Page 60 of Mason Wilder
He’d never had harsh words with his dad before, nor had they ever argued. They weren’t exactly arguing now, but he felt like he needed to choose sides between his dad and his birth mother. He would never go against his dad, but he also felt as if he needed to defend Kendall. No one was behind her. She needed an ally. And he was it.
“I told her to tread lightly,” his dad said, ignoring Mason’s sarcastic remark. “I told her she broke your heart once and that she better not do it again. I told her she better not get close to you and then disappear again.”
Mason folded his arms across his chest, appalled at his dad’s accusations. “You had no right.”
“I had every right. You’re my son.” Mason’s dad pushed his fingers through his hair with frustration. “Man, it feels like yesterday. You probably don’t remember. You were young. But I do. I’ll never forget it, either. You used to wake up in the middle of the night crying, looking for her. It gutted me. And your mom. We saw the way you hurt. No kid should go through that. It wasn’t fair. And it sucked. You didn’t deserve that. I don’t care how many years have gone by. It still pisses me off that she did that to you.” He raised his brows and shook his head. “I won’t forgive her for it.”
Mason remembered. Not the specific instances, but the feeling of abandonment that had terrified him at times. He remembered that, when he’d woken up in the middle of the night, it had taken a few seconds to remember that Kendall wasn’t there. He recalled feeling disoriented in his new room and wondering where he was. Then it would rush back to him all at once. She’d left. He didn’t know where she was or when she was coming back.Ifshe was coming back. He remembered being scared and the desolation that had consumed him. He also remembered the warmth and love that had engulfed him when his parents, and sometimes Aunt Mary, would console him. They would rub his back and sit with him in bed until he fell back to sleep.
“You can be mad at me all you want, Mase.” His dad put his hand on Mason’s shoulder. “I love you, buddy. And I don’t want to see you get hurt. That’s all. I hope I’m wrong. I really do.”
The memory should have made him bitter. It should have instilled distrust, but it didn’t. It reinforced the belief that Kendall had changed. “I am mad, Dad. Mad that no one wants to give her a chance. I get that you care about me and don’t want me to get hurt. But I’m an adult. I’m almost 30 years old. I can handle Kendall.”
His dad nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re an adult. But I don’t care. You’re my kid. And you’ll still be my kid in ten, twenty, thirty years from now. And I’ll still step in and protect you if I see something that doesn’t look on the up and up. So will your mother. And so will the entire Immortal Angel family. You know what Angel always says, right?” His dad glanced at Tessa, but she didn’t respond. “Family first.”
“Kendallisfamily. She’s my family.”
“Blood doesn’t make you family, Mason. That’s a title you gotta earn.” His dad sighed. “That’s all I got. I’ve had my say. Just be careful. Take it slow.” His dad gave him a hug and a pat on the back, which Mason returned half-heartedly.
After his dad left, Mason stared at the closed door wondering if his dad came here to tell Mason how he felt, or if Kendall’s presence overshadowed a casual visit. When he turned around, Tessa was staring at him. Her hard gaze indicated she needed to say something, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear it. “Not you, too, Tess.”
“I honestly don’t know what to believe at this point. I’d like to believe she’s genuine. I think I did, until recently. After what your dad just said, I’m starting to have my doubts. You have to take into consideration what everyone is telling us.”
“Us?”
She let out a breath and her mouth bowed downward. “I found out some things about her from my mother and Damien.”
“Why are you asking them about her?” A knot formed in his stomach, as he realized everyone, including Tessa – who was the kindest person he knew – was ready to question Kendall’s motives and prove she was only here to stir up trouble.
“I’m not trying to stick my nose in your business or come between you and your birth mother. I gave her the benefit of the doubt, but . . .” She paused, hesitant about continuing. “Do you really think it was a coincidence that I ran into her on the beach directly in front of my apartment? What about those uncomfortable hugs she gives me? Why was she so obsessed at watching those videos of Prodigy? She acted weird after she realized they were in the basement studio at my parents’ home. Why is she always asking me a million questions?”
He stared at her with confusion. “What are you talking about? Do you hear yourself? There’s nothing wrong with any of that. What are the chances of running into an old friend crossing the street? So what if she’s affectionate and wants to get to know you? And, yeah, maybe she did want to watch a lot of those videos, but I didn’t notice her acting weird. I thought she was taking an interest. We weren’t watching the same songs performed over and over. It was a variety of our music.”
Tessa bit her lip and her brows pinched together. “I know it sounds exaggerated now that I said it out loud. But I questioned those things at the time, and I just brushed off the bad feeling they gave me. Maybe I shouldn’t have.” She let out a pained sigh. “I hope you don’t think that I’m trying to be harsh and judgmental. That’s not me. I’m just feeling a little uneasy about everything.”
Weariness filled him with exhaustion. Never had he felt such anxiety or angst. His life had always been sunny. Nothing ever bothered him. His life wasn’t complicated. Things rolled off his back with ease. Now his neck was knotted and his usual light banter was replaced by combative dialogue with the people he loved most. He tried to rub the tension from his forehead, but it wouldn’t dissipate. “Of course I know you’re not harsh and judgmental, Tess. You’re the sweetest person I know.”
She rubbed his arm and laced her fingers behind his neck. Genuinely concerned, she peered into his eyes. “You’re not yourself. You haven’t been smiling as much. Usually, when you and your dad are together, I’m blinded by your dazzling smiles. Two people never looked more cheerful. The two of you always got along so well. But, recently, your relationship looks strained. There’s tension between the two of you. Between you and your Aunt Kira, too. I saw how annoyed you were when she was talking to you that day. And it’s because of Kendall. You should be happy that your birth mother is back in your life. Instead, you’re frowning, and arguing with your dad.”
“We’re not arguing,” he answered, defensively. Admittedly, there was tension but only because his dad, and everyone else, didn’t believe that Kendall couldn’t change or that she didn’t have any ulterior motives. “I know you mean well, but I’m not interested in hearing what your mom or Damien has to say. They’re biased. They already don’t like Kendall. It’s a known fact that no one has ever tried to hide. I don’t want to hear their side of it.”
“Why not? You heard her side. Don’t you think she’s jaded too?”
“Yeah. But she’s not dwelling on the past. Not the way everyone else is.” He was so tired of hearing about things that had happened twenty-five years ago. Two decades had gone by. Enough already! “I appreciate your concern Tessa, but let it go. Please.”
“But you didn’t hear some—”
“I told you, I don’t want to know what they said.” He huffed out an exhausted breath, ready to be done with having this conversation – with everyone. “I know how it sounds. I hear what everyone is saying. They all have the same opinion of her. They don’t like her. I don’t care what she did. I’m trying to form a relationship with my birth mother. I’m tired of everyone butting in.”
Tessa’s brows shot up, and Mason could tell she was miffed. “We’re just looking out for you. My mother said that Kendall was obsessed with her. That she wanted to—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” He didn’t care that he cut her off. When were people going to understand that he didn’t want their opinions? “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t care what anyone has to say?”
Tessa moved one fist to her hip. “Anyone? Or my mother?”
His frustration grew, causing a few heated breaths to leave his lungs and redden his cheeks. “I don’t know what to believe at this point, so I don’t believe anyone.”
“How can you doubt what my mother has to say? She’s known you and loved you since you were a little boy. Since before me and Lucas were born. You don’t know Kendall. She’s never done anything for you. She left you when you were three.” Tessa recoiled at the cold statement and her hand flew to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”
