“No, I never made it, beca
use the night before my flight, Amelia convinced me to take a pregnancy test, and it came back positive. Everything changed in an instant.” She paused, holding his gaze, knowing what she was about to say would hurt. “Because someone mattered more than you.”
“Mason,” he said gently.
She nodded. “Mason. So, I decided to call you once more to let you know about the pregnancy.”
“But a woman answered.”
“She sure did,” she agreed, her heart lodged into her throat. “That’s when I knew I needed to accept that you were never coming back for me. I decided then to let you go and let you live out your dream in Boston. You deserved that happiness, and I had Mason.” A thousand emotions flashed over his face as he rolled onto his back and looked up at the ceiling. One minute ticked by then another. She couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “Please tell me what you’re thinking.”
A beat passed then he turned his head, the side of his mouth curving slightly. “I’m thinking that I’m annoyed.”
“Annoyed?”
He chuckled, shaking his head slowly, then gathered her in his arms until he hovered above her. “Yes, Slugger, annoyed that you punched my bastard father in the face and I didn’t get the chance to see it.” She laughed, and he pressed his lips to the top of her head before making direct eye contact again. “I’m sorry, Clara. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry for being a coward and not taking your calls seven years ago. I’m sorry for the anger you endured after I left and for how lonely and scared you must have felt. Most of all, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and Mason.”
She cupped his face, hoping he heard her. “Honestly, Sullivan, I’m done with apologies and regrets. The past is the past. You’re here now. Let’s make this good for Mason and move on from the rest.”
He whispered against her lips, “One day at a time.”
“One day at a time.” Then she claimed his mouth.
8
The next morning, after dressing for the day and over hot coffee, Clara spent the morning hours reviewing the contracts and drawing up her counteroffers. Of course, their lawyer would review her requests before they sent the contract back to Ronnie and the other distributors, but she knew what they needed for the brewery to survive. And for Mason, the brewery needed to kick some serious butt. For Pops, her grandfather who’d loved his beer and left his life savings to support this venture, Clara couldn’t stop pushing until they got what they needed to make this business successful. She felt the pressure weighing on her shoulders, but everything would work out. There was simply no other choice.
Leaving Mason to finish getting dressed upstairs, and feeling tired from last night with Sullivan, she headed downstairs for her second cup of coffee. When she woke up this morning, an unexpected peace washed over her. The tension that always lived in the center of her chest had lessened. And while she knew the healing with Sullivan was for Mason’s sake, she hadn’t quite realized how much she needed it to. To hear an apology, to understand why Sullivan had given up on her, were all things she didn’t know she needed. She finished stirring in the cream and sugar into her coffee when a knock came at the front door. She whisked it open to reveal a sight she’d seen many times, many years ago.
Sullivan greeted her with a warm smile and a sweet peck on the cheek. “Ready to go?” he asked.
Her belly fluttered right alongside her heart. Sullivan always seemed to have a way of looking good without even trying. Handsome and charming and all the things in between, he wore jeans and a white T-shirt, his hair rustled and unstyled. He looked like a dream come true. If she was being honest, it was her dream come true. Before she could respond to his question, a blur of beige shorts and a blue T-shirt rushed by as Mason ran outside into a clear sunny morning without a cloud in the sky. Clara shook her head at her rambunctious son and finally answered Sullivan, “That’s a definite yes.”
“Then, let’s be on our way,” Sullivan said, stepping out of the way.
Clara quickly put her coffee in a to-go mug, grabbed her purse off the hook on the wall, shut the door behind her, then snatched up the booster seat she’d left on the porch last night.
Right as Mason opened the back door, Sullivan called, “Mason, buddy, hold up.”
Mason whirled back to Sullivan, confusion in his eyes.
Sullivan jogged down the porch steps and then went down to one knee, making eye contact. “Whenever ladies are with us, we open the door for them first before we get in.”
Mason gave a quizzical look. “Why?”
“You love your mama, right?” Sullivan asked gently.
Mason nodded. “Yeah.”
“You want your mama to feel special?”
Another nod.
Sullivan’s smile warmed as he gestured back at Clara. “This is one way we can show her that we’re thinking of her and appreciate all she does for us.”
“Oh,” Mason said, examining Clara with his little brows furrowed. Then he smiled big and ran around Sullivan to open the passenger-side door. “Get in, Mama.”
Clara’s heart tripped as she was fighting back the tears. “Thank you, sweetie.” He was gone a second later, taking the booster seat with him to the back seat and was fastening his seat belt. She swallowed back the emotion and said quietly to Sullivan, “Thanks for that.” Of course, she’d taught Mason manners over the years, but it occurred to her now, she’d never asked for those manners for herself. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that either. When did she stop thinking about herself?