Page 79 of Anything To Be With You

Mark sighs and more papers move. "This is going to sound forward, but is there any chance you’re free to talk about this in person?"

"Uh, yeah. Where?"

"I can come to you if you’d like." Mark offers.

Do I want Mark here to talk about this with Mason in the house? I glance back at the door. I should involve him in this.

"Sure. I am over on Seaton." I give Mark my address.

"I’ll see you in twenty," he says, hanging up.

I stare out over my small yard. I pray Mark can help or point me in the direction of someone who can. Mark’s red Audi comes racing up the street. He parks behind my hunk of junk and gets out.

"Hey," I wave as he walks up the walkway with his laptop bag and a coffee. "Come on in. Ignore the noise and mess. Mason’s has friends over." I open the door.

"No worries. I’m glad Mason is home."

I shut the door. "Really?"

"I may have some questions for him."

"Okay, but he mostly answers in grunts and sighs." I show him to the kitchen. "Have a seat."

Mark sets his laptop up and with a few clicks on the keys, he’s ready to go. "Okay," he claps his hands. "I’m going to start a casefile. What you chose to do with it is up to you."

I start biting on the side of my thumb again. "Okay."

"Mason’s full name?" Mark asks.

"Mason Christopher Carter."

"Age?"

"Seventeen."

"Attending school?"

"Yes. He’s going into grade twelve in September."

His fingers move over the keyboard quickly. "Today was the first time he met his father, correct?"

"That he can remember, yes. He did know about him though." I switch to my other thumb. I better stop biting it or there is only going to be bone left.

Mark glances up at me over his laptop. "I’m going to give you a rundown on what you'll need if you decide to take them to court. The majority of it is paperwork on Mason, primarily his birth certificate, and any correspondence you may have between Josh and yourself."

"If I do decide to take this to court, what are my chances of winning?"

"Honestly?"

I nod.

"If you get a judge that's not on the Whitlock's payroll, you have a pretty good chance," he closes his laptop. "However, I can't see that happening. John has some major pull with the courts. He's not called The Shark because of his teeth."

My heart stops dead in my chest. If I go through with this, I could lose Mason.

And that would shatter me.

Holy Shit! You're Alive

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