“I’m glad, Mase,” his dad finally said, although his face remained pinched with concern rather than displaying any kind of sentiment to match his statement. His dad walked over to him and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. “I wished she could have been there for you when you were a kid. It wasn’t fair. You know it had nothing to do with you, right? I’ve told you that a million times. She left for her own reasons. Not because she didn’t care about you.”
She did care about him. That much Mason knew. He felt it in his heart. He just wished his family didn’t have such a negative reaction to her. “She kept saying she wasn’t welcome here. That none of you like her. Why would she keep saying that?”
“I never gave her any reason to think I didn’t want her in your life, Mase.” His dad lowered his head for a moment. “I’m sorry she wasn’t around. It really broke my heart. You never talked about her, and we never brought her up because . . . well, there was nothing to say. I’m sorry, buddy.”
Mason glanced at his mother – the only mother he’d ever known.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she cupped his face in her hands. “I love you as if I gave birth to you, Mason. In my heart, I did. I live for you. I’d die for you. If you hurt, I hurt. You are a piece of me. But I never wanted to replace Kendall. I may not have liked her, but I still wanted her in your life. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Is that why you don’t like her? Because she left? Because you think she hurt me?”
She nodded.
Her eyes said that she wasn’t being completely honest. “That’s not all there is. There’s more you’re not telling me, isn’t there? What is it?”
A pained expression passed over her face, and her shoulders sunk again. “I’ve known Kendall for a very long time. Me and Aunt Kira were Immortal Angel superfans. You know the stories. Kendall was too, I guess. She was always there. At every show. She was loud and partied too much. We found her abrasive. We clashed. That’s the extent of my interaction with Kendall. I was already with your dad when she showed up with you when you were still a toddler. It was a shock. To everyone. I was afraid she would try to get between me and your dad, but she wasn’t interested in him. She just wanted him to be your dad.”
If he had to pick someone to be his mother, out of every woman in the world, he’d pick her every day of the year. His mom was probably the sweetest and kindest woman he’d ever met. She loved him completely, and he loved her just as much in return. She soothed every ache in his heart, for as long as he could remember. He squeezed her hand and nodded. Then he looked at his dad to see if he had anything to add.
His dad shrugged. “I didn’t know her that well. I wish I could tell you that we were young and in love. That she went off in search of a singing career, and I stayed behind and fell in love with your mom. But that’s not the way it went down. She was just some chick in the bar.” He scratched at one of his long sideburns and hung his head. “I’m sorry. I know that sounds awful.”
It was the cold hard truth, but it didn’t mean anything to Mason. He knew the story. It wasn’t a big deal. It’s the first he heard of his mom and Aunt Kira having a history with Kendall, though. It didn’t matter. Although he suspected there was a lot more background information that wasn’t being offered, he believed that the extent of his parent’s relationship with Kendall had been disclosed. He saw no reason why they wouldn’t want her in his life, and Kendall freely admitted that it was her decision to stay away.
Later that night, when they were back home at Mason’s apartment, he asked Tessa what she thought about Kendall.
Tessa’s intense brown eyes bore into him, going from warm to troubled. She took a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m going to tell you the truth, because honesty is all I know. And because I love you.” She paused. “I think she really cares about you. I don’t question that. On the surface, she’s very nice. And pleasant. I genuinely like her. But this little voice in the back of my head is telling me to be wary. I don’t know if it’s because there’s so much we don’t know about the past, or because it took her so many years to contact you. Or because of the way everyone reacted tonight when you told them she was back. Whatever it is, something is telling me to be cautious. I can see you’re happy that she wants to be part of your life, and I want her to be too. I just don’t want you to get hurt. I think that’s all anyone is worried about.”
Mason rubbed his forehead. He wasn’t used to so much tension eating away at him, and he was over-analyzing everything that happened over the last few days. “I think my parents pretty much told us the whole story, but I get the feeling there’s more to it when it comes to yours. Especially your mom. What do you think she has against Kendall?”
“I’ve noticed the same thing.” Tessa stared off to the side, deep in thought. “The only thing I can think of is that Kendall had a thing for my dad. You know how women throw themselves at him.”
It made sense. Kendall admitted to drinking too much and, obviously, she was promiscuous. Tommy Blade was a sex god, to this day. Mason could only imagine how women had reacted to him when he was younger. Mason didn’t like the thought that entered his head. At all. He debated whether to mention it to Tessa or not, but decided he needed to bring it up. “You don’t think she had an affair with your dad, do you?”
Tessa went rigid. “Of course not. How could you even ask such a thing? That’s impossible. My father would never do that. My mother would never stand for it.” She shook her head vehemently. “My mother would never forgive him. Or Papi.”
At first, Mason agreed with Tessa. Tommy Blade was eternally loyal to Jessi and Angel. He’d never seen people who loved each other more than they did. It also made him wonder if Jessi and Angel loved Tommy enough to forgive a one-time transgression, but he would never admit that to Tessa.
Tessa strolled along the boardwalk, enjoying the late morning sunshine after jogging for the last 30 minutes. Having spent the last two nights at Mason’s apartment in the City, she missed her morning runs on the beach. It was still warm, but the ocean air always blanketed the air with a cool breeze and necessitated a hoodie. She zipped up the sweatshirt and stuck her hands in her pockets. As she continued down the boardwalk, she heard someone calling her name and immediately perked up. Recognition had become the norm since the band’s popularity had skyrocketed. Locals, who knew Prodigy from their bar band days, often stopped to talk to her and get a selfie. She turned and searched the faces around her, but no one was looking back at her.
“Tessa! I knew it was you!”
Tessa squinted and shielded her eyes from the glare. The older woman didn’t look like a fan, and the wide-brimmed hat and high heels were out of place and too sophisticated for the beach.
The woman waved and picked up her pace. Her heel momentarily got stuck between the planks of the boardwalk, but she freed it and kept approaching. She waved again. “It’s Kendall!”
Surprised, Tessa’s brows rose high on her forehead and she stood rooted in place while she waited for Kendall to catch up to her.
Slightly out of breath and brandishing a huge open-mouthed smile, Kendall hugged Tessa. “I’m so glad I ran into you. I was just calling Mason.”
“What are you doing here?” That sounded rude, and Tessa quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I mean, hi. What brings you to Lido Beach?”
Kendall took off her hat and smoothed her hair back, just in case a hair strayed from the tightly-wound bun at the back of her neck. “I thought I’d visit the beach before my return to Britain. Then I remembered you lived in Lido Beach.” She held up her cell phone. “I was just about to ring Mason to get your number.” Kendall gazed at Tessa, a warm smile on her lips and a tilt to her head. “You’re so pretty. Can I take you to lunch? I have a car waiting. We can go anywhere you like.”
This woman looked so put together, as if she was ready to attend a formal event, and Tessa looked as if she just came from the gym. She tugged on the front of her hoodie to disengage it from
her damp tank top. “It’s a nice gesture, but I was jogging. I’m all sweaty.”
“If you want to go back to your place and shower, I wouldn’t mind waiting.”
Tessa struggled with conflicting thoughts on how to respond. She didn’t want to be dismissive or standoffish, but it didn’t feel right to have lunch with Mason’s birth mother without him. There was a hot dog stand a few yards down on the boardwalk and she suggested they get a drink and sit down for a few minutes and talk instead.
Kendall carefully placed the hat back on her head and adjusted the brim. “That would be lovely.”
They walked on the uneven wood, Kendall navigating the pits and cracks in her high heel Manolo Blahnik shoes remarkably well. With a bottle of water and a large salted pretzel, they sat on a nearby bench facing the ocean. Kendall appeared out of place in her pristine Carolina Herrera skirt suit among the casual shorts and tank tops. She knew she was coming to the beach. Why would she wear such formal attire? Tessa wondered. “You’re suit is beautiful, but you don’t look like you’re dressed for the beach.”
“I didn’t pack many clothes. I only expected to come for the funeral.” Kendall picked the salt off her pretzel, one chunk at a time but never took a bite. “I picked up a few pieces the other day, but now that I’m going to stay a while, I probably should go shopping.” Her eyes lit up, and she swiveled toward Tessa, her ankles still crossed in the slim pencil skirt. “I have a splendid idea! Let’s go shopping. Come back to the City with me. We can go shopping at all the designer stores on Fifth Avenue.”
Tessa felt uncomfortable at the idea of going shopping with Kendall. She honestly didn’t know how to react. Part of her wanted to ask Kendall why she wasn’t including Mason in these plans, but she knew it would sound rude. “I don’t think so. It’s a nice offer, but we’re gearing up for a second album, and I have a million things to do. We have people, but I like to oversee everything myself.”
Kendal stared at Tessa for a moment, her smile broadening. “You remind me so much of your father.”
“Which one?”
“Angel, of course!” Kendall waved her hand as if it was an absurd question. “Always working. Always making sure the band is the best it can be.”
Tessa always thought her personality mimicked her mother’s – headstrong, independent, outspoken. But she was like Papi when it came to cooking and music, and, of course the physical resemblance, which is probably why Kendall kept commenting on it.
“If I had him behind me, managing me, I honestly think I could have made something of myself.” Kendal looked out into the ocean, untouched pretzel in hand. “He and I were close, but I guess we drifted apart as the years went by.”
“How exactly do you know my papi?” Tessa asked, with genuine curiosity, and a hint of suspicion.
“From voice class.” Kendall covered her lips with the tips of her fingers while her cheeks filled out. “I love that you call him Papi. That’s adorable.” She tried out the word. “Papi.” She stared off into the distance again, the pretzel now discarded on the bench. “How is he?”
“He’s well.” Tessa noted that she never asked about anyone else, only Papi.
“Please tell him I said hello.” Her smile disappeared and she shook her head rapidly from side to side “No. Please don’t tell him I said anything. Don’t tell any of your parents. It’s really not a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“It’s a long story. Not one that matters anymore. At least not to me. I don’t want to stir up any ill feelings that some people may still have for me, especially since I have a chance to get to know you and Mason now.”
Tessa nodded, appreciative of Kendall’s last statement.
“Well,” Kendall patted Tessa’s knee. “I won’t keep you any longer since you have important business to tend to. I’ve bothered you enough.”
“It was nice to see you again,” Tessa said, as they both stood up.
“You, as well. I’m so happy I ran into you today.” Kendall gave Tessa a smothering hug. “Please tell Mason I’ll reach out to him later this afternoon.”
“I will.” Tessa left Kendall with a small smile and walked down the steps that led to the beach and the path back to her apartment complex. She realized that she ran into Kendall almost directly across from her building and glanced over her shoulder at where she’d sat with Kendall a few moments ago. The woman still stood in the same spot on the boardwalk, looking in Tessa’s direction. Kendall waved, not a small inconspicuous gesture either, but an exaggerated swipe of her arm in the air over her head to make sure Tessa saw it. Tessa waved back, amused at the exuberance in Kendall’s posture, but a little unnerved.
Once inside her apartment, Tessa stripped off her sweaty jogging clothes and jumped into the shower. She automatically started to sing the lyrics to Rewind, one of Prodigy’s older songs that she wanted to put on the new album. She smiled as she sang, remembering Mason’s remark about how he used to listen to her sing in the shower from Lucas’ suite when they still lived with their parents. As she washed her hair, thoughts began to fill her mind, the same way Mason mentioned that the shower was the perfect time to clear one’s head and think. They weren’t exactly pleasant thoughts, though. She began to wonder about the chances of Kendall accidentally running into her on the boardwalk directly across from her apartment. Lido Beach was a mile long. Kendall could have gone to any beach. She didn’t have to come all the way to Lido Beach. She was from Brooklyn. She could have gone to Coney Island. That would be the natural place to visit, especially with the redevelopment plan that rejuvenated the area.
When she stepped out of the shower, she called Mason, not exactly sure what to say.
“Hey, babe.” Mason answered the phone with the usual cheerfulness. “Did you have a nice jog?”
“Kendall showed up.” Blurt it out, she told herself. No need to bother with subtlety.
“What? Where? At your apartment?”
“No. On the boardwalk. She said she wanted to see the beach before she went back to London and remembered I lived in Lido Beach.”
“And she just ran into you?”
“Yeah.” She waited for Mason’s reply while the line was quiet for a moment.
A laugh came through the phone. “Wow. What are the chances?”
Exactly.
“What’d she say?”
“She bought me a pretzel and we talked about how happy she was to be able to get to know the both of us.”
“She likes you, Tess. I’m glad. It means a lot to me that she’s taking an interest in my life now. It really feels like she’s trying to make up for the past. It’s giving me closure. I never realized how much it bothered me that she wasn’t around.”
Feeling guilty, Tessa dropped her chin into her chest. There was no reason to read into the chance meeting with Kendall. So what if Kendall specifically came to Lido Beach to see her? She was Mason’s girlfriend. Mason was happy to establish a relationship with his birth mother, and Kendall was taking the initiative to be in her son’s life. That’s the only thing that mattered.
“You coming by soon?” She heard the smile in his voice. “It’s only been a few hours, but I miss you like crazy.”
His words warmed her heart. “Yeah. See you in a bit. Love you.”
“Love you, too, babe.”
Traffic from Long Island into the City was soul sucking at times. When Mason was a teenager, before he got his Lamborghini, he’d spend many a night in the guest room at Tessa’s parents’ home. Once he bought his Lambo, he zipped between their homes sometimes twice in one day. Tessa had no idea how he did it. She was a ball of stress by the time she got to the parking garage of his apartment building. She was beginning to hate the Long Island Expressway. As she stepped out of her Tesla she felt a weight lifted from her shoulders at the thought of being with Mason again in a few minutes. He’s the only one she’d battle the L.I.E. and cross town traffic for. She took the elevator to his floor and let herself into his apartm
ent. “Mase?”
“Don’t take your jacket off.” He came out of the bedroom rattling his keys in his hand. “My Aunt Kira and Uncle Brett are at my parents’ place with the twins. They’re officially New Yorkers for the next few months. Mind if we stop by?”
She let out a dramatic breath. “As long as you’re driving.”
“Road rage?” His dimples made an appearance, and Tessa forgot all about the stress from the drive.
“Yes.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “But I’m all better now that I’m in your arms, and that I get to see the kids. Plus, I can talk to Kira about some of the new tracks we recorded.”
“That’s my girl. Always working.” He kissed her, and it almost made her want to forget about visiting his family. Almost. She loved those kids. So, back into the car and into midtown traffic they went. Only a few blocks this time and not to the ‘burbs.
When they arrived at Mason’s parents’ penthouse, the usual greetings ensued. The twins, Bella and Ronnie, after having spent the last few months in the California sunshine where the family lived for half the year, bore golden tans that bathed them in a healthy glow. The eight year olds practically leapt into Mason’s arms. He lifted them as high as he could, showing off his muscles and how strong he was. It was a little game they played, and Tessa couldn’t contain her smile as she watched them.
The thing she loved most about the twins is that one of them was a girl in this family of rambunctious boys. Tessa hadn’t thought that Kira planned on having kids, considering her schedule had her all over the place, but once Michael came along it was only natural that Kira followed her older sister’s footsteps and got pregnant a year after Mason’s little brother was born.
The guys retreated to the den while the women, including little Bella, congregated in the kitchen around the center island, except Kira, who hung back to talk to Mason privately. Tessa watched them out of the corner of her eye while she helped Audra set a pitcher of lemonade and glasses on the counter. There was concern on Kira’s face and Mason’s brows were pinched together. It seemed to be mostly a one-sided conversation, with Kira taking the lead. The carefree and playful rapport the two shared was replaced by a stance that indicated heavy conversation, and Tessa immediately knew that Kira was expressing her concern about Kendall turning up in Mason’s life. It filled Tessa with unease and trepidation, but then a tick of annoyance gnawed at her. Was it really necessary for everyone in this family to air their doubts and suspicions about Mason’s birth mother?
MASON WILDER: Radical Rock Stars Next Generation Duet Book 2 Page 17
