Starting Over Trilogy Boxset

by Kennedy, Brenda

  This is great news. I call her the next day and we decide to meet and discuss her ideas.

  Uncle Raùl called and confirmed he will be down for Thanksgiving. He said he found Momma’s dress and some other wedding items he will be bringing with him. I am excited to see him, the dress, and the other items he is talking about.

  Mason and I are going to dinner tonight with Sara, Donovan, Brea, Vincent, and Arturo. We haven’t seen them since they returned home from their honeymoon. We don’t dress up but wear jeans and a sweater — the weather has finally cooled off and we can now wear long sleeves.

  We are last to arrive and walk hand in hand into the crowded restaurant. We see everyone as soon as we walk in. Brea is holding Arturo, and he is smiling at her. Sara and Brea are talking to him while Vincent has his arm draped over the back of Brea’s chair.

  Donovan and Vincent stand when we near the table, Mason pulls my chair out for me. He shakes hands with Donovan and Vincent before sitting.

  “So how was the honeymoon?” Sara asks.

  “It was wonderful; we mostly just stayed in and relaxed. Vincent surprised us with a secluded cabin in the mountains. He even had it stocked with food and toiletry items we normally use. I have no idea who he got to shop for us, but they did a wonderful job. It was just like walking into our own home.”

  “Did you see any bears while you were there?” I ask excitedly.

  “We did. We bought a picnic lunch from a cute little teahouse, called Magnolias. Then we drove through Cades Cove and ate outside on a blanket in one of the open fields. We were able to spot a family of bears in the distance,” Brea answers, while bouncing Arturo on her lap.

  “How was the honeymoon with the baby?” Mason asks, looking directly at Vincent.

  “Great,” is all Vincent says, smiling.

  “We had a hot tub outside on the porch that overlooked the mountains. We were able to use that when the baby was asleep. It was even cool enough to use the indoor fireplace,” Brea adds.

  Brea and Vincent share pictures of the wedding and of their relaxing honeymoon, although it sounds more like a family vacation.

  “This is a nice picture,” Mason laughs, holding it up for everyone to see. The picture is of Vincent and Brea standing at the altar. Vincent has a chain with a large black ball around his ankle. “Ball and Chain.”

  We all laugh.

  “It’s great having photographers in the family. Don’t stop there, there’s more,” Vincent nods towards the handful of pictures.

  Another picture of Vincent and Brea showed them standing behind what looked like a jail cell.

  Mason laughs again. “I didn’t see Jerry Springer at your wedding,” he says, holding up another picture of the wedding party where Jerry Springer photobombed it — or where someone Photoshopped him in. “The photos all look great — even the Photoshopped ones,” Donovan says, laughing as he passes them around the table. “It may have actually been Jerry Springer since he has a home in Sarasota,” Donovan adds.

  “The photo where you are kneeling in church and your shoes have written on the soles HELP and ME were not Photoshopped,” Mason says. “I used shoe polish to write those words.”

  We order dinner and pass the baby around. Mason still calls him Junior and Brea laughs. At one time she would have hurt him for calling him that.

  A woman screams from a nearby table and we all look over. Mason stands immediately and rushes over and Vincent and Donovan are right behind him. I stand up but stand near our table. I watch the commotion, but I’m not sure what’s going on.

  I hear someone yell, “She’s choking! Call 911!”

  I reach for my phone and call 911.

  “Nine, one, one. What is your emergency?”

  “I’m in a restaurant and someone is choking,” I stutter.

  “What is your exact location, ma’am?”

  “I’m at LeRoy Selmons on Cortez Road in Bradenton. I’m sorry, I don’t know the address.”

  “Is it a male or female?”

  “Sara, is it a man or a woman? I can’t see.”

  “Oh, my God, it’s a kid, it’s a little girl,” Brea cries.

  Sara and Brea stand and hold their hands to their mouth. We watch as Mason does the Heimlich maneuver on a child. She looks like she is about eight years old or a little older.

  “Ma’am, is it a man or a woman?”

  “I’m sorry. Please hurry, it’s a little girl. She looks about eight or ten years old. Please hurry.”

  We watch in horror as Mason does the Heimlich maneuver on the small girl. Mason places his arms around the standing, conscious girl’s torso and makes a fist. In the center of the abdomen, above the belly button and below the ribs, he gives her firm thrusts inward and upward. When nothing happens, he repeats the process. People crowd in and block our view. Brea holds her baby close to her, and Sara and I hold hands. I try to see better, but too many people are standing and blocking my view. Pretty soon people clap and the crowd thins. I can finally see — a woman is hugging her daughter and a man is shaking Mason’s hand.

  Mason kneels down and speaks to the child and she hugs him. He smoothes her long brown hair and pats the top of her head before he, Donovan, and Vincent join us at our table.

  Mason excuses himself to go to the restroom and the ambulance pulls up with lights and sirens on. The parents, still hugging their little girl, walk out with her to meet the ambulance.

  Mason joins us and sits down.

  “I’m starving. I think I want a steak.” He picks up his menu to look it over. Brea, Sara, and I just look at him. He just saved a kid’s life and he is looking at a menu.

  “Mason?”

  He lowers the menu and looks over at Sara.

  “You just saved a life,” she says, like he doesn’t know that.

  “Maybe. Maybe she would have coughed it up on her own,” he says, raising the menu to look at it again.

  “Mason? You just saved a kid’s life — don’t act like it’s not a big deal,” Brea says, while rocking her son.

  Mason looks over his menu, “What are you guys hungry for?”

  “Please excuse me. I don’t mean to interrupt.”

  We all look up.

  “I’m Steve Norris, the manager,” he says, reaching his hand out for Mason’s.

  Mason smiles, and shakes Steve’s hand. “Hi, Steve, I’m Mason and this is my fiancé, Angel, and our friends, Sara, Donovan, Brea, Vincent, and their son, Arturo.”

  “I won’t be long and I don’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to thank you for jumping in and doing what you did. As you know, if you hadn’t stepped in, the outcome may have been much different. As our thanks to you, LeRoy Selmons would like to buy dinners, drinks, and desserts for you, your beautiful fiancé, and your friends tonight.”

  “No, really, that isn’t necessary. If I hadn’t been here, someone else would have stepped in. That is very kind of you, but really, it’s not necessary. I’m just thankful it all worked out.”

  “Thank you and your meals are already taken care of.” Steve nods, and looks at everyone before leaving.

  “See, Mason, that is a big deal,” Sara says.

  “I’m just glad that little girl will be going home with her parents tonight.”

  Mason

  Raùl comes in a few days early for Thanksgiving. Angel wanted to cook and have everyone come here, but Mom insisted on having everyone over there, including Josephine and Carl.

  “Mason, I need to meet Aunt Rosie at the cottage tonight to try on Momma’s wedding dress. Do you want to go or would you like to do something with Vincent and Donovan?”

  “I’ll go. I need to speak with Raùl about something.”

  Angel looks over her shoulder, while she brushes her hair.

  “About what?”

  Think, Mason, think.

  “I think I heard Maria’s brakes on her car squealing the other day. I need to talk to him about that.”

  “I didn’t notice; you must have g
ood ears.” She turns around and puts her long hair up into a high ponytail.

  I have good ears or I’m becoming a good liar.

  We arrive at the cottage and see a large clothing bag lying across the bed. I look at it, and Angel and Maria both yell at me.

  “No, Mason!” Maria shouts. “It’s Angel’s mother’s wedding gown. Don’t look. She wants to surprise you with the dress.”

  “I’m just looking,” I say, holding my hands up in surrender.

  “No looking; behave or you’ll have to leave,” Maria says, laughing.

  “Come on, Mason, let them be alone to do what they need to do.”

  I kiss Angel and Maria, then follow Raùl outside. We pass Josephine on the way out.

  “I see they ran you both off,” Josephine says, laughing as she heads inside the cottage.

  “They sure did. Is Carl home?” Raùl asks.

  “He’s waiting on you both. He suspected this would happen,” she says, closing the door behind her.

  We walk over and see that Carl is on the front porch with three Bud Lights sitting on a table.

  “That took less time than I expected.”

  “It doesn’t take long to make Maria mad.” Raúl laughs.

  We sit outside talking about the items I asked Raùl to bring with him from Los Angeles.

  “I have them hidden in the house, Angel doesn’t suspect anything. I was going to hide them from Maria, but that is useless. She knew I was hiding something as soon as I got off the plane.”

  “Angel will be very pleased with what you are doing.” Carl smiles.

  “I hope so. I’m a little worried it will upset her. What if she had another idea?”

  “Trust me, she will love it.” Raùl takes a long drink of his beer. “If it was a bad idea, Maria would have said so.”

  That is a good point. Angel, Maria, and Josephine walk across the yard, smiling.

  I stand and kiss Angel when she reaches me. “That must have gone very well.”

  “It did; the dress is in much better condition than I thought it would be.”

  I sit down and Angel sits on my lap.

  “Your Uncle Raùl and I will drop it off at the cleaners tomorrow and it’ll be good as new.”

  It’s Thanksgiving Day and it’s our first Thanksgiving together. Angel and I are going to my parents for dinner. Raùl, Maria, Carl, and Josephine will also be there. We begin our day with Angel cooking a few of her specialty dishes to take over with us.

  “You do realize plenty of food will be there?”

  “I know, but there is just something about showing up empty handed that doesn’t sit well with me.”

  “They are just glad to have us there. They don’t care what we bring as long as we show up.”

  “I know and I appreciate that. It’s just a few dishes, nothing special. I’ll just be a few more minutes.”

  I take a tortilla and scoop up some bean dip onto it.

  “Let’s leave this dip here, so we can have it for later.”

  “I made you some extra, but this is for your parents.” She laughs.

  I take another scoop and she smacks my hand, laughing.

  “Mom said to remind you to bring your notebook with you. She wants to finalize everything for the wedding.”

  “I have it all ready. Can you believe we’ll be getting married next month?”

  “It’s not soon enough if you ask me. I can’t wait to finally have you forever,”

  “Mason, whether we get married or not, you already have me forever.”

  “I know that; I just want to make sure everyone else knows that, too.”

  I walk over and wrap my arms around her.

  “You are so possessive.”

  “I can’t help it.” I kiss her and she kisses me back.

  We are greeted by my parents and Madison as we pull into my parents’ driveway. Raùl and Maria’s car is already in the driveway. Josephine and Carl must have rode with them. Dad walks down the stairs and helps me with the food Angel made.

  “Angel, this smells delicious,” my Dad says holding up a glass dish.

  Angel looks back behind her and smiles. “Thank you, it’s a bean dip. It was my Momma’s favorite recipe. I hope you like it.”

  “If it tastes like it smells, I’ll love it.”

  We gather around the large dining room table. It is set with a white lace tablecloth and my grandmother’s fine china. Mom uses this china only for holidays and special occasions. The candles are lit on the table beside the white lily centerpiece. Dad always buys lilies for my mother.

  We snack on appetizers and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while the ham and turkey cook. A family tradition since childhood. After dinner we watch football. Also a childhood tradition.

  Carl has the privilege to say the grace today. We stand around the table and hold hands.

  “Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for this wonderful meal before us. We thank you for bringing us all together on such a wonderful occasion. Thank you for keeping us healthy and for all the wonderful blessings we have everyday. We pray that you bless and look after the less fortunate and guide them. In your name we pray, Amen.”

  We all say “Amen” in unison before taking our seats and enjoying a wonderful meal together.

  “So, Angel, we hear your wedding dress is almost ready,” Mom says.

  “It is, and it’s in better condition than I had anticipated.”

  We mostly talk about the upcoming wedding. Everyone knows where I am taking Angel on our honeymoon but Angel. I want to surprise her and I had to do some research before booking our flights. I needed to get the exact location on the island.

  Time to clean up. We guys help — sort of. After dinner and after we all help with cleanup, the guys turn the TV on to watch the football games. I stand at the large bay window and watch the girls outside. Angel has her notebook and pen in hand taking notes. They walk around the yard pointing at certain areas where the bushes and trees are.

  “Son, you’re missing a great game,” my Dad yells from the Lazy Boy recliner.

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Angel looks up from the yard and waves to me.

  I wave back and smile.

  Angel turns her attention back to the activities in the yard. She moves her arms around and Mom nods while Angel writes something else down on her paper. When Angel looks up again and sees that I am still watching her, I decide I need to move. I may be creeping her out, standing at the window, watching her. I sit on the couch and watch the rest of the game.

  Once the game is over and the last of the wedding plans are complete, we say our goodbyes. Mom sends home a plate of turkey; she know how much I love left-over turkey sandwiches.

  “Buckle up, Beauty.”

  Angel looks over at me and laughs. She has the seat belt already in her hands. “You like to say that, don’t you?”

  “I just want you to be safe, that’s all.”

  “You do know that when you’re not around, I remember to buckle up on my own.”

  “I would hope so. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” I lift her hand and kiss it.

  “I had a great time today.”

  “Good, so did I. I’m glad Carl and Josephine were there. Did you happen to taste her pies?”

  “Oh, did she make those?” I had the apple and the crust melted in my mouth.”

  “I know. Mom said she made all the pies. I wonder if she’ll make us one for our wedding.”

  “Mason, stop it. We are not having pie at the wedding.” She laughs.

  Later that night, we lie on the couch and watch Miracle on 34th Street. It’s a family tradition of Angel’s and her family. Of course Angel falls asleep in the middle of it. I think that is another family tradition. I don’t wake her. We sleep on the couch together until morning.

  Angel

  I meet with Marilyn and discuss what she would like to see done in her master suite. She already has a beautiful space. I can’t imagi
ne why she wants to change anything in here. Sometimes, I think people can have too much money.

  We walk through the bedroom and into the two large walk-in closets, the sitting area, and the master bath. Her suite is larger than my old cottage. Once I get an idea of what she would like to have done to her suite, we have tea and crumpets outside on the lanai. She turns the fireplace on and the area warms up quickly. The waterfall is also on and adds to the relaxing ambience. This is definitely a nice space. Very pleased with my work, she tells me how much she enjoys her lanai and how much time she and her husband spend there.

  I head home but stop by the jewelry store first. I bought Mason something for Christmas, and I want to see if it’s in yet. It’s our first Christmas, and I want it to be special. I arrive home and see Mason unloading several large boxes from his car.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Maria called and said she had some things that belonged to you and asked if I wanted to pick them up.”

  “I didn’t leave anything there.” I walk over and help Mason with the last box and follow him into the house. Several other boxes are already on the floor. I open a box and remove the bubble wrap from the small item. Not believing my eyes, I hold the glass snowman Christmas ornament from my childhood.

  “Oh, Mason, look.” I hold up the fragile ornament for him to see.

  He gently takes the glass snowman from my hands and smiles.

  “We bought it one year we spent Christmas down here, at one of those shops over on Anna Maria Island.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  I anxiously open another ornament and then another. I feel like a kid at Christmas. Mason sits on the floor next to me and helps me. Soon we are sitting among a mess of bubble wrap, old newspapers, and old Christmas ornaments. Mason and I look around and begin to laugh.

  “Well, we have a choice,” he says. “We can either put them all away or we can put up a tree.”