The Best Mistake

Chapter Seventeen

 Caleb guided me up the steps that led to the giant double doors out front. He gave me a sideways glance before opening the doors and allowing me to enter.
 
I gasped quietly, "Oh my God."
 
The foyer was massive with a high ceiling and tall walls covered in a smooth eggshell color. The chandelier was wide and hung gracefully from the ceiling. There was a large painting of the entire family that hung on the wall across from the door. It's obvious that they value family. There were beautiful potted plants and flowers in different corners of the room. The most ordinary thing in the whole foyer was the welcome mat that laid beneath our feet.
 
Caleb was staring at my reaction cautiously.
"Relax, it's just a house."
 
"That is a freaking understatement Caleb." I whispered.
 
"Come on."
 
Caleb tugged me along the mansion slowly. I can see that this was bringing back memories for him. He looked almost as worried as me. It was hard for me to focus on anything when it's so much to take in. We walked past two long spiral staircases that were at the back of the foyer and made our way to the kitchen. The kitchen was no doubt bigger than my house. The island in the middle of the kitchen was almost majestic. I've never seen a kitchen so bright, but then again, I've never seen so many floor to ceiling windows either. I noticed Mason instantly standing near the fridge drinking a beer. He was wearing a navy-blue suit without a tie, an unbuttoned white shirt underneath and shades over his eyes. He leaned his head back as he drank his beer and it took everything in me to keep my feet in place. Why did he have to be so attractive? Mason looked towards us realizing our presence for the first time.
 
"Well look what the cat dragged in." Mason said with a small smirk.
Caleb chuckled and moved towards him.
"Mason."
 
"Caleb." Mason responded. The brothers grabbed each other’s hand, pulling them into a brotherly hug, it was a warm sight to see.
 
"It's been a while since you've been here." Mason noted.
 
Caleb shrugged in response.
 
"I didn't realize you had company." Mason said, turning to face me.
 
"Yea, you remember my assistant I introduced you to a few weeks ago."
 
"Ahh yes," Mason approached me slowly and I swear my knees started to shake.
 
He removed his shades revealing the depths of his eyes for the first time.
"Ava Shawn, right?" He asked.
 
"Um, yes. It's nice to see you again Mason." I said gently.
 
"I trust you are in better health since the last time I saw you?"
 
I blushed, "Yes I'm better."
 
He stared at me curiously as if he was in a museum and I was a priceless artifact.
 
"Can I offer you anything? A drink?" Mason asked.
 
"No thank you." I replied. I glanced over to Caleb nervously and Mason noticed the action.
 
"Oh, I'm sorry are you two...." Mason trailed off moving his finger back and forth between Caleb and I.
 
"No." We said simultaneously.
 
Caleb walked over to us quickly, "It's not like that Mason. We are here doing some business and we wanted to talk to you."
 
"Oh, well let's take this to the study." He said. Mason placed the beer on the countertop and led the way, while Caleb and I followed behind him.
 
"Mom and dad aren't coming home yet are they?" Caleb asked worriedly.
 
"No, they should be occupied for a little while longer. The party is still going on and I told them I'd be back."
 
Caleb nodded satisfied with his answer. Mason led us down the long sleek hallway to the first door that was on the left. He opened the door, allowing us to enter first. My eyes widened while taking in the beautiful office. The study room was monochrome and smelled like shoe ink and pages of a book. There was a large desk and chair in the middle of the floor and a tall bookshelf directly behind it. There were more pictures of the family hanging on the walls and a leather couch sat against the wall near the tall window. Everything from the table to the chairs and the bookshelf looked like it was made of glass, fragile. I noticed that Caleb and Mason were both staring at my reaction curiously and their strong resemblance startled me for a moment. I keep forgetting that they're twins.
 
"Are you okay?" Mason asked.
 
"Yea, I'm fine." I hadn't realized that my breathing had sped up slightly. Caleb gave me a sly smirk before shaking his head.
 
"So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Mason asked looking at Caleb.
 
Caleb held up a hand towards Mason and moved closer to my side. He gave me a look, trying to gauge my emotions no doubt.
 
"Do you want to do this part by yourself?" He asked cautiously.
 
I nodded, "I think I should."
 
"You're okay right?"
 
"Yes." I breathed.
 
"I'll be right out there okay?" He said.
 
I nodded slowly and he turned away to look at Mason who was watching our exchange warily. "I think it's best if she explains it. I'll be right out there." He said.
 
Before Mason could respond, Caleb left the study quietly closing the door behind him. There was an awkward silence that was left behind as Mason and I stared at each other. I can see that he was trying to figure out what was going on and I didn't know how to start.
 
"Okay out with it. What is so wrong that my brother can't tell me himself?" He asked.
 
"Well he would but this doesn't really concern your brother. This is between you and I." I whispered.
 
Mason arched his brow in shock. "How so?"
 
I took a deep breath and willed the words that I was practicing for years to come forward.
 "I was the girl that....I was the one who.." I stopped and worked to calm my breathing.
 
Mason looked concerned and approached me slowly.
"Are you having another panic attack? Do you want me to get Caleb?"
 
"No no, I'm fine, I can do this."
 
I closed my eyes and tried to visualize that I was in my bedroom mirror and not standing before him.
 "I was the woman who you were with the night of Masquermania."
 
I held my breath waiting for it to sink in, but I was met with silence. I slowly opened my eyes to chance a glance at him. Mason was staring at me confused.
 
"Masquermania?" He asked.
 
"The Halloween party that was at The Reynolds Grand Hotel back in 2016. You were dressed like....I don't know phantom of the opera?"
 
Realization slowly dawned on him and his mouth fell open slowly. "What?" He said.
 
"It was me, Mason."
 
"Are you sure?"
 
"Positive." I replied.
 
"How do I know it was you?"
 
"I don't know what to tell you because that night was so blurry but, I do remember leaving the penthouse early that morning."
 
"What was I doing when you left the penthouse?" He asked suspiciously.
 
"You were in the shower." I said.
 
His eyes widened in shock. I stared at him nervously as I started to play with my fingers.
 
"Did Caleb put you up to this?"
 
"What? No." I said confused.
 
"I know he can be a prankster when he wants to be."
 
"He did not put me up to anything. I made the connection the first time we met, which is why I panicked." I said.
 
"Woah." He said.
 
"Yea..." I responded.
Mason ran his hand across his face trying to process everything. He stared at me closely for a few seconds.
 
"Okay, so why are you telling me this?" He asked.
 
"What do you mean?"
 
"I mean people have one night stands all the time. That can't be the only reason you felt the need to tell me this."
 
"First of all, I am not the one night stand type." I replied.
 
"Well that's what they all tend to say." He mumbled.
 
"Excuse me?"
 
"I just meant that it sounded familiar." He shrugged nonchalantly.
 
"Well it is not familiar to me."
 
"Okay, so why did you come, lady who is not the one night stand type?" He asked. He crossed his arms across his chest, and it annoyed me a bit. He was being nonchalant, and I didn't like it.
 
"You don't have to be rude." I said.
 
"No, rude is you and my brother pulling me out of an important function, only to dance around the reason that you did it. That can't be the only reason." He threw his hands up in frustration.
 
"Well sorry if we are interrupting your day." I mumbled.
 
"Don't apologize just tell me what's going on." He demanded.
 
I remembered then that Caleb said that Mason can be impatient and that I'd have to get to my point quickly.
 "I'm trying to but you aren't making this easy." I said.
 
"I'm not making what easy? I'm standing here utterly defenseless."
 
"You're being hostile." I said annoyed.
 
"Hostile? How the hell am I being hostile? I'm asking a question, a simple question that you keep dancing around."
 
"Just forget it okay. Sorry I bothered you." I turned quickly and made my way to the door before I felt Mason grab my elbow. I tried to ignore the tingling sensation going up my arm as I turned to face him. His dark green eyes were intense, and I can almost feel the frustration radiating from them.
 
"Where are you going? You came down here to talk to me, right? So, talk." He demanded.
 
"I just thought you'd like to know that you have kids." I blurted out.
 
Mason's eyes widened almost comically, and his arms dropped to his sides. He opened and closed his mouth several times looking for words to say. I played with my fingers nervously waiting for his response. God, why did I blurt it out like that? A full minute went by and Mason still didn't respond.
 
"Are you okay?" I asked cautiously.
 
"What......what did you say?" He whispered in shock.
 
"Mason, I got pregnant that night." I said.
 
"Pre....pregnant?"
 
"They're yours Mason I swear it. You have kids." I said.
 
Before he could respond there was a loud screech and the study door slammed open.
 "What?!"
 
Mason and I turned to see the woman I recognized as Chasity. She was wearing a too tight purple strapless dress and her hands were in fists at her sides. My heart spiked instantly.
 
"Mason who the hell is she and what the hell is she talking about?!" She yelled. Chasity brown eyes were wide and furious.
 
Mason still looked pretty shocked from the news I gave him. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
 
"Are you just going to stand there?! Answer me?!" She demanded.
 
The room was filled with tension and I was praying that Caleb would come and take me out of here. Mason was still staring at me in shock. I placed my hand on my chest willing my heart to calm down.
 
"Mason if you don't answer me right now so help me God." She warned.
 Just then Caleb entered behind Chasity looking frantic and I breathed out a sigh of relief. He took in the scene cautiously.
 
"Chasity." He greeted politely.
 
"Caleb what the hell is going on? What are you doing here?" Chasity asked.
 
"I wish I could ask you the same thing." He said.
 
"Who is this...this girl! and why is she talking to your brother about children?!"
 
I raised a brow at the word girl because she didn't look that much older than me.
"Chasity just calm down." Caleb said.
 
"Don't tell me to calm down!" She yelled. Mason was still pretty much in shock and I can't believe that her voice alone didn't snap him out of it.
 
"What in the world is going on?" Another voice entered the study and I almost choked. Caleb's eyes widened as he stared at his mother. She looked even more primed and pressed in person, wearing a long-sleeved red dress with a black belt to accessorize and her hair pinned to the top of her head.
 
"Mom." Caleb whispered.
 
"Oh my God, Caleb?" She asked, shocked.
They stared at each other in silence before she slowly reached out her hand towards him, but he stepped out of her reach and I can see that the action hurt her.
 
"What.....what are you doing here, what is going on?" She asked. Her eyes went around the room slowly and finally landed on me with confusion on her face.
 
"Ask your son!" Chasity said.
 
"Mom this conversation was supposed to be between them..." Caleb started.
 
"Screw that! I want to know what children she's talking about!" She pointed her perfectly manicured finger towards me.
 
"What children?" Mrs. Reynolds asked.
 
"Yea! What children?!" Chasity replied.
 
I looked towards Mason, but he still hadn't moved. What the hell? Did I break him?
 
"What in God's name is all of that yelling?!"
 
I nearly jumped out of my skin as Mr. Reynolds entered the room. Mr. Reynolds stood tall and his frame screamed 'cut the bullshit'. I was trying my very best not to collapse at that moment. This situation escalated faster than I anticipated. I was never the confrontational type, so this whole thing was making me queasy. One look at his father and Caleb moved to my side immediately. I felt more at ease with his tall frame close by, as if he can shield me from this whole mess.
 
"What are you doing here?" He asked Caleb. "Who are you?" His gaze landed on me.
 
"My....my name is Ava Shawn."
 
"Well Ms. Shawn, can you explain why you're in my house?"
 
"Don't talk to her like that." Caleb said.
 
"Oh, the prodigal son speaks." He replied sarcastically.
 
"Funny." Caleb mocked.
 
"I'm trying to find out what is going on too." Chasity crossed her arms over her chest and flung her dark hair to her right shoulder.
 
"Can someone open their mouth!" Mr. Reynolds said. I nearly jumped out of my skin as his voice seemed to rattle the walls. At that, Mason snapped out of whatever trance he was in. He finally looked around the room noticing everyone's faces.
 
"You're all back already?" He asked disoriented.
 
"Stop dodging the question Mason! Who is this woman and why does she think you and her have kids!" Chasity said.
 
"What?!" Mr. Reynolds and his wife said at once.
 
"It's the truth." Caleb said calmly.
 
"There is no truth in that!" Chasity said.
 
Mrs. Reynolds held up a hand towards Chasity before turning to me
"Why do you think that?" She asked.
 
I gulped, "Um...Mason and I.....met almost three years ago at your hotel..."
 
"Oh, so you screwed him years ago and all of sudden he's the father of your kids?!" Chasity was really starting to work on my nerves.
 
"So, you slept with my son, got pregnant and you're just telling him this now?" Mrs. Reynolds asked.
 
"It's not like that, I was drunk, and I didn't realize who he was." I said.
 
"That's a little convenient don't you think?" Mr. Reynolds asked coldly.
 
"Okay stop dad. This is between Mason and Ava." Caleb said.
 
"First of all, you have no say with anything pertaining to this family. You come in this house, in my presence after how many years?! You brought with you this person who is trying to pin fatherhood on my son."
 
"With all due respect, I'm not trying to pin anything on anyone I just thought he deserved to know the truth." I said.
 
"You were drunk so how can you be so sure what the truth is? Why don't you go find your real 'baby daddy' cause it’s not my son. For all we know you're just trying to get a pay cheque out of this family."
 
I was stuck between hurt and shock at his words.
"Stop it dad." Caleb moved to stand slightly in front of me as if he can protect me from such hateful words.
 
"He's telling the truth. This isn't the first time someone tried to pin their child on your brother or you. I'm not going to take some stranger's word." Mrs. Reynolds said.
 
"Thank you." Chasity said curtly.
 
"I was only trying to be honest. I would never come all this way if it wasn't true. I'm not that kind of person." I said hurt.
 
"Good for you, now you and my long-lost son can leave." Mr. Reynolds said.
 
"Cut it out dad. Doesn't anyone care what I think? What if she's telling the truth?" Mason said. He looked angry and nervous as he stared between us.
 
"She's telling no truth. Your brother obviously has no conscience, bringing this person in here. For all we know she lying to him too." Mr. Reynolds said.
 
I lips quivered at his cold words and grinded my teeth hard to keep any tears at bay.