I gingerly offer an outstretched hand whilst still appearing to peep out from Mason’s side making Jimmy laugh at me, again.
“Sorry, I had no idea you were here, anybody other than Mase, so if you heard anything, or misunderstood—”
Fortunately for us all Mase cuts me off. “Olivia, you really need to stop speaking before you end up even more embarrassed than you already are. Let’s get some lunch and then I’d like us to talk, all of us. My dad might be the one man who can help with Mathers and Raymond,” he tells me and then he is casting his jacket aside and rolling his sleeves up as he begins to prepare lunch.
I am unsure how I am going to eat lunch with the knowledge that Mason has told his dad about me, about my past and what happened to me, about Mathers and Raymond. He has betrayed me, the one person I really thought I could trust.
Chapter 39
Mason
It would appear that I have fucked up with my girl again, badly, judging by her crestfallen expression. My dad, on the other hand is beaming between me and her meaning he approves and why wouldn’t he? She is fucking perfect.
I am throwing together some cold meats, crusty bread, cheese and grapes while Olivia gets the plates out. Brushing against her I feel her bristle at my touch and that confirms I have messed up, but only because she doesn’t know what I have, or rather haven’t done.
My dad knows I am head over heels with my girl, and that I see her as a permanent fixture in my life, that she all but lives here. He also knows she has a connection to Dr Conrad Mathers, who my dad knows via the recent news headlines and that her connection to him is her stepfather, but no more.
I haven’t told him what happened, but I was rather hoping she would, and that she would also allow him to do some digging and see how the land lies, to see whether charges against Mathers are likely to stick. In turn it could also indicate if his link to Raymond is known and long term that might determine whether my girl is going to get drawn into a media circus.
We are sitting and eating, well, Dad and I are, Olivia is just moving food around her plate because she is nervous, angry and scared.
“So,” I begin, “Dad’s aware that you know, knew Dr Mathers.”
My dad cuts in, “But that’s all I know, Olivia. Mase called to ask if I might be able to help, to find some details about the investigation, because of your connection to him through your stepfather. That’s all I know,” he repeats, imploring her to believe him. “Anything else needs to come from you. That was Mase’s stipulation. That you need to be in control here.”
“Oh.” She glances at me apologetically as she makes that perfect ‘O’ that makes me want to do bad things to her, well good things, but in a really bad way, dirty, like the dirty words she likes so much. “What are you?” she asks my dad who is smiling warmly at her incoherent ramblings. “I mean, how can you find information, about these people? Are you a policeman or something?”
“I’m a civil servant.” I’ve heard that response, his usual response a million times before, and it still amuses me.
“But what does that mean?” She’s becoming confused and possibly suspicious by my old man’s vague response. “You see, I’ve known people who worked for the child support agency or the inland revenue and they say they’re civil servants, and politicians, they’re civil servants I suppose and spies…” Her face is a picture as she utters the word spies in her sexy little whisper.
I can feel that I have my defaultridiculousgrin on my face at my sexy girl’s naïve little ways. I tell my inner voice to go and fuck off at its sneer and look back at Olivia who seems incapable of stopping her mouth now.
“Oh my God! You are, you’re a spy,” she gasps, whispering the spy word again while my dad is looking at her agog, but in a good way. He is genuinely amused by her as she expands on her spy thoughts. “You’re like a real-life James Bond. Do you have a number? You know like double 0 something. Or maybe you’re like Jessica Drew or Richard Grayson.”
“Who the hell are Jessica Drew and Richard Grayson? I have no clue who you’re talking about beyond James Bond. Mase, help me out?” he pleads making me laugh at his confusion and my girl’s knowledge of comic book spies.
“They’re spies Dad, in comics.” I laugh as I lean into Olivia’s side and kiss her gently.
“Oh, right. She’s as bad as you and Dec then.” He frowns. He never got mine and my brother’s love of comic books and superheroes.
“So, are you?” Olivia looks at my dad, then transfers her gaze to me. “Is your dad really a spy?”
“I could tell you, but then he’d have to kill you,” I reply with a nod towards Dad who’s still laughing at Olivia’s spy fixation. “I need to pop and see Nicola, five minutes, so I’ll leave you two to chat.” I want to give them some privacy. “No pressure, baby. You can say as much or as little as you want.” I land a gentle kiss to the top of her head and go to reschedule a couple of things with Nicola.
Chapter 40
Olivia
I am fairly certain that whatever Mason is discussing with Nicola could have waited, but he wanted to give me some freedom to choose what to tell his dad, or what not to tell him. He, Jimmy, is smiling at me with a warmth and fondness I haven’t yet earned. The latter confuses me, confuses and makes me suspicious. My past makes me suspicious of unearned and apparent kindness.
“Mase is very fond of you.”
I nod cautiously.
“And you him,” he states more than asks causing me to nod again. “I mean fond as in love.”
I smile at Jimmy’s slight awkwardness and as he reciprocates, I relax, maybe it’s his resemblance to Mase that does it.
