Exquisite

Chapter Sixteen

Mason was feeling pretty happy with himself when he walked into the hospital the next day. Although yesterday evening had been difficult he felt as though he was one step closer to understanding how Lena ticked. Making his way to his mother’s hospital room he stopped and watched her as she lay sleeping. His mother meant the world to him. He didn’t really know what he’d do if something happened to her. It’d been hard losing his father a few years ago but he’d been sick, and they’d known he was going to pass and he’d made sure they all knew he was at peace with himself and everything he’d leave behind. Granted that still didn’t make it easier to deal with but at least when they were gone you knew they weren’t suffering and they were finally at rest. His mother on the other hand had nothing wrong with her as far as he was aware, and the heart attack had shook him to his very core. After watching Lena yesterday fall apart in his arms he had to admit he didn’t know how he would’ve coped if his mom hadn’t made it. He moved into the room quietly and as he made his way around to the chair by her bed he saw her open her eyes. A smile lit up her face and she held her arms out to him. He walked over and hugged her tight.

“Mason.” she said softly, “It’s so good to see you.”

He sat on the bed beside her reaching out to take her hand. She squeezed his lightly and smiled over at him. “How’s my young Casanova?”

Groaning he rolled his eyes then grinned at her, “Not you too.”

Laughing she patted his hand, “And why not me? I’m you’re mother I get to call you whatever I like. Although I must admit I don’t really like the fact that you’re dating all these women.”

Shaking his head he laughed softly. “I’m not dating all these women mom.”

He paused then grinned and raised his eyebrows at her. “In fact. I’m only dating one woman and you know her very well.”

“Lena?” she asked quickly, “You and Lena?”

Nodding he got off the bed and walked over to the window looking out at the sidewalk below. “Yeah. I’m shocked too. I took her to see her sister yesterday.” he told her and watched as his mom’s mouth opened a little then shut.

“Wow.”

“I know.” he said softly. “It was an amazing moment for us mom. What you did with her flowers, were beautiful.”

His mother blinked and it looked as though tears were forming in her eyes. Funny, Lena had been crying over her just the day before, and as he stood there looking at her he decided it was time they were all in the same room together.

“She’s been coming to me for nine years and every time she paid me for the flowers I’d ask her to come with me to see Carly.” she shook her head slowly, “Every time she said no. Mason please be careful love.”

Smiling he walked over and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “I am being careful mom. Don’t worry I wont break her heart.”

Smiling sadly she reached up to cup his cheek, “It’s not hers I’m worried about.”

Standing up he nodded slowly, “I know she’s difficult mom. I know she has more problems than I even know what to do with or how to deal with and I’m pretty sure they all stem from losing her sister, but yesterday we came so far. She let me inside.” He gave her a goofy smile. “I sound like a schmuck.”

Laughing she shook her head, “No dear, you sound happy.”

“Would you mind if I go get her? I’d love to finally have us all in the same room, and I’m fairly certain if I don’t go and get her she’ll be up here a little later anyway.”

“Why would I mind dear? Go get your girl.”

He turned and walked out the door, oh he planned to.

Lena had just walked into the break room after finally finishing up with her rounds this morning. She’d managed to co ordinate a break during her day right when Shelly could. So now they were both sitting down for lunch. Pulling out her incredibly boring ham and cheese sandwich Lena peered over to her friends plate.

“Lasagna, really? Do you have to bring a good lunch every day?”

Shelly lifted her fork to her mouth then chewed and nodded. “You’ve been around me when I’m hungry. It’s not pretty.”

“That’s true.” Lena agreed taking a bite from her sandwich.

“You okay today?” Shelly asked around another mouthful.

Lena’s eyes came up to meet her friends. “Yeah. Why?”

“You seem different. Quieter than usual, but more relaxed.” grinning Shelly sat back, “Is Mason keeping you nice and relaxed Lena?”

Rolling her eyes she cursed the fact that she could never keep things from Shelly. So of course that had meant she’d come into work today and told her everything that had happened, in the flower shop that is. She hadn’t yet found it in her to talk about their little excursion. That was still to new, still to life altering, to divulge just yet.

“No we haven’t, done, anything since a week or so ago. I told you that. We just talked yesterday.” then with a grin Lena added, “No touching.”

“Pssh! Yeah well I don’t know what to believe because you told me all about what happened when you both decided with the no touching rule.”

Lena was about to reply when Brandy knocked on the door then hurried in. She came around and stopped beside the table. “Dr O’Donnell?”

Looking up, at her skittish receptionist, she raised a brow. “Yes Brandy?”

“Ah you have a visitor.”

Frowning Lena looked at Shelly then shrugged. “Can’t they come back? I’m on lunch.”

“Well yes I asked him that, but he insisted that I come and tell you ahh that Casanova is here?”

Lena felt a huge smile break out over her face and she actually burst out laughing. Shelly’s mouth fell open and she dropped her arm down with her folk in it. Brandy looked back and forth between the two of them.

“Casanova huh?” Shelly asked with an arched brow, “Doesn’t think to highly of himself now does he?”

Still laughing Lena reached for a napkin and wiped her face. She was just about to answer when she heard.

“I didn’t pick the name myself, just so you know.”

Mason watched as three heads turned to face him standing in the door. Sure, the little assistant had told him to wait at her desk, but he’d heard Lena laughing and decided to take a chance and walk on back. He knew she’d get a kick out of the nickname and was happy to see her sitting there grinning like a fool.

“Ah I told him to wait at my desk.” he heard the little assistant sputter.

Lena kept her eyes on him and said softly. “ I’m sure you did. He doesn’t listen very well.”

Grinning at her he walked in and looked down at Shelly. “Sorry to interrupt lunch.”

“Nonsense. It’s fine.” she smiled up at him.

He watched Lena stand then said softly, “No, no I’ll just join you two. If you don’t mind?”

Shaking her head she sat back down. The assistant was still standing glued to the spot staring at him. He smiled at her and winked. He watched her turn bright red then seeming to find her footing flee from the room. Turning his head he saw Lena arching a brow.

“Just can’t help yourself can you?”

He leaned back in the chair and put a hand to his chest, “Me? What’d I do?’

“Throwing that charm around everywhere.”

He looked over to Shelly who was chewing on, he looked closer, what appeared to be lasagna. “At least she admits I’m charming.”

Shelly grinned at him.

“So you’re here visiting your mom?” Lena asked sitting very proper with her hands clasped on the table. She looked so professional today with her hair pulled up into a bun and her scrubs and lab coat on. Her glasses were sitting beside her on the table. Leaning forward her reached across and flicked the name badge around in his fingers, Dr. Magdalena O’Donnell M.D. and the rest was blocked by the lapel of her coat. Wow, in this setting she was something else. All brains behind those careful eyes. She was watching him closely right now so he grinned. Dressed like she was he couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated, this lady was smart with a capital S and what was he? A highly paid cook.

Lena watched his grin as he looked at her closely. She couldn’t help but wonder what it was he was seeing. Was he remembering the way she’d fallen apart in the flower shop? Or maybe the way she’d clutched his hand, terrified to move across the cemetery. Either way she found it infuriating that she didn’t know, and that he was grinning at her like a loon.

“What’s your problem Langley?”

“Don’t have a problem. I was just thinking how professional you look.”

Shelly laughed at that then blurted out, “As opposed to how unprofessional she looks in a tub?”

“Shelly!” Lena cried and her eyes flew to his. Her cheeks were heating and the more she tried to glare him down the bigger the smirk was that covered his damn mouth.

“What?” her friend asked innocently.

Looking toward Shelly, she said through clenched teeth, “Shut it.” Then her eyes came back to rest on two laughing blue ones. “And as for you?”

“Yes Dr?”

She narrowed her eyes and said in the most dignified voice she could find, “Behave yourself.”

Grinning at her he sat back and turned to face Shelly, and on a whispered she heard him say softly, “I don’t know. She sure looked like a professional at what she was doing that night in the tub.”

Lena stood quickly her chair tipping back, “That’s it!”

Glaring down at him she noticed, for the first time, he was wearing a pair of well worn jeans and a black t-shirt that was molding to all his hotness and he’d dropped on the table a black leather jacket. She shut her eyes for a minute, breathing deeply, because quiet frankly she didn’t want to be thinking about that night in the tub when he looked so damn amazing. When she heard a second chair push back she opened her eyes and looked up at him where he now stood. She heard Shelly still laughing softly behind them. He grinned down at her then reached out to push a wisp of her behind her ear. “You’re so easy to fire up Lena O’Donnell.”

Still feeling pissy she crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her chin up to him. “That’s Dr O’Donnell.”

She watched his mouth tug at the corner and he nodded reaching down to grab his jacket. “Oh is it now?”

Rolling her eyes she snapped, “Is there a reason you’re here Langley? Other than to drive me crazy and embarrass me in my work place?”

He was about to say something when Shelly chimed in. “In all fairness I did start it.”

He looked over his shoulder to her friend, “I appreciate that.” then he turned back to her.

“Well?”

“I want you to come and see my mother.”

Mason was trying very hard not to laugh as Lena marched down the hall ahead of him. Damn she was cute. She was all kinds of mad at him right now and he couldn’t find it anywhere in him to care. She’d huffed out of the lunch room, pissed off at him and Shelly, then made her way down in front of him to the elevators. She reached out and punched the button and that’s when she finally looked over at him. “You’re an ass.”

Nodding he stepped to the left close enough that their arms brushed. “Can I hold your hand?”

Her head snapped around to look at him and he stepped back to where he’d been.

“Okay. I’ll take that as a no.”

The elevator door pinged and they stepped inside waiting quietly as the doors slid shut. She punched the floor his mother was on then turned to glare at him. She looked as though she was about to yell and then punch him, or punch him then yell, but instead she shocked the shit out of him.

“Kiss me.” she demanded.

He didn’t need a second invitation. He moved a step over to her grabbed the lapels of her lab coat and pulled her in close covering her mouth with his. She groaned against him and parted her lips. He quickly dipped his tongue inside, rubbing it up against hers, knowing the doors were about to come back open. Then he pulled back and traced her bottom lip ending it by nipping it gently. He stepped back and grinned at her reaching out to take her hand.

“Don’t even think about it Langley. You’re still an ass and you can not hold my hand.”

He couldn’t have kept the smile from his face right then if his life had depended on it.

Lena stood silently beside Mason as the elevator slowed. She was finding it hard not to grin at him and equally hard to breathe after the kiss he’d just given her. The ping of the elevator signaled they’d arrived. When the doors slid open she stepped out and made her way down to the left already knowing what room his mother was in. When they got there she pulled Catherine’s chart from the door and took a quick peek to make sure everything was going well with her treatment. Scanning through the recent EKG’s Lena frowned a little at what she was seeing then flipped the papers back and walked into the room. Mason had already made his way inside and was leaning down to kiss Catherine on the head. Lena stood silently just inside the doorway not really knowing what to say. She watched as Mason brushed a hand down his mom’s hair then stepped back to stand beside her. Comparing the two side by side Lena could see the strong family resemblance. Catherine smiled over at her and she watched her eyes crinkle up at the side from years of laughter. Lena returned it and moved over to stand at the foot of the bed. The resemblance didn’t end there. The blue eyes were exactly the same and now that she saw them beside one another she was surprised she hadn’t seen it before, but then again she hadn’t been looking. Mason stood by his mom grinning at her with his usual effortless grin and he looked so relaxed and happy at that moment Lena couldn’t help but finally give him a smile back.

“Lena honey, don’t you look like a doctor?”

Laughing she heard Mason answer her, “Well mom she is a doctor. So I suppose that’s a good thing.”

“Oh yes yes,” she said waving her hand as though what she’d said was trivial. “I just meant that whenever I’ve seen her she has looked so,” she paused and Lena wondered if she was looking for the word lost. Then she continued, “Young.”

“Mother!” Mason admonished and tsked her lightly. Lena couldn’t help but be amused as the two went back and forward. “You should know better than to talk about a woman’s age. You taught me that.”

“Oh hush Mason Langley. I didn’t mean anything by it. Lena knows I think she’s lovely. I just meant that usually she’s in casual clothes and looks like she just came from school.”

Finally Lena spoke up, “Well that’s probably because when we first met I was in school You just have that same image in your head.”

Nodding Catherine looked up at her son. “You better be careful with this one son. She’s not going to let you walk all over her because you’re handsome.”

Lena watched as Mason tried to pull of an innocent, who me look, but his mother was having none of it. “Oh I know how you work young man. From the time you were old enough to wrap someone around your finger, especially women, you worked out how and then did it.”

Lena started to laugh because she found it completely believable. It’d only been minutes ago she’d been telling him to stop charming her defenseless receptionist.

“Lena dear how are you?”

Lena walked around the opposite side of the bed to Mason and sat down next to Catherine. She reached out and took her hand. “I’m good. The more important question is how are you?”

Catherine’s eyes widened a little, almost looking worried for a moment, then she smiled wider and glanced over to her son who’d now taken a seat in the corner facing them.

“I’m doing much better. I gave myself a bit of a fright.”

Staring right at her Lena nodded, “I’m sure you did. You need to be very careful when you leave and make sure you do everything the doctor’s tell you.”

Catherine nodded then patted her hand. “I know dear. I know.”

Lena whispered quietly, “Do you?” She watched Catherine’s eyes flick up to hers then move over to focus on Mason. She smiled at him and nodded, “Yes, of course I do. Don’t worry. I have to much to stick around for to clock out early.”

“Mom.” Mason admonished softly.

Lena squeezed her hand once again then looked over to see he was staring right at her where their hands were joined. His eyes softened as he looked up at her and then he smiled a slow warm smile that said he was happy she was there.

Turning back to Catherine Lena said softly. “Mason took me to see Carly yesterday.” she paused as she felt Catherine’s hand squeeze hers. “Did he tell you?”

Catherine nodded. “I’m very proud of you Lena. I know how hard that must’ve been.”

“It was. Terribly hard. But your son helped me through it. I owe him a lot.”

“You owe me nothing.” she heard him say softly from his chair. She turned grateful eyes to him and he enunciated slowly. “Not a thing.”

“I wanted to thank you for making her final resting spot such a beautiful place.”

Catherine shook her head then reached up to stroke a finger down her cheek, much like her son sometimes did. “I didn’t do anything special.”

“You displayed the flowers in a way that makes it glow. Most people would’ve just laid them over the ground. You decorated it.”

Catherine nodded, “It seemed like something she would’ve liked.”

Lena thought that an odd thing to say because Catherine hadn’t know Carly at all.

“I know I didn’t know her but I feel as though I do now. I’ve been visiting and talking to her for nine years. She knows all about my family. She even knew about Mason before you took him there. Every day I’d go down and spend 15 mins or so tidying the area and placing the new flowers in a vase and I’d tell her about my day.”

Lena felt a tear slide down her face not quiet understanding what she was feeling but knowing she was grateful that Carly hadn’t been alone. For nine years this lady, a stranger to her sister, had been telling her all about her life while making Lena’s bearable by taking on a task she herself couldn’t.

“I can never thank you enough for what you’ve done.”

“Oh hush girl and stop this crying. Tell me something exciting.” she paused, “Like how on earth you let my son talk you into dating him.”

“Gee thanks mom.”

Lena was about to answer when a short familiar young lady burst through the hospital door in tight black jeans and a bright purple shirt that had red polka dots all over it. As if the outfit wasn’t loud enough the girl’s hair was dark black but had an under layer of bright purple that matched her shirt. She stopped suddenly when she saw Lena sitting on the bed

“Oh sorry Doc. I’ll come back.” she went to turn when Lena heard Mason speak up.

“Rach it’s ok. This is Lena.”

Watching the girl closely Lena saw her turn to see Mason and walk over to him bending down to hug him Then she stood back up and asked. “Lena?”

Looking back in Lena’s direction she frowned then turned back to her brother. “Should I know her?” then she whispered, “Did we meet her last week? Cause I don’t remember shit from back then.”

“Rachel Langley watch your mouth.” Catherine admonished from the bed.

“Sorry mom.”

Mason laughed softly then stood reaching out to tug on a purple piece of hair. He grinned down at her then moved past his sister and walked toward Lena. She felt him wrap an arm around her. “This is Lena O’Donnell, my doctor.”

Arching a brow at him Lena muttered under her breath, “Oh really?”

Rachel was frowning at them then it seemed as though a light went off in her head as she grinned and slapped her leg. “Oh I got it. This is pants suit!”

Mason winced at that and felt Lena stiffen a little. He’d been kidding when he’d said she was his, but now that he stood there with his arm around her and he could smell that sweet vanilla scent of hers, he had to admit it was a fantastic idea.

“Pants suit?” he heard her ask his sister. He glared at Rachel over Lena’s head and hoped she got the message but because it was Rachel, and she only got a message when it was written in bold letters on a large sheet of cardboard, she blurted out.

“Oh don’t worry. I know who you are now. I called you that when he still didn’t know your name.”

“Rachel!” He watched Rachel’s eyes twinkle and look from Lena’s stiff pose up to him.

“What? It’s true.”

“It’s irrelevant. I told you her name was Lena and you’ll leave it at that.”

Rolling her eyes Rachel walked to stand on the other side of their mother’s bed. She leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “How you doing today mom?”

He watched as his mother reached up and patted Rachel’s cheek. “I’m doing great sweetheart. I like the purple.” she said fingering the tips. “Very dramatic.”

“Thanks! Charlie hates it but is that my fault? No and like I told him it's only hair and if he doesn’t quit calling me Barney I’m going to shave my head and he can start calling me Sinead instead.”

Lena glanced up at him like she was scared. He couldn’t blame her, Rachel was a handful and a whirlwind. Usually when someone first met her they spent the whole time trying to decide if she was always so hyper. The short answer was yes.

“Stop flapping your mouth for a second Rachel and let me introduce you properly. Dr Lena O’Donnell this is my baby sister and head Pastry Chef Rachel.”

Lena nodded, “That’s why you seem so familiar. I saw you that first night when,” she trailed off and was going leave it at that but no such luck, Rachel was right their to bury him.

“When he kicked you out after like, what was it Mase, 15 mins? If that?”

He heard his mother gasp and looked down and saw the questions in her eyes. Just when he thought Lena would fly off the handle and storm out in a fit of rage she did the complete opposite. She burst into laughter. Loud laughter and he saw that she was nodding at Rachel, who too was laughing like they’d shared the best joke in the world.

“Oh,” Lena said clutching her side, “That was a horrible night. He was so mad at me.” Then she started laughing again, “He didn’t have a clue what my name was.”

Rachel chuckled then nodded her head, “I remember him telling me that and he also told me you Googled him. I knew right then I’d like you.”

Lena looked at him with pure joy in her eyes and all of a sudden he didn’t mind that her hilarity was at his expense. He grinned and she mouthed at him silently, she likes me.

Leaning over he kissed her by her ear and whispered, “So do I.” he felt her shiver a little and then his mother asked.

“You’re on Google Mason?”

And with that they all burst out laughing.