Because of Sydney (27 page)

I parked at the end of the row of trailers. The signs were posted marking the impending demolition of the lot. I tried to wrap my head around the fact that I was now representing the company building the resort, not trying to unearth dirt on it.

I knocked on Shawna’s door. The plastic pool next to the beach chairs was half full. The door swung open and Lindy started to giggle.

“Hi, Lindy. Is your mom home?”

“Lindy, I’ve told you not to open the door.” Shawna stopped. “Oh, hey. I didn’t know who had knocked, and she has this way of running to the door. She can even unlock it.”

“That must make you a little nervous.”

“Tell me about it. As long as an ax murderer doesn’t show up I guess we’re ok.” She laughed. “Come on in.”

“Oh, thanks.” I hadn’t expected Shawna to show me inside. This was our third meeting. We usually sat outside.

The kitchen booth was lined with Barbies and an assortment of pink and purple doll dresses. Lindy scooted onto one of the benches and began to dress one of the dolls.

Shawna turned to me. “Are you writing another article?”

“Yes. But I should tell you I’m not with the
News & Record
anymore.”

“Really? What paper now?” She rinsed off a plate in the sink and began to dry it.

“Actually, it’s not a paper. I’m doing public relations work for Lachlan Corporation.”

I saw the smile on the side of her face. “Mason’s a sweet talker, isn’t he?”

“I guess he is.”

“I knew it the second I saw him in the Pancake House. I bet he gets whatever he wants with those baby blues. A man like that probably doesn’t hear the word ‘no’.”

“I doubt he’s heard it often.” I sat across from Lindy, picking up one of the bare dolls and I started to help her wriggle a dress over the arms.

“So, you have a new job and you’re here to discuss what exactly?”

“Mason told me about the site he’s clearing so you can move.”

“Not the worst plan, but I’d rather stay here. If we have to move I’m glad we can stay on the island. Lindy won’t have to register at a new school.”

“I’m writing an article for the Lachlan website and we’ll also distribute it to some media outlets. I was hoping I could interview you again, if you don’t mind.” I realized how much of her time I had taken with the first two pieces I had written.

She tossed the kitchen towel on the corner and sat to join our doll dressing challenge. The clothes always stuck on the legs. Lindy’s face was balled up in concentration. Her tongue stuck out of the side of her mouth as she struggled to fasten the snaps.

“I guess that would be fine. He is doing me a favor. He said he’d pay for the move and have everything taken care of.”

“Really?” I laid the Barbie on the table so I could take a few notes.

“He’s even putting in a swimming platform for Lindy, but you probably know all that.”

I shook my head. “No, go on. What else did he say?”

It was as if I was peeling away layers of him. Discovering secrets about how he thought. How he conducted business. Only this time it wasn’t a calculated business deal, he was building something that mattered. The little girl sitting across the table from me would have a different life because of him. It made me smile.

“Oh, he’s going to add grills and a swing set and slide. I started thinking about it, and even though I’ll miss hearing the ocean when I wake up, this new site is going to be better for her. There’s even a family of cats. I know Lindy’s hoping they’ll stay, but I’m not so sure about that.”

We laughed. Shawna told me about her favorite memories from the Cove. We discussed the advantages of the new yard she would have. Somehow an hour passed by while we talked. I had successfully completed an entire Barbie fashion show, drank imaginary tea sprinkled with glitter, and worn a purple tiara.

Lindy and Shawna stood at the door to watch me leave. “You’ll have to come see us in the new neighborhood,” Shawna suggested.

“I definitely will. Two weeks, right?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks again for the interview.”

“Sure thing.”

I stood there in the sun, the heat pressing against my skin, and I didn’t want to walk away. Shawna wasn’t Hailey. And Lindy wasn’t Gracie, but when I was near them my family didn’t feel lost. I didn’t picture Hailey changing her hair color and using a fake name. I pictured this. A mother loving her daughter. Playing dolls, dishing out snacks, scolding her for dropping crackers on the floor.

I turned. “Hey, Shawna do you need any help packing before then?”

“Actually I could use a little help. I’m not about to let them hook up the trailer and pull it down the street without wrapping up my glasses and plates.”

“I could help with that,” I offered.

“That would be nice, but you don’t have to. I’m used to doing things on my own. I’ve learned the hard way not to count on people.” She waved her hands in the air. “I didn’t mean that about you.”

“I know.” Although, I didn’t know who had let her down other than Lindy’s father. I shook my head. “I want to. Or I could at least keep Lindy entertained while you do the packing.”

She sighed. “That would be huge. She is a full-time job.”

“Ok, how about next week? I can bring boxes and a bottle of wine. And maybe play-doh.”

“It’s a date.” Maybe it wasn’t fair, but it hurt less when I was near them. I could pretend somewhere someone was helping Hailey. For a day or only a moment maybe my sister didn’t feel so alone.

It felt good. Not being a reporter freed me from ethical shackles I always had to worry about.

“Bye.” I waved to the pair on the front stoop.

I tried to read his expression. His eyes were focused. His jaw clenched. I didn’t know if that was good or bad.

“So, what do you think?” I finally broke the silence with the question.

Mason turned to me. He held the pages in front of him, they hovered in between us. If he didn’t tell me what he thought of the article I was going to jump out of my skin.

“Just tell me. Is it what you wanted?”

The sun was starting to sink outside. I wanted to grab a bottle of wine from his fridge and sit on the balcony and talk about our first day working together. I wanted to tell him about my conversation with Mark and his HR department. I wanted to tell him how my car was making a funny noise when I drove back from the Cove. But most of all I wanted to thank him for giving me the job. But first, I had to know if he liked the damn article.

“Miss Paige.”

“Yes?”

“I think you’re going to fit in nicely at Lachlan Corporation. You are quite a talented writer.” He tossed the article on the bar.

“Oh good. You liked it?”

“It’s exactly what I needed.”

“I was really trying to show how much you’re going to help the transfer residents.”

“I see that.” He tapped the top page. “Do you believe the sound site will be better for them?”

I had wrestled with it, but it felt as if Mason was helping Shawna for more than positive Lachlan Corporation press.

“I stopped there today, and if you ignore the bridge traffic, yes I think it’s going to be a happier place for them.” I chewed the edge of my pen. I was ready to make edits if he asked. “Thank you for helping them. I know you didn’t have to.”

I thought I made him blush. His gaze moved from the article to my lips. “I needed to do it.”

I smiled. “Whatever your reasons, Shawna knows she and Lindy can count on you. She told me today she hasn’t had that in her life.”

“Let’s not go too far.” He turned for a moment. “You did a nice job on the article.”

I raced to the refrigerator, knowing I had struck a raw nerve with him. “Are we officially off the clock now?” I asked.

He looked at his watch and then at me. “Yes. Crack open a beer for me.”

I started to giggle. This entire situation was absurd, but it made me giddy and silly. I felt like I was part of a movie script, but the feelings were too real. I crossed the kitchen to hand him a beer.

“Cheers.” He lifted the beer toward my glass. “To our first successful partnership.”

“This is our first successful partnership?” I teased.

“Second.” He winked.

He followed me to the balcony. I watched the gulls hovering near the boardwalk below.

“Looks like Grey’s going for a run.” I pointed. The other tall Lachlan was passing near the boardwalk, his earbuds tucked in his ears. Man, did they all look like that without shirts? I turned toward Mason.

“Yeah, I ran this morning.”

“You two ever run together?” I asked.

He sat on the chaise, rolled his sleeves to his elbows, and tipped the beer bottle to his mouth.

“No, we aren’t exercise buddies.”

I laughed. “I didn’t say that. But isn’t that something guys do?”

“Grey and I are still trying to figure things out.”

“But you like each other now?” Eden had given me more of the back story than Mason had. He made it sound like the showdown last year was all business. Her version made it sound much more personal.

“Yeah, I guess we do.” He smiled. “Strange, but it’s nice to have family again.” His tone softened.

“When did you lose your mother?”

He sighed. “A couple years ago.”

“Were you two close?” I think I had been so curious about his ties with Grey I hadn’t bothered to ask about her.

“Very close. She raised me. Single mom. She did it all on her own. Never missed one of my baseball games. Made sure I got into college. She was an amazing woman.”

“She must have been. Look at you.”

He chuckled. “No, she was much better than me. She had a soft spot in her heart. I don’t think I came built with one of those.”

I turned, planting my feet on the floor. “Are you kidding? You do nice things for people all the time.”

“Purely by accident.”

“There is a story on your counter about your good deeds. And what about last night? Were the wine, bubble bath, backrub all an accident?”

“Not the same thing. You’re in an entirely different category, Syd.” His eyes drifted across the railing.

I was afraid to ask, but the question was still there. I wanted to know how he felt. I couldn’t help it. I prodded. “And what category is that?”

“I think you know.” He finished off the beer.

My heart sank. He wasn’t going to offer more than he had. I should be satisfied with where things were.

“Should we get dinner?” I suggested, hearing my stomach growl. Wine wasn’t enough to sustain me for long.

“Head over to Pete’s? We can watch the sunset from there.”

I stood to join him. “Take me now. I’m so hungry I could eat that notepad. I think with everything that happened today I forgot to eat lunch.”

“You got it, girl. Come on.”

His hand fit over mine warm and firm. It was hard to believe twelve hours ago I was imagining what it would be like to pack and leave South Padre. Leave Mason. Leave what we had started. I looked at him as we crossed the street to Pete’s. I’d rather lie down on this beach road and be run over, than let go of the hold he had on me. God, I had fallen so far and fast for him.

“Everything ok?” he asked, holding the door for me.

“Mmhmm.” And it was. As long as he didn’t let go.