“She’s the best. We’re renting a car and driving to Italy.”
“Oh? Change of plans? I thought you were staying the whole month in Paris.”
“Yeah. Not yet, of course. But in a week and a half or so. We figure why not? Maybe we’ll even extend the honeymoon. Now that I have you there, I feel more comfortable.”
His brother’s praise warmed him, but Mason couldn’t dwell on it; he needed to talk fast since he had to get back to work on what Jude had sent him, plus he didn’t want to miss his meeting with Pryce. “Jude wouldn’t agree,” he grumbled. “Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, sure.” He heard Doug talking to someone.
“Am I interrupting you?”
“No. We’re just getting changed to go to a café. What’s wrong?”
“You can tell by my voice that something’s wrong?”
“Mason, what is it?”
“What was the deal with Jude and Ilana’s mother?”
“What do you mean?” Doug’s voice grew sharp. “Why are you asking me that?”
“I think I said something stupid to Jude.” He repeated the joke he’d made—about his mom telling him not to stand too close to the TV—and Doug groaned.
“Damn. Jude is crazy sensitive about his family. Their mother was sick for so long—”
Doug stopped speaking. It sounded like he’d dropped the phone.
“Mase? It’s Ilana. What happened?”
“Whoa, I didn’t mean for you to get involved. Sorry I brought it up.”
“No, don’t be. You wanted to know about our mom? She had MS. I’m not sure how much you know about the disease, but it’s horribly debilitating and slowly robs you of your ability to function and perform even the smallest task. Eventually, she became bedridden. I was in high school when it turned very bad. Jude took care of both of us. He sacrificed his life for her—and to an extent, for me—by stepping into the role of caregiver instead of simply being my older brother, and he gets super sensitive anytime our mom comes up.”
Stricken, Mason fumbled his apologies. “Shit. I’m really sorry. You know I’d never…”
“I know, and I don’t let it consume me as Jude does.” Sorrow crept into her voice. “He was the one who gave up everything for us at such a young age. Once I hit my teens, I can’t recall my mother ever being well, and by the end…it was horrible.” She sniffled, and Mason’s heart twisted painfully.
“Still, I shouldn’t have made that joke.”
“You don’t have to censor yourself. It wasn’t meant with malice. I wish he could let go, but I’m afraid as he’s getting older, he’s getting more determined to push people away. I only want Jude to find happiness.”
“I think he has to want it. That’s the problem. Thanks, honey. Enjoy the honeymoon and take tons of pictures.”
“Oh, we will. We’re going to Cannes in a few days, then driving to Sorrento, and maybe Rome. So much to see and do. I’m so excited.”
“Have a blast.”
“Your brother is already talking about going cliff diving, and we’re going to rent motorbikes. I’ve never ridden one, but Doug is pumped.”
“The Reiners have a thing for taking chances.”
“Well, not this Reiner.” She laughed. “I’m staying on dry land, thank you very much.” Her voice gentled. “I hope you and Jude can learn to get along. Maybe you can convince him to go out to dinner once or twice. It’s not good for him to stay home all the time.”
“You think he’d go to dinner with me? C’mon, you know that’s not happening.”
“Honey, if anyone can make Jude do something he doesn’t want to do, it would be you.”
He closed his eyes.
