Page 19 of State of Grace

Mason.

The voice came from behind them, and somehow Blake recognized it, although she hadn’t heard it since Mason was three. Blake spun around on her heels; Isla did the same. Looking at Mason was like looking into a mirror. She had Blake’s build – minus a couple of inches – and their long brown hair and sky-blue eyes were the same. The ‘Han shot first’ t-shirt she was wearing was clear proof that they were indeed related, which made Blake smile.

“Mason, honey, you should have told me you were coming. We would have waited.”

“I didn’t know if I was going to make it or not.” Avoiding eye contact with either of them, Mason methodically rubbed her thumb across her fingers. Blake started to step toward her to hug Mason, but Isla’s hand on her shoulder stopped her. Looking over her shoulder, Isla slowly shook her head.

“Do you want to get ice cream or anything with us, Mason?”

“Sure.” Mason shrugged nonchalantly as she finally made eye contact with Blake. “Hi.”

“Hey, Mason.”

“I enjoy your show.”

“Umm, thank you.” Blake couldn’t tell if Mason was nervous or if something else was going on. Putting her hands in her pocket, Blake smiled at Mason and was relieved when Mason smiled back at her. “It’s good to see you again, Mason.”

“You too. Let’s go get ice cream.” There was no differentiating tone between the two statements. With a shrug, Mason turned and headed in the opposite direction they had been walking. Isla grabbed Blake’s hand and pulled her back.

“She’s happy to see you, I promise. Mason is,” she paused, “I don’t know how to describe it. Vera thinks she is on the autism spectrum, and, at times, I would agree, but other times…I don’t know. She’s just Mason, and we love her, and we accept her little quirks.” Isla let go of Blake’s hand as they walked behind Mason to the ice cream shop.

Blake noticed how Mason immediately went to Isla’s side as the trio headed into the ice cream shop. It looked instinctual, and Isla put a gentle hand on her lower back. They placed their orders and collected their cups full of ice cream before finding a table by the window. Mason sat with her back to the wall and Blake chose to sit next to Isla to give Mason her space.

“So, Mason,” Blake shivered as she took a bite of her rocky road ice cream, “what do you do exactly? Mom told me a little about your work.”

“I run Paws on a Mission. We raise and train service dogs for people. Everleigh inspired me.” Mason shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. “We’re in the running for a chance to be featured in a NatGeo documentary, but they won’t pick us.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, honey,” Isla chimed in. “Mason was recently named the top entrepreneur in the state. She even received a special plaque and had dinner with the governor.”

“Whoa, that’s super cool.” Blake was legitimately impressed.

“Mason also graduated with her Master’s at twenty-three and is currently working on her Doctorate.” Isla beamed with pride.

“It’s trucking along slow but steady.” Mason’s shoulders relaxed as she let out a sigh and reached across the table with the spoon. She took a bite of Isla’s birthday cake ice cream and nodded her head. “Mmm, put that on the list of kinds I like.”

Isla tapped the spoon against her temple. “Noted.”

“So, Blake,” it was Mason’s turn to ask the questions apparently, “what was it like growing up with our dad? He wanted you more, but I’ve always wondered what he was like, and now I guess I’ll never know.” Blake was surprised at Mason’s bluntness. Across the table, Mason furrowed her brow as she looked back and forth between Blake and Isla. “What did I say?”

“Nothing.” Blake shook her head. “I love your honesty; it’s refreshing. That’s all.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t pick up on social cues sometimes.”

“It’s really ok.” She waved a hand at her. “Dad was fine. He wasn’t that loving or anything, but he was there, I guess. That’s all I can say about him. He was there.”

“I’m sorry he died.”

“Me too.” Although it had been a few months since his death, Blake still caught herself missing him as if it had only been a few days. The pain lingered on her heart like a bad cold she couldn’t get over. “He didn’t suffer long, though. The cancer was quick.”

“Such a shame,” Isla’s tone was matter-of-fact. “Cancer ran in his family.”

“I know. I was on Dad all the time to get screened, but he never did. By the time he admitted he had a problem, it was too late.” Blake shrugged. “Prostate cancer’s a bitch.”

“Change of subject,” Mason chimed back in, clearly over the talk about their father. “What are you doing now that they canceled the show?”

“That’s an excellent question. One that, right now, I can’t answer. But,” Blake looked back and forth between them, “I am thrilled to be having ice cream with my mom and my sister. And right now, that’s enough for me.”

“Here here.” Holding her spoon out between them, they each tapped their spoon against Isla’s and smiled. Having a family again warmed Blake’s heart and soul, and she couldn’t remember a time when she’d been happier. Coming to the Cove was turning into one of the best decisions she’d ever made.

---