Chapter 26: Chapter 26

JAMIE

Mason’s voice, a deep rumble, bounced off the kitchen walls. “We need to talk,” he said, his footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor. “Let me explain.”

Part of me didn’t want to listen, a stubborn refusal rooted in the fear of being hurt once more. I didn’t want to be deceived again. Ever since I woke up from my coma, every day has been a lie.

My thoughts were a whirlwind, a tumultuous storm of emotions. The feelings I had for him when I woke up were starting to resurface. I didn’t really know Mason then.

Now, standing here, listening to his voice, I felt a growing sense of doubt. Did I even know him?

“Why?” I spun around. The words felt heavy, tainted with the bitter taste of betrayal. “So you can lie to me again? You’ve been lying to me for months.”

My eyes, a blend of anger and pain, locked onto his. I couldn’t believe he’d lied to me, after everything he’d said. He’d weaseled his way into my heart and made me trust him.

“I was trying to protect you,” he said in a strained tone. He stopped at the kitchen island, letting out a sigh of frustration. “You’d just come out of a coma. I didn’t want you to worry about this.”

His words hung in the air, heavy and empty. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Protection? From what? The truth? From him?

“But it wasn’t your decision to make,” I retorted angrily. “I could’ve handled the truth. I’m stronger than you think.”

His eyes softened, regret washing over his face. “I can tell you everything. If you want to know, I can tell you everything right now. No more secrets.”

I wasn’t sure if I should trust him. But if I wanted the truth, I didn’t have any other options. “Okay,” I whispered.

Fear washed over me as I realized what I was doing. I was giving him another chance, trusting him again after everything he’d done. But I was also giving myself a chance to find out the truth, to understand what really happened that night.

It took exactly forty-two minutes for Mason to recount the events leading up to the accident, answering all my questions. I stood there, stunned for most of it, unable to believe what I was hearing.

“I can’t believe you did something like that,” I said. The shock was palpable, a mix of disbelief and gratitude. “Are you crazy? Our life isn’t a movie or a cheesy romance novel with a twist. Actions have consequences.”

Mason sighed, his expression softening. “I didn’t have a choice, Jamie,” he said, his hands resting on his hips. “Everything I do is for you and Penelope. I’m trying to keep you both safe.”

Now I understood why he wasn’t there when I woke up. He claimed it was a business trip, but it was more like a mission to kill a man. Who did he think he was? James Bond?

“I can’t talk about this anymore,” I said, my voice shaking. I left the kitchen and grabbed my coat from the rack in the hallway.

He followed me. His sigh turned into a groan when he saw what I was doing. “Jamie, you can’t just leave.”

I could leave…and I would. I needed to. I couldn’t stay in this house with him tonight, not feeling the way I did. I needed space, I needed time to think.

I tightened the belt on my trench coat, my hands shaking slightly. As I moved toward the door, Mason reached out and grabbed my hand. I pulled away, my heart aching.

The only sounds in the room were the ticking of the wall clock and our ragged breathing. Mason looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of pain and pleading. “Please, Jamie,” he said softly. “Don’t do this.”

“I can’t…” I paused, gathering the strength to say the words. “I can’t be here with you right now, Mason. Not after this.” With that, I walked out the door, leaving Mason alone in the hallway.

The chill of the night air greeted me as I stepped outside, causing a slight shiver to run down my spine. I wrapped my coat tighter around myself, heading toward Ezra’s car. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I couldn’t stay here.

***

I found myself curled up on the couch by the window, observing the New Yorkers as they went about their busy day. The city was a hive of activity, a never-ending stream of people rushing from one place to another.

I drew the nude fleece blanket closer to my chest, creating a comforting barrier against the cold afternoon air. My muscles throbbed with a deep ache, a result of sleep deprivation. In my hands, a pink glitter coffee cup sat untouched, its warmth contrasting sharply with the chill that seeped through the window.

Last night, I had stormed out after our argument, after discovering he had been lying to me for months. Sleep eluded me in the empty bed. The city streets were noisier at night compared to the home I shared with Penelope and Mason. There was no one around to make a sound.

I found myself wondering what Penelope was up to. It was lunchtime, and it was Sunday. Mason wasn’t at the office, so they were probably at home together, having fun.

I could almost see them, laughing and playing games together. I had wanted to take her with me last night, but I knew it would be unfair and confusing for her. Mason had been a bigger part of her life than I had.

Could I just take her away like that? I guess I would have to discuss it with my dad. I let out a sigh, a wave of sadness washing over me.

“Honey, I’m home!” she called out, her voice echoing through the small apartment. The familiar sound filled me with a sense of comfort and relief. Her words stirred memories of simpler times, years ago, when life seemed less complicated. I chuckled. The memory brought a smile to my lips.

Carmen entered the living room, a wide smile on her face. “There you are. I wasn’t sure if you were going to be here when I got back.”

I returned her smile. “How was work?”

“Well, you know, it was work,” Carmen replied, rolling her eyes. “Antonio chewed me out for being late this morning. That man has such an attitude.”

Carmen headed toward the kitchen, setting down her bags and removing her leather jacket. “Anyway, I brought us some lunch from the restaurant. Are you hungry?”

I nodded, my stomach growling in agreement. I had been so lost in thought all day. I hadn’t even realized I hadn’t eaten anything.

Carmen pulled out two paper bags from her tote. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I grabbed some salads and bread rolls,” she said, smiling sheepishly. “There’s also a slice of chocolate cake that I swiped from the kitchen at work.”

I chuckled. “You stole?”

“Well, technically, I didn’t pay for it,” she admitted, her eyes alight with mischief. “But it was going to waste anyway.”

I shook my head in amusement.

She brought the food and plastic forks to the coffee table in front of the couch. Carmen took a seat on the armchair next to me, and we ate together in the comfort of each other’s company.

It was far less awkward than the last few times we had been around each other.

“This is great, Carmen,” I said, appreciating her. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I figured you would be hungry,” she replied, taking a bite of her salad.

She poked at her greens with her fork. “So, um… I feel like I should apologize to you for what happened at the dinner party last night.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” I replied, trying to brush it off.

“Yes, I do,” Carmen insisted. “I ruined your dinner party. Everyone was having such a good time and I just had to open my big mouth.”

“But because of you, I know the truth,” I said. “Everyone around me was lying to me about that accident. At this point, I don’t know who I can trust.”

I needed her to know I was grateful. I managed a smile. “Except for you. Honestly, I don’t think you would have gone along with the lies if Mason had asked you.”

“Hell no,” Carmen replied, chuckling. “I’m all about telling the truth.”

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. “That makes me feel better.”

“I’m always here for you, no matter what,” she said. Her lips lifted into a smile that mirrored my own.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table, Mason’s name glaring at me in bold letters.

“Is that him?” she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

I nodded. “He’s called a few times, but I don’t know what to say. He’s pretty pissed that I left last night.” I pushed my plate away, my appetite vanished. “I don’t know, Carmen. How can I trust him after this?”

Carmen reached out, her hand enveloping mine. “I don’t have the answer to that, Jamie,” she confessed. “But I do know that you need to do what’s best for you. And you don’t need to figure this out right now.”

~She’s right… I don’t.~ But I needed to think about Penelope.

A sudden knock on the front door startled both Carmen and me, causing us to exchange surprised glances.

“Are you expecting anyone?” I asked.

She shook her head, a frown creasing her forehead. “But maybe it’s Ethan. I’m sure he’s going to come groveling to you at some point. That man should’ve known better.”

Carmen rose from the couch and walked toward the hallway, her steps steady and determined.

When she opened the front door, I heard her talking, her voice rising in a mix of surprise and annoyance. Then I heard a familiar voice, one that I had been dreading.

“Mason?” I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t think he would think of coming here.

I heard the front door close and the sound of footsteps approaching down the hallway. Carmen appeared first, her face a mask of practiced composure. Then, he walked in, his gaze fixed on me with a mix of guilt and determination.

Carmen managed a weak smile, trying to defuse the tension in the air. “I’m sorry, he was insistent on seeing you,” she said.

I wasn’t ready to have him here. It was just last night that I discovered the secrets he had been hiding from me. There should be a cooling off period for things like this, time to process everything before speaking again. Like three to five business days or something.

But now he’s here. I guess I should try to hear what he has to say.

“It’s okay,” I replied.

“I’ll leave you two to it then. Let me know if you need me,” Carmen said, giving me a long look before leaving the room.

I nodded, grateful for her support.

Now it was just Mason and me, the weight of the situation hanging heavy in the air. He walked toward the living room, taking a seat on the armchair beside me.

“I’ve been worried about you,” he said.

I glanced at him, dressed casually in dark denim jeans and a T-shirt that looked fresh from the hanger. His hair, of course, was perfectly styled, as if the events of the previous night hadn’t affected him at all. That was until I looked into his brown eyes. They were the telltale sign that last night was a rough one.

“How did you know where I was?” I asked.

Mason let out a sigh. “Carmen is the only one that didn’t lie to you, so I figured she would be the only one you would trust right now. Besides, I had already checked in with your father and Jake.”

My dad and my brother. I’m not very eager to speak to either of them. I feel just as betrayed by my dad. He’s my dad; he’s supposed to protect me. Especially from men that lie. If anything, he should’ve told Mason that he would tell me the truth.

“Where is Penelope?” I asked. “I want to see her.”

“You can see her, Jamie. I have no intention of keeping your daughter from you,” he said softly. “I want you to come home, we can pick her up from my father’s on the way back.”

“After you lied to me? From the moment I opened my eyes, everything was a lie.” I looked across at him, my eyes glistening with tears that I was trying so hard to hold back. “I know you might think that you were doing the right thing…but you weren’t. I’ve never felt so betrayed.”

He rubbed his facial stubble, his eyes darting away from mine. A sense of quietness overcame him, as if he was searching for the right words to say. But I knew there were no words that would undo the damage he had done.

Mason didn’t have a good reason for his deception, other than the ones he’d already thrown at me. “I was trying to protect you.” And “I didn’t want you to worry about this.” But those reasons felt empty. They didn’t erase the sting of his betrayal or the hurt I felt.

“I’ve been dreaming about him…,” I started, and Mason’s gaze met mine. “Jack, that’s his name, right? I stumbled upon his file in your office one day. I didn’t get to read it, just saw the picture. But ever since then, I’ve been having these really vivid nightmares about him.”

Mason’s face turned grave.

“What kind of nightmares?”

The idea of sharing my nightmares with him was terrifying. It wasn’t something I enjoyed discussing. Living through them was bad enough.

“He’s…he’s chasing me through a forest. I can’t recall all the details, but I remember the terror. I remember looking down and seeing my feet bloody from the underbrush.”

I paused, gathering my thoughts. “Eventually, I find a road. But it’s too late. The last thing I remember is getting hit by a car.”

Mason let out a sigh.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

I shrugged. “Why would I? By then, I knew you were keeping Jack a secret from me. I just didn’t know why until yesterday.”

“I wish you could see things from my perspective,” Mason said, his voice edged with frustration. “Come home, Jamie. This is bigger than you realize.”

Carmen poked her head into the room.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt. Antonio called, he needs me back at the restaurant immediately.” She moved quickly to the counter, grabbing her coat and bag.

“It’s fine,” I responded, forcing a smile. I glanced at Mason, steeling myself to ask him to leave, knowing he wouldn’t take it well.

“I think it’s time for you to go.”

“Jamie…,” he sighed. “Don’t do this.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to project strength. “I’ll, um…pick up Penelope tomorrow.”

The tension in the room was palpable. Mason stood, sighing deeply. He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration clear.

Without another word, he turned and left the room.

It wasn’t until I heard the front door close that I let myself cry. I quickly wiped the tear away, but another took its place.

The room was quiet, save for the soft patter of rain against the window.

A wave of loneliness washed over me. It was a feeling I’d grown accustomed to since the accident, but never this intense. I felt utterly alone.