Happy

He strode out of the office with purposeful steps that Thea quickly followed. Mason hurried down the hall and into his office, where Genevieve stood waiting. She spun around to find Mason at the entrance, and her face lit up. “Mason!” She rushed towards him, arms wide open. He stepped in and accepted her embrace, pressing his chest against hers. “I’ve missed you,” she breathed before stepping back to take him in. His brown hair had grown a few inches since the last time they had seen each other. He looked at her in surprise, noticing the new tan on her skin and the colorful outfit she was wearing, something she would never have been caught dead in before.

“You look great, Mom,” Mason beamed with pride as he looked his mother up and down, remarking how beautiful she looked. He then shifted his gaze to Thea, who stood near the doorway, an amused expression on her face. Her bright eyes glimmered with curiosity, taking in the moment as it unfolded.

Genevieve’s eyes lit up when she spotted Thea across the room. “Thea!” She beamed and called out her name, quickly picking up her pace to meet her. Thea’s face softened in response, and Genevieve embraced her with a warm hug. “How are you?” Genevieve asked as they pulled away, her smile growing wide with genuine care.

“I’m doing well,” Thea replied, her eyes twinkling joyfully. Mason could see the corners of her lips tugging upwards in a wide smile. She talked as if her long-lost friend had made a surprise visit, and she was trying to contain the delight of seeing her again.

Mason watched as his mother closed her eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around Thea. The embrace was brief but held a powerful warmth that filled Mason’s heart with a sense of calm appreciation. Mason saw that his mother’s eyes were bright with joy. Something that had been missing before Thea arrived in their lives. His mom looked relaxed and vibrant, like the sun had been shining on her for days at a time. After giving them some time to reconnect, Mason cleared his throat softly to get their attention. “How was St. Lucia?” he asked.

“It was wonderful!” she exclaimed. She turned to Thea, “I will need to take you there. I know I stayed much longer than intended, but I’ve made so many friends!” She laughed before continuing, “But enough about me. Tell me what I’ve missed!”

Thea watched in amazement as Genevieve and Mason talked with each other. Where before there had been tension, there was now openness and understanding. Genevieve had gone from a domineering mother to one who listened, and Mason was now sharing his thoughts instead of blindly obeying. Thea smiled proudly at the transformation she was witnessing. Glancing at her watch, she said, “I have to go. It’s been great seeing you, Genevieve.”

“You too, dear,” she said.

Mason walked Thea to the door and paused, his hand lingering on the doorknob. His gaze met hers, a twinkle in his eye as he smiled, “Don’t forget, we have a date tonight,” he reminded her.

Thea leaned in close and spoke softly, “Your mother just got back in town. Don’t you want to spend some time with her?” she bit her lip, waiting for a response.

He stepped closer, and the warmth of his body was a pleasant reminder of what was not meant to be. His eyes were fixed on her, and his voice softened. “I’d rather take you home and have my way with you. But we don’t always get what we want.” Displeasure hung heavy in the air.

Thea’s mouth curled up into a smirk despite her best efforts to suppress it. She shrugged and sighed, “Yes, that is too bad. We’ll just have to wait it out.”

Mason let out a long sigh, his lips pressed tightly together and stared at her pleadingly. His eyes held a mix of frustration and need. “You know I’m not a patient man,” he said gruffly.

Thea stood on her tiptoes, her fingers pushing and pulling the soft fabric of his tie until it was perfectly situated. A wry smile crept across her face as she stepped back, her eyes meeting his. “It’s one of the things I love about you,” she said as her lips gently brushed against his.

Mason glanced over to where his mom was sitting, her lips pulled back into a full smile as she looked at her phone, “It’s still strange,” he said. “I was so used to thinking of her one way, but now, everything’s different.”

Thea smiled, her brown eyes twinkling with amusement. “It’s like shifting a worn-out gear in your brain,” she said, drawing circles in the air with her slender fingers. “It’s gonna be a process. It won’t happen overnight, but gradually you’ll start to see her differently. Slowly but surely, it’ll become second nature.”

He shuddered as he watched her lips curl into a wide, unsettling smile. Her eyes seemed to be searching, darting back and forth as if they were trying to find something on her phone. “It just creeps me out when she smiles,” he said softly. “She looks like a crazy person.”

Thea’s laugh galvanized the moment, and the corners of Mason’s lips twitched in response. “She’s happy, Mason. Be happy for her,” she said, her voice lilting with cheer.

“I am, it’s just…” he shuddered, “… I’m not used to seeing that expression on her face.” He slowly turned his gaze to Thea, his eyes pleading as if begging her not to go. “I wish you didn’t have to leave,” he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion.

Thea gently clasped Mason’s hand in hers, her eyes full of reassurance and encouragement. “You’ll be fine! You got this.”

Mason nodded, never breaking eye contact. He tenderly caressed her knuckles with his thumb. His voice was soft and comforting as he asked, “See you tonight?”

Thea rose up on her tiptoes and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. She lingered a little longer than necessary and smiled as she pulled away. “See you tonight,” she said.