Julia did not like the way she parted with Mason this time; she did not like the way she’d played her cards with him on the whole. What had brought them apart seemed so silly now; she was ashamed she had not listened to what he had to say. She had always disapproved of people who were too self-righteous – and now she was eating her heart out recalling the way she’d treated Mason. Julia did not know if he had deserved it or not; no matter what Mason had been about, now she had to face him, make him listen and make him understand. She was sure it’d be hard, in his present state of mind.
When she finished talking with Bill, Julia decided not to put it off. She wished she had an opportunity to regroup, but with Mason’s today behaviour, she felt she did not have that much time. She was afraid it could be too late as it was, and she’d have only herself to blame.
So she went to seek him. He’d already left the office, and she kept trying to get him pick up the phone at home; in vain, only the automatic answering machine asked her politely to leave a message. Distressed, Julia decided to go there in person.
No one answered the door. She rang the doorbell, and she knocked, and she yelled and begged. No one there. Julia sat down on the carpeting and cried.
*
After indulging herself in weeping, Julia got to her feet: why not find a phone and call the Capwell mansion, she thought. Of course he was unlikely to be there after today’s ugly brawl with his father, but maybe some of his siblings knew where he could be?
Ted did. “Sure, Julia,” he said, glad to be of help. “He’s at Kelly and Jeffrey’s, kind of a family gathering there. Very small, of course, you understand. I think Mason’s taken Matt with him, too; he can never resist the temptation to boast, such a proud father; who’d have thought--”
Julia thanked Ted and hurried to Kelly’s.
*
Kelly and Jeffrey did not seem surprised at getting one more guest, and uninvited, too; if they were, they were too polite to show it. Julia did not care if they thought her rude; she had her mind set on the task right ahead.
She looked around, uncomfortable, looking for Mason. And she saw him – with the woman who resembled the one who Julia had seen briefly in his office on that day. Julia looked again: no doubt, that was the lady. She was holding little Matt in her arms, making faces to him and cooing with him, and Matt was laughing merrily. Mason was laughing, too.
Well, that was a shock.
It took Julia some ten seconds to collect herself and to not let it disturb her too much. She knew what she was about. So, she walked up to the couple in her determined way; Jeffrey who was trying to be a courteous host hardly managed to catch up.
Mason turned round.
“Ah,” he started.
“Mother, this is Julia Wainwright, Mason’s colleague and friend,” Jeffrey cut in. “And Julia, this is my mother, Pamela Capwell Conrad.”
Ah well, Julia probably did need to hear this ‘mother’ word twice! She needed the simple fact to sink in: Julia had known Jeffrey and Mason were half-brothers, but she’d considered Pamela dead; everybody had.
Julia stammered, “De...”
Mason was amused, not without a shade of gloating. “Speechless, Julia?” he said.
Matt saved the situation: he recognized Julia and reached out to her with a happy smile. Julia’s heart melted. She held out her arms and took Matt in them. “Hi sweetie,” she said finding her voice. “Glad to meet you, Mrs. Conrad. And Mason--”
“Yeah?” he said raising his eyebrow.
“I’m sure Mrs. Conrad will excuse us; I really need to talk to you.”
Pamela twittered something very polite and sweet, and Julia gave Matt back to her. The angel did not like it and started whimpering; Julia could hardly conceal a smile.
“Ok, I’m listening, Julia,” Mason said icily as they had stepped aside.
“It’s not what I’ve come for, but I really wanted to say it even before I came,” Julia said. “I am sorry, Mason. Sorrier now.”
“Well--” he started.
She never learnt what he was about to say, as a stab of pain shot through her. Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed at his hand: his tenacious fingers immediately encircled her wrist, and she felt grateful, and everything went black.
/Olga Lisenkova/
