44. Lana
44
LANA
ONE MONTH LATER - JULY
LANA: I need your help.
ELLISON: Who’s got the shovels?
CAL: I have the tarps and the lime.
BEA: Crap, I have the shovels
I snort as I type out a text.
LANA: That’s not what I meant, but you guys are amazing.
A bunch of heart emoji follow. And my grin grows wider. Because undoubtedly, none of them are kidding.
ARDEN: So what do you need help with?
LANA: Mason has been so amazing, and I really want to do something special for him to thank him. He’s gone above and beyond for me and the kids, and we just really want to show him how much that means to us.
The last month had been hard on all of us. Jacob had been mandated to attend anger management and his visitation had been suspended, pending the successful completion of the course and a reevaluation of our case.
The judge hadn’t let him off easy, and I was hopeful the intervention would help salvage Jacob’s relationship with Holland and Beck in the future.
Mason had gotten in to see a therapist, and I’d attended more than one session with him, using a fair number of tissues each time. But he was making progress.
We both were.
ELLISON: (heart emoji)
CAL: that is literally the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. I think I may puke.
BEA: oh shut your mouth, you will not.
CAL: you don’t know that
BEA: yes I do.
NESSA: what were you thinking?
CAL: aren’t you supposed to be at practice, soccer star?
NESSA: mind your business.
LANA: He’s never had a birthday party because…well, reasons…but it’s his half birthday and I’m pretty sure he won’t be mad
BEA: We’re in!
LANA: I need everyone
ELLISON: Everyone, everyone?
LANA: Everyone, everyone—go big or go home
NESSA: Give me the dates and times, like down to the minute, and I’ll make it happen.
ARDEN: am I excused from this?
LANA: absolutely not.
ARDEN: come on. I’m barely family.
ELLISON: you’re my family. If I go, you go.
ARDEN: I don’t think I like you that much.
ELLISON: your fault. You found me. Now you’re stuck with me.
CAL: see? We all have to live with the consequences.
ELLISON: that’s not nice.
CAL: yeah, but you like it.
There’s joking and laughing and sassy remarks, but there’s also so much love. These people are the best kind of friends.
They’re family.
“Do you think this is overkill?” I ask, turning my head to look at Bodhi.
“Yep.”
“Do you think he’s gonna be mad?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Don’t know. But if he’s gonna be mad, he’s gonna be mad at both of us.”
There’s a small comfort in that.
Things between Mason and Bodhi had been strained the first couple of weeks after Sorren and Hank had taken him off the worksite. It’d been heartbreaking, the two of them broken and battered with the news of the new trial.
And even though it’d taken time, they’d gotten past the hurt, their bond as strong as when they’d come to Blackstone Falls.
I nibble my bottom lip as I look out at the yard. I’d rented a tent that Bodhi and Montana had come over last night to put up, gotten folding chairs, and had the food catered.
There’s even a balloon arch.
It’s exactly what I would have done for either of the kids. It’s a party like I’ve thrown well over a dozen times.
But this one means a lot more.
Because it’s his first.
The guests were all told to give me a thirty-minute window in case I have to cancel. I am prepared to cancel, but I just really hope that we won’t have to.
“Hey Lana, what’s all…”
Right on time.
Mason’s expression is unreadable. Bodhi rubs the back of his neck with his palm, and if the silence continues, I’m liable to have a heart attack.
“Surprise,” I say softly.
"What is all this?"
“It’s your half birthday,” I tell him with a small smile.
“My…” The words hang there unspoken as he looks around, his eyes flitting from the balloons to the tablecloths to where the food will go before returning to me.
“I know you don’t celebrate your birthday. And I respect that. But I also thought that this might be a compromise we could make. Every year you’re with us will be something special. And every year we’ll want to celebrate with you. And I’m hoping that you’ll let us do that. Like this.”
Bodhi stands silent at my side, tension radiating off him in waves. It’s important to him too. And I wonder if he’s ever had a birthday party. I might not be in the elite social circles anymore, but I can still throw one hell of an event.
Holland walks over, completely oblivious to the standoff we’re having, and takes his hand, giving a small tug so he looks down at her. “Is it okay?” she asks, a little more focused on the décor rather than if he likes the party itself.
I told the kids some version of the truth. His mom had died on his birthday, and it makes him sad to celebrate it. If he wants to share the rest of the story someday, he can. But for now, it’s an excuse that works.
“I do,” he says slowly, giving her a smile and then looking up to me. “I really do.”
Bodhi wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a quick hug, releasing me before holding his hand out for Holland. She takes it with a smile as he claps Mason on the back.
Mason swallows hard as we watch the two of them head off toward the house to let everyone know the party’s on.
“You threw me a birthday party,” Mason says when we’re alone.
“I wanted you to have this. The party is probably overkill, but… Go big or go home, right?” He laughs.
“You were ready for that too?” He means the going home part. And I nod.
“I made sure to stagger everyone’s arrival in case this wasn’t what you wanted.”
He shakes his head. “I’m still not sure this is what I want. But I’m willing to give it a try. For you.”
“Holland picked out all the decorations,” I tell him. “The kids were excited to do it. Beck hasn’t had a birthday party in a couple of years—just had some of the boys from his class over. You know, for sleepovers and things. But this year I think he was feeling it too. New school and new friends. It’s not the same. But…”
“It’s perfect.”