by Kat Brookes
She nodded. “It appears that way.”
“Then we have time to figure it out.” He walked over and picked up Finn’s discarded ball and glove. “Now, how about we go inside and have a glass of lemonade with our son?”
Lila glanced toward the house. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
“I thought Jake agreed to put Finn first,” Mason said.
“He did,” she agreed. “But being cordial to me whenever Finn is around is one thing. To expect him, or your momma and Violet, to welcome me into their house is another.”
“It’s my house, too,” he reminded her. They all still lived at home, working together to keep the orchard and the market thriving. Someday, probably not until they started families of their own, they would build places of their own on land their daddy had left them on the outer edges of the orchard. Until he and Lila had reconnected, there hadn’t been any pull for him to live anywhere other than in the home he’d grown up in. Now those thoughts were stirring in his head, more often than not.
With a frown, she shook her head. “Thank you for the offer, but I can’t stay.” She glanced toward the house and then back to Mason. “Would you mind getting the dogs for me?”
“The dogs?”
“Honey and Grits,” she explained. “They took it upon themselves to pay a visit to your place.”
A grin tugged at one side of his mouth. “You mean they gave you the slip again.”
She pointed a finger at him. “If anyone’s to blame for their wayward behavior, it’s you.”
He chuckled. “Me?”
“Mama Tully said you had been spending time with them before she got sick, and then we both know you cared for them daily when she took ill,” she said. “Therefore, any bad habits, along with their eagerness to buck authority, falls on your shoulders as far as I’m concerned.” With a stubborn lift of her chin, she glanced away.
“Then I had better set aside a little extra time to work with them,” Mason replied with a grin. “Can’t have Mama Tully thinking that I corrupted her babies. I’d be happy to give you some tips on ways to keep Honey and Grits from getting bored. Because a bored dog is a dog guaranteed to get into mischief.”
“That would be helpful,” Lila said with a soft smile. “Because the truth is I have no experience whatsoever with pets of any kind.”
“I kind of figured as much,” Mason admitted with a grin.
“I really do need to get the dogs back to Mama Tully before she starts to worry over them.”
“Why don’t I go get Finn and the pups and I’ll give you all a ride home?”
“I don’t think Finn is going to appreciate his visit here being cut short because of me.”
“We’ll blame the dogs,” he told her with a conspiratorial wink.
“Don’t,” she said.
Confusion filled him. “Don’t what?”
“Be so nice to me,” she replied. “It only makes me feel worse about what I did to you.”
His expression grew serious. “I’ve got a son that I want very much to get to know, but my time to do so is limited. So any extra time I can squeeze out with my son, I’m going to grab onto.”
“You can have all the time you need with him,” she offered. “We’ll be here all summer.”
“And then what?” he said. “You’ll be going back to Alabama and I’ll be leaving for an extended trip to the Congo. It could be months before I get to see my son again.”
“Can you reconsider?” she said.
“Everything’s already set,” he told her. “And there are only a few of us going on this mission trip. I can’t short them a pair of hands when it comes to building that school. But I promise to pay Finn a visit the moment I return.”
“In Alabama?”
“School will be in session,” he reminded her. “I figure I will need to come to him once school’s in, since harvesting time would be over. That is, once I get back from my mission trip.” Or would that cause issues for Lila? If she was seeing anyone, he was pretty certain they wouldn’t be overjoyed to have Lila’s ex and the father of her son show up. “Unless my coming there is going to be a problem for you. I could wait until Finn is on holiday break and bring him back here.”
She shook her head. “Your coming to Alabama would never be a problem,” she told him. “Finn would be thrilled to have you there. No doubt to show you off to all his friends.”
“No relationship my being there might complicate?” he heard himself ask. A mental kick in the backside followed. He didn’t want to go there. Didn’t want to think about what Lila’s personal life was like. It wasn’t any of his business who she was seeing, or even if she was seeing anyone.
“No,” she answered softly. “I’m not seeing anyone. And even if I were, I would make certain your being a part of our son’s life wasn’t an issue.”
His heart gave a small lurch at her admission. “That’s good to know.”
“Mason,” she said, almost nervously, “I know you and I will never be what we once were to each other, but I pray we can find a way to work with each other to figure out an agreeable plan for Finn’s sake. That last thing I want to do is put him through a long drawn-out custody battle.”
He nodded. “We’re on the same page there. This situation has been enough of a shock to him as it is.”
She frowned. “He might not even want to stay with me after what I’ve done. It’s all I can do to get him to speak to me.”
“Would you like me to have a talk with him?”
“Nothing you can say to him will change the fact that I kept him from you for all these years,” she replied. “I understand his resenting me for it. I just pray time will ease that hurt and he’ll be able to find it in his heart to forgive me.”
“I’ll say a prayer for the two of you, then,” he offered.
She looked up, meeting his gaze. “I would really appreciate that.”
“Consider it done. Now, let’s go have some lemonade and then get those little gadabouts home.”
* * *
“There you are, my babies,” Mrs. Tully greeted from her wicker rocker as Grits and Honey scampered up onto the porch to see her.
“They came to find me,” Finn said with a smile as he raced behind them.
Mrs. Tully laughed. “I figured that’s where they’d gone off to.” Her gaze moved past Finn to Lila and Mason, who were bringing up the rear.
“Mason gave us a ride home,” Lila explained.
“I see that,” her foster mother said with a smile. “Thank you for delivering all my loved ones to me safe and sound. Would you like something to drink? I just made a fresh pitcher of sweet tea.”
“We just had lemonade,” Finn told her as he sat on the porch, prompting the dogs to hop all over him and douse him in eager puppy kisses.
“I see,” she replied with a nod.
“How are you feeling?” Mason asked as he and Lila joined her on the porch.
“Better every day,” she said, rocking slowly back and forth.
“Glad to hear it.”
Lila crossed the porch and opened the screen door. “Be right back. I’m going to grab a handful of treats for Honey and Grits.”
Mrs. Tully’s eyebrows lifted. “You’re going to reward these two for causing mischief?”
“Not exactly,” Mason answered for her with a grin. “We’re going to be using them to work on Lila’s dog-training skills. They’re a bit lacking.”
“More than a bit,” Lila admitted with a grin.
“There’s some warm banana nut bread on the kitchen table,” Mama Tully said.
“Banana nut bread!” Finn exclaimed, shooting to his feet. His excitement had the dogs dancing around and barking.
Mrs. Tully looked to Finn. “I’ve already sliced it, if you’d like to go get yourself a piece.”
“Wash your hands first,” Mrs. Tully called out.
“I will,” Finn replied.
“I thought you wanted to learn how to care for Honey and Grits,” Lila said as their son moved past her.
“Daddy can teach you and then you can teach me,” he replied. Pausing at the door, he looked in Mason’s direction. “You want a piece, too? I could bring you out one when I’m done.”
“Maybe later,” he replied. “After your momma and I are done working with the dogs. I’m afraid the smell of your gramma Tully’s banana nut bread would be too much of a distraction for Honey and Grits.”
“Okay,” his son replied with a nod and then hurried into the house.
Shaking her head with a smile, Lila followed him inside to get the treats.
As the screen door swung shut behind them, Mrs. Tully laughed. “That boy of yours certainly likes his sweets.”
Mason turned to face her.
“Reminds me of someone else I know,” she went on.
Something else he and his son had in common. The thought of it warmed his heart. “He’s got a lot of his mother in him, too,” he replied honestly.
“The best of both of you,” his neighbor pointed out.
“Momma says the same thing,” he replied.
“Speaking of your momma, how did lunch go today with Finn and your family?”
“Better than expected,” he answered. “Finn felt right at ease. To be honest, I was a little worried that he might feel uncomfortable without Lila there, but he did well. Violet adores him. And Jake is stepping right into the uncle role like he’s been doing it for years.”
“That makes my heart so happy,” she said as she rocked back and forth. “Your momma and I have talked, and she tells me that Jake’s been having a hard time dealing with everything that’s happened.”
Mason nodded. “I’d say that’s a fair statement. But he and Lila had a chance to talk some things out today when she showed up looking for the dogs. I’m not sure Jake will ever completely forgive her, but he’s agreed to set his anger toward her aside for Finn’s sake.”
“Praise the Lord,” Mrs. Tully said, pressing a hand to her heart. “A prayer answered. And Violet?”
Mason propped himself up against a porch post. “We all need to try and set the past aside for Finn’s sake. Even Violet. She’s been keeping her anger inside, choosing to remain silent rather than start anything. I told her she needs to talk to Lila, let her know how she’s feeling. Maybe even consider forgiving her, since her being Finn’s momma will bring her into our lives often.”
“Like you’ve done,” she said with a soft smile. “I take it your helping Lila with Honey and Grits is merely you leading by example?”
“I suppose it is,” he conceded. “But there’s no denying Lila needs to know at least the basics to keep those two darlings of yours from running roughshod over her.”
Mrs. Tully laughed softly. “They are a bit on the spoiled side, aren’t they?”
“Let’s just say they’re well loved,” Mason told her, his gaze drifting to the door.
“Not much has changed, I see.”
He looked to Mrs. Tully. “I’m sorry?”
“You’re still taken with that girl,” she replied matter-of-factly.
Mason stiffened. “With Lila?”
“I’m not referring to Honey,” she said. “And she’s the only other she in that house. I’ve seen the way you still search her out whenever she’s near.”
“Don’t let your imagination run too wild. I got over Lila a long time ago,” he said with a frown. “The only reason she’s in my life now is because of my son.” Mason wondered if that last statement was directed more at himself or Mrs. Tully. And while Lila, as his son’s mother, would inevitably be in his life, he knew better than to let his heart’s guard down where she was concerned.
The screen door creaked slowly open, putting an immediate end to their conversation.
Lila stepped outside with what could only be described as a forced smile on her face. She clutched a sandwich bag filled with a colorful assortment of dog biscuits.
Mason tensed. Had she overheard him and Mrs. Tully discussing her? Heard a denial that wasn’t exactly true? Because Lila’s return to Sweet Springs, and the feelings she stirred up inside him, had proved that he wasn’t as over her as he’d once thought he was.
“I just realized how late it’s getting,” Lila said. “We can work with the dogs another time.”
“It’s barely midafternoon,” Mrs. Tully pointed out.
“But Finn and I have taken up a good bit of Mason’s workday,” she explained. “I remember how much there is to do during harvest season.”
Mason shook his head. “Not on Sundays. That’s a day I set aside for spending time with my family and friends. And dog training,” he added with a teasing grin, hoping to put a smile back onto her pretty face.
“I think it would be better if you saved your spare time for Finn,” she replied, avoiding his gaze. “The two of you have a lot of catching up to do. I’ll figure things out with Honey and Grits.”
Guilt sliced through him. He had no doubt now that Lila had overheard what he’d said as she was returning to the porch with her bag of treats. That was why she was trying to back out of their plans. He hadn’t set out to hurt Lila, but his carelessly spoken words had succeeded in doing just that. Now what? Did he apologize? Or should he go, as she seemed determined for him to do?
“Oh, for goodness’s sake,” Mrs. Tully said from the rocker. “Mason wouldn’t have offered to help you out if he didn’t think he’d have the time. And you have to admit that learning a thing or two about caring for my rather well-loved babies couldn’t hurt. They can be a bit on the troublesome side at times.”
“I made the offer,” Mason agreed.
Lila hesitated and then finally swung her gaze around to meet his. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay,” she relented with a sigh. She held up the bag she’d brought out with her. “We have the treats. All we need now is the dogs.”
“I’ll get them,” Mason announced as he made his way to the door. Opening it just wide enough for the dogs to slip through, he gave a short whistle. “Honey. Grits. Come.”
The thumping of paws sounded across the hardwood floor inside. A second later, the dogs shot out through the open door. Grits first. Honey right on his tail. They moved to stand in front of him, looking up as if in anticipation of what they were about to be doing.
Grinning, Mason reached down to give both dogs an affectionate scratch behind their ears, feeding them words of praise that had their tails thumping against the porch floor. Straightening, he turned to Lila. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
Mrs. Tully pushed up from the rocker, getting to her feet, much steadier than she had been when she’d first come home from the hospital. “I think I’ll go in and have a piece of banana nut bread. That is, if my grandbaby hasn’t eaten it all,” she said teasingly.
“He might have,” Lila replied with a smile, “if I hadn’t told him to limit himself to one slice.”
“One? Who eats only one slice of freshly baked banana nut bread?” Mason said, pretending to be aghast at the very thought of it. “Finn’s a growing boy. He needs lots of food to fuel him.”
“Healthy food,” Lila said in a motherly tone.
“Banana bread is healthy,” he countered. “It’s made with bananas.”
“And lots of sugar,” Mrs. Tully said with a chuckle as she reached for the handle of the screen door. Glancing back over her shoulder, she said to Lila, “Seems to me you’re not the only one who has some learning to do.”
“Agreed,” Lila said with a nod as the door closed behind Mrs. Tully.
Mason signaled for the dogs to follow as they made their way off the porch. “Maybe we can work out an arrangement,” he said as they walked along.
Lila tilted her head to look his way. “What sort of arrangement?”
“You teach me some of the important things I need to know about parenting, and I’ll teach you anything you want to know about caring for dogs.”
“There shouldn’t even have to be an exchange.”
“True,” he agreed, “but we can’t change the past. And I need to know the ins and outs of parenting, at least the abbreviated version for now. Because God blessed me with the opportunity to get to know my son this summer before I leave on my mission trip. I don’t want to mess things up.”
“Like I did?” she said.
“I didn’t mean to imply that,” Mason said apologetically. “And while I don’t have much experience with children, Momma tells me they are pretty resilient. Finn will get past this rough patch. And I’ll do whatever I can to help the two of you work through this.”
Lila lifted her gaze, looking up at him through misty eyes. “I don’t deserve your kindness, and I know it. But thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m willing to share whatever parenting information I can with you, whether or not you help me with Honey and Grits. Just know that I think your momma would be a far better source than me when it comes to some of those things. She’s raised three wonderful children into three exceptionally giving adults. I, on the other hand, only had my time with Mama Tully to guide me in how I have been raising Finn. I learned it all by trial and error, doing the best I could.”
“Despite the odds you had against you, being an unwed teenage mother and all, you’ve clearly raised our son well. You even succeeding in getting a college degree while caring for a baby.”
“Thanks to Addy and her momma,” she said. “And the childcare program my school offered its students. I knew that if I wanted more for my son than I’d had growing up, I needed a job that created stability. One that kept a roof over our heads and food on the table.” And she had managed to do so. It hadn’t been easy, but, unlike her own momma, she’d put her son’s needs first. She wanted her child to grow up feeling safe and loved, and proud to call her his parent.
