The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  He scowled furiously. “Well maybe if you hadn’t been a whore and screwed Kade I would be there!” He roared.

  I recoiled as though he had slapped me. Wow. That hurt. I swallowed harshly as the tears welled again. I nodded sadly and refusing to look at him, picked up my case and walked away.

  “Shit Ava. I shouldn’t have said that, I’m sorry.” He grasped my forearm and I halted but refused to look at him.

  “I know Mason and believe me nobody fucking hates me more than I do for what I did to you but . . .” I gulped back the pain of his words, “but it’s not your babies’ fault their mother is a fucking whore!” I yanked my arm free and hurried down the stairs.

  “Ava . . .” he choked out as I reached the front door. I turned and lifted my eyes to his. “I really am sorry,” he breathed.

  I nodded softly. “Me too Mason,” I said sadly and walked through the door.

  I needed my best friend, her comfort and love to wipe away the hurt of Mason’s words. I quickly scrambled into my car and made it to her house in record time, flinging myself through her front door, in a mixture of rage, pain and hurt.

  “Hun?” I shouted to her as I threw open her kitchen door. “Shit, shit, shit!” I wailed, swiftly turning on my heels and re-entering the hallway. The vision of Courtney being nailed on her kitchen table by Greg will never leave my retinas, scorched on for the rest of my life.

  I heard their laughter from behind the door.

  “I am so sorry guys, I’ll just wait in the room,” I shouted as I turned towards her lounge. “Don’t be too long though, I’m hungry.” I added on a huff. I heard another eruption of laughter.

  Plonking my weary body on her sofa I let out a huge sigh.

  If you hadn’t been a whore. His harsh words resounded in my head. If you hadn’t been a whore.

  A tear trickled down my face, slowly and solitary. Oh that had hurt! I already knew he hated me but to push his babies away because of what he thought of me was so painful. “I’m so sorry peanuts” I sighed, rubbing my tummy.

  The room door opened and Courtney came in with mugs of coffee, Greg followed with a jar of peanut butter and a family size can of gherkins.

  She narrowed her eyes on me than sighed deeply. “I take it didn’t go well then.”

  I shook my head and reached out for the goodies Greg held. He eyed me curiously as I whipped open both jars with speed and dug in.

  “He called me a whore,” I grumbled as I took a large bite of my ultimate comfort.

  “HE FUCKING WHAT?” Courtney exploded, both Greg and I flinched.

  I snorted, “Well I am, aren’t I?”

  She growled, I had never heard Courtney growl, even Greg looked scared at that moment. “You are not a fucking whore Ava!” she expressed loudly and I shrugged again.

  “What exactly did he say, Ava?” Greg asked, looking dumbfounded.

  “I asked him why he didn’t want anything to do with his babies and he said, and I quote, if you hadn’t been a whore and fucked Kade then I would be there for you.” I gave up with the gherkins and just dipped my finger into the butter.

  Greg seemed genuinely shocked. I finally raised my eyes to Courtney as the tears flowed. “I am a fucking whore.” I sobbed.

  She huddled me up tightly. “No babe, you’re not,” she whispered gently as I wept.

  Greg stood abruptly and left the room and I looked at her. “I am so sorry Courtney, if I’d have known, well I wouldn’t have . . .” I trailed off.

  She grinned at me. “Don’t worry Ava, I’ll have him to myself for a whole week,” she smiled happily.

  Greg returned, looking a bit flushed and angry. “You okay?” Courtney asked. He clenched his teeth but nodded and she narrowed her eyes on him.

  My phone trilled a text alert in my bag and I reached for it

  MASON

  Ava, I am so sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. I was just . . . well I was just being my usual shitty self. Anyway again, I’m so sorry xxx

  I narrowed my eyes on Greg. “Did you phone Mason?” I asked slowly.

  He shrugged, “I can’t understand why he said that to you Ava. It’s the total opposite of how he feels.” He shook his head sadly and took a gulp of his coffee.

  “What do you mean?” I cocked my head at him. He eyed me nervously as though he realised what he’d just said.

  “Nothing.” I could see him mentally kicking himself.

  “Greg?” Courtney asked with a warning tone.

  “This does not leave this room.” He glared at us both, we nodded and he turned to me. “He’s a mess without you Ava. He’s constantly moody and angry. He’s drinking every night and a couple of weeks ago he got raging drunk in the club, me and Sam had to carry him out and take him home but he just kept mumbling how much he loves you and misses you and then started going on about hurting you and biting you or something,” he divulged quietly and gave me a timid smile.

  I instinctively rubbed the scar on my neck and sighed. “He turned up at mine drunk a couple of weeks ago. Kind of got a bit heated . . . he lost control and got a bit rough.”

  Courtney flew out of her chair and Greg’s face darkened. I put my hands up to placate them. “No, no nothing I couldn’t handle, he just kind of . . . well you know.” I cringed and Courtney snorted.

  “Oh Yeah, I’ve seen the DVD remember.” She winked and then chuckled.

  “DVD?” Greg asked. I shook my head with a laugh.

  Courtney turned to him. “Let’s just say Ava and Mason have pretty . . . what shall we say? Very active sex.” She pursed her lips. I widened my eyes at her but she waved me away and chuckled.

  Greg’s eyebrows lifted and then he chuckled. “I’m sure I could manage ‘active’ if that’s what makes you hot, baby.” He grabbed Courtney and pulled her onto his lap as they both laughed.

  I missed that sense of intimacy and fun with someone you loved, the simple act of sitting in his lap and feeling his breath on my neck as his arms circled and held me.

  “I’m gonna get off, laundry and shopping.” I stood and bent down to kiss Courtney’s cheek, “Enjoy your week away.”

  I smiled as her eyes twinkled and left them to carry on with what I had interrupted.

  CHAPTER 3

  I RANG KERRIE Sunday morning. “Hey Sweetie,” she greeted after the second ring.

  “Hi, how are you, hun?”

  “I’m good, how’s my little people?!”

  I smiled at her reference. “That’s why I’m ringing you actually. I have a scan tomorrow and wondered if you wanted to come and say hi to them?”

  She was silent for a moment. “What time Ava?”

  I frowned at her reluctance. “11:30”

  “Oh sweetie, I have my chemo at 11:00.”

  I had forgotten about her treatment, that’s why I heard her hesitancy. “Hey, no problem. I’ll be fine on my own. You sort yourself out.”

  I heard her pause again. “Won’t Courtney be going with you Ava?”

  “No, she’s in France at the moment with Greg. It’s no problem Kerrie.”

  I heard her sigh heavily. “What about Mason?” she asked cautiously.

  I swallowed my sadness down. “No, he’s made it quite clear he’s not . . . well not bothered. Honestly Kerrie, it was just a thought. I’ll make sure you are available for the next one, how’s that?”

  “Blow my little people a kiss from their Aunty Kerrie,” she chirped happily and I beamed down the phone.

  “I will, the peanut’s send you their love.” I told her and she giggled, already aware of my nickname for my babies.

  * * *

  So that is why Monday morning I was sat outside the sonographer’s room alone, a large bottle of water tucked under my arm and a jar of peanut butter in one hand with a finger from the other hand scooping huge quantities into my mouth.

  My phone alerted me to a text and I tried to balance the jar between my knees so I didn’t have to stop gorging out.

  COURT
NEY

  Hey Babe. France is wonderful . . . not that we’ve seen much ;-) give the peanuts a wave from me

  Love ya xxx

  I was face down texting a reply when I caught a glimpse of someone sit in the empty chair next to me.

  ME

  I will, I’m glad you are having fun. Stop being such a horny tart and enjoy France ;-)

  Luv ya too xxx

  I took another scoop of butter while I answered another text I had received from George and sighed in pleasure.

  “What the hell are you eating now?” Mason’s voice asked from beside me.

  I jolted and spun my head round, staring wide eyed at him, in shock or disbelief, I wasn’t sure which or if it was both.

  He looked his usual gorgeousness, wearing a fitted white shirt and grey tie with those grey trousers than skimmed his hard, toned backside. I was already willing him to stand up so I could catch a glimpse of it.

  “Hi,” I stuttered.

  He grimaced sheepishly. “Bit of a shock?” He smiled, his eyes glittering and my heart melted.

  “ . . . Yeah.” I couldn’t seem to form eligible words. He looked away with a guilty expression on his face. “How did you . . . ?” I frowned and he turned back to me.

  “Kerrie rang me.”

  “Oh.” My heart sank, I had hoped he’d wanted to be here not been made by his sister to come.

  He frowned at me when he saw my sad expression. “I asked her if she’d heard from you and she said you were here today so I asked her what time and well, here I am.” He shrugged but smiled softly at me. “I owe you an apology Ava,” he said shamefacedly but I shrugged at him.

  “Why, for being honest?”

  He scowled at me.

  The door to the side of us opened. “Ava Stone,” the technician called. I shoved the peanut butter in my bag and stood up.

  “Oh hey, Ava” he smiled as he swiftly shifted his eyes over me; it was the same man from my previous scan. I was surprised he remembered me with the amount of people he got to examine every day.

  I grinned happily at him. “Hi.” He gestured for me to enter the room and I took a step forwards but Mason didn’t move. I turned back to him, his gaze was fixed on the technician, his eyes narrowed and his fists tight. I frowned at him, was he scared?

  “You coming?” I asked softly. His eyes flicked to mine, the haze in them cleared suddenly and he nodded.

  “Bed, Ava.” The technician winked at me and patted the blue sheeted examination table beside him. I shook my head in humour, noticing that his name badge identified him as Ethan Havenshaw.

  I scrambled on and lay back as Mason took the seat beside me, still glaring at Ethan.

  “I’m just gonna lift your dress Ava,” Ethan said as he rolled it up to under my breasts. I grimaced at the slight snarl that rumbled in Mason’s throat.

  “Why didn’t you wear something he could pull down instead of up?” Mason grumbled, his eyes on the small amount of black material covering my lady parts.

  I glowered at him, “Because, I can’t get my belly in any of the trousers or skirts I’ve got. It was either this or joggers.”

  Ethan looked at us wide eyed. “Are you Ava’s partner?”

  I shook my head. “He’s the father but we’re not together,” I informed him and Mason stiffened. What the hell had I done wrong now?

  Ethan smiled timidly and squirted some Gel on my stomach. “Ready mum?” he smiled and swiped my stomach with the transducer.

  My heart flipped as my babies emerged on the screen. “There they are,” he smiled and clicked away at the keyboard.

  “Hey peanuts.” I grinned. I felt Mason’s hand slip into mine. I turned to look at him and my heart skipped a beat; he had tears in his eyes and the extreme look of awe on his face halted my breath.

  “Hey,” I said softly. He swallowed and turned slowly to me, his eyes so full of love and adoration that I instantly felt the prick of tears in my own.

  He stroked his thumb across my knuckles and I pulled in a sharp breath at the familiarity of it. “There’s thousands of fragments of me and you, bundled up into two little lives, Ava,” he whispered.

  His words choked a sob from my throat. He leant down and placed his lips against my forehead, softly kissing me as another tear rolled down my cheek. He closed his eyes and rested his lips against my head for a moment, then sighed loudly as if it physically hurt him and sat back up.

  Ethan was frowning slightly at us but a small smile played at his lips. “Picture mum?” he asked warmly and I nodded. “Dad?” He lifted his brows in query at Mason who also nodded.

  We sat hand in hand staring at our babies until Ethan smiled at us “The peanuts are growing nicely Ava.”

  “You remembered.” I smiled.

  “How could I forget, there’s not many patients who call their babies peanuts.” He chuckled and I felt Mason’s hand tighten in mine. Was he jealous?

  Ethan reached out with a piece of towel to wipe my stomach. Mason practically snatched it from him. “I’ll clean her,” he snapped.

  I rolled my eyes at Ethan and mouthed ‘sorry,’ he smirked and shook his head slightly as Mason gently wiped across my stomach. He swallowed hard as he got near my knicker line and smiled sheepishly at me as he traced along the edge. I raised an eyebrow at him. Seriously? He’d been closer than that plenty of times.

  I climbed from the bed and lowered my dress. “See you in a few weeks Ava. They want to keep a close eye on you after last time,” Ethan informed me as he passed us the photos. Mason slipped his hand in mine again, a sad look flicked across his eyes and I squeezed his fingers.

  He smiled softly and pulled me from the room; his hand gripping mine tightly as we made our way to the lift to take us back down to the ground floor.

  He was silent and morose as we descended. When we exited he stopped and turned to me. “You want to grab a drink?” he asked quietly. I shrugged, confusion written in my face. “God Ava, I just want to buy you a coffee,” he said with a scowl.

  “Okay,” I squeaked. He smiled then, his beautiful, just for me smile and I had to inhale sharply at the sight of it.

  He was still demanding my hand as we walked into the hospital café and got in line. “You want anything to eat?” he asked, glancing at me.

  I grinned and picked up a chicken salad sandwich, a sausage roll, a packet of ready salted crisps and a blueberry muffin.

  Mason eyes widened and his jaw dropped at my selection. “Wow, you hungry Ava?” he smirked and I smiled shyly.

  “The peanuts will demolish this lot within thirty minutes,” I informed him with a huff.

  “Peanuts? I keep hearing that word today.”

  We shuffled up the queue. “It’s mine and Courtney’s nickname for the babies.” I shrugged and snatched up a packet of shortcakes. Mason’s eyes shot from me to the tray and I smiled ruefully.

  He ordered our coffees and we found a table near the window. I tucked in immediately as Mason sat in silent awe watching me devour everything.

  “Wow.”

  “Hey, I was hungry.” I scolded as I took a gulp of my coffee.

  “Really?” he mocked. I narrowed my eyes on him but a huge grin erupted on his face, “I really hope the peanuts don’t starve.”

  He gazed into his coffee for a moment and then looked back at me. “I didn’t mean what I said to you yesterday,” he said softly and I shrugged. His hand shot across the table and rested over mine. “I mean it Ava. I was just . . . just angry at seeing you . . . Not like that!” he said when my eyes widened. “I was just angry and sad and pissed that what we had . . . well, it’s gone and I lost you,” he said quietly and lowered his eyes.

  I sighed heavily and placed my other hand over his. “You can’t begin to imagine how sorry I am Mason; I hate myself for what I did to you . . . to us.”

  I bit my bottom lip. “The babies . . . they are yours Mason, Kade didn’t . . . didn’t, you know.” I cringed as his face hardened. “I’m sorry Mason
but I had to tell you, I don’t want you thinking they are Kade’s . . .” I trailed off quietly as I saw his expression harden.

  “I know they’re mine Ava because my mum and Kerrie were born to twins,” he divulged. My mouth opened. He gave me a small smile, “We lost Kerrie’s twin brother to cot death when he was six months old.” He took a sip of his coffee and eyed me warily.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered and he shrugged.

  “I don’t remember much but after that my mum shut down with me and Kerrie, she couldn’t handle the grief when she looked at us I guess,” he said sadly and I nodded. “I just wanted to explain best I can about Rebecca though Ava.” He sighed. I bit my lip harder at the mention of her name. “I have to go to all Rebecca’s appointments Ava, it’s not because I want to, it’s just well . . . I have a part to play.” He sucked his lips and stirred his coffee froth with his spoon.

  “I don’t understand,” I said, thoroughly bewildered by his statement but he just shrugged. I gathered that was the only piece of information he was going to give me.

  “She’s due soon isn’t she?” I asked, trying to keep the bitterness from my voice.

  His eyes slowly slid up to mine. “She’s booked in for a caesarean at the end of March.” He shifted his eyes away as I choked on my coffee.

  “What the hell?” I shouted. He winced but then realisation dawned and he looked at me sharply.

  “No, no, baby. Do not think that I slept with her while I was with you.” He held my hand tightly. “Please don’t ask me to explain, it’s too complicated but I need you to know that I DID NOT sleep with Rebecca when were together.”

  I shook my head rapidly. “Oh come on Mason. She was due at the beginning of February and now all of a sudden she’s not due until the end of March. That makes it pretty fucking clear to me.”

  I stood up swiftly, knocking my chair backwards and grabbed my bag. His eyes were closed as though he was struggling internally with something but he just slumped back.

  I bit back a sob and stormed from the café, knocking a perplexed Ethan out of the way as he entered the room.

  “Ava!” Mason shouted but I ignored him and scurried back to my car.

  The lying bastard! If Rebecca was due at the end of March that made it obvious that Mason and her had been fucking while he had been with me, and the arsehole had the cheek to punish me for Kade. What a hypocrite!!