In 1971 Nicky and Nancy welcomed a second daughter Natasha Daisy Mason. In 1972, they welcomed a son, Nicholas Renzi Mason Jr. Their little family was complete. However, things at Nicky's parents' house were about to get really bad.
When Perry arrived home, he heard his wife and eldest daughter fighting. "You're just overreacting!" Maureen yelled.
"Overreacting? My daughter walks downstairs dressed like a prostitute and says she's going to a party. How else am I supposed to react?"
Perry walked into the kitchen, "what's going on?"
"Look at your daughter."
Perry did, "I really wish I hadn't."
"What? Mom bought the skirt."
"And you cut most of it off. Just like the neckline of that shirt," Della explained.
"Maureen, you can't go out in that," Perry said.
"Why not?"
"Because I said so!" Della yelled.
"I hate you!" Maureen ran upstairs and slammed the door.
Della sighed, "yeah, I hate you too."
"Della?"
"What, Perry? I'm exhausted from fighting with her all the time."
Perry walked over to his wife, "I think you're coming down with something. You're awfully pale." He placed a hand on her forehead, "you feel warm."
"I should go make sure that Maureen is actually in her room."
"I can do that."
"Chances are she snuck out again."
"If she did, you're not waiting up for her this time. I am," Perry said as he walked upstairs. Maureen had snuck out again. After dinner, Perry sent Della to bed and waited up for their daughter. When Maureen climbed back through her bedroom window, she was surprised to see her father.
"What are you doing in here?
"I was just about to ask what you were doing out there?"
"Usually mom's the one standing guard."
"Your mother is coming down with something so I told her I'd wait for you."
"Are you going to yell at me?"
"No, I don't want to wake anyone up. I would like to know what has gotten into you lately. Why have you been giving your mother such a hard time?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
"It's hard being the daughter of the perfect Mason couple. Everyone expects me to be like you and mom. Especially like mom."
"There's nothing wrong with being like your mother."
"There is when you're fifteen. I just want to be able to find myself. I want to figure out what clothes I like, what I like to do, and who I am."
"So when your mother tells you there's something wrong with what you've chosen, you take it personally?"
"Yes," Maureen said.
"Maureen, the way you were dressed when I got home was unacceptable."
"I know."
"Where did you go after you snuck out?"
"I took some of my allowance and went to get something to eat. I never really go anywhere."
"Get yourself to bed and get some sleep."
"Yes, daddy."
Perry kissed his daughter's cheek, "I love you, little girl."
"I love you too."
The next day was Saturday, so the entire family was home. Della was working on lunch while Perry was outside with the boys. Vivian, Margaret, and Violet were at the kitchen table when Maureen hesitantly walked in. "Uh-oh," Vivian said, "we'd better get out of harms way."
Della turned and the three girls left, "do you need something?"
"No," Maureen said. Della went back to what she was doing. Maureen put her head down and left the kitchen. She joined her sisters in the living room.
"What happened?" Vivian asked.
"Nothing," Maureen said, "she just ignored me."
The girls heard something crash in the kitchen. They all went to see what it was and found a dish in pieces on the floor. Della was bent over the counter, holding her head. "One of you get daddy," Vivian said as she went to her mother. "Mom, are you alright?"
"Huh?" Della looked up and saw the worried look on her daughter.
Perry and the boys rushed into the house, "what's wrong?"
"I just got a little dizzy," Della said, "that's all." She began to cough and Perry gave her some water.
"Why don't you sit down and I'll finish?"
"No, you go spend time with the boys."
"They can help."
"Alright," Della conceeded.
"Do you need me to help you?"
"I should be fine."
"Vivi, stay with her," Perry said. Vivian took her mother's arm and the two slowly walked to the living room.
"Daddy!" Vivian yelled.
Perry ran to the living room and found his wife on her hands and knees on the floor, "Della!"
"I'm fine," she croaked out.
"I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No, Perry, I just need to lie down."
"Della..."
"If I still feel like this after I lie down for a bit, then you can take me."
Perry sighed before helping his wife to lie down on the couch.
The next day, Della appeared to be better. Maureen walked downstairs in a tube top and mini skirt, "I'm going to the mall."
Della looked at her daughter, "not in that you aren't."
"Mom, it's fine."
"No, it's not. I don't want you going out dressed like that."
"Like what?"
Perry walked downstairs with the other children, "what's going on?"
"I give up," Della said, "I can't do this anymore."
"What?" Maureen asked.
"I give up on you. You're never going to listen to me. You're always going to argue and do whatever you want. I'm done," Della went upstairs to the master bedroom. Perry followed her. He found her lying face down on their bed, crying. He sat there, holding his wife, comforting her.
Over the next two weeks, Della and Maureen coexisted together, but didn't really speak to one another. Maureen stayed in her room for the most part. So Della was surprised when Maureen showed up at the office, "don't tell me you need a lawyer."
"Very funny, mother," Maureen said, "is daddy busy?"
"Usually, but I'm sure he won't mind if you go in." A few minutes later, Della walked into her husband's office where he was laughing with their daughter. She couldn't remember the last time Maureen appeared to enjoy her presence. "Perry," Della said in a low voice before letting out a slight cough, "you need to go over these contracts."
Perry noticed how much his wife was shaking, "hey, what's wrong?" He stood and helped his wife to sit in his chair.
"Nothing," she said.
"I'm calling your doctor."
"Perry," she coughed again, "I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"Perry, we have to be in court soon."
"I don't care."
"I'm not arguing with you about this."
Just then, the phone rang. When Perry hung up, he looked at his wife, "you don't have to argue. Court has been postponed. The judge has the flu." Perry looked at his daughter, "Maureen, I'd like you to do me a favor. I'd like you to help your mother out in the office until she feels better."
"Doing what?"
"Whatever she needs."
"Perry, she doesn't have to help me," Della said knowing her daughter wouldn't be happy about it.
"Maybe after helping you, she'll change her attitude towards you. Maureen, you start tomorrow."
"Yes, daddy," Maureen said.
