Page 56 of Ghost

Mason pulled his truck up in front of Nick’s small grocery store and deli.

Deb had told him that the only thing she wanted him to bring was beer for Thanksgiving.

He’d decided that he’d get two cases. Since Mitch was going to be there, he was sure that one wouldn’t be enough, especially if there was a football game on.

“Hey, Mason,” Nick called out as Mason walked in. “Let me guess, you’re here for beer.” Nick laughed.

“How’d ya know?”

“You pulled your truck down, so I figured you’d be getting more than just one case for tomorrow and Friday.”

Mason shook his head. “You know Mitch. He can drink an entire brewery dry.”

“You want the usual?”

“Yeah, I was thinking two cases, but since it looks like you’re going to be closed on Friday and the entire weekend, I guess I should get four.” Mason nodded to the sign on the counter letting everyone know that they were indeed closed on till Monday, the week after Thanksgiving.

“Nicky just got back from school, so I’ll get him to put it into your truck.” Nick went into the back of the store.

Mason wondered over to the deli section, thinking he might want to get something for his dinner tonight.

He didn’t feel up to cooking after working all day.

He, Paul and Mitch had really pushed it hard to get the downstairs bathroom at Paul and Deb’s place finished before Thanksgiving.

Paul’s parents were going to be arriving sometime this evening and although they’d gotten it functional, Deb wanted it to be completely finished before having house guests.

“You going to need any ice?” Nick asked as he returned. “Nicky will be out in just a minute.”

“Yeah. I got two big coolers in the back of the truck. My fridge is pretty empty and so is Mitch’s, but I know Deb hasn’t got any room in hers. I figured I’ll put one case in mine and one in Mitch’s, the another in one of the coolers. Just swap them over when we need to.”

Nick’s son, Nick Davies Junior, known as Nicky walked out from the storeroom. Mason and Nicky’s locked eyes and both seemed to freeze.

“You want those in the back of your truck, Mason?” Nick asked, noticing that his son and Mason were in a staring contest.

It took Mason a moment, but he finally answered. “Yeah. Perfect.”

He wasn’t sure if putting the beer in the back of his truck was perfect or if he meant that Nicky was perfect.

“Uh, can I get a sandwich or something for dinner, please, Nick?”

“Of course.” Nick walked behind the deli counter. “What’cha in the mood for?”

“You know me.” Mason watched as Nicky walked out the front door towards his truck, the case of beer over his shoulder. “Whatever looks good.”

“Well, I’m trying to use up as much cut meat as I can since we’ll be closed for several days, so what about an antipasto platter? You’ll have enough for a few meals.”

“Sounds good.” Mason turned to face Nick. “You know, I’ve never met your son?”

Nick stopped in his tracks. “No?”

Mason shook his head as the bell on the glass door rang.

“Let’s take care of that right now.” Nick motioned for his son to come over. “Mason here just told me that the two of you have never been properly introduced. Mason, meet mine and Patty’s son, Nick Junior. Nicky, meet Mason Montgomery.”

When Mason took Nicky’s hand, he swore there was an electric shock between them. From the look on Nicky’s face, he must have felt it too.

“Nice to meet you,” Nicky said.

“Same here.” Mason didn’t want to let go of the man’s hand but reluctantly did so.

“I feel like I already know you,” Nicky said. “Mom and Pop here talk about you all the time. Say you’re the neighborhood savior.”

“Pfft.” Mason shook his head at Nick. “I wish to hell you and Patty would stop that. I’m not doing anything all that special and don’t even start saying I am.” Mason turned back to Nicky. “So... architecture?”

“Yeah. I’d like to have a look at your place sometime. I have a real interest in that period of architecture.”

Mason could swear the young man, who was close to his own age, blushed. From the look on Nick’s face, he didn’t miss it either.

“Sure, just let me know when.”

“How about Friday?” Nick suggested. “Nicky’s going to come check on the coolers and such. One time when we were closed for two days, I came back, and the deli coolers had stopped running and I lost all the cold cuts and cheeses. That was a very expensive fix, let me tell you.”

“Yeah, sure,” Mason answered, looking at Nicky. “We’re all taking Friday off. Making it a long weekend.”

Nicky looked at his father questionably. “Sounds good.” He turned his blue eyes to Mason. “What time?”

“How’s ten in the morning?” Nick answered for his son. “Nicky here needs to check the store around nine, then he can just walk up to your place.”

“That works for me.” If Mason didn’t know any better, he’d have thought Nick way trying to play matchmaker.”

* * * * *

Mason could hear Paul from the sidewalk.

He was playing with his kids, and his little girl was squealing in delight.

Paul is such a great dad. Deb and the kids are very lucky, Mason thought, remembering that his own father had run off and left him and his family to fend for themselves.

Thankfully, Uncle Bud had been there to help.

He knocked on the door, but with so much noise coming from inside the house, it was obvious that no one heard him, so Mason opened the door and was greeted with a barrage of noise. Paul’s youngest boy ran up and grabbed his hand. “Come on, Uncle Mason, we’re beating Daddy up!”

Molly brought Mason a beer. “Happy Thanksgiving, Mason.” She put the beer in his hand and kissed his cheek.

“Same to you, Molly.” Mason looked around. “Where’s Mitch?”

“I’ve got him restocking the cooler, taking out the rubbish and anything else that Deb or her mother say needs doing.” She grinned at Mason. “You know what they say about idle hands.”

Mason had to laugh. “You have Mitch’s number for sure.”

Paul was on the floor rolling around with his kids as they piled up on him, trying to pin him down. Mason shook his head, knowing that Paul could easily get up if he needed or wanted to. Just beyond all the chaos Ellen was deep in conversation with Deb’s father.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Mason,” Sharon greeted him, also kissing his cheek. “Want to give me a hand in setting up the kids’ table?”

“Sure.” Mason looked around. “Where?”

“We decided to put it up in the hallway, in front of the dining room door so they can be monitored.” Sharon laughed. “They are a high-spirited bunch, that’s for sure.”

Once everyone was seated, Paul tapped a spoon against his water glass. “Settle down, y’all.” He waited until he had everyone’s attention. “I’d like to take a moment to say what I’m thankful for.” He took Deb’s hand in his.

“First off, I’m thankful to my beautiful wife, the mother of my children.” He leaned over and kissed the back of her hand. “How she handles them and me is beyond my comprehension.” Everyone chuckled.

“I’d also like to say how thankful I am for Mason.” He looked down the long table to where Mason and Ellen were sitting together. “Without him, we’d never have moved here to Savannah. It’s a joy to work with him.”

“What about me?” Mitch chirped.

“Yeah, you too, skinny butt.” Everyone laughed.

“Don’t have a skinny butt,” Mitch whined.

Molly leaned next to him, rubbing his shoulder.

“I’m also thankful for all the new friends we’ve made, this great house we get to live in.” Mason could tell that Paul was getting choked up, which made Mason a little choked up as well.

“Okay now, y’all eat up,” Deb stepped in to save Paul. “If anyone leaves this house hungry, it’s on you. We got enough food to feed two armies. Eat up!”

* * * * *

Mason sat on the floor in the hallway, Sharon next to him. They leaned back against the wall.

“I shouldn’t have had that second piece of pecan pie,” Mason moaned, rubbing his stomach.

“Me either. I’m going to have to go on a crash diet.” Sharon slumped forward a bit, looking at her lap. “I doubt I could get into the new pair of slacks I just bought.”

“I won’t need to go on a diet. We’ve got more work lined up before Christmas than we should have. I don’t even know how we’re going to get it all done.”

“Why not hire some more help?” Sharon looked over at Mason. “I have a feeling you’re going to have to at some point, so why not now?”

“I had thought about it, but I wasn’t sure that there’d be enough money to pay them.”

Sharon laughed. “I don’t think you need to worry about money anymore, Mason.”

Mason didn’t say anything. Right now he was wishing that Francis could have been there with him. He missed him so much. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t think about him, but on a big family holiday such as this one, he really wished he were here.

“Mason, you can actually do good with some of that money, like hiring good people who need the work and want to work for someone who would care about them.”

Mason looked at Sharon. “You know, I hadn’t thought about it like that.”

Sharon shrugged. “But it’s true. Look at Paul and his family. They’re so happy here.” She pointed towards Mitch who had Molly in his lap, chatting away as if they were the only two in the room. “Look at him... them. They’re very happy. I’ve not seen Molly that happy ever.”

“Okay. You’ve made your point.”

“I’m just saying, there are others who could be happy with a good job, a nice company and a terrific boss.”

“Company? Boss?” Mason trembled slightly. “I have a hard time even thinking on those terms.”

“Better start.” Sharon patted Mason on the knee. “I gotta get up or I’ll fall asleep sitting here.” She groaned as she stood. “I should probably get Ellen home. Gerald is going to be fit to be tied as it is.”

“Where is he?” Mason held out his hand so Sharon could help him stand.

“He and Ellen had a bit of a tiff this morning. Ellen threatened him with going out with LD One if he didn’t stop harassing her. She said she didn’t want to see or hear him until she got home.”

Mason had to laugh. “I bet that went over like a lead balloon.”

“Oh yeah.”