Shadows in the Dark

Chapter 13

Wendy still hadn't told her mum she left Harry. Her mum would be devastated, because she thought Harry was perfect. Why did she even agree to come to America with him? Even when she hated him, she loved him. Just as she couldn't forget him looking down the dress or laughing with the other one, she remembered how he held her as she mourned her empty womb. It was hard to hate every day and some days she gave herself a holiday and didn't.

Usually once a week, she'd drive back to her apartment between shifts when she knew Harry was at the bank. She'd ring her mum and pretend things were wonderful. She'd hear the news of home and cry the minute their connection ended.

She'd take with her a few items each time — a book or CD, while leaving behind expensive phone charges. Occasionally, there would be a few dollars left out and she'd take those too. It was never much, but as the weeks went by she suspected he was leaving the money for her.

Todd was busy weighing Andrew's catch while Wendy asked him about the mermaids.

"None today," Andrew had learned to go along with her. "I saw some seals."

"I didn't know there were seals."

Andrew shook his head. "Everyone knows about seals."

"Not me."

The next day it was almost closing time when Andrew came back to shore with his catch.

Wendy noticed he was behind schedule. "I had a late start. I bought you this."

He held out a book, A Seal Called Andre. The gift surprised her. She thanked him and he asked, "Do you want to go get a sandwich?"

Wendy knew Andrew often stopped in The Landing for his dinner. To be seen with him would fuel rumors, so she declined.

"I think I'll read about this seal."

He hung his head and shuffled out.

Wendy settled in and read. She learned Andre was a seal that was sent to the aquarium in Boston and kept returning to Maine.

There were times when she wanted to be like the seal and go back to Harry. Then she'd remember he couldn't be trusted. Maybe living with distrust was better than loneliness. Shaking her head and feeling more exhausted than she should at her age she let the tears fall.

Mason had his hand on Melissa's hip. He moved it down and squeezed her thigh and moved it back up again. All the while they were locked lip to lip, tongue to tongue.

When he moved his hand from one hip to the other dragging his fingertips across her belly, she thought she might have moaned. Her skin felt electric and the pulsing between her legs was screaming to be touched.

She wanted to be bold and touch him.  As if he was reading her mind, she felt his hard length pressing into her. He kissed her, as she let out a moan. Mason groaned and pulled away.

"I should go."

Gazing into her eyes, his looked dark and stormy. Did he want her to ask him to stay?  As much as she wanted him to, she didn't. The weekend was coming and their spouses would be back.

Both Jeremy and Ruby were to arrive on Friday night. That afternoon Melissa was sitting on the beach with Nora and Rose when Mason joined them.

Rose said, "I hope to see Jeremy over the weekend. He looked tanned on the news. I said to myself, it isn't a Maine tan, since he missed last weekend."

"No, but he is often outside waiting on a story to break."

Melissa was lying. She was pretty sure he spent his weekend by a pool. Taking the focus off her, she asked, "When is Ruby getting in?"

"Late. Lucy will have to babysit."

"It's nice that they'll both be here," Rose said.

Rose remembered how she had suspected them of lingering in a dark corner. She had even sensed Mason and Melissa were at odds but not anymore.

Nora said, "I don't know how you do it week after week. Will and I are only apart two nights. Two weeks, I'd miss him too much."

Melissa responded, "Of course I do... Heidi too."

Mason wished she wasn't so eager to admit missing her husband. He felt a stab of jealousy he had no right to feel. She wasn't his, but he wanted her. The thought of it sent a pulse through his gut and below.

Trying to distract himself  he said, "So Rose what rumors are the dames spreading now?"

"Nothing new or if you ask me, nothing true. I might just force the girl to tell me her life story. I suspect her life is not as exciting as people seem to think."

Mason laughed. "If anyone can charm the truth out of someone it would be you, Rosie."

"Mason, if I were younger, I'd ask you to leave Ruby."

"For you, I'd do it in a heartbeat." Mason winked at her. He was a charmer and the other women, even Nora smiled at his response.

If Mason could have avoided it, he would have. Before he knew what was happening, Ruby had invited the Pendleton's to dinner for Saturday night. The two families socialized most every weekend and it would have been hard to avoid. His first knowledge of it was when he found Ruby in the kitchen on Saturday morning making a list.

Upon completion, she handed it to him. "Run to Shop 'n Save for me. We'll just get lobsters from Evan's and have a simple meal."

The list included bread, brie, crackers, wine, and chicken nuggets for those children who didn't eat lobster, as well as other gourmet items. He knew instantly it was not a meal for their family alone.

Rather than commenting, he asked, "What about dessert?"

"Ice cream since the store bakery is subpar."

To buy the best pastries and cakes would require a trip to Portland. Mason had no interest in missing a beautiful beach day. He wasn't as particular as Ruby about supermarket baked goods, but wouldn't argue with her.

"Make sure you get lots of wine!" she called as he headed for the door with his car keys in hand.

It was too much wine that led to him kissing Melissa.  He often wondered if eventually, it would have happened without Jeremy daring her. What kind of husband dares his wife to kiss another man? Not the kind who loves and cherishes his wife. Mason secretly wanted Ruby to be caught with a lover, so he could blame the disintegration of their marriage on her.

He bumped into Madelyn and Judy Evans in the dairy section. His cart was full, as he shopped for the week ahead as well.

"Looks like you're entertaining." Judy observed four bottles of wine in his shopping cart.

"We are, but you'll be pleased to hear  lobsters are on the menu."

Madelyn said, "I heard the Hughes and the Pendletons had a falling out."

"Absolutely not, it wouldn't be Saturday night without our little gathering."

What rumors were flying around? Did people know about him and Melissa?

"I'd keep an eye on Jeremy if I were you. I think he is coveting your wife," Madelyn added.

Mason laughed. "I might let him, if he pays for her shopping trips. She's quite expensive to keep around."

At first, the two women looked at him shocked, but when he finished with his classic wink, they both started laughing. He could hear it already, everyone would be talking about Mason wanting to dump Ruby. Ruby had shown up the night before remembering their argument and wanting to make him want her. The last thing, he wanted to do was have sex with his wife.  The woman he craved was another man's wife.

In the end, Lucy stayed out way past her curfew and by the time she returned and Mason had words with her, Ruby's pill had taken effect and she was snoring like a buzz saw. He sat on the deck and after a beer took a walk. As he walked by her cottage, it was completely dark and he imagined her sharing a bed with Jeremy. Returning to his deck, he had another beer and climbed in bed with his own wife.