Page 158 of The Golden Hour

Pensive.

And Honey is getting worried, especially because all yesterday and this morning, he had been excited. Practically bouncing off the walls, dancing around the house with Daisy in his arms, pulling Honey into deep kisses just because he could, excited.

The home they’ve spent half the year building is finally done, inspected, and ready for them to move in. And the whole day ran almost unbelievably smoothly.

While they were always of the same mind in the past, now it seems like they move as one. Whenever one of them needed something, the other was already there.

“Mason, can you grab the⁠⁠—”

“—already bought the warm lightbulbs, baby. Did you put the⁠⁠—”

“—my dad put the fire safe in his truck. Did your mom remember the⁠⁠—”

“—Christmas decorations in her SUV. Can you hand me⁠⁠—”

“Alright, knock that off,” Phil had snapped, though the amused smile on his face took all the bite away. “You’re freaking me out.”

Mason and Honey just shared a smile.

It felt natural. Easy. Their teamwork made the move-in easier. As did the movers Mason insisted on hiring, who carried in most of the furniture and heavier boxes while their parents, Ellen, Mac, and several members of Mason’s therapy group came by to help unpack.

Ellen spent more time playing peekaboo with Daisy than carrying anything, but considering Daisy had been happily distracted for nearly two hours, that might have been the most helpful contribution of all.

Now, gentle golden light from the late-summer afternoon filters through the large windows in Daisy’s bedroom. After the chaos of earlier, Honey and Mason have opted for soft music playing from her phone as they work together to assemble Daisy’s crib.

Without a word, Mason holds two pieces of wood together with one hand and extends the other, palm up, for another screw. Honey is already placing it there and grabbing the Phillips-head screwdriver to tighten it for him.

“It was nice of Ellen to stop by,” Honey says with a big smile. “I’m happy she finally got to meet Daisy. I know you said the strike was taking a lot out of her.”

Mason’s mouth quirks in a small grin, but he doesn’t glance over to her. Honey eyes the tension in his exposed forearms, the slight trembling in his hands, and the light sheen of sweat across his forehead that she doesn’t think has anything to do with the task at hand.

“She was such a riot with Daisy.” Honey laughs at the memory of Ellen crouching in front of a giggling Daisy with the handmade blanket over her head, flinging it away every few seconds with an exaggerated gasp.

Mason meets her eyes briefly before he focuses back on the crib. Honey feels her smile fade a little, but she continues tightening the pieces together.

“I can’t wait to put her in the Future Nurse shirt Ellen got her,” Honey smiles. “She was so worried about the size, but I think it’ll fit just fine. I’ll have to send her a picture.”

Mason nods but doesn’t look up.

Honey peers at her husband.

“Can you believe she’s going to be one?”

“I really can’t,” he murmurs, smiling lightly. “It’s gone by so fast.”

“Mom said it would.” Honey sighs. “I just didn’t believe her after those first couple of months. Back then, every day felt like a year. Now it’s like⁠⁠—”

“You look away for one second, and everything changes.” Mason finishes, his tone almost sad.

Honey tightens the final screw in the top piece, and slowly, Mason releases his hold. They both watch as it remains securely in place.

Then he reads the directions, grabs the next piece, and slots them together. Honey doesn’t take her eyes off of him, the tightening in her chest too much to ignore.

“Is everything okay, sweetheart?”

It’s the nickname that gets him.

Mason’s eyes rise to hers, and he opens his mouth before snapping it closed again.