Like That

Chapter 13 - Leaving your Troubles Behind

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. - St. Augustine



Chapter 13 - Leaving Your Troubles Behind



Mason's POV:

We are on our way to the Emirates (Arsenal) stadium to watch Liverpool beat Arsenal. This was pretty much my dad's birthday present for me. I just wish he could be here to share it. It was his idea, but he didn't live long enough to be able to come with us. I miss him. I miss him a lot. Mom is cool though, she was really sad for a while, but she wouldn't talk about dad-so neither did I. It's getting better, but she's still not the mom I knew. She's not as happy as she used to be.

Mom brought Coach Foster with us, and even though he was friends with my dad when he was younger...it's not the same. I don't want my mom to replace my dad, but it looks like Coach wants to step into his shoes. I've noticed that as long as I talk with Coach, it keeps him away from my mom. I don't know what Coach is doing. Is he her friend? If so, then he should know she's not ready to forget my dad.

So far, Coach has been a decent guy. By the time we checked in at the apartment yesterday Peyton needed a nap. I was tired but I didn't want to waste a day sitting around. So, Coach and I studied the map of the area and found a park near our apartment and decide that would be our resting place. One of the best things in England is that some of the words they use mean something different in the US. Like the park we found was actually a football (soccer) park, and there were a lot of older kids playing. At that moment I was so glad I hadn't forgotten to pack my ball.

After Peyton's nap, we traveled back to London. Mom said it was an unusually clear day for March, so our first stop was the London Eye, and then to eat at a pub. I found out something important yesterday. Carrying Peyton around is better than having a puppy. I'm not sure how many girls came up to talk to me, but Peyton and I got a lot of attention from the ladies. Yep, my brother is a chick magnet, and I get to reap the benefit. He was not a bratty little toddler. He's a cool little kid.

Something else I noticed yesterday...Coach. I thought he was after my mom, you know friends with benefits, but I don't think he is. He has been treating my mom with a lot of respect, like he wants to be with her and help her just because he wants to, and he doesn't try to do things to make me his buddy. He hugs her a lot, but not in the gross kind of way. They don't kiss in front of me, he might kiss her on the cheek or forehead, but that's all. And that's really good, because my mom doesn't need to be kissing anyone. I also don't think anything nasty is happening with them, my mom looks at him likes he's a buddy. If he wants something else, he may not get it...it looks like he's stuck in the 'friend zone.' I had planned to keep them apart as much as possible during this trip, but considering how they are acting it may be ok.

"Mason. Come on. This is our stop." Mom smirks at me and Coach when the intercom announces our destination the ends with 'Mind the Gap.' That's London speak for 'watch your step.'

I look around at the four of us all decked out in our Liverpool gear. I have my red jacket and beanie, Mom and Peyton are in their sweatshirts, and I gave Coach my dad's hoodie and scarf to wear. I think I shocked him, but he recovered nicely and thanked me. It's just a short walk to my first ever professional soccer game. YES!!!



Foster's POV:

England has flown by fast; we leave tomorrow for Barcelona. It has been a very busy few days here, but we were able to check off everything on our 'To See' list.

Emily spent some time with me talking about Patrick. Even though this trip was supposed to be for Mason, this has been an opportunity for her to heal. I can say she is on the road to recovery.

She keeps calling me her lifesaver whenever I take one of the boys with me for a little while. I have kept Peyton while she and Mason go off together, and then she would take Peyton while I'm with Mason. I don't know how she would have handled this trip without help. I know Mason wouldn't have been as happy as he is right now.

I let Emily know that she doesn't seem as stressed and tired here as she has been back home. She told me she has been taking something to help her sleep, and that is helping. What I wasn't expecting was that she's had the prescription for a few weeks, but won't take it without another adult around. She is scared that something could happen, and she would not wake up to help her children. She does have quite a few fears about being a single parent, but she is doing a great job.

Early this morning I sent Michael and Ms. Hannah an email letting them know about her worries. It seems that someone will have to babysit at Emily's house just so she can sleep.

"Can I join you?" Mason asked, breaking me out of my thoughts. He stands by the door to the terrace overlooking the village.

"Sure, pull up a seat." He moves over to take the chair beside me. "Are you packed and ready for tomorrow?"

"Yea sir, this has been fun, but I'm looking forward to the beach and more soccer."

"Yeah, me too. That game was good."

"Maybe in your world...I thought it was awesome." And there it was, we started talking about the game again. He likes Pepe Reina the keeper for Liverpool, because he was great; but he liked watching Wojciech Szczesny, because he was a showman. I don't think anyone could convince him that Liverpool wasn't the best team, even if there season wasn't going their way.

After a comfortable silence Mason asked, "Do you think my mom is going to be ok?"

"In what way?"

"You know, with my dad?"

"Yes I do. She's talking about him more, and not in a sad way."

Good was all he added before silence again. This time I spoke first. "I know you miss your dad. So, does your mom." He just smiles at me, but doesn't say anything.

I need to talk to him about the possibility of his mom dating. He needs to know that it will happen, and he needs to be ok with that. If she ever remarries, she is not going to be replacing his dad.

"It's been six months; someday she may be ready to date and find someone who makes her happy." I see him tense.

"I don't think that she should, I don't want her to. She will forget about my dad."

"Her dating doesn't mean she will forget about your dad. Your dad will always be a part of her, and she also has you as a reminder of him. You know she's young, maybe not in your eyes, but she is and she deserves to be happy."

I wait for my words to sink in. "When she starts dating, help her. Men are good at hiding their true nature sometimes. If a man bothers you, gives you the creeps, is disrespectful to her or you, tell her. She needs to know. Like if he tries to hard too win you and Peyton over, there might be a problem with him."

"Aren't you dating my mom?" He asks, and I had to chuckle.

"No, Mason. We're just close friends."

"So, what are you doing? Scaring off other men?"

"Maybe something like that. I'm just giving her time to heal, and if that means keeping other men away from her, than yes I am." Mason smiles at me like he approves of my tactics.

"So, is that why you're always hugging her and kissing her?"

"You noticed that?"

"Hard to miss." I laughed at how fast that phrase left his mouth.

"I love your mom, I always have. I've hugged and kissed on her since she was little. It's just the way we are, but it has only been as friends...no extra benefits."

"Even when my dad was around?"

"When she started dating your dad...not as much, but I still did. He understood our friendship. He was a good man."



Emily's POV:

"We're headed out to the beach. Come find us when Peyton wakes up." Foster kisses my forehead before he leaves with Mason. I had warned him that the sunbathers in Barcelona do not like tan lines. He chuckled then stopped when he saw me looking toward Mason. "Oh, got it," was all he replied.

I go lay down with my sleeping Peyton. This is the first time in months that I feel at peace. Foster is heaven sent even if he doesn't believe it. I am very thankful he volunteered to come with me. He is fun and fun-loving, but he understands my needs before I do.

I don't want to have to lean on him forever. He has his own life, but I'm glad he's with me now.



Peyton says, "I wanna go swim."

I must have fallen asleep, but I quickly pull my head out of a fog. Peyton brings me his swim trunks, and we change and head off to the beach. Our hotel is on the Las Ramblas near the harbor. It's only a few short blocks to the beach. This is our second day in Barcelona, and I am enjoying the laid back feel of this city. The Las Ramblas is busy with a lot of tourist, but the need to see it all and do it all isn't with us here.

Yesterday we walked through the Gothic Quarter just looking at city. The streets in this older part of the city are nothing more than ally ways, and I was surprised that cars actually travel on such narrow streets. After a while we found a few churches to visit, the most beautiful was Santa Anna with the Gothic arches around the courtyard. Foster and Mason had a chuckle at my expense when we found I wasn't dressed appropriately. Foster thought this might have been a first for me. I was dressed in Capri pants and a tank top, but to enter the church my shoulders had to be covered. So, conveniently located outside the church was a little old lady selling scarves...my first souvenir.

As Peyton and I walk onto the beach. It's not a crowded as I expected it to be. I see Foster coming from the water.

"I'm glad you made it. By the way the water is cold." With that he gives me a big hug and picks me up, completely soaking me.

"Thanks, I can tell," I say as I push him off of me. Mason takes Foster's lead and repeats the scene, but then decides to shake his wet head and spray me with water in the process.

"Guys, you could have waited until I stripped down to my swimsuit."

"What's the fun in that?" Mason smirks at me and runs back toward the water.

"Foster, are you ok?" I ask because his eyes widen and he looks dazed.

"Emily, you need to put your clothes back on."

"Why?" Then I understood and I smile at him. "Thank you."

"You look amazing." I know I blushed because I can feel the heat on my face. I feel a rush of excitement as his words register in my brain.

I thank him again, and then look at the others at the beach. I feel a little overdressed in my royal blue tankini, while others are in very small bikinis. I also notice that Foster found a place with more families and no nudity...Bravo Foster.

"Compared to our neighbors, I feel like I'm wearing a muumuu."

"On the contrary...modesty is under appreciated, and damn if it's not sexy." With his words I blush again.

Foster turns his attention to Peyton, "Come on little man...let's get wet." He takes Peyton by the hand and heads to the water.

I can hear Peyton as he touches the water. "It's too cold." It doesn't takes a moment for him to get used to the water, and then he is heading into deeper water with Foster.

I am walking to the water's edge when Foster brings Peyton back. "Hey, did you have fun?"

"The water is cold, Momma."

"Do you want to play in the sand with me?"

"Otay."

We are spending time in the sun, burying our feet in the sand when Foster and Mason finally join us. "We built a sand tassel." Peyton tries to castle, but just not quite able to.

"Really, was that fun?" Mason asked.

"Uh huh, wanna do it?"

"Sure, let's go." Mason moves over a few feet closer to the water to find the best spot to build. Peyton squeals and giggles with his brother as they play in the sand.

"So, what are our plans for the next few days?" Foster asks.

"Well, Mumford and Sons concert tonight, and the soccer game is Saturday. I really don't have plans for anything else, but I wouldn't mind going out to the vineyards one day. What about you?"

"I'm enjoying not having a plan. London wore me out. We were constantly on the go, I like just chillaxing."

"Chillaxing...really?" I look at him with a smirk for his made up word.

"What? It's a word. Isn't it?" I just shake my head at him as he laughs.

After a little while we decide to leave the beach and take a longer route back to the hotel looking at new sites.



Foster's POV:

"Do you want to join me in the lounge? Peyton is asleep, and we won't even leave the hotel...come on." I try to persuade her to go have a drink.

"Ok, that sounds nice." This is our last night before the reality of home. I tell Mason that we will be downstairs in the hotel lounge. He doesn't care because he too busy Skyping with his friends.

We order a bottle of Rioja and a few tapas to share.

"This has been fun. I think I like the laid back feel of Barcelona more that the hustle and bustle of London," I tell her.

"I agree." She sits and looks out at the crowd in the Ramblas.

"I enjoy being busy and in the middle of the excitement, but sometimes it's nice to sit back and be a spectator," she says with a smile.

"So, what was your favorite part of the trip?"

"Lionel Messi's legs." I laugh at her answer. I'm not sure if she even watched the game. She mostly stared at Messi.

"I thought for sure you would like Cristiano Ronaldo."

"Do you seriously think Mason could handle me liking someone not on the Barcelona team? I don't think so. By the way Ronaldo's legs are nice, too." She winks at me as she answers, causing me to laugh.

"Seriously, I liked that you were with me. I couldn't have done this without you. Thanks." She smiles at me and I can't resist kissing her. I press my lips on her temple and just keep the there holding her.

"So, what was your favorite?" She asks me.

Honestly, I don't know. I loved the games, London, here. Thank you for letting me come with you."

We talk for a while about the best parts of the trip, and our plans for the rest of the school year. We are both looking forward to summer break. After a while our conversation becomes more personal.

"Do you know what scares me the most?" I shake my head at her. "The idea of dating again. I thought I would be married forever. Dating - being with someone new is scary."

"Then don't rush it. You're still grieving. Give yourself some time."

"Oh, I'm not ready. I'm just saying it scares me. I haven't been on a date with anyone other than Patrick in almost 16 years. I haven't kissed anyone other than him in all that time, and I've only ever been with him."

I reach out and take her hand. "It will be alright. Just take your time. I talked with Mason the other night about you dating, again." Her eyes widen. "Don't worry. I let him know that in the future the time may come that you begin dating. He wasn't happy, but he'll be ok." She looks relieved.

"Thank you. I didn't want to have that talk with him." She pauses for a minute and says, "You know, I'm not ready to move on without him."

"But some day you will."