by Ali Parker
I watched as Natasha and Adelaide chatted, taking comfort in the fact that Adelaide had another ally besides myself in the room. That would definitely help keep things on an even keel throughout dinner.
“She seems nice,” Jack said, standing beside me and sipping a scotch.
“What the hell? I get fucking wine and you’re drinking scotch?” I scowled.
He chuckled, taking the glass from my hand and walking to the bar to get me a real drink. I followed him over, keeping an eye on Adelaide. She looked at me and smiled, assuring me all was okay.
“Where did you meet her?” Jack asked.
“She’s Deanna’s best friend,” I reminded him.
“What does she do?”
I knew it was him making conversation and wanting to get to know about her, but my hackles went up. I felt like I had to defend her. I had seen the way my mother looked at her in the hospital. “She owns her own business.”
“Really?” he said, clearly impressed. “What kind of business?”
“A coffee shop,” I answered, waiting for the snicker or some kind of insulting comment.
“That’s awesome. She’s young,” he said.
“Not that young,” I shot back.
“Early twenties?” he guessed.
“No, twenty-eight.”
“She’s pretty and if I didn’t know any better, I would say you really like her,” he said, nudging my shoulder with his.
“I do, so don’t fuck it up for me.” I growled.
He ignored my threat and sipped his drink. “Incoming,” he said and quickly faded away from my side.
I turned to see my mother heading my way. It was a missile with a target in mind and there was no escape. I looked back to see where Jack had gotten off to and found him sitting in the chair near the love seat, settling in with Natasha and Adelaide. I was going to kill him for leaving me alone. I could see the questions on my mother’s face. I didn’t want to answer them. I didn’t want to put a label on whatever it was I had with Adelaide.
“Hi, Mom,” I said, feigning casualness.
“Hi, son.”
“What’s up?” I asked, getting right to the heart of it.
She watched Adelaide on the couch with Natasha for a bit. “She’s stunning. I can see why you’re attracted to her.”
“Thanks.”
“She seems smart and confident. We’re not an easy group to deal with. She doesn’t look the least bit nervous, not like she did at the hospital,” she commented.
I scoffed, sipping the dark liquid and letting it burn down my throat. “I think the circumstances were a little different.”
“She cares about you,” she said it as a statement.
“Yes, I believe she does,” I replied.
“You care about her.”
I looked at Adelaide, watched her laugh at something Jack said, the smile lighting up her whole face. The nervousness I had detected earlier seemed to have faded away. I could tell by the way she was gesturing and the way her eyes were alight with laughter that she liked Nat and Jack. They were an easy couple to like. Hannah wasn’t bad, but I didn’t know her all that well.
“I do,” I said after some time.
“Well, this should prove interesting. I thought for sure you’d be the last to fall,” she teased.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. We’ve only been seeing each other a few weeks,” I told her.
“Really? You don’t think you’re moving kind of fast? I am to assume she was the one taking care of you after the accident, right?” she asked, her voice had a hint of disapproval.
“I don’t know if it’s fast. It seems right for us.”
I wasn’t going to get into everything just then. My mother didn’t really know me all that well. I knew that didn’t please her, but it was a product of our strained relationship. It was difficult for me to open up to her. I didn’t share much of my life with her. Me bringing Adelaide to dinner was a huge first step. I hoped for my mother’s sake she didn’t do anything that would make me regret my decision.
Chapter 48
Adelaide
I smiled and nodded, listening to Natasha tell me about the nursery she was putting together for their child. She was one of those women who looked gorgeous and actually glowed while pregnant. I doubted I would have that same look. It wasn’t until after I was planning my maternity wardrobe I realized I was getting way ahead of myself. I wasn’t thinking about babies and all of that. I needed to slow things way down.
“I miss coffee,” Natasha said as she sipped on her club soda.
I laughed. “I cannot imagine not being able to drink coffee for nine months.”
Natasha wrinkled her nose and looked at her husband. “He thinks I’m not going to drink it for a couple years. I want to breastfeed, and all the books say no coffee.”
“We don’t want a cranky baby,” Jack interjected.
“You don’t want a cranky wife,” she shot back.
“You can drink decaf,” he offered.
She glared at him. “You can drink decaf.”
“I love you,” he replied, practically melting Natasha where she sat on the couch.
It was the cutest thing. “How long have you two been together?” I asked.
Nat and Jack exchanged a look. “It’s a long, complicated story. We’ve been together forever it feels like.”
“Five years, give or take a year, and not counting the two-year break in between and then that other year,” Jack muttered.
“Wow, a two-year break?” I gasped, wondering how they could consider themselves together when they had a two-year break.
“Again, it’s very complicated and a bit of a sensitive subject in the Bancroft household, but let’s just say our fathers hated each other and Jack and I were forbidden from being together,” Nat explained.
“They still do that?” I asked.
“They?” Jack inquired.
“I mean, your parents,” I said, quickly covering up what I realized could be taken as an insult. When I said “they,” I was referring to rich people. I didn’t think Nat or Jack would appreciate being lumped into a label.
“Yes, as archaic as it sounds, they did that,” Nat said with a sigh.
“I’m glad you persevered. You guys seem very happy together,” I said with a smile.
“We are, most days. He still makes me crazy, but I tolerate him,” Nat said with a soft giggle.
“Yes, you do and I’m grateful for it. I’m going to check on Mason. He gets a little skittish at these family things,” Jack said, getting to his feet.
I looked over toward the side of the room where Mason and James were talking. He offered me a small smile when our eyes connected. I smiled back, letting him know things were okay. He gave a slight head tilt, telling me he was doing okay as well.
“He’s a good man,” Natasha said once Jack was away.
“Jack? He seems nice,” I said.
She giggled. “No, I mean, yes he is, but Mason. I know he and his brothers have this weird thing between them, but I think Mason is a good guy. He hides it well under that tough exterior.”
I didn’t want to talk about Mason. It felt a bit like a betrayal. I knew I was probably being overly cautious, but Mason wasn’t comfortable around these people for a reason. Life had taught me to never take anyone at face value. Natasha seemed nice enough and I felt like she was genuine, but I wasn’t quite ready to be best friends and talk about our men.
“He is a good man. I wish other people could see that,” I said.
Nat looked at me, her eyes going big and her mouth dropping open. “Oh my God.”
I looked around. “What?”
“I didn’t realize you two were serious,” she squealed.
“We’re not. I don’t know what you mean,” I muttered.
“You care about him,” she stated.
“I do. Of course, I do,” I defended.
She was still grinning from ear to ear. “That is amazing. I’m s
o happy for you and him. How long have the two of you been together? Jack made it sound like this was a new thing. We never see Mason and he certainly never tells anyone about his life.”
“We haven’t been together long at all. I’ve known him for years, but it wasn’t until recently our relationship kind of evolved,” I explained.
“I hope this is a thing that lasts. Jack loves his brother. I know he would love to strengthen their relationship and get a little closer. He’s been very happy with the way things are going with Grayson, and I know he would be happy to get to know Mason a little better.”
It was a little strange to me that everyone recognized and acknowledged there was a definite separation of Mason from the family, but no one seemed to really do anything to change it. They wanted to change him, not their views of him, according to Mason. If they loved him and wanted to have a relationship with him, they had to change. “I think Mason would be happy with that, but I know he is happy with who he is, and quite frankly, so am I.”
“You’re right. Mason is who he is, and the family needs to get over it. I’m still kind of an outsider, but I can see what you’re alluding to,” she said in a quiet voice.
“You can?”
“You’re saying they need to love him as is and if not, get lost.”
I laughed. “Well, that’s a very succinct way to put it, but yes, in a nutshell, that’s how I feel, and I know that’s how Mason feels.”
“I agree. I’ve got your back,” she said, bobbing her head.
There were voices coming down the hall. Natasha’s face lit up.
“Who is that?” I asked, a little nervous.
“That would be Grayson, Hannah, and the cutest little girl in the world,” she said with excitement.
Just then, Hannah, a beautiful woman with long dark-blond hair came into the room holding a little girl wearing a pretty pink dress. The baby was squirming and babbling away. Natasha got to her feet, her swollen belly blocking my view as she waved Hannah over. My eyes went to Mason who was staring at his older brother with a guarded expression. Grayson walked to where Mason and James had been talking and shook his hand.
Mason didn’t look as comfortable as he had with Jack and James. I could see the tension. He finally looked at me. I stared at him, silently asking if things were okay. He held up his glass, telling me things were fine. I offered him a smile, holding up my own glass before turning my attention to Hannah, who had taken the seat Jack had vacated.
“Hi!” she said, her bubbly personality obvious.
“Hi.”
“You’re Adelaide and the woman who seems to be taming the wild Mason,” she gushed.
I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got the first part right, but I’m not taming Mason, nor do I want to.”
“See! I told you! She’s way into him. This is perfect!” Nat said, clapping her hands.
Hannah stared at me, studying me close. I stared back. I was ready to go to battle for Mason if need be. I didn’t appreciate the suggestion Mason needed changing, and I was willing to repeat that sentiment a million times if need be.
Hannah smiled. “I’m Hannah and I cannot tell you how happy I am to meet you. Mason needs someone like you in his life.”
“Thank you. And this is?” I asked, reaching my hand out to grab the little cherubic hand that was reaching for me.
“This is Leah,” Hannah said proudly.
“She is a doll,” I said, staring at the little girl’s big blue eyes that looked just like her mother’s.
“Thank you. She has her big, tough daddy wrapped around her little finger,” she said with a laugh.
“How old is she?”
“Seven months. Would you like to hold her?” she asked.
My eyes went wide. I couldn’t remember the last time I had held a baby. “Uh, sure,” I said, not wanting to be rude.
I put my glass down on the small table and reached for the little girl. Leah was a very happy baby, smiling and waving her hands as she studied my face. I found myself falling in love with the little girl. I focused on her, smiling and talking to her and pulling stupid faces in order to make her laugh.
I looked up once and found Mason watching me. I smiled and went back to playing with the baby, occasionally joining in the conversation between Natasha and Hannah about the movies coming out and other current events.
The room was a hive of activity, several conversations happening at once. I had never been in a big family situation. I liked it. I had always imagined the rich to be cold and aloof and sitting around counting their money all day. These people seemed normal. As I observed the room, I suddenly felt a little lost and out of place. I felt like I was swimming in the deep end of a bottomless pool and could sink at any minute. The panic started to bubble to the surface. It was Leah tugging on my hair that grounded me.
“And there he is,” Natasha mumbled.
I looked around. “Who?”
She nodded toward the man who’d just come through the door. He had a very smooth, polished look about him. He reminded me of a politician, smiling at everyone with dimples that probably made panties drop in massive quantities.
“That’s Colt. He’s the one after Mason. He heads up the family’s charity foundation. All the brothers are convinced he is Kathy’s favorite,” Hannah whispered.
We all watched as Colt went directly to his mother and wrapped her in a big hug. Her face was filled with joy as she reached up to pat her son’s cheek. It was pretty plain to see how happy she was to see the guy.
“They all look alike, don’t they?” I said, noticing the same tall stature, lean figure, chiseled jaw, and the telltale brown hair and hazel eyes.
“Yes, they do,” Hannah and Natasha said at the same time.
Colt was given a drink and joined his brothers. I watched as Mason sipped from his glass. He wasn’t really talking to his brothers, but he was standing with them. It was part of that being alone in a crowd thing.
“Shall we go into dinner?” Kathy Bancroft asked from the doorway.
My nerves were back in an instant. My eyes immediately moved to Mason. He must have sensed my distress and immediately detached himself from his brothers and moved to take my hand. Everyone began to file out of the room.
“Everything okay?” he whispered.
“Yes, fine. I like them.”
“Good. You say the word if it doesn’t feel right and we’ll go,” he said sternly.
“I’m okay, really,” I assured him.
He followed his family down the long hall. My eyes roamed the pictures, which covered the hall, of Mason and his brothers in their younger years. It reminded me of my house growing up, except it was about a hundred times bigger and there were a lot more pictures.
Mason pulled out a chair for me toward the end of the table. He sat on the far end next to me. I wasn’t sure if the others noticed, but it was very clear to see he was separating himself from them. I wondered if it was always like that. I took a deep breath and prayed the rest of the dinner went smoothly.
Chapter 49
Mason
Things were going better than I had expected, but I was still looking forward to going home. My mind had the image of Adelaide wearing that red underneath and that’s what I saw when I looked at her. I had to keep pushing the image from my mind or I was going to end up taking her up to my old room or any room in the house.
“This is really good, Mom,” Colt said, kissing up to her as usual.
“I thought it was an occasion worthy of having catered,” she said, taking a bite of the beef wellington.
“Is this a local restaurant?” Grayson asked.
“No, it’s my friend’s personal chef, who she let me borrow for the night.”
I knew she didn’t mean it, but she sounded pretentious. Adelaide was hanging in, not saying much. The conversation was mostly centered around the family business. I didn’t know shit about it and didn’t care enough to pay attention. I knew it was the same for Adelaide.
“I’m good,” she assured me.
“Adelaide, what is it you do?” Colt asked as if he just noticed she was at the table.
“She owns a coffee shop,” Jack answered.
“Oh, really? A chain?” Colt asked.
Again, it was another arrogant statement. “It’s a shop,” I snapped.
“You own it? You’re the owner-operator? Is it part of a franchise?” Grayson asked.
Adelaide put down her fork and used the napkin to dab at her mouth. I was about to shut down the interrogation when she put her napkin in her lap, barely touching my thigh as if to tell me not to worry—she had it under control.
“I own it. I work in it. It is not a franchise. It’s called Sinclair’s after my late father. It’s my way of carrying on his legacy. It’s not much, but it’s important to me,” she answered.
The table was quiet. I could practically hear the calculators in their heads determining her net worth based on the limited information she had provided. It’s how they worked. Everything was about money with them.
“I find it admirable. I think it is very special when a child respects the legacy of their parents. As parents, we want to know we’ve made a positive impact on our children. It’s a beautiful thing,” my mother said, not looking at me or Adelaide.
I knew it was directed at me. She was not going to let me forget how disappointed she was that I didn’t go into the family business. I ignored it, not letting her know I got her little dig.
“My father never had much. He did everything for me and died before I got the chance to show him what a great job he did raising me on his own,” she replied.
“Do you have a business degree?” my mother asked.
“No, I don’t. I didn’t have the luxury of going to college. I’ve taken a few classes, but my father died shortly after I graduated high school. I had to worry about keeping a roof over my head. My dad wasn’t rich, but he was smart and always told me to avoid debt. I opted to go right to work versus taking out a bunch of student loans,” she said.