Toni pulled back first; she looked up at Mason and backed away. What had she been thinking kissing him like that? She wondered embarrassed. Mason looked at her but didn't say anything at first; he waited for a minute or two before he spoke.
"Toni...."
"Thanks again for tonight." Toni said and shut the door.
Mason stood on the other side of the door for a few seconds, Toni's response wasn't unexpected and he suspected that she would spend the morning sorting through her conflicting emotions. He was the first man that she had kissed since James and he had no doubt that she would feel some guilt because she had enjoyed the kiss as much as he did. What she needed now was time to process what was happening between them. He told himself that he wouldn't call her until later in the evening in order to give her as much time and space as he could.
Mason drove home replaying the kiss in his mind, it was far better than anything that he could have imagined. Toni's returning the kiss told him that she had been thinking of him in a very non-platonic way even if she hadn't admitted it. The time he realized, was coming when he would have to tell her the truth about himself and he felt a flutter in the pit of his stomach. He thought about leaving his car at home and then returning to the condo to rest but decided against it, he didn't want to take the chance that she would hear something and come knocking on the door.
Tonight was going to be a long night Mason realized with a sigh.
*****
Toni stood staring at the door for several minutes. "What now?" she asked herself when she finally headed toward her bedroom. She took off the dress, hung it up, stripped and got into the shower. By the time she got out she was able to admit to herself that she liked the kiss and that it had felt good to be held. "Why did I stop the kiss?" she asked her reflection in the mirror.
"Because you felt guilty and you're scared." she said looking at her reflection in the mirror.
She tried to tell herself that the kiss meant nothing, that it was just a goodnight kiss and that it was just a part of the whole good night ritual but even as she tried to convince herself, she knew that it wasn't true. She liked Mason, "no," she told herself, "You more than like him, just admit it."
It was almost seven before she drifted off into an uneasy sleep, in her dreams, she was talking to James. He looked healthy and happy to see her. They talked about many things including the last disc.
"James, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"Sweetness, it's alright. I like him and he'll take good care of you and Jamie."
"But..."
"Toni, I released you so go and be happy."
Toni woke up with tears running down her face, James had given his approval of Mason or had he? Maybe she dreamt of James because.... Because, "I needed to hear you say it." she murmured.
She looked at the clock, it was already four and Jamie would be coming home soon. She hopped into the shower and was out in less than ten minutes. Jamie and her parents were walking into the condo just as she put her tee shirt on. Toni braced herself for the inquisition that she would receive from Barbara; Ben wouldn't say anything but his ears would be perked up.
Jamie ran into her arms as soon as she was in the kitchen.
"Were you a good boy?" she asked.
"Yep and guess what? Gramma wrote down how to make her pancakes. Can we have pancakes for supper?"
"Sure, why not?" Toni replied.
Barbara was already going through the cabinets checking for the ingredients.
"Ben, why don't you and Jamie run to the store? We're missing a few things."
"I can go." Toni said knowing that it was useless to offer. She knew exactly what her mother was doing and knew that she probably put Jamie up to asking about pancakes for supper knowing that she hadn't been shopping yet.
"No, your dad and Jamie can go." Barbara said as she pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from her purse and began writing down what she needed from the store.
As soon as Jamie and Ben were gone, Barbara pounced.
"Show me what you wore! Did he like it? Where did he take you?"
"Mom, please I just got up, can I have a cup of coffee first?" Toni asked.
"Sure you can, you talk and I'll make the coffee." Barbara said.
When all was said and done, Toni managed to keep the kiss out of the conversation or so she thought.
"Are you going out again? And did he kiss you?" Barbara asked.
"Yes." Toni said and elaborated no further and didn't specify which question the yes was for.
Thankfully, Ben and Jamie walked in with sacks of groceries. As Barbara made the pancakes with Jamie's help, Ben had his say.
"We like him."
"Daddy not you too." Toni protested.
"What? I'm just stating a fact." Ben said smiling at her.
Toni didn't reply because her parents had already made up their minds. Mason Donahue could do no wrong and he had their ringing endorsement.
While they were eating dinner, Jamie hopped on the Mason Donahue bandwagon.
"When is Dr. Mason coming again?" he asked as he stole a piece of pancake from Toni's plate.
"Tomorrow night, he wants to take us miniature golfing and then out for ice cream" Toni replied.
"I like him, is he going to be my dad?" Jamie asked innocently.
Both Barbara and Ben stopped eating to look at her. Toni's face felt hot as she tried to think of the best answer.
"It's too soon to talk about that and don't you dare ask him that, do you understand?" Toni said a little more firmly than she meant.
"Ok mom." Jamie said not understanding Toni's reaction.
Toni sighed and apologized, "I'm sorry baby but its way to soon to be thinking like that."
"Ok." Jamie replied although he still didn't see what the problem was.
*******
Mason fought the temptation to call Toni all day and finally gave up around six. He called her cell phone and was surprised when it went to voice mail. He tried the house phone next and was pleasantly surprised when Jamie answered the phone.
"Dr. Mason!" he shouted.
"Hi Jamie, how are you?" Mason asked.
"Fine, are you coming over tonight?"
