Exquisite

Chapter Twenty

It’d been two weeks of late nights spent in Mason’s arms and rushed days down at the hospital. Lena came into her office and sat down behind the desk. She’d agreed to go down to Exquisite tonight and have dinner and she could feel herself getting pushed further and further back from the time she wanted to leave. Looking at the paperwork on her desk she was about to start charting when there was a knock on the door. Raising her eyes she was shocked to see her mother standing there.

“Mom. What are you doing here?”

Lena watched as her mother smiled warmly as she stepped into her office. “Now is that anyway to greet your mother?”

Lena smiled back and her mother looked at her with a curious expression. “No. I suppose it isn’t. I just wasn’t expecting you today. Is dad with you?”

“No dear it’s just me.”

Lena stood and walked around her desk waving her in. “Well come in. I was just about to do some paperwork.”

“Oh, well don’t let me interrupt you honey.”

“Oh nonsense, it can wait. It’s waited this long.”

Her mother took a seat then looked at her with a smile so bright it almost blinded her. Lena sat back against her desk and grinned at her. “What is it?”

“You.” she paused, “You look different.”

For a horrifying moment Lena wondered if Mason had left any noticeable marks on her from the night before, then her mother clarified.

“You look happy Lena.”

Ahh, she thought nodding her head. Wow, maybe Mason had somehow changed her molecule make up and now she was glowing. Grinning at that thought she replied.

“I am happy mom.”

It was almost comical how shocked her mother looked except it wasn’t because she knew that for so long she’d caused this wonderful lady to worry.

“You’ve met someone.” she accused with a secret little smile coming over her face. Lena clasped her hands in front of herself and continued to smile in a way that she could never have seen herself doing a few weeks back. She felt like she was twelve with a crush instead of a woman in her mid thirties very possibly on her way to being in love. Her mom sat forward on her seat and bit her lip like she was about to share a secret. “Well tell me all about him.”

Lena felt her cheeks tighten as she grinned. “He’s wonderful mom. He owns a restaurant downtown and is the head chef.”

Her mothers eyes widened and she sat back, “Oh honey, good for you getting a man who can cook.” she paused then asked, “How did you two meet?”

“Actually through you.” Lena replied and watched her mother frown.

“I don’t understand. I haven’t been here in weeks and even then.”

Lena laughed now shaking her head. “No, remember when you sent me flowers a couple of months ago for Carly?”

Her mother nodded silently.

“Well his mother owns the flower shop you used, and he delivered them.”

Lena watched as her mother clasped her hands and beamed up at her. “Oh isn’t that a wonderful story!”

Lean smirked a little, “Well not really, we couldn’t stand each other at first.”

“Oh pish! Who cares about that obviously you got past it.”

Laughing Lena aggreed, “Yes we did and Mason’s wonderful.”

Her mother froze then her mouth dropped open. Lena raised a brow as her mom asked, “You don’t mean Mason Langley? That young man that’s been splashed over the television? What are they calling him? Ahh the Casanova Chef.”

Lena winced knowing she’d had everything to do with that nickname. “Yes actually, that’s him. But that whole article and nickname was a misunderstanding and is kind of my fault.”

Her mother still looked like she was in shock. “You’re dating Mason Langley?”

Nodding slowly Lena was worried this wasn’t going to go well at all, and then her mother said softly. “My oh my Lena O’Donnell. You don’t date for years and the first man you choose is a man labeled Casanova?”

“Mom,” Lena said softly about to defend Mason.

“Well I always said you were quietly brilliant. Honey he’s gorgeous!” and just like that they burst out laughing together.

That’s how Mason found her. He’d come down to pick her up on his way into work and there she was in her office laughing with a little lady who was seated with her back to him. He stood at the door for a moment and enjoyed the sight of her. Over the past few weeks he’d watched her change and grow into a calm, relaxed and incredibly beautiful version of herself and right now as she laughed freely she took his breath away. She must’ve felt his eyes on her because she raised hers and stood up pushing off the desk. He smiled, feeling pure joy from just being near her, when she leaned down and whispered something in the woman’s ear. Then he saw the woman turn in her chair and look up at him and he was staring into wide green eyes that mirrored Lena’s.

“Are your ears burning?” Lena asked him as she walked around the chair the woman was in and over to him. He moved into the room and paused as she stopped in front of him gripping his arms and leaning up to brush a kiss across his mouth.

He shook his head. “No, should they’ve been?”

“Hmm.” she grinned against his mouth. Stepping back she reached down and took his hand tugging him closer to the woman who was still looking at him with curious but warm eyes.

“Mason, this is my mother. Alannah O’Donnell.”

Mason watched as her mother stood gracefully and walked around the chair. She reached out a hand and he clasped it in his and shook it gently.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you ma’am.”

He watched as a smile spread across her face and he was struck by how attractive she was for a woman of her age. She looked like an older version of Lena, and what was that saying? If you find the woman you want to spend your life with, get a good look at her mother because that is who you’ll be with in twenty years. Well, Mason thought, no complaints there. He turned his eyes to Lena and she was beaming at him.

“We were just talking about how we met.”

Groaning he shook his head. “All lies. Whatever she told you, it’s all lies.”

Alannah grinned at him and reached up patting his cheek. “Oh I doubt that young man.”

“Mother, stop flirting with him.”

Mason grinned over at Lena and smirked, “I happen to like it.”

Lena rolled her eyes at him, “Of course you would. Anything female must bow down to your endless supply of charm.”

“Can I help it if the women love me?”

He looked back to see a twinkle in her mother’s eye. “Apparently not.”

Grinning he looked over to Lena, “You should bring your mother down for dinner tonight.”

Lena looked over to her and he saw the way Alannah looked back at her daughter, almost wary, expecting her to say no. “That’s a great idea. Would you like to come with me or do you need to get home right away?”

He watched as mother and daughter seemed to reach an outcome neither of them expected. Then Alannah turned to him and smiled brilliantly.

“I’d love to.”

Not twenty minutes later Lena went to park around the back as Mason drove straight into his reserved spot. Frowning, it took her around ten minutes more to find one of her own. Her mother looked around the crowded parking lot then back to her. “Boy this place sure gets busy. He must do very well.”

Lena stopped the car and looked out to window to see Mason there to open the for her.

“Busy tonight.” he remarked as he helped her.

Nodding she took his hand and climbed out. “Sure is. Is it always this crowded Friday’s?”

“Yeah pretty much. The quietest nights are Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Lena turned to see her mother had got out and was making her way around to them.

“Your place is packed. That’s a sign that the food is good.”

Mason smiled widely, “Our food is the best.”

“If he says so himself.” Lena added.

“Well fine, don’t let my words convince you.” He reached out the crook of his arm to her mother and said softly, “Let my food. Tonight you dine at the chef’s table.”

Lena watched her mother’s face beam up at him and was amazed at how easy he seemed with a virtual stranger. Catherine, his mother, was right. He could wrap any woman around his finger.

“Is the chef’s table in the kitchen?” her mother asked excitedly. He winked at Lena over his shoulder and they started forward. She followed from behind smiling and heard him reply.

“It sure is.”

Seated at the back of the bustling kitchen Lena was absolutely amazed at the frenzied madness that was going on all around her. The same three men, who she’d seen before, stood at the back of the kitchen in front of several huge ovens, and they were screaming out orders to everyone. They were flipping scallops in fry pans, baking chicken in another and searing duck on the back burner. At the stainless steel prep table was a lady madly plating salads and vegetables and then off to the very far left hand side Lena saw Rachel bent over a pastry adding powdered sugar to the top. All in all it was organized chaos. Her mother was watching fascinated as Mason stood at the head of the ship, by the pass, checking over each plate and adding garnishes to every dish. He would smile at the waiter or waitress, coming to collect, then hand them the plate and move to the next, and each and every one of his staff smiled at him as though he was the best boss in the world, and as far as she could tell he was.

Mason could feel her eyes on him as he worked. He hadn’t brought Lena back down to the restaurant until tonight because it seemed as though every time they got down there somehow, someway, something would go wrong. However, he figured having her mother there as a buffer would help him out and he had to admit he really liked her. She was sweet and genuine and he couldn’t help but wonder how she managed to be so warm and accepting after such a tremendous loss. It was obvious to him that any guilt or self loathing Lena harbored was her own doing, because it was clear to him that her mother just wanted her to be happy and it shocked him even further to realize that she seemed grateful to him for making her that way. Stopping for a moment he glanced over his shoulder and caught Lena’s eye. He tilted his head toward her, motioning for her to come to him. She smiled at her mom squeezing her hand and Alannah smiled then nodded toward her daughter as he watched the capable doctor stand gracefully and make her way over to him.

“Having fun?” he asked when she stopped by him.

“Yes actually. I love watching chaos unfold.”

Laughing he nodded once. “Yeah I guess to most on lookers it does seem slightly chaotic, but I assure you, every single person here has a purpose and a job.”

He noticed she was watching him closely as he garnished and wiped a plate then set it up on the pass.

“Oh I believe you. It reminds me of my internship in the ER. Hectic.”

“When you’re here with me I almost forget how brilliant you really are.”

She tilted her head to the side and looked up at him with a small smile. “Brilliant huh?”

Grinning he showed her his teeth and went back to the plate in front of him, “Well, that may be slightly overstating the matter.”

“Well too bad, you already said it.” he caught her poking her tongue out at him and raised a brow.

“Watch it Lena. That tongue has much better uses then being sassy.”

“I hear lots of threats, but see little follow through.” she chimed back. He stopped what he was doing and moved to stand behind her. She stilled as he leaned down and whispered into her ear. “Your mother is sitting over there watching us very closely, so behave yourself young lady and stop torturing me.”

One of his chefs’s brought forward a plate and it landed in front of her. She took in a deep breath as he continued. “As much as I’d love to take you into my back office and show you what we could do with that tongue how about we stick to garnishing some plates so I remain one of your mothers’ favorite people.”

Laughing she looked over her shoulder at him. Their noses were close and she had to raise her eyes a little to meet his. “You think you’re a favorite of hers huh?”

“I sure do.”

“Oh? And why’s that?”

Leaning in he kissed her nose quickly, “Because I’m your favorite and I make you happy.”

Her eyes twinkled at his and she smirked, “You’re cocky Langley.”

“Hmm, I’m right. Now turn around so we can garnish this plate before I forget everything and just say fuck it, and take you right here.”

He watched her tongue come out as she licked her lips and he groaned softly thinking she’d eventually be the death of him.

The following Monday Lena had been invited to go to Catherine’s for the usual Monday night family dinner. She’d thought about it a million times then decided, why not. It wasn’t as though she didn’t know everybody going, well except for Wendy, Mason’s manager, but the rest of the family she’d already be introduced too. So that was where she currently found herself. Standing on a little porch that wrapped around the most charming cottage she’d ever seen. Lena had known Catherine’s place would have lovely flowers due to the nature of her work, but her home was so cheerful and warm, as you walked up the path to the front door, you couldn’t help but smile. The house was yellow, and although it should’ve looked wrong it didn’t. It was pastel and faded but none the less yellow. It was exactly as she would picture a cottage. It peaked up into a triangular style roof and was framed by a white balcony that wrapped around the porch. The two huge rectangular windows were framed in white trim and the pebbled path leading up to the front steps was lined in tulips that were so bright you couldn’t help but want to stop, bend down and touch them. On the front porch was a swing that was secured to the ceiling and it looked well used. There were plants, flowers and trees everywhere. It reminded Lena of an enchanted forest and she was absolutely mesmerized. As she came to a stop on the front porch the front door swung open and Catherine stood inside the glass. Smiling at the lady she’d grown to love over the years she watched as Catherine unlatched it then pushed it open coming to stand out in front of her.

“Lena! I’m so glad you could make it.”

Automatically Lena felt a smile slide onto her mouth and she reached out to take Catherine’s hands. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“Don’t be silly! I’ve wanted to invite you for years. I just knew your answer would‘ve been a no. I’m just so glad that somehow you were led to my Mason and we get to have you here now.” she paused and tilted her head up to look at Lena thoughtfully. “Maybe someone was guiding you to him, like it was meant to be.”

Sucking in a deep breath Lena thought of Carly, then Mason’s father, and then dismissed the notion reminding herself that was ridiculous and she was a logical, rational person who did not believe in things like that. However, with Catherine smiling up at her with such hope in her eyes Lena mumbled. “Perhaps.”

“Well don’t just stand out there. It isn’t quite as chilly these days but still, come in take your coat off. The tribe’s out back in the living room and Mason’s in his favorite place.”

Lena smiled handing her the coat. “The kitchen?”

“You got it. It’s just down that hall there. You should go and let him know you’re here.”

Nodding once Lena turned and slowly made her way down the narrow hall. On the walls were photos of a young Mason and Rachel through different stages of their lives. There were school pictures and holiday pictures by the Christmas tree, as well as graduation photos with their parents standing by their sides. Then Lena noticed one of a small boy with dark hair, a little too long, flopping down in front of his face as he held up a fish in one hand and had a pole in the other with a smile as bright as the sun. Behind him was a man who had the exact same smile and he had his hand resting on the boys shoulder as though he was the proudest father in the world.

“That was my first fish.”

Lena spun around to see Mason standing in the doorway leaning a shoulder up against the frame. He took her breath away. That same black hair was pushed back, as though he’d run his long fingers through it, and he had a light blue long sleeve buttoned down shirt on which was hidden under a bright red apron that read “Warning: Complaints to the cook may be hazardous to your mouth.”

After reading that warning she looked up to see him grinning at her. “You looked very proud of yourself.”

Pushing off the frame he moved closer and she noticed under the apron he had on a pair of jeans and she hated the fact that she couldn’t wait for him to turn around and walk away just so she could see his ass. He stopped when he reached her cupped her face in his hands then bent down to place a gentle kiss on her mouth. Then smiling and looking over her shoulder at the picture he nodded. “I was very proud of myself. He was to.”

Lena turned back to the picture. “He was very handsome. You look just like him.”

She felt him squeeze her shoulders then say softly in her ear. “Are you trying to tell me I’m handsome Lena?”

Looking back up at him their mouths were close and she smirked, “We were discussing catching fish Langley, not fishing for compliments.”

“I think you find me handsome Lena O’Donnell.”

“I think you need to go and finish making dinner.” she replied trying to keep her eyes on his but finding them slipping to watch his mouth.

“Hmm, admit it. You think I’m sexy.”

Laughing a little she turned fully so she was now looking up into those laughing blue eyes. She reached out and gripped the sides of his apron pulling him down so she could whisper against his mouth. “I think you’re real pretty Langley.”

He frowned down at her. “Pretty? That’s a girly way to describe me. I’m not pretty.”

Biting her bottom lip she smirked at him, “Your right, but now you’re pouting which just makes you look cute and petulant.”

Taking a step away from her he crossed his arms over his chest and Lena thought she may just melt on the spot with the look he was giving her now. “Cute? Pretty? Lena are you trying to emasculate me?”

“No, it’s just with the apron and,” she didn’t even get the rest out before he was pushing her back up against the wall.

“And what? You don’t think a man can wear an apron and still be a man?”

She raised her hands and fingered the WARNING sign across his chest then raised hot eyes to his. “No I don’t think that. I just think this apron should read: WARNING, smoking hot chef. May be detrimental to women’s panties.”

His eyes turned to smoldering in the blink of an eye and he leaned down and whispered against her mouth. “Oh yeah? And how are your panties Lena?”

She was about to tell him they were perilously close to melting, when she heard a cough from behind them. Mason straightened and Lena looked over his shoulder at his sister who was staring at them with a huge grin on her face and her own bright pink apron that read “Cutie Pie” on it.

“If your done macking on the pants suit, your timer is going off.”

Shaking his head he watched her flounce back into the kitchen. Turning back to Lena he smiled down at her and she asked softly. “Saved by the bell?”

Kissing her quickly he nodded then moved back reaching out to take her hand. He tugged her with him into the kitchen and she heard him say softly, “For the moment.”

Dinner was amazing. Mason had cooked lasagna and it was so mouth watering it almost melted the second it hit your tongue. The bread had been made from scratch and the wine was so delicious Lena felt as though she were sitting at one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. They were all seated around a huge dining room table. At the head sat Catherine and off to the left was Wendy, a petite blond lady who had a quick smile and a sharp wit and almost reminded Lena a little of herself. This was the lady responsible for the running of Exquisite. Her husband was next to her and was an average sized man with brown hair and laughing green eyes. They seemed to fit into the group like family and in a way she supposed they were. At the other end of the table sat Mason and she tried really hard not to keep looking at him but it was difficult because every time he laughed or smiled she found her eyes drawn to him like a magnet.

He was amazing to look at. Just so relaxed and free with his smiles it was hard to imagine a time when she hadn’t been anything but absolutely charmed by him. Every now and then his eyes would find hers and she’d be caught staring and his grin would kick up an extra inch. Down next to her sat Rachel, who Lena had decided was slightly ADD but extremely amusing. The woman had pink tipped hair tonight and it was up in a high ponytail and her right ear was lined with earrings. Like her brother she smiled and laughed easily, but unlike her brother she seemed less focused on the serious side of life. She was more willing to be free of any kind of responsibility and just be in the background of the restaurant they both ran together. After what Mason had gone through lately, in part because of her, Lena couldn’t say she blamed her. Next to Rachel sat Charlie, Rachel’s boyfriend, she’d been informed. He was a man of very few words but extremely unique facial expressions. In fact several times she’d caught Mason almost laughing at the look on Charlie’s face, and she had to admit she was close behind him. It was almost as though his face was made from rubber and his eyebrows could fly right off his head. Lena started to suspect some of the things Mason would say were to get him to pull a certain face and that made it even harder for Lena not to laugh.

“So Lena?” Catherine asked from the head of the table. Lena turned her gaze toward the direction her name had been called and smiled. “I heard you went down to the restaurant the other night with your mother. I would’ve loved to have met her. Maybe we could have a family dinner sometime with your parents.”

“Mother, stop meddling.” Lena heard Mason say softly.

“Oh I’m not meddling love. I just think it’d be nice to meet them since I’ve known their daughter for so long.”

“And now that she’s boinking your son.” Rachel added.

“Rachel!” Catherine admonished and Lena could feel her face turning ten shades of red. Mason started to laugh and Lena whipped her head around to glare at him, and that seemed to only make him laugh harder. Then she was mortified to hear Catherine cough a little and say, “Well yes, and there is that now too.”

“Oh my God.” Lena groaned putting her hands over her face. “This isn’t happening.”

“I assure you it is.” she heard Mason whisper right beside her ear, she peeked at him from behind her hand.

“I’m going to kill your sister.”

He grinned and tapped her nose. “Oh I don’t know, you look good this shade of red.”

“Mason stop harassing the girl. Lena, it’s fine Rachel likes to embarrass us all.”

“Yeah and she embarrasses herself the most with those hair choices.” Mason added with a huge smile in his sister’s direction.

“Yeah yeah, whatever.”

“Honestly,” Wendy spoke up looking toward Lena, “She does this to us all. She announced to everyone in the kitchen one night that I was suffering a bad back due to the hot sex I’d had the night before, which I’d mentioned in confidence.”

“Well in my defense.” Rachel spoke up, “I figured it was only fair to warn the staff, that although you were bitchy and to proud to ask for help, you needed it.”

Lena couldn’t help it then, she turned to face Mason and burst out laughing. “Your family is crazy.”

He nodded and took her hand squeezing it tightly, “Yep, and I wouldn’t have them any other way. Welcome to the circus.”

Half an hour later Lena walked into the house and found Catherine by the sink. She came up beside her and took a towel from the oven and started to dry the dishes.

“This is my part of the night. The kids cook and I clean.” she told her smiling widely.

“You’re lucky. If I remember right, my mom use to cook and clean.” Lena paused then looked out the window to the back porch where the rest of the group was sitting, laughing and smiling. She watched as Mason leaned over and punched his sister lightly on the arm and for a moment she truly envied him. His ease with his family, the fact he could joke around with his sister and then this woman, who stood beside her watching her kids with a warm smile.

“You really care about him, don’t you?”

Lena turned to face Catherine and nodded slowly, “More than I ever expected if I’m being honest.”

“Well he is easy to love.” She looked up at Lena and grinned, “But I may be biased.”

Laughing softly Lena picked up a plate running a towel over it, “You may be biased, but you’re right. He’s a good man. I don’t know how we ended up here. He just wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Ahh yes. Stubborn and persistent, just like his father.”

Lena put the plate aside then asked softly, “Have you told them about your heart?”

Not taking her eyes from the window she watched as Catherine shook her head slowly and responded in a soft voice. “No. They don’t need to know that. They’ll just worry unnecessarily.”

Lena took a deep breath and pushed a little further, “Don’t you think they’d want to know? So they could help you in some way. Prepare for,” she was cut off by Catherine turning big eyes to her.

“Prepare for what? Me to die? We don’t know it’ll happen for sure and we sure don’t know when.”

“But,” Lena tried.

“There are no buts here Lena. I watched them loose their father that way, knowing was agony. I don’t want to do that to them.” she smiled fondly out the window. “Plus I could be here in five years watching Mason with your baby telling you, I told you they didn’t need to know.”

Lena picked up another plate feeling that Catherine no longer wished to discuss the issue and looked out the window. She felt her eyes tear up and was amazed to find that out of that whole statement the most monumentally disturbing part wasn’t the thought of having Mason’s child, but the thought that Catherine wouldn’t be there to see them.

Mason watched his mother and Lena come out from the kitchen. He thought his mother looked a little tense and wondered why. Looking at Lena he didn’t sense she was upset, she just seemed quieter than she’d been earlier. He would have to remember to ask her about it later. She came over and sat down beside him on one of the outdoor love seats. Reaching over he took her hand, smiling at her when she turned to him. “You okay?”

Nodding she squeezed his fingers a little tighter, “I’ve never been happier than right at this moment.”

“Really? Because you look a little sad.”

Her smile changed then and morphed from a half smile to something he’d never seen on her, a confused look.

“Do I? I don’t mean to be. If anything, it’s sad things can’t stay exactly as they are right this second.”

He snuggled in putting an arm around her. “So you’re enjoying yourself then?”

Tilting her head she leaned in and kissed his lips, “Every second.”

He was about to respond when he heard her beeper go off. She sighed and reached down into her bag. Pulling it out he watched her brow come down to form a serious frown line then she reached up and rubbed a hand over her eyes.

“I’m so sorry. I need to go to the hospital, one of my patients, Robbie.”

“That little boy?” Mason asked watching as she stood pulling the bag over her shoulder.

She nodded at him then smoothed her hands down her thighs, “Yes. He’s taken a turn for the worse. That was Shelly letting me know his parents have been asking for me.”

Mason nodded understanding immediately that she had to go. His mother stepped forward and grasped Lena’s hand.

“We understand dear. You have a very important job. It’s important to be around those who need us in times like these.”

Mason felt Lena stiffen a little and he pulled her toward the door, “I’ll walk you out.”

When they reached the back door she looked over her shoulder and smiled at his family. “Thanks again. Dinner was amazing.”

“Anytime honey, you’re welcome in this house anytime.” his mother answered with her warm smile. When they finally reached her car they stopped and she turned slowly.

“Are you going to be okay?” he asked tilting her chin up so their eyes met.

“Probably not. This is when it gets hard. When the child really has no other option then to fight hard or to let go gracefully. The parents are going to have a rough decision to make.”

“And you’re going to have a rough night.” he paused then reached down into his pocket. He’d wanted to give her this the day after their first night together, but he hadn’t thought she was ready, he was hoping she was now.

“Will you come home to me when you’re finished at the hospital?”

He took her hand and placed a key in it. She looked down at her hand then back up to him nodding.

“If I’m asleep just let yourself in. Okay?”

Closing her hand around the brass key he heard her whisper, “Okay.”

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, “I’ll see you later. Be safe.”

She climbed into her car looked at him where he was standing on the curb, then without another glance she turned the ignition on and drove away.