Page 57 of Ghost

Mason took one last look in the mirror. “I have no idea why I’m so nervous,” he said to his own image. “It’s not like it’s a date or anything.”

There was a knock on the back door, the one that led into the basement apartment. When Mason opened it, he sucked in a big breath of air. He’s beautiful he thought to himself.

Nicky was dressed casually in jeans, a sweater that matched his blue eyes, an insulated vest and black boots.

His eyes seemed even bluer with his dark wavy hair, and slight olive complexion.

Mason could see both Nick and Patty in him.

He had Nick’s dark hair and skin, but he had Patty’s eyes, nose and mouth, which was downright kissable.

“Uh, hi,” Nicky said. “May I come in?”

Mason had to shake himself to break the spell Nicky had cast over him. “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was off in another world. Come on in.”

Nicky looked around. “Wow. Mom said it was impressive, but I didn’t expect this.” He ran he hand along the black granite countertop of the kitchen.

“Let me give you the grand tour.”

Mason showed him the paneled room, explaining how Paul and Mitch had gotten it for him. He pointed out the light in the center of the room and explained how Mark Hempstead gave it to him to match the room. When they got upstairs, Nicky seemed blown away.

“And all the furniture is original to the house?” Nicky asked.

“Yep. Ellen had collected all of it. Well, almost all of it. There were a few pieces that she didn’t have, but yeah, I’d say ninety-nine percent of it is right here.”

“That’s... just unheard of,” Nicky marveled. He ran his hand over the door frame of the front parlor double door. He looked up at the crown moldings, the stairs and then the floors. “It would take a fortune nowadays to build something like this.”

Mason laughed. “I said the same thing. But then I got to thinking, and it probably cost a fortune to build it back then, too.”

Nicky nodded. “I can see that. It would have taken so much longer to build as well.”

They stood there in the long hallway for several minutes. It started to feel a little uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry, where are my manners?” Mason said after clearing his throat. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“That’d be great, but first, there’s something I need to do.”

Nicky laid his hand on Mason’s shoulder and then slowly pulled him close. He was a little taller than Mason, so he had to lean down before he planted his lips against Mason’s. It was a nice, long kiss. Not passionate, just a good, warm kiss.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you,” Nicky whispered, his face only a few millimeters from Mason’s.

“Funny, I felt the same.” Mason pulled back a little. “I actually thought I’d drown in those blue eyes of yours.”

Nicky smiled. “You know, Pop was doing his best to fix us up together.”

“I got that impression. He never said he had a gay son.”

Nicky shrugged. “He never said his new neighbor was gay, so we’re even.”

“What would you like to drink?” Mason pulled away from Nicky.

“I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee, to be honest. The wind off the river is really cold.”

“I can manage coffee.”

Mason made them some coffee. They talked easily, telling a bit about themselves.

“Mom said that you were going to start on the apartment over the store after the first of the year.”

“That’s the plan.” Mason topped up their coffees.

“I’d had hoped to get started on it long before this, but my friends who work with me needed to get their own places livable before we took on any other work.

Well, we did a few small jobs just to bring some money in, but a lot of our time was spent on their places. ”

“I might reconsider moving in there if your place is an example of what it might look like.” Nicky took a sip of coffee. “It really is a rat-hole as it is now.”

Mason laughed. “That’s an understatement. I do have some good ideas for it. When are you going back to Atlanta?”

Nicky grinned. “I’m not.”

“You’re not going to get your diploma?” Mason was shocked.

“Oh, hell yeah, I am. This was my last semester. I’ve got an internship here in Savannah, and I’ll graduate this coming spring. I have more credits that I actually need to graduate.”

“I see... smart and good looking.”

Suddenly there was banging on the door. “Mason, you in there?”

Mason sighed. “My friend, Mitch.” He looked apologetically at Nicky. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“Come in, Mitch. Door’s open.”

Mitch flung the door open. “You got any beer?” He saw Nicky sitting next to Mason at the breakfast bar, each with a cup of coffee. “Oh. Sorry. Didn’t know you had company.”

“Mitch, this is Nicky. Nicky, Mitch.”

They shook hands. “We’ve met before,” Nicky said.

They all chatted a few moments and then Nicky said he had the keys to the store and that he’d let Mitch in to get some beer, and he could pay Nick when the store opened on Monday.

Mitch ended up getting two cases. The plan was that he, Paul, Deb’s father and a few others were going to watch football for the day. Mason knew that was pretty much the tradition. Mitch asked if they wanted to join them, but Nicky was quick to decline.

When Nicky and Mason returned to Mason’s place, Mason offered Nicky some lunch.

“I have a boatload of leftovers from yesterday that Deb gave me.” Mason opened the door of his refrigerator. “How about a turkey sandwich?”

“Got some cranberry sauce?”

Mason looked over his shoulder at Nicky. “Toasted, turkey, cranberry sauce and mayo?”

“That’s exactly how I like it,” Nicky laughed.

“Waldorf salad and extra dressing on the side?”

“I can see this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”

Mason walked over to Nicky. “I think I can handle that.” He leaned in and Nicky met him halfway.

“Good.” Nicky kissed Mason again. This time it did become more passionate. “Hope you have some pecan pie.”

The End