Where Would I Be Without You - By CJ Hawk Page 0,40

to be kidding me son. At your age, you can't even figure out how to buy a present for a beautiful woman. Jewelry, flowers and a good bottle of wine. Does the trick every time." He winked as if he was joking, but I saw the way Mason's body tensed and his eyes glared. I felt for him, because what he and Maria had done had been perfect. So, of course, I chimed up.

"Oh Sir. It was perfect. He did send me flowers on my actual birthday. A huge bouquet. And took me and my best friend, sister and mother to lunch, picking up the tab. But, it was the bakery cake from my favorite bakery and the cushion for my window seat that was perfect. I'm not a jewelry kind of gal any ways."

The table went dead silent. Mason had this tense feel in his hand and with the way he was trying, mind you, to hold my hand under the table. Sophia made a small gasp sound, and then I realized; I had just tried to protect or was it fight Mason's battle for him. He was a grown man and could take his father's indignant suggestion that he could not be a great boyfriend. So why did I think it was my place to speak up about it? Because that was who I am, and I had a feeling, right now, that I was not fitting in very well with his family after all.

Maria finally spoke up. "So that cushion I got you at Pottery Barn was perfect after all. Good. I am glad. By the way, that bakery where I picked up your cake had muffins that were the best I have ever had." She smiled and winked at me, and I tried to falter a smile.

I spoke up to break the tension or at least try. "Their holiday pies are wonderful, but Mason and I are planning on making it a regular for a coffee and muffin run."

The table stayed quiet but at least people were back to eating. A few seconds later, Mark Anthony finally spoke up. "So how old are you if you don't mind me asking?"

Ok. I knew it was rude for a man to ask a woman's age in private, let alone out in the presence of more people, but I sensed this was a question Mason's father felt he had to ask.

"Thirty Sir. I just turned thirty." I took a big bite of salad as he replied.

"And you are just now taking college courses? For work? To be a production line manager?" His voice was judgmental, and his tone told me that I wasn't really the person he was mad at, it was something between Mason and himself. Either way, I took offense and barely got out a 'yes sir' reply.

When he put it that way, I probably should have thought about growing up about eight to ten years ago. I probably should have, but I didn't, and now that I was thirty; I planned on doing so, even more so as his father seemed to be judging me, and his family was nowhere to my defense. It was a time like now that I craved Marion's help. She always had a way with people, and she would have found a way to divert or make everyone focus on her instead of me out of help, not selfishness. Sofia finally spoke up.

"Mark Anthony, I need another bottle of white wine. Would you be a dear and go into the wine cellar and get me that bottle of ninety six?" The way she was looking at him, if he was to say no, she would have caused him a lot of mental anguish later. I have seen that look on a grown woman and any man who ever wants loving again, better do what she asks. I needed to accomplish that look.

Mason jumped up and scooted his chair back. "I'll get it." Then I watched him practically stomp off, which that did not make his dad any happier. Therefore, I guess making a comment about it would make him feel better, but it just made me want to put my fork down because at this point, I could not eat another bite.

"Leaving your date to the wolves is not the best way to act. I would have gotten the wine. I just wanted to finish my bite." He set his fork down, took a huge sip of his wine and then