Somewhere on Interstate 95 in Maryland, Monday afternoon
Shopping in New York City should have been fun, especially if Jillian was picking up the tab. Yet Mary hadn't been able to shake the feeling all weekend that she was a poor substitute for Jillian's actual daughter who couldn't be there. So she was relieved when Monday morning came around and it was time for Ed Deline to drive her back to Virginia in his Aston Martin.
"So, are things working out between you and Jillian now that you've left the Montecito?" asked Mary.
"It's getting better. We're actually thinking of buying a condo and spending the summers away from Las Vegas. She likes New York -- big surprise there. I was actually thinking more along the lines of Virginia. We lived there when I was working for the CIA and it does have some good memories for us. How'd you like that, having us near enough to visit every week?"
"That would be nice," said Mary with her polite smile firmly in place. "But wouldn't Jillian get upset about you being close enough to Langley that they could call you back any time they wanted?"
"That could be a problem, yes," said Ed. "So I'm offering Hawaii as a compromise. There's not enough shopping to wear out Jillian's credit cards and it's far enough away from Langley and Las Vegas that I won't be working, plus there are good airline fares to Las Vegas when we want to visit Delinda. The downside is that it's really far away from you."
"Ed, I shouldn't be that much of a factor in your decisions. In fact, I'd be thrilled if you and Jillian can stay together. You guys are my only role models for a healthy relationship," said Mary, looking distressed.
"Listen, Mary," said Ed, his expression grave, "don't beat yourself up over what happened with your father. The man was scum. Forty years ago, the mob would have taken him out in the desert and buried him alive, and that would be the end of it. You did what you had to do to protect your sisters."
"You don't have to tell me what an awful person my father was," said Mary, looking solemn. "I just expected what came next to be different. I didn't think that I would feel so guilty afterwards."
Ed looked at her worriedly. "You really should talk to someone about it. I still know people in Virginia from when Jillian and I lived there if you want me to find a therapist."
Mary shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary. There's a psychiatrist in town, a Dr. Stanley Keyworth. He took me fishing last weekend, actually."
"He took you fishing? What kind of psychiatrist is he?" asked Ed, confused.
"Oh, I haven't been seeing him as a patient yet," explained Mary. " We had coffee together, then he dropped by the hotel to check out the restaurant, and then he took me fishing because I wanted to see what the big deal was. He did suggest that I come by his office when I told him I was having trouble sleeping, but I didn't want to make a big deal of it."
"I see," said Ed. "I guess as long as you have someone to talk to, it works. But don't go fishing with him again until I run a background check on this Stanley Keyworth."
"Ed!"
"Now, sweetheart, I'm only looking out for your best interests. It's what I'd do for any guy who Delinda or Nessa were interested in," explained Ed, gesturing with one hand while the other gripped the steering wheel. "My instincts were right about that public defender you dated, right?"
"Still, I don't need you checking up on me like I was Delinda. You've got more important stuff to worry about now," said Mary, sinking deeper into her seat.
"I'm retired! I have all the time in the world now that Jillian wants me out of the casino business. Plus I know that Danny is taking good care of Delinda. I always thought of you and Mike and Sam as part of the family, just like Danny, Delinda and Nessa. If I had known about this mess with your father earlier, I would have taken care of it ages ago." He paused for a moment as his words sunk in. "Mary, I know you've always had Danny and he's always had you, but things change. Danny has a family of his own to worry about now. You can come to me for help if you're ever in a jam, and I'm not just talking about this legal mess in Vegas. Besides, I need a daughter whose life I can interfere in, now that Delinda's living with Danny and Nessa is back with her real father, and you know Sam won't come to me unless she needs money. All that's left is you."
Mary sniffed as a large tear rolled down her cheek. "I think that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."
Ed took his handkerchief out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Mary. They drove on in silence.
"So, are things working out between you and Jillian now that you've left the Montecito?" asked Mary.
"It's getting better. We're actually thinking of buying a condo and spending the summers away from Las Vegas. She likes New York -- big surprise there. I was actually thinking more along the lines of Virginia. We lived there when I was working for the CIA and it does have some good memories for us. How'd you like that, having us near enough to visit every week?"
"That would be nice," said Mary with her polite smile firmly in place. "But wouldn't Jillian get upset about you being close enough to Langley that they could call you back any time they wanted?"
"That could be a problem, yes," said Ed. "So I'm offering Hawaii as a compromise. There's not enough shopping to wear out Jillian's credit cards and it's far enough away from Langley and Las Vegas that I won't be working, plus there are good airline fares to Las Vegas when we want to visit Delinda. The downside is that it's really far away from you."
"Ed, I shouldn't be that much of a factor in your decisions. In fact, I'd be thrilled if you and Jillian can stay together. You guys are my only role models for a healthy relationship," said Mary, looking distressed.
"Listen, Mary," said Ed, his expression grave, "don't beat yourself up over what happened with your father. The man was scum. Forty years ago, the mob would have taken him out in the desert and buried him alive, and that would be the end of it. You did what you had to do to protect your sisters."
"You don't have to tell me what an awful person my father was," said Mary, looking solemn. "I just expected what came next to be different. I didn't think that I would feel so guilty afterwards."
Ed looked at her worriedly. "You really should talk to someone about it. I still know people in Virginia from when Jillian and I lived there if you want me to find a therapist."
Mary shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary. There's a psychiatrist in town, a Dr. Stanley Keyworth. He took me fishing last weekend, actually."
"He took you fishing? What kind of psychiatrist is he?" asked Ed, confused.
"Oh, I haven't been seeing him as a patient yet," explained Mary. " We had coffee together, then he dropped by the hotel to check out the restaurant, and then he took me fishing because I wanted to see what the big deal was. He did suggest that I come by his office when I told him I was having trouble sleeping, but I didn't want to make a big deal of it."
"I see," said Ed. "I guess as long as you have someone to talk to, it works. But don't go fishing with him again until I run a background check on this Stanley Keyworth."
"Ed!"
"Now, sweetheart, I'm only looking out for your best interests. It's what I'd do for any guy who Delinda or Nessa were interested in," explained Ed, gesturing with one hand while the other gripped the steering wheel. "My instincts were right about that public defender you dated, right?"
"Still, I don't need you checking up on me like I was Delinda. You've got more important stuff to worry about now," said Mary, sinking deeper into her seat.
"I'm retired! I have all the time in the world now that Jillian wants me out of the casino business. Plus I know that Danny is taking good care of Delinda. I always thought of you and Mike and Sam as part of the family, just like Danny, Delinda and Nessa. If I had known about this mess with your father earlier, I would have taken care of it ages ago." He paused for a moment as his words sunk in. "Mary, I know you've always had Danny and he's always had you, but things change. Danny has a family of his own to worry about now. You can come to me for help if you're ever in a jam, and I'm not just talking about this legal mess in Vegas. Besides, I need a daughter whose life I can interfere in, now that Delinda's living with Danny and Nessa is back with her real father, and you know Sam won't come to me unless she needs money. All that's left is you."
Mary sniffed as a large tear rolled down her cheek. "I think that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."
Ed took his handkerchief out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Mary. They drove on in silence.