Before I left, I turned back and walked towards my mother, kissing her cheek before leaving. That put a smile on her face.
Back when I lived at home, Mom was the town’s social butterfly. I remember her being friends with everyone. She went to their house parties and costume balls. I used to love watching her get ready on those big nights out. However, since Dad died, she had kept to herself. She didn’t want the members at the club treating her differently because she was a widow. My mother is a proud woman and never asked for pity or handouts.
Not that she needed it. Mom and Dad had done well, not quite in the same category as, say, the Harpers or the Porters, maybe a class just below them. Dad was an engineer and Mom was a nurse.
“Are you sure I’m not underdressed for this?” I asked shyly.
“I picked your outfit, Lauren. Trust me. You are going to be fine.” She giggled, taking my arm in hers. “Everyone is going to die when you walk in,” Cassie said, turning off the alarm on her car.
“I doubt that,” I scoffed.
“Are you kidding me? You were all everyone talked about since the last time you came to visit,” she said, crossing her arms. “Just because you don’t live on Skyline Road doesn’t mean you are not noticed.” She said and rolled her eyes at me. “You should meet my cousin Mason. You’ll love him—all the girls do. He should be there this morning.”
“Uh, Cassie—”
“Shush and get in.” She shut her door and started the car.
Hesitantly I climbed in the front seat. It had been a year since Matt died, but I didn’t feel ready to start seeing anyone else. The idea of falling in love all over again was not appealing, especially with men such as Mason Foster to choose from. A rich kid who probably didn’t know what it felt like to lose anything.
We pulled up to the front of the country club twenty minutes later. A valet walked around the front of the car, nodding at Cassie as she got out. He handed Cassie a tag as he got in her car. Cassie linked her arm with mine, and together making our way in through the front doors. It was just as I remembered; glossy dark maple wood floors, beige walls with crown moulding. On the floor were several round tables with dark green fabric cushioned chairs, and a bar in the corner of the room. As we walked in, incoherent chatter filled the room—until I entered. It fell silent and it appeared as if everyone was staring at me. I looked down at the ground nervously. Cassie ignored everyone as she walked through the dining room with her head up and her arm wrapped around me tightly. We stopped at a table where her mother and father were seated.
“Morning,” she said, approaching. “Sorry we’re late.” She tilted her head sweetly. “Cassie.” Her mother looked up at her. Cassie let go of my arm and walked around to hug and kiss her mother, then her father.
“Mom, Dad, you remember Lauren Miller.” She introduced me, and it felt just as uncomfortable as it did the first time I had met them fifteen years ago.
“Yes, of course. How are you, dear?” her mother asked, leaning over to shake my hand.
“Very well. Thank you for asking,” I said, giving her hand a gentle shake.
“How was L.A., Lauren?” Cassie’s father asked, making light conversation.
“An experience,” I said with a smile. There were three others sitting at the table. I recognized the woman but couldn’t place who she was.
“This is Abigail Foster”—Mrs. Harper said, introducing us as Abigail smiled and nodded—“her husband, Spencer, and that is her son Mason.” I smiled, nodding at who was paying attention to me.
“Nice to meet you,” I said giving a polite smile and a wave instead of reaching across the table.
“Mason!” Abigail tapped him on the shoulder. “My son the social butterfly,” she scowled and rolled her eyes at him as he slowly turned to face her. “If only he was as good at finding a job as he is at being social.” He had been leaning over the back of his chair, speaking with a girl at the other table who now glared at me.
“What?” He hiss at her and turned to face me. That’s when I gasped and practically jumped out of my skin. I never imagined the Mason Cassie was talking about would be the same one I met yesterday.
She clucked her tongue at him. “We have company.”
“We always have company. It’s nothing new.” He scowled, wagging his brow and smirking at me.
“Manners, Mason.” She tapped his leg.
He rolled his eyes.
“Hey.” He said.
“Uh—hi,” I stuttered. Everyone looked at me oddly except for Mason, who turned away again.
“Have you met before?” Cassie asked, looking over at me, then at the back of Mason’s head. Mason immediately spun around and stared for a moment.
“Sort of.” I said, biting my bottom lip and taking my seat. “Do tell.” Cassie leaned closer to me.
Mason’s eyes lit up, a grin stretched across his perfect lips and he snapped his fingers remembering. “Oh, right. The—girl who talks to herself,” he chuckled. My mouth dropped. That was how he remembered me.