She crumpled up the paper and tossed it. She stormed across the street to get away from the crowd before she burst into tears. If it weren’t for the baby she’d hit the nearest packie and drown herself in a bottle of Jim Beam.
Instead she sat under a tree and dealt with the pain. They had split up; they were free to do whatever they wanted. For him that must mean a threesome with two women he’d probably never speak to again.
“It must be nice,” Laura grumbled to herself. For the foreseeable future she had no plans to date and was okay with that, but to actually bear witness to how quickly Mason had moved on was a real kick in the shins.
She allowed a few more minutes of feeling sorry for herself and steeled her resolve. She wanted this, so she got it.
She dashed back across the street to the diner and jumped back in line with her parents. By then they had reached the threshold of the restaurant.
“Laura, there you are. Look who we bumped into!” Joanie pulled a couple of women up to their place in line.
“Maggie? Amber? Oh my God! It’s been years!” Laura embraced her two old friends as if they were her life rafts.
“Well, you went off to New York and got all busy. It’s so good to see you!” Maggie hugged Laura again. Laura had forgotten how petite the two sisters were. Maggie, the tallest and older of the two, was only 5’4” and had a long, lean build and thick, chestnut hair that fell to her butt.
Amber, who was two years younger, stood two inches shorter and was built like Salma Hayek. Clearly, the gods had saved all of the bombshell genes for the younger sister.
Laura was so happy she wanted to cry again. She was so happy the first trimester was nearly over. Being a weepy hormone monster all the time was rough. “Join us for lunch! I want to catch up with you guys.”
“Sure,” the sisters answered in unison.
***
Laura’s parents took a separate table to let the three women have some alone time, a gesture Laura was grateful for.
They finished ordering and handed their menus back to the server.
“So what are you doing back in town? I would never leave New York,” Maggie asked. She had the itch to leave Western Mass since they were in high school. Getting married to a Marine recruit at nineteen had grounded her in town.
“Believe me, it’s not as glamorous as you think.” Laura took a sip of her water before continuing, “The museums and culture are great, but after a while the hustle and bustle grates on you, you know?”
“No, we don’t,” Amber answered with a laugh.
“Ha! I suppose not. Well, I also broke up with my boyfriend and have since discovered I’m pregnant. The city is no place to raise a child.”
The sisters squealed in excitement and began talking over each other.
“How far along are you?”
“Do you know if you’re having a boy or girl, yet?”
“Are you having a baby shower?”
“This is so exciting!”
Laura let the two of them vent their steam. When they settled down a little she filled them in on the details and showed them the ultrasound picture.
“Aw. Congratulations, Laura,” Maggie beamed. She had been Laura’s best friend from preschool all the way up until she’d moved to New York, when they had lost touch.
“Thanks. Despite the circumstances, I’m really excited too.” She had lost Mason, but she still got to keep a part of him with her.
“So what happened to the guy, anyway? The last boyfriend I remember you having was that guy in college you were going to marry. What was his name?” Amber asked.
“Mason. Mason Decker,” Laura answered.
“Yeah, him. Didn’t he go on to create that puzzle app that blew up huge?” said Maggie.
“That’s the one. He expanded into developing other software too. He’s brilliant. Well, with computers. We reconnected last summer. He had lived in Manhattan while I was in Brooklyn. We both lived there for years without ever crossing paths.”
Amber nodded and smiled. “I remember him. What a hottie. And that accent? Unf, you had a stunner there, Laura.”
Laura smiled weakly. “Yeah. Handsome, charming, rich, everything that looked good on paper, but he had some issues with boundaries and control. At least, this time around, anyway.”
Maggie studied Laura’s face, trying to read her friend. When Laura noticed, she tried to hide her face with her glass.
“There’s more you aren’t saying. Spill, Ross.”
Damn. Maggie could still read Laura like a book. They hadn’t seen each other in nine years and it was like a day hadn’t passed. “I was involved with a guy when Mason and I reconnected and I didn’t tell him. I didn’t think it was a big deal, since it was a fuck buddy agreement…or so I thought. When Frank turned out to be stalking me for months, Mason had a hard time dealing with it.” She put her glass down. Rehashing this with someone who had known Mason the first time around might give her some perspective.
“I’ve been obsessing over the idea that he didn’t trust me. In the end we both agreed to move on. Quit looking at me like that!”
The sisters had these pitying looks on their faces. Maggie spoke first. “Laura, I remember how much Mason meant to you in college and what leaving him did to you. Are you sure this is what’s best for you? Especially considering…” She nodded her head in the direction of Laura’s belly.
“He doesn’t know.”
“What?!” Amber perked up. “Laura, you have to tell him.”
Laura shook her head. “No, and I don’t plan on it. Things will just get murky and complicated. I’ll be fine.”
Unlike Joanie, Maggie wasn’t one to hold back her judgment. “I’m sorry, Laura, but that is so stupid. This is his baby, too. Be fair.”
Laura scoffed. How dare her friend not take her side? “You have no idea what you’re talking about, Maggie. I’ve made my mind up. To involve Mason in my life in any capacity will only keep me bound to him. I don’t trust my feelings for him enough to not maintain some sort of boundary. The best way for me to deal with this is all or nothing. Besides, he’s moved on now.”
“Whatever, girl. Let’s eat and talk about something else.” Maggie removed her arms from the table as the server came to drop off their food.
Laura’s appetite had fled during their conversation. Instead of eating she stared at and played with her food.
Maggie’s questions had put some doubts in her head. Doubts she really couldn’t afford to have.
Chapter Fifty
Mason stood in front of his dom’s door for the third time that month. The physical pain Charlotte provided was his release both sexually and emotionally. Any therapist in the world would tell him that this probably wasn’t the healthiest way to deal with his emotions, but it was better than drinking himself to death.
A blonde in short-shorts and a peasant top opened the door. “Hello, Mason. Come on in.” Charlotte held the door to allow Mason into her apartment. As soon as the door snapped closed she switched into dominatrix mode. “Strip and get on your knees,” she commanded.
Like a good dog, Mason shucked his clothing off down to his boxer briefs and dropped to his knees.
“Good boy. Get your hands behind your head and show me that gorgeous body of yours.” Charlotte dragged the leather tails of the flogger around his chest and down his back, admiring her old handiwork.
Mason shuddered in anticipation of the first strike. As pent up and upset as he was, he had a feeling this session would be over quickly.
The first lash struck his lower back, just above the crest of his ass, followed in quick succession by a second and a third. Charlotte grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back. “You didn’t take care of your back. Why?”
Mason didn’t answer. He knew that resisting would cause her to lash out harder. He wanted it. He just glared at the icy stare in front of his nose.
Charlotte tossed his head to the side. “You won’t answer me? Fine. I’m on
to you, Decker.” She crossed over to the couch and sat, crossing her bare legs. “You will stay like that until I tell you to move or you answer me. Your choice.”
***
In the end, Mason chose not to answer her. Instead he dressed and left, wallowing in shame and self-pity. He felt like a junkie falling deeper down the addiction rabbit hole. Each time he called on Charlotte, he needed her to do something more extreme. He had gone on to contemplate knife play, because the beatings weren’t getting the job done anymore.
Visiting his old dom was not likely to thrill Laura, should he ever see her again, anyway. Walking the three blocks to his building, he had a chance to think about what it would do to her if she found out.
The Page Six article had been bad enough that his business partner had pulled him aside to have a conversation about his behavior. He hoped to God she hadn’t seen it too.
It was going on four months since they had split up, and every weekend was a blur of booze and women. He hadn’t slept with any of them; it was the thrill of the chase that did it for him. He couldn’t risk the consequences of what his dick might put him through.
It was time to clean himself up. For the sake of not only himself, but for his company, and the love of his life. Even if she wasn’t around to see it happen.
Chapter Fifty One
“Ma, I’m gonna go check out A Child’s Garden. I’ll meet you at Dobra.” Laura waved at her mother. She wanted to get in one more shop before settling in for her baby shower.
It had driven all of her friends and family crazy that she wouldn’t tell the sex of the baby. The truth was, she didn’t want to know because it didn’t matter: boy or girl, she was going to love it the same. Her family, on the other hand, was up her butt because they wanted to go shopping and “green and yellow are so boring.” At just over eight months pregnant, she didn’t give a fuck what they wanted.
When Laura walked in the door, a friendly woman in an Aztec-patterned maxi dress greeted her. “Welcome to A Child’s Garden! Is there anything I can help you find today?”
“I was looking for a carrier, maybe a wrap.” There was plenty in the store she wanted, but she would wait until after the shower to see what was still missing.
“Right this way.” The salesgirl motioned for Laura to follow.
The amount of merchandise in the little store was overwhelming. Just maneuvering her belly around was difficult. She turned and almost took out a display of baby leg warmers.
The salesgirl pointed to a narrow shelving unit with all different wraps and carriers. They were all so cute, Laura knew picking just one would be difficult.
“Be sure to check out our cloth diaper sale as well. We have a few that just got marked down and discontinued. My name is Cara, and if you need any help or have questions, just let me know.”
“Thanks, Cara. I will.”
After browsing for a few minutes she checked her watch. If she would make her own shower on time, she’d have to go right then.
After waffling between two ring slings she picked the blue, sibori-dyed sling and checked out. Maggie and her mom had spent weeks planning her baby shower; they’d kill her if she wandered in embarrassingly late.
“Thank you!” she chirped to the salesgirl, and rushed out the door.
“Laura?”
She turned around at the sound of her name and her heart sank like a stone. Ben and Patricia Decker were approaching her from the store next door. It was too late to run.
“Mr. and Mrs. Decker, it’s so good to see you!” She hugged and kissed her would-be in-laws. “How are you?”
“Clearly not as good as you, dear.” Patricia raked her gray eyes over Laura’s swollen body, scrutinizing her baby belly and obvious lack of a wedding ring.
Laura could feel herself blush. “Um, yeah. I’m due next month. J-July tenth-ish,” she stammered.
“Congratulations! Who’s the lucky chap?” Ben asked with sincere exuberance.
“Oh, no one you two would know.” She chuckled nervously. “I’m sorry to have to run, but I’m about to be late for my own baby shower.” She leaned in and hugged them both briefly. “It was so good to see you both.”
“Take care, Laura,” Patricia called to Laura’s back.
Without a backward glance, Laura waddled around the corner to the tearoom. “Fuck, fuck. What do I do now?” she whispered to herself.
“Laura, honey, where have you been? You’re ten minutes late.” Joanie intercepted Laura’s path and thoughts, dragging her into the café.
Maggie, Amber, and at least a dozen of her and her mother’s closest friends had all shown up with gifts and support for Laura and her baby. For that afternoon, Laura was able to put aside her doubts and worries, and just enjoy herself.
Chapter Fifty Two
Mason leaned against a big oak tree in Central Park to catch his breath. It had been ages since he had done any exercise, and he was feeling it. The Specials were interrupted when his phone rang. “Hello?”
“Mason, darling. How are you?”
He was surprised. His parents hadn’t called him in months. They had been on holiday visiting family in England since February. “Hi, Mum. I’m good. Just relearning how to breathe.” He had finally caught his breath. It took long enough.
“That’s nice. You’ll never guess who I just bumped into downtown.”
“You’re right. I won’t.” Downtown Northampton was lovely, but nobody of importance ever showed up there.
“Your ex-fiancée, Laura.”
Mason froze, wide-eyed and feeling like an idiot. Of course she’d go home to her parents. Where the hell else would she be? “How did she look? Is she happy?” Did she mention me? Was she with another man?
“She looked lovely, radiant even. And very, very pregnant.” Patricia just loved gossip and relished telling her son about his scandalous ex.
Mason nearly dropped his phone. A ball of lead formed in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t have heard her correctly. “Say again, Mum. Your phone cut out.” His blood pressure spiked, and it took all of his control not to hyperventilate into the phone.
“I said she was very pregnant, Mason. She said she was due around July tenth. She moved on rather fast, didn’t she?”
Like Laura, he counted the weeks back in his head. His mother was so obtuse. “Yes, Mummy. I suppose she did. Listen, I have a lunch meeting I have to go get ready for. Give Dad a hug for me.”
“Will do, darling. Love you.” She disconnected on her end.
Mason just let the dead air hang there. Laura was pregnant, pregnant with his child. “How could she not tell me?” he whispered to himself.
It didn’t matter. He knew where she was. He scrambled to pull himself together and ran back to his apartment to clean up. He had to finish out the workday, and then it was off for a weekend in Western Mass.
Chapter Fifty Three
Laura was finishing up all of the baby laundry. She had taken the tags off, sorted, and washed every tiny article of clothing. The day before, her dad had helped her put together the co-sleeper and de-clutter her room.
She had just laid out everything for her birth bag when she heard a knock at the front door. Her parents were out, so she shuffled to see who it was. She was shocked when she opened the door.
No matter how shocked Laura looked, it was nothing compared to Mason. His face blanched and his eyes bugged out. Laura looked ready to give birth right in front of him.
“Wh-what are you doing here, Mason?” The jig was up. After six long months, Laura and Mason stood face to face. She didn’t want to be the first to address the hippo in the room.
All Mason could do was stare and point. His mouth had dried up and his vocal chords had quit. The sight of Laura’s stretched belly had struck him completely dumb.
Laura nodded, relieved of the burden of hiding the truth. There was no way to pretend. Mason could read a calendar and work the math out.
In two steps Mason crossed into the foyer and gather
ed Laura up in his arms. “I love you so much.” In that moment nothing else mattered: Mason was just so happy to be in the presence of his love and his baby that he immediately put aside his mistrust.
***
Laura stiffened at the embrace at first. She still hadn’t processed what was going on. But the warmth and the scent of him wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Her emotions completely undid her, and the word vomit started. “Mason, I’m so sorry. I should have told you about all of this. I’m such a fuck-up for keeping this to myself. I love you so much. Can you ever forgive me?”
Mason backed away and locked eyes with her. He caressed her face and just took in the sight of the beautiful woman in front of him, “There’s nothing to forgive,” he said softly before crushing his mouth to hers.
It was as if, for all the months leading up to that moment, Laura had been dark, and with one kiss, an inferno was lit inside of her and she felt warm and alive again. “I love you so much,” she sputtered between kisses.
Mason pulled away, his breath coming in ragged gasps, to look down at the barrier between himself and Laura. “Can I…?”
Laura nodded with a smile. She grabbed his hand and pressed it to the side of her belly just as the baby started kicking. Her chest ached as she watched Mason’s face light up as he felt his baby move under his palms for the first time.
“I’m going to be a dad?” he asked.
“Yeah. This baby is all yours, Mason.” Tears of joy welled up in Laura’s eyes. This time she didn’t dash them away.
“Oh my God,” he whispered as he sank to the floor. Like a curious child, he pressed his ear to her belly and got a kick in the ear for his trouble.
KILLIAN: A Mafia Romance (The Callahans Book 2) Page 107
