“Alex! Will you please stop squirming? I will not touch your little friend! I have to bandage your thigh!”
“I’m squirming because I want you to touch him,” he wiggled his eyebrows, accenting the words.
“Alex don’t make me beat you.”
“Fine fine...” he grumbled. The Boys had three hours before their show and AJ pulled his thigh muscle. Mary had about two hours before she would start her
performance, but here she was, trying not to get AJ too excited.
“Mary!” Sam called from offstage. “You almost ready? We have to rehearse!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming!”
“You’ll say that to me one night,” AJ wiggled his eyebrows again.
“In your dreams, Alex. And quit doin that, it creeps me out.” She stood and shook her head. He looked up at her and smiled. In return, she giggled and smiled and walked away. Over the months of touring, Howie had spent a good deal of time with his best friend, AJ, and in turn, Mary became very close to him also. Like good friends, they flirted, but nothing serious.
...
Mary took her rightful place on center stage. Here, she felt most at home. She nodded to Josh who sat on a barstool five feet away. The curtains opened to reveal Mary in the outfit she wore clubbing the first night, the polyester, brightly colored dress, fushia
tights, and silver Mary Janes. The crowd cheered because they didn’t know any better. Mary took the microphone from it’s stand and treated this show like she would treat any other: like she knew the audience personally. “Hi folks,” she smiled. “I’m Mary, and
this,” she paused, putting her arm around Josh, “is one of my best friends, Josh, and we’re Tainted Love.” The crowd cheered. “I know y’all are here to see the Boys,” she paused, letting the crowd cheer at the mere mention of the Boys, “but we’re something different. And we guarantee, if y’all don’t like us, the Boys will be on shortly and I know they have
a great performance. Well, let’s get this started,” she smiled. “Oh, after a while, more folks will start showing up on stage, they’re part of my old band and some really good friends of mine and they’re going to help out. And for the songs with the piano, that’s my
brother, Sam.” She walked to a barstool set next to Josh’s, adjusted the microphone, and picked up her guitar. “Let’s get this started,” she smiled. Josh smiled in return and picked up a set of bongos. “This one’s an old favorite of ours. It’s ‘Hotel California’ by the Eagles.” She played the first chords and waited for Josh to join her.
“On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air...”
...
The crowd cheered. They loved Tainted Love. Soon the Dennison’s joined Mary and Josh on stage, with Sam in tow. “Let’s get this place jumpin,” James smiled.
“Here’s another favorite, probably way ahead of all of y’alls times, but we love it. It’s ‘Come on Eileen’ by Save Ferris... and Dexy’s Midnight Runners... and a few other folks...” She giggled and shook her head. “Sorry bout that, blabbering again,” she smiled.
...
“Come on Eileen
Come on Eileen
Poor old Johnny Ray sounded sad upon the radio
He moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers used
to sing along
who'd blame them
You're grown
so grown
now I must say more than ever
Come on Eileen
too-ra loo-ra too-ra loo-ra yeah
We can sing just like our fathers
Come on Eileen
Oh I swear well he means at this moment you mean everything
You in that dress oh my thoughts I confess verge on dirty
Come on Eileen
“Come on Eileen
These people around here wear beaten down eyes sunk in smoke dried faces
Resigned to what their fate is
But not us no not us we are far to young and clever
Remember too-ra loo-ra too-ra loo-ra yeah
I think I'll hum this tune forever
too-ra loo-ra too-ra loo-ra yeah
I think I'll hum this tune forever
Come on Eileen I swear well he means come on lets take off everything
That pretty red dress oh Eileen tell him yes
come on let's Come on Eileen
Come on Eileen I swear well he means at this moment you mean everything
Come on Eileen ta loo-ra aye come on Eileen ta loo-ra aye too-ra too-ra ta loo-ra
oh Eileen I say Come on Eileen
Oh Come on Eileen
we are far too young & cleaver & things won't ever change and I say
too-ra loo-ra too-ra loo-ra aye
Come on Eileen oh I swear well he means at this moment
you mean everything to me oh to me oh Eileen
you mean everything...”
...
After a few more songs, Tainted Love took their bows and left the stage. They caught the Boys just as they were being ushered towards the stage. “Packed house!”
James cried.
“And loud!” Sam moaned above the roar of the crowd.
Mary just took her guitar from her shoulder and set it on the table when she felt a pair of arms around her. “You did great, sweetheart,” a voice whispered into her ear.
“Thank you, Howard,” she smiled and turned to kiss him lightly. “I know you’ll do great too.”
He smiled and kissed her again. He turned to head to the stage when he suddenly stopped and faced her again. “Go back to my dressing room. There’s something in there I want you to change into and join me on stage in when my solo is up.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Kool beans, Howard.”
“If you keep tellin me that, I’ll get a big head,” she smiled. He had impeccable taste. He had picked out an ankle length blue satin dress that fit and complemented her features perfectly. “But what are we going to do?”
“A dedication. Come on,” he took her hand and pulled her out the door. He picked up a microphone for her and one for himself and led her onto the stage. Luckily the curtain was closed. “Remember how we practiced a song the other day on the back of the
bus? You wanted to get the guitar chords down?” She nodded. “Well, get ready,” he smiled. The curtains parted and the crowd cheered. After a few moments they quieted. “Hey folks,” he smiled again. “By now, you know my wife, Mary from Tainted Love,” he said, took her hand and pulled her further up the stage. He never let go. The crowd cheered again. When they quieted, he spoke. “But today isn’t a very good day in my life or in Mary’s. As most of you know, my sister, Caroline, died of Lupus. That was two years ago today. Not only did myself and the Boys suffer, but Mary did also, before she even came into our lives. Mary took care of Caroline in the hospital and was very close to her.” He paused to sigh. “And tonight, we want to dedicate this to her.” He turned to Mary and mouthed “Ready?” She
nodded and they began to sing together, but each took a separate chorus.
...
(Together)
“Show me the meaning of being lonely...”
(Howie)
“So many words for the broken heart
It's hard to see in a crimson love
So hard to breathe
Walk with me, and maybe...”
(Mary)
“...Nights of light so soon become
Wild and free I could feel the sun
Your every wish will be done
They tell me...”
(Together)
“Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart...”
(Mary)
“Life goes on as it never ends
Eyes of stone observe the trends
They never say forever gaze
Guilty roads to an endless love
There's no control
Are you with me know
Your every wish will be done
They tell me...”
(Together)
“Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart...”
(Howie)
“There's nowhere to run
I have no place to go
Surrender my heart, body and soul
How can it be you're asking me to feel
the things you never show...”
(Mary)
“You are missing in my heart
Tell me why I can't be there where you are...”
(Together)
“Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart
“Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this feeling I need to walk with
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart...”
...
The couple held one another’s hands throughout the song and held on tight for their bows. They quickly exited the stage and were greeted by Kevin, AJ, and Nick. “Great job!” Kevin cheered.
“Sounded better than when we do it,” Nick commented.
“That’s cuz lil’ D was out there,” AJ smiled and hugged Mary.
Soon, applause drowned out the conversation. Mary smiled at the voice she heard over the speakers. “Damn, how am I supposed to follow that?” Brian snickered and looked offstage to the group. “Mary’s quite a gal,” he smiled and shook his head, looking back to the crowd. A water bottle flew from offstage and hit Brian’s arm. He looked offstage again. Mary maintained her innocent look while the Boys cracked up laughing. Brian stuck his tongue out at her. “Thank you, Mary,” he snickered sarcastically. She just smiled and began to laugh with the rest of the group.
“Come on, let’s go get changed,” Howie whispered into her ear and took her hand. She complied and followed him to his dressing room. He quickly closed and locked the door and pulled her into his arms. “You did great you there, Mary.”
“I had a great partner.”
He smiled and kissed her gently. “I really think the audience liked that number. They loved you.”
“Nah... You’re just sayin that...”
“I’m not. Did you hear them cheering for you when you performed earlier? You did great.”
“Even for a cover band from downtown Orlando?”
“Yes, even for a cover band from downtown Orlando. Hey, if I talked to management, how would you like to do that song with me in a few more shows?”
“I can’t do that, Howard. That’s a Backstreet Boys song, not mine. I can’t do that.”
He nodded his head, understanding her point. “But what if there was another song that we could do together?”
“We’ll see, Howard. We’ll see. But you get changed, you have to finish this show.” She kissed him softly and turned around. “Unzip me?” He smiled and nodded.
They both changed with a few glances towards one another’s bodies and left the room. Howie took the stage as soon as everyone was done with their solos and the show continued.
...
The rest of the show ran smoothly. The Boys were set to perform “Larger Than Life” as their last song in the show and things were looking up. Mary cursed herself for thinking those thoughts. In the middle of “Everybody,” the lead guitarist burnt his hand
on a firework on the stage. The show was paused so Mary could take care of him, but he couldn’t play. She looked around at the people wandering the backstage area and cursed herself again. She shrugged, ‘At least I’m dressed for the occasion.’ She was back into her outfit that she wore when Tainted Love performed before. Mary shook her head,
strode onto the stage, and picked up the electric guitar. The band looked at her strangely. “Let’s have some fun, boys,” she smiled. The band nodded and the Boys came back out.
“Mary?” Howie asked when he saw her.
“Don’t worry about me, you do what you have to do.” The curtains opened once again and the song began.
...
After the show, the Boys, Mary, the other girlfriends, and the rest of Tainted Love tried to make their way to the bus. The fans were behind barriers so the group could get through easier but the barriers didn’t shield their yells. One fan grabbed onto Mary’s arm
and pulled her hard. “You’re only with my Howie for his money, aren’t you?” she hissed.
“Listen, I’m a doctor and the lead singer of a band. Why would I need his money?”
“You just better stay away from my Howie, bitch.”
Mary shook her head. “Your Howie? Who’s married to him?” She yanked her arm away and continued towards the bus. Mary was the last to step inside.
“What happened out there? We saw you get pulled aside,” James asked.
“Teenie boppers,” she responded, rolling her eyes. “ ‘You’re only with Howie for his money,’ ‘You better stay away from my Howie,’” she imitated.
James laughed. “But yet, you’re the one married to him.”
“That’s what I said.”
It was the last leg of the tour. The Boys were extremely overworked and exhausted. Between shows, they managed to get a few days off just to rest. On those days, the girlfriends and Mary went out on the town shopping. They passed all different kinds of stores in all different kinds of towns. “We’re going to announce the engagement as soon as we get back,” Jade announced over lunch.
“How do you think it’ll go?” Mary asked, knowing the trouble she and Howie had gone through before they did announce their plans.
“Hopefully as smooth as yours went,” Jade smiled.
Mary giggled and took a sip of her soda. “So, Mary, any plans for kids yet?” Melissa asked. Mary nearly choked. “Whoa, guess not,” she laughed.
“No, no, it’s not that,” she coughed, “it’s just that you read my mind.”
“What do ya mean?”
“I want to have kids. With Howard. I’m ready. But I don’t know how to tell him.”
“Ease it on him,” Amanda offered. “You don’t want to scare him.”
“But maybe he wants kids,” Sarah continued. “Just tell him.”
“I’m with Sarah,” Jade said. "I know Howie, he wants kids.”
“And I’m with Amanda,” Melissa finished. “His career is going well, you could scare him.”
Mary looked back and forth at her friends, confused. She sighed and stood. “It’s now or never,” she announced and left the restaurant. The walk from the restaurant wasn’t too long, but it wasn’t long enough. Mary had no idea what she was going to say
to Howie when she got into the room. When she reached the hotel, she rode the elevator to the top floor and unlocked the door of the suite. “Howard?”
“In here,” he called from the bedroom. She walked into the suite, closed the door behind her, and tiptoed to where Howie was. He sat on the bed, notebooks and stray papers were scattered around him, his acoustic guitar was in his hands, and a pencil was
clenched between his teeth. She cleared his throat and he looked up. “Hey darlin,” he smiled.
“Can I talk to you, Howard?”
“Is it really important? I’m on this train of thought right now...”
“It can wait,” she sighed. “What are ya workin on?”
“Just a song, you know, for us to sing in concert again. Just like I said. Oh, but if ya still want to talk, I’ll keep an ear open,” he said, trying not to sound like he was shrugging her off. He set back to work quickly and soon was in his own world.
Mary sighed and sat across the bed from him, facing him. “Remember what you said about kids, Howard?” He mumbled a response. “When would you want to start
having them?” Again, he mumbled a response. She sighed again. “I’ll be in the living room when you’re done, Howard, I’ll let you work.” Another mumbled response. She stood and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
...
A few hours later, Howie emerged from the bedroom, guitar over his shoulder and papers in his hand. “Done,” he smiled. “For now, anyway.”
“That’s nice.” Mary never turned to face him.
“Want to hear the song? Maybe we can practice it some and work it into the next few shows.”
“Sure. Whatever.”
Howie, usually very perceptive to Mary’s emotions, blocked his mind as he sat on the arm of the couch next to her. He played his new song beautifully and was very anxious to hear Mary’s response. “So, what do you think?”
She turned and looked him straight in the eye. “I want to have kids, Howard.” Howie’s jaw dropped and he looked as if he had seen a ghost. “You’re looking at me as if I’ve grown two heads.”
“K... kids?” he stuttered.
“I guess it was a bad idea,” she sighed and looked away.
“No, no it’s not... It’s just... wow... Now? Are you sure?”
“As sure as I’ve ever been.”
“You want to start now?”
“Maybe not today, but I want to have children with you, Howard... I want to start a family.”
He hopped off the arm of the couch, took his guitar off himself, and walked around to where he could look Mary in the eye. She looked away immediately. “Hey...” he coaxed, placing his thumb under her chin. He lifted her face so he could look her in the eye. Once her eyes were locked on his, he just gazed at her for a few minutes, every now and then brushing a few stray hairs from her face and caressing her cheek. He smiled. “Let’s start a family.”
...
In a few short hours, Howie had planned the perfect evening. He cooked dinner in the suite of the room which they dined on out on a table on the large balcony. After dinner, Howie lit many candles around the balcony and removed the table. They each went inside to change into their bedclothes and Howie laid out a warm sleeping bag. Both climbed in, and Mary snuggled up to Howie’s chest. “We don’t have to start tonight,” Mary whispered. “I just want to be here with you, just like this.”
“You tell me when, darling, and I’ll be ready. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted you to say those words.”
“How long?”
He chuckled. “Since I met you I think. I knew that I wanted to marry you that night I saw you on stage, the next day in the hospital... I knew I wanted to grow old with you, watch our children grow up and old...”
“Since the day you met me? I was covered in your blood and smelled like stale beer that day in the hospital.”
“You were beautiful. You’re always so beautiful.” He gently kissed the top of her head. The couple snuggled up tight and watched the stars, occasionally whispering to one another. They spent the night outside on the cold, concrete balcony in one another’s
arms, but never slept a better night in their lives.
...
“So what did he say?” Jade pried the next morning over breakfast before the Boys came down.
“He wants to,” Mary smiled. “We’re going to have kids.”
“So you started last night?” Melissa asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“No, but we had a nice night together. And you’ve been spending too much time with Alex. Those eyebrow wiggles scare me.”
“But why didn’t ya start last night? I thought he was all for it,” Sarah said.
“He likes to take things slow, he wants it to be all romantic and sweet and stuff like that.”
“And you’ve been hanging out with Howie too long!” Melissa laughed.
“And stuff like that,” Jade giggled.
“Yeah, Mary and I want a family.”
“That’s cool, man,” AJ smiled. “I’m proud of you.” AJ patted Howie on the back.
“Really? Why?”
“You’re taking responsibility, you know what you want in life. That’s real cool,” he smiled.
“Mary was really happy about it, I fell in love with her again when I saw that smile on her face...”
“Poor kid, though,” AJ shook his head.
Howie’s head snapped around to look at AJ. “Poor kid? Why?”
“Having uncles like us,” he shook his head again. “Poor kid.” Howie laughed and threw a pillow at him. “Nah, they’ll have it great, man. Uncle AJ will spoil them.”
...
A month passed. On their way to a venue in Germany, Sam fell violently ill. Under “doctor’s orders” the bus pulled into the nearest hospital. Mary was forced to wait in the waiting room while Sam was in the E. R. After about three hours, a doctor emerged. “Frau Dorough?” ("Mrs. Dorough?")
“I am,” she said standing. The doctor looked at her in confusion. “Doesn’t know English,” she muttered. “Uhm... Ich bin Frau Dorough.” ("I am Mrs. Dorough.")
The doctor smiled. “Frau Dorough, deine bruter ist nicht gut. Sprechen Sie Deutch?” ("Mrs. Dorough, your brother is not good. Do you speak German?")
Mary shrugged. “Ein bisschen.” ("A little.")
The doctor sought for words Mary would understand. She had taken German in high school and only remembered a few key words. Finally, he shrugged. “A-pen-dichs,” he struggled to say.
“Appendix? His appendix?” He nodded. “Did it burst?” She met blank face. She made a motion with her hands signifying an explosion. “Burst?”
“Ja, ja, burst,” he nodded. He motioned for her to look onto his chart where he pointed to a room. Mary nodded and practically ran to room 653.
“Sam...” He was groggy from surgery and machines were hooked into his body. “How did I let this happen...” she sighed, tears falling. Walking to his bed, she kneeled on the floor and took his hand, placing her tear streaked cheek against it.
“It wasn’t your fault,” he murmured.
“I should have watched out for you, I should have noticed...”
“It wasn’t your fault, Mary,” he groaned in pain.
She stood, excused herself, and returned to the waiting room. All of the Boys, the girlfriends, and Tainted Love bustled throughout the small room. Some asked how Sam was holding up. Some asked how she was holding up. Their words were just mumbles to Mary. Finally, she spoke. “We’re going home.”
“What? Mary, what happened?” Howie asked, approaching her.
“His appendix burst. Toxins are in his blood. It will take a long time for him to recover. Sam and I are going home.”
“But what about Tainted Love?” Josh asked.
“I’m sorry, Josh, but Sam is more important to me than performing.” She turned and began to walk back to Sam’s room when Howie came up behind her. They didn’t
speak a word until they were in the elevator alone. “I’m sorry, Howard.”
“You don’t have to go home, Mary. We can send Sam home, there’s people there that can take care of him. Please don’t go, Mary, I need you. We were going to try to start a family...”
“We still can, Howard, but Sam needs me. You and I both know what it’s like to lose a sibling. I don’t want to lose another.” Howie nodded solemnly. She continued, “I’ll never forgive myself if I send him home and something happens. He’s the only blood
I have left.”
“And the rest of the tour?”
“You don’t need us, Howard. There will be others.”
“And who will be our doctor? Who will take care of AJ’s pulled thigh muscles and watch over Brian with an iron fist?”
“Alex can wrap a muscle just as well as I can, and Kevin can watch Brian. Sam needs me more than you guys do.” The elevator doors opened and Mary led Howie to Sam’s room. Her eyes filled with tears again.
Howie nodded and wrapped his arm around Mary. “Take him home and take care of him. We’ll go on without you. It’s only another month.”
The Boys went on to their next venue and Mary stayed in Germany with Sam. Josh and the rest of Tainted Love stayed on with the tour to gain experience in touring. After a week, Sam was released and he and his sister returned home. “You’ll stay here for
a while,” Mary told Sam once they were inside the house. “There’s a guest bedroom down here so you don’t have to worry about climbing stairs.”
“How will I get your attention if you need anything?”
“The walls are paper thin,” she smirked. “Just summon me.”
After two weeks, Sam was almost back to 100%. He stayed at the house to keep Mary company until the Boys returned home. “I hear you and Howard want to have kids,” he asked one night while they were watching the TV.
She nodded. “We want to start a family. Hopefully it’ll be better than ours was.” She looked at Sam and met a hurt, but confused, face. “It wasn’t that I had asshole brothers,” she smiled, “I’d do anything for them. It was the parents that were the problem.”
“Probably because he was the first to marry. I thought it would be Kevin,” Jade commented.
“Hopefully soon. I see how they look at each other, he really loves Sarah.” She took another sip and smiled. “I play a good cupid.”
Jade giggled. “So do I! I got Melissa with Nick afterall.”
“And then with AJ, I know.”
“But enough of that. How’s the kids coming along?”
“Nothing yet,” Mary sighed. “But we’re having fun trying,” she smiled.
“I can tell! I’m just down the hall, remember? And it used to be AJ the Boys would complain about,” she giggled.
...
“What would you say if I asked if you’d want to get our own place?” Howie whispered that night in bed.
Mary sighed and smiled against his bare, sweaty chest. They had continued trying to make a child. “I like that idea.”
“What kind of place should we get? Apartment? House?”
“A nice, cozy house with a big backyard. Two car garage...” she yawned.
“And you used to wear me out,” Howie smiled and held his wife close. He kissed the top of her head. “We’ll head out tomorrow and look, sound good?”
“Sounds good, Howard,” she murmured. “I love you,” she yawned again.
“Love you, Mary.”
...
As promised, the couple set out the next day and found a small, cozy house not too far from where the rest of the Boys did. “It’s perfect...” Mary mumbled, smiling at the house before her. She took Howie’s hand and ran inside. “Small kitchen... I don’t cook... Nice dining room, living room...” She wandered around the house and went upstairs. “Nice master bedroom,” she smiled when she peeked into a door. She kept walking down a short hallway, passed a bathroom, and looked into the last room. “A nursery...” she smiled happily.
The couple made a down payment on the house that day and moved in two weeks later. A week after that, it was Halloween. The girls got together and sent an
announcement to the Boys. All received the same invitation:
Mary kicked Howie out of the house hours earlier. The girls arrived and preparations began. The Boys arrived together. Not until all five were on the front porch did the door open. “Good evening,” she greeted.
“Mary?” AJ asked, looking at the girl.
“My name is Magenta for the evening,” she smiled, red lips shining. Her hair was frizzed and temporarily dyed red and she wore a short maid’s outfit. “Please, come in.” She turned and let the Boys inside the house. Melissa was dressed as Columbia, Jade was
Janet, and Amanda and Sarah just dressed the part from The Rocky Horror Picture Show in front laced corsets and thigh high fishnet stockings.
Nick shook his head and whispered to Brian. “Definitely odd...”
“Come on, this will be fun,” he smiled and winked at his friend.
“Oh yeah,” Kevin smiled when he saw Sarah’s outfit.
“I must say, you boys look delicious,” Mary spoke softly. Howie was dressed as a vampire from the ‘Everybody’ video, knowing that Mary loved that outfit. AJ was dressed as the Phantom of the Opera from the same video, Nick was a warlock, Kevin was
James Bond, and Brian, knowing some about this plan, dressed as Riff Raff from Rocky Horror. “Please, sit,” she motioned to the dining room where chairs were set around a glass topped table. The Boys did as they were instructed.
“So what’s on the agenda for tonight?” Howie asked.
“Some movies,” Mary started.
“A few games,” Jade smirked.
“And a whole lotta alcohol!” Melissa smiled and hopped on AJ’s lap.
“What movies?” Nick asked as Amanda slid into his lap.
“Rocky Horror Picture Show of course,” Mary smiled. Her red lips shined in the dim light of the house. “Help me, Howard?” She turned and walked into the living room. Howie stood, smiled big, and followed her.
Once out of sight of the others, Howie wrapped his arms around Mary from behind and pulled her close. “I must say I like your outfit, my dear,” he whispered huskily into her ear. He kissed her neck, his fake fangs grazing her flesh. “Very delicious.”
She sighed contentedly. Finally she broke away. “We better put the movie in before they start to wonder what happened to us.” He pouted. “Don’t give me that look you, you know I can’t resist it,” she smiled and kissed him again.
...
“Mary, truth or dare?” a drunken Nick asked an also drunken Mary. The movie had ended and the group had a few too many drinks.
She giggled. “Truth. It’s blondie, how bad can it be?”
He thought for a moment. He smiled proudly. “Okay, if you weren’t with D, and the rest of us didn’t have girlfriends, what one of us would you sleep with?”
Her jaw dropped. She looked from Nick to Howie to Nick again. “Dare?”
“Nope, you already picked truth.”
She wrinkled her brow in pained thinking. “I’d probably wouldn’t...” she mumbled. “I’d probably still be with Josh.” She shrugged her shoulders and leaned back into Howie. “Jade, truth or dare?” She snuggled back into him but he didn’t snuggle back. She shrugged it off to the alcohol.
“Dare.”
...
“What did you mean earlier, that you probably would still be with Josh?” Howie whispered to Mary in the kitchen on a drink break.
“I don’t know, I mean... I don’t know,” she sighed, flustered. “I just probably would be. He would have came back, found me or Sam, and we’d probably hook up
again.” She turned her back to wash out a glass.
“Do you still love him?”
The glass slipped from her hands and smashed in the sink. “Oh bloody hell...” she mumbled and picked up the broken glass.
“Do you?”
Suddenly, she cried out in pain and reached for a drying cloth. She wrapped her hand in it and turned back around. “Of course I do, Howard. He’s one of my best friends and he’s been there through so many things for me... Of course I still love him.”
“The way you love me?”
“Howard, would I have married you if I loved another man the way I love you?” He just looked away. “I still love him, Howard, nothing can change that, but I don’t know if I can really trust him. Things haven’t been the same since the whole engagement incident...”
“No, Mary... I mean do you sleep with him?” He turned to face her. She searched his eyes for a hint of a joke but found none.
“Do I sleep with him? Oh God...” she quickly sat and put her hands to her head, ignoring her bleeding hand. The cloth fell to the floor and blood smeared down her face. “Where... How? What did this come from?”
“He made a comment to me about that after you came home from the tour. I wanted to check and make sure for myself.”
“This is not happening...” she mumbled.
“Is it?”
“This is so not happening...” she shook her head. “Since when do you believe him over me?”
“I’d think he’d know whether he slept with you or not. Plus, he still loves you.”
“Then wouldn’t he lie to try to get me away from you? Howard, I’m married to you, remember? Yes, I still love Josh but that’s no reason for me to sleep with him.”
“All I know is what he told me.”
She stood. “I’m going for a drive. I can’t be here if you don’t trust me.” Mary turned and walked out the door. She hopped into her Taurus and started it. “Damnit...” AJ’s car was parked behind hers, and Brian’s behind his. She turned off the car and stepped out. She closed the door and started to walk down the street.
Howie turned and walked back into the living room. “Where’d Mary go?” AJ asked.
“To the store, we’re out of ice,” he lied and ran a hand through his long, curly hair.
...
Mary walked down a few random streets, not caring about where she ended up. When she finally looked up to see where she was, she practically kicked herself. She opened the building’s door and climbed four flights of stairs. On the top floor, she knocked on the door to the apartment she knew too well. 354 Light Street. “Mary?” Sam asked when he opened the door. “Why are you bleeding?”
“Where’s Josh?” she growled.
“He’s just about to leave, caught him just in time. Come on in,” he smiled.
She pushed past him into the apartment. “Joshua Jason Briar!” Josh came running from his bedroom when he heard Mary’s voice booming. When he saw the look in her eye he cowered. “You always have to ruin everything, don’t you?” she hissed.
“Wh... What do you mean, Mary?” Josh asked trying to act innocent.
“Howard told me what you referred to when I left the tour, about how we’ve been together. How could you?”
“I... I was drunk?”
“That’s no excuse and you know it.”
He lowered his head. “I did it because I still want you mine, Mary. You know that as well as I do.”
“How could I possibly love you, Joshua? I’m married to a great man, who I love with all my heart if that’s not ruined, but you still want me? I can’t even trust you anymore.”
“I... I’m sorry...”
“I’m sick of you being sorry, Joshua. I’m married. You know that. End of story.”
“That’s not what you said the last time we were together.”
“That was over two years ago Josh. It’s time to move on from me.” She turned and walked out of the apartment, slamming the door. She ran down the stairs almost in tears and barely made it to the last step. When she cleared that, she ran out of the building, crossed the street, and ran down the road. She didn’t notice that she was wearing only a skimpy outfit and the night was chilly. She didn’t care that she could
possibly be picked up for prostitution. She just ran to escape everything. She ran without realizing where she was running to. As she crossed a lawn, she noticed a man standing on the lit porch of a large house. 568 Herric Street. The man turned when he heard someone. No one was home at the house.
“Mary?” he called. “Is that you?” Mary turned without thinking and ran the other direction. The man ran after her until she collapsed in the middle of the street crying. “Mary? Mary what’s wrong?” he asked, pulling her into his arms and off of the road. “Oh God, you’re bleeding... Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” He carried her back to the house he was standing at and opened the door to his van.
“Everything’s falling apart...” she mumbled. She looked into his face, worried about his identity. Her worry left her when she found herself looking into Lance’s face.
“We’re going back to my house to get you cleaned up,” he finally said when he started the van. “Wanna tell me what happened and why you’re dressed like that?”
“Halloween party,” she shrugged. “Rocky horror Picture Show.”
“And the blood? I don’t remember Magenta getting sliced up,” he joked.
“Blood? Oh yeah, I cut my hand on a piece of glass.”
“Then why is your face bloody?” She wiped her teary eye and more blood was smeared to her face. “That could be it. But why were you running away? It’s 2 AM.”
“Howard thinks I slept with Josh.”
“Mary, I don’t mean to pry, but I remember when we were on tour together... And we all camped out... Your van did quite a bit of rocking.”
“That was the last time though, honest.”
“But does Howard know that was the last time, though?”
“He didn’t know that was a time. All he knows was the last time was years ago.” She sighed. “I really messed up this time, didn’t I?”
“I’m not one to advocate lying, Mary, you know that... But don’t tell him about that time. Or any time before that.”
“And what do I do about what he heard from Josh?”
“Tell him the truth about Josh. I know he loves you, he wouldn’t shut up about it. Whenever all of us were together without you. ‘Mary this,’ ‘Mary that.’ Tell him Josh just wanted you back.”
“What if he doesn’t believe me, Lance? He looked really mad when I left.”
“But no one was at the house...”
“Me and him moved out about two weeks ago. We’re on Tudor Street now.”
“I’ll take you back to the house once we get you cleaned up. I’ll be there when you talk to him.” He pulled into his driveway and helped Mary out of the van. He cleaned up the dried blood on her face, bandaged her hand and took her home. When they
arrived, all the vehicles, aside from Howie’s and her own, were gone.
“Howard?” she called when she walked in the door. She found him sitting on the back porch in his sweats looking at nothing. “Howard?” she asked again.
“I didn’t think you were going to come back. You were gone two hours. I was worried.” His voice was cold and he never turned to face her.
“At least give me the respect of looking at me when you talk to me, Howard.”
He stood, turned, and walked back inside. He nodded his head toward Lance as if to say hello and walked into the kitchen. Mary followed close behind. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Mary... It’s that I don’t trust Josh.”
“Neither do I anymore,” she sighed.
“Was he telling me the truth?”
“Why would I need to sleep with him, huh, Howard? Why? I have you. You’re wonderful to me. You’re so sweet, so caring... Why would I even need him?”
“But why would he lie to me? What would he have to gain?”
“He’s still in love with me, Howard. He wanted you to get mad at me so we’d get divorced and I’d be his again. He only thinks about himself.”
Howie took a mug from the cabinet, filled it with water, and dropped a tea bag in. He opened the microwave and set the timer. “You’re probably cold.”
“Why can’t you look at me, Howard?”
He turned to face her. His cheeks were tear stained and his eyes were puffy and bloodshot. “I don’t ever want to lose you, Mary.” He approached her and put his arms around her, pulling her close to himself. “I love you so much... I didn’t want to believe him... I’m so sorry I did...” He kissed the top of her head and held her tighter.
“You won’t ever lose me, Howard.”
The microwave went off and they pulled apart. “Where did you go?”
She opened the microwave and removed her hot cup of tea. She spoke as she made the tea just ‘right.’ “I was wandering... I ended up at my old place... When I went up and confronted Josh... things got messy... so I ran again... and I ended up back at the house where Lance was looking for me. We went to his place and he got me cleaned up.”
“Looks like I’m no longer needed,” Lance said, walking into the kitchen. “I’ll be going.”
“No, please don’t,” Howie said, wiping his eyes. “Things just got a little messy here too. We’ve got food...”
“Food,” Lance smiled and was drawn to the refrigerator.
“I’m sorry I could have thought that about you, Mary.”
“I understand. I used to believe everything Josh told me too.”
“He’s a liar,” Lance said, mouth full of a slice of ham. “I almost,” he swallowed, “punched him when we toured. He has a habit of doing that to people I think.” He smiled at Mary, remembering the day in the hotel after Josh announced the engagement.
“His eye was bruised for two weeks,” Mary smiled proudly.
“And he deserved it,” Howie joined in. “Come on, we still have a few movies left. I don’t have to be in the studio tomorrow.”
Lance’s eyes lit up again. “Movies.”
...
“This movie blows goats,” Mary announced about 20 minutes through.
“This sucks, change it,” Lance chimed in. The both laughed, remembering how whenever they’d stay at a hotel while on tour, they’d watch Beavis and Butthead together.
“So now what?” she asked, standing to rewind the movie.
“Let’s make like old times, just sit up and talk.”
Howie nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
Soon, Mary sat back by Howie and snuggled up with him. “So, what’s news with you two?” Lance asked.
“We’re trying to start a family,” Howie smiled proudly.
“That’s cool,” he smiled. “That’s definitely cool.” Mary yawned and was soon asleep in Howie’s arms. The men stayed up talking until the sun came up. “Wow, it’s 6 AM already.”
“Really? Doesn’t seem like it,” Howie yawned. Lance shook his head and suddenly laughed. “What?”
“It’s just kind of... weird,” he smiled.
“What is?”
“This... This whole night. Who would have ever thought that a Backstreet Boy would sit up all night talking to a guy from a band called Spitvalves.”
