“I do. I like it.” I look over at her and she is smiling while looking at the cabinet. “Thinking of a memory?”
“I am, how do you know?” She smiles, looking over at me.
“From the smile on your face. Care to share it with me?”
She turns to look at me. “I remember when Aunt Rosie bought this. We were at a flea market with my Momma and Dad. Aunt Rosie fell in love with it. My Dad hated it because he knew he was the one who was going to have to move it. He was the only man in the house, and he always had to do the heavy lifting and painting.” Angel wipes a tear from her cheek. “Every summer Aunt Rosie would have a big project that needed done or something heavy that needed moved. Momma would bribe him with a sopapilla, a Mexican dessert.”
“Bribing a man with food — she was a smart woman,” I say, laughing.
“She was; my Dad loved Momma’s cooking. Every day Momma and Aunt Rosie would cook and set the most beautiful table with these dishes. He would stuff himself full and then he would have to take a nap afterwards. He loved Momma so much. He fell apart when she died.” Angel sniffles, and I take her in my arms and kiss the top of her head. I leave my lips there and kiss her again.
“I’m sorry. If she was anything like you, I know how much he must have loved her.”
She pulls back and looks at me with tears in her eyes. “Mason, that is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me, thank you.”
“It’s true, I can imagine his grief when she passed from this life to the next one. I pray I never have to go through it. I would be lost without you.”
“I love you.”
“Beauty, I will always love you more,” I say, kissing her.
The next morning, one week post miscarriage, Angel and I go to church together. She made some soup and bread for the potluck and some sopapillas for dessert. Before church I ate some of what she made — the house smelled wonderful and I couldn’t resist.
We walk into church and Mom and Dad are waiting for us inside the door. Dad and I take the food into the kitchen while Mom and Angel find a seat.
After church Mom walks Angel around the room and introduces her to everyone. I forgot how much I enjoy church. Everyone is so nice and polite. We sit and eat together and talk about our wedding. Mom has a notebook and jots down some of Angel’s ideas and what she would like. Angel reminds her that we want something small. Nothing fancy, just small and intimate. Mom nods and continues to write. Angel wants white twinkling lights, candles, and white daisies as the flowers for the wedding. Nothing else seems to matter.
“Mason, what colors do you think we should go with? It’ll be winter and New Year’s Eve.”
“Beauty, whatever you want; as long as you are walking down the aisle, nothing else matters.”
“I was thinking black, white, and gold. What do you think?”
“I think it’s perfect.”
Mom smiles and writes that down, too. I’ll need to get with Angel later to see what she really wants. “We haven’t talked about the wedding party. Do you know how many you want to attend?” I ask.
“Oh, I guess we haven’t talked about that. I don’t really have that many friends or family here. Most of the guests will be your friends and family.”
I take her hand and hold it in both of mine. “We’ll keep it small.”
We talk some more about the wedding and about having dinner together next week. Angel says she’ll try to get her aunt to come down from L.A. and help with the wedding details.
On the drive home, Angel asks if we can stop by Carl and Josephine’s house. But before we do, she wants to stop by the store first. Angel shops for non-perishable items. She is cautious in choosing what she buys. We walk through the garden section and she sees an angel holding a baby and places it in the cart. I don’t say anything. I just continue to push the cart in the direction she walks.
We arrive at Carl and Josephine’s unannounced. She removes the angel holding the baby and lays it on the seat before she takes any of the bags out of the car. I take the remaining bags and follow her to the front porch.
We stay and visit for a while. Angel tells them about the engagement and about the upcoming wedding. She tells them about their new neighbors, Maria and Raùl, and hopes they move into it one day soon. We say our goodbyes and shop for our own groceries before heading home.
Once we are home, we put away the groceries and Angel tells me she’s going into her office to put the rest of her things away. She seems quiet tonight, and I am not sure why. I give her some time before I go and check on her. The door is slightly open, and I can hear her crying. I look in and see her sitting on the floor holding the angel she bought earlier. I walk in and sit on the floor beside her. I hold my arms out for her and she leans into them.
“What’s wrong, Beauty?” I say, rocking her back and forth.
“I’m sad.”
“About the baby?”
“No, yes. I mean no, but I am. It sounds stupid, I know. I listened closely to the service today at church talking about life and death and how it’s important to live your life to the fullest and to love and appreciate everything, no matter how small. It got me thinking about things.”
I pick her up so she is on my lap. She laughs. “Beauty, you do that. You are so grateful for everything you have and treat people with so much respect. I think you live your life to the fullest every day.”
“Mason,” she says, looking at the porcelain angel she is holding. “I was pregnant with a baby I didn’t know I wanted. It will never have a chance to live. It was here and now it’s gone, forever. I was so cruel to think I may never be able to love it.” She cries. “What kind of beast does that? Thinks that?”
“Angel, you have been through so much. You have been through so much in just the short time I have known you. The truth be told, I didn’t know I wanted to be a Dad until you were pregnant. I thought I would be happy living my life with just me in it. Your pregnancy and the picture I had in my head of us as a family, made me realize I want a family with you.”
“Really?”
“I was also scared that the baby would remind me of that night Jim attacked you and I was afraid of that. I didn’t want to be reminded of that night and I didn’t want to look at an innocent newborn baby and have those feelings.”
“Mason, I didn’t know that. I am so sorry.”
“My point is, it wasn’t just you feeling that way — it was me, too.” I look at her and twirl a piece of her hair with my fingers. “I think it’s normal to feel that, but I also think that if you had carried to term, we would love our baby no matter what. I think the thoughts we had would have been replaced with the love a mother and father have for their child.”
“I love you,” she says.
“I love you, more.”
Angel
Later that night, Mason walks outside with me and watches me place the porcelain angel and baby in the flower garden. He tells me we all need an angel to look after us. We lie in bed and talk about the wedding and I take notes. Mason says that he would like Vincent and Donovan in the wedding and adds that he would like to have them both as his best man. I tell him it’s our wedding and if he can’t choose which one to ask then he should ask them both. I also tell him I would like Madison, Sara, and Brea in the wedding. I tell him I need to ask Uncle Raùl to walk me down the aisle.
Mason asks where I would like to honeymoon and I don’t have a clue. I have been only to Puerto Rico and that was a very long time ago. I have family there but haven’t seen them in a very long time. We decide on black, white, and gold as the colors for the wedding, and we will start looking at wedding cakes soon. We don’t need a venue since it’s at his parents’ house, so that’s good.
I wake up before Mason and make him breakfast before he goes to work. I shower and dress first, although I have no place I need to be today. I should be heading into work, but I no longer work there as of Friday. I’ll run into town and pick up some more samples and get ready to meet my fi
rst client, Marilyn, on Wednesday. I’m a little nervous. She wants her lanai redecorated for a luau she is planning. It’s not a small lanai — it’s the size of Mason’s beach house. I’m excited and if it goes well, I’m hoping she’ll use me for other rooms in her house.
Mason walks into the kitchen already showered and wearing his scrubs. Although he has his own practice and could wear a suit or dress pants, he chooses to wear scrubs. Today he is wearing a Spiderman scrub top.
“Hi, what are you wearing?”
“No jokes, please. Mrs. Green is bringing in her twin sons for a physical today for sports.”
“No jokes, I was just thinking how sexy you are wearing Spiderman scrubs.” I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck. “You do know how hot that is, right?”
“Um, no. You like Spiderman?”
“No, but I like it when you wear Spiderman. I didn’t know it, but you look so very, very sexy in those,” I say, kissing him after every word.
“Mmm,” he moans kissing me back. He lifts me up and walks us, still kissing, towards the kitchen table. “I like it when you think I’m sexy,” he says, putting me down beside my chair.
Mason pulls my chair out for me and pushes it in slightly when I am seated.
“Let’s eat, Beauty, you’re starting to embarrass me.”
We talk about helping Brea and Vincent move into their new house. We all are going over tonight to see it. They still have landscaping they are working on, but the inside is completely finished. Their baby is due in four weeks, and their wedding is in seven weeks. It’s hard to believe she is that far along.
Mason leaves for work, and I leave right behind him. I have some things I need to pick up for Brea and Vincent’s baby. I want to have some things in the house for their son when they visit. I am also hoping we can keep him overnight some time. I run my errands, have lunch with Bruce’s mom, Lilly, and have dinner made when Mason gets home. We eat and go to Vincent and Brea’s new home. Vincent has asked me to decorate the nursery as a surprise to Brea before they move in. He gave me the room measurements and told me after I see the room to let him know what else I need.
We drive to their newly built, unfurnished home. Mason enters the code at the gate and then drives down the winding paved driveway. The large two-story pale yellow with white trim home comes into view. A very pregnant Brea is sitting on a rocking chair, and Vincent, Sara, and Donovan are gathered near her on the wrap-around porch.
Mason and I walk hand in hand up the stairs and are greeted warmly. Brea doesn’t stand, but she smiles. I walk over to her and hug her. She looks more tired than usual. Vincent helps her up and we walk into the house.
We enter through the large double doors; the home is open and spacious. White walls, hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, and large bay windows are throughout the house. To the right is a large grand wooden staircase, and to the left is a large office, den, or library — I’m not sure what they’ll use it as.
We walk through the open living room; the kitchen is on the left with a bar, an island, and a breakfast nook. A large formal dining room is on the right side of the breakfast nook. To the right of the living room is a bedroom, a conjoined bathroom, and another bedroom. We walk up the stairs while Brea stays downstairs sitting on the only chair in the house. The white walls, hardwood floors, and vaulted ceilings continue up to the second floor. The master suite has a large bathroom with his and her sinks, a shower, and a separate bathtub. It also has two large walk-in closets and another smaller room. This would normally be a seating area, but Vincent said that he wants this room to be the nursery. He said if he didn’t have the nursery nearby, Brea would never be in their room.
I take out my notebook and draw a diagram of the room. I note where the windows, closet, and door placements are. I walk through the rest of the house with Mason, Sara, and Donovan, while Vincent goes downstairs to be with Brea. Two more bedrooms and another bath are on the upstairs floor. After Mason and I walk through the other rooms, we walk back into the master bedroom and Sara and Donovan go back downstairs to join Brea and Vincent.
I walk around the empty nursery and open the closet. Inside, a few tiny outfits are hanging up. I pick one up and touch it lightly. Mason comes up behind me and kisses the top of my head. I lean into him and close my eyes.
“I love you,” I whisper.
He kisses the top of my head again and says, “I love you, more.”
I hang the outfit back up and turn to hug Mason.
He asks, “Are you ready to go downstairs with the others?”
“I am.”
“Do you have everything you need?”
I tuck the notebook back into my purse. “I do. Lead the way, Handsome.”
I follow Mason down the stairs; Brea is still sitting down. I walk over to her and kneel down beside her. “Are you all right?” I ask.
“I’m fine, just tired. It’s these Braxton Hicks contractions. They aren’t real contractions; however, they feel like they are real. They keep coming and getting stronger.”
“How long have you been having them?” Mason interrupts.
“Off and on for a few months,” Brea laughs.
Mason laughs, too. “Today, Brea. How long have you had them, today?”
“Since I got off work.”
“Angel, would you go to the car and get my medical bag, please?” Mason says, kneeling down beside Brea.
I walk out to the car and wonder how many medical bags he has. When I walk back into the house, Vincent has stress lines on his face. I hand Mason the medical bag and step away so he can assess Brea.
I stand beside Sara and she immediately grabs my hand.
“She doesn’t look good,” Sara whispers.
“I know, how was she at work today?”
“She seemed fine, a little bitchy, but that’s normal for her. She had her feet propped up on a chair most of the day because of the swelling to her ankles.”
“Is swelling normal?” I ask.
“How the hell do I know?”
We both laugh at her comment. Mason stands up and tells Vincent to take Brea home to rest. He tells him it is just Braxton Hicks contractions, and he doesn’t need to worry.
“Brea, drink plenty of water and keep your feet elevated. You still have four more weeks before Junior is born.”
“Mason, stop calling him Junior. He has a name.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize you decided on a name. What is it?”
“I don’t know yet, but I know it isn’t Junior.” Brea says, trying to get up from the chair. “I also know it isn’t Dweezil or Kal-El.”
“What, you don’t want to name your son after Frank Zappa’s son or Nicolas Cage’s son?” Mason smiles. “Nic Cage is a big Superman fan, and Kal-El is the name of Superman’s father. And did you know that Penn Gillette of Penn and Teller fame named his daughter Moxie Crimefather? He said that he likes the name Moxie because it is so American, but the name Crimefighter is a joke. When his daughter grows up and begins to drive and is pulled over for speeding, he wants her to be able to say, ‘But, officer, we’re on the same side! My middle name is Crimefighter!’”
We all laugh but Vincent. I know Brea has been moody lately, and I imagine it isn’t any fun for him. I tell Brea to call me if she wants me to cover for her at work tomorrow.
Vincent helps Brea down the stairs while Donovan locks up the house. Vincent has his truck and Brea moans as she tries to climb into the truck.
“Here, take our car and we’ll take the truck,” I offer. “It’ll be easier for Brea to get in and out of,” I say.
“Are you sure?” Vincent asks.
“Vincent, just help me in the car, will you?” Brea says, holding her belly.
Mason smiles as Vincent walks Brea over to the passenger-side door. I hold it open for them, and Brea gets in and fastens her seat belt. Vincent stands and Mason smiles at him. Vincent doesn’t smile back, but he takes the keys from Mason and thanks him. I hug Brea and tell her I’
ll see her later and to call me if she needs me.
We watch them drive off and talk to Donovan and Sara for a while.
“Is she in labor?” Sara asks.
“No, she isn’t. She’s having something called Braxton Hicks contractions.”
“You mean she’s bitchy like that during a fake contraction? Poor Vincent.” Sara laughs.
“Come on, Sara, let’s go home. You’re going to have a big day tomorrow if Brea shows up for work,” Donovan says, walking over to his truck and holding the door open for her.
Sara and I hug and Mason holds the truck door open for me, too. On the way home, I ask Mason if he wants to stop by the Babies R Us store for a few minutes.
“Sure, it’s on the way. Is there something special you’re looking for?”
“I have the measurements for the nursery and Vincent gave me his credit card. I thought we could walk in and see what they have in stock. Judging from the way Brea looks, I’m not sure how much longer she’ll hold out. She’s due in four weeks.”
Mason reaches over and holds my hand and smiles at me as he pulls into the Babies R Us parking lot.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I can’t look at my girl and smile?” he says, putting the car into park.
“Not when I don’t know why you’re smiling.”
He lets go of my hand and laughs. “Beauty, stay put.” That is all he says before getting out of the truck and walking over to my side to open the door.
Mason
Still smiling, I open the truck door for Angel. She reaches her hand out for mine and slides out of the tall truck. We walk into the large store and I take a cart. Angel walks behind me and takes another cart for her.
“Planning on spending all Vincent’s money?” I laugh.
“I’m planning on spending most of his and some of yours.” Angel also laughs as she walks away from me. I follow her up and down the aisles. She looks at bedding, curtains, and rugs and after deciding on the perfect ones, she places them in my cart and smiles. She looks at baby car seats and asks me which the best one for a newborn is. We discuss the different kinds, types, and brands before she places one in her cart.
Starting Over Trilogy Boxset Page 43