Grand Lies by JC Hawke

24

Mase

Sold.

That’s what my email told me when I checked this morning. Cara sold the studio overnight, and the locks were changed this morning.

A sick feeling fills my gut all day, knowing there is no going back.

I’ve sold her studio. To think last night she completely gave herself to me, and I took it.

It’s early afternoon when the call comes. The call I’ve been waiting for, but now that it is here, and she needs me, I don’t answer. Instead, I watch as it rings out and goes to voicemail.

My body is at war with itself. The need to know where she is and that she is okay is overwhelming, but the coward in me wants to stay far away.

I did what had to be done.

Fuck.

* * *

Nina

After calling Mason,Lucy and Megan with no luck, I knew there was only one other person I had left. I breathe out a sigh of relief as Maggie passes me a cup of tea, joining me on her sofa.

As soon as I called, she left work, telling her boss she was leaving for a family emergency whilst I was still on the phone.

Family,she had said.

“What am I going to do, Mags? I barely scrape through each month as it is. I won’t afford my apartment without the studio and the loans. How will I make this month’s payment?”

She reaches over and takes my hand in hers, giving me a look. “Well, that’s enough of that. You know me and John would never see you struggle, darling.”

“I can’t rely on you guys again. You’ve already done too much.”

“We will be the judge of that. Now, where are you with the lease on the apartment? Can you ask for a month’s grace until you find your feet again?”

I worry my lip. I haven’t told Maggie about Mase yet. She knows I have a boyfriend but not how deep I’ve gotten myself involved. I drop my head, staring into my mug. “I’m living with Mason. I haven’t slept in my apartment since I got back from Paris.”

Her hand leaves mine, and she lowers her tea to the coffee table. “You’re living together?” Her smile widens in approval. She looks happy for me.

“Kind of.” I shrug.

“You didn’t say anything! Nina, this is wonderful news. You’re happy?” she questions.

“I’m so happy. He cares for me, maybe more than anyone ever has.”

I look down at my lap as I think about his beautiful face, the way he smiles unashamedly when he’s with me. I know I’m lucky; I get the Mase nobody else gets to see.

“Well, that’s impossible,” she whispers.

I lift my eyes to hers as her voice cracks, finding tears welling in her eyes. “Why are you crying?” I ask.

“My dear girl, you have so much love, so much ambition and drive. I have told you a million times over how proud we all are of you, and you still don’t see it. You’re more than we could have ever hoped you to be. To see you happy and finally letting someone in–because you sure as hell never let me in,” she teases. “It just makes a mother very happy.”

“Mags.” I look to the ceiling trying to stop the tears.

Maggie has always been the mother I wished I had, and with that comes guilt.

“I know, I’m not helping. Get the laptop, darling. I will look up spaces for rent whilst you call the bank.”

I climb to my knees and lean down, cuddling her, feeling grateful to have a woman like her in my life.

* * *

We found nothing.Everything was either too expensive or not suitable and would need a ton of work. There are a couple of warehouses outside the city, but I know the girls won’t travel that far for rehearsals, and as of right now, I have no transport myself. We tried to find somewhere to hire on an hourly basis, but nothing is consistent—nothing that would work. Nothing that even comes close to my studio.

“I’ve set up an alert, so anything coming up for rent will pop up on my email. You should set it up on yours, too. In case I miss it.”

“Yeah, I will.” I drop my head back, defeated.

“We will find something. Don’t panic.”

“I’m not.” I smile sadly, feeling an ache in the back of my throat.

She lies back on the sofa next to me, a comfortable silence falling over us.

“Luce mentioned your mum may have kept money from a potential…” she hesitates, not knowing how to say it.

“Father,” I finish for her.

“Have you spoken to her?”

“No. I was waiting until after the showcase.”

She nods, looking back to the ceiling. “How do you feel about it?”

My phone starts to vibrate on the table, and I’m glad for the interruption. As much as I love Maggie and appreciate all she does for me, there is nothing I hate more than discussing Mum.

Mason’s name lights up my screen.

Finally.

“Hey!”

“Where are you?” he panics.

“I’m at Lucy’s parents’. I couldn’t get hold of you. Did you get my message?” My voice quivers and Maggie’s hand slips into mine. “Erin sold the studio.”

“Yeah, did she say why?” he asks.

“No. Maybe. I can’t remember; I was in shock. They changed the locks. Can they do that? I don’t even have my things from inside.”

“We will get your things. Send me the address, I’m on my way to get you now.”

Relief fills me, and I let out a breath.; He is all I need right now.

“I will text it over now. Thank you, Mase.”

Maggie stands, pulling me up with her. “He seems like a good egg. I’m pleased for you, but you know where we are.”

“Thank you. For everything.” I smile, wrapping her up in a hug.

* * *

Mase

Once again,I underestimate Nina Anderson and her ability to remain so strong. She made it easy. Easy for me to lie to her.

Lucy and Megan have been here for the past three hours, and never have I been so grateful that she has such good friends. I’m in my office looking up potential studios for her—I know what I need to do.

Make it right.

I’ve narrowed it down to three, and they are all above and beyond what she had before, but it doesn’t ease the weight of my guilt.

I print out the advertisements and gather up all the information.

The girls are all laughing when I enter the living area, and I pause, the sound grating on me. This whole time I’ve been worried about how Nina would deal with all this. I didn’t stop to think about how I would.

Can I do this?

How do I live with myself—with her, knowing I will have to keep it from her. There’s no way she would stay if she knew.

She doesn’t deserve this.

“Mase, take her to bed and make her forget about today. She’s considering stripping as her next form of income.”

I snap my eyes to Nina’s in mortification, but she gives me a reassuring look. “Calm down, Bossman. You know I would never.” She looks at Megan. “Why are you trying to wind him up?”

“It’s too easy.” They chuckle, and I plaster a forced smile on my face.

“Come on, bed,” I tell her.

The girls stand to hug Nina, and Lucy whispers into her ear, but it’s loud enough that I catch it. “He’s so hot when he gets aggy.”

“Thank god it’s a Wednesday,” Megan adds, and they all start to laugh again.

“Thank you, girls. I will see you tomorrow,” Nina tells them.

They disappear into the elevator, and she stands in the foyer watching after them. I slide up behind her and pull her to me.

“Mase,” her voice cracks.

Fuck.

“What am I going to do?”

She turns in my arms and stares intently into my eyes, searching for a hope that’s impossible to find.

“It’s going to be okay. I promise.” I close my eyes as the words leave my mouth, knowing I’ve broken every promise I’ve made so far.

“My little studio. It’s gone. It’s not mine anymore. It was all I had, and the only thing I could say I did on my own. What do I do now? Who am I without it?”

Panic rises in my chest, the hurt in her eyes gutting me.

I can’t lie to her.

I can’t do this.

“I need to go back into the office for an hour this evening.” I pull away from her, my feet faltering as I step back. “Will you be okay here until I get home?” I pick up my keys from the tray, then bend to slide on my trainers.

“What? You’re leaving?” Tears stream down her cheeks, and I can’t bear the look she’s giving me.

“I will be an hour tops.” My throat constricts, and I struggle to pull air into my lungs. I give her a tight smile as I enter the elevator and hit the button for the garage.

Her face is a mask of hurt and confusion as the doors slide closed.

What the fuck have I done?

* * *

Nina

Thursday morning hits me hard.I wake with a headache, and I feel lower than I have in maybe ever. I was up most of the night going over in my head what I’ll do now I’ve lost my studio. Everything I came up with is impossible.

Mason didn’t come to bed last night, and he was already gone when I woke up. I don’t know what is going on with him, but he pulled away from me last night—left me when I needed him most.

Pulling myself from the bed, I shower and dress in some comfy clothes. I have nowhere to go, and the feeling is devastating.

Tears sting my eyes as I lift the sticky note from the worktop.

Call me if you need me angel

“I needed you last night, Mase,” I mutter to myself.

I wrap my arms around my body and glance around the penthouse, hating how cold the space feels without him here. Switching on every light possible, I find my phone and plug it in, moving to my spot in the window and letting loose.

As always, my dancing brings me the escape I desperately crave. But after two hours of solid dancing, I have to stop. My muscles are on fire from pushing my body to the brink of collapse.

My day went downhill from there.

I decided to make a cake. Maggie told me how easy it is and to do eight ounces of everything. I called her in a fit of tears when the sloppy mixture wouldn’t hold together. We soon figured out that I used eight eggs instead of eight ounces, but yeah, I cried over a cake.

I tried not to let it get me down, moving to the walk-in wardrobe where I rearranged my things, finally hanging up the few items I’d packed up, feeling like an imposter in somebody else’s home, but hoping it would make Mason a little happier.

He’s been stressed with work the last few days, or so he says. I know the Joey thing is still playing on his mind. And his dad. God, I’m such a bitch. I haven’t even thought about his father.

I pause at the thought, dropping the T-shirt I was holding to the floor.

It’s just a job.

I find myself laughing hysterically in the confinements of the wardrobe. It’s just a job. My laugh soon turns into tears.

I wish it were just a job.

* * *

The pingof the elevator has my eyes snapping open. I must have drifted off watching the television. My eyes feel heavy, and I know it will be obvious to Mason that I’ve been crying. I sit up and look at him over the top of the sofa. He looks tired. His eyes just as red as I expect mine are.

“Did you even come home last night?” I ask before he can greet me.

“I did. It was late and I had to be up early this morning.”

I nod my head waiting for him to come to me. He doesn’t. “Is everything okay, Mase?” My throat bobs, and I know I’m going to cry any second.

His brows pinch in, his fists clenched at his sides. “Yeah, sorry, are you okay? How was your day?”

“It was fine, I didn’t do much. Have you heard from your dad lately?” I ask, trying to not bother him with my own problems.

“Uh, yeah. I spoke to Scar yesterday.”

“Have you spoken to him, though?”

“Not since I took him to the hospital.”

I drop my head to the side. “Mase.”

“Don’t, Nina. Why are you bringing this up? I don’t want a lecture on my dad right now,” he snaps.

I sit back affronted. What on earth? “I wasn’t giving you a lecture. But I think you should give him a call.” I roll my lips. “Scar told me about the transplant.”

He scoffs, rolling his eyes and looking to the ceiling. “You don’t need to worry yourself with it. Let me deal with my own shit.”

My eyebrows pinch together. “Why are you getting angry?”

“Because you think you always know best about him but you don’t. You don’t even know him, and I’m not interested in continuing this conversation after just getting in the door.”

“Okay,” I say, shocked at his outburst.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, not looking at me. “I’m going to go shower. Have you eaten?”

I sit cross-legged with my back to him, staring at the coffee table, tears staining my face and dripping onto my leggings.

“Nina.”

“What?” I snap.

“Whatever.” He huffs and takes off towards the stairs.

* * *

Mase

My jaw clenchestight as I lean my arms against the shower wall, the water cascading down my back.

I clench my eyes tight as I think back to everything Lance told me this afternoon. Cara is back in Australia. She sold the studio, and I seem to have more control than ever.

For nearly two years, it’s all I’ve wanted, yet now I have it; my world feels like it is slipping through my fingers.

I stare down at the tiles, watching as the water runs down the drain.

Because the woman I love, the woman who still tries to put on a brave face for me, tries to fix me, she sits on my sofa none the wiser to who I am and what I have done.

And I have no idea how to face that.

* * *

Nina

After last night’s argument,I found myself waiting for Mason to come find me. He didn’t. I spent the entire night in the spare room.

I need him.

Probably more than I care to admit, and he hasn’t been here.

It has me questioning everything I thought he was.

Everything I thought we were.

I stare down at my bangle. I promise you forever, my Pixie.

My head hits the back of the seat, and I tell myself I am doing the right thing. I have to push my own problems to the back of my mind right now. Mason has a lot going on, and I want to be there for him.

It’s why I’m in a taxi and on my way to Lowerwick. I want to do something, something that will take my mind off of the studio, and something that will allow me to be there for Mason’s family while he can’t.

After contacting the girls from the studio, I felt reassured. They all vowed to practice at home until I found a space, but I know the more days that tick by, the lesser our chances are at winning the showcase. Losing the studio couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Henry picked up work with his dad on a building site for the time being. He is a chilled guy and didn’t stress that he was out of a job. And Logan has been on the phone constantly worrying about me. Unlike Henry, he doesn’t have a job or any idea what he’s going to do, but his only concern is how I am.

I hope we can find somewhere with a similar set up for both of our sakes.

Lowerwick comes into view, cutting off my thoughts, its beauty undeniable and captivating. It baffles me that Mason can be so absent from his childhood home when it is so beautiful.

I pay the taxi and cringe at the amount. It’s foolish of me to be spending so much when I am in such a financial mess.

Taking the sprawling steps, I knock on the door and wait.

After a few minutes, I try again, but no one answers. I push on the handle, and it opens.

“Hello?”

I walk into the entrance and peer into both the rooms on my left and right, but they are empty.

The entire house is silent, no life or soul, and no love. It was full of it when I was here before, the Montgomerys and Lowells as one, but looking around now I can see it as the broken home that it is.

My heart hurts for Mason, and I find myself rubbing absently at my chest.

“Hello,” I call out again, moving farther into the house.

I hear a light cough, and I halt in my steps. “Anthony?”

“Who’s that?”

I push open the door at the end of the corridor and find a small living room. Anthony rises from the chair, and straightaway I notice the pained look on his face.

“Oh, don’t stand! Here.” I grab the cushion that has fallen and prop it up against his back as he gives up and sits back in his seat.

“Nina, I’m sorry, I must have nodded off. I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I didn’t tell anyone I was coming. Sorry, I should have called.”

“No, you’re always welcome here. Scarlet is here somewhere. You will have to give her a call; as you know, it’s a big house—she could be anywhere.”

“That’s okay. Can I get you a drink?” I ask, feeling a little awkward.

“No, no. I’m grand love.” He waves his hand around.

He doesn’t look grand. His skin looks off colour and frail—even more so than before.

“How have you been?” I ask, unsure of my words.

I feel bad for disturbing him.

“Good, it’s been beautiful weather the last couple of days. I’ve been out on the meadow for the most part.”

“The meadow?”

“Yeah, it’s on the other side of the estate. Mase has never mentioned it?” he asks, sounding slightly gutted as his brows draw in.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Hmm,” he sniggers. “Do you want to see it?”

His eyes light up in excitement.

“I’d love to!”

I go to help him from the chair, but he shrugs me off. It’s as if speaking of the meadow has bought him a new lease of life. It makes me smile.

“I may need a new liver, but my legs still work, young lady.”

“Sorry,” I mutter as he chuckles.

“Come on.”

I follow him out of the house and down to a garage. He lifts the door and smiles over at me.

“I thought you said your legs work fine.” I laugh, climbing up into the golf-style buggy.

He doesn’t say anything as he sits in the driving seat and pulls out of the garage.

It is a bumpy ride down to the meadow, but it’s worth it. Sat two fields away from the estate, the most beautiful meadow lies covered in an array of wildflowers. The grass is greener than any grass I’ve ever seen. It’s bright and vibrant, and seems full of life.

Trees line the boundary but open up at the bottom of the hillside. Anthony comes to a stop at the gate, and I jump out to open it.

He speeds in past me, his eyes sparkling in delight.

I can tell he is loving this.

“It’s beautiful,” I beam, slipping back into the buggy beside him.

He shakes his head, smirking at me, and I see so much of my beautiful man in that look, it makes my chest constrict.

They are so alike.

“You’ve not seen nothing yet. Hold on.”

He takes off through the flowers, and I spin in my seat, shocked. “Anthony, the flowers!”

He laughs freely. “They will bounce back.”

I look behind us to see the trail of destruction, but my eyes lift instead to the beautiful view.

We come to a stop at the top of the hill, and I sit speechless in my seat as I absorb Lowerwick in all its beauty. I can see the entire estate from here, and it seems so much bigger, grander. More.

“Wow,” I mutter.

“Look at this,” he says, tapping my arm.

I turn, my eyes following his finger to where he is pointing, and the view in front of me takes my breath away. At the bottom of the meadow sits a glistening lake. I see no end to it, just miles and miles of uninterrupted water.

Stepping from the buggy to get a better look, I take in the paddle boat and rope swing that lies broken on the floor.

Mason.

“He loved it out here. They both did.”

I twist towards him. “They don’t come here anymore?”

“Scarlet does. Nearly every day. Mase hasn’t been in years.”

I swallow the lump in my throat, turning fully to take in Lowerwick at my back.

“This has to be the most peaceful place on earth,” I tell him.

“It is.” He smiles sadly. He steps from the buggy and sits on the grass, then nods his head to the spot beside him, encouraging me to drop down next to him. “You see there—to the left of the property.” He points.

I squint, trying to work out where he means—until I spot it.

The headstone stands large and proud in a garden of colourful flowers.

“Ellis. Your wife.”

“When she first passed, Mason and Scarlet would play on the lake whilst I sat here. So she could watch them with me.”

“It’s perfect.” Tears fill my eyes—there’s no controlling them—and I try to blink them away.

“It is, isn’t it.” He picks at the grass, rolling it between his fingers then letting it go in the light breeze. “Scarlet will never leave, and that fills me with so much joy, but I always hoped Mason would end up back here one day. That maybe I’d see my grandchildren play on the lake, and I could sit on the hill and watch them with her. Like we watched our children.”

I roll my lips, not knowing how to reassure him when his life seems so uncertain. “I have faith in him, faith that he will come around. Deep down he loves it here.” I grasp my collarbone, closing my eyes briefly as I process that lie.

Does Mason love it here? Maybe that’s something I can talk to him about.

“I wish that were true, Nina.” He smiles warmly at me. “You’re good for him, I can see that. Scarlet even more so. She’s left me alone twice this week to do girly lunch.” He bumps me with his shoulder, lightening the mood.

“She is incredible. They both are.” I grin, feeling my dimple pop.

“What brought you out here today anyway?” he asks.

“I lost my job.”

“Ah, yes. The studio.”

“How do you know about that?”

He frowns. “Scarlet, she mentioned it had been sold. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, I’m gutted about it. I’m looking for somewhere new, though, and something will come up.”

“Good things come to us when we are least expecting them, Nina. Believe in that, and you will be just fine.”

I replay Anthony’s words in my head as we sit on the meadow together for over an hour, taking in the scenery. No conversation needed—just the sun on our backs and the hope for better days.