Rumor Has It (Limelight) (11 page)

Seemed I’d be getting the repentant version today. Her head hung low as she walked down the hall. She didn’t glance up once to look at me before Gary brought her into the conference room.

Ellie grabbed my arm. I turned to look at her. The concern was still in her eyes.

“I’ll wait out here. Take as long as you need.”

How was it possible this girl I’d known for such a short time knew exactly what to say? I was glad for her company but I didn’t want her to witness what was undoubtedly going to be an ugly scene between my mom and me.

My hand went to the back of her head and I pulled her in and kissed her forehead. “Thanks. This won’t take too long. I’ll be doing all the talking.”

I walked into the room. There was one small table in the middle with four chairs around it. My mom sat across the table beside the lawyer. She looked up. The dark circles under her eyes were evidence she hadn’t gotten any decent sleep in at least a few days.

“Mason—”

I held my hand up while I tried stemming the rage threatening to overflow. “Stop. Before you even start spewing your bullshit. I don’t want to hear it.”

“Honey, I made a mistake…”

“I said STOP!” I shouted.

What color was left in her face drained and her eyes widened.

“Who has the kids?” I asked, my voice low and filled with venom.

“The nanny was there when I went out last night.”

“I’m only going to say this once, so listen good. The only reason I’m doing this is them. It has nothing to do with helping you out of another mess you’ve created for yourself. I’ll make sure you get off without serving any time, which you might have had to do considering the fact this isn’t your first run-in with the police.”

She opened her mouth to say something but I shot her a glare that must’ve spoke volumes because she quickly shut it.

“From now on Jorge will be living with you rather than visiting every day. I need someone to keep an eye on you and make sure you’re in line. You’ll do outpatient rehab. I’ll pay to have the counselor come to you if there isn’t anything around here.”

She looked devastated. “For Christ sakes, I don’t need rehab. It was a one-time slipup.”

“Well, I’m going to make sure that’s all it is. Don’t bother arguing, it’s non-negotiable.” She let out a huff and crossed her arms over her chest. “Unless you’d rather be cut off.”

She was quiet for a moment. “You’d never do that to your brother and sister.”

“You’re right, I wouldn’t. But if I cut you off, they wouldn’t be living with you anymore.”

“You can’t take my babies away from me!” she yelled.

“Really? Would you have any money to fight me in court if that’s what I wanted to do? Who do you think a judge would side with—an addict who can’t get her shit together, or a celebrity who’d be able to provide nothing but the best for them?”

I could see I’d defeated her and she’d given up the fight. I felt like a bastard having to do it, but I needed her in a spot where she knew there was no option but to sober up. If I could take those kids out on the road with me I’d do it, but it was no place for them. She didn’t need to know that.

If it wasn’t for Olivia and Justin I’d leave her to rot in a jail cell and not feel a lick of guilt about it. But, for better or worse, she was their mother and they loved her. I’d managed to cover for her all these years. They weren’t aware of her addictions. It’d been easy to hide when they were younger but they were getting older now.

I turned to the lawyer. “Gary, can you take her to a hotel or something to shower and clean up? I don’t want her walking in the house looking like that. The kids will know something is wrong.”

“Of course. No problem.”

“Thanks. Just add it to my bill. I’m going to stop by the house to see Justin and Olivia before I go.”

I turned to walk out of the door without sparing a glance at the woman who gave birth to me. She said my name when my hand turned the door knob to leave.

“Mason, I really am sorry.”

She was so quiet I could barely hear her. There was so much I could say back to her, instead I left without looking back.

Ellie was still sitting in the tiny hallway, probably having gotten an earful. She turned her worried eyes to me.

“Everything okay?”

I shrugged a shoulder. “As good as it can be considering. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

She stood up from the chair. “Isn’t your mom coming with us?”

“No.” I placed a hand on her back and led her through the desks to the front of the station. I felt the need to touch her. Her heat underneath my hand calmed me. As stupid and as fucking cheesy as that sounds.

We walked out the doors of the police station and were blinded by flashbulbs. There weren’t many of them, maybe three at most but I knew the pictures would still go to the highest bidder; it didn’t matter if there were three or thirty.

“Motherfuckers,” I hissed under my breath.

Ellie had stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide. “How’d they find us?”

“Just get to the car,” I said, sounding more annoyed with her than I intended. I knew the deal. The longer we stood here the more shots we were giving them to sell.

We rushed into the back of the hired car. I gave the address to the driver and he sped off as fast as he could with the photographer’s lenses pressed up against the windows.

“Mason, how did they know we were here?”

“Fuck if I know. Someone must have called them.”

“But who would do that?”

I chuckled because she sounded genuinely confused. Her naivety was endearing. “Anyone who wanted to earn a few bucks. One of the cops, our driver. Could’ve been anyone.”

Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened. “That’s horrible. With all that you’re dealing with, your mom…that’s cruel.”

I shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

She scooted closer to me, our hips touching and she grabbed my hand with a squeeze. “You shouldn’t need to be.” She leaned her head on my shoulder.

I turned to kiss the top of her head.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I want to stop by and see my brother and sister for an hour before we leave. Is that okay with you?”

“Of course. I can wait in the car.”

I shifted away and her head came up off my shoulder. I could see she was serious, which only pissed me off more.

“You’re not waiting in the car, Ellie. You’re coming in the house.”

“Oh…okay. I wasn’t sure if you’d want me meeting your family, that’s all.”

Did she think she was my dirty little secret or something? I tucked her back under my arm. “Of course I do.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

We pulled up to a set of wrought iron gates and Mason hopped out of the car briefly to enter the security code. He told the driver to continue along the road until he reached the main house. We passed a smaller dirt road that forked off to the right.

“What’s down that way?” I asked.

“That road leads to the stables.”

Of course. The stables. How stupid of me.

After a meandering drive down the road past rolling hills of green we pulled into a circular driveway. We got out of the car and I stood staring up at an enormous ranch house that looked like it could span the length of a football field.

“This is your house?”

“Technically, but I bought it for my family. I’ve never lived here.” He placed a hand at the base of my neck. I was starting to really like that habit of his. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

We walked through a large set of wooden double doors into an expansive entryway. The home looked to be a nice mix of wood cabin meets contemporary with large exposed logs leading up to the cathedral ceiling but modern-looking slate flooring. A wide hallway ran between twin staircases at either side of the foyer.

The sound of bare feet slapping against tile came from the back of the house, getting closer and closer. A young boy and girl ran into view. The little boy resembled Mason a bit with the same dark hair and jawline, but his eyes were dark brown. I guessed him to be about ten. The little girl looked maybe six or seven and had green eyes more reminiscent of Mason’s but dark blond hair pulled back into a ponytail.

“Mason!” they shouted in unison. They plowed into him, hands extended, and almost knocked him over with their exuberance. Mason’s face lit up. He hugged them fiercely back, then turned to face me.

“Olivia and Justin, this is my friend Ellie. Ellie, this is my brother and sister.”

“Hi, Ellie.” Olivia said, jumping up and down on the spot.

Justin smiled at me then turned to Mason again. “We thought you were Mom coming home. She didn’t come home last night.” He looked worried.

“I know, buddy. Mom wasn’t feeling well so she went to the hospital to get looked at. She’s feeling better now so she should be home soon.” Mason ruffled Justin’s dark hair and Justin leaned in to give Mason another hug.

“Let’s go in the living room. I want to show Mason the new dolls Mom got for me,” Olivia said. Justin didn’t seem to like that idea because he rolled his eyes at his little sister. Olivia grabbed Mason’s hand, tugging him in the direction they’d come from.

The group of us made our way through the large foyer past an open dining room. The table looked like it could seat twenty. We entered a large living room decorated in neutral tones. A massive stone fireplace was the focal point of the room and was set between two massive panes of glass overlooking the green landscapes and sloping hillsides.

An older woman with grey hair and a round body was standing in the room and greeted Mason with a worried look.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, clearly aware of what had happened.

“It will be,” was all Mason said in response. “Greta, this is my friend, Ellie.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Ellie.” She gave me a reserved smile.

“Same,” I said.

Mason turned to me. “Greta looks after Olivia and Justin when my mom isn’t around. Greta, why don’t you go relax for an hour? I can’t stay long but I know you probably haven’t had a break since yesterday. I’ll be here for a bit.”

“Very good,” she said and headed out of the room.

“Mason, Mason! Sit down. Come play with me,” Olivia said.

“No. Let’s play war. I don’t want to play with stupid dolls,” countered Justin.

Mason didn’t seem fazed by their bickering in the slightest. “Listen, you two. We’ll play with Olivia’s dolls first but we’ll make sure to play war for a bit before I have to leave. Okay?”

“Okay,” Justin said petulantly.

I was surprised to feel a tiny hand grab mine. Olivia was tugging me toward the floor where she had a collection of what I was pretty sure was American Girls laid out.

“Come on, Ellie. I’ll let you play with my new one if you want.”

“Wow. That’s really nice of you, Olivia.”

“Here,” she said after we’d all sat on the ground, and pushed a blond-haired blue-eyed doll my way. No wonder every girl wanted to have blond hair and blue eyes; we were practically conditioned since birth to think it was the ideal.

“Thanks,” I said.

Mason grabbed a doll as did Justin, although very begrudgingly.

Olivia had appointed herself the mommy and the rest of us played her babies. We’d all been playing the roles that Olivia had assigned us for a while when she blindsided me.

“Are you Mason’s girlfriend?” she asked.

I felt the heat hit my cheeks and I’m pretty sure my eyes probably looked about ready to bug out of my head. I didn’t know what to say so I looked to Mason for help.

He was chuckling softly but after a couple of seconds took enough pity on me to answer his sister’s question.

“Ellie isn’t my girlfriend, Olivia.”

“How come?” she asked innocently.

God, this kid was cute but she was killing me.

“We only just met a little while ago.”

“But you must like her if you brought her here. Do you want her to be your girlfriend?”

I seriously wanted to crawl up the chimney and disappear from sight. Lately my life seemed to be one long string of embarrassing situations after another.

Mason smirked at me and then addressed his sister. “Olivia, it’s not polite to ask questions like that.”

“How come?”

“Because you’re making Ellie uncomfortable.”

I really had no idea how he felt about me. He’d shown up at my house earlier today apparently to tell me we were still going to see each other but we’d never finished that conversation. I figured the fact that he was avoiding his sister’s question gave me the answer. Even though I’d been the one to tell him we couldn’t see each other just days ago, it still stung to know that he felt nothing for me beyond a casual acquaintance.

“I think it’s time to play war now isn’t it?” I said wanting to get off this topic of conversation.

“Yay!” Justin yelled and got up to run across the room to pick up a play sword and shield. “I get Ellie on my team.”