked Mark. Mark got kind of teary. "Yeah," he said, his voice cracking. "Oh, don't cry. She's in a better place…she wanted to go, don't cry." What Maureen didn't realize was that she was starting to cry herself as she said this. They both had a little sob moment. "She was such a sweetheart," Mark said, sighing and composing himself. Maureen was still crying. She missed Angel so much. She was Maureen's little ray of sunshine whenever things went wrong with Joanne.
The two simultaneously sighed and continued with their meal. When they were done, Mark cleaned up while Maureen went into the bathroom. When she came out. She grabbed Mark's hand. "Let's go for a walk," she said. Mark asked if he could finish cleaning up, and then they could go. "Okay, Pookie, I'll wait." Maureen perched herself on the table and contentedly watched Mark go about cleaning up the dinner dishes.