Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
BILLIE
A xl and I climbed into the truck with Cam and drove to the airport. The plan was to check in with Mason at the bakery first and then figure out next steps. We had lots to discuss. He was supposed to leave Smoke River, but for now, all I cared about was knowing that he was here next to me. Cam sat in the back seat, looking utterly pleased with herself.
“You know she likes you better than me,” Axl said, nodding at Cam.
“Oh, is that so?” I turned and scratched Cam under her chin. “Who’s my dog? Who’s my good dog?”
Axl grinned and reached over to squeeze my thigh. Every time that man touched me was like a bolt of electricity grounding me to this world.
I didn’t know what was coming next for us, but I knew that I belonged by his side. Cam’s, too.
Axl parked by the airport terminal. The parking lot was practically empty. Everyone who had been stuck in Smoke River had found their way home. We slammed the truck doors shut and left the window cracked for Cam as we walked into the Bakery Café.
Axl paused at the door. “You ready for this? ”
“Ready for what?” I asked.
“Oh, I don’t know, the third degree from Mason and everyone else in town? You know Angel is probably in there.”
I laughed. “News flash. I think Mason knows about us. Angel, too.”
“Yeah, probably.” Axl shrugged.
We opened the door and stepped inside.
Alfie was behind the counter taking orders. There was a short line of locals waiting for their turn and eye-balling the fresh baked goods on display.
“Billie!” A familiar voice cut through the café. “Billie, honey?”
I turned to see my mom walking toward me, her arms wide. Abby was with her. This made no sense. “Mom?” I looked at Axl and then back at my mother. “What are you doing here?” I blurted. “Why aren’t you in Denver?”
Axl reached out and held my hand, squeezing it. I looked up at him and gave him a grateful smile and a squeeze in return.
“I was so worried about you,” Mom gasped. “Abby and I landed a few minutes ago, and when Mason couldn’t find you, I got so worried.” Her voice caught. She reached out and hugged me, pulling me loose from Axl’s hand.
“Mom, I’m fine,” I whispered. She took a step back, her eyes moving between Axl and me.
“I’m Moira Prescott,” Mom said, her eyes fixing on him. She extended her hand. “Billie’s mother.”
“I’m Axl Grey, ma’am,” Axl said, giving her a firm handshake. Mom grinned. Holding his hand, she looked from Axl to me and back again.
“And it’s very nice to meet you, very nice,” she said. Mom glanced back at Abby. “Abby, this is Axl. And you’re right, Billie. He is handsome.”
“Mom,” I gasped.
Abby reached for Axl’s hand. “I’m Abby, Billie’s best friend from high school. Well, we were ex-best friends, but we’re better now — ”
“What are you two doing here?” I said .
Alfie and Ethan were busy behind the counter, and I saw a shock of Angel’s bright red hair moving back and forth. Mason hadn’t shown his face yet, but I heard his voice barking orders from the kitchen.
“After you left, OACA bank called about a deposit to Gran’s account,” Mom said.
“Oh, yeah,” Axl muttered. I glanced over to see him run his fingers through his hair.
“I don’t get it,” I said. “Gran had that account for a while. Why did they call today?”
“Well, someone made a very, very big deposit,” Mom said, eyes wide. She gave Axl a knowing look. “I called Mason to tell him we were going to drive up, and he knows how I hate driving in the snow, so … ”
Mason came out of the kitchen, Angel following one step behind him. “Mason, you need to re-think your branding,” Angel said. “Are you a bakery? Or are you a café? Which is it? Bakery or café?”
“Lord help me,” Mason muttered, walking up to Mom and me. “And I see you found Billie,” he said, standing next to Mom.
“Did you fly them here?” I asked, turning to Mason.
“Me?” Mason burst out laughing. “Not me. Angel’s crew picked them up.”
At the mention of her name, Angel waved as she picked a stack of menus off the front counter. “Hey, Billie. Hey, Axl. I heard Mason talking to your mom, and I figured, I have a Gulfstream and a crew here, and you may have heard, I’m not going anywhere soon.”
“You sure about that?” Mason asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Mason, darling,” Angel said, walking across the café to squeeze his arm. “I told you, I’m putting down roots, and I am here to help your business grow.”
I noticed my mother’s shoulders tighten as she saw Angel touch Mason’s arm. I was about to say something when Angel noticed it herself.
“I’m sorry, honey,” she said, looking at my mom. “I know you and Mason are a thing, and I want you to know that I am about to be divorced, and in no way am I looking to move in on anyone’s man. I am done with that shit.”
“He’s not my man … ” Mom stammered.
“Well, I … ” Mason said, shuffling.
Axl gave me a side-eye, and I swallowed a smile. “Angel, thank you for flying my mom up here,” I said.
“Yes, thank you,” Mom said softly.
“Well, it was the least I could do,” Angel said, turning to look at me. “Glad to see you two back here. I almost had the plane fly to the cabin and park in your back yard, but apparently, there are aviation rules about things like that. The pilot refused.”
“Smart pilot,” Axl muttered.
Mom and Mason faced each other, strained smiles on their faces. I stood between Axl and Abby, feeling like a third-wheel on my mother’s awkward date.
“It’s good to see you, Moira,” Mason said, nodding. “I thought you might already be on the cruise.”
“Nope. Nope,” Mom said, shaking her head. “The cruise is in another month. And the house will go on the market in a couple of weeks.”
“That’s good.”
Mom cleared her throat. “My offer still stands,” she said, throwing her shoulders back. She glanced at me, and I had the feeling that something had shifted in her, too.
What offer was she talking about?
“Oh, you know it’s hard for me to leave Smoke River,” Mason said. “I do want to travel with you, Moira. I do want to see the world.”
Angel walked by holding a tray of cinnamon rolls. “So do it,” she said, laughing.
“What?” Mason said.
“I’m staying. I’ll manage the place. I have founded and run a multi-million-dollar corporation that started in my garage. Angelic Homewares,” she said. “Google me. I’m in Target.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that,” Mason mumbled .
“Sure you could,” Angel said, rolling her eyes. “Look at her.” She glanced at my mom. “She’s hot as hell, Mason.”
Mom took a step back and wiggled her hips a bit. I could tell that Angel’s compliment made her happy.
“Why the hell aren’t you running off with this hottie, Mason?” Angel sighed, and she winked at my mom. “Men, am I right?”
Mom looked positively shocked, then her face changed. “Mason Lee, I am hot as hell, and I’m tired of pretending we are not a thing.”
“Mom,” I said, gasping.
Abby grabbed my arm and mouthed, “I knew it.”
Axl stepped away and looked something between amused and horrified. I felt like I was walking in on my parents having sex, but no, it was just Mom and Mason expressing their unrequited and repressed love.
“What do you say, Mason?” Mom said. “Apparently, I have enough money in this OACA account to pay off the cabin at Smoke River and then some. You and I will be just fine, thanks to Gran and Axl.”
Mason stood in front of Mom, his big eyes glistening. He looked at Mom and then back at his boys. They were leaning over the glass counter, elbows forward, poised and listening. In fact, the entire restaurant stilled. The line of customers stood with their heads turned, focused on Mom and Mason.
“Well, I … I suppose,” he stammered.
“What do you say, Mason?” Mom whispered. She held out her hand.
“Hell, yes, woman. I say, yes,” he said. He grabbed Mom’s hand and pulled her to him, then he swept her backward and planted a kiss on her lips like a war-time hero home after months at sea. Mason and Mom had found their happily-ever-after.
The crowd erupted into applause.
I reached over and gripped Axl’s hand, tears flooding my eyes. I glanced up at him. He smiled, his expression joyful.
“I think you have some explaining to do,” I whispered.
“About what?” he asked in mock surprise. “I have no idea what you are talking about. ”
“How much money did you transfer into my gran’s account?”
“Enough,” he said, his fingers intertwining with mine.
“How much is enough?”
He sighed and looked at the lights overhead. “Did I forget to mention that I’m filthy stinking rich?”
“Yeah, I think you did forget that,” I said, looking up into his deep-green eyes.
“Whoops, my bad.” He lifted my chin with his fingertips, and he kissed me.
THE END