Part 6:
What? I have lawyers. Good ones. They can review the settlement. Make sure you’re not getting screwed. Mason, I can’t ask you to. Ah, you’re not asking. I’m offering. Why would you do that? Mason pulled into the driveway. Put the car in park. Turn to face her. Because you deserve better than whatever he’s trying to pull, he said flatly.
And because I can help, so let me. Elena felt tears building. I don’t know how to accept this much help. Start by saying yes. She took a shaky breath. Yes. Good. Mason unbuckled. I’ll make some calls tomorrow. Inside, Sophie was waiting with Ethan. Elena, we made cookies. You made cookies. Ethan corrected. I supervised. Same thing.
The kitchen was a disaster. Flour everywhere. Chocolate chips scattered across the counter. The cookies themselves looked interesting. They’re supposed to be circles. Sophie explained. But they kind of melted together. They look perfect, Elena said. You’re just saying that. I’m saying they look like you made them with love.
Sophie beamed. Try one. Elena took a bite of what could generously be called a cookie. It was simultaneously undercooked and burnt. Delicious. She lied. Ethan snorted. You’re a terrible liar. Ethan. Sophie looked devastated. What? They’re bad. We both know they’re bad. You said they were good. I said they were edible. That’s different.
Sophie’s eyes filled with tears. Elena crouched down to her level. Hey, you know what? What? Sophie sniffled. These are the best cookies I’ve had in a week. Because you haven’t had cookies in a week. Exact. Exactly. Which makes these the best. Elena smiled. And you know what else? What? I haven’t baked anything in years.
So, the fact that you tried something and made a mess and didn’t give up, that’s braver than I’ve been in a long time. Sophie wiped her eyes. Really? Really? So, they’re good. They’re brave cookies. Sophie giggled, crisis averted. That night, after the kids were in bed, Elena found Mason in his study. He was surrounded by paperwork, glasses slipping down his nose. Can I come in? He looked up.
Of course. Elena sat in the chair across from his desk. I wanted to say thank you for the lawyer thing. You already said thank you. I know, but I mean it. Mason took off his glasses. Can I ask you something? Sure. Why did you marry him? The question should have felt invasive. Somehow it didn’t. David. Yeah.
Elena thought about it. Because he was safe, she said finally. or I thought he was. He had a good job, a nice house, a plan for everything. After my parents’ messy divorce and my sister’s drama, I wanted stability. And and I convinced myself that stability was the same as love. It’s not. I know that now.
Mason was quiet for a moment. Caroline and I fought constantly, he said, about money, about work, about whether to have kids. We were terrible at communicating, but we loved each other even when we were awful at showing it. What changed? She got sick. Mason’s voice went rough. Breast cancer, stage 4 by the time they caught it. She had 6 months. I’m so sorry.
We decided to foster during her treatment. She said if she was dying, she wanted to do something that mattered. So, we brought Mara home. Then, Ethan. Caroline died two weeks before Sophie’s adoption was finalized. Elena’s heart broke. That’s why you kept them. I kept them because they were mine. Mason’s eyes were fierce. Blood doesn’t make family.
Choice does. David never understood that. David’s an idiot. Elena laughed despite herself. Ethan said the same thing. Ethan’s smarter than he looks. They sat in comfortable silence. I’ve been thinking about your offer, Elena said. About staying, Mason straightened. And I want to, but I need to contribute something, not just exist here.
You already contribute. I mean, financially or practically, something that feels less like charity. Mason considered this. What if you manage the household, he said. Officially, I’d pay you a salary. You’d coordinate schedules, handle the kids appointments, manage the staff, deal with school stuff. Everything I’m currently doing badly while trying to run a company, like a house manager, like family support.
Mason leaned forward. I’m not looking for an employee, Elena. I’m looking for someone who actually cares about making this chaos work. That’s not a normal job description. This isn’t a normal family. Elena thought about Sophie’s burnt cookies, Mara’s tears, Ethan’s blunt observations, Mason’s tired eyes. “Okay,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll stay officially.” Mason smiled. It was the first real smile she’d seen from him. “Good.” The next morning, Mason’s lawyer called. Elena spent an hour on the phone going through her divorce settlement. David was trying to claim she owed him money for emotional damages. The lawyer laughed. He can claim whatever he wants.
Doesn’t mean a judge will give it to him. What do I do? Nothing. I’ll handle it. But Elena, yes. Document everything. Every text, every call, every interaction. Men like your ex don’t stop at one attempt. The lawyer was right. David called that afternoon. Elena almost didn’t answer, but something made her pick up.
