Chapter Fifty
Kelley looked at Mason and sat down at the table again. Mason’s eyes were wide with shock and he looked catatonic. Kelley didn’t know an Andrea, had never even heard Mason speak about her and now there was a baby. He wracked his brain trying to put a face to the name but he came up blank. Mason didn't have a girlfriend that he knew about and nobody spoke about an ex either.
“I’m dead, Kelley … Mom’s going to kill me.” Mason looked like he might throw up and Kelley knew that at that exact moment, all their lives had changed.
“No, she won’t. She might be mad but shit … she’s here now and you can’t call protective services. They’ll put her in foster care.” Mason's eyes widened at that and he swallowed nervously. Carey would never let her grandchild go to foster care, of that he was sure.
They sat in silence for quite a while as they each thought about what would happen next. Kelley was about to ask Mason what he wanted to do but then he decided against it. There would be time for that later. They would first have to survive telling Carey. They both turned at the sound of footsteps on the stairs and Mason breathed a sigh of relief as John stepped into the kitchen.
“Morning, boys.”
Kelley cleared his throat and looked at John. “Morning.” Mason remained quiet, still pale and Kelley smiled as he noticed that Mason's hands were shaking. His friend wasn't afraid of anything except his mother.
Mason looked down and ran a hand through his hair. John looked intently at him and turned towards the kettle where their cups still stood. “Coffee?”
Kelley cleared his throat again, feeling a permanent lump there, and nodded at John who turned back to the kettle. Kelley kicked Mason under the table and John turned to look at them as Mason grunted loudly. “Mase!” Kelley's whisper had Mason look up.
“I know!” It was a harsh whisper and John leaned back against the counter and folded his arms across his chest as he watched Mason and Kelley's interaction.
“What is going on with you two?”
Mason finally looked at John. “Is my mom awake?”
“Yes, she is.” John's slight frown was evident as his gaze went from one boy to the other.
Mason looked uncomfortable as he squared his jaw and straightened his shoulders. “She needs to come downstairs.”
“What’s going on? Are you two in trouble?” Mason let out a breath and shook his head.
Kelley grinned as Mason looked down again. “That depends, John.”
“Sooner would be better than later, John.” John turned towards Kelley and nodded his head.
“Finish the coffee at least.” Kelley nodded his head at John's instruction and watched him leave the kitchen.
John reappeared ten minutes later and Mason stood up from the kitchen table as Carey walked into the kitchen as well. Kelley stood up too and went to stand next to Mason, showing his support. John scratched the back of his neck and pulled out a chair for Carey.
“Why do you two look like whatever you need to tell me is catastrophic?”
Kelley gave her a small smile but said nothing. This was Mason’s story to tell but he’d have his back. They’d figure it out no matter what Carey said.
“Mom, I love you and no matter what happens in the next few minutes just remember I’m your only son.”
Carey's gaze narrowed and she pursed her lips together. “What did you do, Mason?”
“Carey … it doesn’t really change anything. We’re a family, all of us.”
“Sit down, Kelley.” Carey gave him a look and Kelley looked down before finally sitting down in front of her. “Start talking, Mason.”
“Andrea left something for me.”
“The same Andrea I told you to stay away from. The same Andrea I said was bad news. That Andrea?”
Mason shifted on his feet and Kelley glanced over his shoulder at him. “Yeah, that Andrea.”
“What am I missing?” Kelley’s question was directed at Mason but he only shook his head.
“Spit it out, Mason. I’ll always love you no matter what but if you keep speaking in riddles I might just hurt you.”
“It seems like I have a daughter.”
Seconds ticked by as Carey sat there looking at Mason. Nobody said a word and it almost felt like time was standing still. The silence was deafening but Mason and Carey didn’t break eye contact. Carey’s jaw clenched before relaxing.
“She’s pregnant?”
“No, the baby’s in the living room.”
“The baby?”
“She left a note. Her name’s Grace.”
Carey’s chair scraped over the linoleum of the kitchen floor and Mason pushed himself off the wall and followed his mother into the living room. Carey stood in front of the bassinet and looked at the sleeping baby.
“Say something, Mom.”
“What do you want me to say, Mason?”
Mason looked Carey in the eye before speaking. “Anything. I know you’re pissed off but it happened and now she’s here and she’s mine.”
“Two words, Mason. Paternity test.”
“Okay.”
Kelley stood in the doorway and looked at them. Carey turned to look at Mason. “I’m not pissed off, Mase, I’m disappointed because even though children are a blessing it’s at the wrong time of your life.”
“We’ll figure it out, Carey.” They turned to look at Kelley where he stood watching them.
“How will you figure it out, Kelley? You’re going to college in a few months, what then?”
“Mason can opt to live off campus and we’ll look after her, get a nanny or someone to watch her when we’re both in class. She won’t ruin Mason’s life, she’ll only enhance it.”
“That’s good, Kelley, because I’m not raising her. I had my child and I raised him even if he turned out to be an idiot that couldn’t keep it in his pants. A grandmother I can be but now it’s Mason’s turn to man up and raise his daughter.”
Mason’s heart fluttered and he took a step closer to Carey. “That’s fair, Mom, but can you at least just show me how to change her diaper?”
