Moments later, they entered the holding room hesitantly. Katie still had a hold of Danny's hand when Mr. Mason looked up at them. "I was hoping we could speak alone," Mr. Mason stated.
"I want Danny…I want Danny to stay," Katie answered. She tightened her grip on his hand as if he were her lifeline. "What do you want?"
Mr. Mason sighed heavily as he met Danny's disapproving eyes. "To explain…to tell you how this all came about. Don't blame your mother…," he pleaded as he shifted his gaze from Danny to Katie.
"I blame both of you for hurting Tracey," Katie responded. "But you can take the blame for destroying our family."
"We haven't been a family in a very long time, Katie," Mr. Mason said as he locked eyes with Danny again. "A few months before you found out about Eric and Tracey, I was trying to find a way to get Eric out of the company. I couldn't take it anymore. I knew you were miserable with him, and I couldn't stand to look at him everyday. I thought if I could get him out of the company, then you would find it easier to leave him…and then we could be a family again. Tom was investigating him, and I guess, at some point, Eric found out. He knew I was getting close. It turns out he was getting kickbacks from some union reps. Before I could get the evidence on him, things started with Tracey."
"I don't want to hear this…" Katie said as she started to turn.
"You don't understand. It wasn't my intention to have an affair with her. I've never cheated on your mother. She was working on an important account with me. Eric must have arranged it. We were working long hours, and she seemed to need me so much…like a daughter would a father."
Katie looked at her father with disgust. "Oh…god…just stop. This is sick."
"I missed you, Kate. I still miss you. I miss the way you used to look up to me. I miss feeling like I could do no wrong in your eyes. Do you remember? Do you remember how close we were? We had so many plans…"
"That was lifetime ago, Dad."
"I know. And I know it's my fault for messing it up. I made so many mistakes. But one day, when you have a child of your own, you'll know. You'll know what it feels like when you feel like your child is slipping away. You'll do anything to do what is best for her."
Katie shook her head. "No…I would never do what you did."
"Maybe not. I guess it doesn't matter now. The past is the past," her father almost whispered. "Tracey was working late one night. I was at the Westmont building attending a late meeting. I saw her crying in the hall. When I asked her what was wrong, she said her said her car was in the shop and she didn't have the money to get it out. She couldn't afford cab fare and was scared to take the subway. So I offered her a ride home."
Katie rolled her eyes. "Why wouldn't you just give her cab fare?"
"You're right. That is what I should have done, but I guess I was lonely, and I had too much to drink. I felt so guilty for betraying your mother. I stopped it after I found out the reason you left Eric. The next thing I knew, Eric was blackmailing me with the video. I couldn't do anything…even after you caught them together…I couldn't fire him."
"And then you told mother…"
"I thought she would leave me, but she just didn't want anyone to know. I was trapped. And there was nothing I could do to help you, and that broke my heart, Kate. I hated to watch you suffer and wonder why I wasn't getting rid of Eric. I wanted to be your hero again, and I couldn't," Mr. Mason said emotionally.
"What about Tracey? Did you know she was pregnant?"
"She told me. And I told your mother. I was prepared to support her. I was taking responsibility…"
"And that sent mother over the edge," Katie said distantly.
"What happened with your mother is my fault. And I'll do whatever I can to help her. I'm so sorry, baby," Mr. Mason said as he rose and walked toward her.
Katie recoiled away from him and retreated closer to Danny. "It's over, Dad. I don't want to be in this family anymore. I should have done this a long time ago, with or without Danny. I should have had the strength to walk away. Love isn't about control. And that's what you and mom did with me my whole life. The one time I tried to do something that deviated from your plan for me, you made me…and Danny pay. It breaks my heart to do this, because when I was a little girl…you were my hero, but not anymore," Katie said as tears stream down her cheeks. She looked up at Danny. "Let's go…"
Danny opened the door and Katie walked out. As he turned, Mr. Mason called out. "Danny…"
Danny turned back and could barely look Mr. Mason in the eyes. The man who was always so stoic and self-righteous with Danny in the past was dissolving before him in tears.
"You'll take of her…won't you?" Mr. Mason asked.
Danny shook his head. "For the first time in her life, I hope she takes care of herself. But I'll always be here for her."
Mr. Mason nodded as he wiped tears from his eyes. Danny turned and walked out.
They rode the elevator downstairs and walked out the front doors of the federal building. It suddenly occurred to Danny that he didn't know where to take Katie home. "Did you drive here today?" he asked as they stood on the dark street. It was almost midnight.
"No. I used a car service."
"Oh…well…uh…I took the subway this morning. So I don't exactly have a car to take you home with…"
Katie smiled sadly. "Actually, I don't really have a home to go home to. I can't really denounce my family and then escape to their house in the Hamptons."
"No…I guess that wouldn't be making a statement. You don't have your own place in the city?"
Katie looked at him with a sidelong, embarrassed glance. "I don't have anything of my own. It's all courtesy of Mason Industries. Eric is currently residing in the apartment I used to live in."
"A hotel?" Danny asked as he hailed a cab.
Katie shrugged uneasily as the cab approached and they got in.
"Where to?" the cabbie asked.
Danny looked at her expecting her to rattle off a hotel name, but she didn't. "Where do you want stay, Katie?" he asked.
"With you," was all she could say.
Note: I know this seems like an ending, but it's not. There are a couple more to go.
