Mary, Just Mary Chapter Eight

When we last left Mary she had just started knocking back a few. What will happen when Jake returns?

Babs and I sat down with another pair of drinks, and Babs pulled out her purse and dug around in it. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes but couldn’t seem to find a lighter.

“Donnie, where’s my light?” she asked the boy behind the bar. He pawed at his pockets, and shrugged.

“Musta left it in my other pants,” he said.

“You are so absent-minded. You’d lose your head if it wasn’t screwed on tight,” she groaned. Donnie scowled. Babs leaned in close to me. “I gotta get a light out of the car. Be back in a jiffy,” she said to me, standing up. “Watch her,” she said to Donnie.

A few more people entered the bar and approached Donnie to order their drinks. I kept my eyes on the door wondering when Jake was going to come through it.

It must have been an hour by now, what’s taking so long?

Maybe he’s not coming…

Maybe he doesn’t like me…

“Well, howdy there, miss. You’re a new face,” a man’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Jim Reeves,” he said, holding out his hand. “This greasy spoon is my place.”

“Oh, hi. I’m Mary. Mary Ellen Baker.” I shook his hand.

“Mary.” Jim smacked his lips as if he were tasting my name. “I like it.”

“You own this bar?”
“That I do.”

“May I ask you something?”

“Ask me anything, Sugar.”

“Why did you call it ‘Hudson Street Bar?’ The street we’re on is Forestville Road.”

“Ah, you see, couple years ago the good ol’ Motor City released the greatest vehicle to ever exist. The Hudson Hornet. What a car. Only seemed right to name the hippest and most happening bar in Sharon after it. You like nice cars, Mary?”

“Um…I can’t drive,” I said.

“Can’t drive? Well, maybe I can teach you sometime,” Jim crooned, putting his arm around my shoulder. I tried to lean away from his touch.

“So, Mary, would it be too forward of me to ask you for a dance?” Jim asked.

“Um…I’m actually waiting for someone.”

“Come on, just one dance.”

“No…no thank you.”

“A beautiful girl like you shouldn’t have to wait around for anyone.”

“Hey, Jim, isn’t that your girlfriend over there?” I heard Donnie say. Jim Reeves looked up and I saw a very angry looking brunette glaring at the two of us. Jim quickly stood up and rushed over to the woman.

“Della? Baby, come on, you know me!” he called out to the woman, who yelled something back to him I don’t care to repeat.

“What a smoothie,” Donnie said, rolling his eyes.

“I wonder when Jake’s getting back,” I said.

“Hm, I’d guess he’ll be back in…15 seconds.”

I gave Donnie a confused look, and he pointed in the direction of the door. Shrieking with joy, I saw Jake had just returned.

“Jaaaaaaake!” I cheered, running to him and practically throwing myself in his arms. He grunted when we collided, and looked at me with a smile.

“Looks like you’ve been having fun,” he said.

“Oh, lots of fun! Babs and I were dancing and talking and—and oh, this drink…um…daiquiri! The daiquiri is really good! I’ll get you one too!” I pulled myself out of his arms and clamped on to his hand, trying to pull him along.

“I can’t drink right now, I’m still on duty.” He was chuckling, and it made me giggle even more.

“Oh, that’s right. But you’re all mine now, right?”

“Right.”

I looked down at my hand, which was still holding Jake’s. The only thing that distracted me from the way I was holding his hand was the next song that started playing on the jukebox.

Hold me close, hold me tight

Make me thrill with delight…

“Oh, Jake!  Elvis!  I love Elvis!  I love this song!” I exclaimed.

“Imagine that,” Jake said, his eyes twinkling. “Care to dance?”

I shook my head excitedly. He pulled me only a little closer, but I blushed so much I suspected my entire body was a shade of pink. I struggled not only with keeping myself upright, because just looking at him was almost enough to make me swoon, but also with the overwhelming desire to join my lips together with his. Jake didn’t seem to be in the same pickle I was in, because he kept his composure, and remained a perfect gentleman while I stumbled around with a big, dopey grin on my face. But…somehow…he was so so very different from Albert.

Every time that you’re near

All my cares disappear

Darling you’re all that I’m living for

I want you I need you I love you

More and more

I thought I could live without romance

Until you came to me

But now I know that I will go on

Loving you eternally

 

Won’t you please be my own

Never leave me alone

‘Cause I die every time we’re apart

I want you I need you I love you

With all my heart

“I’m glad I got to dance with you tonight,” I said shyly.

“I’m glad too,” Jake replied.

“I mean…I saw John and Becky dancing earlier and…well I didn’t want them to have all the fun! But I will admit, John is a very good dancer,” I said.

“I know…he’s always making me look bad,” Jake muttered.

“No, you’re a wonderful dancer!” I said.  “You haven’t stepped on my foot once!”

Jake laughed. “You’re so clever.”

“Maybe not so clever.  I didn’t even suspect that all those things Mrs. Fickley heard about the Millers were a bunch of lies.”

“What things?”

“Oh, that Becky ran off on her husband, and was living with John before they were married.”

Jake’s face turned serious. “Well…those aren’t lies.  Becky did run off on her first husband, and she did live with John before they were married.”

I stopped dancing and stared at Jake in astonishment.  “She…did?”

“Yes, but that’s only half the story.  The neighbors don’t seem to remember that Becky’s first husband abused and tried to kill her.  She stayed with John because she was hiding from him.”

“That’s…that’s horrible…” I suddenly felt very bad for disliking her so much.

Jake nodded sadly.  “And, do you remember the dinner on Tuesday?  When you mentioned Mr. Moore?”

“Yes?”

“Well…Mr. Moore was his attorney…”

 

“Mr. Sullivan, what was your wife’s behavior like during your five years of marriage?”

“My wife was mostly pretty quiet, but she was prone to having these… episodes…on occasion.”

“Describe these episodes, Mr. Sullivan.”

“She would…have these fits of anger….and would make up these wild stories.”

“I see.  So, when your wife disappeared, what were your thoughts?”

“I was worried about her.  I didn’t want her to hurt herself.”

“Had she hurt herself before?”

“Never on purpose, I’m sure.”

“Mr. Moore’s strategy was to make it look like Becky was a loony toon.  He was…ruthless.”

“Mr. Miller, during the time Mrs. Sullivan was…living with you, did she ever exhibit any unusual behavior?”

“No.”

“No?  Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it true, Mr. Miller, that Mrs. Sullivan didn’t say even two words to you, or anyone else, in a month?”

“Uh…”
“Need I remind you that you are under oath?”

“No, but—“

“Answer my question, Mr. Miller.  Did she or did she not speak at all in a month?”

“No, she didn’t, but—”

“Wouldn’t you say that is a bit unusual?  Wouldn’t you say that Mrs. Sullivan’s behavior during the time she was living with you was unusual?  Don’t you think it’s unusual for a woman to write suicide notes, Mr. Miller?”

 

“He even managed to rattle my cage.”

“Officer Harper, describe what happened after you found my client and his wife.”

“I saw the defendant, Mr. Sullivan, holding his wife at gunpoint.  I identified myself, and asked him to drop his weapon.  He told me “Back off, I’ll shoot her!” and I negotiated with him to release her.”

“You saved her life?”

“Well…um, I was just doing my job.”

“You saw a gun?”

“Yes.”
“It was dark out.  Are you sure?”

“Yes, Mr. Moore, I saw a gun.”

“Officer Harper, explain to me how my client was shot.”

“I tried to get Mrs. Sullivan away from him.  In the struggle, he dropped the gun.”

“And who fired it at my client?”

“Officer Harper?”

“Answer the question, Officer Harper.”

“Mrs. Sullivan.”

“What happened to Becky’s ex-husband?” I asked.

“I’m…not sure, actually. It looked like he was going to win the case, then, out of the blue, he just…pled guilty to all charges. It was big surprise for everyone. He’ll be in jail for at least 25 years.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” I exclaimed. “Well, not wonderful that Becky’s ex-husband did all those horrible things…but at least he got what he deserved…oh it would have been best if it never happened!” I said cheerily. The music changed to Bill Haley and the Comets. I squealed in excitement.

 

“Good music tonight,” Jake said. We quickened our steps to match the rhythm of the music.

“Yes it is! Twirl me!”

Jake laughed and lifted his hand, and I spun like a top underneath it. Babs looked up from her martini glass and laughed.

“Mary, you’re dancing like your life depends on it!” she giggled.

“Maybe it does!” I replied happily, spinning faster and faster, feeling almost overwhelmed by all the energy I suddenly had.

“Phew, I’m getting dizzy just watching you,” Jake said with a laugh, still twirling me around.

“This is such fun!” I exclaimed. The heel of my shoe caught the hem of my dress as soon as the words came out of my mouth. Like a crashing airplane, I made one last sloppy spin and landed on the floor hard.

"Mary!"