by Aubrey Cara
“My mom, Elaine. My family is incapable of keeping names long. Everyone gets a shorten.”
“If we marry I'm not going to become Maymay am I?”
Mimi shrugged, and peeked up at him over her shoulder. “You just may, Maymay.”
Mason groaned. “So we'd be Maymay and Mimi?”
Mimi rolled her eyes at his incredulity. “I grew up part of Mimi, Missy, and Mini. Get used to it, bucko.”
“Yeah, how did that come about?”
“My mother and Auntie Tita read some Elizabethan play when they were little. There were three sisters called Miriam, Melissan, and Minerva that survived against all odds. To our misfortune the names stuck.”
She heard Mason mutter “Minerva?” under his breath in horror. Mimi hadn't even mentioned her aunt's full name was Titania. Bad naming ran in the family. Thank God she didn't have the same naming affliction as the other women in her family seemed to have. Zephery was a nice normal name.
*** ***
Mason would gladly be known as Maymay to Mimi's family for the rest of his life if that meant spending the rest of his life with her. He intelligently refrained from saying this out loud. He'd taken it as a good sign Mimi hadn't clammed up or made a face when he playfully asked about them getting married. He didn't want to press his luck.
Coming out of the bathroom after washing his hands, he headed to the dining room where Mimi's father Herald was already sitting at the head of the table. Craig was sitting drinking wine and looking at a picture on the wall opposite him with more interest than the store-bought painting was worth. The women were streaming in back and forth from the kitchen, setting their Thanksgiving feast on the center of the table.
Zeke sat opposite Craig and looked up smiling when he spotted Mason walking in. “You're still sitting next to me, right?” he asked.
“Of course. You wash your hands like your mother asked?”
“Of course,” Zeke said, mimicking Mason.
Mason had no sooner taken his seat than a short Sofia Vergara lookalike sat down next to him to his left.
“Howdy,” she said smiling big and held out her hand. “I'm Mimi's cousin, Mini. And who might you be, handsome?”
Mini sounded like Dolly Parton and wasn't shy if the hand on Mason's thigh was any indication. Mason scooted to the right dislodging her hand. Clearing his throat, he introduced himself. “I'm Mason. Mimi's boyfriend.”
Craig snorted from across the table just as the other women came in and sat down. Mimi winced a little taking her seat on the other side of Zeke, drawing a frown of concern from Mason. He hoped he hadn't hurt her. He noticed she'd been careful about sitting when she'd gotten into his vehicle earlier that afternoon.
Her Auntie Tita sitting on the other side of Mimi must have also noticed the wince because she asked, “What happened to you?”
“Oh, um, nothing. New workout I've been doing,” she said it offhandedly, but her blush told another story.
Tita's snort of disbelief was either missed or ignored by the rest of the table. Sitting next to Craig across the table, Missy started talking about her new core fusion instructor, while everyone started passing dishes as they served up food. Mason again knocked Mini's hand off his thigh, but this time he also gave her a reprimanding look.
Herald cleared his throat standing up at the end of the table in front of the turkey. “I just want to thank everyone for coming out. I'm blessed to have a wife that is so beautiful and can cook like Julia Child. Thank you for cooking this amazing meal,” he said the last part looking at his wife with a twinkle in his eyes that made Mason a touch envious. Especially when Elaine looked back at him with just as much love shining in her eyes.
Mason could easily imagine Mimi looking up at him with a lifetime of love reflected in her eyes. It was a lame fantasy compared to his usual Mimi fantasies, but he longed for it just the same.
Herald led them in a short prayer, then said, “Let's eat.”
“This looks and smells delicious, Elaine,” Mason said as he heaped mashed potatoes on his plate and passed it to grabby hand, Mini, on his left.
To his right Zeke said, “I want Mason to fix my plate, not you.” Mimi stopped in the process of putting cranberry sauce on Zeke's plate, looking at a loss for words and a little hurt.
“Hey buddy, you don't talk to your mama that way. And she knows what you like better than I do. Let her make your plate, please.”
“Yes, sir,” Zeke said looking down.
Mason patted kiddo’s thigh under the table to let him know he wasn't in trouble. That seemed to help. Zeke beamed a smile up at Mason before he tucked into his food. Mimi mouthed, “Thank you,” over Zeke's head and Mason shot her a wink. He felt everyone's eyes on them, but didn't look to see their reactions to the exchange.
He wished he could lean over and kiss Mimi. Just a light casual one. The kind that Herald had given Elaine after the prayer. The kind that said they'd been together so long they were as comfortable kissing in public as they were breathing. The kind he'd seen his father give his mother a million times. Thinking of his parents gave him a pinch in the vicinity of his heart, but surprisingly it didn't hurt as much as it had in the past. Looking over at Mimi, he couldn't help but think that his parents would have loved her, and Zeke.
Conversation grew quiet as everyone ate, the comfortable silence broken by the scrape of silverware against plates. Mini thankfully kept her hands to herself and chatted off and on with Herald and Elaine about her new job as a secretary in a law office, and her new boyfriend Marvin. From the way Mini was wording things—and from Mason's short acquaintance with her—he was getting the feeling Marvin was her very married boyfriend.
From across the table Missy looked directly at him and asked, “Do your parents live in the area?”
Before he could say anything Zeke said, “Mason's dad is in heaven.” Then Zeke added, “Just like my daddy.”
“Well—” Mimi said on the other side of Zeke, just as Craig said, “So it's true. You really aren't Zeke's father?”
Mason set down his silverware, not fully cognizant of half rising out of his seat. He wasn't sure why the statement made him want to jack Craig in his faked tanned face, but it did.
Craig raised his hands in surrender. “No offense intended.”
Mason sat down realizing everyone was looking between him and Craig with interest. He took a sip of water and cleared his throat before saying, “Missy, to answer your question, my family is no longer on this Earth.” It was his most diplomatic answer, and one he'd given many times over the years.
“Oh, I'm sorry.”
“It's alright.” It really wasn't. “It happened a long time ago.” Which didn't make it any better. He was just more used to them being gone. “I do still have an aunt who lives near Gibson, but she usually travels to see her daughters on the holidays.”
Mimi looked at him over Zeke's head, her beautiful green eyes filled with sadness, and he realized he'd never really talked to Mimi about his family, or what had happened to them. He wondered what she was thinking.
“I'm ready for dessert!” Zeke announced breaking the heaviness that had settled around the table when everyone chuckled.
Talk moved to lighter topics
Later, after dinner and dessert, the women put the food and dishes away. Mason tried to help but was shooed out by Elaine and Auntie Tita. Now he sat on the couch in the den next to Zeke, watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas while Herald dozed in the recliner.
“Can we go play football?” Zeke asked without taking his sleepy eyes off the TV. Zeke had the football Mason had gotten him clutched in his arms like a teddy bear.
“It's getting too late for that.”
“Ah man,” Zeke said without too much feeling.
“We'll play again soon. Maybe this weekend depending on what your mom has planned.”
“I want to see the mall Santa. He's not the real Santa but he tells the real Santa what I want for Christmas.” Zeke snuggled up to Mason and his littl
e eyes began to droop. Mason grabbed the throw blanket off the back of the couch and covered Zeke up.
“We can probably manage that,” Mason said, already dreading the crowds at the mall. “Maybe we can go next weekend. But like I said, I'll have to check with your mama first.”
“Mason?”
“Yeah buddy?”
“I love you.”
Mason's heart stopped for a second before it started beating again. “I love you too, buddy,” Mason said softly, realizing he really did. Mason, not for the first time, wondered what it would be like to be Zeke's dad. If Mason ended up married to Mimi, he wouldn't be happy as a step-dad. He'd want Zeke to have his name and know that Mason would always be there for him. He'd do just about anything for this kid, including going to the mall during the holidays.
Mason was content to let Zeke sleep tucked up against him for a little while before he decided to search out Mimi. He found her hiding behind the wall that opened up to the entry way, with a gleeful look on her face.
“Do I want to know?” he asked startling his sneaky little vixen.
Mimi gave a squeak, wasting no time grabbing him and covering his mouth with her hand while she pulled him in to her hiding spot on the wall. “Shh,” she whispered. “Craig is giving Missy the break up speech. This is better than watching the Bachelor. I still think LeAnn is going to get the final rose.”
Mason had no idea what she was talking about. “Break up speech?” he asked quietly.
“It's the same it's-clear-you're-not-mate-material speech he gave me.”
“That should make Mini happy,” he said offhandedly. At Mimi's questioning look he explained, “I caught Craig and Mini making out in the hallway after dinner before dessert.
Mimi rolled her eyes, seeming to be unsurprised. “Mini doesn't date single guys. Only men already involved in a relationship. Once they've broken up with their girlfriend—or wife in some cases—she's done with them. It's her thing.”
“That explains a lot.”
Mimi turned to give him an appraising look. “Did she hit on you?”
“Let's just say she was a bit of a handsy dinner partner.”
“That bitch. I'll kill her.”
Mason couldn't suppress the smile that rose to his lips as he pulled a disgruntled Mimi into his arms. “I valiantly beat her off me, but I kind of like your she-cat feisty attitude. Is it wrong that your jealousy is making me hot?”
“I'm not jealous,” she hissed pushing against his chest. “I'm just annoyed she had the nerve to mess with what's mine.”
“Mmm,” Mason said dipping his head down to nibble along Mimi's neck. “Jealous and possessive.”
Mimi huffed, “I didn't mean that the way it sounded.”
Mason shook his head. “You can't take it back now.” Mason certainly wasn't going to forget her calling him hers. Hadn't he felt the same way when she'd gone out with Craig? His pulse beat, my woman, every time she was near him. Hell, when he just thought of her. It was nice to know she felt the same way. “God, I lo—”
“There y'all are.” Auntie Tita said coming into the living room, and cutting off his imprudent declaration. Mimi sprang away from Mason like a naughty teenager getting caught making out with her boyfriend. Her cheeks were rosy with embarrassment, but Auntie Tita just strode through the room shooting Mason a wink. “It's getting late and we've got to get going.”
“We'll walk you out,” Mimi said, trailing her aunt.
Mason brought up the rear feeling grateful Mimi's aunt had interrupted before he could make a complete hash of things by declaring himself too early.
They all stumbled to a halt in the entryway just as Missy’s knee connected with Craig's groin. Hard. Craig doubled over. Missy pulled back a fist and knocked him into next week with an impressive right hook. The space filled with shocked gasps as Craig's head snapped before he crumpled sideways to the floor.
Mimi's “Ohh,” was followed by a choked back a giggle with a hand over her own mouth.
Auntie Tita grinned back at them and winked. “I taught her that.”
Craig moaned as he held his bashed in scrotum and Mason couldn't help but groan in sympathy.
“What'd I miss?” Mini asked in her twangy voice as she sauntered into the front hallway, followed by Elaine. Herald was probably still snoozing in his recliner.
“I think your sister just broke up with her beau,” Auntie Tita said.
Mini deflated a little. “Oh, that's too bad,” she said earnestly.
Auntie Tita shook her head, obviously aware of her daughter’s proclivities. “It's too bad because Mr. Tanorexic, holding his nut sack and whimpering on the ground, was our ride home.”
“We can give y'all a lift,” Mason heard himself say.
Mimi's eyebrows went up as she shot him a are-you-crazy look.
He just shrugged. It was Thanksgiving, and Missy had laid out Craig in a way Mason had been dreaming of ever since the bastard had taken Mimi on a date. Besides, he was about to take Mimi home for the night and do wicked things to her body. He was feeling extra charitable.
*** ***
“I like your family,” Mason said in the car on the way to his place. Mimi's cousins had both parked their cars at their mother's house so he'd only had to make one stop. Thinking of her cousins he amended, “Well, I like your parents. And your aunt is a riot.”
Glancing at Mimi he saw her shake her head.
“She's something else alright. She can be a nuisance but I love her. My parents really liked you, by the way.” Mimi said the last bit shyly, almost hesitantly and it made Mason's heart pick up.
He'd been a little nervous going into today, even though Mimi's mom seemed very excited about him coming to Thanksgiving. He'd never cared so much about what someone's parents thought about him until now. It was nice to hear that her parents wouldn't offer any kind of obstacle to him and Mimi being together.
“You'll have to meet my Aunt Sherri who lives here in Texas,” he said, thinking his aunt would like Mimi. “She also has two daughters, but they don't live here. One lives in Colorado the other Chicago. They were my sister’s age. I wasn't ever really close to them, and then after...it was hard to be around them because they reminded me so much of my sister, Julie.” Mason felt a little sock to the gut saying his little sister's name. Julie. Juliette. He usually avoided it, like not saying it could make her being gone less real. “After college my cousins both got the traveling bug and ended up taking jobs in different places. They're sweet. I think you'd like them.”
“So they're not like Missy and Mini?”
“Nope. Not that I know of anyways.”
“For some reason I didn't realize you had a sister. So she was with your parents...” Mimi trailed off, not finishing with when they died. No one ever wanted to say it. Not that he could blame them. He didn't like saying it himself, like not saying it could negate some part of the horribleness.
“Yeah. She was six years younger than me. She was only eighteen, still in her first year of college, when it happened.” Mason cleared his throat that had suddenly gotten thick with unwelcome emotion.
His little sister had been spunky, and beautiful, and caring. She'd been really caring. Had she lived she'd probably be married with her first or second child by now. “It was a drunk driver who hit them. One moment they were here. The next gone. It happened ten years ago this Christmas Eve,” he said the last as an afterthought.
He'd been trying not to think about that fact. It shouldn't make it worse or better that it'd been ten years, but it did. One moment it seemed to cut deeper than usual, the next it seemed like he'd made peace with their death in a way he hadn't been able to in years past.
Right now it kind of felt like a weight was pressing down on his chest, and he took a deep breath trying to dispel the feeling.
“I hadn't realized...the holidays are hard enough,” she said, her voice raw and hurt. For him, he realized. For what he'd been through. “Oh god, Mason. Last night—I thoug
ht you were overreacting. I didn't call you and you panicked. That's why you were on your way to my place when you called, isn't it?”
Mason didn't say anything. It was true. As illogical as it seemed he'd mentally ran through every bad scenario of what could have happened to her from being in a car crash to meeting someone else. A part of him was still the twenty-four-year-old kid that sat at his family's funeral filled with soul crushing guilt. He still regularly wondered if he deserved happiness.
“I'm so sorry,” she said in a small voice, probably misunderstanding his silence.
“Shh,” he said taking her hand in his much bigger one. “You didn't know.”
He needed to take control of his emotions. He didn't want to feel this grief that was welling up like an old wound that was being reopened. He didn't want to see the sorrow of his pain reflected in Mimi's eyes. Those beautiful green eyes should be filled with the awareness of him and what he was going to do to her. “I know how you are going to make it up to me.” He pitched his voice so that the statement came out low and wicked.
Like flipping a switch he saw the change in her. Like she'd been shocked by a static charge her eyes widened and her mouth opened a little. He knew exactly what he'd like to do with that mouth. It was a sweet temptation begging to be filled. Fucked. Owned. Controlled by him. It filled him with a primal need that was always a little too close to the surface when he was around her.
These past few days only made that need worse. Ever since he’d discovered her secret desires. Read those books. Those naughty stories Mimi read had quickly rooted in his brain, morphing into his own lurid fantasies. Dark longings that Mason hadn't ever fathomed. He'd never felt this heady desire to command, control, and punish a woman. He'd never felt as much need to love and cherish a woman either. Not until Mimi.
They pulled into his long driveway and Mimi's gaze pulled away from him to take in his house. The long driveway wound through some trees before opening up to the long expanse of his yard. His home sat at an angle an acre back from the main road.
The house was a sprawling mid-century modern ranch style home more likely found in California than Texas. Not that he knew architecture well, he just knew his home was unique to the area. He had to bring someone in special for the job. Building the kind of traditional mansion he'd grown up in had been an option. Lord knew he had the money. It just wasn't his style. When he'd built this house he'd wanted something that reflected his personality. His parents’ home had always felt a little too formal for his tastes.