Believe Me (Hearts for Ransom Book 3) (16 page)

Mason was sitting in his chair watching television. Besides his daily treks to the gym, Christmas programs and paperback westerns were all he had to look forward to during the next couple of weeks. Spence’s school break started on Monday so he wouldn’t wouldn't need to bring his homework in. He hadn’t really needed to today, but the teenager came to see Mason anyway. Mason insisted Spencer not try to visit him every day during his Christmas vacation. There were too many church sponsored and Brothers at Heart activities planned he didn’t want the teenager to miss. Mason would miss Spence, but he knew it was the right thing to do.

He looked at the Christmas tree Abby had brought in for him. The presents Jennifer “helped” him wrap earlier that day—if his using a finger to hold part of the paper on a package while she taped it could be constituted as helping—were spread on the window ledge and stacked haphazardly on the floor beneath the tree. Looking at the gifts made him feel happy. He almost felt normal.

He was so lost in thought, he actually jumped when somebody knocked on his door.

“Come…” He had to clear his throat. “Come in.”

The door opened and Claire walked into the room, causing his heart to go into hyper drive.

“Where’s Spence? Didn’t you just pick him up?” Mason suddenly had visions of somebody nabbing the teenager, even as big as he was.

“I just picked him and Zoey up and left them at home.” She took a few steps closer. “Spencer was devouring a bucket of chicken, and Zoey had already eaten at Louise’s, so she was sitting in her chair, throwing toys at Spencer when I left.”

He frowned at her. “Then what do you want? Am I not fit to help Spencer with his homework anymore?”

“You sure must like to hear yourself talk.” She shook her head. “Are you that fond of your own voice? I mean, it’s pleasant enough, but not so great it’s the only thing I’d ever want to hear.”

“Did you come just to insult me?” he demanded.

“Only if you think it’s an insult for a woman to ask a man for a date,” she said candidly.

“What?” He knew he hadn’t heard her correctly.

“I talked to one of your friends today. She was very helpful. She pointed out that your proposal—”

“I told you to forget that.”

“There you go again, enjoying your own voice.” She put her hands on her hips. “Now can I please finish?”

What sounded suspiciously like a growl emanated from his throat.

“Since I know for a fact you and Spence already scarfed down a king-size bag of chips, and I can safely assume that wasn’t your stomach, I’ll take that as a yes.” She looked very pleased with herself. “Now, as I was saying, your proposal was premature. Isn’t it more traditional to—oh, I don’t know—
date
before people get married? And who knows? Strange things happen when people date. Sometimes they get to know each other—really know each other and oh, my goodness Mason…”

He was speechless.

“Sometimes they even fall in love. Your friend pointed out we don’t have to be in a hurry.”

Mason finally found his voice. “You want to date me?”

“Well, neither one of us has ever really done that before, have we?” She sure hadn’t.

He thought about it. He had been with a lot of different women in the past, but never on what could be considered actual dates. “Do you mean like dinner and movies?”

“I guess.” She smiled ruefully. “The last time I tried to go on a date, I ended up in a sleazy bar. I don’t know any more about it than you do when it comes right down to it.”

His mind was racing. If they dated, it would not only give them time to get to know each other better, it would give Spencer time to get used to them being a couple.

She had disliked him, if not downright despised him for so long, though. He had to ask, “What if it doesn’t work out?”

“Then we tried.” She smiled sadly. “Will we really be any worse off than we already are?”

“No.”

“So, will you go out with me?”

He pointed to his rigid legs. “These won’t get us very far.”

She thought for a minute. “How about if tomorrow evening I bring dinner, and we can watch a movie here? I noticed there’s a DVD player built into your television.”

“That’s not very romantic.” He wanted their first date to set the tone for their relationship.

“It’s a start.” Did he think this was easy for her? “Now, are you going to date me or not?”

He looked into her eyes. “Yes, on one condition.”

She warily asked, “What’s that?”

“I want to ask Spencer’s permission first. He’s the man of your household, and if we’re going to do this, I want to do it right.” Mason didn’t intend to mess up this time. It was too important.

Claire was touched by the thoughtfulness and yes, romance, of his idea. “I think that would be nice. I’ll have him here first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Good.”

She smiled tentatively. “I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

His smile was brighter. “I hope so.”

Claire walked to the door. She turned to look at him before she walked through it. “Goodnight, Mason.”

“Goodnight.”

After she had left, he leaned back in his chair. He was going to officially date Claire Hadley. Spencer was sure to approve of their plans, especially since he already said he wished Mason was his dad. He didn’t even try to stop the smile from coming to his face as he remembered Claire’s words that they might even fall in love with each other. What she didn’t know was that goal was already half accomplished. He just had to hope she would fall in love with him. No. He had to believe she would.

Mason had already gone to the gym for laps that morning, and he was still pumped. For the first time in his life, he felt like things just might work out for him.

“It’s not even eight o’clock yet,” Sandra, a weekend nurse, told him as she walked into the room. “Where were you off to so early, young man?”

Sandra was efficent, but she got on Mason’s nerves. She was what his grandmother would have called a fussbudget, checking on him way too often. Older than the other nurses, she probably considered herself motherly, when in reality she was nosy and annoying. At this moment, her stern gray eyes looked even harsher with her white hair pulled tightly into a bun.

“I just went to the gym for a few laps.” He told Nina, the other nurse on duty, just like he was supposed to when he left the unit.

Sandra wrinkled her nose. “And did we know you were doing this?”

He sighed. “I told Nina.”

With a beleaguered expression, she shook her head. “I just don’t know if you’re up to so much exercise. I should go find some help and get you back on your bed.”

“No, thank you.” She also tended to smother him. Maybe she received a kickback for keeping patients in the hospital longer than they needed to be. “I’m feeling great. I’ll just stay in my chair.”

“Mason?” Spencer was at the door.

“Hi, Spence.” Mason watched Sandra as Spencer walked into the room. She frowned at the boy. The woman could boss Mason around all she wanted, but if she said one cross word to Spencer, he was going to let her have it.

“Good morning.” Spencer politely greeted the nurse with his bright smile, so like his mother.

Aha! It looked like even the indomitable Sandra wasn’t immune to the handsome teenager. She smiled—actually smiled—back at Spencer. Mason couldn’t keep back a grin as he thought that if Spence were older, he might just give Brody a run for his money.

“Good morning, young man.” Sandra’s tone of voice had gone from commandeering to friendly, just like that. She suddenly seemed to remember what she had been doing. “I’ll check in on you later,” she informed Mason, back to business as usual. It was with no sadness he watched her leave his room.

Spencer walked over and pulled his coat off before he plopped onto a chair beside Mason.

“What’s going on?” There was a hint of worry in his eyes. “Mom said you had something important you needed to talk to me about. I’ve been careful with the girls, just like you told me to be. Lots of them have tried to give me Christmas presents, but I told them I didn’t feel right taking something when I didn’t get anything for them. That isn’t hurtful, is it?”

Mason was impressed. He wasn’t sure if he would have thought of handling the situation that way. “What you did was kind, Spence. I’m proud of you.”

Spencer appeared uncertain. “One of the girls…her name if Danielle…I kind of wish I could get a gift for her. She’s really nice.” He actually blushed a little. “I like her.”

“What do you mean?” Was Spencer telling Mason what he thought the teenager was?

The boy’s face reddened some more. “Dani isn’t like most of the other girls. She mainly keeps to herself.” He smiled. “She’s smart, and she’s pretty, but she doesn’t seem to know it. Do you know what I mean?”

Mason thought of Claire. “Yes. I know what you mean. Does Dani like you?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “When I talk to her, she gets all pink and answers, but she doesn’t…bug me.”

So, Spencer had found himself a potential girlfriend. “Why don’t you get a small gift for her? The worst she’ll do is refuse to accept it.”

Spencer looked embarrassed. “My mom has been saving all her extra money for Christmas presents. I can’t ask her for the money to buy a present for a girl.”

Mason thought for a moment. Maybe he had a solution. “How about if we make a deal? Even after I get home, I’ll still have one leg in a cast. I won’t be able to do everything that needs to be done. I’ll hire you to come and help me out. We’ll just set it up like here at the hospital. We’ll get your homework finished, and then you can take care of odd jobs for me.”

Disappointment was etched on the teenager’s face. “I’ll do that, Mason, but it’ll be too late for me to buy Dani a Christmas present.”

“Ah, but that’s why I’m going to give you an advance on your salary.” Mason picked up his wallet and pulled out a few bills. “Here.” He held them out to Spencer.

Spencer shook his head. “I can’t take that.”

Mason moved the money further toward him. “Yes, you can. Believe me, you’ll earn every penny of it. I promise.” Then he had a great idea. “Besides, wouldn’t you like to buy presents for your mom and sister?”

“Are you sure?” Spencer eyed the money.

“I insist.”

After the boy accepted the bills and looked at them, his eyes rose to meet Mason’s. “I’m going to have to do a lot of work to earn this much money.”

Mason laughed. “Exactly.”

“Thank you, Mason.” He stood up and pulled a wallet out of his jeans pocket. Spencer carefully slid the money into it before putting it back. As he sat back down, he raised questioning eyes to Mason. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

He wanted to get this right very badly. “You’re the man of the house, and this affects you, so it’s only right that I ask your permission. How would you feel if I started seeing your mom?”

Spencer’s face was full of confusion. “You see her all the time.”

Mason laughed. “Now you sound like Andy.” He shook his head. “I mean, date your mom.”

The boy’s confusion was replaced by shock, but then Spencer grinned. “Do you like my mom? Do you want her to be your girlfriend?”

Mason nodded. “I like your mom very much. I’d really like for her and me to get to know each other better, so I want to date her. If it’s okay with you.”

Spence jumped up and pumped his fist. “Yes!” He grinned down at Mason. “This’ll be the best thing that’s ever happened to my mom. You’ll treat her right. Not like my dad or Zoey’s dad—just get her pregnant and dump her.”

Mason’s guilt immediately sprang to attention.

“You’ll be great for Mom because you’re the kind of good man she needs.”

Mason just couldn’t do it anymore. He would suffer the consequences, but he couldn’t live with the lies and let this boy think Mason was something he wasn’t any longer.

“Sit down, Spencer.”

The teenager’s smile faded as he sat back down on the chair.

“I have something to tell you. There’s something you need to know about me.”

“What?” Trepidation showed on Spencer’s face, as if he sensed Mason was about to change everything between them.

“I’m not perfect, Spence, and I haven’t lived a perfect life.” This had been a long time coming. “I’ve made a lot of stupid choices I wish more than anything else I could take back. But I learned from my mistakes and changed. I won’t ever live like that again.”

“Live like what?” Mason could see it in the boy’s eyes. He already knew the answer to his question.

“I used to like women too much. I used to be the same way I taught you not to be. I’m not that way anymore, though, and I haven’t been for a while. I’m sorry I let you think I was a better man than I am. I taught you so you wouldn’t make the same foolish choices I did.”

Spencer clenched his fists. “So you used to have sex with women, and just dump them? Like, my dad? Like Zoey’s dad?”

Mason nodded. “But you can believe me when I say I haven’t for a long time, and I never will again.”

The teenager stood up and walked toward the door, the tensed muscles on his arms visible through the long tight sleeves of his shirt.

“I’m sorry, Spencer. But I wanted you to know the truth, because you’re a decent person, and you deserve to know.” What had this cost Mason? “I understand if you changed your mind about your mom and me.”

Mason watched as Spencer stood there, as tense as a coiled spring. The teenager finally turned to face him.

“Do you really care about me?” he asked Mason.

“More than you know.” Enough to risk everything.

“Then tell me the truth.” Spencer’s blue eyes were drilling holes into Mason’s. “Did you get women pregnant and dump them?”

It was over now. Spencer was too smart. Mason silently told Claire he was sorry. “Once.”

“Where’s the kid?”

Mason didn’t drop his gaze. “With her mother.”

Spencer glared at him. “Does your kid have your name?’

“No.”

There were tears of anger in Spencer’s eyes. He was a very smart young man. Mason knew where this was headed, but it was like a snowball rolling downhill.

“Why doesn’t your little girl have your name?” So Spence had picked up on Mason’s use of the word “her”.

He wasn’t going to start lying now. “Because her mother didn’t think I deserved to be her father.”

Rage warred with pain in Spencer’s eyes. “Would you give her your name if her mom would let you?”

“In a heartbeat,” he answered without hesitation. Mason took a deep breath and told him the truth. “I’d give both her kids my name in a heartbeat.”

Spencer was breathing hard. “Where is your girl?”

There was no sense in continuing to play twenty questions. “You know where she is, Spencer.”

“What is her name?!” Spencer demanded.

Mason looked into his eyes. “Zoey.”

Spence rushed over and, even though Mason saw it and had time to block it, Spencer’s fist connected solidly with Mason’s face. His head jolted from the impact. He’d have a black eye.

“You got my mom pregnant and dumped her like a bag of trash!” He was crying. “And she let you. She let you stay around me! You make me sick! You both make me sick!”

Claire walked into the room. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. Spencer was probably excited when he found out she and Mason were going date. She’d pick Zoey up, and the four of them could spend the day together. That would be nice.

Then she looked at them. She was shocked to see the spectacle they made. Spence stood with his fists clenched, crying, and Mason sat there stoically, with his right eye rapidly swelling.

Spencer must have heard her walk in because he whirled on her.

“You slept with Mason and got pregnant! Then you didn’t let him give Zoey his name, but you let him be my big brother! So he wasn’t good enough for Zoey, but he was okay for me!”

Tears sprang to her eyes and started flowing down her face. How had this happened? “That’s not what…I never thought of it that way. You need to listen to me.”

“It’s because you hate my dad!” Spencer yelled through his tears. “You hate me because I’m his son, and you don’t care if I’m with a man like him.” He pointed to Mason.

“No.” Claire stepped toward him. “Spencer, I love you. You’re my life. Please, just listen to me.”

“Why?” he demanded. “Are you gonna tell me you’re gonna have another kid? You went out with that Bryan, didn’t you? And getting knocked up is all you know how to do!”

Claire felt her hand strike her son’s face before she realized what she was doing. She instantly regretted it and started crying harder. “I’m sorry, Spencer. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You need to calm down and listen to your mother,” Mason instructed him from his chair.

Spencer, his hand over the place his mom had struck, ran past Claire and out the door.

“Why?” Claire asked Mason. “Why did you tell him?”

Mason had tears in his eyes. “I love that boy, and I just couldn’t lie to him anymore. I decided to tell him the truth about me. That’s all I was going to do, but once I started, I realized he was going to figure it out anyway. I’m sorry, Claire, but I just couldn’t keep letting him believe in a lie.”

She looked at him and saw the sincerity and sadness in his eyes. He had been honest with her son, and without a doubt, she knew he still was. “I just wish we could have told him together.”

“So do I.” Mason looked past her to the door. “But don’t you think we’d better go make sure he’s okay?”

She nodded.

Thanks to a combination of the strength he’d built up doing his laps in the gym and adrenaline flowing through his system, Mason was able to keep up with Claire as she rushed down the hall. When they reached a fork in the hallway, they stopped for a moment.