35. Mason
Chapter thirty-five
“Okay, which one of you heathens didn’t refill the toilet paper?” Beth’s standing in the doorway of the formal dining room, hands braced on her hips. “I’ve been shouting out for five minutes.”
Her eyes scan over each of us before landing on me.
I clutch my chest with a gasp. “Why are you looking at me?”
“You’re the only one here who hasn’t been fully domesticated yet.”
I look around at each member of my family, who erupt in various degrees of laughter, from Lex’s polite chuckle to Gram’s roaring bellow—rude. Mum and Callie are the only ones who make any sort of effort not to laugh at my expense.
“Queenie?” Grandpa pops his head into the dining room, looking at my grandmother as she places a bowl of pavlova in the centre of the table. “Do we have more toilet paper? It’s not in the hallway cupboard where it normally is.”
I turn to my sister, who’s now seated on the other side of Callie, sporting red cheeks. “Haaaaa!”
“Well, don’t gloat, Mason.” She huffs. “It’s unbecoming.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “I think someone owes someone else an apology.”
“You’re absolutely right. When I see them, I’ll be sure to let them know.”
This is the first time I’m bringing Callie to our family’s Sunday dinner. It’s a tradition we’ve held for longer than I can remember.
Our family has grown so much in the last twelve months. It used to be just us kids, with our parents and grandparents. Now, Gage is here with his wife, Izzy, and their daughter. Caleb and his wife, Lex, with their own baby on the way. And I’m here with both my girls.
I’m enjoying showing Callie what it’s like to be a part of my family and giving her a glimpse of what kind of life we could create together.
“How’s the house coming along, Mason?” Grandpa asks, once he returns from stocking the toilet paper that I absolutely did not leave empty. “We can’t wait to have a look once it’s done.”
I place my hand on Callie’s thigh under the table. “We were painting this week. Tiling starts tomorrow, then all the cabinetry goes in. It should be finished in about two weeks.”
“Gosh, you did that quickly,” Lex says, serving a bowl of pavlova for herself and Caleb.
“I had a good assistant.” I wink over at Callie.
“I hope this is alright.” Grams places a second bowl of dessert on the table, centring it in front of Callie. “I’ve never cooked vegan food before.”
“That’s so kind of you to think of me,” she says as I take Navie from her arms. “I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble.”
“It was no trouble at all, darling. I quite enjoyed doing something new.”
Callie smiles at Grams as she picks up her bowl and cuts a piece of cake.
“Do you want to try some?” Callie whispers as I watch her.
“Yes, please, baby.”
She places a slice on a plate for me while I adjust Navie on my lap so I have a hand free.
I groan the second a burst of lemon and a hint of lavender cream hit my tongue.
“Grams.” I scoop up a second mouthful before finishing the first. “Vif iv amaving.”
“Mmm, so good.” Callie’s got frosting gathered in the corner of her mouth. I lean over, kissing it away, and she throws me an easy smile. I never thought I’d be this fucking happy.
Beth giggles from beside Callie, and when I look over, she’s texting under the table.
“Who’s that?” I ask.
Beth places her phone on the table. “No one.”
“Is it Mason’s friend Tristan, who you called annoyingly hot?” Mum’s eyes widen as a smile stretches across her face.
“Mother!” The delight I feel at my sister’s expense is unmatched. I knew there had to be a reason my sister fought with him. “I said he’d be hot if he weren’t so annoying.”
“Is this the same guy who made you climb in his lap at Gage’s party?” Dad cuts a slice of the lemon lavender cake as Beth sputters to herself in the corner.
“Wow, for a guy you don't like, it sounds like you talk about him a lot.” I smirk.
“Over his lap, Dad!” Beth shrieks as her cheeks turn red before she sends a glare my way. “And I wasn’t talking about him, I was complaining!”
“Are we talking about Lee’s cousin, Tristan?” Lex asks.
“The architect who worked on Lex and Gage’s clubs?” Izzy adds.
“One and the same,” I confirm.
“You guys are dating?” Lex smiles. “Tristan is so sweet!”
“I am not dating Tristan.” Beth fumes before looking at Callie for help. “Can I talk to you, please?”
Beth jumps up from her chair, dragging Callie out of the room behind her.
“Well, that was weird,” Gage says, muffling a yawn behind a fist while Briony sleeps soundly in his gigantic arms.
I look at my watch. “Dude, it’s barely eight. Why are you so tired?”
“Briony’s going through a sleep regression.” He covers another yawn.
“Looks like the perfect little angel to me.” Dad runs a careful finger over her cheek, and Gage’s eyes flare wide as he sucks in a breath, waiting to see if she’ll stir. She doesn’t.
I look down at Navie, happily sitting in my arms while sucking on one of her teething biscuits. “Navie sleeps a full eight hours.”
“She’s six months old,” Isabelle says. “She probably went through it at four months, and according to my baby book, they go through another around eight to ten. Let us know how you’re going then.” She chuckles.
“Nooo.” I twist Navie in my arms and lift her above my head, tossing her up just enough to make her giggle. “Not my baby. You always sleep perfectly for Mummy and Daddy, don’t you?”
I toss her up again before bringing her in to nuzzle her cheek. She grips my face in her little hands, curling her body against my chest. My heart warms every time she cuddles into me.
It takes a good few seconds before I realise the room has gone quiet, and everyone’s looking at me.
“What?”
Gage and Caleb stare with their mouths hanging open, while Dad and my grandparents look proud, and Mum, Izzy, and Lex all look teary.
“Helloooo. What’d I miss?” I try again when no one answers me.
“You just referred to yourself as Daddy,” Caleb says.
I’m certain the whole room can hear every slow beat of my heart as it slams against my chest, but when Navie leans her head down on my shoulder, it shatters completely.
This little girl is so deeply embedded in my heart, it’s impossible to think of her as anything but mine.
I’m with her almost every morning and night.
She’s as much a part of my day as Callie is.
When I imagine my future, it’s not just Callie I see, it’s a thousand different moments with Navie too. Of course she’s mine.
“Why is it so quiet in here?” Beth and Callie stand in the doorway.
Navie hums and points her little finger at Callie, but she doesn’t lift her head.
“Is that Mama?” I say as Callie rejoins us with a smile, brushing a hand through Navie’s hair.
Callie kisses the tip of her finger, then Navie drops it to my chest.
“Who’s that?” Callie says playfully. “Is that your Mason?”
I am hers. I’m both of theirs.
Derek signed the paperwork, accepting the money and his absence from their life from now on.
It came with the condition that he wasn’t allowed to ask for anything more.
I truly hope it’s the last we’ll ever see or hear from him, because I refuse to let anything mess this up.
Not now that I’ve found the girl of my dreams. I won’t let anything stand in the way of me giving her everything she ever dreamed of.