MASON TRIED TO FOCUSon the email he was writing, but Crew’s airplane sounds were driving him crazy. Layla’s giggles always helped soothe his frustration, but all in all, Mason was just grumpy.
He had been for a week.
Ever since pushing Harper away, yet Mason still hadn’t gone after her. Talking to Mr. Thomas that night had made Mason realize he needed to wait a bit, but with each day that went by, he was growing more and more tense.
He knew there would be repercussions from Layla’s accident, but the question was...how bad? Their mom’s lawyer had sent word that they were working on a court date and Mr. Thomas had advised Mason to sit tight and not make any more stupid mistakes.
“Hey, Sasquatch!” Crew called. “You about done in there? The squirt and I are hankering for an ice cream cone.”
Mason sighed and shut down his computer. He walked out. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Maybe we should just stay home until we know what’s going on with Mom.”
Crew snorted. “We’re not under house arrest, Mase. We can go get ice cream.” He grinned at Layla and tickled her. “Besides, I’m probably going to have to go home tomorrow and I want to spoil her a bit before I go.”
“You’re leaving?” Mason asked.
Crew nodded. “I do have a job to get back to, you know.”
Mason rubbed his aching forehead. “I know. I just...”
Crew nodded. “I know. I was hoping to be here when it all went down, but...” He shrugged. “Duty calls.”
Mason nodded. “I get it. I’m glad you came for a while.”
“Me too.” Crew continued making faces at Layla. “I’m still not sure why Aimee kept her a secret.”
“I’m guessing she was afraid Mom would find out.”
“But she was a single mom,” Crew said softly, his smile falling. “We could have helped.”
Mason walked farther into the room and sat down on the edge of the couch. He leaned his elbows onto his knees. “I’m starting to think Aimee cut ties with all of us in order to cut ties with Mom. I don’t think things went well after we left.”
Crew nodded. “Yeah...me too. But she was our sister. We would have done anything she needed.”
“I know that, you know that, but somehow...” Mason swallowed hard. “Aimee didn’t know that.”
“I guess we get a second chance, huh?”
Mason nodded, though they both recognized the unspoken words in the room. As long as Mom doesn’t get her. “You know what? Let’s get that ice cream.”
Crew’s smile was back. “I knew you’d see it my way.”
Mason smacked the back of Crew’s head as he walked past. “Don’t get cocky.”
“Did you see that, Squirt? The big, bad Sasquatch hurt me! Don’t let him do the same to you.”
Mason rolled his eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And now he’s calling me names.” Crew stuck out his bottom lip and batted his eyes at Layla, pouting for all he was worth.
Layla squealed and whacked his face, causing Mason to chuckle.
“Even two year olds can see through your act.”
Crew pulled back from the swinging arms. “Guess I’ll have to work on that.”
A knock at the door brought all the laughter to a screeching halt. Mason looked at Crew. “Here we go.”
Crew nodded. “Here we go.”
Mason went to answer the door and just like they suspected, it was Mr. Thomas.
“Good to see you, Mason,” the lawyer said, coming inside.
“You too,” Mason replied. “I’m hoping you have good news for us.”
“I wish I did,” Mr. Thomas said softly. “Where’s the best place to talk?”
Mason waved toward the dining room table. “Let’s go here.” He looked over his shoulder. “Crew!”
“Coming!” Crew came in, carrying Layla. “Mr. Thomas.” The men shook hands. Instead of sitting, Crew stood, bouncing Layla.
Mason went ahead and took a chair across from Mr. Thomas. “Just say it,” he said. Between the lawyer’s greeting and the stoic look on his face, Mason knew he wasn’t going to enjoy this meeting.
“News of the hospital was exactly what they were looking for,” Mr. Thomas said bluntly. “They’ve got her records and testimony of the doctors saying it was a completely preventable accident.”
Mason bit back a curse word. His fists clenched on the table. “Okay...what can we do?”
Mr. Thomas opened his briefcase. “The character witnesses are even more important now than they were before. I never followed up... Did you talk to your girlfriend? One...” He looked at the papers. “Harper Woodson?”
Mason felt the blood drain from his head. “Um...no. Harper and I are no longer together.”
Mr. Thomas stared at him. “You’re killing me, Mason.”
Mason nodded, still feeling light headed. “I know.”
Mr. Thomas shook his head and searched through his papers. “How about Ethan Markle? You mentioned you two were friends.”
“Yeah...” Mason cleared his throat. “Ethan would be a great resource.”
“Any others?”
Mason nodded. “Jayden Gordon and Gavin Smith. I’m sure both of them would be willing to help out.” Jayden was Aspen’s cousin and a good friend. He’d been one of the first people to welcome Mason to Seagull Cove. Gavin was a firefighter and had arrived about the same time as Mason. Their similar age, size and quiet ways had drawn them together as friends from the beginning.
Mason’s group of friends included several other men, including the town vet and a school teacher, but these were the ones he was closest to, making them the best choice for a character reference.
“But no one closer?” Mr. Thomas pressed. “No one who’s been around you and Layla more than once or twice?”
Mason shook his head. The only person who fit that category was Harper and she probably hated his guts right now. He was hoping they could eventually be friends again, but until then? “No. No one else.”
Mr. Thomas’s sigh was longer and louder than last time. “Alright, well...the will is on our side and you’ve both added your own testimony about your mother’s...controlling attitude, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Do we have a date yet?” Crew asked, looking far too somber.
Mr. Thomas nodded. “I suppose I should have mentioned that, right?” He turned back to Mason. “This’ll all be over next Tuesday.”
Mason choked. “That’s only a week.”
Mr. Thomas nodded. “Evidently your mother’s lawyer has some pull because these things often take weeks or even months. But we’re on the docket for next week.” He shook his head. “Personally, I think they’re trying to avoid letting us have much time to build a defense. The longer you spend with Layla, the more examples you have of being a good parent.”
Mason pinched his lips. The end was finally close, but just as his mother hoped, he didn’t feel prepared. For better or for worse, his future would be decided next week, and Mason was terrified.