“What’s this? It doesn’t smell bad.”
I sigh in relief. “Thanks.”
“What doesn’t smell bad?” Mason also comes into the kitchen. He looks at the pot on the stove, then touches his stomach. “I’m starving.”
I think this is his way of telling me he agrees.
“Not long now.”
I hope Paul is on his way by now. He’s obviously late, as usual.
“Would you mind helping me set the table?”
“Sure,” Logan offers quickly. “Come on, Emily, help me fold the napkins.”
The two of them get to work while Mason stays by my side at the stove.
“Uncle Seth told us you were only doing this to win the case.”
“He said that to you?”
“Not in those words, but that was the meaning.”
“It doesn’t matter why I do it, only the result.”
“Does that mean you will stay here until… until when?”
“I didn’t think of all those things, Mason, just to buy some time.”
“They were going to take us away forever, weren’t they?” His tone becomes serious.
“Forever… I don’t know. For a long time… Yes.”
“And now that you’re here, can we stay with Uncle Seth?”
I don’t answer him. I go back to stirring my sauce. I don’t want to take credit for something I didn’t really do.
“Well, thank you.”
I look at him.
“Uncle Seth… He wouldn’t make it without us.”
“And you?” I ask.
Mason gives me a half smile. “We are his family. And he… He is… A mess, but a positive mess. Everything he does, he does for good.”
I nod slowly.
“He tries hard.”
“I’m sure he does.”
“He reminds me of Dad in a lot of ways. It’s nice to be around someone with a familiar face.”
“I see what you mean.”
He puts his hands in his pockets, a little uncomfortable now.
