Page 7 of Every Breath

The more he was finding out about the old Mason Collins, the less he liked.

The next message began. “Dad, it’s Ben. I don’t care what Mom says. I know you had a good reason and that I’ll see you at my soccer game this week. The coach is going to start me at goalie. I’ve been practicing really hard. Okay, I gotta go. I hear Mom coming. Bye, Dad, I sure do miss you.” Click.

Beep “Mr. Collins, this is Don Keaton at the Sunny Brook Nursing Home. I’ve left several messages about your past due payments. I regret to have to say this, but if payment is not received within five days we’re going to have your mother removed, in which time you will either need to come get her or she will be moved to a state-run facility… provided there is any space.” Click.

Mason raked his fingers through his hair. He had to agree with Paul; Mason Collins’s soul belonged due south.

He rummaged through the kitchen cabinets trying to find something to make for breakfast as he thought of a game plan to tackle the problems ahead. By the time the blonde sauntered into the kitchen, the meal was ready. He’d found enough ingredients to make blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs. She gave him an uneasy smile as he pulled out her chair at the table.

When he sat down across from her he gave her a long, hard stare. He couldn’t have breakfast with someone whose name he didn’t know.

“Uh… I know I’m going to sound like a jerk but what is your name? I’m feeling a little forgetful this morning.”

She blushed. “Gina Scott. It’s okay.”

“No, it isn’t okay. I really have to apologize for putting you through this. I must not have been myself.”

“Oh, but… I kind of wanted it to happen.”

“You did? So you’re saying you would have slept with me if I didn’t threaten your job?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. The girls in the office were telling me how… oh, dear, I’m babbling.”

“Please finish.”

“The girls around the office say how well-endowed you are and I suppose I was a little curious to see if it’s true. I justified sleeping with you because you did threaten me, but now that I know you were bluffing, I’m feeling really guilty.”

“Don’t. The blame is completely mine. It won’t happen again.” There was an awkward pause. “Gina, exactly how old are you?”

“Twenty… almost. In two months.”

He was really relieved that she was of age. “You said that you cheated on your boyfriend. Are you going to tell him? How do you think he’ll react?”

She paused before answering. “I don’t know. We’ve been having problems lately. He’s very hard to please. I got these implants to make him happy, but it wasn’t enough. All I’ve gotten is a backache and his temper whenever we go out. Ever since I got these things, I get a lot more attention.”

“I can imagine.” His eyes strayed to her chest again. In most circumstances, he would have been like any other man, ogling them like an idiot, but they really were too big for her frame. He decided to steer the conversation to safer territory.

“What exactly do you do for me at work?”

“I’m one of the receptionists.” She looked confused. He knew she must be thinking that he was asking questions he should already know the answers to.

“Are you content with being a receptionist?”

“I guess so.”

“Isn’t there anything else you would like to do?”

“Well… I haven’t really thought about it. No one’s asked me that before. I wouldn’t mind going to school to earn a degree.”

“Doesn’t the dealership have some sort of tuition reimbursement program?”

“Umm… You got rid of that.”

“Oh. I forgot.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just having some trouble remembering things. I haven’t really been myself lately. Now, how about that breakfast?”

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