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Chapter 118 — Unnecessary Brother
"I want to see my father," the boy raised his chin.
"He is out of the town," Mason said. "But Sophia is here so you have a chance to meet her".
"What? I do not want to meet that bitch!" Charlie looked at Mason with sudden fury.
For a moment there was silence in the room, and then Mason leaned over and poorly said to his younger brother:
"If you want to win the approval of his father I do not advise to insult his second wife."
"Why do I need his approval?"
"Charlie, Sophia is a good woman, do not hurt her," Mary intervened. "I'm sure you can see it when you learn her better."
"Bah!
Mary put her hand on Mason's shoulder, slightly pressed and then went upstairs to the children. Brothers were needed to talk in private.
"Charlie, I can see that our mother have said you many bad things about the second marriage of our father, but now you are in his territory. And you'll better play by his rules."
"She stole my father!"
Mason inwardly cursed.
"Sophia does not know anything about your existence as the father do. Just the mother was very angry at CC when she told you about him."
"At... Who?"
"Father is often called by the initials."
"Stupid habit!"
Charlie jumped up; thrust his hands into his pockets, frowning. "Take me to my father!"
"Do you not listen to me?" Mason got up, too. "Father is out of the town, he is on the business trip. I can take you to father's house, but now there are only Sophia and Ted."
"Who?" Charlie looked puzzled at Mason.
Mason raised his eyebrow.
"And you do not know? I and you have some half-siblings: sisters are Kelly and Eden, and the younger brother is Ted. They are Sophia's children. But all of them already are grown-up and partly living separately. Ted is the only one who still lives in the father's house."
"I do not believe you!" Charlie's eyes filled with tears. "Mom did say me very different things!"
"And what did she say?" Mason gently asked.
The brother frowned and looked away.
"She said that my father would be happy to see me because I'm only his son after bi... Sophia's death. And that you hated her too and enjoy being only son."
"She told the truth," Mason dryly said, hiding his rage behind the indifference. She's crazy if she talked such things to the little boy. "Yes, many years ago we thought that Sophia died in the boat accident, but she survived and returned to the family. And the father loves her. And her children, of course!"
"Do you hate her? Tell me that you hate her!"
"No," Mason shook his head. "All of us are one family. I advise you to get used to the idea."
Charlie sniffed and turned away.
"Today you can stay here," Mason said after the pause. "Do you want?"
With one quick movement the boy wiped his eyes and nodded.
Mason picked up the travel bag and led his brother to the guest room. Then he went to Mickey's room. His conclusion (or a kind of six sense?) was correct. Mary sat in the chair and cradling her youngest son.
He quietly closed the door, walked over, sat on the arm of her chair and kissed Mary in the top of head. She looked at him with anxious eyes.
"Charlie will stay with us today," he whispered in her ear. Mary nodded, still rocking the child. Mason touched her hair, feeling rush of tenderness. His own home, his own loving woman, his own son. Ugly reality seemed relegated to second place.
At this moment the door is open and the tousled little head peek in and then the other one do the same. Sammy quickly and quietly snuck into the room to Mason, Chip move closer to Mary on the other side. She made round eyes and put her finger to her lips. The boy clung to her side, sniffed. Mason, meanwhile, pulled Sammy on his lap. But she shifted, pulled out of the pockets something and put in Mason's mouth. He nearly choked, but felt some sweetness in his mouth. Candy. Sammy slyly looked at him.
"Tasty?" she whispered.
Mason gave a glance, showing her to be quiet but then winked and hugged her. A moment later he looked up and saw Charlie who stands at the open door. He twitched but the younger brother already disappeared into the hallway. Mason felt a stab of guilt. He knew too well that Charlie suffers now. Before his eyes was flashed an old happy family picture of Capwells. And it has not Mason.
He pulled his daughter from his knees, took Mickey and put the sleeping baby in the crib. Mary got up and gently kissed his cheek.
"Everything will be fine," she promised softly.
Mason nodded. What else could be?"
The next few hours passed as usual. Family dinner, tucking to bed older children. Charlie immediately went to his room and no more appeared.
Almost at midnight Mary knocked at Mason's studio. She was needed to be knocking the door. It's was strange because Mason never locked it if he was at home.
Mason lets her in and again closed the door. Returned to his desk where he read some papers.
"How are you?" Mary quietly asked and after passing through the room she sank into the chair which stands before the table.
"I called Sophia and inform her about Charlie," Mason said.
"And how she reacted?"
"Very surprised. She promised to call my father."
"Do you think that CC becomes angry?"
"At my mother? I'm sure."
"Mason--"
"No, Mary. I'm fine."
"I feel that you don't," Mary becomes straight.
Mason smiled wryly.
"Not every day you can see the miniature of yourself," he sighed and admitted: "I guess I am jealous of him."
"To your father?" Mary was shocked.
"To our mother. I've always dreamed bring my life back and spend it with her. I never understood why my father left me to himself."
"Maybe he had reasons. Do not think about it," Mary stood up and hugged his neck from behind.
"I can not!" Mason snapped and tried to wriggle out, but Mary was not allowed. "My mother asked me to protect my brother from our father. Do you understand that it means practically the declaring a war? Do you understand how it change our life if will have a place?"
"I understand that you're running ahead of the engine. Yet nothing is happened that would require such drastic measures. Besides I do not think that your father is able to cause harm to Charlie."
"I aware by my own life what happens if my father does not want to see other people on his idyllic picture. And I see what my father is doing with Brandon."
"Mason, stops it, please. I'm sure you're worried for nothing. Nothing bad happened yet. On the contrary, it appears that you have more one younger brother now."
"And how would you react if you discover that your father was the illegitimate child?"
Mary stopped and frowned.
"It's quite another thing," she said finally. "If Charlie's father was not CC, things would be different, is not? It is unlikely that your father would claim that Pamela's child from her other marriages."
"You're right," Mason leaned back in his chair with a sigh, Mary sat on the armrest, facing him. "But Charlie is son of my father, and this puts him in the dangerous situation. If it comes between my father and my mother, I'll force to stand on the firing line."
"You'd do it for the sake of Brandon, I'm sure. Let's wait for CC's reaction."
"It's actually the problem," Mason took her hand up to his lips. "And the reaction of my prodigal younger brother. If he looks like me, we will not easy deal with him."
"I did look in Charlie's room when I was on my way here," Mary admitted. "He read some book. I think he is a good boy."
"I was a good boy in my childhood too," Mason grunted. "Only a few people valued it."
"I know," Mary took his hand in hers. "Let's go in the bedroom. It was a long day."
"Let's go," t Mason raised to his feet with one movement, put his hands around her waist. "I do not know how I lived without you," his voice betrayed his soul. He still too well remembered how is like to live without Mary."
"Do not think about it," Mary apparently knew what he was thinking. "Just think about me."
"I sure can promise you it--"
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