Macy's Corner Cafe

Chapter 7

Ella Palmer swallows hard. She looks over to Mason and sees the pleading desperation in her son's eyes. It's time he learns the truth about the disappearance of his baby sister.

"Can I start from the very top, Mason? It will be easier for me if I do. As a mother. Please bare with me." She says and Mason nods. His chin resting on his interlocked hands. His elbows on his knees, waiting patiently. Tears threaten to fall , but she fights them.

"The day Macy was born, was one of the happiest days of my life. She looked like a small porcelain doll. Dark hair, rosy cheeks. Almost an image out of a Snow White story. You father was not impressed. He wanted another son. Someone to run the business next to his first born. It broke my heart that he didn't accept her. He never picked her up or played with her and he always made sure to keep you busy. Preventing you to spend time with her.

She was the sweetest little girl. Always smiling and laughing. Her blue-grey eyes always bright. She had dark brown hair. Straight and shiny. Sometimes two ponytails, other times one. It depended on the nanny of the day. The staff all loved her.

I knew we had some financial problems, but I never thought in my wildest dreams that it would go so far that you father would sell his daughter. But I was so wrong. He told me that he was taking her to the kindergarten for the day. Though I found it odd, I let her go. Maybe he had a change of heart, but he never returned with her at the end of the day.

I asked him where she was, but he told me off and that I should just forget about her. I never saw her again. Even to this day, I still wonder what her life is like. Is she happy? Is she married? What is she like? The last image I have of her, is this small three year old girl all giggles and ribbons. It broke my heart. I tried to be the best mother I could be. After all, I still had a five year old who needed me." She says as she smile through the tears running down her cheeks. Mason gets up and takes his mother into an embrace. Her sobs ripping through her body. He can almost feel her pain, her aching heart. Should he tell her he found Macy-Grace? Maybe after he made sure Macy McCullen knows the truth about her true identity.

"Thank you, Mom. For telling me. I can not begin to imagine how much pain you endured all these years. I assure you that I am doing everything in my power to find her." He says and gives his mother a kiss on the head. A little white lie. "I have to start heading home. It's been a long day at the office." He says as he gets up to go. "Mason, why the sudden interest in Macy-Grace? You've never spoken or asked about her before. What changed?" She's good.

Mason sighs. "I don't know. Maybe because I never knew the truth and it's been bugging me. I can't really remember her as a person, but I remember snippets of the times we were together. It's as if I hear her laughter in the halls sometimes. As if her ghost is roaming the house." He says, looking down at his hands, finding them really interesting at the moment. He hates himself for lying to his mother, but he can't risk breaking her heart again. What if Macy is not interested in getting to know them?

Wonder how Jackson is doing? John Lance is not an easy person to approach. He wonders while driving home after he said goodbye to his mother. His fingers are itching to phone Jackson. But he has to restrain himself. Jackson and John are one and the same. Both difficult personalities and stubborn as hell. Jackson knows what he's doing. He can handle John.

If anything, John has a certain amount of respect for Jackson. Almost eleven years his senior, they met on a mission to the Middle East. Jackson caught in the crossfire between Islamic forces and British military. John sent in to rescue a stranded sniper. They've been in contact ever since.

Mason makes his way up the driveway. Guards standing by the gate and others patrolling the estate with trained canines. Once the car is parked, Mason walks up to the mansion. If anything, he can say with pride that every inch of this place is his. He's been working really hard and the rewards are rolling in.

It may not always be within the boundaries of the law, but the payments are good. It's just the Tigers that is turning into a thorn in his side. Though they are not as big as his group, they still pose a threat. Now that Macy has resurfaced, they might target her to get to him. He will not allow it. From what Pax told him, she's had her share of violence and bloodshed.

Patrick Evert opens the door for him. "Thank you, Pat." He says as he makes his way to the office. "Some tea, Master Palmer?" Patrick asks from the door. "No, thank you. Just had a cup with Mother." Mason says, entering his office. Patrick's been around since he was born. He's part of the furniture so to speak. Macy-Grace used to call him Patches and followed him everywhere.

The ambient space welcomes him. A huge ebony desk is in the middle of the room. Two visitor's chairs in front. Near the window at the far back, a small tea corner is set up. To the right is a huge bookcase that lines the entire wall with a built-in minibar. In front is a couch to relax on. Many a night, that was Mason's bed. Especially after his father died. The whole g**g was in disarray. From the finances to the disciplines of the group.

With Jackson and John's help, they took control and built the g**g to the level it is at. The strongest and wealthiest in the world. But it takes long hours and manpower to keep it that way. Other gangs are a constant threat as it is the survival of the fittest.

A stack of contracts and documents waits for Mason on his desk and he groans at the sight of it. Paperwork is not something he would call his favorite, but it has to be done.

He thinks about the little firecracker at Macy's. Wonder how she handles paperwork? How is her business really doing? Does she make profits or is it break-even at the end of the month? He should investigate that. Pax will have something to do, instead of playing games the whole day.

He starts to chuckle. She doesn't even know him and his already acting the overprotective big brother. This will be interesting. Wonder if there is anything between her and John Lance. They seem close. Closer then the rest. Another option to investigate.