“A very amazing woman came into my life when I was twenty three years old.”

Swallowing and licking her lips she blinked up at Mason and he could see her eyes shimmering with the pain of her emotions but he could also see pleasure in her memories. He gripped the sunflower between his hands and held onto it for dear life. She still held the flowers to him but he couldn’t bring himself to take them.

“She took me into her shop and sat me down. She gave me a cup of hot chocolate and told me that she had a family of her own.” Pausing Lena finally pulled the tulips into her chest, keeping her eyes on his, that were now also filled with tears. “A daughter and a son. Two children who she loved very much.”

She blinked and closed her eyes for a moment swallowing a deep breath. Regaining what little composure she had her eyes found his again and she whispered.

“Some of her last words to me Mason, were ‘I believe in fate and I believe you were supposed to walk into my life, so Mason could walk into yours’ I know she can’t be wrong.”

Stepping in close enough that his pants rubbed against her own he watched as she reached out and took one of his hands. He let go of the sunflower and allowed her to bring his palm up to her chest where her shirt was unbuttoned. Looking at him with eyes full of tears he saw his hand tremble through his own blurry vision. When she had his hand over her heart she moved even closer, so she was between his legs. Him holding a sunflower, her with a bunch of tulips. Her face turned up to his and her was streaked with tears when she whispered.

“I love you Mason.”

He sucked in a deep breath and tried to pull his hand back. Looking down where it was pressed over her heart he could feel it racing beneath his palm.

“Look at me?” she whispered. He dragged his eyes up to focus on hers and he could feel a tear escape and slide down the side of his own face. He clenched his jaw and waited, stubbornly silent, trying to keep a cap on his emotions.

“I love you. I’ve loved you since before all of this turned bad.”

He watched her swallow and then she continued. “I wanted to tell you that night we were supposed to meet. “

If it were humanly possible he was sure he would’ve felt his heart finally break in two. Knowing everything that he’d been going to say that night, and now hearing she had been feeling it too his emotions took over and he felt like he was dying on the inside at everything they’d lost. His hands started to shake and he swallowed again, trying to hold it together.

“I never wanted to hurt you. I wanted to tell you about your mother so many times. I begged her to let me.”

Blinking up at him she stepped back and let his hand go. He felt it drop down to his side and he felt as though a hole was starting to gape open in his chest as she moved away from him.

“These flowers,” she held them up. “They’re your mother.” she turned and moved back placing them on the desk and walked back over to where he was slumped against the door. She waited silently, patiently for him to move, he finally worked out. He pushed off the door and stepped aside. She reached out and took hold of the door knob unlatching it. She twisted it and opened it a crack, then stopped to look at him standing glued to the spot clutching her sunny yellow flower and whispered, “Thank you for sharing her with me. I loved her too.” and with that she walked out the door.


Three days later Lena still hadn’t heard from him. She’d run over everything she’d said in her mind a hundred times. There was nothing she’d change and there was nothing she had left out. She’d told him everything, opened herself up and placed her heart in his hands. Now she just had to be patient. She had just finished showering and climbed into bed when her phone buzzed. Picking it up she felt a grin creep onto her face and her heart start to beat faster.

Langley: You still awake Doctor?

Yes. Why? Do you need medical attention?

Langley: Not sure about medical attention but I’d like your attention.

Scooting down in her bed she text back. Well you have it. What’s going on Langley?

Langley: I have a problem.

Grinning to herself she wrote back. Don’t worry it happens to all men.

Not a minute later the phone vibrated.

Langley: Trust me THAT is not a problem.

So defensive :P.

Lena giggled and waited eagerly for his response.

Langley: Watch where you stick that tongue Dr O’Donnell.

:P.

Lena knew she was being immature but at this point she couldn’t help it. He was flirting with her. He hadn’t initiated any kind of romantic behavior with her for so long it was a seductive feeling. She knew she’d been the one pushing the last few times they’d been around one another so when he wrote.

Langley: My problem is I can’t stop thinking about you.

Lena felt completely justified in sighing like a school girl. Good thoughts?

She stared at her phone almost willing it to produce the answer she wanted.

Langley: Not all of them.

Frowning she let out a disappointed breath. Oh.

Quickly it beeped.

Langley: Some are very VERY bad.

Feeling her tummy clench and her thighs tighten she wrote back as calmly as she could. Oh yeah? Like what?

Reaching over she turned her bedside light off imagining him in his big bed facing the wide window with the city lights illuminating the room.

Langley: You, fuck me boots and a smile.

Breathing deeply she wrote back. Excuse me they’re called thigh high boots.

Her phone beeped.

Langley: They’re called wrap your legs around my waist and fuck me HARD boots.

Grinning she wrote back. Langley!

Then she jumped as the phone started to ring loudly in her hand. Looking down at it as though it was on fire she let it ring once, twice and then a third time. Finally answering it she pulled it to her ear and said softly.

“Hello.”

“The next time I see you I want you to wear those boots.”

She shivered at his deep voice drifting through the phone.

“I don’t know Mason. I told you my terms the last time we were in the same bedroom.”

She heard some rustling and knew he was in bed. Closing her eyes she waited listening to his breathing.

“Well, things have changed since then.”

“Have they?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes Lena. Everything’s changed.” he paused then asked softly, “Did you mean everything you said to me the other night?”

Swallowing deeply she nodded and then realizing he couldn’t see she answered, “Yes. Every word.”

He took a deep breath and she heard him sigh and say softly, “Then everything has changed.”

There was a long tense silence and then she said softly, “I’m supposed to go by Precious Petals tomorrow to get some paperwork from Rachel. Will you be there?”

“No. I have to go by the restaurant, but I’ll give Rachel my spare key. Just take it and let yourself in. I should be there at around 6pm.”

Lena closed her eyes and prayed to whoever was listening that this was really happening.

“Ok. I’ll be there.”

“Lena?” he asked and she clutched the phone tight.

“Yes?”

“Wear the boots.” and with that he hung up.


Mason was standing in his office the next day when Rachel came in. “Hey you.”

He looked up and she smiled at him as she leaned against the door. “Hi.”

“So I’m going down to see Lena today.”

He nodded and said softly, “Yeah she told me.”

Rachel moved in and asked cautiously, “Are you two, you know?”

Grinning he asked innocently, “No what?”

Rolling her eyes she sighed, “Are you two back together?”

He shook his head and watched the disappointment slide onto her face. Then he added. “Not yet.”

A grin replaced the frown and she asked, “But will be?”

“Fingers crossed.” he said holding up his hands. He came around the desk and reached out for his sister. She wrapped her arms around him and he kissed the top of her head.

“I’m sorry I checked out for awhile there.”

Rachel looked up at him and he saw a tear fall down her cheek. “I knew you were here Mase, we just had to deal with things in our own way. I’m just glad you came back to us and I’m glad you’re bringing her back to us too.” she paused and sniffed then said softly, “Mom really loved her you know?”

“What makes you say that?”

Rachel gave him a sad smile and told him, “She use to tell me about a girl, around my age, who would come into the shop and she was so sad and mom really wanted to help her.”

Mason was quiet not quiet believing that Rachel had known about Lena all along. It was true, Lena’s life had been running parallel to his their whole lives and it was as though his mother and fate had finally made them cross paths. He heard Rachel say his name.

“Mason?”

Looking down at her he smiled, “Yeah Rach.”

“Some things are just meant to be.”

Nodding he pulled her in tight and hugged her hard, yeah he thought, some things were just meant to be.

Chapter Thirty One