“This has to be killing Mason,” Sky worried, popping to his feet and stalking back to Kayla and the kitchen area, then back to the sofa.
What can I do?
His sister was already making sure Sam Sr. was getting the best care possible and Mason and his mother were fortunate, they didn’t have to worry about how they would afford it.
“Should I send flowers or food? What do I do?” he asked Nadine.
“They don’t need any of that, but it would probably mean a lot to Mason and your sister if you were here, just for support.”
“There? At the hospital or…?”
“No, sweetheart, you should just come home. We can drive you down to the hospital if he’s going to be there for a long time, or you can be here and ready to comfort them when they get back.”
“I…” Sky started to say that he didn’t want to go back, but that wasn’t true. He wanted to knowright nowif Sam Sr. was going to be okay. And he needed to know how Mason was doing and to comfort him if he was scared. The way Mason had been there for him, so many times throughout the years. “I’ll be there. I’ll start packing now and ask Kayla to go to the station with me.”
“I think you should,” Nadine said gently. “It’ll mean so much to Mason and your sister, and you’ll regret it later if you don’t.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a few hours?”
Nadine promised she’d be at the station to pick him up, and Kayla was ready with a hug when Sky ended the call.
“I heard everything, and it’s going to be okay!”
“He has to be!” Sky was crying as he rested his head on her shoulder. “I’m scared of what will happen if we lose Sam Sr. He was everyone’s dad because he was the mayor. But he was always extra nice to me and never made me feel like I wasn’t being a boy right, like some of the other dads. He was the best, and Mason will be destroyed if he dies.”
“That isn’t going to happen!” Kayla leaned back and caught his chin so she could find his eyes. “Your sister has everything under control, you’ll see!” She waited until he nodded and focused. “You’ll feel better once you get there and know more. Let’s get you packed and to the station and on the next train.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mason had never had a reason to call a press conference before and he felt like a clown—an exhausted, hungry, cranky clown—as he stood in front of Roseview’s small municipal building with a notecard the following afternoon. There were only a few notes, basically a brief summary of what had happened and that Sam Sr. would be returning home soon to recover under Sarina’s watchful eye. His father had asked him to keep it simple and thank everyone for their concern and well wishes.
Their phones hadn’t stopped ringing, and the messages kept coming in. Beleaguered and exhausted, Mason notified the radio station in Southampton and a few of the town’s busier bodies, letting them know that a conference was planned for 11 o’clock. A statement had been posted online, but the town’s and the mayor’s official social media accounts only had a handful of followers. Many of the town’s older residents didn’t rely on smartphones and distrusted social media.
Hoping a conference would reassure everyone and grant his family a little more peace, Mason tapped on a microphone and smiled at the crowd that had gathered to listen. Carl Samson, the editor and sole reporter for the town’s small newspaper was there, along with a photographer. Most of the offices and businesses on Main Street must have been empty because it looked likeeveryonewas there.
“You’ve got this!” Sarina whispered next to him.
Mason nodded and cleared his throat. “Good afternoon and thank you for taking time out of your busy day, and for caring so much about Sam Sr. Your love and support has been the best medicine, and Dad will be home soon and on the mend. His doctors expect that he’ll make a quick recovery, thanks toourfavorite doctor.” Mason waved at Sarina and she was boisterously applauded. There was also some laughter and whistles as she bowed and curtsied.
“Dad is doing great, thanks to the amazing doctors, nurses, and staff at NYU Langone,” Mason continued. “We’ll be taking him to Southampton for rehabilitation services over the following months, but he’ll be up and rambling around town again in no time. Thank you again for all your prayers and well-wishes, they’ve meant the world to me and my parents.”
“Is it okay if I say something?” Sarina asked but reached for the microphone before Mason answered.
“Right! You should probably tell them about the symptoms and what they should do if they think a loved one is having a stroke.” he said as he passed it to her.
“Eh.” She swatted dismissively. “They can look it up on the internet, if they haven’t already. This is about me. I have a personal statement I’d like to make,” she announced and there were some excited murmurs as the crowd moved closer. “I want everyone to hear it from medirectly,and I want to make some thingsveryclear,” she began, raising her chin defiantly.
Mason was probably the only one close enough to see her lip wobble and his heart started racing. “What are you doing?” he whisperednervously, but she grabbed his hand and held it tight.
“I have to do this,” she whispered back and raised the microphone. “I’m leaving Mayor Cartwright,” she began, eliciting shocked gasps. “It’s important that everyone knows that Mason has been theperfect husband and father in every way possible. Ilove himand I always will, but it’s time for him to be free, and I’m tired of hiding. I’m in love with Lexie Walston and we’re getting married, once I’ve straightened things out with Mason. He’s been protecting me for a long time, but I don’t want to live a lie anymore. That’s all, I will not be taking any other questions,” she concluded, then handed the microphone back to Mason and hurried into the crowd.
He tried to grab her, but stopped when he spotted Sky and Nadine at the far end of the parking lot, staring in disbelief.
“Um… I won’t be answering any questions aboutthat, but if you have any questions about Dad, you can just call or text me.” Mason quickly turned off the microphone and passed it to Kyle. “Can you…handle this? I need to go.”
“Go!” Kyle snatched it from him and gave Mason a hard shove. “I want to know everything later!” he called after Mason.
“Sure,” Mason lied, then nodded and thanked people as he hurried after Sarina.
