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Chapter 147 — The Angles of Refraction
The next morning Mary went up to the studio. Mason's portrait was no longer there. She sighed sadly; yes, she's still feeling pity for the loss of her work but never regretted about her offer to burn it. All the same she could not bear to look at this picture. She just remembered how Mason's face was distorted with pain.
No more portraits she'll paint. She just must return to her original thought to painting her memories of her childhood home and her father. But it would later. Now she can paint some landscape picture for charge. Maybe she'll better to consult with Mr. Leon? She never would ignore his words and warnings. He is a very wise man, her old art teacher.
Fortunately Mason's managed to overcome the consequences of her mistake. Today she's enjoying by his warm look again when they have breakfast.
She's about to take Mickey to the park when Mrs. Rold peeks in the nursery room.
"Mrs. Capwell, the lady asked for you."
"Who?" Mary surprised fastening the last Velcro of Mickey's clothes.
"She's presented herself as Mrs. Lockridge."
"But she's cannot be Minx... Oh, she must be Augusta! Tell her I'll be downstairs right now."
"Of course, Mrs. Capwell."
Mary picked her little son up.
Probably Augusta wants to see her own niece. But why she did not call before her arrival?
Mary shrugged and came down with Mickey in her hands.
Augusta actually was sitting in the living room. Neither Chip nor Sammy was not around but Mary could hear their muffled voices from the backyard.
"Good day..." Mary began but Augusta immediately attacked her: "I want to see my niece!"
"We're just going to the park. May be you'll want to join us? Just please be careful. Samantha is a shy girl and she does not know you."
"And who is blame to? I'm her aunt."
"I'm sorry but you were not looking toward for see her earlier--"
At this point Sammy and Chip run in the living room.
"We're going to the park! Go to the park!" they're called in unison but stopped as they saw an unknown lady. Sam immediately hid behind her mother's dress.
Mary looked pointedly at Augusta.
"And who is the lady?" Chip asked in a loud whisper.
"Chip, Sammy, say hello to Mrs. Lockridge."
"Hello!" the children greeted and then Sammy tugged the hem of Mary's dress.
"Go to the park?"
"Just a minute. Mrs. Rold, we are ready!" Mary turned to Augusta. "I'm sorry but they so love to walk in the park. I'm sure Sam would overjoy to meet you if she would not suffer the loss of her favorite outdoor amusement because you're visiting."
Augusta pursed her lips but agreed with a slight nod.
"Call us later and we'll decide when you can get acquainted with Sam. You're probably going to stay in Santa Barbara for a while, are you?"
"Of course," Augusta said curtly and left.
But Mary's mood was already spoiled. The entire walk she tried to cheer up but it was not succeeded. The idea that Julia's sister can claim Samantha as her own makes Mary to feel a fierce desire to protect her little girl. While she had no reason to think that Augusta would want something more than a couple of meetings but Mary were still scary.
* * *
The news that their parents finally reunited was overjoyed for all younger Capwells. Sophia and Charlie returned home — CC stopped to demand that Charlie goes to the boarding school and even promised his youngest son that the matter in question will be closed unless Charlie do something extraordinary wrong.
Mason has felt the huge relief. Not that he was so worried about his father and Sophia's relationship but the problem of Charlie lain like a burden on his shoulders. After returning home he found that he just missed Mary. Mrs. Rold said that she's gone to Capwell's house.
Mason decided to go back to his father's house but he was caught by the phone call. It's the law firm where he had worked earlier. They're informing him that gladly takes him back. After promising tomorrow to sign the contract with them Mason hung up and smiled. Well, another problem solved! He glanced up the clock, grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
"Augusta!" He almost ran into her on his own doorstep. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Samantha, do not you see?" Augusta tried to pass him in the house, but Mason blocked the way.
"You're to have to call us before," he said in rather ungracious tone.
"Must I remind you that she is my own niece?"
"The fact does not give any rights to burst in my house whatever you would like. Sam is still too small to understand the intricacies of her families."
"But she should know that she has her own aunt and who was her birth mother."
Mason gritted his teeth.
"Mary and I are only Samantha's parents. And if you ever try to tell my daughter that's not true I swear you'll never cross the threshold of my house!"
"But Mason--"
But he did not listen to her anymore.
"Mrs. Rold, come here if you please."
"Mr. Capwell. What's happened?" The babysitter stared at Mason.
"Do you see this lady? Since the moment you must keep her out of my house until my special order. And no contacts with my children for her."
"Sure but--"
"No buts!"
"I'll do, Mr. Capwell."
Mrs. Rold left and Mason came out of the house passing stunned Augusta, pointedly locked the door and went to his car.
"Mason, how you dare!"
"I can ask you the same! How you dare to make the decision what my daughter should know about her family!"
"She's not only your daughter, but Julia's too!"
The cold silence fell.
"Julia is died. Samantha does not remember her. Only mother who she knows is Mary. And only we can decide whether to tell her about her adoption. You have no right to vote."
"I have rights to see my own niece."
"I can not allow this until there is any danger that you would allow yourself to tell her too much."
"It's not too much! I just can not believe you dare to treat me like this!"
"But you'll better to believe!" Mason slammed the car door. "I'd think better of you, especially in the context of Samantha."
"Dam Capwells and their arrogance!" Augusta helplessness shook her fists after the retreating car. "I'll make him squirm yet!"
* * *
Mary was very happy to learn about reconciliation of CC and Sophia. Patting respired Charlie she went in search of things what for she came to Capwell's house. She wanted to see the portraits mentioned by Mason. The portraits of Mason in his youth.
Rose did not understand what she was asked about but then she realized and just said that these things took away to the attic. Of course. In the fact Mason said that they are lying in the attic but she decided that he put it figuratively. Mary's walking upstairs remembering how she's hid here from bandits and then found Mason's knitted baby-shoe.
She found these portraits in one of the old closets. Paintings were numerous although of course not all of them were Mason's. The attic was pretty light and she had quite enough light to see pictures. Mary began to arrange them around leaning against an old chests and chairs. Then she sat down in front of them and began to examine one after one. Young CC, young Pamela, some strangers... The family portraits. Mary absent-minded surprised that there are no pictures of first marriage of CC Capwell. The second one's as many as you wish — with different numbers of children and without them at all. She wonders why they were taken away. And finally she got her goal — the four portraits of Mason. First one portrayed Mason in the very young age — the little boy towering just above the back of the chair but wears the smoking and the bowtie. The other three were written probably in Mason's university years. Mary's struck by the artist's skill. Her own painting in comparison was looked like children doodle... Mary's looked at these portraits for so long time that concerned Rosa comes up here. Mary reassured her that she's OK and then went downstairs.
"Mason! Rose did not say that you're here!"
"I just came. How are you?" He spread her hands out and took her fingers.
"I'm fine," she surprised looks up him. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to see you," Mason smiled.
"I guess you got it," Mary tucked at his sleeve.
"As always," Mason kisses her cheek. "As always."
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