Turn Over:A Secret Baby Sports Romance(71)

"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."