Case Reopened

The End of The Party (Part 2)

If the emotional damage of the first part wasn't enough or maybe you just hate cliff hangers, well here is part 2!

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I'm broken. Something is wrong with me. Mason held Sophia to him, knowing that there was no physical pain that could hurt more than hearing his daughter say those words and having her cry on his shoulder.

What had he done wrong? If his daughter, his precious daughter believed what she said, and on some level she did since she'd spoken it, that meant Mason had failed. He was the reason for this pain she felt.

He rocked her slowly and closed his eyes. Focus, focus on her. Do not lose yourself to thoughts. He could imagine Owens' pissed-off look for him diving into a full analysis when it was not the time. Yvette understood him too much to give him the type of stern rebuke he needed. Owens never failed to make him see his idiocy.

Eventually, Sophia stopped crying and sniffed. Yvette pulled back and met Mason's gaze. He nodded towards the door to the ballroom. Yvette nodded back in understanding. She would make their apologies, they were going home. Before she left, Yvette kissed Sophia's head and whispered to her.

"I love you, mija," she said.

Sophia lifted her head as Yvette slipped back into the ballroom. When she raised her face to Mason, he felt his heart clench. Her big brown eyes were red-rimmed and streaks of tears still clung to her soft cheeks. Though he didn't want to ever let go of her again, Mason set her down on the ground. He cupped her face and brushed away her tears.

"Where is Mama going?"

She asked in French, telling Mason she still felt unsafe speaking in either English or Spanish. It took all of Mason's might not to ask Sophia who she'd been speaking to at the table. He could not go yell at careless teenagers. He could not. He needed to focus on his daughter, not letting loose his pain for her.

"To tell Carmella's parents that we have to go home," Mason said.

"But Grandmother bought me this dress for this event. It would be rude to her to leave early and it would be rude to Carmella. We haven't been able to wish her a happy birthday."

Say anything to anyone in that room? Mason didn't give a-

He took a breath and smiled softly, betraying an ease that he didn't feel.

"We can do that some other time," Mason said.

Or never for all he cared. Right then he never wanted to come to another one of these things. He didn't know what happened but someone had said something to his daughter that made her leave the table. It was better for Mason to never know who it was, he didn't know what he would do.

"Okay," Sophia said. "Are we going to the car then?"

Mason nodded. Sophia hesitated but held her hand out to him.

In many ways, Mason knew his daughter was exactly like him. When it came to physical affection, they were the same. If given to them by someone close, it was accepted. But very rarely did they ever ask for it.

For Sophia to silently ask him to hold her hand spoke to the depth of uncertainty she must feel.

Mason controlled his grip on her hand, keeping it gentle when all he wanted was to hold it so tightly she never felt scared or uncertain again.

Together, they walked down the hallway and found the door to the lobby. At the entrance, Mason handed the valet his ticket and they waited. As the car arrived, Yvette appeared from the hotel. She brushed a hand over Sophia's hair and smiled softly down at her.