LITMIR.BIZ

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didn’t go into hysterics or anything. I kind of expected her to, because she was completely... I mean, Dad was pretty much her whole world.”

      “I’m sorry. He must’ve been wonderful.”

      “She thought so.”

      Faith was bemused by that statement. But you didn’t.

      “The emergency treatment was top-notch as far as we can tell. She was given a drug—a kind of steroid in the ER—methyl...”

      “Methylprednisolone?”

      “I think that’s it.”

      “It can reduce the damage to nerve cells if it’s given right away.”

      “That was the idea. There were a lot of meetings and consultations. Surgeons and specialists. Decisions to be made. It was crazy, the way the world changed in a split second. The most important thing was to get Mom stable enough to travel, and then settled in a place where she could figure out her new, completely unexpected life. Of the three of us, Adam is the most settled. He wanted her in Avalon.”

      “It’s lovely here. She’s lucky you all rallied around to help.”

      “Yeah, just don’t tell her she’s lucky, or you’ll get an earful. Since she moved here, she’s been getting all the treatment that’s available. You have the list, right?”

      She nodded. Mrs. Bellamy was getting physical therapy, which included muscle movement, respiratory exercise, massage, electrical stimulation of nerves by neural prosthetic device—anything that would keep her as healthy as possible. “I haven’t seen all her medical history, but it sounds as if everyone’s working toward the goal for her to regain as much function as possible.” She paused. “What about emotional support?”

      “She has a shrink.”

      “That’s her support?” Faith sensed that Mason didn’t seem too eager to stick around for his mom. Faith missed her mother every day. It was hard to relate to a guy who kept his distance like this. “So do you come up on the weekends?”

      “Not very often. Do you think I need to?”

      She hesitated, determined not to judge. “That’s up to you.”

      “My mom’s got an entire staff, and now she has you. I don’t think she needs me hanging around, too.”

      She took a moment to digest that. Coming in cold to a family situation was always challenging, because she had to scramble to figure things out. She had the impression that Mason loved his mother, was devoted to her, even. But he was holding himself back, and she hadn’t yet figured out why.

      “Anyway,” he said, “I’m glad you’re on board to help her.”

      “I’ll make it my daily mission.”

      “Good. Thanks. So are your girls settling in?”

      “Sleeping soundly. Ruby’s already in love with the place. And Cara... She likes it as well as a teenager can like any place. I’m just relieved to have a roof over their heads.” She glanced over at him but couldn’t see his face in the darkness.

      She finished the whiskey, enjoying the sleepy warmth it imparted. “I should get to bed. I’ve got to get up early with the girls. Their school buses don’t come out this far, so they will have to hike a half a mile to make the first pickup on the route.”

      “They don’t have to take the bus,” he said. “Donno can drive them.”

      A driver? “That’s not necessary.”

      “But totally doable.”

      She pictured her girls getting into the shiny black SUV and being chauffeured like foreign dignitaries to their schools. “I don’t think—”

      “Donno is on call whether he’s driving or not. You might as well use his service.”

      It would mean the girls could sleep in an extra forty minutes. “All right,” she said. “I’m sure they would love it.”

      “Good. I want you to be comfortable here. I want this to work, Mrs. McCallum.”

      “So do I. And please call me Faith.”

      “Okay. Faith it is. But only if you call me Mason.” They both stood to go inside.

      She was surprised to feel so comfortable around a guy like this. He was obviously crazy rich, like Bruce Wayne in the Batman series, the kind of guy who took it for granted that a staff of servants and workers would look after things. Yet for no reason she could fathom, she felt completely at ease in his company.

      “What’s a good time to go to the hospital for the blood tests?” she asked him.

      “Early is better for me. I was planning to get an early start to the city,” he said. “Regina needs to get back to the city for work. So do I, for that matter.”

      “Yes, of course,” she said, feeling like an idiot for forgetting the perfect girlfriend. “Thanks again for the whiskey. Good night, Mason.”

      “Good night, Faith.” He hesitated. “It’s good to have you here. Really. I hope you enjoy the peace and quiet of Willow Lake.”

      * * *

      In the morning Faith waited for Mason in the foyer, wanting to get the hospital visit over with before Mrs. Bellamy was up for the day. Regina appeared, heels clicking, Chanel briefcase in hand, smartphone held to her ear as she spoke about some kind of marketing strategy. She looked so polished and stylish that Faith wondered if they were on hidden camera. How did some women do that? How did they get every hair and stroke of makeup in place?

      Faith shuffled her feet and fished out her wallet, checking to see that she had her ID, her ACA card, a tiny amount of cash.

      “Sorry,” Regina said, ending her call but keeping her attention on the phone screen. “My business day starts early.”

      “Oh. Um, I see.” Faith offered a smile.

      “I need to be on that early train.” Regina thumbed through several screens.

      One of the browser windows showed a display of wedding gowns. Faith saw it scroll by.

      Regina tapped her foot. “Punctuality is not Donno’s strong suit. Maybe it’s a cultural thing. We have a different understanding of time than they do in Bali.” With an audible sigh, she put her phone away and offered Faith a brief smile. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re here to help out. What was your name again?”

      “Faith. Faith McCallum.”

      “That’s right. And your girls are Cara and Ruby. The little one is just adorable.”

      “Thanks.”

      “And the older one...” Regina’s expression turned sympathetic. “I suppose some girls go through that phase.”

      “What phase would that be?”

      “Adolescence.” Regina hesitated, studying Faith for a moment. “You seem awfully young to have a teenager.”

      “I was young when I had Cara.”

      “So what did he rescue you from?”

      “I beg your pardon.”

      “Mason. It’s kind of a thing with him. Everyone he hires seems to have some hard-luck story, and he gives people a second chance. The housekeeper had some high-profile husband who knocked her around, the chef and his family were indigent and the other aide, Lena...I’m not sure what her story is...”

      In a way, thought Faith, Mason had rescued her. But she wasn’t sure how she felt about Regina making that assumption.

      Regina turned to the big mirror over the hall table and checked her lipstick. A moment later, Mason appeared, dressed in a tailored suit, his shoes shined, a conservative tie neatly

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