Page 156 of The Golden Hour

“You’re going to be thirty-three anyway,” Honey shrugged. “Might as well be in the career you want when you are.”

Mason had blinked in surprise at her words, like it was exactly what he needed to hear, and then smiled.

“You’re brilliant, Honey.”

“What did you think of the sauce?” Mason asks now, pulling Honey out of her thoughts. He’s carefully pouring the excess red sauce into a container, “I made the sauce from scratch, did it taste okay⁠⁠—”

“Mason,” Honey gushes. “It was incredible. You know, you’re so talented in the kitchen. I might not cook anything ever again if you keep feeding me.”

Honey is teasing, but Mason’s eyes light up in excitement.

“Done and done,” he says, placing the containers of food in the fridge.

“Mason, I was joking⁠⁠—”

“Let’s go to Reading Terminal tomorrow,” Mason says, his tone very eager and excited. “We’ll pick up some steaks for Sunday. Since carrots were a bust, let’s have Daisy try some mashed potatoes. See if she’s a mashed potato girl like her mommy.”

Mason hustles over to the island and grabs the pen and pad from the corner, making a grocery list.

“Daisy will love the market,” Mason says happily. “I can’t wait till we’re in the new house and we can grill on the back deck, and you can grow our vegetables in the garden beds—oh, remind me to show you the ones I found at Lowe's. I think you’ll like them, but I just want to be sure.”

Honey places the plate she’s rinsing back into the sink.

“We have that meeting with the contractors tomorrow,” Mason says, like he’s reminding himself. “I want to make sure they have all the wall colors for when they paint—you said you wanted Daffodil Yellow for the kitchen, right, Honey? I just want to make sure they get it right. And we can drop off that wallpaper your mom got for Daisy’s bedroom⁠⁠—”

“I love you.”

Mason freezes.

She literally sees his entire body tense from where it’s bent over the counter. Slowly, he straightens and turns to face her. She has to take a couple of deep breaths to push through the emotions clogging up her throat.

“I love you,” Honey repeats. “I still love you so much, Mason. And I’m terrified, because loving you wasn’t the problem. And you left the hospital, and you’re changing specialties, and you’re so present and doting and wonderful, but…”

“You’re still scared,” Mason finishes.

Honey nods sadly.

“I understand, Honey,” Mason murmurs.

“You do?”

“Of course, that's all I think about sometimes. I lay awake and just wish as hard as I can that we can go back, so that I could do everything right. I would set better boundaries at work. I would tell Felicia to go to hell and report her for sexual harassment.”

Honey’s mouth twists at the reminder of Felicia, and she glances down at her body. She’s almost back to pre-baby weight, but she doesn’t feel as beautiful as Mason seems to think she is.

“I would set boundaries. I would be in every single appointment of yours so that I could make sure you were being heard,” Mason growls. “I would choose you and Daisy over the hospital, over the rush. I would remind myself that I am lucky enough to have you in my life, so I'd better start acting like it.”

“But you can’t.”

“No,” he gently corrects. “I don’t want to go back, Honey. I want to start over. I want to meet you where you are now. I want to do better for you and Daisy. I want to pave a future that centers our family.”

Honey’s breathless from his words, and it takes a few moments to even speak.

“I want that too,” she whispers. “I want to start fresh.”

Mason nods, his face hopeful.

“So… let’s start fresh,” Honey takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. When she opens them, she meets his eyes and smiles. “I forgive you, Mason.”