Page 153 of Ghost

“Morning all,” Mason said as he entered the dining room.“I hope everyone slept well.”

Ellen’s eyes locked onto Mason.“Well then, someone is quite chipper.”

Sharon lifted her napkin from her lap and covered her mouth as she laughed.“I’ll say.”

Mason frowned.“What?”

“There are only two reasons why a man is so happy before a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.”Ellen pursed her lips after speaking, her head slightly tilted, her eyebrows slightly lifted.

Mason could feel his face turn hot.“Hush, you.”

He went to the buffet and poured himself a cup of coffee.When he turned around, he saw Gerald standing behind Ellen, a big shit-eating grin on his face.

“I’ll have nothing from you either, Gerald, so you can just wipe that grin off your face.”Mason sat his coffee down on the table and turned again and began filling up his plate with eggs, bacon and hash-browns.“Where’s the ketchup?”

The cook suddenly appeared with a bottle of the condiment.She handed it to Mason.“Sorry, I forgot.”She turned and left just as quickly as she’d appeared.

Ellen laughed.“Sharon, make a note that if we ever serve Mason potatoes, he must have his ketchup.”

Sharon pointed to her temple, closed her eyes.“Got it.”

“What is this?”Mason sat down.“Pick on Mason Day?”

“If only,” Sharon laughed.

“Eat, Mason.”Ellen dabbed at her mouth with her napkin.“The Royales will be here within half an hour.”

Mason had only had two mouthfuls of food and suddenly he wasn’t hungry anymore.He pushed the plate away.

“Mason, you must eat,” Francis said kindly, without appearing.

Mason looked for him.“I...I can’t.”

Chapter Fifty-Two

Fred and Martin Royale arrived with a convoy.After they all had exited their respective vehicles, Lizzie Royale led the way up the steps of Hobonny, with the help of Roy Royale.Following her were her great-grandsons, Fred and Martin, their grandmother, mother and numerous cousins.They were all dressed in black and each held a single white or red rose.