Sarina pressed her hands together. “Thank you!” she said tearfully, then held out her arms as she edged closer. “I need to get some sleep but I am so glad we finally talked this out. I love you so much and we can talk about anything you want tomorrow or whenever.” She made an excited sound when Sky opened his arms and accepted her hug.
“Okay. I love you too,” he mumbled, dazed as she squeezed him and kissed his cheek. “This doesn’t feel real.”
“I know! I feel like I’m dreaming.” Sarina cupped his cheeks and searched his face before giving his forehead a loud kiss. “I’ve missed you so, so much!”
She ran around the island and kissed Mason on the lips, then waved at them as she left the kitchen.
“I’m hesitant to say this, but I think I owe Adele an apologyand a solid.” Mason’s brow furrowed as he watched Sarina go. “She might have accidentally done something good for her children, for once.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Sky advised. “This could be another one of her schemes and our reconciliation might be an accident.”
That made Mason laugh. “It’ll probably get on her nerves if you two are suddenly getting along.”
Sky brightened. “That’s even better! The four of us should have lunch or dinner together, once this stops feeling like a hallucination,” he said as he waved around them.
“It might be worth the trauma to tag along.” Mason held his bottle out so Sky could tap his against it. “It’s really good to have you back and we both mean it: you can ask us anything. We’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”
“This is enough for now,” Sky said with a loaded look. “It’sa lot, but I’m coping. So far. I think,” he added sheepishly. “Some of it’s still sinking in but I’m going to do my part with Mom and the estate. I’ve left a lot on Sarina’s shoulders for too long.”
“She had me. Thankfully, being mayor and a web developer and software architect is easy to juggle around her schedule. I’m pretty much a stay-at-home dad, and it’s thebestjob ever. But if anyone is uniquely equipped to handle Adele, it’s you.”
“Thanks to my ‘tism!” Sky winked and leaned toward Mason. “I appreciate her bluntness, and I’ve never minded being rejected by her. I actually prefer it, if I’m being honest. Alarms go off whenever she’s nice to me because I know she’s up to something. She’s so broken she almost makes me feel normal.”
Mason raised his beer. “I thank God every day for Nadine.”
“She more than made up for Mom,” Sky smiled as hethought of her. “I was never afraid to hug her because I knew that she loved me. When she said I would be okay or that I was special, I believed her.”
“You ever think she might be an actual angel?”
“She’d almost have to be to put up with Mom as long as she has,” Sky said with a tender chuckle. “Nadine’s birthday’s coming. I’m gonna send her something really nice.”
“That’ll piss Adele off,” Mason predicted but they both laughed and spent the next hour thinking of extravagant gifts for Nadine.
Sky was still shaken and disoriented by the evening’s revelations when he said goodnight to Mason and headed upstairs for bed. While he was happier and felt more whole than he had in a long time, he wasn’t the same Sky as before. Neither were Mason and Sarina. He was a better and stronger person than the child who’d stormed out all those years ago, and they wereparentswith real, serious responsibilities.
Now, Sky was nervously looking forward to meeting the people Sarina and Mason had become with fresh eyes and an open heart. And he was realizing he might owe Mason and his sister a serious apology. He just hoped the rest of his visit would be less confusing and emotionally distressing.
But knowing his mother, and given his history with Roseview, Sky should’ve known better.
Chapter Eleven
Mason wasn’t sure if they would see Sky the next day. He was relieved when he appeared in the kitchen, roughly eight hours later.
“Morning.” Sky settled on one of the stools, dressed for a run and offered Mason an awkward grimace.
“You just missed Sina and Sam. She usually runs him to school on her way to the office. He only has half days, so I pick him up.”
In case you were wondering what our weekday routine was…
Mason rolled his eyes at himself and gestured at the pot. “Coffee?”
“Please.” Sky studied his hands while Mason poured him a cup.
“Just a splash of vanilla creamer and two sugars?” Mason verified, causing Sky to jump. His gaze finally lifted to Mason’s.
“Right.” He frowned. “You remembered.”
Mason shrugged it off. “Sina drinks it the same way.”