Chapter 33 Dinner at Seven
“Uncle Mason!”
A six-year-old in a faded pink dress ran down the staircase, her cheeks flush with excitement. Wisps of dirty blonde hair that had escaped her loose pigtails whipped around her round face.
A harried-looking middle-aged woman followed behind her. “Kathryn, slow down,” she said. “You’ll trip.”
Mason grinned and closed the front door of Jamie’s house behind him. He closed the distance between him and the staircase, spreading his arms wide in anticipation. Before long the little girl had reached the bottom of the stairs and was jumping up into his arms, laughing as he lifted her in one smooth motion. She clasped her arms around his neck in a fierce hug. “You’re here!” she squealed.
“Yes I am,” he said. His heart warmed as he hugged her back. He’d
