Question about A River Without Banks

I started listening to A River Without Banks, the podfic narrated by aranel_parmadil. And the writing is awesome and the plot ideas are incredible. I love all of aranel's podfics (She did The Great Sex Olympics of 221b, which I adore).



However, I just got through hours of listening to the chapters called "The Ghost" where Mary is lovely and understanding and besties with Sherlock, John stays with her and they have a cute baby. Sherlock, meanwhile, is tortured and ends up alone and worse. SO. I know Chryse says there will be a 'happy ending' of johnlock eventually, but my question is, after The Ghost is there more perky/bestie Mary in future chapters? Because honestly, it goes so against my head canon of who she is as a character that I just can't take it. This fic is uber long and I'd just as soon skip any sections with bestie, good-intentioned Mary and get to the part where she is the cold-hearted villain or isn't there at all. So if anyone can advise me if I need to skip "The Blue-eyed stranger" or "The Lad That Loves You" chapters and go all the way to the end or not, I would so so appreciate it!

XA