Where Would I Be Without You - By CJ Hawk Page 0,38

this is my mother Sophia. My sister Adoncia, which means sweet; however, I beg to differ at times." He chuckled and she swat at his arm with the back of her hand.

"Watch it big brother. You be nice." She laughed.

Mason continued on. He walked over to his other sister standing next to Adoncia and hugged her from behind. "This is Felicina. Which means happy and she is our happy sister, no matter what, if you are down, she will make you happy."

I watched her turn and kiss Mason on the cheek. It was evident that they had a strong bond. It was very sweet. Then he walked over to his youngest sister who was at least ten years younger than he was and patted her on the head. "And this sweet little thing is my accomplice. She was the one that helped me with your birthday gift. This is Maria, which is supposed to mean rebellion but is anything but. I think I have all the rebellion this family needs." He chuckled, but his sisters began a collective coo of agreement on that, which gave me a small amount of nervousness. A rebellious man often never stayed with one woman. Would my Latin be everything to me lover, quickly bore of me and move on?

Maria spoke up in a joking voice. "Maria means a lot of different things in different languages; Mason just likes to tease me because I tend to be a rebel. Not as much as he's been known to be but maybe that's why we get along so well." She walked over to me and whispered in my ear. "He's grown up a bit, but you watch out."

Mason's mother Sophia must have sensed my overwhelming feelings of his family, took my hand in hers, and offered to show me their garden just outside the kitchen. As she led me outside, she hollered over her shoulder for Mason to pull the roast out of the oven.

We stepped out of the huge gallery kitchen into a garden that was quite spectacular. Spring and early summer flowers were still in bloom, with soft flowering trees marking a brick paved path that twisted around in a curvy pattern to a beautiful outdoor cement patio that had an impressive pavilion with stone pillars and covered roof. There at the table was a man who was Mason's maker. He stood as I approached so that he could introduce himself as he took my hand. Sofia presented me to him as if she was a game-show host. She had that graceful presence about her.

"Amber this is Mason's father, Mark Anthony Montahue. Dear, this is Mason's new girlfriend, Amber Jones."

"It's a pleasure to meet you finally. I've heard all sorts of wonderful things about you." He smiled, and I could see where Mason got his incredible smile from, and it warmed me. His charm was evident, and I felt myself relax a bit.

"Pleasure is all mine Sir. You have a beautiful mansion..." I stuttered. "I mean home here and the gardens are spectacular."

"Why thank you." He replied then he turned his attention to Sophia. "How much longer until brunch dear? I have a few things I need to run into my office and get done."

"About fifteen minutes." She replied as I could see the adoring love she had for Mason's father.

"Wonderful. Now if you two will excuse me, I think I will get about fifteen minutes worth of work done. Have Maria get me when it's time. Again, lovely to meet you Amber."

As I watched him walk away, I thought how easy it would be for me to fit right into this family. How desperately I would love making this my own. Not that I didn't love my father and sister, and ok, my mother, but this was the type of classy family a poor girl like me dreams about growing up and marrying into. Bethany made her success and was beginning to reap her rewards. I was a bit lazy and rebellious, and yes I liked the finer things. I just didn't want to have to go to college or work too hard to get it. Marrying into this would be a dream. Marion did, why couldn't I?

Then I remembered the way Marion thought Carl's family would readily accept her and slowly, painfully, found out that she was considered a gold digger and outcast. I didn't want these lovely people to think of me this way. If I had a doubt about my 'now