Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“Oh, yes!” I nod quickly. “It’s wonderful, thank you.” Actually, I don’t live in a room – I live in a suite that has an attached bathroom and an attached sitting room as well. The set-up is light and airy with large windows, a four-poster bed covered in white, and fluffy pillows for decoration. It’s feminine and dainty, and the perfect place to nest.
Mason nods, satisfied. “Well, just remember, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to the staff. They’re at your beck and call while you’re here, and are happy to accommodate any requests.”
“Thank you,” I murmur. “I appreciate it.”
He eyes me silently before picking up his fork again. OMG, what do we talk about? Frantically, I try to think of potential topics, but nothing comes to mind because I’m on tenterhooks. Fortunately, my handsome host takes the lead.
“So Chelsea,” he begins. “Forgive me for being so forward, but do you work?” he asks delicately. “Or are you just staying off your feet during your pregnancy?”
I nod, grateful to have a topic of conversation.
“Yes, after I got pregnant, I decided that it would be best to take some time off. As you’ve probably already deduced, the baby’s father wasn’t interested in sticking around, so all of the decision-making was in my hands, and fortunately, Elsa invited us to stay with her. Her cottage is wonderful, and again, we’re grateful to have the opportunity.”
Mason nods.
“Of course.
But then, I squint at my plate before sending him a questioning look. “Which reminds me, how did you meet my mom, if you don’t mind me asking? Elsa’s never really been very forthcoming.”
Mason nods.
“Really? Well, it was a couple years ago. Elsa and I met at a charity event, and it was something to do with horses, if I remember correctly. We hit it off, and began dating immediately,” he says in a simple tone.
I nod because my mother has always been beautiful, at least before the Lyme disease hit. Back then, she had lustrous, golden-blonde hair, and bright blue eyes which were alive and alert. Plus, my mom had more meat on her bones back then. Elsa’s never been full-figured, like me, but at least she was healthy-looking, with a woman’s curves.
“So how did she come to move into the cottage?” I ask in a slow voice.
Mason nods before setting his fork down.
“It’s kind of a sad story, actually. We were dating on and off quite a bit. Not exactly a couple, but not not a couple either, if that makes sense. But then Elsa had that cancer scare and she was beside herself with worry. She couldn’t focus and I hated seeing her go through such a frightening period while also being nervous about her finances. So to help out, I offered her the cottage since it wasn’t being used anyways. She was able to take some time off her job to focus on getting diagnosed, and then it was a relief when the cancer thing turned out to be benign.”
“Yes, it was nothing,” I confirm. “It was just a small lump that she had removed from her thyroid, and then everything went back to normal.”
Mason shoots me a sideways look then.
“Well, not exactly normal. We’d been in a ‘free use’ relationship prior to the cancer scare, but that obviously stopped during the crisis. And I guess we never really started up again. Elsa was diagnosed with Lyme disease shortly thereafter, and she was fatigued all the time, not to mention pale and wan. She was always suffering from joint pain or whatnot, so we pretty much stopped seeing each other and are just friends now.”
“Friends?” I parrot, one eyebrow arched.
Mason shoots me a rueful look.
“Okay, maybe not exactly friends,” he amends. “Acquaintances maybe? But we’re not enemies,” he says. “She’s been living in the cottage, and we don’t see each other much these days. This estate is huge, so it’s easy to go weeks, if not months, without communicating.”
I nod.
“Yes, that’s true,” I say in a slow voice. “And you’re right about Elsa. My mom has been suffering physically at least, but she’s kind of a hypochondriac too. She freaks out at even the slightest cough and is always disinfecting the most innocuous things. I don’t mean door handles and the like. She disinfects our window panes, and is always encouraging me to go to the doctor even though I feel perfectly fine.”
Mason nods.
“She’s just protective because of your pregnancy.”
I sigh.
“Maybe. But I miss how my mom used to be because it wasn’t always like this. My mom was always tired from work when I was a kid, but at least she still knew how to have a good time back then. Elsa was always telling jokes and making people laugh, and she liked shopping and beautifying her surroundings too. I miss that.”