Page 137 of Finding Us
I head straight to my bedroom and into my walk-in robe, sliding the album and the box I brought home with me up onto the shelf. It’s jam-packed with parts of my childhood, and one day, when I’m ready, I’ll sit down and go through it in its entirety. I’m touched that my mother kept everything I ever made for her.
Today I realised something; my lack of recollection from those earlier years has more to do with my childhood trauma than simply not remembering. There were good times with my mum, but I was so busy burying all the shit stuff with my dad—because it was far easier than dealing or trying to understand it—that some of the happier times got lost amongst it all.
When I arrive back downstairs, I find my girl and Grace sitting at the table brainstorming. I love how passionate they are about this project. I gave Grace my list of things I thought we might need from the rooms I went through, only to find she has one of her own. I can tell this place means as much to them as it does to me.
“Dad,” Blake yells when he sees me. He leaps off the lounge and runs in my direction, hugging my legs. I love this little guy and can’t imagine my life without him.
“How was the footy?”
“Good, Grandpa Jim bought me a hotdog and a meat pie.” I chuckle because of course food would be his highlight of the day.
“Grandpa Jim?” I ask, looking over at Jacinta’s dad with a raised brow.
“I’ve been promoted,” he replies with a shrug.
“You okay with that?”
“Absolutely.”
This family has been a godsend. For the first time in years, I feel like I truly belong somewhere. Bending, I lift Blake into my arms. “So, who won the football game?”
“My team.”
“Your team?” I ask, because I was unaware he had one.
“Yeah, the red ones?”
“Red ones?” I see my son needs a lesson on the names of each team, only an amateur would refer to them by the colour of their jersey.
“He said he was going for the blue team when the game started, but when the red team scored lots of goals, he switched sides,” Jim pipes in with a laugh.
When the pizzas arrive, I help Red set the table and we all sit down to eat …like one big happy family.
“What’s the plan of attack for tomorrow?” Connor asks, and Grace moves down her list of things that need to be done, including who’s going to watch Blake while we accomplish it.
I just sit there taking it all in, realising how lucky I am. I have the girl of my dreams—the love of my life—by my side, a best friend who is like a brother to me, and their parents who have accepted me and my son into the fold like we’re one of their own.
Chapter39
Jacinta
Mason does a double take when I exit the corridor and enter the main room of my apartment. I’m dressed in a sleek and sexy, yet sophisticated, silver ball gown, compliments of Cassie. I don’t own any dresses like this, so she brought some of hers for me to choose from. She’s here to get me ready for tonight, and to also help Connor look after Blake, since Mum and Dad are coming with us to the event. They’ve both been warned to be civil to each other in front of him, the last thing that boy needs is to be caught in the middle of one of their mud-slinging contests.
Tonight, we’re attending Logan Cavanagh’s fundraising ball, where Mason’s charity will be the beneficiary. Since he’s still waiting for probate to go through, he’s going to use whatever money is raised this evening for Rebecca’s Place, so we can start implementing things to get it off the ground.
My mum has been working tirelessly behind the scenes in preparation for the impending opening, because this cause is close to her heart. She knows firsthand the good it will do and the lives it could possibly save. It’s not only going to be a safe place for the women to live, but there will be a team of people to help them get back on their feet and become self-sufficient again.
My mum had never held down a job prior to coming to Melbourne and subsequently had no clue how to manage her finances, because that was something my father had always controlled.
“Fuck, babe,” Mason groans as I approach. His jaw is lax, and I can clearly see the heat burning in his eyes as he takes me in from head to toe. “You look …” His gaze moves back to mine, and the smile that curves his lips makes my heart beat a little faster. “like a goddess.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I reply, walking into his open arms. Mason Bradley is the definition of sexy, clothed or otherwise, but in a tux … Oh. My. God.
After placing a soft kiss on my temple, he leans down to run his nose along the length of my neck. “Mm, you smell amazing.” His fingertips skate over my bare spine, setting my body alight, and they don’t stop their descent until his hand is groping my arse. “As gorgeous as you look in this dress, Red, I’m already anticipating unwrapping you when we get home tonight,” he whispers, and his warm breath against my skin makes it pebble with goose bumps.
I draw my face back to meet his, grasping the lapels of his tuxedo jacket. “Something to look forward to.”
“On a scale of one to ten, how badly do you want to attend this function?”
