The Way to Yesterday. Sharon Sala

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      “What is there to say?”

      “You can start by telling me how long she’s been treating you like this.”

      Mary’s chin trembled, but she wouldn’t let herself cry.

      “Since the day she found out I was pregnant and we were going to get married.”

      “No way!”

      “Oh, but yes.”

      “Why didn’t you tell me?”

      Suddenly, Mary’s chin jutted mutinously. “And say what? That your mother thinks you would never have asked me to marry you if I hadn’t gotten pregnant?”

      “That would have been fine for starters,” he muttered.

      “I couldn’t,” she said, then pulled out of his grasp and turned away.

      “Why the hell not?”

      She answered, but the words were spoken so softly, he couldn’t hear what she said.

      “What did you say?”

      She pivoted sharply, her voice rising in misplaced anger.

      “Because I wasn’t sure but what it might be the truth.”

      Daniel was momentarily speechless, unable to believe the words that had come out of her mouth.

      “You can’t be serious!”

      She stood her ground without answering.

      Daniel tried to draw a deep breath and choked on tears instead.

      “My God, Mary Faith…how can you doubt me like that?”

      Mary’s lips trembled as her eyes welled.

      “Oh, baby…don’t,” Daniel begged. “Please don’t cry.”

      He pulled her close; his hands shaking as he tunneled his fingers through her hair, then rocked her where she stood.

      “I promise you will never suffer another indignity from my family and I apologize for being blind to what they’ve been doing. Trust me. It won’t happen again. I love you so much, sweetheart, and losing you would kill me.”

      “You can’t lose me,” she whispered. “And I love you, too, Daniel. Forever.”

      “Okay, then,” he said softly, then gave her a kiss so tender that it stole her breath away.

      “Are you real hungry?”

      Mary tilted her head, meeting his gaze with a smile.

      “Not for food.”

      “Thank God,” he muttered, and swept her off her feet and into his arms. “Now if Hope will just stay asleep for a little while longer…”

      Mary leaned her cheek against his shoulder as he carried her down the hall to their bedroom.

      “It’s been a long time,” she said softly, as he laid her down on their bed.

      “Too long,” Daniel said softly, and began unbuttoning his shirt.

      The last thought in Mary’s head was a small prayer that this dream would not end.

      It was three o’clock in the morning when the phone rang. Daniel jerked in his sleep and then reached for the receiver before he was fully awake, not wanting it to ring again for fear it would awaken Hope.

      Mary sat straight up in bed, listening as Daniel answered.

      “Hello? Mom! What’s wrong? What? Slow down…slow down…you’re not making any sense.”

      Phyllis took a deep breath and then started to cry.

      “Oh, Daniel…it’s gone. Everything is gone!”

      “What’s gone, Mom?”

      “Our home. Our car. The clothes. All of my pictures.”

      Daniel swung his legs to the side of the bed.

      “What are you saying?”

      “The house caught on fire.” She choked on a sob. “Everything is gone.”

      “Are you and Dad all right?”

      “Yes, but—”

      “Where are you?” he asked.

      “Across the street at Bob and Julia’s. Hang on a minute, will you? Your father is trying to tell me something.”

      “Yes, sure,” he said, and wiped a shaky hand across his face as he began to visualize the enormity of the loss. It was the house he’d grown up in, and there was nothing left but memories.

      Mary clutched Daniel’s arm, her voice taut with anxiety. “What happened?”

      “Mom and Dad’s house burned down.”

      “Oh no! Are they all right?”

      He nodded.

      “Go get them. They belong with us.”

      Daniel sighed. Hearing Mary say what he’d already contemplated was a huge relief. After what he’d witnessed earlier, he’d feared the last thing Mary would stand for was having his parents under her roof.

      “Thank you,” he whispered, and then turned back to the phone. “Mom?”

      “I’m here,” she said. “Mike wanted me to tell you which motel we’ll be at.”

      “No motel, Mom. We want you here. As soon as I get dressed, I’m coming after you and Dad.”

      Phyllis hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to face her daughter-in-law under such intimate circumstances.

      “Are you sure?” she finally asked. “I mean, your wife might not—”

      “Her name is Mary, Mom, and it was her idea first. Not mine. I’ll see you soon.”

      Phyllis heard him disconnect and then replaced the receiver. She knew Daniel. When he set his mind to something, there was no turning him back. She looked at her husband.

      “Mike, go wash your face. Daniel is coming to get us.”

      Mary dashed into the spare bedroom as Daniel pulled out of the driveway. It would take him about twenty minutes to get across town to where his parents lived, then another twenty or so to get back. It would give her just enough time to put clean sheets on the spare bed and find some fresh clothing for Phyllis and Mike to put on. Her hands were shaking as she began her duties, trying to imagine the heartbreak of losing forty years of accumulated СКАЧАТЬ