“Straight from The Brew Crew on fourth street,” I explained with a smile. “The best in town. I figured the caffeine would help you forgive me for stopping by so early in the morning.”
She smiled gratefully at me. “Bless you, child. I forgot to grab coffee grounds at the store last night and I was just about to go on a double shift. You’re more than forgiven. In fact, I’d adopt you, if I could. Please, come in. I’ll see if Mason’s up.”
She led me into a small dining, kitchen, and living area, and left to tell Mason I was there. The walls had been painted deep purple, with lilac accents. Dozens of old black and white portraits with gilded frames hung on the walls, featuring people from decades past. I lingered at one in particular, a little boy in a frilly white outfit with a matching white cap. He was pouting at the camera, his cheeks puffed out. Mrs. Finnick came back out moments later, her hair pulled up into a twisted bun.
“Are these all your family?” I asked.
There were so many. It was amazing to think of the lives these people had lived after the photographs were taken.
“In a way.” Mrs. Finnick paused next to me and ran her fingers lovingly over the oval frame. “I find them in antique shops. Stuffed in crates, or forgotten in some corner. Sometimes, they speak to me and I have to bring them home. Give them new life. I call this little guy Frederick. I like to imagine that he went on to marry his high school sweetheart and to be a state senator.”
I stared in awe at the photos. It was art, plain and simple. Mrs. Finnick had a good eye. Every one of the photographs had a story to tell. And now they could keep on living in Mason’s home. A tiny bit of immortality of their own.
“I love it. You’ve built a family out of forgotten photographs.”
“Well, the rest of my family is gone,” she said with a shrug. “Mason is all I have. And these photographs.”
I inhaled deeply. I knew Mason had lost someone because of the mention of cancer camp, but I’d never imagined he and his mom were all alone in this world. Now, I could see why his mom was afraid of losing him, too.
“That’s really touching,” I said softly.
“You can say it’s creepy,” a deep voice said. “Really, you don’t have to lie.”
I whipped around to see Mason shuffling down the darkened hall toward us, running his hand through his messy dark hair. He wore a pair of blue flannel pajama pants, but his broad chest was bare. A shock went through me at the sight of him, landing in my gut. I gulped and averted my eyes to the ground, suddenly feeling not quite so peppy.
It wasn’t like I’d never seen a naked man chest. I loved spending summers at the pool. I just hadn’t expected to see Mason like this. Here. Now. With his mom in the room.
“Good morning, sweetie,” she said warmly. “I’m just about to head out for my shift. Your friend brought caffeine. I’m pretty sure she’s an angel.”
He snorted and then muffled a yawn with his hand.
“Good, you’re awake,” I said, keeping my eyes glued to the wood panels beneath my feet. “We’ve got stuff to do for our project this morning.”
“Seriously? Now?” He threw himself onto a nearby gray couch and tossed his bare feet on the matching ottoman. Apparently, he didn’t care who saw him without a shirt. His mom bustled back down the hallway, muttering about her lost purse. “I’ve got at least three hours of Fortnite ahead of me before I’m ready to face the day.”
“Fortnite?” My gaze went directly to his face. It surprised me to learn that Mason’s world didn’t completely revolve around basketball. I thought jocks ate, slept, and breathed their sports. “My little sister loves that game. She made me play with her last month.”
“Were you any good?”
I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin. “Actually, she said I wasn’t half bad. And that’s a compliment, coming from her.”
The left side of his mouth twitched with a concealed smile. “Then I guess there’s hope for you, yet.”
Our gazes remained glued until I felt the tips of my ears begin to heat. With a deep inhalation, I remembered the gifts I’d come bearing.
“I almost forgot, I brought coffee for you, too. And donuts. We can’t start our mission without sugary breakfast foods.”
“You really do think of everything,” he said with a sarcastic twinkle in his eyes.
Ignoring his sass, I held out the goodies. A bit of breakfast would set us both right. Mason took a cup and the box of donuts out of my hands and patted the seat next to him. I sat gently on the edge of the cushion as he tore into the box, snapping up a powdered sugar one to hand to his mom when she walked behind us with her coat and keys in hand.
“You kids be good!” She kissed him on the forehead and waved at me. “Thank you for the sustenance, Trina. You really are an angel. Stop by anytime.”
“Her name’s Mother Trina,” Mason tried to shout, with his mouth full.
I hit him on the shoulder and shushed him, but he just chuckled at me. Apparently, that joke wasn’t going to die anytime soon. His mom shot us both an amused smile before heading out the front door. And suddenly, we were alone. Me, sitting with a stiff spine on the couch next to a shirt-less Mason.
If Audrey and Mandy knew, they would freak.