“I’d be happy to have everyone happy and healthy.” She looked toward the door where her mom had left the kitchen.
“How is your dad?” Haley asked. “Any improvement?”
Tiana shook her head. “They just say it’ll take time. But breaking the news to him that we have to sell their home was hard.”
Haley placed her hand on Tiana’s arm and squeezed it. “They can’t manage there. Once it’s sold and they’re both back on their feet, they can buy one of those nice apartments near the hospital in Bear Bluff. The views are incredible.”
Tiana nodded. “Always look on the bright side.”
“It’s the only side.” Haley shrugged. “I want an update on what your plans are regarding Mason. Don’t let him slip away.”
“I won’t.” She walked Haley out. “Maybe he’ll be a keeper.”
“Yeah, I want one of those loyal types.”
“The ones with teeth and claws?” Tiana arched her eyebrow. “Don’t you ever wonder what it would be like to be with a man like that? To be the only one for them, ever.”
Haley blew the air out of her cheeks. “I still think that whole thing is made up just to make women like us want men like that.”
Tiana nodded and hugged herself as Haley walked away. “See you later.”
Going back into the house, Tiana quickly got herself ready for the day ahead. Their first stop was the hospital, where Philippa had an appointment with the nurse who needed to perform a barrage of tests to figure out why she was anemic.
Tiana and Philippa spent a couple of hours walking from one department to another until they were both sick of the hospital, even if the doctors and nurses were kind and helpful.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Tiana asked as they walked back to the car.
“Not really, although if anyone else pokes, prods, or sticks another needle in me, I think I’ll scream.” She got into the passenger seat and buckled up her seatbelt.
“Let’s go and see Dad.” Tiana left the parking lot and drove toward the inpatient rehabilitation facility where her dad, Norman, was recovering from a stroke. He’d partially lost the use of his right side, but with intense physical therapy, he was slowly learning to walk and talk again.
“I thought I’d push your dad around the gardens today,” Philippa said. “He loves the flowers.” She sighed wistfully. “The roses will be in full bloom in the garden. I wish I’d picked some for him. It might be the last time we get to smell them.”
“Listen, Mom, why don’t you go in to see Dad and I’ll go up to the house and pick some for you? We can leave some here in a vase and take some home.” Tiana kissed her mom’s cheek and gave her a hug. “It’ll be nice for you two to spend some time alone without me cramping your styles anyway.”
“Would you?” Philippa looked happier already. “Maybe you could pick some raspberries, too. They’re your dad’s favorite.”
“I’ll bring the whole garden back if it helps,” Tiana said as she took a step back from her mom and looked down at her. “We will get through this.”
“I know.” Philippa didn’t sound convinced, but she put a smile on her face and watched Tiana leave before turning back toward the inpatient rehabilitation facility. As Tiana slipped into the driver’s seat, she saw her mom take a deep breath and roll her shoulders back, before she entered the building where her husband of nearly sixty years lay prisoner to his own body.
Backing the car up, Tiana turned toward the exit, glad to have some time alone to think. After the conversation this morning with her mom and Haley, she’d been trying to put her life in perspective. Only then would she see how Mason would fit into her life.
However, when she went over the list of things she had to take care of, it was impossible to see where she could squeeze out any more time. And relationships, especially new relationships, did take time. Time and patience, which she often found in short supply.
Haley idea of asking Quentin to shoulder more of the load was the most attractive idea. But it would mean letting him back into her life more than she liked. Plus, she didn’t want to put too much pressure on him, since he was a fragile soul still getting over the death of his true love.
Turning toward her parents’ house, Tiana drove up the narrow lane, not expecting anyone to be there. However, just her luck, instead of the hour or so she’d planned to spend alone, she’d managed to arrive exactly when the realtor was showing someone around.
“Great.” Tiana fixed a smile on her face, determined to hide her emotions.
But that became impossible when she saw the realtor’s client. Mason Tennant. What the hell was he doing here?
The only thing stopping her from going up to him and tearing into him for stalking her and her parents was the look on his face. He was as shocked as Tiana.
Chapter Six – Mason
“Tiana?” Mason asked as he strode toward Tiana, leaving the realtor looking flustered. “What are you doing here?”
“Mr. Tennant, this is the sellers’ daughter, Ms. Walton.” The realtor scurried forward, his confusion evident.
“This is your parents’ house?” Mason asked, pointing to the large brick house that hugged the side of the rolling hills that bordered this side of the mountain.
“It is.” She looked past him, looking at the once lovingly tended garden, which had been left to grow wild. The grass was two or three inches long but hadn’t yet breached the flower borders, which were well stocked with colorful, fragrant blooms.
“It’s a beautiful house,” Mason complimented. He’d been skimming through the local newspaper over breakfast this morning and the house had caught his attention. No matter where he traveled, he always paid attention to the property market. Only this house pulled at his heart rather than his head. Situated in a quiet, secluded spot on the lower slopes of the mountain, it had enough room to raise a family, and allow his bear easy access to the mountain.
“It is. The garden is my dad’s pride and joy, while the kitchen is my mom’s domain. They’ve been very happy here.” Her jaw tightened, and she swallowed, forcing down the tears that threatened.
“Would you show me around?” Mason asked gently. This was his chance to get to know Tiana better, to understand something about her life. He was going to grab ahold of it with both hands and hang on tight.
“Mr. Tennant, I can show you everything you need,” the realtor said. Did he think he was about to be cheated out of a sale? Mason wanted to bat him away like an irritating bug.
“Do you have a key?” Mason asked, ignoring the realtor.
“I do.” Tiana lifted the key from her keychain and held it up for Mason to see.
“Then, do you mind?” Mason smiled warmly, and she smiled and nodded. She didn’t mind at all.
After she left the hotel last night, Mason had feared he might have imagined the attraction between them. But watching her here, in the light of day, Mason sensed her feelings were real. Even if not as strong as his.
“Not at all. I’ve come to collect the mail and pick some roses and raspberries. I have time to show you around as well.” She smiled at the realtor as if to reassure him and a jolt of jealousy hit him. “I’m sure if Mr. Tennant has any further questions, he can direct them to your office.”
“Thank you, Michael.” Mason shook the realtor’s hand dismissively and then put his arm protectively around Tiana’s shoulder, and guided her toward the front door.
“Call me if you need anything else,” Michael said, looking perplexed.
Mason waved as the realtor walked to his car. “I will.”
Tiana’s hand shook as she inserted the key in the lock. One glance over her shoulder told her Michael was leaving and she was now all alone in the middle of nowhere with a man she hardly knew.
“Kitchen first? I could do with a coffee, although there’s no milk.” She bustled into the kitchen and opened cupboards, making a fresh pot of coffee while he stood looking at the kitchen with a buyer’s eye.
It needed updating if he intended to renovate the house and sell it. But if he planned to live here himself, he could appreciate the charm and warmth of the lived-in kitchen.
“How long have your parents lived here?” he asked, running his hand over the countertop.
“Over ten years, since they moved to the area to be close to me and Rhett.” Tiana offered him a cup of coffee.
“Smells good.” He inhaled the dark bitter scent. “Rhett, that’s an interesting name. Are you a fan of Gone with the Wind?”
“No, but Quentin was. He liked the idea of our son being a young firebrand who knew what he wanted out of life.” She nursed her coffee in both hands and took a sip.
“And is he?” Mason asked. Did Tiana’s son inherit his father’s recklessness? For that’s how Mason saw a man like Quentin. Reckless with his wife’s heart and his child’s future.
She chuckled. “No, Rhett is the most laid-back kid you could ever meet. But I liked the name. It couldn’t be shortened. Even by Haley.”
Mason nodded in agreement. “She used to call me Ten at college, since she couldn’t shorten Mason in an appropriate way.”
“May or Son. Yeah, neither of those work. I’m T. Pretty obvious really. She calls my mom Phil. I don’t recommend you do the same.” Tiana’s eyes danced with merriment.
“Does that mean I get to meet your mom?” Mason asked.
Smooth, his bear commended him.
“Perhaps, if you buy their house.” Tiana sighed, all humor gone. “I wish I could see a way for them to keep it, but it’s too big. My dad needs a downstairs bedroom. So the upstairs would be completely wasted.”
“What’s wrong with your dad, if you don’t mind me asking?” Mason crossed the kitchen to lean against the counter beside her.
Tiana looked up at the ceiling, her eyes glistening with tears. Only when she was back in control of her emotions did she speak. “He had a stroke. He’s lost the use of his right side. It’s coming back, slowly, but he’ll never be the same. Which is why they made the decision to sell the house. They can get a place nearer the hospital with no stairs.”
“But they don’t want to?” Mason asked, his mind working over all the scenarios that would make the house work for Tiana’s parents.
“No. The garden is my dad’s favorite place in the whole world. He worked hard all his life to provide for his family. Dad worked an office job all his life. When they moved here, he retired. Dad finally had time to enjoy the outdoors and put to use all the knowledge he’d accumulated from gardening magazines.”
“And the garden was top of his list of must-haves?” Mason asked, thinking of his bear and the sacrifices he’d made so they could build an empire.
“Yes. Seeing it now, overgrown and the flowers untended…” She took a deep breath and sighed. “I should find the time to come up here and fix it all up again.”
“Which I could help you with.” His eyes narrowed. “What if our second date is here? I can weed the flower beds, do any other jobs that need doing. You can mow the grass.”
Tiana’s face lit up, and he bathed in the glow of her enthusiasm. “Thank you. How about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow it is.” He watched as she sipped her coffee. “That doesn’t answer the question about your parents continuing to live here. Shall we look around and see what we can do?”
“Sure.” Tiana drained her cup and washed everything they’d used, leaving the house as neat as when they’d entered.
“Perhaps if we look around downstairs and then I’ll take a look at the stairs and the bedrooms before we view the garden.” Mason took a last look around the kitchen and then followed Tiana on a tour of the house.
“This is the dining room. It’s a good room with views of the valley below. Through here is the living room. Mom watches her shows in here, while Dad reads in the other room or outside.” Her voice held a hint of nostalgia.
“You’re connected to this house, too. But you’ve never lived here.” Mason moved to look out of the window, which framed the mountains.
“I never lived here, no. But my parents moved here for me, to be close to me.” She came to stand next to him, her arms folded as she looked at the incredible view. “Were your parents happy?”
He swung his head around, surprised by her question. “Growing up? Yes.”
“Mine weren’t. Not really. They loved each other. They loved me. But they were dissatisfied. My dad worked the same soul-destroying job for thirty years to give us a good life. It’s not until you’re older that you realize the truth, you see your parents as people, with hopes and dreams of their own. My dad’s dream was always to have a house in the country with a garden.”
“And that came true when they moved here.” Mason understood only too well about sacrifice.
“This house rekindled their marriage.” Tiana pointed out of the window. “The garden wasn’t like this when they came here. It was a blank slate, filled with rocks and stones. They cleared the land side by side and planted the garden.”
“And you watched your parents fall in love with each other all over again.”
“I did.” She nodded and looked at him sideways. “At the time, I was falling apart, my life was falling apart, but to see these two people who had weathered so many storms together getting to know each other all over again… It gave me hope.”
They stood side by side, nearly but not quite touching as they watched the flowers blowing in the breeze. He didn’t want to break the spell surrounding them. Perhaps the house had a magic of its own, that brought people together and helped them find a path to love.
“Will you show me the rest of the house?” Mason asked at last.
Tiana glanced at her watch. “Yes, we should check out upstairs, my mom will be wondering where I am.”
He chuckled. “Doesn’t she trust you out on your own?”
“Not after she heard I went on a blind date last night.” Tiana led him out of the room and the hallway. “She always told me normal men don’t go on blind dates, they aren’t that desperate.”
“Great, your mom thinks I’m a loser who can’t get a date.”
“Something like that,” Tiana replied. Then she paused halfway up the stairs. “Why did you agree to a blind date? You could pick up any single woman you wanted.”
“You flatter me.” He fell silent, and then added, “It’s the first time I’ve ever been on a blind date.” He moved his hand along the banisters and covered her hand with his. “We could call it fate.”
“We could,” she acknowledged. “If you believe in that kind of thing.”
“You don’t?” Mason asked, his palm tingling as he kept his hand on hers.
“Not really. And if I did, I’d have to believe it has a warped sense of humor.” She turned away from him and resumed climbing the stairs. As she moved her hand slipped for under his and he longed to grab hold of her and never let go.
Or, take her to bed.
“This is the guest room.” Tiana pushed the door open and showed him a bed, made up with clean sheets and just begging to be laid on. Without even glancing at the bed, Tiana made her way to the window and looked out. “This is one of the best views from the house.”
Mason took it as an invitation to join her and skirted the bed as he closed the distance between them. “Wow.”
“Is this the best view you’ve ever seen?” she asked softly.
Mason half turned to face her. “Yes.” His eyes lingered on her face and she blushed, before turning her full attention back to the view of the mountains.
“This would be perfect for you if you really do want to move to Bear Creek.” Her voice ached with sadness as she added, “I’m not just saying that because it’s my parents’ house.”
He turned away from the view. “Show me the rest of the house.”
Upstairs there were two other bedrooms, none matched the view of the first room, but they were all good-sized rooms that looked out onto nothing but green. Green grass, green trees, a gr
een mountain. Although in the winter the mountain would be coated in snow.
His bear rejoiced at the thought of rolling around in the snow and then shaking it off before rolling in it once more. There was something to be said for the simple pleasures in life.
After exploring upstairs, and somehow managing to keep his hands off his mate, they went back outside, and Tiana showed him the gardens. Complete with a garage and a small barn.
“You’re right, it would be perfect for me.” But how would Tiana feel living there? He couldn’t ask her because she didn’t know they were mates. However, Mason could not imagine living anywhere without her. Time for some tricky questions.
“Does that mean you might make an offer?” Tiana smiled, but it wasn’t genuine.
“No.” He watched her smile falter. “Why don’t we talk about how we could arrange the house so your parents could still live here?”
“I don’t see how.” Tiana stepped back and put her hands on her hips as she stared at the house. “There’s no way my dad can manage those stairs.”
“What if there was a stair lift?” Mason suggested.
“My mom’s worried he’ll fall off it and hurt himself on the stairs.” She shrugged. “I know, unlikely to happen, but she’s worried about something happening while she’s here on her own. One of the attractions of them moving here was the remoteness. Now it’s the thing that scares her the most. She pictures my dad lying on the floor hurt and her not being able to help him.”
“Understandable. So, what if they turned the downstairs into an apartment? They could extend out to add a sun room.” He walked toward the house and showed her where he would extend it. “I could have a gang of builders up here and get the work done in no time.”
Tiana liked that idea more. “How much would that cost? They poured their savings into this house when they bought it. They don’t have a lot left.”
“We could come to some arrangement. I could write it off as a business expense.”
“No.” She shook her head and put her hands up as if to ward him away. “We don’t know you, and you don’t owe us anything.”
“The offer is unconditional.” He wanted to help her, he wanted to help her parents. But to do that he was going to have to tell her the truth. All of it.
Silverbacks and Second Chances Page 50
