MASON
I can't believe it!!
All this time I've been gone, travelling the world trying to figure my shit out, I never knew what I had left behind.. A Daughter!!
I leaned back against the wall of the elevator."This can't be true!"This isn't me, I'm not Father material. I don't know the first thing about raising a child.
I stepped out of the elevator feeling the rage, as I walked towards my Father's office. How could he not tell me about this? I've seen more of him than anyone since I've been back, how could he not say something. I pushed open the door to my Father's office and walked inside. I saw that he was already gone.
"Everything okay?"Eoin asked, and I turned around and looked at him. He was holding some files in his arms. I guess he's working late to keep up the good impression with my Father.
"My father, I need to speak with him. Where is he?"I asked.
"He left about thirty minutes ago."He was studying me, sensing that there was something up."What's going on, Mason?"
I walked towards the drinks table and grabbed a bottle of my father's scotch. "It's Jamie, I just found out that she has a kid- My kid."
"Oh.."Eoin replied, but he didn't say anymore. He walked into the office placed his work on my father's desk and sat down.
"I take it you know about this."I said, and Eoin nodded his head in reply."Of course you did. I'm probably the only one that didn't, how stupid I must look."
"You're not taking the news well by the looks of it. I know it must be one hell of a surprise to you. Jamie tried to find you so you could be there, we all did."
I walked towards the desk with two glasses of scotch in hand and sat down in my father's chair."How do I know that she's even mine. I left, Jamie might have dated other men."
He shook his head."How could you say that. Of course she's yours, she looks just like you. Anyway, Jamie was pregnant before you even left. She hasn't dated anyone since, she's too caught up in you."
I moved the scotch glass across the desk towards him. He was wrong about her, she hated me, I could tell. The dinner was hard for her, she couldn't look at me the same as she did before.
"I've missed out on so much of her life." I rested back in my chair with a sigh."I don't know the first thing about being a father. I wasn't expecting this."
"You're not doing it alone, you'll learn as you go along. Don't make a mistake and run away from this."Eoin stood from his chair and picked up the files. "You're lucky you know, Penelope is a great little girl."
I looked up at Eoin in surprise, after hearing the name."Penelope?"
"That's what Jamie called her, after your mother. I should get back to work, Don't drink too much."He walked out of the office and back to his.
I was alone with my thoughts, looking down at the glass of scotch in front of me. It's been awhile since I've had a drink- A long while. I've been trying to keep myself on the right track. I felt like I needed it now more than ever.
Penelope..
I knocked on the door and waited in anticipation. Eoin gave me the address, but he wasn't sure if it was right or not. I guess I'm about to find out.
Jamie opened the door, surprised to see my face on the other side."Mason, What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?"
"Eoin told me. I want to see her, Jamie. I need to see her, Can I come in?"
She folded her arms across her chest, feeling the breeze from the outside." It's late, She's asleep already."
"I just want to see her, I won't wake her up."It was clear by her hesitation that she wasn't keen on the idea of letting me into her home. Despite that, Jamie opened the door wider and let me inside.
"This is her room."The door was ajar, so she pushed it opened the rest of the way. A nightlight of stars on the ceiling was giving the room some light. I looked at Jamie, before passing her into the room.
I walked towards the cot and looked down at the baby inside. A 9 month onl sleeping soundly on her back with a soother just hanging from her mouth. Her hair was dark in colour, just like her Mothers..
Just like mine..
She was my child. Even asleep it was clear by looking at Penelope that she was mine. All these months I've had a daughter and I didn't even know it. There was an ache in my chest and an uncertainty of what to do next.
"Her name is Penelope."Jamie walked into the room and stood beside me at the crib.
"After my Mother, she would've been happy about that."I appreciated that Jamie named Penelope after my Mother, especially since I wasn't in the picture."It must've been hard for you doing it alone, I'm sorry that you had to."
"It was scary at times, but I had help, I wasn't in it alone. Penelope is an easy baby which is good too."
"I've missed out on so much."I thought about reaching my hand into the cot and touching her hand, but I didn't. She was asleep so I didn't want to wake her. "The way we left things all those months ago, it never should of went the way it did."
"But it did. It was your choice to make and you chose to leave, there's nothing that you can do to change that now. At the end of the day, all that matters here is her."She looked down at a sleeping Penelope, before turning around and walking towards the bedroom door.
"Jamie.."I called her name quietly and she turned around."Are you going to give me a chance to fix this. I came back for you."
"Like I said, this is about her. I can't trust you, Mason. I can't make that mistake again."She turned around and walked the hallway towards the stairs.
I turned around and looked at our daughter. She didn't know it yet, but she was the most important thing in my life. Jamie Harris too. Getting back into her life isn't going to be easy.
JAMIEI looked down at the binder that I was holding in my arms. The Montgomery's had added 4 extra tables of 6 to their anniversary party overnight. Luckily I was equipped to deal with this kind of situation at last minute.Mrs Montgomery's turned to me and smiled."Is that okay, Darling?""Of course."I smiled back."I penciled it in for 4 extra table. We just need a decision on napkin colours, other than that we're pretty much set for your special day."Mr Montgomery chuckled."I'll leave this one to you, Dear.""I assumed you would."She looked at him adoringly. I found it cute that after 50 years together they were this much in love. It makes me think of my own Mom and Dad."Perfect, I'll go us a couple of sample colours."I left the Montgomery's to chat while I grabbed my napkins from the office. Five minutes later I was back but there was one other person with them.
JAMIEBrent had finally shown his face, but a part of me wished that he didn't. Either way the night will end with Carmen upset because of him. He always manages to put her down in some way, but of course she just laughs it off and acts like it doesn't bother her.He's not a good guy!!Brent's not right for her.. I don't think he cares about her, at least not in the way he should do as a future husband. Carmen's my best friend and I want to protect her, but I don't think she'll see it like that if I express my true feelings."I'll have the steak and a whisky neat." Brent closed his menu and handed it back to the waiter."I'll have.."Carmen started, whilst looking down at her menu."She will have the caesar salad."Brent looked at Carmen."You have a wedding dress to fit into. We don't want you piling on the pounds before the big da
JAMIE He wasn't happy about it, just like I wasn't. My Father wasn't all that happy about Mason Knight showing his face, after everything he's done. He wasn't happy about him being back in my life, nor Penelope's either. Because of this, I was the one facing of wrath of Clay Harris. I guess Mason will be too if my Parents don't leave before he gets here. "I'm not happy about this, Jamie. No, I don't like it!"He shook his head. Of course i pulled a face, knowing exactly what he was going to say. His every word. It's the same thing my Father always says when he doesn't like a situation.
MASON"He does a good job.. He works hard." My father stated."A good job?"I shook my head with a chuckled."I like Eoin, but there's more than a handful of typos on this page alone. We shouldn't have to keep him on just because he's family.""I think we owe him that much after everything he's done. He was the one that stepped in when you weren't around, Remember?""I bet it was such an inconvenience to his life."I replied, sarcastically. When my father didn't reply I rested back in my chair with a sigh."It's your choice if you want to keep him on. You're the boss here.""When the time comes the business will be passed on to you. It'll be good to keep some people around that you can trust."Trust.. Not likely!! I don't do trust. I'm just not that guy that puts his trust in others. That's never been me. I've never been that man.
JAMIEA bottle of Champagne was chilling in a ice bucket on the table to the side, two crystal flute glasses were stood pretty beside it. One glass completely empty, while the other was still untouched.Two in the afternoon was too early for me, but Carmen on the other hand— well she was never one to turn down free champagne, or anything free for that matter. Being the centre of attention Carmen was in her element, which is exactly how it should be for any bride to be.I hooked the final satin button on the back of her dress that was made of lace and tulle. I was feeling a great honour to be by Carmen's side. To be present at every dress fitting, to every store in the city of New York just to find the perfect pair of shoes to match her perfect dress, and most importantly by her side through all those months of planning
MASON"I know that it looks bad on my part. Not answering the phone when she called was bad enough, and finding a woman in my room didn't help the situation.""Was she pissed?"Eoin asked."Of course she was."I rested back in my chair, with a sigh."But Jamie's been pissed with me since I came back, so there's nothing new there.""She was probably jealous — about the woman I mean. She has a thing for you, she just won't show it because she's angry still. You know how women can be.""Jealous.."I shook my head in disagreement."No, I don't think so. She made it clear how much she hates me. I'm pretty sure Jamie would rather I was out of the picture. She doesn't want me around."Jealous! She would have to feel something for me in order to be jealous. Coming back here — I didn't expect winning her over was going to be such a challenge. How naive I was!!
JAMIEMy day started with a disaster!!I over slept my 7am alarm by 45 minutes, which meant my usual morning routine of calmness before an 8hr shift at The Ritz, turned into a huge rush around.I was rushing from one room to another while Penelope sat calmly in her highchair, munching on some Cheerios. Between getting us both dressed, feeding Penelope and packing her things for the day ahead, I had already worked up a sweat.I was late for work!!I looked down at my silver watch, that my Mom had gifted me for my birthday."No, I'm extremely late for work! Let's go, Penelope."I picked Penelope up in my arms, with two bags over my shoulder and I left my house in a hurry.My day didn't get any better from there. Work was more hectic than usual and Carmen came down wi
JAMIEI walked out of The Ritz and into the lashing rain, with the feeling of dread for what was about to come. Mason Knight was never one to make my life easy, today was no different.He turned on the sidewalk and looked at me. I was surprised that he didn't wait under shelter like any normal human being. No, he was stood with the rain pouring down on him, drenched with a pissed off expression on his face."You took your time."Ten minutes tops, but I'm sure it felt like forever for him. I know how impatient he can be. He doesn't like waiting around on anyone, that's what the expression is for. That and the guy he seen me kissing."Sorry.."I apologised, I don't know why. Mason didn't deserve an apology, not that I was even sorry anyway."So you said that you wanted to talk?"Make it quick, I thought!"Yeah!"He r