“Where do you keep your luggage?” Mason asks, bringing me from my thoughts.
“In the closet on the top shelf.”
Once we have everything I need, plus some, we get in Mason’s car and head to his house to get ready for dinner with his parents.
Mason had to slide the seat all the way back in his car to make room for my leg cast.
“I have a question,” he says while looking over at me.
“Ok, go ahead.”
“Where do you want to go to? The beach house or the penthouse?”
“Oh, I assumed we were going to the beach house. Where have you been staying?”
“I haven’t been to the beach house since you left,” he says, looking at the road and not at me.
I feel terrible, knowing it’s my fault he hasn’t been staying at the beach house. He loves it there, and I took that joy from him.
“Mason, I am sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin it for you.”
“Angel, you didn’t ruin anything for me.”
I know I did, and I know he would never admit that to me.
“Well then, let’s go to the beach house and start making some good memories there,” I say, smiling a genuine smile.
Mason looks over at me and matches my smile with his own. “Now that is a fabulous idea.”
Once we arrive at the beach house, Mason carries all of my things into the house and places them on his bed. The house is exactly as it was the day I left. Mason opens the lanai doors and lets the breeze blow through the house. I hear Mason running bath water in the master bath. He comes out of the bedroom with plastic and tape for my cast. Once he secures the plastic around my cast, I head into the bathroom where the smell of cinnamon and peaches fills the air.
I lay back in the tub and relax for the first time in weeks. My mind suddenly drifts back to last night, and I quickly replace those thoughts with thoughts of me with Mason. What a difference a day makes. This time yesterday I was turning my back on Mason and sitting at home in my own personal hell. Joy fills my heart as I think of a life with Mason. He is one of the kindest men I know, and I am able to finally focus on the possibility of having a life with him.
Mason calls from the bedroom to see if I am ok. Of course I am all right — what could possibly happen to me in here alone?
“I’m fine, Mason, just relaxing.”
“Just checking.”
Once I am dressed, I inspect my face. Mild bruising to my eyes and my top lip has a small cut from where Jim hit me. I feel it with my tongue and it is still numb. I apply makeup to cover what marks I can. I know they will bother Mason throughout the night. I can cover them, but he will know they are still there.
I pick out a longer black dress than I would normally wear with a pair of sandals and a white jacket.
Mason showered in the guest bathroom and is standing outside on the lanai when I open the bedroom door. He is dressed in jeans and a white button-up shirt, and he is barefoot. God, how I love Mason barefoot. He has beautiful tan feet — that is a very sexy look for him.
We drive the distance to his parents’ house talking and listening to music. Mason tells me about his practice and how wonderful the staff is.
We arrive outside of Mason’s parents’ house a few minutes late. Mason wanted to stop by ABC Liquor Store and grab some champagne and a bottle of Scotch for his Mom and Dad. They are his Mom and Dad’s favorite drinks, he explains.
Bruce and Lilly’s house is in a prestigious gated community on Long Boat Key. Their two-story, stone-and-brick home sits on the Gulf of Mexico. We pull into the driveway, and Madison, Lilly, and Bruce greet us at the door before we are even out of the car.
Mason opens my car door for me and helps me out. He whispers in my ear how beautiful I am before kissing my ear.
I carefully climb the stairs leading to the front door. Lilly is there and kisses Mason and then me. His Dad hugs and kisses Mason and then hugs and kisses me on my cheek. Madison leans in and hugs me tightly. She tells me she is glad everything is over. Me, too, I think to myself.
The home is beautiful and immaculate. An open floor plan, hardwood floors, and stark white walls are stunning together. White plantation shutters with sheer white curtains cover the oversized bay windows in the front of the house; the back windows, facing the water, are left uncovered. The furniture in the family room is all white slipcover with a splash of blues and yellows throughout the room. A large, wood-burning, double-sided stone fireplace covers the entire wall separating the family room and dining room so it can be seen from either room.
Mason and I walk into the kitchen where Mason automatically starts tasting the food on the counter. Lilly smacks Mason’s hands and tell him he needs to wait for dinner. Mason informs his mother he doesn’t get a home-cooked meal very often and how much he misses it. Lilly tells him it’s a good thing she made extra for him to take home.
Bruce opens a bottle of champagne and pours everyone a glass. Mason leans down and whispers in my ear that this is his mother’s favorite drink.
I nod and smile. “She has great taste,” I say, lifting my glass and taking a sip.
Madison pulls me by the arm and leads me outside to the lanai.
The lanai is huge with an outdoor fireplace, a large in-ground pool, and hot tub. It is beautifully landscaped, and the outdoor furniture is soft and comfortable.
“How are you doing?” she asks, walking over to the edge of the pool.
“I’m all right — it’s just that so much has happened. I’m more worried about Mason and how all this will affect him,” I say, looking inside the house at Mason through the glass doors.
“Don’t worry about him; he’ll be fine. He would have moved heaven and earth to keep you safe. We are all worried about you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine, but thank you.”
“You know Mason was watching your house day and night when you guys were broken up.”
“He said something about that.”
“Yeah, he would drive by your house on the way to work, at lunch, and after work to make sure you were ok. I heard him telling Mom and Dad that he would park down the street from your house and stay there late into the night just to make sure no one was bothering you.”
Mason walks out onto the lanai, wearing his dimpled smile. He strolls over to me and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“Madison, Mom needs your help in the kitchen,” he says, while searching my eyes and rubbing his thumb over my cheek.
Madison walks into the kitchen, and Mason leans in and hugs me. I wrap my arms around him and inhale his relaxing scent. I swear I could live here forever, tucked safely in his arms and smelling his spice and sandalwood scent. He always smells so good and feels so strong.
“You ok?” he asks, kissing the top of my head.
“Never been better,” I say honestly.
“Really?”
“Really. I can’t ever remember being this happy.”
“Beauty, you do know this is a new beginning — a second chance?”
Bruce, Lilly, and Madison open the lanai door and start carrying food out and placing it on the table.
Bruce yells over his shoulder and asks Mason to get the salad on the counter. I walk over to the table and help arrange the food on the table.
Dinner is delicious, and conversation flows lightly and easily in the family. No one speaks of Jim or the shooting. No one mentions my and Mason’s breakup. They talk about their family summer vacation and where they would like to go this year. They still vacation together once a year, although the children are all grown. Every year someone gets to pick where they want to go. Last year it was Lilly’s turn to choose and they went to Martha’s Vineyard for a week. This year it’s Madison turn to choose and she wants to go to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.
“That’s where your favorite movie takes place, isn’t it?” Mason asks, looking over at me.
“What movie?” I ask, embarrassed because now everyone is looking
at me.
“A Message in a Bottle,” Mason says, grinning.
“Who doesn’t love Kevin Costner?” Lilly says, fanning herself.
Everyone laughs, and I am grateful it is taking the attention off of me.
They ask Mason what he would like to do for his birthday next week. I didn’t even know it was his birthday, and I wonder if he would have told me. He tells them he would like something quiet at home with his mother’s seafood linguini and spinach salad.
He looks over at me while squeezing my hand. “My mother is the best cook around. No restaurant compares to her cooking,” he boasts.
“Mason, you just say that so I’ll cook for you,” Lilly says, and everyone laughs.
“That is not true, but I do appreciate a home-cooked meal,” Mason says, squeezing my hand again. He has held my hand under the table through some of the meal.
After we finish eating, Madison leaves before dessert is served. Bruce asks if we want to have dessert and coffee on the lanai. He and Mason light the outdoor fireplace while Lilly and I get the coffee and the lemon cream cake ready. Mason comes in and carries the tray of dessert and coffee outside to the seating area. Bruce opens a bottle of Scotch and pours it into two glasses from the outdoor bar before handing Mason one.
The fire warms the chilled evening air. Lilly and Bruce are sitting side by side on the chairs, and Mason and I sit beside each other on the couch.
Mason
Angel and I drive home, chatting about everything and nothing.
“Mason?”
“Angel?” I answer, winking at her.
“I didn’t know you have a birthday coming up. What would you like for your birthday?”
“Angel, I have everything I have ever wanted right here. There isn’t anything I would rather have than you.”
“When is it?”
“Next Saturday, May 11th. Please don’t spend your money on me.”
We ride to the beach house listening to the music on the radio. A song comes on, and I turn it up and sing softly to the lyrics.
“You like country music?” Angel asks, looking at me.
“I do, but I really like Lady Antebellum.”
“Really?”
“Yes, they are a great band.” I turn the music up even more and sing loudly and in tune with the Lady Antebellum hit “Need You Now.” I look over at her and wink while I continue singing the song to her. She blushes and looks out the window so I can’t see her face. I hold her hand as we drive the rest of the way home.
Once we are home and ready for bed, I see Angel wince as she slides under the covers. She tries to cover it up with a smile, but it’s too late — I already saw it. She is always such a brave woman and never complains about anything.
“Do you need something for pain or something for sleep or both? The hospital sent you home with some meds, if you need them.”
“No, I’m fine, thank you.”
“Angel, is there anything you want to tell me?” I ask, sitting on the bed next to her. “I am a great listener, you know.”
“And a great singer,” she jokes.
“Now, that is between us. I don’t want some pesky talent agent seeking me out at work or other places, for that matter,” I say, smiling.
She doesn’t want to talk about it, and I can’t make her.
“Would you mind getting my laptop and a glass of water for me?” she asks.
“Be right back.”
I open the bottled water and place it on the nightstand and plug in her laptop before handing it to her. Then I head into the bathroom and do my nightly routine. When I return to the bedroom, Angel is tapping at the keyboard on the computer, smiling.
“You look like you are up to something.”
She lowers the lid to the laptop so I can’t see what she is doing. “Who? Me?”
I get in bed, lean in closer to her, and she swats me away as she holds the laptop closer to her chest so I can’t see it.
“Yes, definitely you,” I say, trying to peek over the computer.
“No peeking,” she laughs, closing the lid and placing it on the nightstand.
The week flies by. Angel and I meet Dad and Donovan at the police department to give another statement. They give us a rundown of Jim’s psychological history and we learned that he suffered from severe child abuse prior to being adopted at the age of seven. Angel didn’t know any of this, and it is very painful for her to hear. She asks if Jim’s body has been returned to his family and it has. His parents flew in earlier this week to claim the body. The detective tells us his parents seemed very nice and said Jim had been in therapy for years and they believed he was still in therapy to this day. The detective tells us his parents didn’t know where Jim was and didn’t know he had been in a relationship with anyone. The detective adds that the case is closed and the shooting was ruled as self-defense. Angel cries, and I don’t know if it’s from relief that this is all over or if it’s from sympathy she feels for Jim’s parents.
The hospital called and told Angel her lab results were all negative. They will redo the HIV test a few times over the next six months because it can take several months to detect whether a person is infected with the disease. Angel has attended two of her therapy classes and she seems to be doing well.
Angel and I keep the same work hours, so I am able to take her to work and pick her up after work. It has been working out very well. Angel cooks almost every night, although she is on crutches. I help her in the kitchen by getting ingredients for her and cleaning up. We are falling into a very comfortable routine, and it feels good.
She had a follow-up appointment with her orthopedic doctor and he is happy with her progress. He said her leg is healing faster than he expected and maybe he can remove the cast in two more weeks. He warns that even if he does remove the cast the leg will not be fully healed for up to a year after that type of injury.
We meet with Sara, Brea, Donovan, and Vincent for dinner on Wednesday. Sara and Donovan will run their marathon next Saturday to support autism research. We all agree to go to the marathon to support our friends. Brea and Vincent have decided to sell their homes and build a family home out of the city. I am not surprised by their decision. Brea is getting big and can no longer fit in her pre-pregnant clothes. Sara, Brea, and Angel decide they need to get together more often and plan for the baby and wedding showers. Brea has three sisters, and they plan to fly in to help with the wedding plans.
On Friday morning Angel tells me she is going to get a ride home with Sara and Brea and tells me to keep Saturday night available. She hasn’t said anything else about my birthday, so I assumed, up until now, that she had forgotten about it.
When I wake up on Saturday morning, Angel is playing with my hair.
“Good morning, Beauty.”
“Happy birthday, Handsome,” she smiles.
I make coffee, which we drink in bed. I open the lanai curtains and doors and let the sunshine in. We stay in bed and just talk and laugh. She gets up from bed and tells me to stay here. She walks out into the living room using her crutches, closing the door behind her. I lie there and smile, not quite sure what she has planned.
She walks back into the room and tells me to get up. I follow her out of the bedroom, and on the dining room table is a bouquet of balloons and a birthday cake. Several beautifully wrapped gifts are on the table beside the cake. She has her cell phone out and tells me to sit down. She smiles and hands me the first gift. I open it and surprised to see it is a chef’s apron and hat. The apron says “Kiss the Chef.” We both laugh as I put the hat on and leave it on. She hands me the larger box and tells me to open it. I laugh at her enthusiasm and cautiously open the large, heavy gift. As she takes pictures, she smiles. Inside the box is a beautiful pair of cowboy boots. I don’t own a pair, but I do like them. I lean in to kiss her and then tell her I love them. She hands me another large gift that isn’t quite as heavy as the first. I smile while she snaps more pictures. She is like a kid at Christmas. I
open it and I am surprised — it’s a beautiful cowboy hat. I remove the red and white checkered chef’s hat and replace it with the cowboy hat. She snaps away at the camera. Last, she hands me an envelope. I open it and I am shocked. Tucked inside are two front-row tickets to the Lady Antebellum concert tonight at the Mid-Florida Amphitheater in Tampa, with backstage passes. I drop the tickets, pick her up, and swing her around, kissing her deeply.
“You shouldn’t have spent so much money on my birthday. Those backstage passes can be very expensive.”
“Mason, I wanted to do something special for you.”
“Thank you, I love everything,”
“Really?”
“It is the best birthday I have ever had.”
“I doubt that, and besides it’s not over yet.”
We stay home until it’s time to go to the concert. We have a small cookout and have everyone over for a small birthday party for Mason. After we eat, we sing “Happy Birthday” to Mason. He makes a wish and blows out his 29 birthday candles.
When everyone leaves, Angel and I get ready for the concert and I shower in the guest bath and leave her to her privacy. I dress in a pair of Levi jeans, a white linen shirt, and my new boots and cowboy hat. This is appropriate attire for a country music concert.
Angel walks out of the bedroom wearing a white halter top sundress that stops just above the top of her knees, a brown cowgirl hat, and a pair of brown cowgirl boots. I smile as I walk over to her.
“I just want you for my birthday,” I say, bending down to kiss her. “You look so beautiful.”
“Thank you, you can have me any way you want me, and you look pretty handsome yourself,” she says as she wraps her arms around my neck.
We kiss — I want to do so much more to her. I want to be with her and have her forever. I know she isn’t ready for that, although she tells me she is. Everyday it’s a struggle not to bury myself deep inside her and show her how much I love her.
“Let’s skip the concert and stay in bed the rest of the day,” she whispers.
“Oh, Beauty, please don’t tempt me,” I say, pulling away from her.
I walk away from her and try to get my bearings. I adjust my pants for the umpteenth time today. She has no idea what she does to me. I go into the kitchen and grab us each a bottle of water before holding the door open for her. Angel saunters past me; even using crutches she has a sexy walk. I swat her butt as she walks by and she lets out a yelp. I laugh, oh she knows exactly what she does to me.
Starting Over Trilogy Boxset Page 31