[In this chapter I’ve used a standard soap trick ;) But otherwise the story would have been endless (and this is not the end yet …)]

*

“Speaking… When? Where is she? I’m on my way.” Mason hung up the phone.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Hailey. It looks like she’s been raped,” Mason explained putting on his jacket.

“Oh no.”

“She’s been found by the Johnny’s place. Will you stay with Matt till Mrs. Whitcomb comes, please?”

They had sent the first nanny away earlier as they usually did when Julia was here, and it was not yet the time for Mrs. Whitcomb to turn up.

“Sure,” Julia said, her big brown eyes full of sympathy for Hailey.

“You’re an angel.”

In passing by Mason kissed the top of her head.


*

After Hailey had been examined in hospital and briefly interrogated, Mason took her to the Capwell mansion. He left the poor child with her husband Ted, Mason’s brother.

Mason rode home, still in a sort of shock at how cruel a human being could be. He felt worn-out and incredibly old.

He unlocked the door and entered the apartment as quietly as he could. It was too late, really. Matt could have fallen asleep already. The same with Julia, for all he knew. She was spending herself at work, just throwing herself into whatever task she was given. It was exactly what was needed to try to save her career; Mason only was not sure how much longer she was able to carry on at this breakneck speed.

No, they were not asleep yet. Mason heard Julia’s soft voice and couldn’t help smiling. It sounded so good. Almost like real home.

Then he made out the words and froze.

“…as blind, pigheaded, and – blind, - as your daddy,” she was saying. “Eh, Matt?”

The traitor of a baby just sniffed.

Julia, turning his own son against him? Not Julia. Mason had come to trust her, and he hardly trusted anyone any more. Whatever she was, Julia was no backstabber.

Okay, let her go on. He was in no hurry to reveal his presence.

“Well, Matt, what would you say?” Julia asked.

The little one did not say anything: he was too busy trying to turn upside down to lie on his tummy. Julia did not mind.

“Yes, Matt, this is exactly what I mean,” she proceeded. “Lack of luck in love, as your daddy put it. I am not sure if I should be telling you all this, Matt, but you’re the only one I confide in now. If only you knew how much I love him, angel.”

Was it about her dream baby’s father, Mason wondered.

“No, Matt, it must be love,” Julia argued. “I care for him so much, and I hurt for him so much, and I love myself with him, and I want him, and I want to have his baby. Isn’t it love, Matt?”

That was it. It was about her boyfriend.

Who was it, by the way? Mason suddenly felt angry. He spent so much time with Julia daily, and in her life there seemed to be no place for a male presence. ‘I must ask her,’ he told himself and went on eavesdropping remorselessly.

“You think we women always wish for the impossible?” Julia asked Matt who obviously was considered an expert in female psychology. “Don’t know. Maybe. But - he’s so wonderful. He’s intelligent, he’s loving, and he’s very compassionate.”

Mason, much to his surprise, was getting angrier by the minute.

“Are you jealous?” Julia asked with a sigh, and Mason almost jumped out of his skin. She was still talking to Matt, of course.

“Ah, Matt. I wish you’d grow up to be just like daddy. Don’t think I have not tried to get over it; I have. All in vain. I don’t think I ever will. I am hopelessly in love with Mason Capwell.”

Now, this caught the afore-mentioned Mason Capwell completely off his guard.

/Olga Lisenkova/

HOME
To the list of pages available in English
Previous chapter (9)
Next chapter (11)
My e-mail