Chapter 3: Heart Stops, Stomach Drops

*MASON'S POV*

My ears must be playing tricks on me...either that or she's in shock...yes, that's probably it.  How could she possibly fix this?

Mason: What do you mean?  How?

Amy: Listen very carefully.  I want you to take her remains to the science facility, they'll be able to give her back to you...just not in human form...

Mason: Like a zombie?

Amy: No...like a ghost.

Mason: A ghost...wait...

Amy: Just shut up and listen...

Mason: Okay...

Amy: When she comes out, she'll be herself, just a ghostly version...I have a recipe for a dish that will make her human again if she eats it.

Mason: How can a recipe make her human again?

Amy: Mason, I don't have time to explain all of it, it just will.

Mason: Ok...um...Amy?

Amy: What?

Mason: How do you know all this?

Amy: One day I'll tell you.  Now get going.

Mason: Ok...

Voice: Mason!

Just as I was about to leave, I hear the voice of Melody Sky, another friend of Hadley.

Mason: Hello Melody, how are you?

Melody: Fine, thank you.  I just wanted to come over to express my deep condolences.  Skye and Paisley have told us what happened.  I am so sorry about Hadley.

Mason: Thank you Melody.  I appreciate it.  Now, I don't mean to be rude, but I have to get going.

Melody: Of course.  Please let me know if you need anything.

Mason: I will.

From that point, I head to the science lab.  I walk in and am directed to a far corner where they take the remains of my wife and tell me to wait.

I wait patiently until a nurse comes out and tells me that everything went well.  Behind her stands a very transparent version of the woman I love.

She doesn't say anything, but I am so excited, I reach out and grab her transparent hand, which is surprisingly solid, leading her outside.

Mason: Let's go home.  

When we get home, there's a plate of something sitting on the kitchen counter.

Also without saying anything, she sits down and begins to eat.  I guess being dead will do that to you...I sit back and wait patiently until she's ready.

As I am waiting, my phone rings.  It's Amy.

Amy: Did you find it?  Is she eating it?

Mason: Yes, I think everything is going well.

Amy: As soon as she finishes the dish she will become human again.

Mason: That's it?  

Amy: Yes...that's it.

I want to jump for joy.  

I get off the phone and run downstairs to wait.

I get there just as she's finishing...then green light swirls around her and she floats to a standing position...then...

She's human again.  She's back.  My Hadley is back!

Mason: Hadley!

I run to her so quickly that it startles her.

Mason: Hadley, I swear, I thought I lost you.  I'm so sorry love...I can't tell you how worried I was.  I love you so much, baby.  

When I take a breath, I look at her expectantly as she opens her mouth to speak.

Hadley: Who are you?

Chapter 2: Phantom Pains

*MASON'S POV*

Never in my entire life did I imagine that this could happen...and it's all my fault.  If I had just left those stupid pills at the stadium in my locker...I killed her.  I killed...Oh my God.

This is too much...I look at the pills scattered on the floor...that's how instant her d-d-...it was.  One minute she was standing here, the next she was just...gone.

That makes me think of something.  If it was so instant...but wait, I can't...what about our kids?

What about them?  They are already losing their mom...

I lean down and pick one of the pills up.  

Mason: I'm on my way baby...

Right before I am about to put it in my mouth, my phone rings.

Mason: Hello?

Coach: Where are you, Pope?

Mason: I'm sorry sir, I...

Coach: I don't care...get here now.

Mason: But...

Coach: I don't want to hear it, Pope.  Get here now.

I'm not ready to reveal to the world what just happened...that would make it too real...and if she's alive to the rest of the world...somewhere she's still alive.

We have a game tomorrow, so I can't let my team down...I have to pretend everything is normal.  I can do this.  I can pull myself together...

I make it through practice, but as soon as I get out the door, I lose it again.

How is this fair?  We only recently found each other again and this happens?

I don't know what to do with myself...I don't want to go home...it doesn't seem like a home without her there....normally I would be rushing home right now...and she would be waiting for me with a huge smile and a "Hey baby."

Oh God...I'm never going to hear her voice again...

Oh God...

This is too much to bear.  I can't possibly go home right now.  I don't know if I ever can.

So I head to the only other home I have.

When I get to my parents, they're not home.  Great.  I look in the window of my childhood home.  I remember being a kid and running through the house playing...with...oh God...why?  Why did this have to happen?

I now realize it must be possible to die of a broken heart.

Our whole family has moved to this block...and no one is home.  Evie, my parents, Keaton, Lila, Aunt Amy and Uncle Andrew, no one...I have nowhere to go...

I end up at Whistles.

Bartender: Hey there friend.  What can I get for ya?

Mason: Something strong...anything.

People come in and out of the bar as I sit there.  I don't say anything to anyone, even when some of Hadley's challenge friends come in...I can't face them.

After my third drink, I think I might have made it safely to the "numb" point...but then that damn "If I Die Young" song by The Band Perry comes on.  Damn country music...I really can't deal with this.

So I drink more...

...and more...all the way to closing time.

Bartender: Look bud, I'm closing up...can I call you a cab?  Where ya' headed?

I don't know.

I start walking until I get to this little house across town.

I'm drunk, exhausted, and completely lost.  What else can I do but ring the doorbell.

The door opens and I immediately recognize the woman answering as Paisley Parker, a friend of my wife's.

Paisley: Mason?  What are you doing here?

Mason: Um...I'm sorry...um.

Paisley: You look terrible.  What's going on?

Mason: I'm just tired.

Suddenly I hear the voice of Skye Everard, another friend of Hadley's.

Skye: Well who do we have here?

Paisley: Can't you tell?  It's Mason...Hadley's husband...

Skye: Oh, hey Mason!  Don't just stand there like a lump, why don't you come in?

I accept their invitation, mostly because I'm about to pass out.

I sit down on their couch, but I hear them whispering back and forth.

Skye: *whisper* What is he doing here?

Paisley shrugs.

Paisley: What brings you out so late, Mason?

Mason: I'm sorry to impose you both of you, but...I can't go home right now.

Paisley: Why? Did you and Hadley have a fight?

For some reason, the floodgates open and I tell her everything.  She is shocked and I can tell she is mourning the loss of her friend much like I am mourning the loss of my wife, but she comforts me.

Paisley: Honey, it's not your fault, please know that.

Mason: How could it not be?  If it weren't for those pills...

Paisley: She decided to take those pills herself...this is just a horrible accident.

Mason: I don't know what to do.  I can't tell anyone.

Paisley: Here's what to do right now.  Go upstairs, get some sleep, and you'll know where you need to go tomorrow.

Mason: Thank you Paisley.  I can't imagine what I would have done without your kindness tonight.

Paisley: Don't sweat it!  We all love Hadley.  You can stay here as long as you need to.

I immediately go upstairs and sleep for hours.

As my eyes flutter open in the morning, I expect it all to be a nightmare...to be able to roll over and tell Hadley about how awful my world would be without her in it...but then I wake up...and the nightmare is the reality.

After thanking Skye and Paisley again, I leave.  Unfortunately, I know where I need to go. 

I have to face this.  That's what Hadley would want me to do.

I walk to the cemetery.  I suppose I'm going to have to pick out a plot...and make funeral arrangements.  

How am I going to get through this?

Suddenly, I hear a familiar voice...

Amy: Mason!  Mason, wait!  You need to tell that wife of yours to answer her phone.

The tears start welling in my eyes.  I don't want to be the person to tell her.  I can't...but at the same time, I can't keep it a secret.  I have to tell her...I don't think I could possibly throw my voice enough to make her think it's Hadley when she calls.

Good Lord, that's a bad joke.  Now I know why Hadley does it...or did it...or...

She was always the funny one...the one that kept me laughing.

Will I ever laugh again?

Unfortunately, I can't worry about that with the mother of my dead wife standing in front of me, wondering what is going on with her daughter.  

Amy: Damn, honey, you look like crap...so where is she?  I've been trying to call now for two days and all I get is her voicemail.  Why is she avoiding my calls?
Mason: She's not...

Mason: She's gone, Aunt Amy.
Amy: What do you mean 'gone'?
Mason: She took these pills yesterday...and...they...she was...here, then she was gone.  I saw this dark figure.

I can only get out fragments of what I want to say before I start sobbing again.  I can't hear anything, but I can feel my mother-in-law's arms go around me and pull me close, like she always has.

Even though I should be comforting her, I let her hold me.  To be honest, it's the first time in the last two days that I feel even a little relaxed.  I haven't needed to be comforted this way since I was little, but I remember that when I needed to be held or reassured then I would go to my mom first, then if she wasn't there I would go to Aunt Amy.  She was saying the same things she would say to me then.

Amy: Shhh, baby, it's okay.  It's okay.

Lord, Freud would be having a field day with me right about now.

I finally pull away.

Mason: I don't know what I'm going to do...I have to eventually go home, pack up her stuff, plan a funeral...
Amy: Mason, wait a minute...do you still have her remains?

Mason: Yes, of course.  I'll never get rid of them...until the funeral...

Amy: There isn't going to be a funeral.  We can fix this.  Listen very carefully.

Chapter One: A True Love Story Never Ends

I know I'm supposed to be really excited that I'm done with my challenge and all of my children are all grown up and basically now Mason and I have all the time in the world to be together, but I still feel like my life lacks purpose.  I know, I know...what am I whining about?  I have probably the most perfect husband in the world and we live in a gorgeous house, we never have to worry about money...hate me yet?  Yeah, I would hate me too...

It doesn't help that Mason seems completely fine with how things are.  In my opinion, we have gotten pretty boring.  Of course, I don't want to tell him any of this because I don't want to hurt him.  I don't want to make him think he's not enough.  It's not really that...but I have never been the type of girl that can spend her entire life just being someone's someone.  I don't want to be with anyone else, I just want to do something else.  He's still working...I feel like I need something.

Of course, it's always the same routine when he gets home from work.

Hadley: What do you want to do tonight?

Mason: *Groan* I'm so tired baby...let's just cuddle in bed.

Hadley: *don't act disappointed, don't act disappointed - Smile* Okay love.

Mason: Ahh, that's perfect.  Who would want to be anywhere else?

Hadley: *think of big fat stupid lie* I can't imagine.

Mason: So, what did you do today?

(Truth: Meandered around the house looking for something to do.)

Hadley: Nothing really...

Mason: Are you okay?

Hadley: Of course...I'm thinking about painting again...

Mason: Feeling inspired?

Hadley: Maybe...and maybe have a party...

Mason: Any reason?

Hadley: I just haven't seen any of my friends since Christmas...and Evie is busy with the twins...so I thought I would have a little get together.

Mason: Oh, ok...

Hadley: ...and I was thinking about working out a little bit more...just to buff up.

Mason:  Ooh, you want me to train you?

Hadley: Shit, you'd work my ass out all over the place...

Mason: I already do that.

His hand reaches down and gives me a little light tap...

Ok, so not having kids in the house does have it's benefits...mainly being able to get it on any time of day...anywhere in the house.

However, we still do have Blondie...but she's an old dog now.  Naomi wanted to take her when she left, but she has all kinds of plans to save every other animal in the world...so we told her she could stay.

Even though Mason and I have the freedom to have acrobatic sex all over the house, my body is not up for it anymore.  Ugh, I hate getting older...maybe I should work on losing weight before buffing up...

We turned the boys room into a gym so as soon as I get up I get on the treadmill.

Mason comes in soon after for his morning workout.

Then he gets ready to go to work.

I always make sure and see him off every day...I guess it's just a wifey thing.

Mason: You know, running the treadmill isn't going to get you buff.

Hadley: I know that, smarty pants.  I just need to lose a few pounds.

Mason: You're perfect baby.

Hadley: You weren't saying that last night.

Mason: What are you talking about?

Hadley: I heard an exaggerated "oomph"...

Mason: That was an "Ahhh" not an "oomph"

Hadley: Po-tay-to, Pa-tah-to.

Mason: Woman, you're crazy.

As soon as Mason leaves, I get a phone call from my mom.

Hadley: Hey mom, what's up?

Mom: I'm having a party tonight, can you and Mason come?

Hadley: When is it?

Mom: Around 6-ish.

Hadley: I can be there then, but Mason has to work until 7...he'll come then.

Mom: Sounds good.

Hadley: Do I need to bring anything?

Mom: No...

*BEEP, BEEP*

Hadley: Oh let me call you back, Mom.  I have a beep.

Mom: Okay...love-you-bye.

Hadley: Love-you-bye.

Hadley: Hello?

Paisley: Hey girl!  What's going on?  Enjoying your post-challenge life with hubby?

Hadley: Oh yeah, sure.  I kind of miss the challenge to be honest...how's yours going?

*I hear a kid screaming in the background.*

Paisley: Jackson!  How many times have I told you not to steal your sister's candy?!  Sorry Hadley...does that answer your question?

Hadley: I kind of miss it...

Paisley: You can't be serious?  I love my kids, but they make me want to tear my hair out sometimes.

Hadley: I thought you went for that look on purpose?

Paisley: Ha ha...nope...completely child driven!

Hadley: Yeah, I remember those days...

Paisley and I chat for a minute before she has to go and chase down her brood.

So basically I have nothing to do until my mom's party.

So I end up getting there a little early.

(I really like this picture!)

Keaton and The Bitch are here.  Ugh.  I still can't stand her.  She stands around, giving everyone the stink eye and snarling at the food my mom spent all day fixing.

Mom runs off to finish with the food so I talk to Aunt Z.

Zoey: Hey honey, what's going on?

Hadley: Nothing really...

Zoey: Uh-oh.  What's wrong?

Hadley: Noth...

Just then, Mason walks in the door, wraps his arms around me and gives me a peck on the cheek before heading to the chair with a book.  I can't keep from rolling my eyes.  Really?  We're at a party...

Zoey of course doesn't miss anything.

Zoey: What's that about?

Hadley: I think we're kind of in a rut...

Zoey: What do you mean?  Wait...is this about sex?  I can get your mother...

Hadley: *laugh* No, believe me, that's not the issue.

Zoey: What's the problem then?

Hadley: I don't know...I guess I'm just bored...It's not Mason...but he goes to work every day and I'm at home...how do you and Uncle T-bone do it?

Zoey: That's simple...we're in a polygamous marriage...

Hadley: Huh?

Zoey: We're married to each other, but he's also married to the police force, fishing with your dad on Saturdays, and going out to fix everything for the whole town.  I on the other hand am also married to my writing career, building houses, and talking on the phone with your mother for at least three hours every day.

Hadley: So basically...

Zoey: Get a hobby...and get a lot of them.

Hadley: Gotcha.

I just have to figure out what kind of hobby I want.

Of course when we get home, Mason starts in with his hobby...me.  He pounces on me before we can even get upstairs.

Hadley: *giggle* Good Lord, baby...I'm gonna start chafing...

In response, he continues to kiss me even more passionately, paying extra attention to the spots he knows drive me crazy.

Oh how I love this man.

**********

THE NEXT MORNING

I wake up early and go into the gym.  Mason is already in there on the treadmill.

I walk inside and see a medicine cabinet filled with a bunch of pill bottles.

Hadley: What are these?

Mason: Oh...coach gave those to me...they're diet supplements...the companies are wanting endorsement deals.

Hadley: These aren't steroid are they?

Mason: No.

Hadley: You know steroids make your balls shrivel up like raisins, right?

Mason: Than if I were taking steroids, wouldn't you know about it?

Hadley: Hmm...good point.  So what would happen if I took one of these?

Mason: I don't know, probably nothing...be careful though some say not to take them when you're hungry.

I'm starving...I popped one in my mouth without hearing him...and then it was too late.

THE END?