“Like what went down with you, Christian and Dec? Or maybe why you were so hostile to my brother-in-law and suspicious about whether my niece was safe with him. It could even be the mystery that is your life and family. Olivia, I want to know everything.”
“Not everything is very nice or pretty,” I say on a stifled sob and am relieved to find Mason’s arms closing around me, holding me, caring for me, dare I dream, loving me. Really loving me, like I love him. I outed my feelings earlier in the car and he reciprocated by saying he’d fallen for me the moment he saw me but that’s not the same as loving someone, being in love with them, not really.
“I know that.” He strokes my hair down to comfort me but the silence between us is broken by the sound of his phone ringing now.
I gaze towards the desk where the phone is vibrating across the smooth surface as it continues to ring.
“Ignore it,” Mase insists and as if on cue the sound ceases. “I don’t need you to have a perfect past. If you did, I would be more worried.”
There’s no doubt in my mind that he means everything he says and I want to open up, but the risk is too great so maybe I should start with the easy stuff, like the fact I am now unemployed and will not be completing his office, Sean will be. Never mind his office I will be lucky to be able to pay my rent next month if I can’t find another job, quickly.
“Okay,” I whisper but Mason’s phone begins ringing and sounds most insistent now.
“Just answer it,” Seeing the doubt in his eyes and the imminent objection I add, “First, answer it first.”
He relents and with me still in his lap he pushes us both forward in his chair to retrieve his phone. “Maybe it is a wedding disaster, it’s Sarah.”
I frown, wondering why she would call Mason, although I did know she had his number after she played cupid with him.
“Hi Sarah,” he answers. “Yeah, she’s here. No, we’ve been out but she was going to call you back. Course.” He hands me his phone.
“Sorry Sarah, I wasn’t ignoring you, I promise,” I begin with a smile. “What? When?”
Her words are like knives stabbing me and I feel sick, physically sick as my brain absorbs what she is telling me. I am unsure how long the conversation goes on for, but I am no longer listening once I realise that the things Mason wants to know may be about to reveal themselves. Everything is a blur until I find myself in the lounge with Mason who is now on his phone finishing the conversation with Sarah.
“Which channel?” I hear him ask, turning the TV on before returning to my side on the sofa.
The screen before us fills with images I had blocked out years before while the sound of the newsreader’s voice reveals that the man before me is under arrest and being investigated for sexual assault, rape, paedophilia and all kinds of professional misconduct charges. The story unfolds with details of him being a real pillar of the community. Him, his family and friends are refuting all claims as they stand firmly behind him and then they cut to a story about aid to third world countries.
Mason hits a button on the remote and kills the TV before turning to me. I am shaking like a leaf as his arms wrap around me and I cling to him like he is a life raft, maybe that’s what he is for me, has been since that first night and now, just a couple of months later I can’t bear to think that he will ever be anywhere but at my side.
Chapter 27
Mason
I have no clue what is going on here, why Sarah insisted that we, well, Olivia needed to see the news about a doctor who has apparently been taking advantage of his position to facilitate sexual abuse of young, female patients. Maybe I do know if my girlfriend’s pain, shock and horror are anything to go by, although I hope to God I am wrong. Who the fuck is this man and why does he cause such extreme reactions in Olivia?
“It’s okay,” I say with true conviction as I pull my girl in closer as she silently sobs into my side, then I wait.
The seconds turn into minutes, the minutes into hours and then about three and a half hours later I realise Olivia is still and silent, sleeping. Unable to leave her alone I decide against putting her in bed so remove myself from the sofa and lie her down with a cushion beneath her head and pull the blanket from the back of the sofa over her, like I did a few weeks ago after we spent our lunch hour together on the same sofa.
I grab a drink from the kitchen and take a seat in the chair opposite her so I can be there as soon as she wakes up which is not for another hour and even then I miss the flicker of her eyes until she is screaming out in her sleep, something about,I promise, don’t hate me. She’s flailing as if being attacked before waking up in a bolt upright position covered in a fine sheen of sweat with big, wide, disorientated eyes as I drop to her side.
“I’m here.” I hope that’s enough, and my mere presence will not spook her. It doesn’t I realise when she propels herself into me.
I don’t say anything as I scoop her up and settle her in my lap where she curls around me and clings to my body like a frightened child.
“You must be wondering what the fuck you’ve got yourself into here?” she asks without moving.
“Not as such. I do, however, wonder what the fuck is going on and who Conrad Mathers is?”
“I should tell you about him, all of them.”
I wonder whoall of themare and hope to all things holy thatall of themdon’t make her react like this Conrad Mathers.
“Okay. I’ll get you a drink,” I offer thinking she still sounds hoarse from her crying.
“Just some water.” She attempts to shift from my lap to get her drink.
