Page 62 of Dark Shadows
“Because of him?” Richard nodded toward Mason.
“Because it was time.” She set down the jewelry box. “Maybe it's time for you, too.”
“Sometimes, too much time has passed.”
“That's a bunch of bull, and you know it,” Savanah said, meeting his gaze head-on. “You love her. She loves you. That's what matters. The rest is just details.”
“Vannah...”
“Don't you owe it to yourself to be sure?” Savanah said, rising from her seat. “I'm inviting Mom to dinner tomorrow night to eat at that little Italian restaurant on Fifth Street. We’ll be thereat 7 pm, and you're invited too. Show up or don't; that's going to be on you from here on out. I want to help make things right, but you've got to put in the work.”
As they prepared to leave, Mason paused at the door. “You should consider surveillance cameras and call me directly if you notice anything else unusual, no matter how small.”
Richard nodded. “I will, and, Mason, take care of Vannah.”
“That's the plan.”
Savanah leaned over and kissed Richard's head. “Thank you for being my dad and for watching out for me when no one else did.”
Tears caught in Richard's eye. “Don't be a stranger anymore. It broke your mom's heart.”
“I wouldn't dream of it,” Savanah said. “See you tomorrow night.”
“I didn't say I was going,” he called out.
“You didn't say youweren'teither.” Savanah smiled as she closed the door behind her.
Outside, Mason suddenly tensed beside her, his eyes fixed on the tree line.
“What is it?” she asked, following his gaze.
“Thought I saw something.” He scanned the trees once more before helping her into the car. “Probably nothing.”
But the way his hand lingered near his gun told her he didn't believe that any more than she did. As they pulled away, she looked back at the cabin. Richard stood in the window watching them leave.
The wooden figure with her face flashed in Savanah's mind. Someone knew she was coming home before she did. Someone had been watching and planning for it.
And for the first time since returning to town, she wondered if coming back had been the right choice after all.
On the drive back to the motel, Savanah's mind raced with revelations, with possibilities, with the weight of years spent running from the wrong things.
Mason's hand found hers across the console. “You did good back there.”
“Yeah? Nothing’s quite what I thought it was.”
“Yeah.” His thumb traced circles on her palm, sending shivers up her arm. “It’s never too late to try and mend fences.”
The motel was silent except for the hum of distant ice machines and their own footsteps on the stairs. Savanah's hand trembled slightly as she pulled out her motel key.
“Mason.”
His eyes darkened at the way she said his name. “Yeah?”
Instead of answering, she rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. For a heartbeat, he remained still. Then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her against him as the kiss deepened. Her back hit the door as he pressed closer, one hand tangling in her hair while the other gripped her hip.
Savanah gasped as his lips found her neck.
“We should stop,” he murmured against her skin.
