Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mason had never had a reason to call a press conference before and he felt like a clown—an exhausted, hungry, cranky clown—as he stood in front of Roseview’s small municipal building with a notecard the following afternoon.
There were only a few notes, basically a brief summary of what had happened and that Sam Sr. would be returning home soon to recover under Sarina’s watchful eye.
His father had asked him to keep it simple and thank everyone for their concern and well wishes.
Hoping a conference would reassure everyone and grant his family a little more peace, Mason tapped on a microphone and smiled at the crowd that had gathered to listen.
Carl Samson, the editor and sole reporter for the town’s small newspaper was there, along with a photographer.
Most of the offices and businesses on Main Street must have been empty because it looked like everyone was there.
“You’ve got this!” Sarina whispered next to him.
Mason nodded and cleared his throat. “Good afternoon and thank you for taking time out of your busy day, and for caring so much about Sam Sr. Your love and support has been the best medicine, and Dad will be home soon and on the mend. His doctors expect that he’ll make a quick recovery, thanks to our favorite doctor.
” Mason waved at Sarina and she was boisterously applauded.
There was also some laughter and whistles as she bowed and curtsied.
“Dad is doing great, thanks to the amazing doctors, nurses, and staff at NYU Langone,” Mason continued.
“We’ll be taking him to Southampton for rehabilitation services over the following months, but he’ll be up and rambling around town again in no time.
Thank you again for all your prayers and well-wishes, they’ve meant the world to me and my parents. ”
“Is it okay if I say something?” Sarina asked but reached for the microphone before Mason answered.
“Right! You should probably tell them about the symptoms and what they should do if they think a loved one is having a stroke.” he said as he passed it to her.
“Eh.” She swatted dismissively. “They can look it up on the internet, if they haven’t already.
This is about me. I have a personal statement I’d like to make,” she announced and there were some excited murmurs as the crowd moved closer.
“I want everyone to hear it from me directly, and I want to make some things very clear,” she began, raising her chin defiantly.
Mason was probably the only one close enough to see her lip wobble and his heart started racing. “What are you doing?” he whispered nervously, but she grabbed his hand and held it tight.
“I have to do this,” she whispered back and raised the microphone.
“I’m leaving Mayor Cartwright,” she began, eliciting shocked gasps.
“It’s important that everyone knows that Mason has been the perfect husband and father in every way possible.
I love him and I always will, but it’s time for him to be free, and I’m tired of hiding.
I’m in love with Lexie Walston and we’re getting married, once I’ve straightened things out with Mason.
He’s been protecting me for a long time, but I don’t want to live a lie anymore.
That’s all, I will not be taking any other questions,” she concluded, then handed the microphone back to Mason and hurried into the crowd.
He tried to grab her, but stopped when he spotted Sky and Nadine at the far end of the parking lot, staring in disbelief.
“Um… I won’t be answering any questions about that, but if you have any questions about Dad, you can just call or text me.” Mason quickly turned off the microphone and passed it to Kyle. “Can you…handle this? I need to go.”
“Go!” Kyle snatched it from him and gave Mason a hard shove. “I want to know everything later!” he called after Mason.
“Sure,” Mason lied, then nodded and thanked people as he hurried after Sarina.
She was hugging Sky and they were both crying when Mason reached them.
“What the hell was that?” Mason asked Sarina, once it was his turn for a tearful hug.
“I had a long talk with Lexie after you broke the news to Sam and Kate. We worked it out with Bill last night after I got back to Roseview. I’m buying the hardware store so he can retire, and he gave us his blessing.
He’s planning to spend the rest of his days driving around the country in his new RV and fishing. ”
“That’s incredible, Sina!” Mason was crying again as he pulled her into his arms and spun her, but these were happy tears. “I’m so happy for you two.”
“I think I’m ready to move in with Lexie, if that’s okay with you.” She winced hard, looking torn as she delivered the news to Mason. “We want to fix up her place over the hardware store. It’s just a few minutes from the house and I think we can figure out a way to make this easy on Sam, right?”
“I know we can,” Mason said and hugged her again. “He has two grandmas and soon, he’ll have two moms. He loves spending the weekend at his grandparents’ house. We’ll handle it like that until both places feel like home. And I’ll pick Dr. Collins' brain for more advice next week.”
“Good thinking! I love you!” She kissed him, then leaned back. “I’m staying at your parents’ place with Little Sam for a few days. Get some rest and work things out with Sky,” she said with a nod at her brother.
Sky’s eyes widened and his cheeks turned pink. “Work things out with Sky?” he echoed, then gulped loudly.
Nadine’s gaze flicked between Sky and Mason and her jaw fell. “Since when?” she asked loudly.
“Shhh! The whole town is watching!” Sky said as he turned her away from the crowd.
“Gosh! I’m so sorry!” She covered her mouth and nodded. “There’s chocolate cake and wine at the house, and I will forgive you if you tell me everything now.”
“I think…” Sky looked at Mason and waited for his nod. “We can do that. Mom won’t like it, but I should probably get my things while I’m there too,” he added quietly.
A giant smile split Nadine’s face. “Let’s make it champagne. We have so much to celebrate!”
Sarina took a rain check so she could stop in at the hardware store and let Lexie know how the press conference had gone.
Lexie knew the bombshell was coming and had agreed that getting it over with, and telling everyone to mind their own business was the best way for them to handle it.
But she did not want to be there when it happened.
As a man with his own secrets and concerns about his future in Roseview, Mason could understand that.
Neither he nor Sky felt like talking during the short ride to Adele’s, but Mason stopped him before they got out of the truck.
“Everything’s going to be okay. Adele already knows about us, and I can tell Nadine is tickled.
We can handle whatever your mother throws at us.
Then, we get to decide what happens next. ”
“What do you want to happen next?” Sky asked him, his eyes growing wider. “Are you going to come out? Are we going to—?”
“Slow down,” Mason said with a soft laugh as he pulled Sky close and kissed him.
“The last few days have been a rollercoaster. I thought I was going to lose my dad, and then I told him the truth about…everything. Except for who Sam’s real dad is or about your mom and Lance.
I had no idea Sina was going to do that, or what comes next.
I think I know what I’d like to happen, but we need time alone to talk about it.
Alone,” he repeated as he pecked at Sky’s lips.
“I can’t even believe you’re here. Why are you here? ”
“Nadine called and told me about Sam Sr. and I had to be here for you. I don’t know what I can do to help, but I want to help you. The way you helped me when I was hurting.”
“I’m so much better now,” Mason said and sighed as he pulled himself away. “At least, I will be. I need to eat something that isn’t from a vending machine or a cafeteria, take a long, hot shower, then crash.”
“I can help with that,” Sky said, smiling as he pushed open his door and got out and Mason hurried after him. “I still can’t cook but Nadine will know what to do.”
She already had it covered. A large salad was placed in front of Mason at the kitchen table and there was a cheese tray to go along with their champagne.
“I was already planning to make pasta for lunch, so it won’t take long. You two can fill me in while I work,” Nadine said, then turned when Adele arrived with an empty martini glass.
“What are we celebrating?” she asked as she went to the ice bucket and took out the bottle to pour herself a refill.
There was a long pause as they all waited until Sky realized that he was supposed to say something.
“Me?” He looked at Mason and Nadine.
She laughed and held up a wedge of Parmesan. “I’m still waiting to find out.”
Mason shook his head as he stabbed at his salad. “You get to decide how much she knows. I’m just here for support.”
“Awesome,” Sky said dryly, then slouched as he turned to his mother.
“Might as well get it over with. Sarina just came out to the whole town and is getting married to Lexie Walston. I have no idea what that means for me and Mason, but I’m going to stay at his place so we can figure that out,” he said and looked at Mason to make sure he had gotten it right.
He held up a thumb as he chewed, then swallowed before addressing Adele. “My parents know I’m in love with Sky, but we haven’t decided if we’re telling everyone yet. It would mean a lot to me if you would let us handle this privately, and in our own way.”
Adele’s gaze tightened as she sipped and Mason held his breath, praying she let them off easy this time.
“Sarina and Lexie Walston? That girl gets around almost as much as I do.” She regarded Sky for a moment, a hint of a smile curving her lips.
“Congratulations, or whatever. I’m going to see what I can find out about Sarina’s affair.
I already know you two won’t tell me anything,” she said, turning and heading back the way she had come.
“Thank God,” Mason said under his breath before taking another big bite of his salad.
Sky lowered onto his usual chair, looking slightly dazed. “I’m going to need a nap after this too,” he said as he poured himself a glass of champagne.
“Well…?” Nadine prodded from the stove. “When did this happen?”
“You’re still up,” Mason said when Sky looked at him.
His lip pushed out and he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve always been in love with Mason. Although, I’m not so sure about that at the moment.”
“Yes, you are.” Mason winked at him, earning another adorable scowl. “I love you, and I’m so glad you’re here,” he whispered, but Nadine groaned and hugged her big wooden spoon against her heart.
“Why didn’t I see it before? You were always so sweet together, and I knew you had a crush on Mason, Sky. I just didn’t realize he felt the same.”
Mason ducked his head apologetically. “I was very good at hiding it. I’ve been a coward for a long time.”
Sky shrugged. “I didn’t know until Dad’s—Stewart’s—funeral. We almost…” He cleared his throat suggestively. “It was the night before they announced that Sina was pregnant and they were getting married.”
“Oh no!” Nadine covered her mouth. “Were you and Sina…?” she asked Mason and he shook his head.
“No, never. Sam Jr. isn’t biologically my son.”
“Who’s his father?” she asked but Mason held up a hand.
“That’s Sina’s business. He’s never been in the picture and never wanted to be,” he said simply, then laughed.
“Why did we think that would be so hard to say? We got married to protect Sina, and because I was too scared to tell my parents and the rest of Roseview that I’m gay.
Sky discovered the truth, but Sina and I handled the whole situation poorly. ”
“That’s why you wouldn’t talk about them,” Nadine said to Sky sadly.
“That had to be a shock, poor thing.” She shook her head at Mason.
“I understand why you did it, but to live like that for so long… We wouldn’t have cared that you and Sarina were queer.
You’re both loved here and an important part of Roseview.
But if anyone has a problem with it, they can take it up with me,” she said with a threatening wave of her spoon.
“I told you, she’s an angel,” Mason said out of the side of his mouth.
Sky nodded, smiling warmly at Nadine. “She’s always been too good for this family.”
“Watch your mouth,” she said to Sky. “You and your sister have been the greatest joy of my life, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I just wish you were here more,” she said as she turned back to the stove.
“I will be,” Sky promised, casting a shy smile at Mason.
He gave her a summarized account of all that had happened after Lance’s funeral, up to the press conference.
Neither wanted to speculate about what came next, and Nadine knew better than to push Sky too far when he was already overwhelmed.
She served him plain noodles with just a little butter and Parmesan.
Nadine and Mason had a hearty bolognese with roasted broccolini on the side.
They were too full for dessert, so she packed up one-third of the cake for them to take to Mason’s for later.
“You’re exactly what he needs,” Nadine said to Mason while Sky was upstairs, getting his things. “I think he’s always known, and it’s why he’s been so frustrated and restless for so long.”
Mason nodded. “I’ve known it for a long time too, and that I needed him. I just didn’t know what to do about it because I love Sina and Sam so damn much. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for the three of them, but my hands were tied until today.”
She hooked her arm around his and hugged it. “This will all work out. People will be shocked about Sarina and Lexie, but you and Sky will make perfect sense once they think about it. Makes perfect sense to me, and I can’t believe I didn’t see it a long time ago.”
“He was always the one, Nadine. I hurt us both by panicking after Stewart died, and I’ve put Sky through a lot. From now on, I’m putting him first. I’ll give him whatever he wants.”
“Don’t beat yourself up too much, Mason. I know your heart, and I know you’ll do what’s right.”
Mason was touched by her faith in him and her support of his and Sky’s relationship. Coming out to Nadine and telling her the truth mattered almost as much as telling his parents. Now that she knew and Mason had her blessing, he wouldn’t let her down.
“I’ll try my best. All I know is, I have another chance with Sky and I’m not letting him slip through my fingers again.”