"Mary, you're just going to leave without even finishing dinner?" Her mother stood, the surprise clear in her voice.
Mary turned to leave. "I've had a long day, so I'd rather just go to the hotel."
"Hotel?" Her mom's voice squeaked with shock. Mary's back was to the table, and she closed her eyes. Yeah, she hadn't gotten around to telling them she was staying with Alex at the hotel. Turning around she was confronted with everyone now standing, staring at her. There was a bit of hurt on her mom's face, and that made Mary feel even worse.
"Yeah, I thought it might be a little crowded with Margo and Joe staying here, and besides, it might be uncomfortable for Alex to stay in a place he isn't familiar with."
"Alex? You mean the ‘boyfriend' that isn't here?" It was clear in Margo's voice that she thought there was no Alex. Mary was exhausted mentally and physically, and was ready to go.
"Yeah." She clenched her teeth, feeling that weakness she had always felt slowly start to dissipate. "In fact, leaving is sounding better by the second."
"Mary, I don't know what has gotten into you, but your behavior is very rude and unacceptable." Her father took a napkin and wiped the corner of his mouth.
"I agree, Mary. You never act like this. Is there something else bothering you?" Her mom had a tight grip on her linen napkin.
"Just let her go, Mother. She's ruining dinner anyway. She'll probably throw a temper tantrum at my wedding also." Margo sat down and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
That was it. Something inside of Mary snapped. All that weakness they made her feel, the way she allowed everyone to walk all over her and dictate her life, was past the breaking point. She was a grown ass adult, had been surviving without them for the last two years, and was stronger than they gave her credit for. The fighter inside of her rose. Spearing Margo with an angry look had her sister's eyes widening a fraction. Oh yes, no more standing back and letting herself be looked down upon.
"You are such a bitch, Margo." The room went deathly quiet after Mary spoke those words. Everyone looked scandalized by her crass statement. It felt fucking great.
"Mary-" Her mother's high-pitched voice couldn't sway her from continuing. No, this was a long time in coming.
"No, Mom, I've had enough of her shit, and of you two looking at me like everything I do is not up to par with the perfect little lives in this community." She stared at her parents. "I'm sick of always feeling like I am not as worthy as everyone else."
"Mary, honey, I didn't know you felt this way. Her mother's eyes were big and her tone sincere.
"That's because you never asked, Mom." There had been far too many times to count in her life when her parents and sister had made comments about what they expected of her, that she should wear certain things, talk a certain way, or act the way they wanted her to. She was always on display and always felt as though she never did anything right. And it had taken her this long to grow comfortable in her skin. It had taken two years to realize that she was worth something. Alex made her feel special, didn't expect her to be someone she wasn't, and cared about what she had to say. He made her feel like a human being. He may not realize it, but he had helped her realize a lot in the very short amount of time they had spent together. She felt like she could be herself with him, and that was very freeing.
The room was still quiet, and she didn't break her stare from Margo. "I'm tired of you treating me like I'm not good enough for anything. I'm tired of you acting like you're better than me. And I'm really fucking tired of you being a bitch all the time."
Her mother gasped, and Margo opened her mouth in shock, but nothing came out. Everyone else stayed silent. At least they were smart in that sense because she was feeling a fire burn inside of her and would unleash it on everyone.
"You're not better than anyone else, Margo." She lowered her voice. "You're my sister, whether the same blood flows through our veins or not. It doesn't matter to me where you come from, how much money you have, or who your friends are." She turned to her mom then. "I'm not a doll, Mom, and you can't make me act a certain way, or do certain things. I'm a human, your daughter, and I'm sick of never being able to feel like myself when I come home." They held each other's eyes for a second. In a softer voice Mary said, "And I will never be getting back with Lance." Mary held her hand up when her mom was about to speak. "Let me finish." For the first time Marsha Trellis actually looked at her. "You want to know why I will never be with Lance again?" She looked at her ex, saw the way his nostrils flared, and his eyes narrowed. "He cheated on me with Brittany, you know, the girl that I used to be friends with. Yeah, I caught them having sex at one of those posh wine parties they always liked to throw."
"Mary, I think that is enough." Lance gritted out through her teeth, but she wasn't about to shut up. Not now, and certainly not ever.
"It's not enough, Lance, because I want them to know exactly the type of person you are." His face started to turn a shade of red from his anger.
"You're making a mistake, Mar-"
"Let her finish, boy."
Mary snapped her eyes to her father, surprised at the low warning in his voice.
Her father looked at her and nodded for her to continue. "You hurt me, Lance." Her voice was soft, but she knew everyone in that room heard her nonetheless. "And the entire time we were dating I put up with your drunken verbal abuse because I was scared about being alone."
She would not cry even though she felt tears prick behind her eyes. They weren't sad tears, surprisingly, but ones that made her feel clean and happy, because finally getting this off her chest was like a weight being lifted from her shoulders.
"The only thing I am glad about that came from our relationship was the fact I learned a lot about myself and my self-worth by being with you. I'm different now, as you can all see, and that is a good thing." She took a step back and addressed the room. "Being on my own, standing on my own two feet and handling things myself has made me not feel dependent on others, or what they think about me. I might live in an old, rundown house with a roommate, not able to buy designer clothes or have the newest possessions, but I wouldn't trade that for anything." The tears she had tried so hard to hold in spilled free, but she didn't care. It felt good to cry, because for once in her life they weren't because she was sad.
The only sound that could be heard after she spoke was the grandfather clock in the foyer chiming the hour. "Mary, honey." Mary shook her head and smiled at her mom.
"I don't want an apology, because what's done is done. I was tired of having all of that bottled up, but it's out in the open now, and just know that I will not ever keep it in again. I owe a part of that to Alex, because he has never made me feel awkward in my skin, and has always let me know I am worth something more. I have to go, but I'll be at the salon tomorrow, Margo." She didn't wait for anyone else to reply, just headed to the front door, but stopped when she heard her father's deep voice.
"You did that to my daughter?" Mary was surprised to hear the unrestrained anger in her dad's words. There had only been a few times when she had seen or heard her father upset, and they had all been when there was an issue with work. He was stoic, apathetic on the best of days, and showed her, as well as everyone else, very little affection. It was who he was, but right now he was speaking to Lance with rage laced in his voice.
Lance cleared his throat. "Sir-"
"You are no longer welcome in my home, or in the company of my family. I want you out of here."
She heard her mother start to cry. Mary opened the door and headed out, but stopped when she saw the downpour. Of course. Taking her keys out of her purse, she grabbed her phone in the process, and saw a few missed calls from Alex and texts saying he was sorry he was running so late and that he was on his way. She sent a quick text to him saying to just meet her at the hotel. She was glad he hadn't gone with her tonight, because no way would she have wanted him to see that circus act. Hitting the unlock button on her keychain she took a step off the landing and made her way quickly to her car. The rain pelted her and she was instantly soaked, but before she climbed in her car she heard the front door open and close and turned around to see Lance walking briskly toward her. He stopped right in front of her, water dripping from his once perfectly done hair, and his eyes narrowed into slits.