Page 10 of Every Breath

The children turned around with identical chocolate brown-eyes as if feeling the weight of his stare. They examined him curiously. Of course. He remembered now that Mya and DJ attended this school as well. His thoughts had been so focused on seeing Ben tonight that he didn’t take note of the school’s name before. Of all the schools in the Philadelphia area, Ben attended the same school as the twins? It must be true that things happened for a reason.

He slowly walked over to them, longing to pull them into his arms and never let go. When he died, the thought of never being with his babies again, hurt as much as not being with their mother. Just as he was about to speak to them, he felt a tug on his jacket.

“Dad! You came! Mom said not to get my hopes up, but I knew you would be here.” The little redheaded boy threw his arms around his waist. This was obviously Ben. Mason found it strange that there were no pictures of the boy in his home, but then again the kind of person Mason had been made it unsurprising.

‘Hi, kiddo. I brought you something.” Mason handed Ben the football. He felt awkward meeting the child like this for the first time and tried to conjure up the feelings for this love-starved child that he already felt for the two onlookers.

“Wow! This is neat. Dad, this is my new best friend DJ and his sister Mya.” Ben couldn’t seem to take his eyes off him. The Mason of old certainly didn’t deserve this type of devotion.

Mason turned to look at DJ. His heart swelled in his chest and tears filled his eyes. The boy looked so much like the man Damon used to be, and Mya was beautiful, the very image of her mother.

“Hi, DJ, it’s nice to meet you, son.” He held out his hand to the little boy.

DJ gripped his hand in a firm handshake. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“And Mya, what a pretty name for a pretty girl.” Mason smiled at her.

She gave him a little smile. “Hi.”

Unable to help himself he patted her on the head, wanting to touch her to reassure himself that he wasn’t dreaming.

“My, my, my, if it isn’t the great Mason Collins gracing us all with his exalted presence. Where are the cameras?”

Mason turned around to see a tall blonde glaring at him with a great deal of hostility. It was amazing he didn’t fall dead that instant. This had to be Ben’s mother.

“Hello, Karen. It’s nice to see you,” he answered as pleasantly as he could under her angry stare.

For a moment, Karen looked taken aback by his response, as if she expected him to return her scathing remark. “She’s a little young even for you, isn’t she?” Karen sneered, shooting a glance in Mya’s direction. She had obviously seen him pat the child on the head.

Mason’s eyes narrowed. Whether he had done her wrong or not, it was not right for her to make disgusting innuendoes in front of the children. He didn’t bother dignifying her nasty comment with a response.

She seemed annoyed when he didn’t rise to her dig. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“It’s Parents’ Night.”

“And when have you ever cared about that?”

“Perhaps we can have this conversation another time,” he said, his nod indicating that the children were staring apprehensively. Ben was especially tense.

Karen had the good grace to look embarrassed. “Come on, Ben. Let’s go see your homeroom teacher.”

“Can’t I stay with Dad? I want to show him the picture I drew in art class.”

Karen’s lips were pursed together in a thin white line. Mason intervened. Karen looked as if she didn’t want to share her time with Ben, but he couldn’t let the little boy down.

“Why don’t you show both of us your picture after we visit your homeroom teacher,” he suggested diplomatically. What he really longed to do was to stay out here and spend some time with DJ and Mya. He also desperately hoped he would catch a glimpse of their mother.

Karen threw him one last glare before taking Ben’s hand and pulling him with her. “Well, if you’re coming, then come on.”

Mason turned to the twins before he followed mother and son. “It was very nice to meet you both.”

They gave him a little wave before turning to talk to each other. He was about to walk off when Brandi came out of a classroom. His breath caught in his throat. Watching her from above had been one thing, but being this close to her again was another.

It took every inch of willpower in his being not to reach out and pull her into his arms. Brandi looked as beautiful as she did the day he met her. He ached to run his hands over her smooth dark skin. Facing her, he flashed her a big smile as he held out his hand. “You must be DJ and Mya’s mother.”

She looked up at him, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. “Guilty as charged. I’m Brandi Evans, and you are?”

“Mason Collins. It seems that our sons have become fast friends.”

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