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Chapter 5
Back in Santa Barbara, the life did not seem as bright. Mason did not try to bring up the question of Julia's
moving up with him, again; he thought gentleness was the best tactics he could use with her.
Two days after they'd come back, CC phoned Mason. He wanted to see him in his mansion as soon as
possible, and Mason did not like his voice. He promised to drop in after the business conference was over.
Driving to Montecito, Mason was thinking of his parents. What CC wanted to discuss was sure to be something
about the issues Pamela had raised - not without her firstborn's help. Maybe CC hoped to get Mason back to
his side; but then he should have sounded a little less dictatorial. However, the great CC Capwell seldom
asked, eh? He gave orders.
"I'm here, Dad," Mason said from the threshold. He did not want to lose his time - or his balance.
"Hello Mason," said CC raising his chin haughtily, in his usual manner.
"You wanted to see me," Mason reminded him. He stayed by the door.
"Yes. Just wanted to know what you mean, plotting against me and still using my jet."
"When it's Eden, or Kelly, or Ted who uses it it's the family jet, and when it's me it's suddenly yours."
"What do YOU have to do with this family? It seems you've shown quite clearly where your loyalties lie."
"Ok; is this why you called me? I won't use your jet any more. Somehow I've missed the moment when I was
disowned again. Must be getting quite habitual, if I fail even to notice things like this."
At that, Mason turned to the door.
"I'm not finished with you yet," the father's voice boomed.
Mason turned back to him, his face displaying fatigue. "What else, Dad? Should I not be dining at Eden's
restaurant? Just name it."
"You took the jet to spend a night with a woman."
Up to now, the fight was familiar, old and stale, though it still hurt, it did every time. But now...
"No," Mason said slowly. "I took it to meet a client. In Eureka, as you must know from your spies already."
"You have no client in Eureka."
"The firm does. Is it any business of yours?"
"You took the jet, spent the night in a hotel sharing the room with that woman, and flew back in the morning."
"Right. The client's plans changed. Now, if you're finished with this ridiculous--"
CC's eyes flashed. "I'm just starting, Mason. What do you think you're doing-"
"I've said I won't ever again come close to your precious jet plane. And don't YOU come close to my life,
professional or personal, Dad."
Mason's eyes were flashing in the same fashion. Like father, like son.
"So you shared the room with Julia Wainwright," CC stated.
Mason never ceased getting surprised at CC's wish to interfere - and destroy.
"I did," he said with dignity.
"Sharing the bed."
"What do you care, dad."
"Why did you need to get away for carrying out this - affair, I wonder."
"We did not, and it's no affair."
CC's spies, or CC himself - were they as short-sighted as that?
"So it's no affair, and you're not sleeping with Julia Wainwright?"
"If I am, Dad, what business is this of yours?" Mason raised his voice. "I'm a big boy, and a widower, in case
you forgot. Are YOU going to pick women for me now? And why do you suddenly care?"
CC seemed furious - probably just because there was something he could not control. "Do you know Ms
Wainwright is pregnant?" he said.
Mason had to concentrate now: he'd almost given a start at this. Damn you, Dad.
"I do."
"Do you care to know who the father is?"
"I know."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, dad. The baby happens to be mine."
CC looked startled, for a moment. "Your baby? You mean you've been carrying it out long enough--"
"And you thought Julia to be a gold-digger?" Mason said with contempt. "Oh Dad. Not everyone is like you -
which is a great relief."
"Your baby," CC echoed, still in a shock.
"Your second grandson or granddaughter," Mason rephrased.
"My--" CC regained control. "How long has it been going on?"
"Julia's been my intimate friend long enough, and - I don't see why I must tell you more."
"You impregnate a woman and call her a friend; isn't it nice."
Mason was starting to lose his patience. "Look," he said. "Julia and I are adults. I don't run asking Daddy for
advice."
"So you're planning to walk out on her and my grandchild," CC said gloomily.
The quickness with which his father would believe the worst about him always made Mason feel somewhat
helpless.
"I am not, and this is not because it's your grandchild, Dad," he said. "It's my baby. My flesh and blood. My own
baby. Of course you've no idea what I am talking about, dad, you're devoid of any paternal instinct. I'll never
walk out on my baby, and Julia'll make a wonderful mother, she's wonderful with Matt."
"So the woman's quick to pick both Mary's husband and Mary's baby," CC muttered under his breath.
Mason grew pale. This was too much, really. "Unlike you, dad, I've never been unfaithful to my wife," he said,
every word ringing with cold fury. "Mary died, and though you wanted to bury me with her, I survived it, dad; I
survived. I never drove my wife away, never took our son away from his mother the way you did. I know you
hated Pamela; I loved Mary. I know you hate me, dad; and I love Matthew, I love my first-born. I know you'd do
anything to keep me low and miserable and unhappy, but Mary gave me the heart to live my own life. And I'm
going to do this, to try my chance with Julia, and you - you can go to hell, dad."
At this Mason walked out. He would have slammed the door if that had been possible - but it was too heavy.
Back in Santa Barbara, the life did not seem as bright. Mason did not try to bring up the question of Julia's
moving up with him, again; he thought gentleness was the best tactics he could use with her.
Two days after they'd come back, CC phoned Mason. He wanted to see him in his mansion as soon as
possible, and Mason did not like his voice. He promised to drop in after the business conference was over.
Driving to Montecito, Mason was thinking of his parents. What CC wanted to discuss was sure to be something
about the issues Pamela had raised - not without her firstborn's help. Maybe CC hoped to get Mason back to
his side; but then he should have sounded a little less dictatorial. However, the great CC Capwell seldom
asked, eh? He gave orders.
"I'm here, Dad," Mason said from the threshold. He did not want to lose his time - or his balance.
"Hello Mason," said CC raising his chin haughtily, in his usual manner.
"You wanted to see me," Mason reminded him. He stayed by the door.
"Yes. Just wanted to know what you mean, plotting against me and still using my jet."
"When it's Eden, or Kelly, or Ted who uses it it's the family jet, and when it's me it's suddenly yours."
"What do YOU have to do with this family? It seems you've shown quite clearly where your loyalties lie."
"Ok; is this why you called me? I won't use your jet any more. Somehow I've missed the moment when I was
disowned again. Must be getting quite habitual, if I fail even to notice things like this."
At that, Mason turned to the door.
"I'm not finished with you yet," the father's voice boomed.
Mason turned back to him, his face displaying fatigue. "What else, Dad? Should I not be dining at Eden's
restaurant? Just name it."
"You took the jet to spend a night with a woman."
Up to now, the fight was familiar, old and stale, though it still hurt, it did every time. But now...
"No," Mason said slowly. "I took it to meet a client. In Eureka, as you must know from your spies already."
"You have no client in Eureka."
"The firm does. Is it any business of yours?"
"You took the jet, spent the night in a hotel sharing the room with that woman, and flew back in the morning."
"Right. The client's plans changed. Now, if you're finished with this ridiculous--"
CC's eyes flashed. "I'm just starting, Mason. What do you think you're doing-"
"I've said I won't ever again come close to your precious jet plane. And don't YOU come close to my life,
professional or personal, Dad."
Mason's eyes were flashing in the same fashion. Like father, like son.
"So you shared the room with Julia Wainwright," CC stated.
Mason never ceased getting surprised at CC's wish to interfere - and destroy.
"I did," he said with dignity.
"Sharing the bed."
"What do you care, dad."
"Why did you need to get away for carrying out this - affair, I wonder."
"We did not, and it's no affair."
CC's spies, or CC himself - were they as short-sighted as that?
"So it's no affair, and you're not sleeping with Julia Wainwright?"
"If I am, Dad, what business is this of yours?" Mason raised his voice. "I'm a big boy, and a widower, in case
you forgot. Are YOU going to pick women for me now? And why do you suddenly care?"
CC seemed furious - probably just because there was something he could not control. "Do you know Ms
Wainwright is pregnant?" he said.
Mason had to concentrate now: he'd almost given a start at this. Damn you, Dad.
"I do."
"Do you care to know who the father is?"
"I know."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, dad. The baby happens to be mine."
CC looked startled, for a moment. "Your baby? You mean you've been carrying it out long enough--"
"And you thought Julia to be a gold-digger?" Mason said with contempt. "Oh Dad. Not everyone is like you -
which is a great relief."
"Your baby," CC echoed, still in a shock.
"Your second grandson or granddaughter," Mason rephrased.
"My--" CC regained control. "How long has it been going on?"
"Julia's been my intimate friend long enough, and - I don't see why I must tell you more."
"You impregnate a woman and call her a friend; isn't it nice."
Mason was starting to lose his patience. "Look," he said. "Julia and I are adults. I don't run asking Daddy for
advice."
"So you're planning to walk out on her and my grandchild," CC said gloomily.
The quickness with which his father would believe the worst about him always made Mason feel somewhat
helpless.
"I am not, and this is not because it's your grandchild, Dad," he said. "It's my baby. My flesh and blood. My own
baby. Of course you've no idea what I am talking about, dad, you're devoid of any paternal instinct. I'll never
walk out on my baby, and Julia'll make a wonderful mother, she's wonderful with Matt."
"So the woman's quick to pick both Mary's husband and Mary's baby," CC muttered under his breath.
Mason grew pale. This was too much, really. "Unlike you, dad, I've never been unfaithful to my wife," he said,
every word ringing with cold fury. "Mary died, and though you wanted to bury me with her, I survived it, dad; I
survived. I never drove my wife away, never took our son away from his mother the way you did. I know you
hated Pamela; I loved Mary. I know you hate me, dad; and I love Matthew, I love my first-born. I know you'd do
anything to keep me low and miserable and unhappy, but Mary gave me the heart to live my own life. And I'm
going to do this, to try my chance with Julia, and you - you can go to hell, dad."
At this Mason walked out. He would have slammed the door if that had been possible - but it was too heavy.