"Mason?" Sam asked in surprise. "Is that you?! Come on in!" Mason entered the house and Sam closed the door behind him.
"Hi Sam! It's good to see you."
"You too." They exchanged a quick hug.
"So, do you still live here? I came by to see Tony. Is he here?"
"No, he and Angela went on a little vacation."
"Tony and Mrs Bower?" he asked in amazement.
"Well it's Mrs Micelli now. They got married a few years ago."
"They did? Hey, that's great. They always seemed like they belonged together."
"Yeah and now they are."
"So are you house sitting for them?"
"Yeah, my husband Hank and I are. Our house is being repainted and it just seemed like the perfect opportunity."
"Husband?"
"That would be me." Hank said rising and walking over to them. "So you're the infamous Mason. Sam has told me a lot about you." He held out his hand.
"Oh really?" Mason asked nervously holding out his hand as well.
"Yeah, how you used to have a crush on her."
"Oh yeah. That I did. But, don't worry I'm over it now. I mean Sam is great but..."
"Hey, you don't have to convince me. I'm just glad things didn't work out between you." Hank laughed.
"Well some things aren't meant to be and some are."
"Very true."
"Mason this is my friend Charlie." Sam said as Charlie got up and stood beside her chair.
They shook hands and immediately felt a pull towards the other.
"Nice to meet you Mason."
"You too." he smiled nervously.
Their nervous looks didn't get by Sam and Hank who glanced at each other with amusement.
"So" Sam cleared her throat to get their attention. "We were just about to have dinner. Would you like to join us Mason? Mason?! Mason!"
"What?" He broke his gaze with Charlie and looked towards Sam. "Sure, I'd love too."
"Well then let's chow down." Hank said offering his arm to Sam. She accepted and looked back over her shoulder her face lightning up in a grin. "You heard my husband! Follow us!"
"So you're a model?" Mason asked as the four of them sat down to eat.
"Yeah, I got discovered by Angela's friend Trish a few years ago when I ran away from home."
"You ran away?" Mason asked his voice laced with surprise.
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, my Mom and I weren't getting along and..." she trailed off.
"I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "Don't be. I have a great life now and Trish has been more like a Mom to me than my own Mom."
"Still it must have been rough." he said gently.
"It was. But, my life is great now."
"So what do you do?"
"I'm a neurosurgeon."
"Wow, impressive."
"Yeah Mason always has been a genius. He was in college when he was fifteen." Sam said.
"College?! At fifteen?" Charlie said in amazement. "When I was fifteen I... well let's just say I wasn't in college. I was barely in school." She shrugged her shoulders. "But, that's all in the past. My life is pretty good now."
Mason smiled at her. "I guess all that matters is that you're happy."
"I am." she smiled back.
They continued talking completely unaware of Sam and Hank's grins as they watched them. "A nice and normal guy." Charlie had said earlier. Mason fit that bill perfectly- minus the being the genius. But, he was one of the nicest and sweetest guys Sam had ever known. She had to figure out a way to get the two of them to go out on a date. Suddenly the perfect idea came to her.
"Ummm Hank can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure."
"Excuse us." Sam said and went into the living room Hank following right behind her.
"So you want to get the two of them together don't ya?" Hank asked.
"How did you know that?" Sam laughed.
"Let's just say I saw the wheels turning."
"So I was thinking we could all go to a movie this weekend."
"Good idea but how do we get them to go for it?"
"Easy divide and conquer." Sam winked at him and went back into the dining room.