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It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...
...when the Marie St.Clair went down. She was three weeks on the Grand Banks and her holds were nearly full when she disappeared from radar screens. A swordfish boat four miles away said she was running parallel for an hour and then their Loran screen went blank. Whatever had happened was quick. She was probably holed and went straight down, for no wreckage was ever found.
The reasons didn't matter to the loved ones left on shore, to those that felt the crushing blow of loss and had to somehow remain functioning. Services were held, bells chimed and counseling was offered, but it really didn't help. Nothing can help such tragedy other than time.
Mary Bailey was perhaps more heartsick than the others, for her husband of less that a year had been the skipper of the Marie St.Clair, and he had left not even knowing of the son growing deep within her. She tried not to grieve too deeply as to protect her unborn child, but her efforts were often without success and she cried herself to sleep on many a night.
Mary had been worried about moving to this coastal town, but Matt had insisted the people would love her and she had found him to be correct. What surprised her was how connected she came to be with these people, and how she found some comfort in staying there with them even after her husband's death.
Not that there was much comfort to be found. Her mother-in-law Betty spent many days with her and helped with preparations for the new child. When the baby was born it was named Mathew in honor of its father. A father it would never know.
Betty was by her side through all the tough times, and one day she became impatient for Mary to get back into the mainstream of life. "Mary, it has been long enough. Don't forget, he was my son and I loved him dearly, but time did not stop with his death. You must find some outside interests, get a job, perhaps date some nice man."
"Oh, Betty, I couldn't. It just wouldn't be right. Matt was the only man for me. There will never be another."
"And so you think you will just wither up and quit? Matt wouldn't have liked the sound of that and I don't either. Get out and do something. I can watch the baby any time, day or night."
Mary resisted like a dog being dragged into the vet's office. Betty kept clipping ads for jobs and social gatherings and Mary kept "losing" them. Finally, when a family of nine was burnt out and a series of fundraisers was scheduled to help them, Mary stepped forward and volunteered. Once in motion she ended up managing the dance and the public supper. She had a long way to go, but at least she had her foot out the door.
On Monday of the next week an opening came up for a part time librarian, and she surprised herself more than anybody else when she applied and landed it. Little Mathew loved his grandmother almost as much as his mother, so Mary had no problems with leaving him for a few hours.
At first she suffered from what were really minor panic attacks, especially when approached by a man. Her mother-in-law encouraged her onward, and Mary persevered.
Betty kept insisting that the younger woman go out on a date, but that is where Mary braced her feet.
"I just couldn't. Besides, I haven't met anybody I would want to see again."
"You will," responded Betty.
As often happens, when Mary met an interesting man it was quite by accident. She was reaching for the divider in the supermarket checkout when a hand enclosed hers.
"Oh, excuse me," said a handsome man with a resinous voice. "I didn't see your hand."
"That's okay," she smiled. "No harm done." Mary was amazed that she could still feel the heat of where that hand had touched. She actually wanted to feel that hand again!
Just outside the door he turned to her. "Could you like to have a cup of coffee with me? "
"Yes," Mary responded, "I would love to."
They had that coffee, and on the following weeks they often got together for a snack during the day. He was easy to talk to, and Mary told him all her troubles and how she had felt since the death of her husband. He listened with rapt attention. She knew the time had come for something more, and with trepidation she approached Betty.
"Do you really think it is the right thing? Somehow it does seem okay."
"Of course it is," replied her mother-in-law. "I'll keep the baby overnight, and you let your hair down. You will feel like a different woman in the morning, I promise you."
When the doorbell rang Mary felt a surge in her heart. She let him in and kissed him. "Don't talk. I just know that I want you now."
He responded passionately to her kisses and she led him to her bedroom. He helped her undress, and when his hands cupped her heavy breasts she thought she would swoon. They sank to the bed.
Matt Bailey sighed with relief as he opened the kitchen door. God, he had been gone so long. "Mary, Mary are you in here? You'll never believe what happened. A Lithuanian fishing boat picked me up, and not a man of them could speak English. I hurt my head, and it was six months before I could get out of bed. Since then I've been trying to get home."
Getting no answer, he said, "She must be in here," and his hand reached for the bedroom doorknob.
The End
©2002 StoriesByEmail.com
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