Chapter Eighty-Five
Mason had just finished breakfast and Grace sat at the counter eating blueberry pancakes. He hadn’t slept much the previous night for fear of waking up and finding Grace gone. He knew it was a ridiculous fear but he couldn’t help it. His fear was real and Andrea showing up out of the blue had made that fear feel like a new reality.
Mason loved his daughter more than he loved himself and he'd give his last breath for her happiness. His heart hadn't stopped hammering since the previous night and he fought the urge to give in to the madness.
“Daddy …”
“Sorry, princess, what?”
“Someone is knocking on the door.”
Mason stalked to the front door, unlocked the latch and opened it. Andrea stood there in jeans and a checked shirt and Mason gripped the door tighter. The madness was now standing on his porch and the fear of losing his daughter slammed into his chest. His hand tightened on the door handle but he kept himself steady, resisting the urge to slam the door in her face, resisting the urge to run into the kitchen and grab Grace.
Going into hiding seemed like a plausible solution and a hundred different scenarios ran through his mind, yet he remained standing where he was because he was not a coward and he wouldn't run but he also wouldn't give his daughter up.
Andrea looked nervous and she swallowed before speaking. “I don’t want to fight, Mason.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I won’t tell her who I am, please, I just need to see her.”
Mason stood unmoving, thinking about what she’d just said. He saw the pleading in her eyes, the need to see her daughter and he couldn’t deny her that one small act. “Come in.”
“Thank you, Mason.”
“Don’t make me regret it.”
Andrea nodded her head. “I won’t.”
Mason closed the door and Andrea followed him through to the kitchen. Grace turned her head and Andrea faltered in her steps. Grace looked quizzically at the woman and she stared right back at Grace.
“Grace, this is Andrea, a friend.”
“Hello.” Grace smiled and resumed eating.
Andrea blinked back tears as she smiled and wiped at her eyes. “Hello, Grace.”
“Do you want coffee?”
Andrea nodded her head and sat down at the far side of the counter where she could look at Grace. Grace smiled again as she looked up at Mason and Andrea could see the love in her eyes. She looked around the kitchen and saw that Mason had given her a good home.
He wasn’t the boy she’d known in high school. Standing in front of her was a man who lived for his daughter. She was taken care of, beautiful, and had nice manners and Mason cooked for her. Andrea couldn’t quite put it together in her head. The cocky, self-assured boy she’d fallen in love with was domesticated.
“Are you my daddy’s girlfriend?”
Andrea choked on her coffee and Mason shook his head as he lowered his head so that it was level with Grace’s. “What did we say about personal questions?”
Grace scrunched up her perfect little nose. “Not to ask them?”
“Yeah, why don’t you go get dressed? Grandma will be here soon to take you to the market.”
“I’m sorry, Andrea, I’m a little nosy because Daddy’s never had a girlfriend.”
Mason laughed softly and lifted her from the chair. Andrea looked after her as she skipped out of the kitchen and listened as she ran up the stairs. It was a lot of emotion to handle as she sat there at the counter.
“She’s beautiful, Mason.”
“Carey will be here in ten minutes, you can wait in the kitchen if you want.”
Andrea smiled with relief and nodded her head. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to face your mother yet.”
Mason smiled then because Carey would rip her a new one. He left Andrea in the kitchen with a plate of blueberry pancakes, and more coffee and went upstairs to check on Grace. If left unattended, she dressed exactly the way she wanted, which was sometimes unconventional.
“I’m ready!”
“Grandma’s going to die when she sees you.”
Grace looked down at her black biker boots she got from Uncle Kelley, the sparkly black tutu that had been a gift from Uncle Lee, her pink tights that Aunt Marella had chosen and the black and pink t-shirt with the words ‘Ride or Die’ printed in bold letters, that one she’d chosen herself.
“I like it.”
“Okay then, let’s get you downstairs. Grandma will be here soon.”
Grace bounded down the stairs and back into the kitchen where she opened the bottle of vitamins and took one out. She turned to look at Andrea who was still seated by the island counter. She chewed the vitamin before filling a glass with water and drinking it.
“My daddy’s favorites are the color blue, bubblegum milkshakes, action movies and braiding my hair.”
Andrea laughed as Grace winked at her and ran from the kitchen as Mason opened the front door and Andrea could hear voices.
“There’s my sweet girl!”
“Grandma! Daddy says you’re gonna die because my outfit is superb.”
Carey smiled and looked at Mason. “Superb huh? I think you’re definitely making a statement.”
“Let’s go, you promised me fudge today.”
Grace grabbed Carey’s hand and pulled her outside. “See you later Daddy! Love you to buttons and back!”
Mason chuckled as John followed Carey and Grace. Two minutes later they drove away with Grace blowing kisses and waving like a maniac. He closed the front door and walked back into the kitchen where Andrea had started on the dishes.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“You gave me coffee and breakfast … and a chance.”
Mason sat down at the counter and watched Andrea as she washed the dishes. He realized that he didn’t actually know her. He’d liked her in high school and they’d hooked up on a semi-permanent basis but he hadn’t known her.
Mason made a fresh pot of coffee just as Andrea finished up with the dishes and he packed them away while she dried. She watched him curiously and Mason wondered what was going through her head. She seemed different than the previous night.
