9. Mason
Chapter 9
Mason
June 2023
I came down here knowing that I wanted to meet up with her if she’d allow it. What I wasn’t expecting was for Jo Ellen to help in the way she did. Jo Ellen knows nothing of our past, or I’m assuming so, based on her reaction to Callie and I knowing each other. It came off like she wasn’t told anything about us being together, but I’m not sure why she would. Just because she works with Callie doesn’t mean she knows anything about her past.
I head to the coffee shop in Magnolia Falls to plan out what I want to say to her. The door dings as I enter, and I walk to a table to sit my stuff down before walking up to order a coffee.
I go through ten pages of paper trying to get my wording right before I finally piece together how I want this to go.
I grab my phone off the table and pull up Ma’s contact, pushing the call button.
“Everything okay? You didn’t leave here all that long ago, son.” Ma says, answering on the first ring.
“I’m good, Ma. I’ve decided to get a room at the B dark and long, pulled to the side in a braid that hangs over her shoulder. Her green eyes still make my heart flutter.
I lift my hand to wave awkwardly, letting her know to come back. As she makes her way towards me I try to look everywhere but at her.
I glance around Val’s noticing that he’s paid homage to his hometown in Italy with the decor and artwork that hangs on the walls.
“Callie. Thank you for meeting with me.” I say shyly, gesturing for her to sit. She still has this calming effect on me. As soon as she’s close enough I can feel my heart rate slow, my breathing even out.
“Oh, uh. You’re welcome. I wasn’t sure I wanted to. I am finally in a good place mentally and I don’t want to mess that up.” she word vomits at me, while I sit here wide-eyed.
“Sorry, that came out a little harsher than I planned for it to...” she says after seeing my reaction.
“No, you’re fine. I probably deserved that,” I say with a chuckle. “No, I definitely deserved that.”
“I’d say so. Considering how you left me standing there all those years ago wondering what the hell I’d done wrong.” She shoots back, irritation showing in her voice, before sitting down across from me.
I’m sitting here head down, looking at the table. I’m guessing she can hear me taking deep breaths as I try to calm my nerves. “Yeah, I know. If there’s one thing in my life I regret… it’s that.” I just hope she believes me.
She must sense my hesitation because she says “If you don’t want to talk about why you’re here, that’s okay. We can talk about something else.”
“It’s not that, Callie, it’s not that at all,” I say, looking down at the table.
“Then what is it, Mason? You can tell me anything. I know it’s been a decade and a half since we last spoke but that doesn’t mean that you can’t talk to me. You should know that.” The annoyance has fully left her voice at this point. It’s like I can visually see her walls beginning to come down.
I bring my gaze back to her and know right then that I might just have a chance after all. Her response to me isn’t what I had hoped for, but she’s here. She’s listening to what I have to say, even though I know it’ll be hard for both of us.
The waitress comes over to get our orders, so I am given a little more time to stew over what I want and need to say to Callie Grace. I don’t think I need to worry about it being perfect anymore, that’s what I was so focused on this morning. I need to focus on just telling her the truth. Telling her how I feel… how I deeply regret what I did to her. I know that will be more than good enough. She deserves the truth, even if she doesn’t feel the same way. Hopefully, she’ll be open to hearing what I have to say. I know I don’t deserve it.
Deep breaths. You can do this.
“I’m sure you’ve got a million and one questions and I promise to answer all of them.” I start. “I met Jo Ellen back when I was in college, her brother was my dorm mate. She came down a few times to visit with him and when she was in town we’d all hang out. Her brother and I became good friends through our late nights and study sessions. He is a big part of the reason that I made it through law school and where I am now with my practice.”
I take a deep breath, bracing myself for this next part.
“When we graduated, I stayed in New York, and Holden, Jo Ellen’s brother, went back to their hometown in North Carolina to pursue his law career there. We still talk all the time. He’s been back up to visit me in New York and I’ve gone to visit him in North Carolina.”
She looks at me and I can see her gears turning like she’s trying to figure out what this has to do with me being here right now.
Before she can speak, I jump right back into my explanation.
“Callie. The true reason I am here is because we had a fire at my parent's farm. I came down here to help move some animals around and get things ready for the contractor who will be out in a few weeks. But once I got down here, I knew it was time, or way past time, to explain myself and figure out how to get in contact with you. I was explaining to you earlier how I know Jo Ellen but she’s not why I’m here. Unbeknownst to both her and I, she helped lead me back to you. She has been on my case for years about finding someone and settling down, especially now that I am done with law school and doing well in my career. I went out on a few dates here and there when I was in college, but no one made me feel like you did–still do. I have spent many nights thinking of that last day we were together and how I wish I could take it all back. I let fear win. I was afraid to move away, to be in an area where I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t show you that fear because I tried my hardest not to let it win. I didn’t want to end things with you. I didn’t want to hurt you like I did. Truthfully, I only had a handful of people telling me to push through it. And I know I should have come to you with my feelings and the fears that I was dealing with. I will never be able to make up for what I did to you. But what I can do, that I should have done fifteen fucking years ago… Is apologize. I’m sorry Callie. For what I said. For breaking your heart. For not believing in us when you gave me every reason and then some to believe that it would be ok. I’m so fucking sorry.”