Mason

LAUREN

I let out a sigh of relief as I shut down my computer. Another grueling day at Campbell Industries was finally over. But today was different. Today, I had some time to visit my dad. I couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto my face as I thought about it.

I planned to stop by a flower shop and pick up some orchids, his favorite. I loved how his eyes would light up when he saw me. It made him seem more alive. Less…sick.

I grabbed my purse and coat, ready to head for the elevator when I heard his voice.

“Ms. Hart.”

I froze, a shiver running down my spine as Mason stepped out of his office, his gaze piercing straight through me. Why did he have to be so attractive? It would be so much easier to despise him if his looks matched his unpleasant personality.

“Yes, sir?” I responded.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“My shift is over,” I said, puzzled.

“It’s only over when I say it is.” He dumped a massive pile of paperwork on my desk. “I expect all of this to be sorted before you leave tonight.” He turned to retreat back into his office, dismissing me as if I were his servant.

“A-actually, sir,” I stuttered.

Mason paused and turned around, a look of disbelief on his face as if he couldn’t believe I’d actually spoken up. I was almost as shocked as he was. I recoiled from the anger in his eyes.

“What?”

“I actually had plans today…” I remembered the last time I didn’t speak up and admit that I was going to see my dad, and it resulted in me humiliating myself and walking his dog. I didn’t want that to happen again.

“What could possibly be more important than the job that’s providing the roof over your head?” he asked, his voice frosty.

I bit my lip. I wanted to keep my personal life as separate as possible from work. But it didn’t seem like Mason was giving me a choice.

“I was going to see my father,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “He’s quite sick.” I couldn’t bring myself to meet Mason’s gaze as I said it. I braced myself for him to reject my request and prepared for a long night at the office.

But he didn’t say anything. I looked up, confused.

Mason’s expression was unreadable. He looked as if he could’ve been carved from marble. Like one of those classical gods you’d find in a museum in Italy.

“Sir?” I asked, uncertain.

“If these aren’t on my desk by the end of tomorrow there’ll be hell to pay, Ms. Hart.” And with that, he turned and disappeared back into his office.

For a moment I just stood there, stunned. Mason Campbell, the cold, heartless monster, had actually let me go?

I didn’t waste any time and practically sprinted to the elevators. I wasn’t going to stick around for him to change his mind.

***

The mix of stress and joy of seeing my dad when I reached the hospital was overwhelming. I had missed him so much.

There weren’t any orchids at the flower shop. It was a letdown, but at least I would get to see my dad.

Dad was in bed, watching TV. All his hair had fallen out and he looked frail and pale. He didn’t look like the man I knew.

This person lying there looked like a shell of what he used to be.

I wanted to cry. The tears were about to spill when I wiped them away. He wouldn’t want to see them. If there was anything he hated, it was seeing me cry over him.

I would put on the fake smile he wanted. I would be strong for him.

For both of us.

“Hi, Daddy!”

“Laurie!” he said, a big smile spreading across his face.

He stretched out his arms, and I came around to hug him. I rested my head on his chest and took a deep breath. I had missed hugging him. He felt so much like home.

My dad was my anchor. Without him, I would be lost in a sea of loneliness and sadness.

“How are you doing today?” I asked.

“I’m wonderful now that you’re here.”

The smile on my face faded and he took my hands.

“Don’t look like that. You should always wear a beautiful smile on your face,” he said.

“But Dad…”

He smiled knowingly. “I know, darling. The job means a lot to you and you’re doing it for both of us. I’m really proud of the person you’ve become, Lauren.”

I hugged him again, trying to look happy and cheerful.

“I’m happy you’re at least enjoying your life,” he added, “I wouldn’t want you to be sad all the time.”

“Hey, you came.” Becky walked in, holding a tray of food.

“Yeah, I did. How are you?”

She smiled and pulled me into a hug. Becky was a warm person. I liked to think of her as a big sister and a second mother.

“I’m great. Hey, Vincent, I’ve got you some food.”

After Dad ate, he fell asleep.

And then Becky said she needed to talk to me about something and I followed her out of his room. I knew from the look on her face that it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.

I tried to look brave but when she started talking, I couldn’t keep up the facade anymore.

“The chemo treatment didn’t work,” she said in a sad voice. “The doctor said if we try another treatment, his body might fail because of how weak it’s getting.”

“So what does that mean?” I whispered, but it sounded so loud in my ears. “Becky, what does that mean?” I pressed again when she wouldn’t speak.

“It means he doesn’t have much time left. I’m so sorry, Lauren.”

Shock and horror hit me, washing over me in hot and cold waves as the deafening silence grew, drowning out all sound but a high-pitched ringing in my ears.

I took a sharp intake of breath.

My heart was on fire, my vision blurred until I couldn’t make out anything in front of me.

He’s not going to make it.

Oh, God.

A sob shook me to my core.

I felt arms encircle my neck, pulling me into a comforting embrace.

I felt it. This indescribable pain. It pierced my heart, unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

It felt like I’d already lost him.

He was my only family and now he was slipping away. When my mom left us, I was devastated. I wept in Dad’s arms for weeks on end.

He held me, telling me that loss was a part of life. No matter how deeply we love someone, they can’t stay with us forever.

One night I asked him why she left without a word, and if she didn’t love us. He told me that sometimes saying goodbye to someone you love is the hardest thing to do.

And my mom did love us, but her love wasn’t enough to keep her here. We should cherish the time she spent with us.

I told him I despised her, that no mother who truly loved her family would ever abandon them.

He smiled and said, “Someday I’m going to leave you too, Laurie. It won’t be my choice, but it will happen. Will you hate me then?”

I cried and clung to him, promising that nothing could ever separate us.

Cancer proved me wrong.

How was I supposed to live without the most important person in my life?

How could I see the world the same way when it had taken away the one person who meant more to me than anyone else?

How could I spend the last moments of Dad’s life without feeling like my heart was being ripped apart?

It was going to be unbearable to watch him die, to witness his last breath.

“Becky.” I pulled back and looked at her through my tear-filled eyes.

“Is there no way…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

She shook her head.

“Okay, does he know?” I asked.

“He knows. He’s just so worried about how you’ll handle it, but I knew I had to tell you. And there’s one more thing.”

I looked up at her, my vision still blurred from my tears.

“I reached out to your mother,” Becky said.

Her words made me catch my breath.

“My mother?” I managed to say, barely hiding my shock and anger.

“I called her. He wanted me to. She has a right to know he’s dying.”

I laughed bitterly.

“She has a right to know? She left us, Becky. So no, I don’t think she has any rights here. What did she say?”

Becky looked annoyed this time.

“She said she’ll drop by when she has time.”

I laughed again, a hollow, empty sound.

I wasn’t surprised. “When she has time, huh? That’s good to know.”

What else could I expect from the woman who abandoned us all those years ago?

I left the hospital in a daze, unable to process the news. I asked the taxi to drop me off a couple of blocks from my apartment. The walk might help clear my head.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I almost tripped over the package left on our front porch. It was a vase filled with orchids.

I stared at it, confused. Who sent these? I picked them up, their familiar scent making me smile through my tears. Just a small, thoughtful gesture like this was exactly what I needed. Could these be from Beth?

That’s when I noticed the small envelope tucked among the flowers.

I opened it, intrigued. The letter wasn’t signed, and there was no return address. Inside, only three words were written in a bold, elegant script.

For your Father.

A warmth spread through me. I instantly knew who must’ve sent these. I’d recognize that handwriting anywhere.

But it had to be a mistake. That rude, terrifying, bastard of a man couldn’t have possibly sent this. He couldn’t possibly have a kind side.

Mason Campbell…

Could he actually have a heart?