Chapter Fourteen-Surprises & Revelations

It was the next day and Bobby and the women were having a quiet day at their apartment. Mary was working on a computer game at her desk, Terra was leafing through art books for inspiration for her jewelry collection, and Stacee was lounging on the couch, absentmindedly staring at the television screen as she flipped from one uninspiring channel to the next. She decided to take the day off of work to enjoy some much needed R&R, since her impending divorce and Mike's investigation had really taken a toll on her.

Bobby was leafing through a book, soaking in the rare silence of the place when the sound of the front door opening jolted everyone out of their respective activities. Everyone held their breaths, anticipation mounting as various worst case scenerios and solutions flashed through everyone's heads. An audible, unanimous exhale of relief permeated the room when Beth presented herself, holding a rather large stack of mail in her hands. She walked around the room, relishing her role of unofficial mail lady as she presented the ladies with their envelopes, reading material, and packages.

Bobby watched as the women went through the items, noticing a smile slowly spreading across Mary's face as she held one particular envelope. She tore it open and read the multi-page note, her lazer quick eyes devouring the mini novel in record speed. When she finished, she looked up to see eight curious eyes upon her, silently willing her to share the contents of her note. With a twinkle in her eyes as well as a full fledged smile, she was all too happy to comply.

"This letter is from Mimi," she said, holding it up slightly before handing it to Beth for inspection. "she and the girls are doing well, but that isn't the best part. It turns out..."

"Maegan and the girls are moving to New York!" exclaimed Terra, who was reading over Beth's shoulder.

Stacee let out a happy squeel and scurried over towards the ladies so she could read the letter as well. They were laughing and happily discussing this person about whom Bobby knew nothing. They prattled on for a while, seemingly forgetting that he was even in the room. When they eventually came up for air, Mary looked over at Bobby, who was waiting to be filled in. Being out of the loop was something this genius detective wasn't used to.

"Maegan is my cousin on my mother's side of the family," Mary explained. "she's the only child of my late Aunt Maria."

"Maria is Carolyn's sister?" Bobby asked, frowning thoughtfully because until now he had never heard of Maria or Maegan.

Terra, Stacee, and Beth exited the room, wanting to continue with their conversation, as well as give Mary and her inquisitive detective some privacy. As they walked away, Mary continued speaking. She preferred to keep her family's history to herself, since it took a while to explain, and also, she believed some things should be left private.

"No, she's wasn't. She..."

Bobby remained silent as Mary spoke. "Carolyn isn't my biological mother-she is my father's second wife and Allie is her daughter from her first marriage. Her first husband, Joe, died of a brain hemorrhage shortly before Allie was born. My biological mother, Meredith...passed away when I was born. There were complications during my birth and she...she didn't make it. I almost didn't either..."

Mary cleared her throat and continued. "Meredith had a younger sister, Maria, and they were extremely close. They were born less than a year apart and were often mistaken for twins. Maria was dispondent after Meredith's death. She...she commited suicide on my first birthday, the anniversary of Meredith's death. Daddy would never tell me the details, but I was eventually able to piece together the details.

Maria and her parents were in town for my birthday party and were staying with Daddy and me. After the party, she went up to her room, stating she was tired and wanted to turn in early. The next morning her mother knocked on her door, but there was no answer. After a few attempts, Daddy unlocked the door and they found her. She...overdosed on prescription pills.

She left a note stating that she couldn't go on without Meredith and that my party was a culmination of a year's worth of agony. She said my party was one of many things she had to endure without her and she couldn't take it anymore. After she died, she was creamated and her ashes were placed in an urn that her parents held onto. After they died, the urn was turned over to Daddy and her urn was placed next to Meredith's. They are in a china cabinet in Daddy and Carolyn's study."

"What about Maegan? When was she born? What happened to her after Maria's death?" Bobby asked.

"Maegan was born in November, almost nine months after my birth. Daddy thinks she would have killed herself sooner, but she tried to hold on for her baby's sake. After Maria's death, Maegan lived primarily with Grandma and Grandpa since her father was frequently out of town on business. Frederick worked as a financial advisor for an international business, so he was often out of the country for weeks or months at a time. Maegan also spent time with Daddy and me, in part because as time progressed, it became more difficult for Grandma and Grandpa to act as her sole caregivers.

Shortly before Maegan's sixth birthday, Grandpa had a stroke and Grandma ended up caring for him until his death eighteen months later. Since caring for Grandpa took up so much of Grandma's time and her own health was declining, she couldn't also care for Maegan as they had in the past. As a result, Maegan was left with Daddy when Frederick was out of town. Daddy would take us to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Arizona and even arranged for nurses to help care for them. Grandpa passed away in April of 1991 following a heart attack and Grandma died in June of that year. Grandma had a weak heart as well, having suffered two heart attacks within a five year span.

Maegan spent most of her time with Daddy and me and although Frederick sent child support, he saw little of her. At most, he would see her three months out of the entire year and other forms of communication were just as sparse. When Maegan was nine, Frederick was promoted to vice president of the company and transferred to its London office. Shortly thereafter he married an older, wealthy aristrocrat and sent for Maegan. Although he and his new bride were hardly parenting material, Frederick felt obligated to merge Maegan into his new family.

Maegan lived with Frederick and Margarette for a few months, but she was unhappy. She had difficulty adjusting to living in a new country with parents who had no idea how to care for a young child. She came to visit Daddy and me for Christmas that year and when Daddy saw how miserable Maegan was, he asked Frederick if she could stay with us permanently. Frederick agreed and went so far as to allow Daddy to adopt her. The adoption was finalized in February and after Daddy and Carolyn's marriage four months later, she adopted Maegan and me and Daddy adopted Allie."

"Where is Maegan now? I have never heard of her until now."

"Maegan has a bit of wanderlust in her, so the year after graduating high school, she spent time traveling. She spent a few weeks traveling through the states and spent the rest of the year backpacking through Europe. It took her a while to sell the idea to Daddy, but thankfully she had an ally in Mom. After her year of adventure, she moved to Arizona to attend college and it was in her junior year she met Ali. He was a Biology major and they dated for a few months until she unexpectedly became pregnant.

As fond of Maegan as he was, Ali came from a traditional Muslim family and his parents had never approved of the relationship. He feared if they found out about the baby, they would disown him and refuse to pay for his education. They parted company and six months later Raziah was born. A few months later Maegan graduated and spent the next years moving around. She works as a freelance photographer and writer, so she doesn't have to stay in one place too long.

In 2008, she was living in New Mexico when she met Erik. They had an on-off again relationship, but when she became pregnant again, the relationship was officially off. Maegan had had enough of his immaturity and Erik had no desire to become a father. Malia was born on January 8, 2010 and shortly thereafter Maegan resumed her gypsy lifestyle. In her letter, she said she felt it was time to settle down and provide a more structured life for her girls. Raz is starting kindergarten this year and Maegan always said once her girls started attending school full time she would settle down. She said she wants to raise them around family so they can feel a sense of security and belonging."

"I think that is a wise decision," Bobby said. "when will she and the girls be here?"

"She said a few days, a week at the most. They can stay here with us until they find a place of their own."

"Are Beth, Terra, and Stacee aware of your decision?"

"Not yet, but I am certain they will be as excited as I. The five of us have always been so close and it'll be nice to have the gang together again, along with two honoraree members."

Bobby merely nodded and the girls re-entered the room. This time, Beth was reading what appeared to be an invitation. It was cream colored with silver Italicized print. When she finished reading it, she looked up at Mary.

"So Mare, are you going?" she asked, holding up the invitation and waving it slightly.

"Going where?" Mary asked.

"You haven't opened your invitation yet?"

"My clear and apparent confusion should be an answer to your question."

Beth signed and handed Mary her already opened invitation. Mary scanned it quickly and frowned as she absorbed its contents.

Saint Mary Catholic School

Class of 2001

You are invited to celebrate with all the familiar faces that you have missed over the past ten years. Come and join us as we renew friendships, reminisce about days gone by, and share in life experiences past and present.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Plaza Hotel

Fifth Avenue at Central Park, South New York, NY

Appetizers at 4:30 P.M.

Dinner Served Promptly at 6:00 P.M.

Mary read the rest of the invitation, frowning as she realized that this wasn't going to be a simple, one evening ordeal. Although everyone was meeting at the Plaza on the twenty-seventh, they would only be staying there for one night. The following morning at eight o'clock everyone would load into a bus and head down to Atlantic City for ten consequitve days of gambling and debotchery before heading home sometime on August seventh. Mary rolled her eyes and dismissively tossed the invitation onto the coffee table, giving it the same regard one would a used tissue.

"Oh c'mon girl, you have to come with us!" Beth insisted, looking genuinely excited. "this is our ten year reunion! We get to see people we haven't seen in over ten years!"

"Embeth, has it ever occured to you that I haven't spoken to those people for a reason?" Mary asked. "I know you are Miss Congeniality and love the planet, but I would rather have my face slammed through a window again than make small talk with people I don't remember or care about."

"But we're going to Atlantic City for ten days!" Beth persisted. "doesn't that sound like fun? We can take walks on the board walk, go to the beach, hit the slot machines..."

"Ohh, just what I want-to spend ten days making forced small talk with total strangers while sweating to death in the hot summer heat. And what's so special about Atlantic City? The only reason that is the reunion destination is because the committee was too cheap to spring for Vegas. I don't understand why you're salivating over a place that's only two and a half hours away. And as far as riding all that way in a bus, I wouldn't be caught dead in a tourist bus."

Beth looked at Mary, giving her an expression that was akin to a puppy being kicked. While she looked dejected, Terra took another approach.

"Mary, you are approaching this at the wrong angle. Reunions aren't so much about reconnecting with old friends as they are about sticking it to your rivals."

Bobby looked at her with eyebrows raised, but Terra continued speaking. "I'm going so I can show all those lying, conniving bitches that I am prettier, smarter, thinner, and more successful. I also want to show all the guys what they missed out on."

"Terra, you told me you're bringing a date with you: why would you throw yourself at other men if you have one with you? Isn't that kind of...tacky?" Beth asked, trying to word her question as gently as possible.

"It isn't tacky, it's enterprising," Terra insisted. "there is nothing wrong with keeping my options open. Besides, it isn't as if I am in a serious relationship with my date: I need an escort and he needs time away from work."

"If an escort is all you need, that's what internet ads are for," Mary said.

Terra rolled her eyes and Stacee decided to contribute to the conversation. "Who are you taking?"

"Mike," she replied.

"As in the owner of Logan's?" Mary asked, referring to the bar the ladies sometimes frequent.

"The one and only," Terra replied, smiling as she thought of her date. Although they only went to Logan's sporatically as a group, she went much more often alone. The bar wasn't far from her store and she enjoyed the casual, down home atmosphere that was usually lacking in her other hangouts.

"Mike Logan is sooo cute," Beth said with a dreamy look in her eyes. "tall, dark, handsome, what's not to like?"

The girls nodded in agreement and Bobby spoke. "Mike Logan...is he a former detective?"

Terra nodded. "He worked for the police force for twenty-five years, but quit because he couldn't handle the corruption anymore. He opened the bar not long after retiring. Did you used to work together?"

"We worked a few cases together, but weren't partners. Does he talk about his time on the force?"

"Not really. When I first met him I used to ask questions, but he said he would rather not think about that time in his life. And to be honest, I would rather not know too many of the details. I'm grateful for law enforcement, but I don't think I could stomach of the things you encounter on a daily basis. I would probably have nightmares everyday."

"There are men and women who have been on the force for years and they still have nightmares," Bobby replies. "longevity doesn't equate apathy."

"So, Stacee, are you coming to the reunion?" Terra asked.

Stacee nodded. "I think it'll be a nice distraction from everything that's happening. I wish you would go, Mary."

"Keeping wishing Stace, but my mind is made up. I am already in contact with everyone I care about."

"Mary, you have to talk to us because we're family and we know where you live," Terra replied.

"Exactly," Mary replied.

The girls spent the rest of the day going through their mail and discussing the arrival of Maegan, Raziah, and Malia. Bobby contributed to the conversation as well, but most of his focus was placed observing Mary. If she was going to be alone for the next few days, he was going to have to do everthing he could to keep her occupied and upbeat.