48. Mason
Chapter 48
Mason
November 2023
Cal : Hey! I've got something fun planned for tonight. I hope you're ready!
I've loved being able to spend so much time with Cal and see where this will take us. We've gone on so many fun dates so I can only imagine what she's got planned for tonight.
Me : I can't wait! I'll head to your place after this meeting if that's okay with you.
While I haven't bought a building in town for my office space, I've been utilizing the library's conference rooms and they've been working out great so far. I've got a meeting in ten minutes for an office building in Magnolia Falls and I'm really hoping it'll work out. It will make things much easier for me and I'll be able to see Cal a lot more.
"Thank you for meeting with me, Alex." I raise my hand to offer a handshake.
"You're absolutely welcome. This is a great spot for you and it's a great size, too. There's two office spaces and then an open lobby area, I guess you'd call it." Alex says, unlocking the door.
"That sounds perfect. I can either use the extra office as storage for client case files or if things go as well here as they did for me in New York, add in a partner again."
Alex walks us through the lobby pointing out that there's an internet hookup already and a built-in on the right wall, too, if I wanted to add a TV in the lobby. Whoever remodeled this space did an amazing job. Everything is up to date, and nothing needs work. I walk into one of the office rooms and immediately know this is where I want to be. Even if the furniture doesn't come with it, I love the layout and everything this space has to offer.
"Does the furniture come with the building? Not that I'll mind either way. I already know I want this location." I ask, hopeful he’ll say yes.
“Yes, everything you see here comes with it. There are also some filing cabinets, and another built-in in the other office space, as well. Let’s walk back to the small kitchen area in the back and I can show you that.”
A kitchen area? What? I was not expecting that, but it makes sense. We go down the short hallway and turn into the kitchen. The walls are a light beige and go well with the flooring and countertop they’ve put in. The refrigerator and microwave are stainless steel. There’s a small sink, too.
“This is great. I’m ready to sign if you’ve got the paperwork drawn up.”
“You know I never come empty-handed, man,” Alex says, laughing while pulling something out of his back pocket.
We head back out into the lobby, and I sit at the desk and sign the lease agreement. That was the second easiest decision of my life.
I am excited to tell Cal about this but decided to wait until I could tell her in person.
I walk up to her front door and before I can raise my hand to knock, she’s pulling the door open.
“I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve got a treasure hunt, of sorts, for you to do. Come on in and I’ll show you where to start.” Cal says, pulling me over the threshold and into her house.
“Before we do that, I’ve got something to tell you.” Her face drops and I immediately want to take back what I’ve said even though I’m not sharing bad news with her.
“Oh, ok. What’s up?” she says slouching into the recliner.
“It’s not bad news, Cal. It’s actually really good news. So please smile.” When she finally allows the frown on her face to morph into a smile I continue, “I signed a lease for a building today. And you’ll never guess where it is.”
“I’m assuming it’s in Harbors Grove?” I can tell she’s happy for me and I hope she’ll take it being in Magnolia Falls as a good thing.
“It’s in town. Right beside One Page at a Time.”
“Wait, seriously?!” she asks, jumping out of the chair excitedly.
Okay, I guess she approves. “Yes, I just signed the paperwork and can start moving in next week. It comes furnished so I don’t have to order any of that, which is awesome. I’m really excited to get it all setup and start looking for a paralegal for the front.”
“That’s awesome! I can’t believe you’ll be in town!”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Are you ready to show me where my first clue is?”
“Oh, yeah! Come on, it’s on the kitchen island.” Grabbing my hand, she pulls me into the kitchen. “Open the envelope and it’ll tell you where to find the next clue.”
I navigate through her house and end in the dryer with one last clue that says, “I’d love nothing more than for you to… turn around.” I turn slowly, a little confused, and find Cal standing there with a key in her hand, held out in my direction.
“I wasn’t sure how I wanted to tell you and I’m not even sure if this treasure hunt through my house was the right way to go but I thought it would be fun. I’ve been thinking and going back and forth with myself for a while now. Part of me thinks this is crazy but the other part of me, the part I’m more inclined to listen to, is telling me that I need to trust my heart and go after what I want. Mason, I’d love to have you move in, if you will, and begin the next chapter of this together.”
Okay, that was cute. I wasn’t sure how this treasure hunt was going to end but this is not what I was expecting. I’m sure my face gives off exactly how shocked I am as I stand here staring at her.
“Uhm, Mase. Can you please say something? If you’re not ready that’s fine. I just need to know where you’re at.” Cal says, dropping her hand down to her side, and closing it around the key.
“Callie. Sorry. I was not expecting that. I wasn’t sure how this would end but having you ask me to move in was not even on my radar.” I sit the piece of paper on the dryer and walk towards her, placing my hands on her shoulders. “I didn’t mean to come off as I’m not interested in this. Just because I wasn’t expecting it doesn’t mean I don’t want it. I’d love to move in and start this new chapter with you.” I pull her into a hug, and I hear her take a deep breath in.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while but couldn’t get over how quickly this is going. I don’t want to rush anything or mess this up. I don’t want to make the wrong choice. I don’t want... I just don’t want to lose you again, Mase.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Cal. I promise.”