Chapter 15: Chapter 15

JAMIE

I navigated my wheelchair down the corridor, lured by the enticing aroma of fresh coffee and pancake batter. As I turned the corner, a smile crept onto my face at the sight of Barbara, spatula in hand, expertly flipping a pancake on the stove.

A lively melody filled the air from the radio, which Barbara was humming along to.

“Something smells good,” I commented, my voice still thick with sleep.

Barbara swiveled around, her face lighting up with a broad grin.

“Good morning! Breakfast will be ready in a jiffy. I hope you’re hungry.”

“Starving,” I replied. I steered my chair toward the garden doors at the sound of Penelope’s infectious laughter.

There she was, her brown hair bouncing in pigtails, as she gleefully chased a flurry of bubbles.

Sid, comfortably seated on a garden chair nearby, was chuckling and waving a bubble wand, a playful glint in his eyes.

A smile played on my lips.

“Looks like they’re having a blast,” I said.

Barbara chuckled softly.

“Sid adores having Penelope around. He says she makes him feel youthful.”

“He’s not wrong,” I agreed. My gaze lingered on the lively scene outside.

Penelope let out a surprised squeal as she finally managed to pop a bubble. Sid, pretending to be defeated but grinning widely, raised his hands in mock surrender.

“So, how was your movie date last night?” I asked Barbara, wheeling my chair toward the table.

“Sid survived the black-and-white marathon. He even managed to feign interest,” Barbara teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“But I think the highlight of our evening was the dinner we had at a quaint bistro afterward.”

She placed a plate piled high with fluffy golden pancakes in front of me, a generous serving of plump, juicy berries on the side.

The scent of warm maple syrup and buttery batter filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

“This looks amazing,” I murmured. A grateful smile spread across my face as I cut into a pancake.

The first bite was heavenly—light, airy, bursting with the sweetness of the maple syrup and berries.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” Barbara replied, her voice warm and soothing.

She busied herself around the kitchen, collecting dirty dishes and placing them in the sink. Then she turned to me, a knowing smile in her eyes.

“So…,” she began, trailing off playfully. “How did things go with Mason last night?”

I knew the question was coming.

A moment of silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken questions.

Should I tell her everything?

The way Mason’s lips had sparked a whirlwind of emotions within me, the confusing blend of desire and fear. The awkward, embarrassed apology I offered him after I pushed him away.

No, it’s probably best that I keep that to myself.

“It was great,” I began, forcing a smile onto my face.

“Dinner was lovely. Sid’s recipe for the vegetable stew was incredible. Mason really did it justice. We ended up talking for most of the night. It was nice.”

A hint of amusement flickered in her eyes.

“Sounds like a wonderful night. A hearty stew and good conversation is always a win in my book,” she said.

“So, speaking of Mason,” I started, seizing the opportunity she provided.

“Have you seen him this morning?”

“Just briefly,” Barbara replied, drying her hands on a dish towel.

“He was up early, mentioned he had a few things to take care of and wouldn’t be back until later this evening.”

I nodded, a twinge of disappointment settling in.

I was hoping to clear the air with him this morning, after last night.

After a hearty breakfast and a lively afternoon filled with Penelope’s contagious laughter, I retreated to my room for some peace and quiet.

I had a brief phone call with my dad, who reassured me that Jake was taking good care of him.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my bedroom door.

Barbara’s warm smile peeked through the opening.

“Just letting you know, Sid and I are heading out to pick up dinner for everyone. Penelope asked if she could come along?”

“That sounds like fun,” I replied with a smile.

“Of course she can go.”

“We might make a detour to the park,” Barbara added.

“But I’ll leave the restaurant’s menu here.” She placed the menu on the dresser by the door.

“Take a look and text me your order when you decide.”

She winked at me and slipped out, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a decision to make.

I reached for the menu on the dresser and began to peruse it.

Within a quarter of an hour after they’d left, I’d made my choice and sent it to Barbara, adding a little emoji at the end as a token of my thanks.

I nestled into my bed, phone in hand, and pulled up Mason’s contact.

It had been hours since he’d left, and I was still wrestling with whether or not to text him.

I began to type out a message, pouring out my thoughts, only to erase it moments later.

This cycle repeated itself several times. I just couldn’t find the right words to say what I needed to say.

Finally, after numerous false starts, I settled on, “We should probably talk when you get back.”

I hit send quickly, afraid I’d change my mind again.

Now, all I could do was wait for his response.

I laid my head back on the pillow, placing my phone face down on my stomach, and gently closed my eyes.

The day’s events replayed in my mind.

My eyes fluttered open, jolted awake by the sound of my name.

There, right next to me on the bed, was Mason.

“Mason…,” I murmured, lifting my head slightly.

“I didn’t hear you come in. How long have you been sitting there?”

“Just a moment. I didn’t want to wake you, but after your text I thought you would want to talk.”

His gaze briefly shifted away from me.

“Where is everyone?”

“They’re out getting dinner. They should be back soon.”

I pushed myself up to a sitting position.

“Where were you today?”

“I had some things to take care of.”

His response was simple, yet vague, leaving me with more questions.

“What kind of things?” I asked, skepticism creeping into my voice.

Mason let out a sigh that filled the room.

“Work things,” he said, his voice tinged with what sounded like frustration. “I know I told you I’d take a break while we’re here, but it couldn’t wait.”

I nodded, although I didn’t understand why he couldn’t have called or texted me.

Why the secrecy? I wondered if it had to do with last night… The kiss and my rejection.

“I’m sorry about last night,” I murmured. I looked up at him, searching his eyes for understanding. “Things were going so well between us, our date was perfect, but then…” I trailed off, the memory of pushing him away still fresh.

“You don’t need to apologize, Jamie,” Mason said gently.

“Really?” I asked. “Because it’s been months since I woke up from the coma, months of therapy, months of trying to piece my life back together. I would understand…” My voice cracked slightly. “If you’re frustrated. I pushed you away again.”

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m the one that took things too fast. I understand that you need to take things at your own pace… I’m okay with that. We can go slow.”

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “I like the sound of that.” I reached out to him, making the first move for once, and intertwined our fingers. “I really want this to work, Mason.”

A slow smile spread across Mason’s face. “Me too,” he said huskily. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching mine. “Can I kiss you now… Would that be okay with you?”

I chuckled lightly. “Sure,” I whispered.

He moved in slowly, giving me the chance to pull away if I needed to. But I didn’t. Instead, I leaned into him, letting my unspoken desires guide me. Mason’s lips met mine, soft and sweet, filled with a tentative tenderness.

But it wasn’t just the physical touch. It was the emotions too. The kiss felt familiar, not from last night, or the dressing room, but from before the accident.

We pulled away slowly, our foreheads resting together. My breath hitched as Mason’s thumb brushed gently across my cheek, and a smile spread across my lips. Maybe taking things slow was exactly what we both needed for now.

The front door gave a familiar creak, followed by the infectious sound of Penelope’s laughter bouncing off the walls. Mason and I both swiveled toward the sound. A shared grin lit up our faces.

“Sounds like the gang’s all here,” I said.

“Seems so,” he agreed, his gaze lingering on mine a moment longer than necessary.

“Why don’t you go join them?” Mason suggested, his voice dropping low. “I’ll catch up in a bit, just need to change.”

MASON

I watched Jamie as she wheeled herself out of the room, the lingering warmth of her touch still imprinted on my skin. I strained my ears to catch the faint sound of her wheelchair as she navigated down the hallway toward the kitchen.

A wave of relief washed over me, tinged with a tremor of nervous anticipation. I ran a hand through my hair, my fingers catching on the slight disarray left by her touch.

Today had been a whirlwind. I was grateful she hadn’t bombarded me with questions.

Collecting myself, I fished my phone out of my pocket. With a firm press, I dialed Ezra’s number. The familiar ring offered a sense of stability.

“Knight residence,” he answered.

“Just got back,” I replied. “Everything cleaned up?”

“Affirmative, Boss,” Ezra responded, his tone crisp and efficient. “A repair crew is coming in the morning to fix the damages. Nothing appears to be missing. You did a check yourself earlier, if I recall.”

The mention of the break-in sent a surge of anger coursing through me. Someone had invaded my home, my sanctuary. The only room left untouched was Penelope’s.

Beneath the anger, a thread of worry gnawed at me. Was this a random act—or something more sinister?

“Good,” I replied, sounding harsher than I intended. “I need everything back to normal before we return from Napa. The last thing I need is Jamie finding out about this. I don’t want her to worry.”

“Understood, sir,” Ezra replied. “I’ll stay here tonight, keep an eye on things. But it’s quiet now. Whoever it was, they’re not coming back tonight.”

His words did little to soothe my nerves.

“Keep me posted,” I instructed.

The fatigue I felt went beyond the day’s events. Tossing my phone onto the bed, I felt the exhaustion that had been a dull throb moments ago now threatening to consume me. But there was no time for self-pity. I had promised Jamie I’d join her for dinner.

Gathering my strength, I peeled off the suit I’d been wearing all day, the fabric sticking uncomfortably to my skin. I tossed it onto a chair with a sigh of relief. In its place, I pulled on a fresh shirt and trousers, the clean fabric offering a small comfort.

As I freshened up, the thought of returning to New York weighed heavily on my mind. “How could I bring Jamie and Penelope back home after the break-in?” I wondered aloud. “Maybe it was a one-time incident, but my gut was telling me otherwise.”

For now, I needed to ramp up security and keep my lips sealed. I didn’t have a choice.