Mason sat on the couch inside the small room. He was staring at his sneakers, swinging his legs out.
Dr. Gilbert was sitting adjacent to him, a clipboard in her hands. "Mason."
He lifted his head and looked at the young woman. "Yes?"
"You don't want to be here, do you?"
He shook his head. "No."
She leaned forward and gave him a smile. "Tell me about your family."
He let out a breath and shifted on the couch. "My mom died—she was sick—really, really sick."
"Were you scared?"
He nodded.
"What about that scared you?"
"I didn't want her to die." He blinked and swallowed.
Dr. Gilbert nodded, scribbling something on her notepad. "How'd your mom tell you about the tumor?"
"She didn't—at first. We went to Seattle. My mom said we were gonna take a vacation while my dad needed to go there for work—so I could still hang out with him while he was there. She finally just told me the day before her surgery."
"Were you mad at her?"
He nodded. "She lied to me."
"But you weren't really mad at her, were you?"
"I was—I was scared too."
"How does your dad factor into this?"
"I didn't know he existed—I knew my dad was out there somewhere, but I didn't know who he was. I met him a few months before my mom told me she was sick."
"Do you like your dad?"
He smiled. "Yeah."
"When your mom told you she was sick, did you know where you would go if she died?"
He shook his head. "Probably with my dad, but I didn't know for sure."
Dr. Gilbert nodded. "How's it like living with your dad?"
"I have a baby sister now—Ava."
"How's that?"
"She doesn't do much yet."
"So you have a stepmom?"
He nodded. "Charlotte. She's my dad's wife."
"Do you like her?"
He nodded. "Uh-huh."
"What did they do while you were in Seattle for your mom?"
"Charlotte told me the truth about what was going on and my dad was just there to comfort me."
"What about after?"
"My mom made it through the surgery fine. We came home a week later, but my dad told me that things weren't gonna be back to normal for a while. I was scared. She fell a few times. She got really sick and had to go to the hospital. Charlotte and my dad took care of me while she was in the hospital. I knew it wasn't good. I'm not stupid, but Charlotte told me it wasn't good, so I really knew that it wasn't. I knew she was gonna die—and die soon."
"It seems to me that Charlotte tells you the truth—more than your dad does."
"She's strong, my dad's just scared like me, but he told me the truth when she got really sick, just before she died, and I like that they tell me the truth."
"What happened after your mom passed away?"
"I moved in with Charlotte and my dad permanently."
"How was that?"
He shrugged. "It was only us then and I just lost my mom."
"Do you think your baby sister changed things?"
He nodded. "How could she not? I know babies are a lot of work and they need more attention and my dad and Charlotte are good with the attention part."
"Your baby sister will only change things if you let her."
"I—I'm—I'm jealous of her."
"Why?"
"'Cause she—she has a mom and a dad."
"But don't you have that?"
"I did—but my mom's dead."
"What about Charlotte?"
He nodded. "Now she'll hate me for saying that."
"What you say to me doesn't leave this room, Mason, unless you tell them." She paused. "Charlotte may not be your mom, but she acts like your mom, doesn't she?"
He nodded. "She takes care of me, talks to me—she does mom things."
"What are you afraid of, Mason?"
He swallowed. "I feel like—I don't want—." He looked away.
"What do you not want?"
"I'm afraid Charlotte's gonna replace my mom. But I—I think I love her, but I feel like I'm cheating on my mom, y'know?"
Dr. Gilbert nodded. "You're not cheating on her. I didn't know your mom, but she'd want someone like Charlotte there to take care of you, to be your stand-in mom, wouldn't she?"
He nodded.
"She wouldn't trust Charlotte to take care of you if she didn't want that, Mason."
He nodded again.
"Are you afraid of anything else?"
He swallowed.
"Ok, let me see if I can guess your other fear."
"What do you get if you guess right?"
"You give me an answer?"
"Ok. What if you don't?"
"You still give me an answer?" She laughed.
"Ok."
She smiled. "Hmmm. You're scared that Charlotte and your dad love Ava more than you?"
"A little."
"Are you afraid that they'll forget about you or abandon you like your mom did?"
He looked away from the doctor, pulling at a string on the couch.
She looked at her watch and scribbled some final notes down.
He looked up at her and bit his bottom lip. "My mom didn't abandon me—she died."
"But she left you alone, right?"
He nodded. "I guess—and I am scared that that'll happen—that they'll die or just not love me or decide to leave just 'cause."
Dr. Gilbert nodded. "Our time's up, Mason, but thanks for talking to me." She paused. "And remember that I can't tell Charlotte or your dad anything you told me, but being honest with them, like Charlotte and your dad are with you, would help them, and it'll help you too." She stood up and walked over to the door. "You have your dad call me if you want to come back and see me again."
He nodded and followed her over to the door. He opened it and walked out into the lobby.
Cooper stood up and smiled, running his hand over Mason's head. "You ready to go home, bud?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
Cooper looked at Dr. Gilbert. "Thanks. How was it?"
"He talked to me, but that's all I'm at liberty to say, Dr. Freedman, you know that."
Cooper nodded. "Yeah, I know." He looked at Mason. "Let's go home." They walked over to the door and disappeared into the parking lot.
Later that night, Cooper was lying in bed, reading a magazine. He flipped through the pages, looking at the pictures.
Charlotte walked into the bedroom and flopped down on the bed with a deep breath.
"Long day?"
She nodded, fighting back the urge to yawn. "Has Mason said anythin' to you yet?"
He shook his head. "He's been really quiet since we got back from Dr. Gilbert's office."
"I just checked on him and he was just sitting on his bed, staring at the wall."
"He hardly touched his dinner, and he's been in his room since we got back—only came out to not eat his dinner."
"Poor guy. I'm sure he'll talk when he's ready. I know you're used to waitin'."
"You've gotten better at that."
She smiled. "I'm gonna get ready." She rolled off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.
There was a knock on the bedroom door and Mason walked in.
Cooper smiled, resting his magazine down on his chest. I guess I won't be waiting long. "Hey, Mason."
"Where's Charlotte?"
"She's in the bathroom. What's up, bud?"
"I want to talk." Mason smiled and crawled into bed. "Are you busy?"
"Nope. Charlotte'll be out in a few minutes."
Mason lied down on his back at the foot of the bed and watched as the fan rotated.
Charlotte came out of the bathroom about five minutes later, and blinked. "Oh, hey, Mason." She got into bed and settled under the covers. "Everythin' ok?"
"He wants to talk to us," Cooper said, shifting on the mattress.
"See, I told ya, Coop." She paused. "Let's talk."
Mason let out a breath and sat up. "I'm scared."
"Scared about what?" Charlotte asked, a little confused.
"That you guys'll abandon me like my mom did—that you'll leave me for Ava or you'll just walk out or die or whatever and leave me alone."
Charlotte sighed. "Oh, honey." She paused. "Come here," she said, patting the space between her and Cooper.
Mason crawled up by the pillows and leaned back, turning his head to look at Charlotte.
She wrapped her arm around him, cupping the side of his face, and kissed the top of his head. "We're not gonna abandon you, leave you, forget about you, or anythin' of the sort. I can be certain 'bout everythin' 'cept the dyin' part. No one knows when they're gonna die, but everythin' that we can control, everythin' that isn't in God's hands, I can promise you those things." She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. "I've only told you the truth, haven't I?"
Mason nodded. "Uh-huh."
"So I'm not lyin' now. That's somethin' you can take to the bank." She paused. "Your dad and I love you, Mason, and nothin', even death, is gonna change that. Your momma loves you still. There may be a whole other world between you two, but she still loves you and you love her. She didn't abandon you. She's still here. She's watchin' over you—she's watchin' over your dad and me, makin' sure we don't screw you up." She laughed. "Your dad and I aren't goin' anywhere, and if we do, we're takin' you with us. We love you just as much as we love Ava."
Mason nodded.
"We love you even after only knowin' you a short time. I knew I loved your dad after only a couple months, and we absolutely hated each other before that, so I know it's possible."
Cooper made a sound and smiled.
She turned her head and smiled at him before turning back to Mason.
Mason scooted closer to her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder and letting out a breath. "I don't want to forget about my mom."
"Who says you're ever gonna forget her, Mason." She brushed his hair from his eyes.
Mason lifted up his head and looked at her chin. "I'm afraid you're gonna replace her."
"Oh, no, Mason. Your momma will always be your momma—always." She smiled and tweaked his nose. "I could never replace her, I could never even think 'bout replacin' her. I'm just here to finish the job she started—and hopefully finish it well." She paused. "You got somethin' else on your mind?"
"Um, I just—I love Ava, but—but I hate her too."
Charlotte furrowed her brow. "Why?"
"She's got a dad and a mom."
"You've got somethin' better than Ava."
"What?"
"You've got a momma and you have me. Besides, you're part of our family now, Mason. Ava has no advantage here. I know I'm not your momma, I will never be your momma, but I care about ya. You've got me and your dad, just like Ava does. Ava will just call me momma. And when she's a teenager and she starts callin' me Charlotte just to get on my nerves, there won't be any difference." She smiled. "You won't be treated any different than Ava. I can promise ya that."
Mason nodded, his lips curving into a soft smile. "Are you mad at me?"
She ran stroked her hair and touched his nose. "Absolutely not, Mason. We sent you to Dr. Gilbert to help you. We can't get mad at ya for feelin'." She kissed the top of her head and relaxed into the mattress.
"No, are you mad at me?"
"Me?"
Mason nodded.
She shook her head. "The answer is still no."
Cooper rested his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "You're amazing," he whispered.
She turned her head and matched his grin.
"You're good at talking to him."
She ran her fingers through Mason's hair and looked down at him. "You good, Mason?"
Mason nodded, separating from Charlotte. He smiled at her and rubbed his eyes. "Uh-huh."
"Do you believe me?"
Mason nodded. "Uh-huh."
She smiled. "Go to bed. We'll see ya in the mornin'."
Mason smiled and gave Cooper a hug. "Night, dad, night, Charlotte."
"Goodnight, Mason," Charlotte and Cooper said in unison. "I love you, Mason," Cooper added.
Mason flashed them another smile. He crawled off the bed and disappeared down the hallway.
Charlotte shifted and curved her body around Cooper, resting her head on his chest. "You could have jumped in there, Coop."
"You were handling it."
"That doesn't mean I couldn't have used the help."
Cooper sighed. "Sorry. You were doing fine. I didn't think my assistance was necessary, so I just sat back and listened."
She let out a breath and closed her eyes. "I still think he should see Dr. Gilbert."
"I think he should still see Dr. Gilbert too—or someone if he doesn't want to talk to her. It's helping—well, it seems like it's helping him."
She smiled and kissed Cooper's shoulder. "I'm not mad that you didn't jump in—just so you know."
"You had it covered. I didn't wanna mess up the flow. Besides, he directed his questions to you and not us, so I didn't want to get in the way." He paused. "You know how to talk to him. You're a wise woman, Charlotte."
"It's about time someone took note of that." She laughed and pressed her lips against his, resting her hand on his cheek and shifting her position.
He cupped the back of her head, running his fingers through her hair, as he kissed her back. He mumbled against her lips and melted into the mattress.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Not tonight, Coop," she said, patting his chest and settling down next to him with her head on his shoulder.
He laughed and draped his arm over her shoulder, brushing his hand up and down her back. He kissed the top of her head and smiled. "I wasn't—I mean, it was just a kiss."
"Uh-huh. You ain't foolin' me."
He closed his eyes, letting a laugh escape.
She brushed her finger along his collarbone and let out a breath against his shoulder. "I'm tired, Coop."
"It's fine, Char." He shut off the bedside lamp and smiled. "It's been a long day." He paused. "Goodnight." He yawned. "I love you."
She smiled and closed her eyes. "Night and I love you too." She ran her hand up and down his chest as she drifted off to sleep.
He turned his head to the side, kissing her head, and fell asleep shortly after she did.
:)