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Chapter 3
Mason came back home in an hour or so. He had spent some time on the beach again, thinking
over Pearl’s fragmentary information and what he was to do concerning it. After that, he thought
he was ready to face Julia again, without betraying his anxiety.
Standing by his door and fumbling in his pocket for the key, Mason heard music. MUSIC? Was
she listening to music? He detested music now. Thank God, at least it was a classical piece.
He unlocked the door. Julia was watching the flames in the fireplace; she did not turn to look at
him.
“No I haven’t been drinking,” Mason informed her.
This time, Julia did turn round. “Why?”
“Don’t you think I notice you’re just waiting for this to happen?” He sat down. “I may have a
drinking problem, Julia, but y o u r problem is much more serious.”
Julia sprang up. “And I thought you probably were going to apologize!”
“To apologize? What for?”
“For treating me like – a hired servant, if not worse.”
“I’m sorry if it looked this way,” Mason said indifferently. “Oh, and would you please switch off
the music. You know I can’t stand the sound of it, now.”
“I know, but I will not, sorry. I need music for my baby. The doctors say it can hear now, and I
want it to hear classical music.”
Mason was taken aback. “Oh – okay.”
They kept silent for a while, listening to Tchaikovsky’s chords. “Can it hear voices?” Mason
asked.
Julia nodded.
“Then it’s good I haven’t said anything too hurtful to its mother.” He paused. “Have I?”
Julia gave it some thought. Mason waited patiently.
“It’s not been easy to deal with you these days, Mason,” she said finally, trying to keep the
blame out of her voice.
He nodded. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“I – I think there’s some truth in what you said tonight, though. I’ve been thinking you might start
drinking again.”
“It’s harder not to, when it’s kind of generally expected from you,” Mason pointed out, not
unkindly.
“I’m sorry. I’ve tried to – to support you.”
“I know, Julia.” Mason sat down onto the floor and brought her to him. She leant on him heavily.
“I missed this.”
“Me too. It’s just – so hard.”
The room was lit only by the fire, and the music stopped. Matt was asleep.
“I tried to be there for you,” Julia said softly.
“Yes. And I am very grateful.” Mason frowned. “Julia, it’s not that simple for me, either. I’m not
being naughty, and not trying to be difficult.”
“I see. Shall we – postpone the wedding, maybe?” she supposed.
“Oh no,” he smiled into her hair. “Not now that you’ve seen the darker sides of my nature; I’m
not letting you out now.”
“Want to be stuck for life with an ill-tempered vixen?”
“Not less than you want to be stuck for life with an egotistical alcoholic.”
Julia stirred. “Mason – I’m sorry I let you down.”
“Hush. You did not.” He patted her hair.
“I never told you – my father is an alcoholic.”
For a few minutes Mason kept quiet. He did not really think himself an alcohol addict, but this
explained Julia’s behaviour.
“I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I didn’t know.”
Was she attracted to him only because of his drinking problem? Mason did not like the idea.
“Maybe I’ve really been too – jumpy – with you.”
“My poor Julia,” he murmured.
“You know I do not want it to happen, it’s kind of subconscious.”
“I understand now. Sometimes it certainly looked like you wanted me to get drunk.”
“No!” protested Julia.
“Want to talk of your family?”
She shook her head. “Actually I’m trying to think of you, Matt and my baby as my family now.”
Mason felt his heart bathe in a warm glow. He took a pause, to secure the feeling. Julia
misunderstood. “I’m sorry,” she stumbled. “I know Matt is not my—”
“Shh. He is not – but you’ve been there for him ever since he was born, and he loves you.”
Julia looked up, and Mason kissed her brow. “Just try not to play the role of your mother,” he
said thoughtfully. “And as to my own demons, with the help of my family I think I can cope.”
He leant closer to Julia’s ear and whispered right into it, “And I’m putting forward a proposal: we
should sleep together from now on.”
He knew the hot whisper into her ear turned Julia on; and he was satisfied when under his palm
he felt goose bumps appear on her naked skin. He wanted her, too.
“Mason—”
“Yes, my sweet lass? The bed’s big enough for two, and you won’t have to run to me barefoot
the moment you hear me groaning.”
“Mason--” she tried again.
“What I’m trying to say is, I need you,” he said softly.
And Julia conceded – he was very careful not to leave her any choice.
Chapter 3
Mason came back home in an hour or so. He had spent some time on the beach again, thinking
over Pearl’s fragmentary information and what he was to do concerning it. After that, he thought
he was ready to face Julia again, without betraying his anxiety.
Standing by his door and fumbling in his pocket for the key, Mason heard music. MUSIC? Was
she listening to music? He detested music now. Thank God, at least it was a classical piece.
He unlocked the door. Julia was watching the flames in the fireplace; she did not turn to look at
him.
“No I haven’t been drinking,” Mason informed her.
This time, Julia did turn round. “Why?”
“Don’t you think I notice you’re just waiting for this to happen?” He sat down. “I may have a
drinking problem, Julia, but y o u r problem is much more serious.”
Julia sprang up. “And I thought you probably were going to apologize!”
“To apologize? What for?”
“For treating me like – a hired servant, if not worse.”
“I’m sorry if it looked this way,” Mason said indifferently. “Oh, and would you please switch off
the music. You know I can’t stand the sound of it, now.”
“I know, but I will not, sorry. I need music for my baby. The doctors say it can hear now, and I
want it to hear classical music.”
Mason was taken aback. “Oh – okay.”
They kept silent for a while, listening to Tchaikovsky’s chords. “Can it hear voices?” Mason
asked.
Julia nodded.
“Then it’s good I haven’t said anything too hurtful to its mother.” He paused. “Have I?”
Julia gave it some thought. Mason waited patiently.
“It’s not been easy to deal with you these days, Mason,” she said finally, trying to keep the
blame out of her voice.
He nodded. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“I – I think there’s some truth in what you said tonight, though. I’ve been thinking you might start
drinking again.”
“It’s harder not to, when it’s kind of generally expected from you,” Mason pointed out, not
unkindly.
“I’m sorry. I’ve tried to – to support you.”
“I know, Julia.” Mason sat down onto the floor and brought her to him. She leant on him heavily.
“I missed this.”
“Me too. It’s just – so hard.”
The room was lit only by the fire, and the music stopped. Matt was asleep.
“I tried to be there for you,” Julia said softly.
“Yes. And I am very grateful.” Mason frowned. “Julia, it’s not that simple for me, either. I’m not
being naughty, and not trying to be difficult.”
“I see. Shall we – postpone the wedding, maybe?” she supposed.
“Oh no,” he smiled into her hair. “Not now that you’ve seen the darker sides of my nature; I’m
not letting you out now.”
“Want to be stuck for life with an ill-tempered vixen?”
“Not less than you want to be stuck for life with an egotistical alcoholic.”
Julia stirred. “Mason – I’m sorry I let you down.”
“Hush. You did not.” He patted her hair.
“I never told you – my father is an alcoholic.”
For a few minutes Mason kept quiet. He did not really think himself an alcohol addict, but this
explained Julia’s behaviour.
“I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I didn’t know.”
Was she attracted to him only because of his drinking problem? Mason did not like the idea.
“Maybe I’ve really been too – jumpy – with you.”
“My poor Julia,” he murmured.
“You know I do not want it to happen, it’s kind of subconscious.”
“I understand now. Sometimes it certainly looked like you wanted me to get drunk.”
“No!” protested Julia.
“Want to talk of your family?”
She shook her head. “Actually I’m trying to think of you, Matt and my baby as my family now.”
Mason felt his heart bathe in a warm glow. He took a pause, to secure the feeling. Julia
misunderstood. “I’m sorry,” she stumbled. “I know Matt is not my—”
“Shh. He is not – but you’ve been there for him ever since he was born, and he loves you.”
Julia looked up, and Mason kissed her brow. “Just try not to play the role of your mother,” he
said thoughtfully. “And as to my own demons, with the help of my family I think I can cope.”
He leant closer to Julia’s ear and whispered right into it, “And I’m putting forward a proposal: we
should sleep together from now on.”
He knew the hot whisper into her ear turned Julia on; and he was satisfied when under his palm
he felt goose bumps appear on her naked skin. He wanted her, too.
“Mason—”
“Yes, my sweet lass? The bed’s big enough for two, and you won’t have to run to me barefoot
the moment you hear me groaning.”
“Mason--” she tried again.
“What I’m trying to say is, I need you,” he said softly.
And Julia conceded – he was very careful not to leave her any choice.
Mason came back home in an hour or so. He had spent some time on the beach again, thinking
over Pearl’s fragmentary information and what he was to do concerning it. After that, he thought
he was ready to face Julia again, without betraying his anxiety.
Standing by his door and fumbling in his pocket for the key, Mason heard music. MUSIC? Was
she listening to music? He detested music now. Thank God, at least it was a classical piece.
He unlocked the door. Julia was watching the flames in the fireplace; she did not turn to look at
him.
“No I haven’t been drinking,” Mason informed her.
This time, Julia did turn round. “Why?”
“Don’t you think I notice you’re just waiting for this to happen?” He sat down. “I may have a
drinking problem, Julia, but y o u r problem is much more serious.”
Julia sprang up. “And I thought you probably were going to apologize!”
“To apologize? What for?”
“For treating me like – a hired servant, if not worse.”
“I’m sorry if it looked this way,” Mason said indifferently. “Oh, and would you please switch off
the music. You know I can’t stand the sound of it, now.”
“I know, but I will not, sorry. I need music for my baby. The doctors say it can hear now, and I
want it to hear classical music.”
Mason was taken aback. “Oh – okay.”
They kept silent for a while, listening to Tchaikovsky’s chords. “Can it hear voices?” Mason
asked.
Julia nodded.
“Then it’s good I haven’t said anything too hurtful to its mother.” He paused. “Have I?”
Julia gave it some thought. Mason waited patiently.
“It’s not been easy to deal with you these days, Mason,” she said finally, trying to keep the
blame out of her voice.
He nodded. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“I – I think there’s some truth in what you said tonight, though. I’ve been thinking you might start
drinking again.”
“It’s harder not to, when it’s kind of generally expected from you,” Mason pointed out, not
unkindly.
“I’m sorry. I’ve tried to – to support you.”
“I know, Julia.” Mason sat down onto the floor and brought her to him. She leant on him heavily.
“I missed this.”
“Me too. It’s just – so hard.”
The room was lit only by the fire, and the music stopped. Matt was asleep.
“I tried to be there for you,” Julia said softly.
“Yes. And I am very grateful.” Mason frowned. “Julia, it’s not that simple for me, either. I’m not
being naughty, and not trying to be difficult.”
“I see. Shall we – postpone the wedding, maybe?” she supposed.
“Oh no,” he smiled into her hair. “Not now that you’ve seen the darker sides of my nature; I’m
not letting you out now.”
“Want to be stuck for life with an ill-tempered vixen?”
“Not less than you want to be stuck for life with an egotistical alcoholic.”
Julia stirred. “Mason – I’m sorry I let you down.”
“Hush. You did not.” He patted her hair.
“I never told you – my father is an alcoholic.”
For a few minutes Mason kept quiet. He did not really think himself an alcohol addict, but this
explained Julia’s behaviour.
“I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I didn’t know.”
Was she attracted to him only because of his drinking problem? Mason did not like the idea.
“Maybe I’ve really been too – jumpy – with you.”
“My poor Julia,” he murmured.
“You know I do not want it to happen, it’s kind of subconscious.”
“I understand now. Sometimes it certainly looked like you wanted me to get drunk.”
“No!” protested Julia.
“Want to talk of your family?”
She shook her head. “Actually I’m trying to think of you, Matt and my baby as my family now.”
Mason felt his heart bathe in a warm glow. He took a pause, to secure the feeling. Julia
misunderstood. “I’m sorry,” she stumbled. “I know Matt is not my—”
“Shh. He is not – but you’ve been there for him ever since he was born, and he loves you.”
Julia looked up, and Mason kissed her brow. “Just try not to play the role of your mother,” he
said thoughtfully. “And as to my own demons, with the help of my family I think I can cope.”
He leant closer to Julia’s ear and whispered right into it, “And I’m putting forward a proposal: we
should sleep together from now on.”
He knew the hot whisper into her ear turned Julia on; and he was satisfied when under his palm
he felt goose bumps appear on her naked skin. He wanted her, too.
“Mason—”
“Yes, my sweet lass? The bed’s big enough for two, and you won’t have to run to me barefoot
the moment you hear me groaning.”
“Mason--” she tried again.
“What I’m trying to say is, I need you,” he said softly.
And Julia conceded – he was very careful not to leave her any choice.
Chapter 3
Mason came back home in an hour or so. He had spent some time on the beach again, thinking
over Pearl’s fragmentary information and what he was to do concerning it. After that, he thought
he was ready to face Julia again, without betraying his anxiety.
Standing by his door and fumbling in his pocket for the key, Mason heard music. MUSIC? Was
she listening to music? He detested music now. Thank God, at least it was a classical piece.
He unlocked the door. Julia was watching the flames in the fireplace; she did not turn to look at
him.
“No I haven’t been drinking,” Mason informed her.
This time, Julia did turn round. “Why?”
“Don’t you think I notice you’re just waiting for this to happen?” He sat down. “I may have a
drinking problem, Julia, but y o u r problem is much more serious.”
Julia sprang up. “And I thought you probably were going to apologize!”
“To apologize? What for?”
“For treating me like – a hired servant, if not worse.”
“I’m sorry if it looked this way,” Mason said indifferently. “Oh, and would you please switch off
the music. You know I can’t stand the sound of it, now.”
“I know, but I will not, sorry. I need music for my baby. The doctors say it can hear now, and I
want it to hear classical music.”
Mason was taken aback. “Oh – okay.”
They kept silent for a while, listening to Tchaikovsky’s chords. “Can it hear voices?” Mason
asked.
Julia nodded.
“Then it’s good I haven’t said anything too hurtful to its mother.” He paused. “Have I?”
Julia gave it some thought. Mason waited patiently.
“It’s not been easy to deal with you these days, Mason,” she said finally, trying to keep the
blame out of her voice.
He nodded. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“I – I think there’s some truth in what you said tonight, though. I’ve been thinking you might start
drinking again.”
“It’s harder not to, when it’s kind of generally expected from you,” Mason pointed out, not
unkindly.
“I’m sorry. I’ve tried to – to support you.”
“I know, Julia.” Mason sat down onto the floor and brought her to him. She leant on him heavily.
“I missed this.”
“Me too. It’s just – so hard.”
The room was lit only by the fire, and the music stopped. Matt was asleep.
“I tried to be there for you,” Julia said softly.
“Yes. And I am very grateful.” Mason frowned. “Julia, it’s not that simple for me, either. I’m not
being naughty, and not trying to be difficult.”
“I see. Shall we – postpone the wedding, maybe?” she supposed.
“Oh no,” he smiled into her hair. “Not now that you’ve seen the darker sides of my nature; I’m
not letting you out now.”
“Want to be stuck for life with an ill-tempered vixen?”
“Not less than you want to be stuck for life with an egotistical alcoholic.”
Julia stirred. “Mason – I’m sorry I let you down.”
“Hush. You did not.” He patted her hair.
“I never told you – my father is an alcoholic.”
For a few minutes Mason kept quiet. He did not really think himself an alcohol addict, but this
explained Julia’s behaviour.
“I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I didn’t know.”
Was she attracted to him only because of his drinking problem? Mason did not like the idea.
“Maybe I’ve really been too – jumpy – with you.”
“My poor Julia,” he murmured.
“You know I do not want it to happen, it’s kind of subconscious.”
“I understand now. Sometimes it certainly looked like you wanted me to get drunk.”
“No!” protested Julia.
“Want to talk of your family?”
She shook her head. “Actually I’m trying to think of you, Matt and my baby as my family now.”
Mason felt his heart bathe in a warm glow. He took a pause, to secure the feeling. Julia
misunderstood. “I’m sorry,” she stumbled. “I know Matt is not my—”
“Shh. He is not – but you’ve been there for him ever since he was born, and he loves you.”
Julia looked up, and Mason kissed her brow. “Just try not to play the role of your mother,” he
said thoughtfully. “And as to my own demons, with the help of my family I think I can cope.”
He leant closer to Julia’s ear and whispered right into it, “And I’m putting forward a proposal: we
should sleep together from now on.”
He knew the hot whisper into her ear turned Julia on; and he was satisfied when under his palm
he felt goose bumps appear on her naked skin. He wanted her, too.
“Mason—”
“Yes, my sweet lass? The bed’s big enough for two, and you won’t have to run to me barefoot
the moment you hear me groaning.”
“Mason--” she tried again.
“What I’m trying to say is, I need you,” he said softly.
And Julia conceded – he was very careful not to leave her any choice.
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