Page 45 of Mason Wilder
“I’m not the band’s manager,” Tessa interrupted. “I just take a concerted effort and interest in making sure everything is done on point.”
Kendall let out a joyful laugh. “You sound just like your father, love. Angel always had such wonderful business sense.” She scooted to the edge of her chair. “Tell me. Is Immortal Angel still together?”
They all exchanged surprised glances with one another. Was Kendall really that out of touch that she didn’t know Immortal Angel was stronger now than they were a decade ago?
Sindy was the first to answer. “How can you not know the answer to that? Immortal Angel is a legend. They’re still making music and touring the world.”
Kendall was lost in thought for a moment, her eyes taking on a blank stare for a moment. “That doesn’t surprise me.” She exhaled a long sigh, then took a sip of water. “Do you live in the City, too, Tessa?”
“No. The rest of us live in Lido Beach. I own a condo in a complex adjacent to Lucas and Sindy. The City’s too congested for me.”
“It’s our one point of disagreement,” Mason confessed. “I love the non-stop action and the loud noise of Manhattan. Tessa loves the beach.”
“I have to agree with Tessa,” Kendall said. “I don’t think I could live in the City. I much prefer the greenery of the boroughs, Brooklyn specifically.”
“I visited it for the first time about a month ago,” Sindy offered. “I’m from Baltimore. Tessa took me to Williamsburg to get our tongues pierced. It was a really cool place.”
“Pierced? In Williamsburg?” A small smile slowly lifted one side of her mouth. “Alyssa?”
“Yeah.” Sindy nodded.
“And Damien.” Memories reflected in Kendall’s far away gaze, but it was unclear whether they were good or bad. “Those two were something else. Neither of them had a filter. There’s something to be said about brutal honesty, but that’s ancient history. Are they still married?”
“Of course.” Tessa answered. “I don’t know two people who are more suited for one another.” She placed her hand on Mason’s leg under the table. “Except me and Mason. We were destined to be together. I’ve known he was the one since I was five years old.”
“That’s so romantic.” Kendall’s eyes glazed over. “I’m very happy for the both of you. You’re absolutely darling, Tessa.”
Mason placed his arm on the back of Tessa’s chair and kissed her temple. “She sure is.”
After dinner, Kendall and Sindy helped Tessa clear the table, refusing to heed Tessa’s insistence that they both stay seated. Mason watched them in the kitchen, too far away to hear what they were saying, but it appeared that Kendall was raving about the meal. He moved into the empty seat at the table next to Lucas. “She really seems to like Tessa,” he whispered to his best friend.
“Yeah,” Lucas answered. “I was worried there for a minute when we first arrived. Her reaction was . . . I don’t know. Unsettling. Know what I mean?”
“Yeah. I do.” It was the unspoken history with Tommy, Angel and Jessi that still left a big question mark in Mason’s head, but it was ancient history, and he was giving Kendall a chance.
“How do you think your parents will react when you tell them that she’s back?” Lucas asked.
Mason pressed his lips together and slowly shook his head, fearing that a big blow out would ensue. “Not sure, man. But I have to tell them. I just wanted to get to know her first, without their input. I wanted to hear what she had to say and make up my own mind.”
“And?” Lucas asked.
“I think she’s sincere. Whatever happened between her and our parents is in the past. I think she’s interested in my life.” He watched Kendall smile brightly and run her fingers down the length of Tessa’s hair. “And she wants to know the people I care about.”
While they had dessert, Tessa spoke about the tour and what’s in store for Prodigy. Mason told stories about the bands he toured with in the past. Lucas recalled stories of their childhood. And Sindy talked about the first time she played with the band and how awestruck she’d been at playing with the great Mason Wilder, which really surprised Mason. He had known she was star-struck at meeting Immortal Angel, and, at times, still was. But he had no idea that she was rattled at meeting him. They talked about Aunt Mary and how much she meant to all of them. Kendall even joined the conversation by relaying a few stories about Aunt Mary, which filled Mason with equal amounts of heartache and happiness.
After several hours, Kendall stood and smoothed down her pencil skirt. “I can’t believe how late it is already. I better get going. Thank you so much for having me over, Mason. And for introducing me to your friends, and your beautiful girlfriend.” She took Tessa’s hands. “It was such a pleasure meeting you. I hope to get to know you better before I go back to London.” She surprised Tessa with an excited hug. It caught Tessa off guard, and she didn’t have a chance to raise her arms to return the embrace. Her limbs were stuck at her sides sticking out like tree branches. Kendall pulled back and cupped Tessa’s face in her hands. “Such a beauty, with so much talent. Mason is a lucky man.”
“Thank you, but I’m the lucky one,” Tessa replied. “Mason is every woman’s dream. And he picked me.”
As if he had a choice. He couldn’t resist her if he tried.
Kendall shook Lucas and Sindy’s hands, offering more comments about being happy to meet them, and then she turned to Mason. The hug that she freely offered Tessa didn’t extend to him. Kendall hesitated as she stepped closer, raising her arms cautiously and dropping her gaze for a moment. “Goodnight, Mason.” She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and lightly ran her hand down his arm. He felt her warmth and her vulnerability, unsure if her own child wanted her affection. It tore Mason’s heart out. Maybe in the past she had been a bad mother, caring more about herself than her own son and caught up in the limelight as she tried to find fame. But she was here now and doing everything to make up for it. She wasn’t asking for anything in return except his time. He put his arms around her and hugged her with real affection.
He heard her take a breath and felt her head lean into his. When she pulled back, a soft mist covered her eyes. “Goodnight, Mason.” Her smile reached the corners of her eyes, causing a few tiny wrinkles to form, the first he’d seen make an appearance. “Please ring me tomorrow if you’d like to meet again. Or the next day. No pressure.”
He nodded, happy to see her again tomorrow. As soon as he closed the door behind her, he spun around. “So what’d you guys think of her? I think it went really well. Don’t you?”
“She was wearing Valentino,” Tessa announced. “And she smelled of Dior. She was very refined.”
“Yeah,” Lucas agreed. “She was classy. With manners.”
“She was nice,” Sindy said. “I felt kind of bad for her, though.”
Mason quirked an eyebrow. “How so?”
“She obviously cares about you a lot. She loves you. But she seemed hesitant, as if she was worried that you won’t love her back. I can’t imagine what that feels like.”
That’s the exact same thing Mason picked up from Kendall, and it tugged at his heart.
