All Time Love

by Beverley Hollowed

  “Thanks,” Amelia said in a bare whisper as she stole a brief glance at Mason.

  “Amelia,” Mason said standing next to her and watching her closely. “What’s happened?”

  She didn’t reply.

  “Amelia, please,” Mason said. “Talk to me.”

  “Mason,” Sadie said, looking up at him. “I think maybe she could do with a cup of tea before you two talk. She has had a bit of a shock.”

  “Okay,” Mason nodded, before he reluctantly turned away from Amelia. She looked up at Sadie and was greeted with a warm smile.

  “Thank you,” Amelia mouthed to her, but she knew she had simply bought her time. She would have to talk to Mason sooner rather than later and when she did, she knew she would know one way or the other if Mason still wanted her.

  Chapter 27

  Mason sat and watched Amelia closely. He had no idea what to think, but something was definitely very wrong. Amelia sat on the sofa holding her cup of tea, staring into space.

  “Amelia,” Sadie said cautiously. “Has something happened?”

  Much to Mason’s frustrations, Amelia just shook her head, then quickly glanced at him. Her eyes were filled with so much sadness; it broke his heart.

  “It’s nothing,” Amelia said quickly, as she turned away from Mason. “I am just being stupid. Please. I’m okay. Everything is okay, I swear.”

  “But you were so upset,” Mason said not accepting her answer. “I need to know what has happened. I want to help.”

  “I know,” Amelia replied without letting her eyes meet his. “I’m sorry. I guess I just had a bad day. There was this awful customer at the store today who treated me like I was beneath her, then I broke your vase and I cut myself.”

  Mason wasn’t buying her explanation. He knew there was more to it and was about to say so when Sadie gave him a look that told him to let it go, so he bit his tongue.

  Instead he looked at Sadie in confusion, but she just shook her head and gave him a smile.

  “Maybe what Amelia needs is a nice long soak in the bath,” she suggested and Amelia immediately looked up at her, then looked at Mason. “Mason, maybe you could run it for her. Put in lots of bubbles and maybe light some candles to help Amelia relax.”

  “I…” Mason began to protest, but stopped. He took a deep breath and sighed. “Okay. I will go run it now. I won’t be long.”

  He turned and made his way towards his bedroom and then in to his bathroom. He stood for a moment in the bathroom, trying to figure out what was going on. He had no idea what could have upset Amelia so much, but something clearly had, and he would not rest until he gotten to the bottom of it.

  Ten minutes later, when Mason returned to the living room, Amelia looked a little calmer and even managed a smile when she looked up at him as he walked back into the room.

  He knew Sadie had talked to Amelia, and she had worked her usual Sadie magic. Still, Mason wanted to know what had upset Amelia in the first place, but he was happy she was at least smiling again.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Amelia said as she stood up from the sofa. “I am going to get into that bath while the water is still hot.”

  “Try to not get your hand wet,” Sadie said as she too stood up,

  “I won’t,” Amelia smiled as she turned back to her. “And thank you, for everything.”

  She glanced at Mason and gave him a nervous smile, then turned to leave but Mason reached for her hand and pulled her back to him. She looked up into his eyes, but didn’t say a word.

  “I love you,” Mason whispered, holding her eyes with his, as he searched for an answer.

  “I love you too,” Amelia replied with a smile before Mason leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips, then released her from his embrace.

  Amelia smiled once more before she turned and made her way towards Mason’s room.

  “Did she say anything while I was gone?” Mason asked once he and Sadie were alone. “Did she say what upset her?”

  “She is just overwhelmed,” Sadie replied as she picked up her handbag then turned and smiled at Mason. “Between this mess with her family and everything up in the air with you and your career. I think she is feeling like she has made you make a choice and she is afraid you are not happy.”

  “What?” Mason exclaimed. “That is so stupid. I have never been happier than I am with her. Why would she think that?”

  “Then maybe, My Sweet Boy,” Sadie said as she walked towards Mason and kissed him on the cheek. “You need to tell her how you feel. Stop keeping things from her. I know you, and I know you hide your worries, but being in a relationship, a strong relationship, means having no secrets.”

  Mason smiled but didn’t reply. There was nothing to say. He knew she was right. He did bottle things up, but he needed to learn to trust Amelia. If she was going to be part of his life, he needed to.

  “I should be going,” Sadie said as she made her way towards the door. “Andrew and Lori are coming for dinner on Sunday. I would love it if you and Amelia could join us.”

  “We would love to,” Mason said as he followed her out the door of his apartment, then towards the elevator. He pressed the call button, before he turned to back to face Sadie.

  “Talk to her, Mason,” Sadie said as the doors of the elevator pinged open. She turned and looked at Mason as she took his hand. “But more than that, listen to her.”

  “I will,” Mason assured Sadie.

  “I know you will, Son,” Sadie said with a smile as she turned and stepped into the elevator. Mason stood and watched as the doors closed, then took a deep breath before he turned and headed back into the apartment.

  He walked slowly down the hallway to his bedroom, running through what he was going to say to Amelia in his mind, over and over again. He knew she would have questions too.

  He paused outside the bathroom, taking a deep breath before he softly tapped on the door.

  “Can I come in?” He asked as he pressed his head up against the door. “I want to make sure you are okay.”

  “Sure,” Amelia replied through the door, so Mason opened it and stepped inside. He slowly walked toward the bath and sat down on the edge, the whole time his eyes never leaving Amelia’s. She looked so beautiful, lost in amongst the bubbles.

  He sighed as he leaned forward and rested his elbow on his knees. Amelia instinctively reached out and softly touched his arm.

  “It’s funny,” Mason said with a slight laugh. “I can stand up and argue before grand juries, but when it comes to talking to you, I sometimes struggle to find the right words.”

  “I don’t know why,” Amelia said in a nervous voice. “If you loved me, you would know you could tell me anything.”

  “If?” Mason said, thrown by her choice of words. “Amelia, there is no if about it. Do you really think there is any doubt?”

  “I don’t know,” she shrugged as she dropped her eyes back towards the bubbles in the bath. “The last couple of weeks…I don’t know, you have changed, you’re different…And I get it, I do, we rushed into everything, too fast…”

  “You think I have changed my mind about you?” Mason asked as he reached out and took her chin, turning her face to meet his. “Amelia, you are one of the only things I am sure about in this world right now.”

  “Then talk to me,” Amelia pleaded. “Tell me what has you so distracted. Let me help you.”

  “It’s nothing,” Mason sighed, and closed his eyes. He knew he had to tell her the truth. “It’s just…There is this client, she is not happy I have walked away from her son’s case.”

  “Okay,” Amelia said but she knew there was more to it.

  “She is extremely rich,” Mason continued. “And not very nice. She doesn’t take too kindly to getting no for an answer.”

  “Has she threatened you?” Amelia asked moving forward in the bath and Mason could hear the nervous edge in her voice.

  “Not exactly,” Mason said knowing he would have to tell her the truth now.
“The day I resigned from the firm, she came to my office, ranting and raving, throwing a tantrum.”

  Mason hesitated.

  “She made a comment about you,” Mason finally said. “It sounded like a veiled threat, and I freaked out. I told her, if she put so much as a hand on you, I would kill her.”

  “What did she say?” Amelia asked and Mason knew she was worried.

  “Nothing for you to worry about, Sweetheart,” Mason said as he lifted Amelia’s hand with the bandage and carefully brought it to his lips. “I have spoken to Andrew and he has increased the patrols that pass the shop and when you are not there, you are here with me. So you are safe. However, that was two weeks ago, and I haven’t heard from her since, so I think it was just grandstanding, nothing more.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?” Amelia asked.

  “I told you to be careful,” Mason replied. “But I didn’t want to worry you. You were already looking for a reason to leave.”

  “And you thought this would have been a deal breaker,” Amelia added as she moved in the bath so she was kneeling next to Mason, her eyes looking directly into his and she took his face in her hands. “I was not looking for reasons to leave, Mason.”

  “Then stay,” he whispered against her lips. “Please.”

  “Mason,” Amelia said, as she closed her eyes and pressed her head to his.

  “What is so wrong with you being here with me?” Mason argued. “We love each other. Who said we need to be together a set amount of time before we can live together?”

  Amelia stared into Mason’s eyes and he knew she was considering her answer.

  “You know this makes sense,” Mason pushed.

  “Okay,” Amelia whispered finally.

  “Okay?” Mason repeat. “You’ll stay?”

  “Okay, I’ll try,” Amelia replied.

  “Thank you,” Mason said as he pulled her closer to him and claimed her mouth with his. He stood up, taking Amelia with him, lifting her out of the bath.

  Standing Amelia down on the floor, he pulled a towel from the rail next to the bath and gently dried her, stopping several times to softly kiss her as he moved.

  When she was completely dry, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. Setting her down on the bed, he stripped off his clothes before he climbed above her.

  His mouth quickly found hers as he slipped in between her legs. He reached into the drawer of his nightstand, pulling out a foil packet and wasted no time putting on the condom.

  He kissed Amelia tenderly as he slowly slid his cock, deep inside her.

  “MASON!” She cried out as a wave of pleasure rolled over her body from the sudden fullness. Mason swallowed her cries with his mouth as he made sweet, slow love to her.

  He pulled her closer to him, rocking into her again and again, their bodies were almost one.

  Mason didn’t miss a stroke, until finally Amelia cried out again as her release shook her entire being.

  Mason lifted his head as he looked down into her eyes and he drove into her harder and deeper, before he too found his release.

  They lay there, wrapped in each other’s arms as the evening sun faded and gave way to the shadows of the night. Neither of them speaking, instead simply content to be held in the arms of the one they loved.

  “So,” Mason spoke first, after what seemed like an eternity. “If you are going to stay, does that mean you will move your belongings into my room?”

  “Does it mean that much to you?” Amelia said without lifting her head from his chest.

  “Yes,” Mason replied honestly. “Then I know you are serious about staying here.”

  “Then I will move my stuff in tomorrow,” Amelia said as she rested her head back down against his chest and Mason could feel her smile against it.

  “What’s so funny?” Mason asked as he tilted her head back up to look at him once more.

  “It’s just,” Amelia smiled. “This is not how I saw today ending. I was having such a horrible day. What with that horrible customer, and then cutting myself, if I am honest, I spent most of the day worried that you regretted having me here. I didn’t think I would have ended the day agreeing to stay for good.”

  “But you’re happy?” Mason asked holding his breath, almost afraid of her answer.

  “I am,” she replied and smiled again, but then her smile faded a little.

  “What is it?” Mason asked.

  “Next Saturday,” Amelia said and Mason could see the sadness return to her eyes. “It’s my dad’s birthday.”

  “And?” Mason asked, not sure what it was she was trying to say.

  “Well,” Amelia continued. “Normally, I would go home for his and my mom’s birthday.”

  “But this time, you don’t know if you will be welcome,” Mason said, as he finished off her thought.

  “I just miss him,” Amelia sighed sadly.

  “Then we will go back to Hartford,” Mason said as he pulled Amelia close to him and kissed her forehead. “I don’t know your dad, Amelia. But I do know he loves you. And I know he is probably hurting just as much as you are.”

  “Then why won’t he talk to me?” Amelia said and Mason could hear the crack of sadness in her voice.

  “Because,” Mason said, as he squeezed her tighter. “He is a man, and we are stubborn, foolish creatures. But I am sure, once he sees you, he will see his little girl and realise what a giant ass he is being.”

  “You really think it will be okay?” Amelia asked as she lifted her head up and looked down at Mason, hopefully.

  “I do,” Mason replied. “Next Friday we will drive up to Hartford and then on Saturday, you and your dad will finally sort this out, so you can be happy again.”

  Chapter 28

  The next day, as promised, Mason booked a room in the Marriot, in Hartford. Amelia was happy but still worried about what would happen once she returned home and faced her father.

  As the days passed, Mason seemed to relax more and more. Amelia knew that this was in part because she had finally agreed to stay with him indefinitely.

  The following Monday, Mason brought her to his new offices and Amelia was happy to see Mason so excited. While they were there, Andrew called in and he, too commented on how happy Mason seemed and said he knew Amelia had a huge part in that.

  He asked Amelia and Mason to dinner at his home on the Friday night. Mason explained they were going to Hartford and Amelia instantly felt her stomach knot with nervous tension.

  Sensing Amelia unhappiness, Andrew quickly suggested that they come on Thursday instead, that it would help keep Amelia’s mind off the weekend. He said there was nothing in the world that couldn’t be put right with a cuddle from the new baby.

  Amelia smiled and they agreed that Thursday it was. They arranged a time before Andrew said his goodbyes and left.

  When they reached Andrew’s house on Thursday, he greeted them warmly at the door and led them through the house to his kitchen, where they found Lori sitting at the table feeding little Riley.

  “Oh my goodness,” Amelia said as she moved in closer for a better look at the baby. “He seems to grow every time I see him. He has definitely grown since Sunday.”

  “I know,” Lori laughed. “It’s hard to believe he is four weeks tomorrow. I don’t think he will be little for very long.”

  “No!” Amelia exclaimed. “He couldn’t be four weeks already. It sure doesn’t feel like it. Seems like he only just arrived.”

  “I know,” Lori said. “It’s scary how fast the time is going but he will be four weeks tomorrow and he is getting so big so fast.”

  Amelia suddenly felt a sickening, sinking feeling form in the pit her stomach as her mind began to work overtime. Surely Lori was wrong, it couldn’t possibly be four weeks since Riley had arrived. Could it?

  Amelia quickly tried to work it out in her head as the shocking realisation washed over her. She was two weeks late. She thought she was going to be sick.

  �
�Amelia, Sweetheart,” Mason said as he noticed the expression on her face. “Are you okay? You have gone as white as a sheet.”

  “Yeah,” she replied as she tried to regroup as quickly as she could. She gave Mason a reassuring smile. “Couldn’t be better.”

  Before Mason could push her any further, Andrew, who was doing the cooking, announced that dinner was ready.

  Mason pulled out a chair for Amelia and she knew he was watching her closely as she sat down.

  FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! Amelia chanted in her head most of the way through dinner. She had no idea how this could have happened. How had she been so stupid?

  She knew that Mason was watching her, and she knew that if she wanted to give herself sometime to think, she would have to appear as if everything was okay, so she tried her hardest to seem like she was having a good time, despite the fact she was completely freaking out inside.

  By the time they were saying goodnight to Andrew and Lori, Amelia was on autopilot, and was acting completely normal.

  When she and Mason got back to the apartment, Amelia told Mason she was tired and was going to call it an early night. She kissed him goodnight, and made her way to the bedroom, completely aware Mason was watching her closely as she walked away.

  The next day, on her lunch break, Amelia walked down to the drug store and bought a pregnancy test. She was still hoping against hope that it was just the stress of everything that had her period late.

  When she got back to the bookstore, she hurried to the bathroom, and took the test. Sure enough, there it was, the two lines in one window and four to five weeks in the other one.

  This can’t really be happening, Amelia thought miserably.

  She thought about all the times they had sex over the past few weeks, they always used protection. How was this even possible?

  Then she remembered the day Mason came to her parent’s house after he had turned up in the restaurant the day before. They had been so consumed in each other that day on the stairs, things just happened.

  You, idiot! She scolded herself. Dad is right, you are a disaster.